Ranchito De Cuervo

" Little Ranch of the Crow "

This is the name of my Mom's "Little Ranch".  There are no cows, no horses, no pigs.....  just CROWS and Iris.  Although, there was a Black Bear with her cubs that decided to tear down all the hummbingbird feeders and drink the sweet nectar last week.  Due to the terrible Fire up towards Los Alamos lots of animal are headed down the mountain in search of food.  Bears are not at all something you see in her backyard.

Anyway, It's Mom's Birthday, (posting this a little after the fact so she can't see her present) so we headed to New Mexico to celebrate another year and of course for the ZoZoBra celebration (pics to come later).  I thought she should have a little gift that represents her 'Little Ranch" with all it's crows and of course all the beautiful Iris that she grows. 

Happy Birthday, Mom ~ I Love You!!!

 

The sign measures about 19"x24"

There's Mom in her old Jalope!

Its Rainin Sparks and Butterflies

I know you think I've been sitting around eating bonbon's ~ you'd be wrong...... it was Triple Ginger Snaps from Trader Jo's!...  my favorite!

In between those little gems I have been getting busy ~ I've got two shows coming up and two vacations and I'm finding it hard to find time to create and deal with the 113 degrees here.  As you know I love METAL ART!!! I love creating Butterflies with various recycled items, so I'm working on more garden art, which I'm hoping will be a big hit at the Phx. Botanical Gardens Annual Fall Plant Sale coming up.  I always have a booth there in Oct.  If you're in the Phx area come on down ~ I've got some goodies I'd like to show you.

Metal Art you fool ~ what did you think!

Everything I do is by hand - hand drawn, hand cut & hand welded.  It's time consuming, but I love it.  It starts with a big piece of steel, a few markers.

  Here's a little video of me cutting out some butterflies just to show you what it's like. 

Don't cha wish your girlfriend was HOT like me!!!

Don't CHA! 

I'll bet she doesn't have an outfit like mine either!!  YEE HAW

Here's what they look like after I've welded the wings onto old Railroad spikes.  Next step will be the rod they will stand on and the rusting and/or painting stage.  

 Here's one in the early stages of RUSTING.  It's got a ways to go.

I'm off on my Santa Fe Vacation this Friday - Have A Great WEEK!

ZenTangle, GooGLE DooDLE

Ok, if that Title didn't get your attention - I give up!

I'm on this kick of ROCKs you know ~ remember these.  So many fun things you can do with them ~ it costs nothing ~ they're free! In this economy isn't that wonderful.  Something I've always done is "Doodle", especially if I'm on the phone and there is a pen handy..... I doodle on anything, sometimes on things of course I shouldn't have doodled on, "sorry honey".  Sooooo, what better thing to doodle on then ROCKs.  Then, of course, when you GooGLE DooDLE (sounds like a new recipe) fun things pop up...... like ZENTANGLE go here!!!!! WHAT!! I must of been hiding under a Rock cuz I've never heard that word.   I was ZENTANGLing and I didn't even know it!  How Fun.

I'm gettin' my ZENTANGLE on, baby!!

And just for fun ~ let's add some quotes and words of wisdom just to finish them off.

What I've learned...... 

Zentangle ruins sharpies fast!!
Everything I know I learned in Kindergarden!!

I'm off to find more flat rocks - that's harder to do than you think!

Dumpster Diving Weekend

Friends and Family know I have a problem.  They know I can't stay out of Thrift Stores, they know I hate the Mall and everything in it!  I go to the thrift store at least once a week maybe twice.  I'm trying to cut back ~ it's hard.  It's gonna be ten times harder when I have to move.  I'll be cussing out every Ginormous thing I've hauled back to this house.  I've filled 2700 sq. ft with so many lovely things I guess I just can't help myself.  Recycling and Reusing it's what I've done forever.  Blame it on my Mom, she hauled me to thrift store my entire childhood.....everything wrong with us is our parents fault,.... right?

Yesterday ~ 50% off at Goodwill.... You know I had to go.  It was a glorious day of fabulous finds:

Check out this over-the-top beautiful Persian 9x12 rug..... $50!!!!

What was the person smoking that got rid of this.

This mexican silver/pewter tray must weigh 40lbs.  It's almost 4ft x 2ft.

