The Big A .... A Continuing Saga

 Every Spring I go out into the yard to review the status of all my yard art creations.   All of them need bleached and washed, some need new hanging wires or repainted, some (particularly if wood, and not concrete based) have warped and are ready for their next journal ... to the dump. 

Which, brings me to the Big A ... (otherwise called the monstrosity) in the backyard.  I'll start with a brief recap for those of you not familiar with my 'yard art gone wrong' project.
Summer, 2005:   I had a vision for a concrete & mosaic sculpture, which I was going to call 'Lonesome Road'.  A built a form using roof flashing on a sheet of plywood (as well as a rectangular base for it to set on), and poured the concrete.   A month later, after curing, the big reveal showed it did not anywhere meet my vision for 'Lonesome Road.    In reality, to me, it appeared to be a Big A.   We set it up in the yard to think about it for awhile. 
August 30, 2005:   Hurricane Katrina blew through and dropped a big tree on it, knocking it over, but not hurting it all.  
Spring 2006:  Cleaned it up and decided to mosaic it anyway.   Put together a plan, got some glass ready and started.   By June, decided I didn't like it and stopped. 
Spring 2007:   Cleaned it up and chiseled off the glass.
Spring 2008:  Decided to try a more random mosaic and again began apply glass.  By June, decided I didn't like it and stopped.
Spring 2009:   Cleaned it up and chiseled off the glass.


Spring 2010:   Enough is enough ....   I purchased some paint that will cover up the imperfections and get it over with!

















So, one might ask, do I like it now.   NO; not really.   But, it does look better and it kind of fades into the color of the background fence, making it not quite as big of a sore thumb.    And, truth be told ... it's permanent; I'm certainly not hauling it up to the front for the garbage men to haul away ....  

Ms Leis reinvented as Muse of Bountiful Blessings

Prelude:  In preparation for another change to The Big A (which I'll discuss in another post), I stopped by K-Mart on the way home from yard sales and bought 5 cans of black spray paint and 2 cans of gray textured stone paint.   I thought I give the paint a try-out before tackling The Big A.

Ms Fleur-di-Leis :   Ms. Leis has spent much of her life being an after thought.  Back in those days when I was hand moulding concrete torso's, I decided to make one the full thickness.   And thus, this torso was created.    I didn't like her (at this thickness) much and so, she spent a couple a year or two hanging on the fence in a far corner of the yard.   Then, upon a long overdue whim, (Spring of '95 I think), I cleaned out the area and decided that I really must do something with the concrete torso (throwing her away just didn't feel like the right option), so I took her inside and painted her red with a black Fleur-di-Leis pattern.    Then, I took her back outside, to the opposite side of the yard and hung her back on the fence.    And, other than a month or so stint tucked away inside the shed for Hurricane Katrina, she's been on that fence.    I check her out frequently as a type of study -- durability of acrylic paint on concrete in full sun (versus a couple painted pieces I have in the shade).      She's pretty faded, making her a good candidate for a makeover.

So, I brought her down and cleaned her with a bleach solution and let her dry in the sun for a couple hours.   Then, sprayed her with a coat of black spray paint.   Dry for another hour and then sprayed with a coat of the Textured Stone Spray Paint.      Hummm .... boring; but, I suppose, better than she was looking.

Along her her new wardrobe, I moved her over to hang with the carved concrete dancers, a mirror experiment that's still holding up quite well and one of the concrete tub planters.   This area overlooks the tomato garden where she can be Beau's Muse of Bountiful Blessings.

Yard Sale Saturday, April 17th

I found myself debating this morning whether to get up and go see what was up in the Yard Sale world.   I've been a bit sleepless the last week, but, the sun was up and the birds were singing; so out I went.     I wouldn't say it was much fun, though; I visited 5 sales and when, I still didn't much find myself in the mood, just headed back home.

Finds:
2 plastic storage containers; I typically find these just the right size for much of my found objects storage needs.   One was filled with pencils, which I'll donate to Grans; the other filled with markers, which I'll hold on to for Lilly -- perhaps within the next year she'll be ready for beginners coloring.
A small handful of paints; some acrylic, some tulip and a couple ink blotters.
4 decorative pins, which I now can't find where I put and didn't make the picture.
 
