Tuesday, March 15, 2011

A Bit Rusty Around The Edges.....

I will admit it right here---I am a RUST FREAK. I love all things rusty.
I am the odd duck that stops in the middle of a busy street to pick up a rusted bottle cap. I love the patina rust gives to metal, and the instant feel of story and age.
Therefore, I am always on the look-out for easy ways to rust things without getting extremely toxic. I know there are compounds, but I go for the simple things I have at home. Or *close* to home.
Like this:




I have lived on this property almost 20 years and it just hit me the other day that on our southern-most acre there was old, torn up fencing. And that old fence RUSTS. I hot footed it down there with work gloves and tin snips and got myself this lovely lasso! Yes, I have a plan for it. We'll discuss that at a later date....
And then there was a recipe for rust that seemed too good to be true; cheap paper clips, a glass jar, bleach to cover and a piece of rusted metal.

 
This is after almost 24 hours. Two types of clips--one better quality than the other so one is crusty-rusty and the other is rust stained! COOL!


I am ready to dump them all out and sort. I also threw in some metal staples I had been cooking for a while~~their stewing juice was vinegar and salt. Boy, did it kick-start the bleach and metal! Whooo-hooo!!!
I can't wait to try some of these items in an art application.....
One word of caution if you decide to try either recipe; do NOT have where small children or pets can get near, into, or spill the solutions. (or husbands...ya know, just sayin'.....) And take great care in handling. Even though rusted from household products, these liquids can do a number on eyes or skin or even breathing in the fumes.
Is it any wonder I come up with paint combos like Crypt Corrosion???


Time to go knock the rust off the edges of my creativity now that I have corroded goodies to play with!
Have fun.....go make art! (or rust, whichever makes you happy!)


Pax....

40 comments:

marianne said...

woo hoo! looking forward to seeing what happens with this! happy tuesday-

Anne Huskey-Lockard said...

It takes so little to entertain me...totally shameless!!! :-D
I have to get the metal out today; I got sidetracked with some *have-to* clean up yesterday.....

XXOO~~♥
Anne....*old rusty*

Kristin Dudish said...

Very, very cool.
(I'm excited to see what you have in store...)

xo
Kristin

Anne Huskey-Lockard said...

Me too Kristin!
Sometimes I find getting the idea from the head to the table is the hardest part....
And frequently takes longer than I had planned!

XXOO~~♥
Anne

*Ulrike* said...

Whoa! Talk about getting woozy from that stuff! You always think of something to keep me entertained!

Anne Huskey-Lockard said...

It doesn't stink as bad as some of the other concoctions I have come up with, but I'm pretty sure it could damage the sinus cavities if inhaled......I keep all this stuff at arms length...had a few too many inhaled surprises before.....
Which might explain why I am the way I am....

XXOO~~♥
Anne

Cathy Bueti said...

Anne you always make me smile with your posts! Let me just say that I love the first photo!! Very cool shot of your hand holding the lasso!! And I love your crypt corrosion!

sounds like you are having fun with rust and grunge! lol

:)

Anne Huskey-Lockard said...

Hey Cathy,

Yes, you never know what is coming into this house...LOL!!!
I wanted to get that wire down into a smaller *lasso* but it is so old and crusty, it was having NO PART of being rolled smaller.
I have it in the back of the studio, where there is less chance of injury.... ;-D
I love grungy stuff---I feel like I've been released from a rusty cocoon!!!

XXOO~~♥
Anne

audrey said...

Well, good morning, Old Rusty One!!!
I am not surprised to see you've jumped into this rust thing head over heels!! I'm still soaking it all in - letting the rust stew in my brain for a while before I attempt to do anything with it. Plus, I need a lengthy block of time so I can stay in the "laboratory" long enough to accomplish something.
I cannot wait to see what you create!!! I just know it is going to be so cool!!
Happy Rusting!
♥ audrey

Anne Huskey-Lockard said...

Hey Audrey!

With all the rain today, I am pretty sure *I* am rusting too....LOL!! I'm sure not moving fast....
Have to go dump the remains of the clips out of the jar and I think I will save the liquid---I am sure that would work good on something else!
Maybe I'll create a *cowmanthemum* today...hahahaha!!! (NOT!)

