The light bulb went on!

I posted about these discarded student desk tops earlier in the week. I thought about collage work on these but they're heavy. (Oh, and the correct dimensions are 24"x 34"). Working on these to have them floating around the studio means moving them from here to there unless I can find a good destination for them.

With so much focus on the upcoming yard transformation, outdoor art has been on my mind. There are 2 spots on the block wall surrounding my property that will be exposed where I can't place plants. The carport wall facing the house is one place. The wall by the narrow walkway from the front to the back yard is the other spot. It's to one side of the back patio. When I'm working the the studio/AZ room and look out, I see this big blank space.

I was thinking mosaic or ceramic relief work. With my pace of late, that can take me a few years to make, lol. Then the light bulb went on. Why not use the desktops as art panels? The next thoughts have been about making any collage work survive the elements. Which adhesives? Which papers? Finishes? Waterproofing? It's the north wall and will get rained on.... Hmmmm

Light Bulb #2 went off. Collage. OK.... Stencils!!!! Spray paint!!!! This would be a great way to use the techniques I learned in the online Stencilry Class! (By the way, she's taking registration for part 2).

Another thought-how best to secure the pieces in the carport. Anyone could walk up and help themselves. Hate to think that way but reality is reality. I caught some guy trespassing and going thru my recycling bin for cans and the bin wasn't out on the curb. Creeps me out that some people feel free to wander around anyone's property. Luckily, the four legged security force sounds the alarm.

Two posts in one morning. I made myself stay in bed so I can enjoy watching Sunday Morning on CBS and then get the day going. Great story about J. Crew.
Marissa

Happy Sunday!

It's been awhile since I've shared pics of these two lovely ladies. My profile is going to have to get changed. Carmen, above, is the real canine delinquent. All this time I blamed Freia for getting into stuff and chewing it up and it was Carmen. How did we finally figure it out? Noises.... Friea and I were hanging out and I could hear odd noises from the other room. Carmen was caught rifling in my teacher cart, "red pawed" and all!
Freia does have her quirks. She loves to go thru the wastebasket in my bedroom and that tail is still dangerous. She knocked a full 32 oz. cup of soda off the coffee onto the carpet last week. Between dogs and kid....do I take out the area rug and hose it down or do I bite the bullet and bring out the new, bright red, Isaac Mizrahi rugs I've had in the closet for a few years?

Woke up at 5:30am again this morning. I was exhausted yesterday and turned off the lights just after 10pm. It took me hours to fall to sleep. That is so not me. Lights go out, my head hits the pillow, I'm out. Instead, I had conversations going thru my head that I couldn't shut off.

Then this morning I get more emails from the Ex. (He didn't have a comment about the Chicklet getting braces until he realized I wanted him to share the expense). He downloaded some comments from Dr. This and Dr. That about braces being elective, the same as liposuction, breast augmentation and rhinoplasty. The Chicklet got my family's teeth, hence the braces. Hope she gets our boobs. My sister and I are very happy with ours!

Anything having to do with "Toxic Man" is just that-Toxic. He seems to think that if he's unpleasant enough, prolongs things and draws them out, he'll clean out my bank account or make me shrivel up in a ball and make me scream "Uncle!" A few sleepless nights won't kill me. He doesn't seem to understand that pissing off Mama Bear always backfires for him. Guess he won't help me out for a boob lift when the time comes. Thank g-d for duct tape!
Enough toxic crap!
Let's play! Can you guess what this is?
This one is probably easier to figure out.This is from the same place as the last one. Have you figured them out? Let's keep up the suspense. I'll reveal the answers in the next post.

Happy sizzling, frying, hot, Sunday!
Marissa

The Countdown Begins

Gee whiz!!!! It's all or nothing sometimes. All has been quiet regarding implementing the new front and backyard work. Finangling the finances takes some time. It went from zero to full steam ahead as of Thursday morning. Then, fully expecting to have to wait a few weeks before starting.....Turns out the crew shows up first thing Monday morning, as in day after tomorrow, Monday!

Next to buying a house, this is BIG. I didn't sleep much at all last night.

So this morning I'm up at 5:30am and start cleaning up in the back to photograph the wooden swing set. It needs to find a new home. One thing led to another and the trees got trimmed some more, the dogs got a bath and the gunk has been cleared for new glass on the window to the shed. Too bad I broke two more panes in the process, oops! Only 2/3 to go on that project but I figured out the best way to get it done.
A walk around the museum can help calm me. Took a tour of the bead museum last weekend.
Wow! I made some sketches of a metal, nobbed cuff and a patterned, multiple strand necklace from the Naga costumes on display. It's changed how I can envision the use of shell.
Beautiful, huh?
My new altered composition book. Filled the first couple of pages with sketches from the Naga exhibition. It's not thr best paper for drawing but I write most of the time and write and write and write some more. Yet I haven't been writing the last few weeks.The original compostion book design.Inside front cover
Inside back cover.

