Metal Nesting

This week I've been having fun creating some birds nests garden stakes - I'm using up some of the scraped steel, barbed wire, cut out flowers that I just let sit around and gather rust..... steel always looks better with that beautiful rusty patina.  

I really enjoy just going out to create something, but not really having a plan as to what I'm gonna do.  For me, I think that's actually better as it helps me to be more creative and just go with the flow.  It may be why I'm not a fan of commissioned work.  I get all upset inside just thinking about it because someone has an expectation of what they want and all I know is what I want.  Basically, if I can't enjoy it in my house first I just won't make it.  I guess I create this art just for me and if it works out and you happen to like it also - Awesome I'll sell it to you.  Soooooo, rarely will I do a commission because of that fact.  Is that weird?  So many artist do commission and I commend them on that, but it just makes me crazy.

Can you see the little beaks sticking up out of the nest? 

Below it shows their entire head.

My show is next week ..... whoa did I just say NEXT WEEK!!! Yikes.  I need to start making my list of things to gather, fix, arrange, clean up.  All those last minute details that you push aside and then you HAVE to get them finished.   My mom's coming for the show so that means I have to clean house on top of it!  Arrggg

Pushin' Up Daisies

I've been working on some new garden art for the upcoming Phoenix Botanical Gardens Show on March 16, 17-18th (16th only if your a member) and since it's like Spring time over here and glorious weather I figured what better subject than Spring Flowers.  I've got old barbed wire, wooden hearts and cut leaves to make any garden more inviting.

As with any new thing I make I'm always trying to figure out how I'm gonna display these crazy things.  Most everything i do is recycling so I scoured the wood pile and found what hopefully will work as a stand for these crazy daisies.  It all painted and ready for the show and didn't cost me a dime.

So, do come down and say HELLO if you're in the Phoenix area and if you're looking for beautiful plants that's the place to be.

What was my Inspiration? and Shovel Art #7

The question I get asked the most at my shows is "how on earth did you start cutting shovels"?  Well it all began the day I brought home my "Thermal Dynamics Plasma Cutter".  My husband set up the air compressor and put the water filters on then I had the hard task of plugged it in. I was desperate to cut something so I scanned the backyard for some steel and I spotted the hoe, started cutting with no design plan in mind and...

so the story began......

From then on I've focused on garden type equipment as inspiration.  The deciding factor was .... it's Steel, it's cheap and it's unusual!  I've come a long way in the last 5 years - a testament that no matter how old you are or how late you start,  You Can Do It!  Everyday, every step takes me further and further down the trail to growth, learning, failure & life.  It's all a part of the process.  You have to keep trying, keep experimenting, keep being crazy, think out of the box and look at all the inspiration around you it's mind boggling!!

Shovel Art #7

This was a fun piece.  I enjoyed doing the fence and the bird on it, but it just seemed a little lack luster so, I took out some old barbed wire and started making a nest that goes through front and back.

 But, really there isn't a front and back since the image is on both sides.

So you decide which way you want it.

Sorry, but it was really hard to get a good picture of these.

"Cherish your visions; cherish your ideals; cherish the music that stirs in your heart, the beauty that forms in your mind, the loveliness that drapes your purest thoughts. If you remain true to them, your world will at last be built."    ---- James Allen

Google friends connect - Am I going Away???

Friends and followers - I've heard talk lately that if you connected to this website with Google Friend connects that it will all disappear in March or you guys will disappear... I really don't have a clue.  I'm not that savvy with all this blogging jargon, but if all disappear in March and you all go away, don't know if I'll be back or not.  Trying to recreate this blog, move it to Google +, figure it all out may be just too much right now.   I'm not really sure how this affect things but here's an article I found that explains.  Although, I didn't really get it!  Oh well - it's been a fun ride.

http://heartifb.com/2011/11/28/google-cancels-google-friend-connect-what-that-means-for-you/

I hope everyone out there is being way more productive than myself these days.  Seems I can't get out of my head and focus on creating anything with any purpose, but maybe I never really did!    I've got an upcoming show mid-March, but can't seem to wrap my head around that either.  I tell you my eyes & mind grow bored these days, but when I snap out of it there is always so much to see.  I did get out and stroll around and take photo's of the surrounding wildlife and floral beauty that surrounds me so until I gain my mind back long enough to fire up the torch, take a little walk with me down the road and keep me company for just a bit.

