Parts in Progress

Here is the wedding couple in process, too fun! The dress was a little plain so I glued individual vintage aurora borealis sequins all over the lace. After I did that; the base looked too plain so I added pearl rope and individual pearls to highlight the diamond shapes. Lends a more cake like feel to the topper. The second photo is the top half of the box where the topper is going to rest on the domino dance floor. I like the repetition of the polka dots. I use mirror frequently, in this case the mirror was really needed as the box is deeper than boxes I normally use and it was much to dark in the back of the box. The mirror works to expand the space and also bounces light around the box. The bottom interior of the box is now covered in white feathers; I glued them down with craft glue (what was I thinking?). Feather usage 101: never cut a feather and then try and glue it down-it falls apart. Every time I cut a feather and try and glue it down, I remember that I shouldn't cut the feather before I glue. A little late in the process to be sure; but some days are brand spanking new.

I have been noodling on the Mary Jane's. I am leaning toward a gold leaf background with velvet shoe inserts. It would be fun to have a Faberge looking box for my little shoes, just to marke certain that everyone would know that they were irreplaceable treasures. I thought instead of using glitter for "bling" I could use seed beads in a pattern on the outside of the box. I think that idea is worth a trip to the library to check out some fab egg designs.

The other box that I have been thinking of, is from a game piece that was given to me about six or seven years ago. The game was "Pin the Leaf on David". Big Mike's David of course. I have gathered up plenty of goodies to go in the box, it just hasn't seemed quite enough of the right things. I decided this morning it was because I was morphing my bible stories. Adam and David really didn't have the same performance in the Bible and I guess I made up my own little story to fit my box parts. Now I think the box will be called " I wish I were Adam". I will think on that for a day or two and see if it holds up with the box parts.

Chances for today. Starting a blog post. Closing the office early ( for the weekend). Taking photos of other people's landscaping without their permission.

Trains of Thought

Sometimes I wonder at my thought process and how a wedding cake topper can turn into the search for things that relate to games and gambling. My thoughts sometimes do a slow meander and it takes weeks for me to reach a moment in my thoughts where I know just exactly what to do next. Other times my thoughts are like a rock skipping across the water and the jump from one thought to the next doesn't seem to connect, but then a thought or two later I have somehow found the perfect solution. This is a photo of some of the objects for the box I am working on right now. Mardi Gras babies; a friend gave me. The babies are supposed to go in a Mardi Gras cake, however, they are a little larger than the standard Mardi Gras cake babies. I knew when I saw them that they were indeed a treasure to be saved for a future project. Old game dice, old domino's, glitter and wish bones complete my initial trip of hunting and gathering. While I was rummaging around in my art finds this morning I noticed my first Mary Jane shoes on a shelf. A box that is much overdue in the making. I can't seem to find the perfect size box and I can't make up my mind about the background. The little shoes are all polished up and ready, the rest of the box is still somehow not quite right in my head. I have made several sketches, but somehow nothing is just right. I am sure the Mary Jane's were the beginning of my love affair with shoes, which could potentially be a series in and of itself. I don't know any girl who doesn't secretly love a good pair of fabulously frivolous shoes. I have a friend who has the most magnificent pair of emerald green silk pumps. I think that was the first pair of shoes I ever saw and knew immediately that they were indeed a very special treasure. I think she would be pleased to know that I am wearing my red, high heeled sandals with the roses across the toes-now there is a chance!

Back To Work Monday

My weekend was really productive! This photo is from my scientific method of object placement. Box needs a shelf so this is how I determined where the shelf should go. I used balsa wood for the trim and the shelf, I only needed something lightweight so the balsa wood was a great fit. I added a base to help balance the weight of the eight ball. I used square cubes for the legs and wooden beads for embellishments. I painted the whole thing flat black. It took several coats of paint, the wood was really quite dry. While waiting for the paint to dry I went through or at least made a valiant attempt to go through; all of my buttons. I have collected buttons with no real reason with the exception that I just really like them. I have horded buttons for years. I made a significant dent, I separated the shank buttons from the flat buttons and the metal buttons from the plastic, wood and rhinestone buttons. Now that I am separating the buttons, I am going to have to find a way to keep them separated. There are some really cool buttons that will just have to be applied to a box, it would be great if I could just put my hands on them, without having to hunt them down. Right now the buttons are in little piles on a large plastic lid, one bump and they are back to a messy pile. The paint is still not dry, the air is much to humid. The base of the wedding couple needs a bit of a lift and a much more decorative base. I used a child's alphabet block to give the couple a bit more height. The alphabet block is something I have been saving the alphabet blocks for the letters, but this block had a nasty hole right thru the letter so I felt ok about using the block where it wouldnt be seen. I rummaged through my art papers and found plenty of black and white papers to work with, enough that the papers should have their own compartment (another thing for the "to do" list". I think the best choice for the papers are graphic designs adding to the whimsy of the piece; I am going to go with diamonds and polka dots. I am going to use the graphic paper on the top half and white feathers for the background on the bottom half. I am sure that in a perfect world a "magic" eight ball would have wings. To add to my list of things we take chances on: driving through the construction zones, petting a strange cat, having fabric cut without knowing the price and walking out the door everyday.

Attic Shopping

I recently moved all of my potential empty art boxes up into the attic. Now that I have the two major pieces for my current art box-it was just a quick hike up to the attic to do a little box shopping. I am sure I purchased this box at a yard sale and I am also sure that I found the exterior verbiage amusing. More Air, Less Labor, Constant Satisfaction-what do you think? Here is a start to my list of what we take chances on. Getting married, rescuing a puppy, starting a business, being a friend, trying a new recipe on guests, starting a plant from seed.......

The Magic Eight Ball

This was a favorite childhood toy of mine. I rediscovered this Eight Ball in an old box of "stuff" when I was cleaning/organizing the attic. I was amazed that there was still liquid inside; not as much, just enough to ask a question and get an answer. It is an excellent addition to my bride and groom. In a perfect world we would all have a magic ball that we could ask our most serious questions and get back the exact answer that we need. This piece is starting to lean toward a black and white theme. I have never done a piece with a color theme, so this will be an excellent adventure. The weekend is finally here and I have very high hopes of getting much accomplished.

The Wedding Couple

I absolutely love this cake topper. From the groom's stylish haircut; I think that the topper might be from the 1970's. I found them in a box of auction items. This charming couple begged to have a art box built around them. It occurred to me that when we marry we are taking a chance. We take many chances in life, getting married being one of many. This line off thought has inspired me to pursue a "Chance" series of art boxes. So; I am starting a list of personal chances we take in life. We will see where that takes me.

How It Begins

This is one of my favorite places to find objects for my artwork. This is Wilson's Auction Center in Historic New Harmony, Indiana. Boxes and boxes of treasures laid out on flat bed trailers. There are usually ten or more trailers full of boxes of all kinds of stuff! I don't know which part of the experience I like best-looking thru the boxes prior to the auction starting or actually getting the final bid on a box of goodies. This is where I bought a box of old wedding items. There was a cake top, a wedding invitation, the announcement from the local paper and a garter still in the box, along with souvenir items from vacations past. When you attend auctions of any kind I think it gets you wondering about the people who owned the items. What happened to them? I have also become a little better at editing my own belongings-Sorta!