The pocket page is getting a lot of use. Lots of stuff getting carried around from place to place.
We're off to drop off a big check. So is that the cause for the pit in my stomach or the annoying email from the Ex? Ugh! Time to go fry!
Marissa

So Refreshing!

Here's my attempt to have some fun with juice containers that would otherwise end up in the recycling bin. I love the graphics, the colors. Last May I made my first "juicy book," as I refer to these.
I keep wanting to use up my materials and make something fun, sell-able but quick and well made. I've been enjoying these. It takes awhile to cut and trim the containers and then the papers but so far I take one task at a time and work on a couple of books at a time. These are the reason my storage room in the classroom still looks like a tornado hit. This group of books were completed yesterday.
With my thirst for juice quenched, I wanted to complete some other ones. These got a bit fatter. I got a little carried away digging out all sorts of paper in the storage room yesterday.
I looooooooooooove the Bisquick Book.There's recipes on the back cover since the back of the box is the back cover. I can't get too attached to the Coca Cola book. It has a special destination. Plus, I don't drink regular Coke. I have some Diet Vanilla Coke Zero boxes waiting for me.
The books are being made to sell but not on Etsy. As much as I'd love to, I know it's enough for now that I can focus on getting these done. If I had to deal with uploading, the upkeep, packing and shipping, these wouldn't go anywhere. Just producing the books is my top goal right now. I have a place in mind that I'm going to take them to. I wanted to come up with a variety of books first.

Tomorrow I finish one for the Chicklet. She has big plans for hers. Every time I make something new she asks if she can have one. It's about time I come through.
Marissa

Recycle/Upcycle

Which ever term is your preference, everything has potential as art material. These are student desks tops that are being replaced for new tops. Some of the laminate has been pulled away. The discards are stacked outside the classrooms waiting to be hauled to the dumpster. Ouch!
The desktops measure approximately 28" x 20" and are 3/4" thick particle board. They are heavy but sturdy and best of all-FREE. The laminate sides are fine. The exposed particle board has student scribbling, which I like, and some holes from the screws.
I don't work this big, but I can't see tossing these away without making an effort to try to collage on them. By the way, I'm sure I've screwed up on the dimensions but I wanted to get this out there. If you are in Metro Phoenix and want some of these boards, please contact me. Mailing/shipping isn't an option. You have to be local. My custodian won't wait before she starts making new trips to toss them. I got a reprieve for this week but don't have room to store them, so if you're interested let me know ASAP. The landfill thanks you!
Marissa

Back in business...

OK.......I've figured out my technical difficulties enough. Now there's some catching up to do.
A month ago, the Chicklet and I visited the Chihuly exhibition at the botanical garden one last time. I purposely took this pic with the outline of the ocotillo fully visible. This sun sculpture has been exhibited elsewhere before. Chances are, this will be the only time it's juxaposed with an ocotillo.
Today is the first day of this fiscal year with the school district. Today our new VP was greeted by skyscrapers of books outside his office. Our Vice Principal of the last 2 years was transferred to another school. As a parting gift, our staff contributed to a handmade book for her. I dug into my bag of tricks to put this one together. I think it's the best book I've made to date.The concept was a handmade book of pocket pages. The staff was asked to suggest words describing Hilda, our VP. My partner in crime, Kelli, (music teacher extraordinare), helped me find some doozies for the letters "Q", "X", and "Z." An ABC set of custom flash cards were made, cut and then passed out to staff members. Written on the cards were personal notes, quotes, etc. and then they were tucked in the pockets.I am in love with beaded bindings. It took awhile to do this but I enjoyed every minute of it. Trying to remember the 5 hole pamphlet stitch after midnight was the least fun part but the handy dandy book with good instructions was nearby. Whew! The binding is painted canvas from the bit I did accomplish from an online class. The book title was printed on tagboard and sewn on the cover paper prior to gluing. The pockets were also sewn.Got some exercise painting these. As suggested by Kelly, artist extraordinare, I picked up Wausau 140 lb. weight cardstock at Kelly Paper. (Is that enough "Kellys" for you)? The 24" x 36" sheets took a day to arrive. Both sides of the sheets were painted and best of all, there's plenty left over for a couple more books.

Style....have I brought it up before? I have a style but I'm trying to pin point it. This book was a combination of techniques learned from at least 3 different instructors. When does it become a reflection of my style and not theirs? Thoughts like that go thru my head during my commute...
No worries. I'm not wracked by self doubt but I think it's good to question. Crap! Shades of my thesis committee from grad school.

Marissa

Shiney, unhappy person

Banding Day. That was today. If you've been through it, you know what I'm referring too. The Chicklet got her braces today. She picked orange and lime green. Yummy, like fruit. Poor thing is shocked to realize it hurts to eat anything. She's not a happy camper.

She's conked out on my bed. Ibupofren, soup, a shower....nothing helped except for some cuddling and a good back scratch. Some rain to break the humidity wouldn't hurt.

Been working on a new composition book. I'm liking it a lot.
Marissa