The beauty of form & function

Last weekend I had a spare moment...and stopped in at an estate sale here in town...I love it when the ad mentions "...have lived in house for 63 years, everything must go..."

I  didn't make it over to the house until the end of the sale...so slimmer pickin's...that's fine by me...
really need to keep my accumulation under control...

My modus operandi is to always hit the garage and basement first...in this case, there was quite a cache of tools in the garage...with one BIG box of screwdrivers...I looked through the contents...and was really struck by the variety, texture and color of the wood handles...yes, all wood handles...no plastic to be seen.  I have an idea of a large multi media collage that I want to create for my summer art show - Fresh Paint held in Everett -
here's what I picked up...all for $2.00...

the diversity of the shapes and textures of the wood handles captivated me...such workmanship in their construction...no wonder they've lasted so long...

the shape of the handle providing placement of the palm...and the design within the wood to ensure a good grip...worn patina that belies their usefulness...

I also picked up this vintage black metal lunch box...
did the owner carry his lunch to work as a carpenter or handyman?

Whatever their prior history might have been...I will be giving these tools a new story...as I work to incorporate them as part of my art assemblage...details later this summer...

My favorite tools

In the midst of starting a new project today...clearing off a space on the dining room table...because I have no other work space left...I always make sure that I have my favorite tools at hand...and thought I would share them with you...

First a word about my new project...I spent a wonderful afternoon earlier this week brainstorming with my art friend Jody Cain of Latitude Studios...we are both vendors at the upcoming Farm Chicks show...she has been a vendor before so I wanted to pick her brain...and she wanted to pick mine for display ideas.  Its a godsend to have another like-minded artist to spark ideas...when I got home, I started to play with all sorts of stuff sitting on my office desk...piles of stuff that I know I want to do something with...but just not sure what...and I'm afraid that if I put it away someplace...well, its that "out of sight, out of mind" thing...

I have a box of MOO cards that I ordered last year...MOO is a printing company out of England that is changing the mindset that your business card needs to be a standard size and rather boring...with the cards I ordered, I screwed up my contact information (my fault - not theirs) but I still had 100 cards with my art images printed on them...what to do...

Somehow it came to me...a "eureka moment"...to group images together into a mini-collage...so after getting a pine board cut into pieces...and determining the sequence and layout...I'm on a roll...the boards will be painted and a coordinating piece of vintage paper will be the background for each collage...I'll share when they are completed...











Back to my tools...I like to keep it simple...
these 4 tools are my mainstay and I probably use them every time I'm creating...

1.  Sanding block

I sand everything...my wood "canvases" to smooth the edges before I start...the edges of my collage to remove any excess paper...the surface of my collage to soften and "age" the final image.  I keep two blocks in my studio - one loaded with a #120 grit paper for final sanding and one loaded with #60 grit paper for initial smoothing.  I love the feel of the rubber block while sanding...I get an even application of pressure when using a block as opposed to an uneven, random effect when you just grab a piece of sandpaper and try to sand with little to hold onto...














2.  Chip brushes

I love using a chip brush...especially when I'm applying my glue mixture...it just seems to carry the right amount of glue and spread it evenly.  They're not expensive...and sometimes I do have to pull a loose hair out of the glue or paint...but they are natural bristle - not polyester or nylon - so they perform so much better.  And because they are natural bristle, I can use them with either a water based or an oil based medium with no worry that the bristles will dissolve or melt...





3. & 4. Brayer & seam gauge

My hard rubber brayer was one of the first tools I bought 15 years ago when I started being serious about art and launched my company, four corners design...I bought it at a wonderful art supply store in Neal's Yard, London...I paid a pretty pound for it...but it has been indestructible.  I use it to smooth out papers, press a clean fold, or even apply a thin layer of paint for texture on a collage.

My metal seam gauge is a lifesaver...it helps me place a collage element into position without being crooked, it gives me an accurate measure that I can calibrate with the slide indicator and the flush straight edge is invaluable in giving a torn edge to paper...I'd be lost without it...







Now that's it for hand tools...some day I'll talk about power tools...
Do you have any favorites?  That one item that is essential to your work?  I'd love to know!

A cautionary tale

My original intention with this post was to write about my progress on my word for the year - Begin...how I had begun to tackle portions of my identified projects...but a thorny path ensued...



First off, I signed up for Kim Klassen's online class "Beyond Layers" to motivate me to acquire at least a rudimentary understanding of Photoshop...I registered and the first class was January 16.  I plunged right in!

