Art and Soul Retreat - Virginia Beach - Steampunk Clock

Oh my, whatever is steam punk.   Hard to describe, but I like it.

When I decided to go to Virginia Beach, I kept chanting - REMEMBER YOU ARE TRAVELING BY PLANE.  Lots of classes that would have required me to go to a UPS Store (I didn't want to rent a car) to have it mailed home and the time I was doing that would prevent me from creating art.   Lots of choices on what to take and most would fit inside a suitcase.

My first class was with Erin Keck and the class was entitled Deconstructed/Reconstructed Steam punk Clock.    The basis of his clock was an antique travel clock that we took apart and had all the little screws, springs, gears etc.   Many weeks after I had signed up there was a very short little video of the project and I was delighted I had signed up for.

Here was my place with my materials laid out.   I had the antique travel clock, a bag of laser cut gears, glue and other little goodies.

 Here is my antique clock dismantled.    Looks kinda sad.  If anyone has any ideas for the case, let me know.  

 This was the piece that sort of held everything else together.   You won't find it in the finished project, but don't forget it, you will see it again.  

 Don't you love this little glass cabochon.   It has a clock glued behind it.   Had to do it early to allow for the glue to dry. 

We had our choice on clock works.   This kind that is totally self contained and just fit in the hole in the laser cut gear or one with hands.   Now I knew getting this home would be a chore, so I picked the self contained clock as the hands would be sure to get bent out of shape.   My past experience says they don't fix easily. 

 He is after several hours work.   Lots of gears put together.     I loved these laser cut gears.     

 Kinda done adding gears and looking for locations to put the metal gears. 

Here is the finished project.  You can see metal gears added, the black spring (be careful with them, they want to cut your fingers off when they spring back at you) and there are  few gun shell casings.  

Now - did it make it home well.   I found a box that I put it in, and then put bubble wrap around it.   One shell casing came off and a little glue put it right back on the clock.  

Now about glue.   I have all sort of glues and I found a new one.   Rhino glue.   Just a little bit will bond metal to wood, metal to metal and probably anything else including finger to finger.  

Love this clock.  

Stay tuned for the use for the main piece not used in this project.  

Art and Soul Retreat - Virginia Beach - Trades

When I first decided that this was the year that I would go to an Art and Soul Retreat, I kept finding mention of 'trades' on their website and also on their yahoo site.   Well, I kinda believed they might be like swaps in the miniature groups I belong to, but wasn't sure.   Bases on their frequently asked question section, they described trades as:

Trades are typically small items made by you (or packets of goodies that you put together) that you bring and trade with others who have made things. They’re not required, but are a fun way to share your art with others. Trading can take place anywhere and everywhere at the retreat—just ask if anyone’s trading, and you’re sure to get a response!

Well, that didn't seem too hard, but how many do you make.   Well, that was a fairly frequent question and the most repeated answer was 25 trades.   Okay, that's doable - but what to \make.   I love wire wrapped beach glass and thought that would be what I would do.     However, the closer I would get to the retreat, the more concerned that I would not have enough so I made some charms and some carved wine corks that work for lots of stamping needs in art projects.

I packed everything in little zip lock bags with my blog and email address.   I gave everyone a choice and I was actually surprised at how popular the carved corks were.   I know I love all the ones I made (hearts, squares, crosses, etc).   My little red sheets say 'Made in the Raggedy Kingdom" by Sheila A. Barker.   I work where all my Raggedy Ann are displayed.  


Okay, I am armed and ready to trade.   Well that is a bit imtimidating.    I was also surprised at the number of responses of "I didn't know what to make".   Well, that is part of the purpose of my post.   About anything is acceptable.

 The above is four trades.   A pair of earrings, a collection of things to use in creating other things (rhinestones, beads, compass, etc), an animal print dust cover for your cell phone and a magnet.

 Four more trades.   Peacock Hair Clip, Book Mark, Artist Trading Card with Charm and a collection of other items to use. 

 Four more Trades.   Artist trading cards, stamps to use, and a collection of little treasures. 

Here is a wire wrapped pendant, a fabric flower,lots of animal charms and stickers  and a little book.  

I traded with 16 people so I brought some of my trades home - not a problem, I will use them next Retreat.    