Expenditures ... a whole $1.25

Lilly loves to Swing

 Lilly loves to swing and when she comes to visit I like to take her to Kids Connection Park at Koop Rd.    They have those special swings that little ones can safely sit.   I put her in there and she swings and swings and swings.   Ten minutes or so will go by and I'll ask her if she wants to go to the sandbox (her other favorite) and she'll shake her head no and we'll repeat over and over.   Somewhere around 40 minutes, my arms will get tired and I'll pull her out and we'll head for the sandbox.   She swings high and low and smiles real big.   

Gosh, I love this girl.

Tamborines No Longer in Waiting

Sometime back I brought home 4 Tamborines that were found at different yard sales on the same day.    They sat in the corner of my studio for awhile and then, after awhile, I hung them on the wall to get them out of the way.   I often glanced at them awaiting inspiration.   And, yesterday, it did !

Back in 1991 Beau and I took out first vacation.    Beau was taking me to the Grand Canyon, Zion, Bryce Canyon and Carlsbad Canyon.    I thought we were going on a vacation, but, in reality, it was more like three weeks to physical fitness .... I never realized that he intended that we were hiking in all these places and I certainly wasn't in that level of condition.  (love can be so blind).   Anyway, while we were out on a stretch of highway leading towards Carlsbad, we kept seeing signs about an upcoming attraction.   You know, these signs every couple miles that tell you 'X place' is just ahead .... rock candy in 50 miles ... snakes is 48 miles ... hamburgers in 46 miles, etc. etc. etc.   And, we got to talking about how we could go to the middle of nowhere and build a 'Beau Town' and sell Gumbo and Jambalaya and post signs for 50 or more miles in all directions.   The conversation was a lot of fun.     It came to me as I was looking at the largest tamborine ... and well ... eat at Beau Ville will now, and for many years to come, grace the wall over my studio doors.

And, while I was at it; decided I might as well do the other three empty tamborines (or knockers) while I was at it !

Honoring Mom on her Birthday

My mother died in May 2006 and is interred in a nice shady spot at a Cemetery not too far up the road.   On her Birthday, March 25th, I like to take the opportunity to bring her flowers and have a visit. 

Happy Birthday Mom

The Building at NorthLake Nature Center Burns

You might recall that back in January I posted a piece about how Beau, Larry, Ken and Al were rebuilding the old abandoned building at the NorthLake Nature Center and how proud of them I was.   Well, I'm now heartsick to report that early Sunday morning, the building burned.    And, just like that, the countless hours of  volunteer work, plans, and visions went up in smoke.

September 2004 -   There was a vision to rebuild the old abondoned building using as much of the remaining materials as possible.   Larry, was joined by two volunteers, Ken & Beau, and the work started. 

  

Inside of building, looking out

 Outside of building, looking in.  Initial steps were site clean-up and adding brick columns to support the structure, where needed.

March, 2005:  Doors and window shutters are built to secure the building.  Areas of brick walls are rebuilt with original bricks, salvaged from the grounds.   

 September 2005:  HURRICANE KATRINA landed several large trees on the building.   Work stopped for for several months as the three men worked hard to re-open the paths and other areas of the Northlake Nature Center to the community. 

April, 2006:  Roofing Structure going in to secure the building in sections (it's quite a large building)

May 2006:  Then they removed the doors and windows, for a short period of time for the shooting of a horror movie.  (The movie crew brought all the debris ... unfortunately, they didn't do too good a job removing it, so the men got to clean the building .... again)

April, 2007:   Section by section, layer by layer, the building continues.   Remember, this is three men, 5 - 7 hours at a time, two times a week ... rain or shine, hot or cold.

March, 2008:  1st section of exterior roof complete and interior framework and roofing well underway in the big room.

April, 2008:  I-Beams (weighing over 2000 lbs ea) carefully put in place (with just 3 men) to support the attic and roof.

October, 2008:  And, not to forget, slate cobblestone porch (from original slate roofing found in the woods) and a shade overhang.

July, 2009:  An attic is created, and dormers, along with a variety of interior works.   Al joins the volunteers, now making them a workforce of 4.

January, 2010:  The 2nd section (the big room) is almost secured

March 14, 2010:   The building burns.   An investigation is under way as to the cause.  At this point, arson is presumed.

