Filling In the Blanks

It all started with a thrift store find.  I am not sure why I drifted into one of our local shops, but I remember being intrigued by what I could do with this tricycle.  The tag said $8.99.  I know that is not expensive but when it may sit on the shelf for an undetermined amount of time I have to decide which

purchases are worth the price.  If I didn't my house would be full of wonderful, sometimes useless, fascinating only to me, items for my craft. I walked away. I can't remember if anything else caught my eye that afternoon but I came home with the trike.

And there it sat, occasionally being pushed around, captivating me with the movement of the peddles.  Knowing this motion was going to be part of the art, I just had to be patient for the rest of the story to fall into place.

Now enters the bedraggled bride doll mentioned in the last post.  There was nothing pretty about her, dirty dress, hair askew, a little too tall, but she was rescued all the same.  As with the clown who came home with her, she was immediately stripped down to her porcelain.  While her proportions were off when dressed, she could now transform into her own.  After the agreeable meeting between Mrs. Bride and the tricycle, all fell into place.  My first objective was to get her shoes to move in a way that had her peddling.  As per my method, a lot of repetitive moving of the respective parts trying to come up with a solution.  In other words I pushed the trike around a lot, watching and figuring.  Springs were the answer, connecting them from the wheel upright to her shoe.  They work perfectly.

  

I'm not sure if there was ever a thought of her having a body but as the piece progressed I loved the openness, leaving the eye to fill the missing parts. Her head and balloons sway a bit when pushed, and with the addition of the peddling, this creates a small movement that flows throughout the piece. My heart sings when I play with it.

My 4yr old niece was inspecting, and moving Mrs. Trike around and in this little sweet voice...

Niece:  She doesn't have any arms

Me:      No

Niece:  She doesn't have any legs

Me:      No, I made her that way.  I like the way she moves without them

She gave it another good look over, smiled and said OK. 

I hope on some small level it will resonate with her that art can be whatever you want. 

Time has progressed since the start of this blog post, with a few firsts.  We walked the streets of New Orleans, purchased a wonderful painting from a street vendor; kayaked Nickajack lake and watched 50,000 bats fly from their cave to evening feed (it was nothing like the movie The Birds); moved our son's family into their first home.  We also had our granddaughter for a week.  Not a first but we were sure busy with Putt Putt golf, ceramics, cooking, all the fun stuff.

This year we had a wonderful spring, but summer has finally made its hot and sticky way to the South.  But with this comes the lightening bugs, the smell of chicken on the grill and the sounds of outdoor life.  May you enjoy the sweet sun season!

Hilari

 

Taunting

Let's get one thing straight, I do not like clowns.  I know, I know.  Inherently there is nothing wrong with them.  They have brought joy to millions, and up to a point I giggled at their antics but...  I remember the exact moment I lost the warm and fuzzies towards these vile creatures.  I blame it on Steven King and his character Pennywise.  His book "It" was great, enthralling, a real page turner.  The 1990 TV adaptation broke me.  It may have been my life situation overflowing onto the storyline or some latent deep seeded thing from my childhood but after that two-night event I was done with them.

Side note:  I do not take issue with people who enjoy being clowns.  I think it is admirable they want to spread happiness to others.  Do I have friends that are clowns, no, but that is just happenstance not choice.

On to the piece.  As it has been stated in the past, I enjoy a tromp through yard and estate sales. It's the thrill of the find. On this particular Saturday the Estate Sale sign called and I followed the arrows to a large house full of potential goodies.  I perused the driveway selections where a couple of children's chairs showed some potential, then into the heart of the house I entered, the garage.  This is where the odds and ends are places, and tools, ohhh, tools.  It was there I locked eyes with our central character. By his side were five or six porcelain headed dolls and while picking up a poorly dressed bride, considering it my find for the day, the clown said, "Oh, you'll be back". No, thank you all the same and into the rest of the house I went.

My creative juices found nothing else of interest so back to the beginning to ponder over the children's chairs. The only direct route was back through the garage where I was accosted once again by the clown.  He was like a predator with candy to a small child.  Come here little girl...no, I don't want to work with you...Oh, what fun we will have.  Look at my pretty colors, my porcelain skin.  We could do wonders together.  

I took the candy.

Returning home, with the children's chairs, dilapidated bride and clown in tow, I knew my first priority was to execute my authority and disassemble the clown. What remained was the head, hands, shoes and red striped pantaloons, all in pieces on my workbench. My momentary superiority was shattered when he whispered...What are you going to do with me now?.   

 Getting down to business I gathered my wire, tools and a gifted ceiling fan globe.  I elongated his neck area because the piece was not proportional when I simply stuck his head on the base.  Pleased with the look, I added movement using fishing weights connected to a wire dropped into the globe and when the crank is turned his head will slightly tilt/rotate in a creepy kind of way.  His pantaloons were used to cover attachment wires and to introduce a bit of softness compared to the rigidity of the glass and wire.  The mobile was attached simply because I liked it.  He worked up rather quickly, I assume he was trying to make his point.

