Patchwork Book Quilt

Orange, mixed media collage quilt with old book covers

Old books that find their way into my studio are dissected and skinned. When the box labeled 'book skins' starts to fill up I piece together another patchwork quilt. Some of the skins are more brittle than others so I've found the best method is to glue them together first and then add the stitching. In the image below you can see the pre-gluestick composition of my latest quilt.

Jester Assemblage

Jester, mixed media assemblage

I had a request for another wall assemblage in this vein so I've created a jester. Figured it would be a fun piece to ring in the new year. He is a very jolly fellow indeed. Next up is a slew of art blocks which may or may not include a nod to St. Valentine.

Home Sweet Home no 3

Another puzzle-like piece with a Home Sweet Home theme. Looking back here are a couple of previous assemblages: Home Sweet Home no 1 and no 2. Some precious little treasures were included in this one.

Lullaby Assemblage

Lullaby, mixed media assemblage with dangle-y night sky

All tucked in and ready for dreamland. This little one is making me sleepy....y-a-w-n...maybe it's time for a nap?

Open Sesame

Sesame, mixed media assemblage with old jar opener

This old jar opener has been hanging around my studio for years. I think I bought it back in Mobile, Alabama 'cuz I loved its chippy green handle and rusty toothiness. Still love 'em but she's more than ready to weave her web in the great wide world....shouldn't be too hard for a gal named Sesame.

Prickly Plaques

I finished up a fresh assortment of prickly plaques over the weekend. They will be posted in the shop throughout the day. Send me a message if you see one you would like to reserve. Enjoy!

Doll House no 403

Doll House no 403 (with birth), mixed media assemblage

Little Boy Blue

Little Boy Blue, mixed media assemblage

A sweet (and slightly creepy) reflection on the popular nursery rhyme Little Boy Blue. I finished up three assemblage pieces over the weekend. Sorry folks....they are already spoken for....lots of custom work these days.

August Blocks

Summer is fleeting....I actually have the ac off and the windows flung open this morning....Springfield public schools started back today....Patrick starts teaching next week....the window of sunshine for our evening walks is narrowing....I'm not ready for it to end. This month's art blocks include snippets of Summer pleasures and hints of the coming Autumn. Let's savor these warm days while we still can!

Tea For Two

Tea For Two, mixed media assemblage

Tea For Two is complete and in the shop. After sharing this video 10 days ago I continued to fiddle with it and ended up adding four additional pieces. I finally decided to stop tweaking and glued all the parts into place last night. It's almost impossible to call a piece like this "done". At some point you just gotta say enough is enough. The chippy yellow tea set was found in a dusty cabinet back at this thrift shop in Kansas.

Party Girl

Party Girl, mixed media assemblage

This party girl has donned her best polka-dot frock and is ready for some summer fun. Enjoy!

Doll House no 398

Doll House no 398 (with womb), mixed media assemblage

One more piece to share with you today.... number 398 from my 'Doll House' series.

Coral Mermaid

Coral Mermaid, mixed media assemblage

I grow old. . . I grow old. . . 
I shall wear the bottoms of my trousers rolled. 

Shall I part my hair behind? Do I dare to eat a peach? 
I shall wear white flannel trousers, and walk upon the beach. 
I have heard the mermaids singing, each to each. 

I do not think that they will sing to me. 

I have seen them riding seaward on the waves 
Combing the white hair of the waves blown back 
When the wind blows the water white and black. 

We have lingered in the chambers of the sea 
By sea-girls wreathed with seaweed red and brown 
Till human voices wake us, and we drown. 

*****

Excerpt from 
The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock 
by T.S. Eliot, 1917 

Doll House no 397

Doll House no 397 (with inversion of uterus), mixed media assemblage

Doll House no 396

Doll House no 396 (with viscera), mixed media assemblage

There will be two Doll House pieces coming to the shop this week. Watch for the other one tomorrow. In other news I've finished my Spring cleaning and have spent a fair amount of time daydreaming out my sparkling windows ;)

Three Bricolage

 The Hunter, Bricolage no 102, mixed media collage on panel

 The Virgin, Bricolage no 103, mixed media collage on panel

The Garden, Bricolage no 104, mixed media collage on panel

It's been a while since I added to the Bricolage series....so I've created this trio for the 1st week of May.

Feather

Feather, mixed media assemblage art doll

Hope is the thing with feathers
That perches in the soul,
And sings the tune without the words,
And never stops at all,

And sweetest in the gale is heard;
And sore must be the storm
That could abash the little bird
That kept so many warm.

I've heard it in the chillest land
And on the strangest sea;
Yet, never, in extremity,
It asked a crumb of me. 

Emily Dickinson, 1830 - 1886

Flame

Flame, mixed media assemblage art doll

This caryatid of fire is up first....I'll be sharing two more art dolls later on today.

Doll House no 395

Doll House no 395, mixed media assemblage with hand-colored lithograph from 1843

March Art Blocks

We've been enjoying warm Springtime breezes and slightly longer days (thanks to daylight savings last weekend). I'm welcoming the real thing and am quite ready for my 'happy lamp' to collect dust 'til next winter. This month's art blocks have been steeped in all sorts of sunny thoughts :) They'll be in the shop today.