DIY Project #1

I'm really blown away by the encouragement I've received from everyone since I started my blog. In an effort to give a little something back I am going to start sharing some of my favorite DIY projects. I was going do it once a week and call it something clever like 'DIY Friday' but soon realized with 3 kids and my schedule it would end up being 'Can't get it together Saturday'! So let's say I'm going post these little projects as often as possible.

I found this cute rusty top to a birdcage awhile back and knew immediately that it would make a great hanging light. I've made these birdcage lights in the past and they seem to be a hit so I decided to add a new one to my booth. It's a really easy project that takes about 1/2 hour.

Supplies

birdcage

electric screwdriver

drill bit or hole saw attachment

light kit (I get mine for $5 at Ikea)

I think little details can really elevate a good project to greatness. These antique style light bulbs really make this birdcage light great. I order them from http://www.1000bulbs.com/Antique-Light-Bulbs/. They cost more than your standard GE but the look is awesome!






Now use your hole saw or drill bit to mke a hole in the top of the birdcage. The light kit I use from Ikea comes apart allowing me to drop the socket down into the hole with the lip of the socket keeping it from falling through.

Now you screw the bottom part of the socket into the top sandwiching the cage between the socket parts. There is a wide variety of light kits available, Pier One also has a good one for $10. Just make sure that you understand how your kit works and how will be secured into the hole.

Now just plug it in and voila !! I added a muslin cord cover, a couple of tissue paper flowers and an old picture to embellish.

More bottles

Every spare minute I get, and there aren't many lately - I'm doing this...

Here are my latest creations.

I like the long slender shape of this bottle. Perfect to show off an old tin type wrapped in solder. The mesh is fun to work with, I bought it from shabby cottage studio. She has lots of cool stuff for crafting.

This little bottle has been sitting around my studio for a long time just waiting to be dressed up. It didn't need much, some tattering of cloth and a pretty Victorian rhinestone button.

I love to work with religious images and icons. I'm still working on this one.

Art Bottles

A few years back I bought Sally Jean's book 'Pretty Little Things' and was really blown away by her work. I took a few soldering classes, made some charms and bottles but soon my soldering iron back ended up back in the garage. I just wasn't happy with the look I was getting.

JoAnnA's workshop inspired me to dust off the 'ol iron and get busy with some new bottles. She has some really cool ideas for adding patina and texture to the pieces and I'm thrilled with the results. I'm working on three more and will add them to my booth next week.

I used an antique picture printed on linen underneath burlap and laced it up with an old worn shoelace. Snippets of lace, buttons, a vintage french perfume bottle, and beeswax were used to embellish this old brown medicine bottle. Black and copper patina add texture to the solder.

This old whiskey bottle is wrapped in rusty mesh and adorned with lace, buttons, a key and if you look very closely...an old photo layered under a watch face. I think I'll call this one 'Time in a bottle'!

'homeschoolin'

I enjoy taking as many art/craft classes as time and money allow but this summer has been a wild ride. Swimming lessons, birthdays, the never ending RV road trip, starting a new business & blog...well, you know. Looking for a solution I started reading about online workshops. I started with one from JoAnnA Pierotti called Tattered Threads Fabric Collage. As I mentioned in my last post her method of image transfer is really cool, easy to do and the result is great. I also bought a course from KC Willis at her Camp Collage. I've never really dabbled in western art but loved KC's work for years and knew that I would learn a lot. What I love most about online workshops is that after I download them to my laptop then anytime the mood strikes it's ready to go. When I take a class at a studio I often forget little things they taught, having it on my computer gives me a chance to watch certain parts over, and over until I get it, right. I have a wish list of workshops I'd like to attend one day; ArtandSoul, ArtFiberFest, Silver Bella, but for now I'll stick closer to home!

My 'KC Masterpiece'

I never would have thought you could burn the edges of fabric with a heat gun!!

It's hard to tell from this picture but the photo transfer really worked well.

OMG

It has been a s*&T week, I can't say it any nicer. It began with a scary indigestion I couldn't get rid of. Then 3 days of doctors, ERs, EKG and bloodwork. Then a gastric scope which showed an esophageal ulcer and reflux. After a week unable to swallow I got better. Now lab work from the hospital is funky and I have to have more tests. Throughout it all I can only think of my kids. If I get sick what will happen? It is terrifying.

And then...when you think it can't get worse. This happens!!!!

Are you kidding me? Who brakes mirrors? Are you superstitious? I lived in New Orleans for ten years and some of their traditions and beliefs rubbed off on me. Someone told me to bury it in my backyard. It is sitting on my bathroom counter taunting me.

Image Transfer

My first attempt at image transfer was pretty crude, basically a black & white xerox copy of a page torn from National Geographic. I cut away the part I wasn't interested in and was left with the haunting eyes of a young girl which I used in my first collage. That was in 1991, my technique has improved throughout the years. I love to use old pictures, books and music in art, I have many photo albums inherited from my family that are continuous source of inspiration. Just remember copyright law before copying anything. There are hundreds of ways to copy an image onto just about anything you want, paper, wood, metal...the list is endless. I really love transferring onto fabric and I am always on the hunt for new techniques. I recently took an amazing online workshop from JoAnnA Pierotti of Moss Hill Studio and she has very cool way of copying onto tulle. The oh so talented Dawn has a free tutorial on her blog demonstrating her method in which you adhere medium weight fabric to a sheet of paper and feed it into your copier. I've tried both with great results. I'd love to take a class on silk screening one day but until then my trusty printer will do.





June Taylor Quick Fuse & Print & Press both available at JoAnn Fabric. Also stiff petticoat fabric from Hancock's. I just cut it 8 1/2 x 11 and fed it into my printer. You can see the results below, really nice sheer images.

I used vintage sheet music copied onto fabric to create my 'Charming Songs' pillow.

An altered apron I'm working on.