XXOO~~♥
Anne

GlorV1 said...

Well right now I feel rusty and creaky. Looking forward to what you come up with. You really keep busy and I think that's great. Have a good rest of the week.

Anonymous said...

What is it about those rusty pieces of metal that sit on the side of the road.
I pick them up too. Rusty metal like rocks hold all those stories we hope/seek to uncover. Don't be breathing those clorox fumes Missy- bad stuff for the lungs. xox Corrine

Anne Huskey-Lockard said...

Gloria,

I think I could out "creak" you today! LOL!!!
I am feeling the weather pretty bad---been quite busy up till now, and seriously wanting a nap and soft afghan to snuggle up and snooze! (instead I am sucking down coffee....)

XXOO~~♥
Anne

Anne Huskey-Lockard said...

Hey Corrine,

You know what was odd---after the rust started, the bleach fumes died down quite a bit. I just got the stuff dried and it all turned out a little different...really COOL!!!
I'm thinking "Dead Letter Office".... ;-D
I have always collected junk.
Always.
Don't know how my poor mom stood it---ruined many dresses...

XXOO~~♥
Anne

Timaree said...

It sounds like the bleach solution works better than the vinegar/salt one. Waiting to see what you come up with.

Anne Huskey-Lockard said...

They both work pretty well; the vinegar and salt is slower but of course safer. The bleach is a little more pungent.
When I mixed them both together, it seemed to accelerate the rusting, but then I had forgot about the vinegar and salt mess....
So it's probably a toss up depending on what type of metal you have....

XXOO~~♥
Anne

Bella Sinclair said...

Wow, that fencing! That, in itself, is a pretty cool photo. Hope you're up to date on your Tetanus shots! Corrode away, my friend!

Anne Huskey-Lockard said...

LOL Bella!!!

I think I have heard that three times today! I have no idea when my last shot was, but each year I cut myself with metal, step on something or otherwise put rust into the body.
I think I'm immune.... ;-D
Men want me, rust fears me.....har!har!

XXOO~~♥
Anne

Anonymous said...

Thanks for the WELCOME BACK!! You are such a good friend!!
Like rust??? Hummmmmm Come on to my place. Being this is the old railroad property... just about every time we stick a shovel in the ground we dig up some kind of rusted metal. From old spoons to railroad spikes!! ...am hoping for a diamond ring!! LOL!!
Marilyn

Anne Huskey-Lockard said...

LOL!!!
You take the ring....I'll take all the rusty, crusty stuff!!!
Glad to have you back in the bloggoshpere my friend!
It's still crazy as ever...LOL!

XXOO~~♥
Anne

Vanessa Brantley Newton said...

Yes I agree there is something so special about rust he he he he! It's beautiful! Oh Anne thanks so much for you kind words. Boy they sure made my day!!! Girl folks around here have tried to work them, but I can't let them get to me. Thanks so much for you friendship, love and support. It's worth more than gold darling. Okay, hopefully I won't have to slap somebody. Clients can be a real pain sometimes.
Hugs
and much love
V

studio lolo said...

I'm convinced you're MAD!!! I can see you in the studio playing chemist. BWA-hahahahahahahaaaa!

I can't breathe in one bit of bleach scent. Migraine for days and days. I'll just enjoy the fruits of your labor!

I hope you're not doing a life-size Frida with barbed wire around her neck??
Run little swallows,RUN!!!!

:D

~♥Lolo♥~

Anne Huskey-Lockard said...

Hey Vanessa,

Now, there will be no slapping unless Scythe-Woman is there to help out! heeheehee!!! I don't want to miss anything, especially if it's entertaining!
Brava on that book~~it is wonderful and just a joy to see the work! YOU GO GIRL!!! ;-)

XXOO~~♥
Anne

Anne Huskey-Lockard said...

Lolo,

Shhhhhhh.....don't tell anyone I'm crazy....hahaha! (like they haven't suspected...)Although, I do wear a fluidproof lab coat when I work! Seriously, I do. :-D
No Fridas, and you know I could not harm a bird! Noooooooo! I'm thinking something totally different, which I hope it will work with. If nor, I have rust to put in jars to make MORE rust! Win-win...