Second...to broaden public exposure of my original collage creations, I began to research area art shows, mindful of the deadlines so I could submit applications on time with great images of my work.

In addition, I signed up for the Imagine the Impossibilities Challenge hosted by 6 great bloggers, indicating that my challenge would be to get a handle on Photoshop by the end of the month...I figured that this would keep me honest...I didn't want to have nothing to say at month's end.

I encountered some bumps along the way...with the first photo assignment of the Beyond Layers workshop, I was lost.  My copy of Photoshop 7 is the whole enchilada - the complete professional version.  To begin the process of minor photo editing was daunting...and frustrating.  After conferring with Kim, I downloaded Photoshop Elements 10...or as I like to call it, weenie Photoshop.  Sometimes the lesson to be learned is knowing your limitations...what's possible and what's not.  I figured that once I got a handle on the software of Photoshop Elements, Photoshop 7 would be easier to understand at a later time.

I had immediate gratification using Photoshop Elements to complete the first assignment of the Beyond Layers online course...and here's my textured photograph using the subject of "just enough" and applying Kim's "Awaken" texture...

The next lesson in Beyond Layers was a writing assignment...using the idea of the Six Word Memoir from Smith Magazine, you were to capture a moment of your life in six words...several came to mind (including menopause dilemma: chin hair? where? tweezers!) but the one that resonated with me was this...

Begin now- before procrastination sets in

Unfortunately procrastination had already taken its toll...last week my computer hard drive died...and I lost all my documents/ photos/ files/ bookmarks...because, yes - I neglected to back up my computer.  I know its my fault - I know better - but my computer was less than a year old, surely it would be operating great for awhile.  I had never had any problems before so I was a little cavalier about it...but in second, it was all gone.

Yes, my computer is under warranty so I am getting my hard drive replaced at no charge but the lost files are my problem.  I spent last week finding out more than I could ever imagine about protecting hard drives and data recovery.  Obviously I am not alone in my cavalier attitude that "this can't happen to me!" since there is quite a business in data recovery...and after conferring with experts, it was possible to get my data back...to the tune of $1200...I couldn't justify $1200...I just had to deal with the fact that it was gone.

So my participation in Beyond Layers has been put on hold since I have no previous photos and no copy of Photoshop of any version to play with.  My new hard drive will arrive in about two weeks...in the meantime I am using the Southern Man's laptop but it doesn't have my photos nor my software on it.

My ability to apply to art shows is put on hold - not only do I not have any photos of my work, I don't have any photos of my booth setup from previous shows - a usually necessary element of applications.

But what I do have is some sage advice and some practical information that I can share...in what I hope is a very simple explanation to guide others...because I am assuming that many of you are just like me...you just want to turn on your computer and have it work...

First off, hardware problems are mechanical problems...software failures don't affect hardware components.  The techie who looked at my hard drive revealed that the most likely cause of the damage was electrical surge that prevented the needle from reading the discs...having a surge protector is little help when there is a storm raging outside...essentially, your surge protector then is one big electrical cord to your computer.  And it only takes a second to fry your hard drive.

The solution - battery backup.  This device essentially "evens out" the electricity going into your computer - no peaks and valleys - no surges.  And at the slightest hint of an electrical problem, immediately jumps into battery mode to run your computer so any spikes are averted.  I bought my battery backup on Amazon - it was about $60, not really that much more expensive than a decent surge protector (which I have now learned is an oxymoron!)

As for data storage, I bought an external hard drive - Western Digital My Passport with 1TB of storage...I save all my photo files as big files so this baby will give me plenty of storage space...and its not much bigger than my smartphone...automatically backs up a file whenever you make any changes to it...again, bought it on Amazon for about $150.  There is also "cloud drive storage" available...Amazon is offering 5GB for free, Dropbox offers 2KB for free...here your files are saved securely on their servers but available anywhere...I'm thinking I might use this system as a back-up.

So when Linda from it all started with paint asked me to Imagine the Impossibilities and join in the challenge, I never imagined this would be the impossibility I would face...but I did...and here's hoping that you never do...

I'm linking up over at it all started with paint to share my challenge...there will be plenty of others sharing too...most of whom will be sharing successful projects that will inspire...and challenge others to take on the impossible!

When a phone is not a phone

Who ever thought that you could do so much more with your cell phone than just calling...the explosion of the phone as camera is phenomenal and is taking off as its own art medium.  Can you believe how sharp this photo is...yep, it was taken by my smartphone...

photo by amy duncan / taken with Retro Camera app for Android

My artist friend Dave over at Clearer Reflections is hosting a parade of photomania...participating artists are sharing, not only their photo creations, but also the formula/app/process/"recipe"  they used to create it...all done on a smartphone!  amazing what technology can do!

