Ah, Halloween

Fall is in the air - my favorite time of year.  And as soon as I sense it, cooler mornings, a falling leaf or two, I'm ready to decorate for Halloween.  So yes, my house is all decked out inside, and I had a spot where I wanted something Halloweeny to hang, so I decided to make something.

The two pieces are attached to make one long piece. I had a lot of fun putting these together, and even got out my encaustic wax equipment - I forgot how much I love transforming things with wax.

My Mom bought me this crow (pre-hardware) with something like this in mind for me to sort of steampunk him up. She'd seen one done and knew I had enough of a collection of bits and bobs to give it a go. My studio was a mess after going through everything trying to find just the right pieces, not to mention unearthing my hot glue gun, but he was worth it.

This is a much smaller version of a film cannister mailing container like the one from my last post, this time it's the front side. I loved how it's mailing address label looks like a frame.

I've been playing some more with image transfers of my previous work. This one is done on a piece of birch bark, and then glued into an old grater.

Another image transfer, on this old clipboard I found.

And last but not least, my new studio desk lamp. I've been desperately in need of one, but just couldn't seem to pull the trigger on any new ones I'd seen. Then when I saw this one I knew what I'd been waiting for. Old, full of character, completely positionable with a really small footprint, incredibly heavy so it won't knock over - it's perfect!  Well, as long as I don't accidentally touch the metal shade when it's on, surface of the sun is about what I'd compare it to...

Back in the Studio

Remember how I used to actually create art?  The only studio time I've spent for quite a while is for jewelry, and not much of that. And of course the grand distraction of a canned ham, Miss Lil Stella, didn't help.  But I spent most of last weekend in the studio (too hot to go outside, that helped).  I gave myself a motivational kick in the butt by committing to participate in a Vintage show in November called Noel that I did a few years ago. I can sell vintage items, on their own or re-purposed, and vintage art. 

The piece above is the back half of an old studio reel box. I've had it for a long time, but it had never occurred to me until now that I can do something with the bottom and the top separately, that I didn't have to keep them together. I've never gotten myself to do anything with the top because it's covered in wonderful old stickers and stamps from being mailed around so I haven't had the heart to cover them with anything.  These are image transfers from copies of my originals, which I then repainted with the white glossy paint. I had a lot of fun with these.

The other items I finished I'm really excited about. I had found a couple of old metal receipt pad holders, I think that's what they are anyway. I didn't know what I was going to do with them, but I just liked them. Once I finally figured out how to open them up (leverage and some muscle!) I immediately thought refillable art journals!  

I did an image transfer on the front and back of this one as the metal was really pitted, and added the rusty trim. I'm not sure I'm going to be able to sell this one.

I filled it with really beautiful watercolor paper that I tore into pieces from a large sheet.

This is the back of it.

This one is larger and the metal was in better shape. And I really liked those raised ridges so I decided not to cover it. But I had this old rusty leaf that I've saved for years that fit it perfectly, and added some metal trim and doo dads at the side.

This is a necklace I made that I realized I had never posted a picture of. 

Earlier in August we took Lil Stella camping to Santa Cruz for 4 days. Here she is in action.

This is the famous tree at Big Sur, I've probably posted a picture of this before.

Hubby and Guinness at one of our favorite little restaurants in Bodega Bay.

 The view from a house we stayed at with family at Dillon Beach, later in the week. 

Looking at these pictures is making me long for those cool ocean breezes!