Fabulous Bags and Earth Day

The first time I became aware of Earth Day was 22 years ago.  I was visiting my sister in Philly and everywhere we went there were signs for the 20th anniversary of Earth Day. So Earth Day was a topic of conversation for us as we explored the city together.

I've been trying to do my part to be environmentally friendly for over 35 years. In my class room I try to stay away from art supplies that are toxic. I don't wash leftover paint off the pallets. I let it dry and then peel it off and throw it away. Sometimes those pieces of dried acrylic paint end up in another art project thus staying out of the landfill. I don't use paper towels but washable rags for clean ups in the studio. There aer live plants in the studio to help keep the air a little cleaner too. I also frequent thrift stores for things we can use in class instead of always buying new. So many people discard so much stuff- unused paints, slightly used pastels, artists brushes, paper- the list goes on. Anyone who is an artist can tell you that supplies are expensive and when you are working with children they get consumed quickly. This thrift store mentality on my part has helped me stretch my art supply budget by quite a lot.

This of course has spilled into my art making as well. I am drawn to vintage jewelry and old glass and crystal beads. I will often pick up a vintage strand of beads, break it apart and incorporate them into a new necklaces using a mix of trend colors and sterling silver. Or I would buy an old wool sweater felt it and make mittens or slippers out of it. Storage was a problem in my first house so I used old suitcases to store seasonal items like Christmas decorations and then by stacking them would also have an end table by the sofa.  Little did I know that what I was doing was going to become a part of an art/lifestyle movement. I don't like calling what I do recycling- to me that means that you are taking something cutting it up, breaking it down and totally making something different out of the raw material- like soda bottles into jackets. What I do is re-purpose or alter an item. Give it a new purpose and extend it's life. So what does this have to do with Fabulous Bags? Well....

The Octagon contacted me last month about having a trunk show. They love my Fabulous Bags and thought a workshop plus trunk show would be great fun. I agree! So on June 25th I will be in Ames (one of my favorite destinations in Iowa) all day doing what I do best. Sharing my creative talent with people. When it says all materials provided they mean it. I have a confession to make here- I have about 75 vintage handbags stashed away at my house in a variety of shapes, sizes and colors. These are all thrift store finds and aer in two very large tubs in the studio. What each bag has in common- besides being vintage and a thrift store find - they all stand up on their own. So the bag can be used as an actual handbag OR it can sit somewhere and make a statement. 

What's so great about a Fabulous bag? It still fits even if you gain 5lbs!

What HAS she been up to?

I realize I have been MIA- missing in art I like to call it- lately. Between teaching classes and kids home on spring break and fighting with my depression I have not posted much of my work lately.

So- good news- I have been working! Just finished these today.

This is a journal/album that I recycled. I used these wonderful papers made by my friend Shari. I keep trying to get her to sell these papers on Etsy. They are so unique! Her process involves gelatin printing, textures, rubber stamps, stencils and anything else she can find to make it all come together.  At our Art Retreat last month I got to try my hand at Shari's printing process- what fun! I just don't have the same feel for it that Shari does though. I love her papers and am lucky enough to receive some as gifts every now and then. The original book was just a photo album. I kept the original clear pocket pages and added in some lavender and purple card stock paper. I like journals where you can tuck items into it and write on the pages at the same time.

This little piece was the 3-D challenge from last month's Art Retreat.  Again it's an up cycled item that I picked up at my local thrift store. Using the papers I designed in the gelatin printing session of the retreat, some sea shells and a few clay fish beads I created this treasure chest fir for any mermaid! This box measures about 3" x 5" and the drawer pulls out. Sorry this picture washed out a little on me.

And finally- I saw an altered spoon for the first time as I was blog hoping the other day. I love altered art and as soon as I saw it I had to try for myself. I used a vintage serving spoon- measures 9" long and the bowl holds 1/4 of liquid.  I have been fascinated with all things Alice and a spoon needs a tea party right? I had this vintage image of a young lady and her dolls having a tea party from my favorite place to get images- Altered Artifacts-

a couple of brass crowns, a clock face and the words "tea time" in glass alphabet beads and I was on my way to altering my first spoon.

All of these items are available in my Etsy shop. Now, I need to figure out what I want to do with this pile of rhinestone jewelry and a travel case that needs some TLC....

snow days and power tools

My dad was many things but handyman was NOT on his resume. Not one little bit. There were no power tools in my house and the only tool box belonged to my mom. Not that she was handy either but she was a bit more than dad was .My Dad had a handy man on retainer. No kidding. So where did I get this penchant for power tools? (I was giddy when James came home one day with a band saw. Oh the stuff I could cut up with that...)

Today was a snow day for us. Snow days mean I don't teach. If the kids can't go to school then they can't come to art class. I took advantage of an entire day of no interruptions to indulge in some jewelry creating. In all my years of junking I have accumulated quite a collection of old silverware. When I was in high school I used to wear a spoon ring that I "borrowed" from my mother ...(unfortunately I lost that ring at Reinharts Pits...slipped off my finger in the water) but I digress. Back to the old silverware. I find old silverware has a lot of charm and character and I found myself keeping some of the more interesting ones so I could maybe do something with them someday.

Someday is here. I've been in a search and re-purpose mode lately. Use it or give it away. That's when I came across the silverware. I Googled "uses for old silverware" scrolled through tons of images until that "A-HAH~" moment occurred.

Using my Dremel tool with the flexible shaft - this is my absolute must have tool for the shop- I went to work on some old silver pieces. And created two pretty unique bracelets. This one features matching salad forks and a round turquoise bead. The flatware has a sweet and delicate floral design on it. I was very pleased with the results.

So what do I do if I only have one piece of silverware in a pattern? And some odd links from a necklace? And some charms in the shape of a heart, teapot and key? Hmmmm......you get this bracelet. I call it Alice's Tea party. This bracelet features an interesting tea spoon with a hammered texture and a delicate Victorian design.

It's really too bad we won't get a third snow day because ideas are just buzzing in my head and I have about 40 more pieces of silver to play with. Like the fruit spoon and these vintage glass beads I picked up awhile ago in the shapes of apples, grapes, pears and bananas.....a fruit salad bracelet perhaps? We'll see........