Here is my contribution...I don't have a lot of fancy apps on my phone (at least not yet...) so I was just playing around with the settings on the camera function of my phone (Motorola Atrix 4G)...this photo is a composition of the four settings available (beyond normal)...the settings clockwise from the upper left corner are - solarize, sepia, black & white, and negative.

And yes, I cheated (only a little bit!)...I used Picasa to collage the photos...I have the Diptic app on my phone but it only has combinations of three photos for a collage, not four...though I am sure there is an app that would have done exactly what I wanted...I'll have to visit Dave's blog to view everyone's creations and recipes...I hope you join me there...Click here to visit Clearer Reflections and Dave's photo cookbook...

The madness lives on

Before we go any further, let me explain...that's metal madness...my obsession with metal things that are rusty, worn out, dilapidated and finding a new use and undiscovered beauty in their being.

You might remember my post on metal wire springs made into vases...as I was scrounging around for more springs, I came across a couple of rather large springs...they wouldn't do for vases...so what else could I concoct?





The process begins...metal springs...

old painted boards, cleaned, sanded and waxed...

A couple of double point tacks and my trusty metal hammer (great for working in tight spaces!)...

Pilot holes are always a good idea...

that way you make sure the nail/screw/brad is in the position you want...

Label holder secured with trimmers tacks...

And you have the ideal photo display...

Closeup detail of how I attached the spring...

Being Friday, I am straddling two link-ups...Thrifty Thursday at inspired by charm and

Saturday Nite Special at Funky Junk Interiors...twice the fun, double the inspiration...

The Pulse, part 2

I am privileged to be a part of "The Pulse - The State of the Art" -- a survey in words and pictures of the online artist community hosted by Seth Apter of The Altered Page. The Pulse is a collaborative project that aims to introduce you to new artists, help you get to know familiar faces even more, and allow you access into the creative hearts and minds of a very talented crew of individuals. More than 130 artists have answered a series of questions which make up The Pulse. Their responses are presented in a series of online posts which run every Sunday.

Style File was the first project posted and my response to this first project can be found here.  The second project, Techniques & Tools, which includes my input, is part of today's post at The Altered Page.  Click here to read all of today's post. 

And Seth has an ongoing sidebar at The Altered Page where you can view all past projects and responses...its sensory overload...but of a good kind!

Some want diamonds...others, rust

I had a chance over the weekend to sort & clean my finds from my Yakima trip.  Some will end up in my space at Faded Elegance...some will be fodder for future art projects...some will stay at home with me...










I collect black croquet balls...just the black ones...this beauty is my newest addition...
adore the pewter bowl too...well-loved with great patina...it will be at Faded Elegance as part of my October/November vignette...

The metal trowels with their wood handles make handsome photo holders.  I always carry a magnet with me when I'm junking to check out whether or not found metal is steel (magnet will stick) or aluminum (magnet will not stick)...whether or not a magnet sticks often dictates how it will be used.  The fabric button magnets are a quick and easy project...find details on how to make them here.

Old tools, of any kind, fascinate me...especially anything connected with measuring.  The wood handled awl is going into the container with my other art tools...the wood feels so comfortable in my hand...

And then there's this honey of a tool...the Southern Man bought this for me at one of the estate sales we were at...he told me, "You need this."  He was oh so right...

Linking up to Mosaic Monday at Little Red House...stop by to see all the other mosaic wonders...

An artist's tools

As is the case with most artists, you create what speaks to you... I have an affinity for the most basic of artist tools - a pencil, a paintbrush, a pair of scissors.  And of course, if they are old, used and well-loved, all the better! 

I created a series of multi-media collages for my Fresh Paint show that use old book covers for the collage foundation...the marbelized paper was so beautiful with just a hint of the leather binding on the edges. 
These three collages pay homage to artist tools ...

Select original collages will be for sale at my etsy shop after the Fresh Paint show...available after August 23...and don't forget - free shipping for the month of August....just input 811FREESHIP at the end of your order.

Share & share alike

                                                                                                        
Blog world is filled with ideas...its easy to get lost bouncing around from one blog to another...no shortage of inspiration to be sure!

There's been grumbling on a couple of the blogs that I follow that people are not sharing nicely...and its disheartening to hear.  I know that once you put something on your blog, its out there...but it would be nice if people didn't steal ideas/photos/how-to instructions without credit/permission/link to the original creator.

