50% OFF SALE!!

Hey there! I know I haven't blogged for what seems like YEARS but wanted to let you know that I'm having a 50% off sale in my Etsy shop til Sept. 12. Here's some photos of some of the sale items--click on this link to take you there!

The Cyclone completed plus 4 new pieces

Here is the completed Cyclone piece from my previous post plus 4 of my new pieces that I'll be showing this starting this Friday, Nov. 5-Nov.30 at the Hilliard Gallery-1820 McGee-KCMO.

The Juggler-She was trying to keep all the balls in the air. This piece is about trying to juggle it all in life. It is a working dexterity game. It contains 5 metal balls which fit into the round holes over the woman's head. This piece is constructed of wood, tissue paper, handprinted fabric, painted metal, and wax encaustic. It measures 8"w x 10"h.

Conundrum-Sometimes I can't keep my mind from wandering. I wanted to make a piece that depicted a person's thoughts shooting around their head and pinging off of one thing or another, winding around Wonder and Imagination, occasionally getting stalled on Doubt or Skepticism but ultimately landing somewhere between a Bad or a Brilliant idea. This piece is a working pinball game with a ball shooter, faucet handles as spinners and curved metal scoops that provide ball stops. It's 16"w x 20"h.

Bed of Nails-He was on pins and needles.This piece is constructed of clay, found wood, nails, handprinted fabric, and acrylic paint. It measures 12"w x 6"h.

World's Tallest Man-He was above it all. This piece is constructed of clay, acrylic paint, found wood, wire, and handprinted fabric. It's 6"w x 12"h.

Evolution of a "Cyclone"

I'm getting ready for another gallery show--this time I'm really excited to be doing a duo show around the theme of amusement park rides and games with an amazing oil painter named Peter Cole. I would link here to his blog or site but I don't think he has one so I'll post photos later. I thought I'd try something new and show a bit of the process of making my pieces. This piece is a bit different from some of my previous ones--(as most of them are I guess). This one is a large clay sculpt of a woman who is literally a wreck and I named her The Cyclone after the famous roller coaster at Coney Island. Here she is in transition-the first step of sculpting her took about 2 hours total. The background is on the back of an old plywood and formica tabletop that has been in my basement for years. I drew rough outlines of carnival rides and tents on the background with oil pastels, then melted wax encaustic over the entire thing (the woman included.) I have colored her face with acrylic paints and soft pastel crayons. The roller coaster in her hair is made of wire and she sits on a found wood base. The pics here show the beginning mound of clay to her semi-finished state but I'll have some better photos of the finished piece in the next few days.

BOCONW-(big ol chunk of new work)

Well I'm almost done with a whole new group of work and I have all the photos on facebook (link to the right) but I'll post a bunch here also since I know everyone doesn't subscribe. I've been doing a series of "circus freaks" except these have their own individual twists. In The Transparent Man and Woman shown below, their tattoos appear from the inside out, revealing their deepest thoughts and feelings (can you imagine?) I've also included The Disappearing Lady, who "always feels as if something is missing" and The Escapologist, who "lives in a prison of his own making." They will be for sale at the upcoming Plaza Art Fair on Sept. 24-26 here in KC or afterwards on my website.

New Stuff in my Etsy Shop

Lg Lovebird Cage on Hanging Plaque
Sm Rollercoaster Cage on Hanging Plaque

It's been waaaaay too long since I added some new pieces to my Etsy shop but now that I've started, I can't stop...each day I'm trying to add at least one. Here are some photos of some of the new pieces-cages that hang from found wood plaques on the wall. I also have a new ferris wheel with a curtain behind it. A few of my lamps will be listed there soon too!

work wOrk WOrK!

I've been a bad little blogger lately but only because I've been burning the candle at both ends to get ready for the upcoming Buyer's Market of American Craft in Philadelphia, PA. I'm traveling by myself to this big show for the first time so wish me luck...it scares me a bit but is the most cost-effective way to do an out of town show. I'm excited to be seeing a new city for the first time though and meet some other artists and potential clients! Here's some of the pieces I've been cooking up for the show-the cake toppers will be available in my Etsy shop for custom orders. The small wire tents that hang from found wood are new pieces for me-I'm "branching" out-(ok sorry but I can't resist a good pun...or a bad one) and I'm selling these little guys here in KC at Latteland til late August and again in September at the Plaza Art Fair.

If you are interested in purchasing any of this work, please

email me at ts826@kc.rr.com

If a piece you are wanting is sold, please contact me

and I will be happy to let you know what I do have in stock

as I'm constantly making new cages!

Helter Skelter Tower
This piece stands a statuesque 26" tall and is 13" in diameter.
It's what I call my "signature piece" because it means the most to me
and conveys everything my Homemade Circus look consists of
--old, broken down circus rides that nature has reclaimed and
made beautiful and whimsical again!
Click on the photo above to go to my Etsy shop to get more
info or buy this piece

Two Bluebirds In Love
These bluebirds live in their own little world in a wire heart entwined
with red raffia. These birds, like all my birds,are handmade by me
from paperclay.

The antique silver tinsel covers their perch and they sit on a
twig of real cherry wood!
Click on the photo above for more info or to buy



The Flying Dutchman
I built this piece to display my little birds in boxes
but like a real carnival ride, it actually spins around!
It stands about 23" tall and is about 15" diameter
Right now this piece is only for show but the birds
in boxes are available.

Individual small birds in boxes

approx. 3"h x 3"w

$20.00
email me to purchase


Red Circus Bird on silver tinsel perch
This bird can be happy on his perch either swinging from the
swirly wire hook or sitting on a table! He sits on a cherry twig
and is surrounded by antique silver tinsel.
SOLD-thank you!

Black and Red birds in cages

These two birds are practicing their "high wire act"
on the twisty wire vines and leaves on
this 6" high cage. -$45.00
Pedestal is sold separately and is
handmade from tissue paper, ribbon and heavy cardboard.
Pedestal-$20.00

SOLD-thank you!

The Lovebirds
These two are definitely two peas in a pod in
their cozy nest made of real iris leaves!
The heart shaped perch is made from raffia
and wire and is sold separately from the
striped pedestal beneath it.
Approx. 9" high w/ pedestal.
Lovebirds-$75.00
Pedestal-$25.00

Tammy Smith©2008.
All content on this site is property of Tammy Smith
and may not be used in any way without permission.