monday, monday

I am finally back on track and excited about my newest pieces.  The above piece is entitled Gypsy.  As you can see, I have included tarot card images from a 1918 book.  Often I will use vintage pages pulled from tattered and time worn books, but this first edition was in such wonderful condition that I didn't have the heart take my exacto-knife to it.  I photocopied the images onto vintage dictionary pages instead.  I still haven't signed this one as I feel perhaps some additional embellishment is in order.  Soon.

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I do have quite a horde of vintage ephemera to choose from and recently found this sweet vintage piece to help me stay organized.

I also snagged this vintage purse.  I love the beading and look forward to carrying it with me on my next dinner date with Arturo.  We do try to make a weekly date night.  It is one of the secrets to maintaining a good relationship.  You cannot forget the romance!

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I was pleasantly surprised by the double yolker I cracked open this morning for breakfast.  I take this as an positive sign for the week ahead.  I plan on working double time in the next month or two to prepare for my second show.  I will post details as the date approaches.  Hi Ho!

Sharing

I have had a very productive week and somehow I managed to finish two pieces!  The one above is entitled Fireflies and I have loved the image of this little one from the day I found it.  I decided he would be interesting on a dark background and I can see him as a companion piece to Willa.  Fairies and fireflies.  The fun thing about this pieces is that I used a touch of specialty paint on the fireflies and in the darkness, they glow.  I tried to capture this but my camera was not cooperative or the light hadn't recharged the glow paint enough.  You'll just have to take my word for it.  Below is a close up of one of the fireflies...

The second piece I finished will have to wait until next week to be unveiled.  I am doing my own spin on Renaissance Art thanks to my recent trip to Italy.

Speaking of Italy, I found a little flea market in Sienna and purchased several items to include in future pieces.  The Renaissance pieces will most likely be the destination of some of this newly collected Italian ephemera...

This hand written book of music was one of my finds.  I love the ragged edges of the sheets and the calligraphy is amazing.

This book is also a student's book of music and also contains some interesting calligraphy.  The weight of the paper is slightly heavier and it should add some interest to my collages.

The book below is from the 16th century.  It was a bit more expensive than the above items as I found it in a little antique store but I still plan to apply it to my art.  As you can see, it is quite damaged and so I have no guilt about using it in my work.  The religious tone is obvious and will also be included in the new series.

And so, I am off to do some local treasure hunting.  Next week I will share some exciting news regarding a couple of new shows that are in the planning phase.

Have a great week-end.

Laura

A quick update

I am back in the studio this week and I thought I would just give a quick update as to the progress I have made.  I started this project before I left for Italy and although I am inspired to begin a couple of new ideas, I have to complete this little guy before I can concentrate on a new planned series.  Below is the original image.

  I will be working on the canvas over the next few days and hope to have the piece finished by next week.  Have a great weekend.  - Laura

Larry's Girl

This piece is relatively new and is a memorial piece for a dear friend of mine, Larry, who passed away suddenly in early May of this year.  The figure in this piece hung unfinished on my studio wall for some time and every time Larry visited, he commented on how much he liked her and asked me if I would consider selling it to him when it was finished.  Of course, I agreed but unfortunately, he was unable to enjoy the finished project.  So, as a tribute, I named her Larry's Girl and I believe he would approve.

This is another piece I displayed at  my July show at the ArtCapsule gallery.  Vintage buttons adorn the neck of the instrument along with vintage thread from my stash of goodies.

I have taken a little time off recently as I seem to have damaged a nerve in my thumb during the frantic pace needed to finish pieces for that show.  It is on the mend and I hope to get back to work in early September.

In the meantime, I have been gathering my inspirational trinkets in a recently procured vintage mailbox.

I'm not really sure what I will do with these babies but I couldn't resist their adorable faces and they will, at the very least, be on the sidelines, cheering me on.

Lady Sings the (mid-summer) Blues

The past few weeks have been oppressive here in Michigan and I have taken this time to play in the studio and on the patio with my newest project.  Billie Holiday does a good job expressing the discomfort I feel in this sizzling weather.  I wilt in a similar way to the potted flowers I have been semi-neglecting.  I have been wanting to play with beeswax for some time and am pleased with my initial attempt but feel I need more practice.  All in all, a fun experiment, and very forgiving.

I have been avoiding the extended heat wave by revamping my studio & workshop areas.  Since moving my studio space to my (former) dining room, I have lost track of many inspirational items.  The space, although much brighter than the former dungeon space, is also much smaller so I have decided to create a workspace in the dungeon to create an area for some of my messier projects and also to store some of my supplies.  While going through my inventory, I have happened upon many Etsy-worthy items that are either finished or nearly finished and I hope to start listing them soon...

like this vintage Vera throw pillow cover.  So bright and colorful!

 I have also rediscovered some vintage publications that will certainly find their way into my work.
The above book was a trash find and contains many vintage photographs that could be fun to recreate...

Jack Dempsey

and illustrations that may be perfect for a collage background...

Who knew women's boxing was an appreciated sport in the 1800's?

I always keep an  eye out for vintage yearbooks.  They often contain photographs that bring inspiration.

The 1920's editions contain many art nouveau illustrations.

These cheerleaders are begging to be included in a new piece.

These yearbooks always contain amusing shots and quotes.

Nothing like a week of organization to bring back the inspiration.  

We are all inventors, each sailing out on a voyage of discovery, guided each by a private chart, of which there is no duplicate. The world is all gates, all opportunities.

- Ralph Waldo Emerson

"New" Vintage Finds

Arturo had the day off today and the kids didn’t,  so we decided an outing was in order.  We began with a wonderful brunch at Victorias Delights in downtown Oxford.   The crabby benedict was fantastic (not exactly what I needed after yesterday’s Easter Feast, but I could exercise no self control).  After plying my consort with a wonderful meal, I was able to convince him to escort me on an antiquing mission.   

The birdsong has had my attention lately as it seems spring has finally arrived, and I'm crazy about colorful objects,  so I was immediately drawn to this piece...

It is vintage venetian glass and very evocative of spring.  I had to have it.

My favorite items to shop for at these vintage/antique shoppes are embellishments to add to my art pieces.  I scored with the following items

Vintage letter and number cards.

Lacy hand-tatted doilies.

These vintage Vera linen kitchen towels won't be embellishments, but may show up on my Etsy as fun decorative pillows.  I'll keep you posted.

I love the little ladybug, it is a good gauge when trying to determine the date of her pieces - 1960's - 70's.  The ladybug was discontinued in 1976.

A Work in Progress

Aside from all of the holiday preparations, I have been trying to squeeze in studio time to finish several new pieces and I thought I would give a sneak peek at one.  I have been contemplating a new idea for this blog starting in the new year and hope it will not go by the wayside as many of my resolutions seem to do.  One of my resolutions from last year, though,  is just about to come to fruition. So, without further ado, here is my newest project.  She is a work in progress...much like me. 

Something Different

I have been busy with new projects but want to take the time to document a project I am currently working on as well as a fairly recent, very different project that is a tribute to individualism...

First - Some new endeavors:

A work in progress.  This is a little experiment I have been working on for several weeks.  Both the girl and the fish are created from fabric.  Her dress is vintage lace.  I painted the silly sea life and embellished them with some vintage silk yo yo eyes I picked up at a flea market.  Now I think maybe bubbles?

 

Below is a project heralding individualism that I worked on for several months.  It involves a printers drawer, some scrapbook paper, photographs, quotations printed and haphazardly cut and other relevant items.  It was probably the most time consuming project I have done, but I am happy with the results.