I'M ROLLING IN STEAMPUNK AGAIN

For being so little these guys sure are big! I made 3 more last week, and they are in new homes already! So this week I made 5 more, and again came up with some new things, like adding a little propeller to the head. By putting it in between a couple of metal beads, it spins. One girl decided she didn't want to be an aviator, so she wound up with a little hat embellished with wings. Now that they are done, am working on putting together a pattern. Think folks who want to mettle with steampunk, but aren't ready for a big project, will enjoy making these little ones. I certainly do!

IRENE THE RIBBON QUEEN

I belong to an eclectic group of artists, called The Art Thing We gather monthly (as time allows) to talk about our projects, and enjoy each others company. We also like to have a group challenge: with a theme which makes us work outside our "comfort" zone. This year we're doing a recycle project. Each of of got a bag of "stuff" put together by another artist and had to use it to make into a work of art. My bag was filled with lots of ribbon spools, a Mexican style tin plate, plastic doilies, little foam cut outs, etc. There were also some nice metal gears, but those got confiscated for my Steampunk projects. (yes that is legal!) This week I finally got around to working on my project....it was hard, because I'm still making those little girlfriends! I made one into a steampunker,which was bought, so made 3 more, but every time I show them, someone buys them! boo hoo
Anyway, I finished her (what a surprise, I still made it into a "figure"), and am now ready for our big show on Feb. 12th at the Museum in Alamosa. We're calling the show unbag D'art. Along with the mandatory recycle project we will also be displaying up to 3 pieces of our art that we usually do.
Works will be on display

through the end of the month with an opening reception and artists discussion on Feb 12th. Should be fun...this is a great group!

PINK HOTSY TOTSIES

While playing with my little Angel/Fairies, I decided to use some Hot Pink fabric & trims. A friend (Kay) suggested they would be nice dolls for breast cancer survivors. I was already putting little hearts on them, so this seemed like a wonderful idea. First I made the standard gal with little wings, but as I was playing with the eyelash yarn, I made a piece too long for hair, but oooh oooh oooh...just right to use as a boa! So another star is born! Since her boa is big & fluffy, decided she needed a different hair do: shiny little plastic sequin like flowers added just the look I wanted. Come on,you

know she makes you smile!

MINI STEAMPUNK FAIRY

You know I can't stay away from Steampunk! I have been totally engulfed in making the little 6 inch angel/fairies, but it was just a matter of time before I could not resist morphing her into a Steampunker! Once again I made the face out of cold porcelain, but this time my "mold" was cast from a plastic doll for the face. Wanted her to wear an aviator hat, so made that by sewing soft faux leather in the head area, then cutting out for adding face. Goggles were another dilemma. Never thought I'd be glad I have allergies, until I looked at the packaging: WooHoo..nice little plastic bubbles holding those pills: just right for making goggles, if I cut them out and put 2 together with a tiny jump ring! After several design "tries" I decided to ad little legs, and boots to the original body, and little tubes with hands cut out of my "metal" fabric. Works for me! Her wings are made of some great paper I got years ago which has metal embedded in it...very strong & durable, and texture made nice wings. Just had to "age" it a bit. I used "Stiffy" On her scarf so it flows in place. All in all: I like her!

THINKING OF MAKING ANGEL "KITS"

Am still playing with my little Angels. Gave bunches away at Christmas, and everyone really loves them. As I've gone along have come up with more ideas/techniques for making, so plan to have instructions put together, and offering faces for sale: three unpainted faces so the artist can make it their own. Since they don't need to be Christmas ornament, think they will be popular anytime...also could be a doll pin.
Put up pics of wings made of Christmas ribbon on my other blog:
www.laurascreativemess.wordpress.com

ANGELS, ANGELS & MORE ANGELS!

I always like to have something to do while showing my art. I had an order for a dozen angels to go with the Tree Top Angel given as a gift last year, so decided during the Art Tour that would be a great project for me to work on. Of course the dozen turned into a lot more. A friend told me she had received on last year as a gift while she was hospitalized, so that inspired me to expand and make some with little hearts to be given as tokens of friendship. The "new 2011" gals are a bit different. I used some of my cold porcelain (which I was thrilled to find was still usable after being stored for many months sealed in a jar) to make little faces instead of painting as before and I really love them. Also experimented with making different kinds of wings,came up with some funky feathers made with wire & organza type fabric. Am posting pics of that with instructions in case others might like to do some just go to:
www.laurascreativemess.wordpress.com

ART TOUR

MAC (Monte Arts Council) had their Art Tour On Sat as part of Holiday Celebration downtown. After weeks of beautiful, sunny mild weather, a big ol snow storm blew in. Made things dicey to say the least, and really cut down on the crowds. I had a very nice place to display my work at the Petal'er Flower & Gift Shop. They had me put my display in their front window on Wed. so it got plenty of exposure...one gal came in to meet me after going to the movies the night before and seeing my things in the window. By the time I took the picture the sun was behind me so got some reflection. Then never remembered to bring camera for a better shot..oh well.