Just about anything is suitable for a trade and not all artists do the same types of art so you are bound to please a lot of people and not so much with others.     All in all I was very pleased with the trades.   I also gave some trades to each of my instructors and to others I met at lunch.   Hopefully the next time more people will want to trade.   It was great fun.

Art and Soul Retreat - Viriginia Beach - Charms

Well this year I am crossing off some of the 'bucket list' items that I've always wanted to do.   The Art and Soul Retreats have always been high on the list and one thing after another has put it off.   It moved up a lot after I retired, but it still has taken me nearly 7 years to get my act together with time and commitment to do it.   This past week, I went to the Virginia Beach Retreat and had an absolutely terrific time.    Over the next few weeks I will post information on my time there and the classes I attended.

 

Before the event I found out that there was a charm group that were doing a Safari Themed charm exchange.   Well, I knew that was something I would enjoy so I signed up.   The group hovered around 12 for quite some time, so I made (after MUCH deliberation and consultation with friends) 14 swaps.   Not a problem.   Imagine my surprise that the swap closed at 19.   Made 6 more, thought I should keep an extra.   Got the 19 mailed off.    

 

The distribution was to be at a time that I would not be there so Julie gave them to me a day earlier.   It was very entertaining in my room going through them.    

 

I wondered how I would display them - Surprise!   How about a charm bracelet.   They are all ready to wear except one that is being mailed separately due to a couple of mix ups by the post office (but that is a whole different story).

 

Participating in swaps is very thought taxing.   What to make???   Will it measure up to other participants' work???   I have been doing swaps for miniatures for years and when joining a new group, those questions can almost be crippling.   The following picture was my first thought.   A tribe of very primitive people discovered on a safari. 

 

Like it, but it needed more.   Add the 'shell' feature.   Primitive tribal people use shells.   

 



 Sent the above pictures to one of my very gifted friends and asked her opinion.   She said to add the shell, more is better.  
14 charms made.  

 I was very happy with them; even happy with the others I had to make to come up with the 19 swaps.  

It was a very fun swap and I'm delighted that I participated.   Jumping into the mix is sometimes the hardest part of the project.  

 

 

Four Square Mixed Media Collage

In my other blog, I posted about a use of 4 cheap frames.   You can check that out HERE.   Here are the other 4 frames.   Cheap.   

Here is the frame.  Cheap - not too special, just a frame. 

 4 pieces of canvas put together on a piece of cardboard with double stick tape.  

 4 pieces cut apart again and put in their individual frames. 

 Top Left Corner

 Top right corner

 Bottom left corner

 Bottom right corner

 Total look again. 

 

I really love it.   Now I need more frames!!!!

SoDu Gallery - From a Woman's Hands

I am participating this year in the above show.   It begins April 5 with an opening from 6 to 9 p.m.   Lots of local art and chocolate.   What could be better.    Here is the piece that I submitted.  It runs until April 15.

 

 

Titled:   Leftovers.

 

Come see it in person.

 



Little Bity Pots

 

This post is rather unusual in that I am posting this on two blogs. Here and on www.raggedykingdom.blogspot.com. This blog deals with those items I make or someone else makes and the Raggedy Kingdom blog deals with collecting things.   

 

In February I attended the Molly Cromwell Miniature Show in Orlando along with the Fun Day.   I had the opportunity to attend the workshop on miniature pottery.   It was taught by Craig Roberts (The Hairy Potter).     I had taken regular sized pottery here in Key West.  Great fun, but very taxing.   Not nearly as difficult as these little pots.    

 

The potter's wheel is about the size of a half dollar and fits in a plastic dish pan. 

Here they are drying.   They will need to be fired, glazed and fired again.  

Aren't they cute.   The largest is about the size of a nickle.   This class was so much fun. 

 

I

BEE MERRY

I love collages and although I don't too many of them; it is still one of my favorite forms of art.

These little white holders for doll house sized wine goblets have been hanging around for quite some time and I've always loved them and knew someday they would have their 15 minutes of fame.

Well, here they are:
Without the frame.   Title of piece comes from the little bees on the left hand side and the word MERRY.

Here it is framed.  You can see the bees much better.

Another framed pieces - has some glare on it, but glass does that.

Hope you are Merry today!