Once again, the building is ruins.

To say the least, we are very sad.   These men were doing a great thing that, one future day, would have been a great addition to the Nature Center, as well as the community as whole.  

Their work on the building continues ... but at this point, only in the aspect of cleaning it up and securing it so it will not be a danger to those people who visit the Nature Center grounds.

  

Little Purple Dress

On Wednesday mornings, after leaving the gym, I like to stop by the Habitat Restore. (A thrift/home supplies store to benefit the local Habitat for Humanity chapter). I frequently find fabrics, notions, and books there; always worth the stop.

This Wednesday, I had picked up two pieces of fabric and some buttons and was headed up to checkout when I saw the little purple dress on the floor. I picked it up and started to lay across the rack, when, after a second look realized it was almost Lilly size (it might be abit big) and had potential, so, for $1.25, it was added to my purchases.

 After I got it home, I washed it (needed to do some laundry anyway), and hung it up to consider.  Now, mind you, I'm not much of a sewer, although, one would never guess that with the two cabinets I've filled (finds) with fabric, buttons, notions and such.   But, I've been meaning to start experimenting with some fabrics, so decorating a dress is as good a place to (re)start as any.

So, this morning, out came some of the stuff.   Someone, who was not really big on the finish techniques, had made this dress, so first I tacked down the inside facings  Next, I cut out two different size hearts and selected a small piece of pink polka dot fabric.   These became a little heart for the chest and two heart pockets.     Then I pulled out the container of ribbons and such and made a couple selections.   First I added a row in pale pink ribbon at the bottom, then considered some purple rick rack .....

Which brings me to my mother.  When she was a young woman (in the early 40's), she wanted to be a fashion designer.    Instead, she got married to a man who turned out to be a lousy husband and had three great kids.    Later she divorced him, married my father, who also turned out to be a lousy husband, but she had me, another great kid.    Well, the one constant in her life (besides kids and alot of work) was sewing.   She could sew the most wonderful dresses.   She could often sew without patterns, or alter them to meet the requests of her daughters.   Did I mention wonderful dresses?   Well, except for one thing; RICKRACK.   She'd had a thing for rickrack and she could take a garmet that was going so right, and then, before our very eyes, add on the dreaded RICKRACK.   Now, as a small child, I'm sure I didn't care, but by the time I reached early teens, enough was enough!  But still, she presisted with the rickrack.   In the end, I had to get little jobs so I could buy my own clothes ... devoid of rickrack.  

So, there I am in my room considering a row of purple RickRack, which probably had humored me when I picked it up at some yardsale.   But, on it went .... a row of RickRack.       Decided I'd better stop at this point. 

I think this may be a little big for her; will find out next week.   AND, Dear Lilly .... I'll really try not to put RickRack on your clothing past the age of 8.   I promise.

Soldered Pendants, Act Three

 I still have it in my mind that I'm going to learn to solder.    Instead of starting all over with designs, last week I pulled apart the previous sets I'd made, and put them back together with new glass and tape.   Spent a couple hours over yesterday and today practicing my soldering technique.

I like to run on the 5 point scale (poor, fair, good, very good, excellent) and with the redo on this set, I'm rating them a solid 2 1/2; somewhere between fair and good.   I still don't consider them sell quality, but will keep, at least, a couple of them, for comparison quality.   You know .... after I've made alot of them, look back and see how far I've come.   I've also saved the first one.

For future sets, I plan on creating collage type images using my Photoshop software.    Over the last couple years I've collected several old books with Vogue and Harper Posters dated between 1880 and 1920.   (I collect anything that falls outside of copyright).  I've been scanning these into my computer and have started altering them into, what I hope will be, unique pieces.       Such as ....

Apparently, I'm in the pattern business

It started innocently enough.    I decided I'd collected too much of some items and opened up my TodaysTreasure shop on Artfire.  The plan was, here, and sell those items that I'd collected too much of, or no longer wanted because my interests had moved in other directions. 

 I suppose the pattern business started with the initial find, back in October, 2008.   Then, last summer, a similar experience where I purchased 5 huge boxes for $40. as there appeared to be a good variety of vintage purse patterns.   One by one, the majority of these patterns ended up in my shop.