Hopefully I'll be back soon with something fun to show you!!

Shovel Art #5 and #6

I've said it before and I'll keep saying it........

I LOVE SHOVELS!  

I loved resurrecting these and transforming them into something so different than what it was originally designed for.  I started turning them and using the entire handle for exactly that .... A handle, a hanger.  You can hang your jackets, your bridles, your garden tools or whatever you feel like on them.  It's hard to see and photograph, but hopefully you can see the horseshoes used as the hook and its got a bit of rusting to do yet....but you get the gest of it.

And then.... my favorite  "The Scoop Shovel"...  it's so much larger than the average shovel blade and so much easier to get a large drawing on.  It stands out so much better - don't ya think? In anticipation of Spring... here come the butterflies.  You'll notice I do a lot of those.

I hope you all had a lovely Valentine's Day and someone made you feel special - Cuz You Are Special!  I had a wonderful dinner out with my Valentine and he bought me the cutest plant - it has pink heart shaped leaves!  I love it.

Have an Awesome Week  and Get Out There and

Create Beauty

in whatever Fashion that is to YOU!

Welding and Airing You're Dirty Laundry

Yes, it's true, when you work with metal and rust and old junk - you get real dirty.  So, of course you have to do laundry.... right?

My take on doing laundry may be a little different than yours!!

 I was inspired to cut these out when I opened a box my mom had brought me from my childhood.  It was filled with my old Barbies (over 50 yrs old) and all of their clothes.  I washed all these little clothes, hung them on a little clothes line that I had for Christmas cards and the vision of those beautiful little dresses, shirts, pants and aprons was so cute it stuck in my mind for a few years.  So, what better time to be a little childish and just have fun.  The other source to inspire this whimsical clothes line was from my travels to Italy a few years back.  I loved taking pictures of all the beautiful doorways and all the beautiful laundry that hung from old buildings.  It's amazing to me how much inspiration surrounds us everyday and the many ways that we all put that inspiration to use.

Look behind the clothes... I didn't notice my little friends in the background until I developed the picture.  I had removed a little fountain on the wall that was distracting - but now after seeing all these guys maybe I should of left well enough alone.

The Last Burros

So like everything I do - it's time to switch gears a little and move away from painting my little burro's.  Yes, I get bored easily (in case you hadn't noticed) and can't stay too long in one place so it's time to get back to welding and cutting and getting dirty.  But before I do that here's one last look at the last of my little burro's.  These two pictures were inspired by a photo I took around the corner from my moms house in Pena Blanca, New Mexico.

The road these were on is the same road where they filmed CRAZY HEART with Jeff Bridges.  If you've seen the movie and remember where he crashed his truck.... this is the place.  It's a beautiful open landscape - no power lines, no trash, no houses..... just mountain and open space and chamisa. 

My Little Minature Inspiration

Guys, I'm having so much fun painting these little tile paintings I can't tell you.  You can't really make a mistake.... just keep painting over what you don't like.  No two are the same - but yet... they are!

This is my little inspiration, Blarney. He's my BFF's little miniature donkey - although he's not so miniature anymore.  When he was a baby in this picture he was an endless source of laughter - chasing the Bloodhound through the yard and literally rolling on the ground together trying to nip each others feet.  If you had hairbands in your hair he would sneak up behind you and try to pull them out.  He is quite the character!

Got to get busy with Super Bowl Sunday so I hope you all have a wonderful weekend.  If you're getting tired of these..... well I've still got more trivets to paint so who knows when I'll get back to welding!

I am Right Brain

Right Brain

I am the right brain.

I am creativity. A free spirit. I am passion.

Yearning. Sensuality. I am the sound of roaring laughter.

I am taste. The feeling of sand beneath bare feet.

I am movement. Vivid colors.

I am the urge to paint on an empty canvas.

I am boundless imagination. Art. Poetry. I sense. I feel.

I am everything I wanted to be.