A Quick Pop In....

.....and boy that last post was FUN!!! (which we all need now and then~~too little in this world)
I have been busily working on these:

....which I *finally* completely yesterday. (and for some reason Blogger is squishing the width dimension of this photo....Lord save me from this beast! ACK!)
The look of the finished pieces is not telling of the amount of work involved; it was hit and miss the whole way trying to get them done, done right, and looking GOOD. I spent the evening doing a sloper for stole padding, which I have just eyeballed before, but not this time. I need the cardboard to get the pieces cut right as the construction is different and I have one shot at getting it all right.
 
THE FIRST TIME.

There is the normal hesitation/excitement factor, and I have learned to work with that long ago. I am seeing the construction come together in my head which means it is time to go to the fabric.
That also means I tend to get blog scarce unless I am super quick or decide to share photos along the way.
Either way, you know where I am...in the studio....doing my sewing thing!
I'll pop back in with more when I can.
Working through Julia Cameron's "The Artist's Way" for a recharge of creative juices too, so my time, as always, seems to be used up before feet hit the floor. (for anyone who has NOT worked this book---and it is not just reading but active effort---I highly recommend it to relight lost creative flames, or fan the fire to a blaze...)
Here's to a good weekend, and of course,


Pax....

At Last......Art.......

Sometimes, no matter how hard you try, art does NOT happen.
I had started this piece quite by accident when I was finishing up my Michael DeMeng Colorwash Class. See, that tin *was* a saddle soap can with openers on the side. I think I was trying to soften up my Doc Marten boots when I discovered the soap had totally gone kaput.
The tin was rusted exceptionally well, and after my initial fit that I didn't have saddle soap, I looked again at the beauty in the rust; something normally to discard, but all I could see was a shrine shape.

So the round part was done. And then it sat......and sat.......and......SAT. I knew I wanted something on top and I knew eventually it would be free-standing on a slim metal pole attached to a fancier base.
Fast forward to, well, TODAY. It was too hot to sew, too miserable to do much needed work in the yard and I see this piece, begging for attention.
Guilt, my dear readers, GUILT propelled me to go to the cellar and dig through boxes of *stuff* (M.A. part of that digging was through the box of metal bit you sent!!!) and finally found a fancy metal piece that could be altered for  a finial.

It was originally gold and shiny like the piece on the left (which I am sure will work itself into the base somehow) but with some folding and nipping and paint washes and the heat gun, I had the aged and lovely crown.
Ah yes, that was what I was looking for!
And close ups~~the interior with a paperclay stamped piece, with tons of mediums and paints.....please don't make me try and think what I used...

I did use Kroma Crackle on this; there is a learning curve to the medium and I am still curving and learning.

But this, the face on the front.....this is what I wanted, exactly. The soft glowing kindness, the gentle color, the crackle of age.
For whatever reason, I was reminded of Orthodox Icons and then I thought about the Hagia Sophia's beautiful round domes...my mind was pulling together all the wonderful remnants I have seen from archeological digs, and thus, this piece in process.
I now have to find both *stem* and *base* but this has motivated me to look, and to finish.
And by the way, this Sunday, please stop by Seth Apter's incredible, great art blog, "The Altered Page"....

....because I will be part of The Pulse, in Style File! 
If you love mixed media, Seth's blog is a MUST to follow. He does amazing work and is constantly introducing new artists there.
Anyway, I've rambled enough.
I just want to say.....art felt really GREAT today!
Wishing you beautiful visions, inspiration, and all the style you could ask for! And of course....


Pax....