Selling patterns online is quite time consuming.   First, you have to check to make sure the pattern is complete, photograph it, process the photos and then list it in the shop.   Then, figure out how to store them in a safe and numeric order.   After that, you wait for an order.   Then, you package it, print the postage and haul it down the driveway for Bob, the mailman, to take away.   

At first, I was planning on using the profits to finance my own art/craft supply interests ... funding the next yard sales, those items I might need at Hobby Lobby, etc.   Then, started thinking that I wanted to do something bigger with the dollars.    After alot of thought, I decided on a Smart 529 Education plan for Lilly.    Now, as each pattern gets handed over to Bob, I think, "Okay, perhaps that will buy a couple pages of a college book for Lilly", or, "perhaps that will buy Lilly some lunch as she rushes between classes", or "Another 100 patterns and we'll have tuition for a class (which will hopefully grow into multiple classes if the Fund grows well). 

The whole idea pleases me.    I'm in the pattern business for Lilly.

Last Saturday, at the Hosanna yard sale I picked up about another 300 patterns ... I'll start processing them later this week.

Yard Sale Saturday, March 6th

Today was the annual yard sale for the Hosanna Church, right up the road.    The majority of the churches around here discontinued their annual yard sales after Katrina (not sure why), but this one continues.   They obviously have a generous membership, who donate a large assortment of household items, books, crafts, toys, accessories, etc.   I always find items of interest here and came prepared with three of my shopping bags to load up.  

Finds:
-- Small assortment of jewelry for the found items box ... (except for the elephants; they are for my sister who collects them).
--  A large assortment of sewing related items.    Ribbon, lace, two boxes of threads, needles, buttons, transfers, fabric paints, Amish Quilt kit, magnets, closures and a flower press for the microwave.
--   (Not shown), Two full boxes of sewing patterns.

I'm happy to have the return of yard sale season.   Although I'm well past the point of needing any more supplies, I find it great fun going out. 

Yard Sale Saturday & Other Stuff

Yard Sale Saturday, February 27th
Usually, by this time of year, yard sale season is started up and in pretty good swing.   Not this year.   I suppose it's the weather.  Almost every weekend is chilly and wet, or chilly and windy, or perhaps, just chilly.   Frequented just one sale on Saturday, at the local middle school for Haiti relief.   

Finds: 

• 1 pair of old turquoise earrings (for the found objects collection)
• 1 old link belt (these will eventually be taken apart and applied to something else ... think I have 5-6 of them, now, in different patterns.
• 2 pieces of fabric
• 1 roll of heavy wrapping paper (which I use to wrap up the patterns sold out of TodaysTreasure .. instead of using envelopes.

The Other Stuff
I've not been posting to Blogger for the last couple weeks.  Shortly after my return from vacation, I realized that my post history between August 2006 and July 2008 (Two Years !) is gone.   Not just missing,but GONE.   I searched all my settings thinking it was just hidden, misfiled by a choice of some kind, but No, it's gone.    After spending literally hours search Google for answers, finally ended up posting in their help forum.   I'm hoping they will have an answer for me, eventually.   But I'm not real hopeful.   I've seen a variety of messages indicating if you know the name of the individual posts they might be able to recover.   Of course, I've not kept track of that, in any manner.   Woe is me.   Oh, and I think, in the process, I've messed up my RSS (or whatever all that is) feed while trying to fix the ther problem.   Again, woe is me.

I recently upgraded from Photoshop Elements 2 (which I've been using for about 10 years) to Photoshop Elements 8 and I'm on a learning curve.   I'm thinking about using photoshop to create small pieces of collage art for use in the soldered pendants (assuming I ever gain an real skill soldering).     I upgraded because many of the current Photoshop downloads/enhancements were not compatible with the old version.   Although the two versions have alot of similiarites, I'm taking it tool by tool, step by step, learning it well.  A very time consuming, but rather fun, process.   Which means, I've been doing a whole lot of sitting on the couch with the cat.

Pulled the masks out of the bag, where they've been curing in water since mid January.    I sanded them down with a block to remove the roughness on the faces and washed them up.    I've set them out on the back porch, where I'm closely watching them for signs of personality ... i.e., decide how to paint/stain them.