Go Big or Go Home

I have an addiction to vintage ads as they give me great burst of creativity.  This picture started as a hairspray ad in a magazine from the early 60's.  This is the door to my art room and the idea is when I walk through that door I will be inspired. 
When I see the picture of the models in the vintage magazines I imagine that what they would be saying or thinking something other than the ad suggests.  Like this one...

Yeah, there's a little bit of smarmy (read smart ass) added.  I guess that's just my own sense of humor. 

My photography is a bit lacking but this mother is teaching her daughter how to handle her man.  It's my commentary on how our parents teach us how to handle life and those in it.  While this may be a humoristic look at how it really works, I guess my point is that we learn from those we look up to...even the things we shouldn't be taught.  As we grow up we, hopefully, learn to take what was taught to us and weigh that against reality.  I remember when I realized that I didn't grow up in the perfect family even though until my late teens/early 20's I thought we were the most normal people/family.  What is normal anyway?

Check out the little girl laying on the car, like she rarely sees it.  Her mother can't wait to drop the children off at the sitters.  How often does that happen?  More often than we might like to admit.  But seriously, this was an ad for a car but the vintage illustration spoke more to me about the people and what they were up to rather than the car.  Would my husband agree with me?  I think that his initial focus would be on that car.  It's a guy thing. 

Who Doesn't Love Tim?

Like most people I know from the art world, we love Tim Holtz products and I have been adding to my supplies on a regular basis.   I now have too many Distress ink pads to leave just laying on my work space and have recycled a Christmas themed gift box that a bottle of wine came in.  I think I bought the box at the Goodwill for less than a dollar some months back and it just happened to be the perfect size to hold the ink pads. 

I used lots of Tim's other papers, inks, and tissue tape when creating the box and I have a bunch of vintage rip-off tickets that I used on the inside edge of the front cover.  I think they fit in will with the overall theme.  There are two holes in the top that used to have a rope going through them to use as a handle, but I have asked my husband to put in a couple of long screws that will stick up through the top that I can use to hold my tissue tape rolls.  This should help to clean up part of my workbench.  

IT'S TIME!!!!

Thanks for shakin me up Elizabeth of Alteredbooklover.blogspot.com. 
I'm still here and have been working on various projects like the clock shown here.  Anyone who knows me knows that I love vintage images, especially from the 50's.  I took some of those images and collaged a background on canvas for this one of a kind clock that is hanging in my art room.  My favorite part of this piece is the second hand which is actually a picture of a woman's legs covered in fishnet stockings.  What could be more kitchy I ask you...well, glad you asked. 
This background collage sheet was compiled using various vintage ads and pictures.  Feel free to take a copy and use it in your own work.  I would LOVE to see what you create with it so please send it on.
I would have more images, lot's more, of the pieces I have been working on, but alas, my six year old digital camera fails to cooperate.  Just what is the life span of a digital camera these days anyway???  When I get another camera I will post many pics of these projects I am either working on or have finished:  Cross made with numerous vintage religious medals, more Taintor-esque pieces, altered dominoes and charms (this was new for me), and the biggest project is a shadowbox depicting the life of a school marm which includes a frame covered in antique book spines.  Sound intriguing?  I hope so. 

They say that whatever you are doing at the beginning of the New Year is what you will be doing for the remainder of the year so I plan to spend lots of time in the next few days working on art projects. 

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Favorite Fall Colors

This picture shows my favorite fall color palette.  While I love the fall colors of the changing leaves, these "weed" colors from the gold, dark reds, various shades of brown and green, and especially the purple are so beautiful to me.  Hopefully soon I will create some pieces using this palette.

Another Handbag

I am also including a picture of a couple of my handbags that are for sale at Gifts From The Cottage in downtown Warren.  The owner of the shop, Wendy, has a natural talent for display and hung two of the handbags inside a vintage frame and displayed them in the front window of the shop.  Within a day of Wendy placing them like this they both sold!  Thanks Wendy. (sorry for the flash reflection in the picture)

 

Pearls Of Wisdom

Made with vintage bingo card and vintage images from old encyclopedia. 

Any suggestions for this ATC? 

I was thinking about, "She showed signs of an Exhibitionist early on."

VINTAGE HANDBAG WALL ART

Score!  I see crowns in my near future.

Made this last week and plan on making more.

My version of the Cloth Paper Scissors May/June 2010 front cover art.