sequence

finally! i graduated! i now have a B.S. in art education and i am done with school! until i find a job/get my masters....

so i now i have time to make some new art! this assemblage started with an industry inspiration. i got the tail light from my husband's car and the rest fell in behind that. i love the little dangling features at the bottom, that's something i haven't done before. i am also a new fan of 1" wooden cubes, they make excellent spacers and lifters, and they're very easy to recolor! i don't remember where i found the central piece, that metal circle...thing? but it is my favorite part. it fit in so perfectly! so here it is, Sequence, so named for the many tiny numbers scattered throughout. 

steampunk art necklace

i felt like making something new for everyday wear, a little more practical than a snail on a chain. so i sat down and created this!

the text is a dictionary clip, a definition of "art". the typewriter keys are from the lovely industrial chic collection from Michael's. i would buy all of it if i could, but it is too expensive. :( but you should check out the site anyway, i'm sure you'll drool.

i filled the text area with some 3D scrapbook gel stuff. it takes forever to get solid, but it's so useful.
can't wait for it to dry so i can show it off. :)
also, i am so glad i held onto some of that old barn wood from my wedding signs. it makes for great display backgrounds, and i just love having it around the studio.

Alter-It Monthly: Dominoes

i was super excited about this month's theme! and i took it as an opportunity to finish a piece i started about a year ago. i also finally used some of the itty bitty clock pieces i found in an old watch. i started by going over the piece with a semi-transparent gold. then i used an amazing $1 stamp from Michael's for the clock on the front. i inserted some tiny screws into the button holes and added the little clock gears. finally, i sprinkled some gold glitter (nothing's complete without glitter) and wrapped the cover with copper wire.
i stamped the inside pages with some more $1 stamps to finish. i am very happy with it and glad that it is finally finished. :)

what i love this week....

literature pieces! this piece was inspired by a pendant i found at Agnes the Red Gallery a year or so ago, pictured above. i love the simplicity of this piece and the use of found materials.

my piece was made with bundled newspaper as the base. i added some plastic sprockets and a metal "L". then i used glue and gold glitter for some swirls and dots (feeling very glittery at the moment). then i used some gold jewelry wire and the copper wire from inside the clocks to wrap the piece. it is all held together with a copper plate and some tie wire at the top. last, i used some brown suede cord to hang it.

this is a very different piece for me, i've never worked with paper before. but of course, it still has my style and is obviously a beth-like piece.

tim holtz inspired

this is me trying to figure out what to do with the aforementioned 7 and 8 i acquired. the 6 was used in a simple necklace composition, and the 8 is used in this one.

inspired by, who else, Tim Holtz's work, i created this piece. (not the one with the 5, that's tim's.)

i had some copper plate left over from a high school project that i decided would make a great setting and stable base for this piece. i used green scrapbook paper for color contrast and a rough grit sandpaper to create a mesh feeling that also breaks up the composition. then i added a cog (actually i think its the exact same one he used, oops) that is held in place with a brad. the nut has some green and some copper color in it, so it was perfect to use for this. it is help in place with copper wire that runs up to the top and is clamped in place. for an extra sparkle i added a plastic gem (no idea why, just felt like the right thing to do). it actually kind of gives it a feel of an old oil lamp or an early edison bulb and makes me think of things like 9 or The City of Ember.
last, i used a stabbing tool to make two holes: one in the top for stringing onto a chain for jewelry and another on the bottom to hold the 8 in place. the 8 is connected with a gold jewelry making wire.

this is one of my favorite pieces, even though i don't know what to do with it yet and i may or may not be finished. i love the colors and the steampunk feel. i still have the 7 left to work with, we'll see what comes of that!

Jewelry: Graphic Numbers

i found these excellent number pendants at Michael's for half off the other day, so of course i couldn't resist. the have a very steampunk-esque feel and reminds me of the movie 9, even though i've never seen it, it looks great though.

this was a very simple composition. i started with a chunky silver chain that i spray painted gold to match the piece better. a piece of gold wire was strung through the top of the 6 and two beads were added. then simply connected to the chain! a very quick piece, very beautiful and vivid colors that will bring a pop to any outfit. i especially like it with this purple and orange palette. i still have a 7 and 8 to work with, as well as a ton of other great pieces, but i am out of chain! which happens to be kind of expensive. so those other pieces will have to wait, although i am very eager to get started on them.