It has happened to me...I would gladly give permission - just ask...enough said.












When I saw this "how-to" post at Funky Junk Interiors, I was inspired to make my own version of the ubiquitous wooden tool tote.  Click here to see the Funk Junk Interiors Post that gives you step by step instruction.  I read through the instructions and thought it seemed easy enough...should have printed them out...had a few glitches along the way...

First - I rummaged through my scrap wood...given the material list to make the tote, I figured I had at hand what I needed...found a length of wood moulding with perfect white chippy paint...

This piece would be the sides of the tote.  For the ends, the instructions call for cutting two boards with angled sides...I had a couple of old pickets...looked like I could use those since they were angled...I cut every thing to size and then sanded it smooth...this is where having an electic sander really makes the task so much easier.

Second, I started to nail it all together...there are no photos here...I needed a third hand to hold boards straight while I hammered into old, hard wood...needless to say, it wasn't always pretty...once the box was completed, I put on the bottom piece of wood, just as the directions indicated...except one major glitch...I forgot to insert the handle!

OK - everything was nailed together, edges flush and even...no way was I taking it apart to drill holes into the end pieces and insert the handle...my brain went into overdrive...I went searching for a handle...found a broken garden rake...figured I would drill a 1" hole with my spade bit and insert the handle and secure it somehow with the metal rake protuding from the opposite end.  Got out the spade bit, started drilling...and drilling...and drilling...old wood is very hard.  Only able to drill 1/2 way into the end but that will work since the end of the handle can then rest in the hole without sticking out.

On to drilling the hole in the other side so I can slide the rake into place...again, it was torture...and I forgot to have a piece of wood underneath the place where I was drilling...when I finally broke through, I tore up the wood from the bit still turning...good thing I was going for that rustic look!

Third, I sawed off the end of the broken rake so the length would fit snugly from end to end.  I threaded the rake through the one hole and secured the other end with a nail hammered through the end board into the butt end of rake.

And voila!

I whitewashed the cut ends of the boards as well as the bottom piece of wood to make them blend in with the rest of the tote.  I didn't whitewash the portion of the pickets where they were once attached to a fence...wanted to give it a proper provenance!

I love the jaunty end of my rake handle...

Lots of lessons learned...will make the next one so much easier!

I'm linking up to Saturday Nite Special at Funky Junk Interiors where everyone else is showing off their tool totes...no stopping a woman with a jigsaw!

The need for power

gift bag made from vintage wallpaper
with paint chip tag

I have a birthday coming up so I bought myself a birthday present...
was it a kate spade bag? 
a pair of jimmy choo shoes? 
a trip to Paris? 
(no, no and god I wish it was, but no.) 
It was a new battery for my cordless power tool set!






Why all the excitement - well, let me tell you...  A number of years ago I was frustrated with the large-size circular saw we had - it was so big and clumsy when all I wanted to do was cut a piece of lumber in half.  So I went out and I bought this great six piece Black & Decker power tool kit - one rechargeable cordless base with six interchangeable heads - circular saw, jigsaw, drill, router, mouse sander and flashlight.  The best part was that it was a compact, lightweight tool - easy to hold and comfortable for my smaller hands.  Now granted this is not a tool you would use to build a house but for art and decor projects, it was perfect.
Over the years, I burned out the drill - and found that a corded drill really gave me more of the power that I needed.  And I got an electric sander for more than just incidental sanding.  But the circular saw and jigsaw were ideal for my needs.  About 6 months ago, there just didn't seem like there was enough juice to sufficiently power the saw attachments.  I found out that rechargeable batteries only have so much life to them and obviously I had reached the limit.  I thought perhaps I would upgrade and get another power tool set because surely in 10 years there have been improvements...boy was I wrong!
Not only did I not find any other "small-sized" power tools, the Black & Decker set that I originally bought is no longer available.  Now I thought that "the powers that be" had realized that women are increasingly using (and enjoying) power tools - not yet to the extent of men but making big inroads (evidenced by the popularity of Amy Matthews.)  Guess I was wrong.
So I searched and I researched and I hemmed and I hawed and finally found a battery that is compatible with my B & D tool set.  It arrived today (from Amazon - what don't they have?!) And now I can get back to finishing up projects for the Everett Home & Gift Show.

battery getting charged up...
hurry, hurry, hurry!

I hope to have everything done in time for the show - all the details are at my other blog, collage duos --including a link to get free admission tickets.  Check it out!