Rusted Stuff

Rust...Yeah, so what do you think of when that word comes to mind? Someone left the bike out in the rain?! Old metal lawn chairs from the 50’s and 60’s? Your parents old car from back in the day? A buried treasure of coins...no, those were just rusted screws found in an old jug out back. No, no, how about this...the weekly challenge over at Three Muses? Yup, this is the last day and I’m getting this one in just under the wire! Gawd, talk about old and rusted (me...LateFreightSuzie). Did I make it...think so.

Remember in the last post I said that I would do something with those rusty gears? Well that did happen, and this piece started out with the idea of being a plain ol' magnet (where the skellie is) for the fridge. I kid you not! But my muse came in and totally took over, again! Which is why it’s right at the deadline. Just kept my mind open to her prompts and building upon what was there. Geez, she's so pushy sometimes.

click image to enlarge

Then I got a bee in my bonnet. It had to have an ornate frame. There was no way this was gonna rest till one was found. Searched through hell and high water for the right frame. Michael’s (two locations), Joann, Aaron Brothers, even a garage sale! Grrrr, could not find the right one...until I went to Urban Ore.

Hawt damn! Found it! Recycled, you betcha. It wasn’t as ornate as I wanted it to be, but it was wood (yush!). Washed it up, painted and distressed it, and there you have it. I rusted the ball chain and other elements then added some magic to it. This is a perfect piece for DOTD or Halloween. Guess the magnet will have to come at another time? Hah!

Thanx so much for stoppin’ by!

What Can Ya Do With This Stuff? Part 3....

Well, you could do a lot with it, just depends on you imagination. Thank gawd for Imagination and Tools! What would you do with it?
 

Since I’ve been on an ALTOIDS tin kick lately (see last post), the decision was to Keep Calm and get on with it! Do you see those tiles at the bottom of the first pic?... those are Formica tiles samples...some of them were gesso prepped to be used in the last workshop I taught. Huh, they never made it into the stash of classroom supplies. The idea was to make a “book like” thingy to go inside the tin. Nope, never happened. But the idea still lingered in the ‘ol noggin so I put it aside in the Later Reference Files brain compartment.

Last week I came across a challenge while visiting some Art Blogs. One is over at Three Muses (they have a weekly art challenge every Wednesday). This particular challenge piqued my interest and set it on fire. Steampunk! Oh yeah! *reaches into the Later Reference Files and pulls up the Formica tiles “book like” thingy* Oh I got busy on this one right away so it could go into the challenge. Who knows, it may show up in other places. Here it is...love the way it turned out too.

Shout outs go to The Graphics Fairy for some awesome graphics to play with and Spirit's Journey Designs. Other images came from various places (wish I could remember….brain freeze). Thank You all!

Some serious collage, mixed media, assemblage goin’ on here. I intentionally painted it all over so that it wouldn't close….to give you a tiny peek inside. How or why I came up with the color is beyond me. What was I thinking?! But it worked out tho. And because of the Formica tiles (5 of them), it has a bit of weight to it. The eyelets and jump rings used completed the set. A perfect match indeed. Just pull the tiles out by the little key to see all the dapper gentlemen inside. Sprinkled with bits of watch parts here and there. See those rusted gears in the pics? That’s my next project/challenge. Thanx for stopping by….see ya soon!

A Life Force bearing gifts

This is a powerful piece that hits the soul and spirit. Whenever I look at it, I am thrown back to a time that I somehow used to know. Many, many lives ago. A reminder of who I was, who I Am? And yet still in this life. Gawd, I wish that I could express this in words. I even had a name for it while it was being created, but by the time it was finished, the name just didn't fit it anymore. Maybe it doesn't need one? It seems that “words” would only bind it and it does not want to be bound. When the art piece is complete, it’s complete. Collage/mixed media. This piece is 13”x8”. The two vial's contain herbs (Angelica root, White Sage, Bearberry leaves) and resins (Frankincense, Myrrh, Copal) as fragrance offerings and invocation.