My dining room table is 9ft long and it takes up over half of it. 

Picked this gem up for .........are you ready?........... $24.00!!!!

Somebody slap me I must be dreamin!!!  can you tell I get a little excited about bargain hunting.

Found these two (2) large hanging candelabra's.... I'll probably take the chicken's off (not my thing)

 Still had the prior price tag on of $59.00 each
I paid $2.50
 
 Picked these up a while back - Stunning Teak foot and headboard from Bali.......$80
Later saw in an imports store for $500 ea!!!!!

Another glorious rug 9x12..... paid $100 

per Karastain value is $2200!!! SCORE

Hope you all had a great a weekend.

Who Wants to go Dumpster Diving with Me!!!!

Unexpected Gifts!

I love this world of blogging friends, friends you've made literally without hearing their voice, but listening to there heart, seeing their heart in their words and the beautiful art that they create.

Last week I received a most unexpected box of lovelies from a wonderful artist, Soraya Nulliah, you can visit her here.  She has an open He(ART)full spirit, and a gifted hand. She speaks from her soul not just her lips.  She struggles like all of us to grow and to overcome our past and present challenges that we all carry.  I know she has carried those that perhaps could not carry themselves with her words and her open spirit to grow.

She sent me the most beautiful gifts ~ a lovely party dress for my little granddaughter Stella, a beautiful sequined journal book for my thoughts ~ a most spectacular painting from her little Tara~Poo and a piece of her art work that I will treasure always.

Sometimes we just have to stop and breath and appreciate all that is good in this world and that everyone out there struggles, needs, wants and searches for the meaning of their life 

~ isn't it nice to know we are not alone ~

Thank You My He(ART)full Friend

ZoZoBra - Old Man Gloom

Zozobra is a hideous but harmless 50 Foot bogeyman marionette. He is a toothless, empty-headed facade. He has no guts and doesn't have a leg to stand on. He is full of sound and fury, signifying nothing. He never wins. He moans and groans, rolls his eyes and twists his head. His mouth gapes and chomps. His arms flail about in frustration. Every year we do him in. We string him up and burn him down in ablaze of fireworks. At last, he is gone, taking with him all our troubles for another whole year.

We are headed to Santa Fe, New Mexico for a little vacation at the end of the month to enjoy this annual Fiestas de Santa Fe celebration held every autuum right after Labor Day. It's been a long, long time since I have enjoyed this celebration and I'm really looking forward to it and to seeing family again.  

The burning of Zozobra dates from 1924. William Howard Shuster, Jr. came up with the idea of creating the effigy, also called Old Man Gloom, and ritual burning. His burning marks the start of three days of celebration that includes traditional mass at St. Francis Cathedral; a reenactment of the Entrada, when Don Diego de Vargas returned to the city; a Children's Pet Parade; and the Historical/Hysterical Parade.

I'll be taking a little break from blogging for a few weeks while I finish up some small projects I've been working on.  I know I've been bad about posting the last month.  Stay with me and I'll report back after our little get away and hopefully share some great video of the demise of ZoZobra and hopefully I'll be burning all my sorrows away along with him.... that's part of the ritual to list any problems you are having and then place them in the stomach of ZoZoBra and burn them all away to welcome in the New Year.

Viva La Fiesta

 

Squirrel!!

You know that sight, sound, or feeling you get when you're walking along with your dog, having a perfectly good conversation and he bolts ~ he's got a bead on something important with the hopes of coming home with a prize..... well that's me and I say SQUIRREL a lot and bolt!    I'm all over the map of what I'm working on, what I'm doing, and what I'm feeling.  It's like a scary roller coaster ride over here..... DO Ya Wanna Go Faster!!!!! the carnival man says.

Here's a few of my SQUIRRELs!

Found this beautiful cedar lined Hope Chest at Goodwill for $10.00 ~ I couldn't leave it there!  I didn't need it! I had no where to put it!  Honey load it in the Truck! Gave it fresh paint job, moved some furniture around to accommodate it, (well I moved the other furniture in to junk room only to have to deal with it later).  All reason leaves me when I ferret out a good squirrel.

Then hubby trimmed the front Mesquite tree and what do I spy... a lovely branch in need of decoration.

