The Ties That Bind-Collecting Curiosities-A Peek-a-Boo Project

Whereas my last tutorial was simple and sweet and easy peasy, this one is complicated and took on a life of its own. I'm surprised and intrigued by the final project. Join me in this journey of layer and textures.

I've collected Martha Stewart Magazine Images from when I used to be a subscriber. The one article was about collecting insects and the photography was rich and organic, it is the inspiration behind this masterpiece. It also honors the recent sale of our family homestead in Pennsylvania. We are healing and moving on, standing on the shifting sands of time dipping into a cool oasis of memories.

Supplies:  Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts-6 by 4 Specimen Box, Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts-Acorn Border Set, Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts-Honeycomb & Queen Bees ATC Sized, Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts-Gothic Cross Miniature,  Uhu Glue Stick, Vintage Text, Mister with Water and Rubbing Alcohol, Cloth, Sanding Block, Matte Varnish, Gold Nickel, Acrylic Paint, Tim Holtz Distress Oxide Sprays-Pistachio, Marmalade, Amber Fired Brick, Cheap Hairspray, Spices, Magazine Images,  Washi Tape, Clear Embossing Ink Roller, Allure Charred Gold and Vintage Beeswax Embossing Powder a, Heating Tool, Black Sharpie, Golden Hansa Yellow Light Acrylic paint, Nail Polish, Rub'n Buff Autumn Gold and Gold Leaf, Weldbond, Double Sided Foam Dots,

1.  Cut GSLC 6 by 4 Specimen Box. I am using unorthodox techniques and definitely not prescribed by most designers. 

2.  I first randomly glued pieces of vintage text all over all of the pieces of the specimen box.

3.  Once dry I rubbed off part of the text using a damp cloth.

4.  Next I used a sanding block to rediscover the slots I will need to assemble the box.

5.  I then made a glaze out of Matte Varnish and Acrylic Nickel Gold Paint.

6. I assembled the box using Weldbond to hold it all together.

   7. Once fully dried I sprayed with TH Distress Oxides and added water and alcohol to I found layers I was pleased with.

8.  Once fully dry I sealed with Cheap hairspray.

9.  While hair spray is still wet I sprinkled with spices to give it a dusty organics look.

10.                Not satisfied with the layers I cut up magazine images and patch worked together the individual chambers.

11.                I added edging to the sides of my specimen box with strips of paper and washi tape.

12.                Still not feeling the project complete I want into my GSLC stash and settled on the Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts-Acorn Border Set, Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts-Honeycomb & Queen Bees ATC Sized and added the to my vignettes.

13.                I used Clear Embossing Ink and Charred Gold Embossing Powder on the Acorn boarders.

14.                I used a Black Sharpie, Golden Hansa Yellow Light Acrylic paint, Nail Polish to decorate the bees.

15.                I used Clear Embossing Ink and Vantage Beeswax  Embossing Powder on the Honeycombs.

16.                I used Rub'n Buff Autumn Gold and Gold Leaf on the GSLC Crown and Crosses.

17.                I finally assembled my specimen box using Weldbond and double sided foam dots to layer all pieces.

Some Final Thoughts.

This art project had many twists and turns, many setbacks and follow-throughs. I had to problem solve and step away but in the end I like the story it tells. We are families of our own choosing, stuck together through thick and thin, sometimes sweet as honey others as bitter as vinegar, we carry our crosses for other to sometime see but often hidden beneath out crooked crowns, We are busy as bees collectors of curiosities. Layers upon layers, hidden and healed, brilliant and perplexing. this project reminded me of one of my favorite podcasts I like to listen to, Here Be Monsters, it took me a while to get into it because there are layers and the topics they discuss are sometime challenging and makes me feel uneasy. They describe it as a podcast created by and for people interested in pursuing their fears and facing the unknown. It's a bit of a "freak show"  a collection of curiosities, which I find intriguing and interesting. There is an image on my project that is distorted in the upper right hand corner, she appears to be a dog-faced woman I wonder what story she has to tell and how all these curiosities fit together.

 
 
 
 

 

 

 
 
 

Crazy Quilts and Woven Friends-A Peek-a-Boo Project

I've always loved Crazy Quilts. I'm lucky enough to have one of my paternal grandmother's rescued from the dusty attic of our homestead. She worked in a pajama factory that also did custom upholstery, frugal like my mother she collected the scraps and made the amazing tapestry I now own. When my mother passed in November of last year a dear artist friend gave me a care package that contained one of her felted hearts, and other small paper ephemera, there are the inspirations for this project. Our lives may appear as crazy quilts to some, tattered and torn, weathered and worn best to be replaced with luxurious, expensive duvet cover, but as for me and my menagerie of friends we find comfort in oldfangled, rescued, family treasures.  

 

Supplies:  Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts-Large Tags, Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts-Mini Tudor Rose Singles, Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts-Henna Doodles 1, Collected Embellishments, Scrapes of  Magazine Pictures, Black Acrylic Paint, Paint Brush, Fiskars Paper Edger Scissors, White Gesso, Small Paint Brush or Toothpick, Versa Mark, Embossing Powders or Enamels in Reds, Greens, and Blues, Heating Tool, Sari Ribbon, Weldbond
1.  Take apart GSLC Large Tags,  GSLC Mini Tudor Rose Singles and Heart Shapes from GSLC Henna Doodles 1 Set.

2.  Paint GSLC Large Tags with black acrylic paint, allow to dry fully.

3.   Choose collected embellishments from your stash. I am using a felted heart and two paper ephemera.

4.  Choose some magazine pictures within your color palette. 

5.   Cut random shapes from magazine pictures using pinking shears or Fiskars Paper Edgers.

6.   Glue pieces onto painted tags, you are attempting to create a quilt-like pattern.

7.  Use a small paint brush  or a toothpick and white gesso to stitch your paper quilt pieces together.

8.   Use versa mark and red embossing powders or enamels to color the GSLC heart pieces. Cure with a heating tool.

9.  Use versa mark and green and blue  embossing powders or enamels to color the GSLC Mini Tudor Rose Singles. Cure with a heating tool. Some final thoughts.
11.                Choose sari ribbons to add texture behind the GSLC embossed pieces and to further the illusion of a quilted piece.
12.                Assemble securing with Weldbond and weighting down with plastic bag filled with kitty litter.

Some final thoughts: "In the Quilt of Life, friends are the stitches that hold us together" is a befitting quote for this project. Others could be: "A good friend, like an old quilt is both a treasure and a comfort.", "A friend is like a quilt designed by heart, pierced in time, sewn by hand and bound to keep you covered." and "When things are in pieces, quilt them together." There is a category of photography titled urban decay you can look up on Pinterest, I find it organically intoxicating. It is what I seek to exude in my living and in many of my art pieces.