Ancestor Jewelry

Ancestor Jewelry

Originally uploaded by craftartjonee.

Repurposing old watches as jewelry is a good way to use non working ones. I removed the works of the watches by popping off the backs and made a base for the photos from mat board. Some watches have unique attachments for the band, others you can put beads and a chain on the spring that holds the band on. The pocket watch was my grandfathers but was in bad shape with no glass and a broken face so I replaced it with his photo and glazed the photo to protect it.

My Lady One

My Lady One

Originally uploaded by craftartjonee.

This is one of a pair of ladies I cut out from plywood and painted to hang on the wall. My inspiration was the art of one of my favorite artists, Modigliani. I love the long necked ladies with their soulful expressions. I used stencils to add the pattern details.

Metal ATC’s

Rachel ATC

ATC’s or artist trading cards are fun little works of art to create. I have been trying some different materials other than the usual paper and found that caulk transfers onto metal worked very well. I cut some metal flashing into the 2 1/2″ x 3 1/2″ size then selected some images to transfer. I sanded the metal with fine wet/dry sandpaper to allow better stickability then coated with Elmer’s Squeez’N Caulk clear. I found the caulking transfer idea in Claudine Hellmuth’s book Collage Discovery Workshop.
She used it on canvas but metal also works. Take your photocopy and smooth it face down into the caulking, rub well then let it sit overnight. The next day you can wet the paper and rub it away leaving your transfer behind. I added some findings and rub on letters to finish the card.

Summer Crafts

Between gardening, home repairs, summer visitors and holidays, I have finished a few summer crafts. One is a doll made from a band aid tin with a music box attached to the inside. It plays “Raindrops Keep Falling on My Head”. I also got the idea of making a bracelet from old credit cards on a blog. The crafter made one of old Starbucks cards.

Bird Feeder Visitors

Before I moved my bird feeder to a hanging location I had it on this platform. Unfortunately it was quite convenient for everyone, including squirrels and mice. After I moved it I noticed little mice climbing in the tree, trying to figure out how to climb down the wire to the feeder. They eventually gave up.

New Fellows

New Fellows

Originally uploaded by craftartjonee.

Used my new Canon G9 camera to take pictures of these guys. I’m really enjoying learning about the different features. It was just warm enough to get outside to photograph.

Adorable Animals

Sometimes when you need a lift you run across something on the internet that is so darn cute. I found these adorable animals made by Natasha Fadeera and especially loved the fat cat that looks like ours. The expressions and interactions between them are so much fun.

Found Artist

Mel Kadel is a new artist I like who does amazing drawings. I love her use of the literal translation. See her work at melkadel.com This picture she entitled bear face sally.

Year of the Rat

Life

Originally uploaded by craftartjonee.

Here it is 2008 already. I finished up my drawings in the moleskine accordian fold sketchbook. I have a collection of word stamps and used some of the words as ideas to start drawings. Then the ideas come from the imagination and the world around me. This is the year of the rat according to the Chinese calendar. The rat is actually a good creature, industrious and clever. And even numbered years should be prosperous and relatively calm. Let’s hope that will hold true for 2008.

Office guy

officeguy

Originally uploaded by craftartjonee.

This summer I managed to create a few assemblage type dolls or figures. This is my favorite as we enjoyed the British version of The Office so much. Even though David Brent’s character was so obviously inappropriate and oblivious to his effect on people around him, you never felt he was malicious. I started this character with an old wooden spool for a head and the body a section of closet pole. The phone cord arms with added rubber stamped hands made it work.