Then on to watercolor painting again ..... enough of doing spiders.  It's been too long and I always have to start over, but I shall try and attempt to paint the truck on my header of this blog...

Then I think about my Son, who just moved away to Bellingham, Washington two weeks ago and all creativity leaves me momentarily... and I cry! 

Sometimes you can't keep your little Squirrels ~ These are the Squirrels that got away!

and I Cry.......

Arroyo Junker Beauties

If you hang out with me long enough you begin to realize (and it doesn't take very long) that I love JUNK, especially metal junk. The one project I work on whenever I travel is photographing old junked cars.  That was sort of the reason I started this blog ~ to showcase those junked cars and all my other JUNK that I resurrect.  That other JUNK I resurrect certainly gets more air time so today I'll share a few more of those rusted out, patina beautified ~ Arroyo Junkers.

Blacksmithed Hardware

Last summer I was invited to a blacksmithing class in NM GO HERE & HERE .  I don't think I ever talked about a few of the things I made.  Blacksmithing is awesome, however it is just to labor intensive for me and I'm not set up for what it takes to make it a lucrative business.  I did learn some easy techniques for making a few items that I could do later if needed.  I loved twisting rods and making them so much more interesting, like these hooks ~ they were the first thing I made.

Believe it or not, it takes awhile to learn just to make a pointed end on a square bar.  There is a lot of heating up to a red hot stage so pounding is easier.

After learning a few of these techniques we were off to make something on our own.  It took me all day, but I made a huge handle for a gate that someday I will make.  I was so happy to walk away with something that started out as a 1/4 inch square rod and turn it into a beautiful iron sculpture and an experience I will never forget, especially every time I open that gate or door this handle will go on. I love those memories that surround you of something special.

 My final piece was something I had seen our instructor make out of a piece of steel pipe ~ it was a hummingbird.  I could never have imagined that by pounding a piece of pipe in many different angles would produce the shape of a hummingbird, but sure enough it worked!  It was impressive to watch and amazing to see the transformation.  In order to do this you needed a power hammer, alot of heat and a continuous motion and attention to where the hammer was slammin' down.  I didn't get mine finished and will add the wings and shape the tail feathers at some point, but you can see the results.

I'll always treasure that month and remember that stepping out of your comfort zone always gains you insight.

Lace Wrapped Garden Rocks

Texture and Design

~

It's everywhere

~

It's what I surround myself with

~

It's something I can never get enough of 

I saw a lovely idea where someone who could actually crochet did so over Rocks.  Well, I can't crochet but I loved the look it gave the rocks and it reminded me of the way I cut out steel.  As always I was drawn to the contrast of these delicate and hard surfaces, just like my shovel art.  

I had some old crocheted doilies laying around and what better way to use them than to wrap them around rocks.  The thrifts stores are loaded with them so they are always available.  I've got at least 20 more to make and then I'll place them in the garden ~ they'll make such a beautiful contrast amongst the flowers.

Did you know that the doilies make the most beautiful patterns when you spray paint over them onto something else.  I use them quite often in my Art.

Take something OLD and make it NEW again

Spider Webs

Luckily I have an order from a friend for some of my spider webs and I don't  have to be outside.  Sometimes it's just too flippin' hot here in AZ to possibly work outside.  Currently around 112 and 65% humidity. It's ugly and even uglier with a welding helmet and protective gear on.  So, I opt to stay indoors and create smaller items.  I've always loved spider webs, not so much real spiders, just the beauty of their webs, so I create these little webs to place in windows and on mirrors, up in a corner of a room or wherever else you may want them.  I'll be working on a REALLY big one for outside as soon as it cools off.  They are all over my house and sometimes I forget where they are and they'll catch the corner of my eye and I'll have a quick feeling of "What's That!", then relief.... Oh yeah, spiders.

 Some have crystals in them to catch the light

  They have glass beads with long legs

 and some are just the webs

HOLY MOTHER OF STORMS!!

We were headed out the door last night for our nightly walk and this was at the front door the HOLY MOTHER OF STORMS.   Looks like I'm gonna be cleaning up after this massive wall of dust tomorrow.  Our homes aren't built for high winds and this dust storm hit at almost 70 mph.

Textured Beauties

 Kim Klassen she has given me new hope for old photo's.  Check her out and do some wonderful tricks to your photo's.