XXOO~~♥
Anne

Jan said...

You one twisted sistah! And I'm right there with you. I have gleefully brought home a heavy rusted old wire rack thing, it rust dyes a long piece of fabric at a time. Plus, when I'm not using it to rust something it serves as a good rodent deterrent in the garden over my pea patch! double duty.

Carol said...

Good rusting, Anne, I didn't know about the bleach, just the vinegar and salt. Now I'm wondering where my lab coats are stashed? I'm looking forward to those Ghost 'Manthemums in the Sky you mentioned on Michael's blog.

Anne Huskey-Lockard said...

Oooooo Jan!

I think you found the *rust-prize* with that wire rack-thingy! That sounds amazing! (aside from the fact it works in the garden too!!! ;-D

XXOO~~♥
Anne

Anne Huskey-Lockard said...

Hey Carol!

I am hoping to find some plastic cows at the Dollar Store....I think it would be a hilarious piece to do! Of course, like anything else, there are certain *parts* you need to find for use....the chase is on... ;-D

XXOO~~♥
Anne

becky said...

Well, who doesn't love rust?! I love old (rusted or not) cars, too.. that have worn away layers & layers of paint. You know what I'm taking about. OK, old buildings too... that are in a state of near collapse, abandoned but w/ history. Old things period!

Deborah said...

Oh Great Blonde One, Blondest of the The Blonde, may I just say how sexy you are in leather gloves! My knees are rusty on the inside. Be warned, I'm back and I'm trouble. **kisskiss** Deb

Anne Huskey-Lockard said...

Hey Becky,

Yes, I love the rebar that sticks out of old concrete and slowly casts rusty stains down the remaining building.
The old wall anchors and the corrosion...
Yep, yep! Rust is GOOD!!! ;-D

XXOO~~♥
Anne

Anne Huskey-Lockard said...

Oh Deborah, Loveliest of the Blond Ones,
WELCOME BACK!!!!! (is it cantina party time????)
You? Trouble? Nooooooooo....hehehe..... >:-)
Yeah, my knees are pretty rusty inside too, but I do look good in Industrial Leather! LOL!!!

XXOO~~♥
Anne

yoborobo said...

Hey, my knees are rusty, too! As is my brain! So should I send all my rusty things your way? Because I will just package up my house and be done with it - lol! You ARE like a mad scientist! bwa hahahaha!
:) xox Pam

Anne Huskey-Lockard said...

Hey Pam!

Just include yourself in the package and we can all share our rust stories! LOL!!!
I am definitely a little on the *mad* side.....hahaha!!!
My brain is incredibly rusty.....I think it is dribbling out my ears...brain dust ya know! LOL!!!

XXOO~~♥
Anne

Timaree said...

Anne, I've given you/your blog an award which you can see here: http://freebirddrawing.blogspot.com/2011/03/stylish-blogger-award.html

It's up to you whether to participate. I know you've gotten a lot of these and they can get to be too much sometimes. I just wanted to share the link to your blog so other creative people can see it.

Anne Huskey-Lockard said...

THANK YOU!!!Thank you!
Sent you an e-mail~~~ :-)
It's been a good day at El Milagro....rusty parts and all! LOL!!

XXOO~~♥
Anne

Alexandra MacVean said...

Your creativity and uniqueness continue to blow my mind. I never would have even comprehended to look at rust as some sort of "beauty" for art. Wow! :)

Anne Huskey-Lockard said...

Sophia, trust me.
When you get *my* age???? Rust is starting to look REEEEEEAL GOOD!!! :-D
I love the texture found in old metal; maybe it is an acquired thing, but if you photograph it, then all the beauty comes through.

XXOO~~♥
Anne....slightly rusty, needing oil!

di from di-did-it said...

I'm anxious to see what you create with that rusted barbed wire! Do you ever use iron paint? I just read about it yesterday and thought of you.... it looks like a cool product. I might have to check it out too :)

Marie S said...

I love it Anne. Make your own rust in days instead of years, amazing.

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