Finished the "topper" from the scrap arch shaped wood I found

in the woodshop's dumpster.  I bought the wooden feet at Lowe's

and attached them to the base just to give it a more finished look.

I attached the middle heart cut from painted linoleum as are the two red leaves using

 copper finishing nails.  The copper makes a nice contrast.  The two hearts on either side of 

the middle heart are cut from dictionary paper and painted with watercolor and then sealed of course.

I used my favorite pencil to draw the swirls and curls and a few leaves.  I had collaged some other

hearts but was not happy the way it was turning out, so I painted over them and started all over again.

Much happier with this combo. The top of the arch is about 2 inches thick and it's painted black and

white stripes as well.  I should also mention the black and white stripe on the front bottom is paper that

I collaged on.  When I need striped black and white paper, I make my own.  I simply take a sheet

of paper and use my Sharpie Magnum marker.. it's huge btw, and make the stripes.  Then I can

make copies to use in collage.  I like that the stripes are loser and not so precise.  I finished the 

piece by spraying it with my favorite clear acrylic spray that looks so glossy.  Love this stuff.

Will make more of these for the upcoming show in May 17th & 18th  at the

Whimsical Women of the West.

It's at the picturesque Four Mile Bed and Breakfast on the road to

Sunlight here in Glenwood Springs.  A wonderful group of women

with talent galore and I plan on having some different art this year besides my

usual kitchen towels etc.  

OKAY MONDAY
seriously need to get to work.

ta.

CHARLIE'S GARDEN

A mixed media assemblage of found objects.  I have been wanting to do a "recycled garden" for a long time.  I have a nice pile of collected things..  been saving odd bits and pieces for years.  Yes, it piles up.  Yes, I should clear it out.  But being an artist who loves to repurpose it just is hard to get rid of the treasures.  In my dreams, I would love to spend a week sorting and categorizing everything.  Then store in clear containers clearly labeled.  But then I wouldn't always experience the serendipitous discovery of reaching for an element (not knowing what I was looking for) and ta-da there it is. 

 Perfect!  

This is done on a cradle board.  I painted the background then started compiling the flowers.   I have a lot of the old molds that I have collected from thrift shops and garage sales.  I hammered these flat, snipping some 

to allow the bowl shape to spread out... which added a petal look.  Old spoons were hammered as well and I had a nice stash of red bottle caps to pop a little color on the spoon flowers.  An old zipper, an old

electric cloth covered cord, some carpenter's rulers and wire created the stems.  I decided I needed some dimension at the base of the flowers and found an old purse at the thrift shop that was green with printed

xoxo's  and hearts.  So I cut out strips and nailed them to the board creating the depth I was looking for.

The one flower with the red bullseye is special to me.  And it does stand out prominently.  The red disk was something I found in my husband's garage trash.. he had cut it out of metal.  The center white is a big old washer from my dad's stash that I gleaned from his garage after he passed away.  He was a tinker and had boxes of goodies that I have been rationing into my art.  The blue and yellow pieces of tin are from a windmill that Dad had made.  He made several of these.  When I got them, the little motors no longer worked, but I knew I would find a use of the propellers someday.  The leaves on this flower are old screen

from some old screen door with lovely old paint and rust.  So after I was done with this piece, I decided to

call it Charlie's Garden.. for my Dad.  He loved to garden after he retired.  

I have a show coming up in a few week with some very fun talented ladies: Whimsical Women of the West.  It's our Spring Show..and I need to pump out as much fun art as I can.

wish me luck..

I need TIME to create.  And that is not always an abundant commodity for me!!!!!