So once again, it shows up to bring a creative gift. This other Life Force if you will. I do not know where it comes from, or where it goes when it leaves me. But it’s here again. This is the second time for the visitation. I don’t even know what to call it other than a Life Force, a friend. “Do you have a name” I ask, and wait for the revelation of its name. Does it have a name? Does it even matter? What I do know for sure is that it is as old as antiquity. There is a strong sense of this. There is no beginning or end in it. It’s powerful to say the least. How does one explain the movements and the flow of the whole dance? It can only be seen in the finished pieces. The art pieces are unlike anything that I’ve ever done.

The first visit came last Spring around this time. The “Fiery Angel” was created. Talk about “floored” and in awe. This in no way came from me. I was aware of this early on as the pieces were coming together. My vision was totally different from the final piece. You’ve heard me say this before. But I was very much aware that the presence of another Life Force was with me. I knew that my creativity would change from that moment on. A new door opened up that day. The feeling of an old friend that I had not seen in a long, long time came to visit again. It felt good. I felt alive with an energy that was somehow forgotten.

It always has something to say when it comes to visit me. It speaks through my hands because it knows my form of communication. When I am in tune with the gift that is given me from the visit, I have no choice but to let it flow through me. The creations comes from a given feeling, visions, colors, sensations. They feel as old as time itself. It’s hard to explain it. I am humbled, deeply humbled.

This friend is so different from my Muse who likes to play and make tutorials ‘n stuff. There is a strong sense of “spiritual” from it. It is not threatening in any way what so ever. And I am not afraid of it. If anything, it has a story to tell. One that may have been forgotten? One that is to come? Dunno, but I am open to it. There is a sense of oneness when it is around. A sense of “I’ve known you through many lifetimes.”

"Oh Oz never did give nothin' to the Tin Man.....

...that he didn't, didn't already have." I finally got started on my paper dolls for the swap over at ATCsForAll . Introducing, the Tin Man. He's a poseable lil' dude and stands about 8.5" tall. I wanted to do something unique so I used flashing tape over paper and embossed the pieces. Used eyelets instead of brads. Two more dolls to go. I have an idea for the next one, the other hasn't come to me yet.

Salt Water Kisses

Once again the Muse yearns to create and speaks in ways that are unexpected. There is a Blog, Step Outside Your Box Saturdays that I happened upon last week that sent my Muse into a state of deep emotion. Emotion is the theme for now (there have been no updates as of yet). I think that the theme is still there because of others needing to create something around it. I for one did.

This piece is called Salt Water Kisses. 4 1/4 x 4 1/4 box. It is of a mother burying her daughter. There is no coffin, only a cardboard box. That is all she has. The angel depicted is receiving the tiny baby into the embrace of the universe and is sending comfort to those who are still here. The box that holds it all is made out of corrugated cardboard.

Salt Water Kisses comes from my many years of grieving. My daughter's death, she was stillborn at seven months. She would have been 32 by now. My best friend of 20+ years, lover, daughters (my "second chance" baby girl) Godfather, and most respected gentleman in all the world. He was 80 years old when he passed away five days before Christmas in 2000. My "Big Sis", my oldest sister, mama when my birth mom could not be there, best bud to hang with, talk to about anything, gave the best advice, was always there for me through all of my shit. She passed away September 19, 2004. My Mother Annie Bell. She gave me breath she was my connector to the world, my foundation, she taught me how to make due with what I had, how to be strong. She was a powerful woman, independent, expressive, and would give you the shirt off her back if you asked. She went home to be with my sister in January of this year.

My Muse has taken me on this road to remind me of those who loved me and that their love still transcends through time and space even if they are not here in the flesh. That they are still in my heart and I feel them ever so close to me everyday. The grieving process can take on so many forms. It can last a short time, or a long time. However it may come into one's life, it has to be dealt with. Whatever your strength is, move with that.