He now resides in the living room taunting me daily.

Today is Saturday and I am off to see what project I want to delve into... jewelry, embroidery, laundry.  Hum, wonder which will win out.

Peace,

Hilari

 

The Chosen One

Enjoying The Breeze

I have come to realize that as the years pass I am much less inclined to create as winter sets in.  I still make just not with the zest of ideas flowing.  I crochet with gusto but it is usually with others' patterns or my fallback of Granny Square blankets which I donate to an organization called Project Linus.  If you are a blanket maker (crochet, quilter, knitter, fleece, etc...individual or group) in need of producing please check them out.  It seems I homestead in the colder months with the comfortable but this season I am branching out...all the way to embroidery.  I have been enjoying the process shown through online classes and have made 2 books with simple, quirky stitched covers.  At this point, which is very early in my journey, I have grand plans for 2023 Christmas presents.  I sure hope it sticks.

Even though my creative urge is snuggled up in a cozy blanket on the couch for the moment, the sunshine and warmth of the last summer had me going strong.  And with the smell of fresh cut grass this was created. 

This one knew exactly what it was going to be before it even got started.  While helping a friend load her firewood bin I picked up the next piece to be stacked and it said "Whoa, slow down, check me out".  Well, who can resist that.  I gave it a good once over, even noticing it had a nice flat bottom so no adjustment would be needed there.  I told it "Yes, you surely are a nice piece of wood".  Again it spoke, " Now that I have your attention here is what I want to be..." and within a week and a half it was complete.  

With the finished concept thrust at me I just had to jump right in and find my starting place. I sanded the front of the wood making sure I left the beautiful cut marks while leaving the back untouched to show off the textured bark. I gathered my chiseling tools and carved out the niche which set the size of the air dried clay figure.  Next I placed the crank at the bottom of the wood because, well, that was where I was told to put it.  When this is engaged the thin wire makes the body's legs kick around.  

Another creative end game was thrust upon me during the same time, making metal mobiles. More about that later, but with it came about the haze of clouds lazily floating over his head.  After all was completed as asked, or rather demanded, I added my own touch of the bright yellow flower.  With this I knew it was finished.

Each spring our city has a month-long Dogwood Arts Festival which, as it sounds, is a celebration of nature, both natural and gardens, and the arts.  I am happy to say that this piece was chosen out of 415 judged entries to be one of 45 displayed in the downtown gallery. It was very exciting to see it out in the wild being shared with others.

With being just past the middle of February we are well on our way to spring. Happy Early Pre-Spring to all.

Hilari

 

And Then There Was This One

 

Old School Selfie

Some ideas just flow beautifully like a serine creek in a quiet wood.  The idea comes whispering sweet nothings in your ear and the melody of the creative dance begins.  From start to finish it is a pleasure to manipulate the tools, found objects, and watch the seed of an idea grow.  You get the picture. 

Not this one.  Nope.  It came out spitting and hissing like a caged feral cat.  

                                           

Maybe it was because all of the parts had been sitting around in their respective places, not socializing with others.  I crafted the head out of air dried clay and left it unpainted, picking it up on occasion hoping to help it find its way.  The camera was passed from one, to another, then onto me so maybe it felt abandoned and therefore uncooperative.  

The application of the movement varied from moment to moment.  I started with an elaborate construction of a metal wire cage with gears.  No.  Next was a paired down version, removal of gears, addition of wire cam shaft. No.  Complete removal of wire cage, start over.  After a hard fought fight I ended up with a dowel connected to the viewfinder creating a tipping point, simple but somewhat effective at this point.   The crow awkwardly rocks back and forth with the use of a wire lead (seen in picture).  You just grab the wire and force her into submission.

The only highlight of this project, with the exception of when I finally called it complete, was making the wings.  Once, years ago I had some now forgotten brilliant idea to do something grand with those thick paper bar coasters touting which beer is the best.  Thanks to eBay I have a box of these packed in the deep recesses of my supplies.  With wire, the colorful coasters, and knowledge gained at an Arrowmont art class the crow is able to fly, so to speak.  Oh, and the eyelashes! It was with this glorious addition that I knew this drudgery of a piece was done.

Lastly, this project spent more time in a Time Out Bag than it did to actually complete it. The crow has no good side to photograph.  And to have the last laugh, I have run out of shelf room for bigger projects ( she is 16 inches high x 15 inches wide and 13 inches deep) so she sits on the dinning room table mocking me every breakfast. 

I'm sure I will come to revel in her awkwardness at some point.  Think positive!!

We are in the definite throws of summer with the heat keeping many inside.  Hopefully this finds you cool with a tall glass of sipping lemonade. you know the kind that makes you pucker with delight.

Peace,

Hilari

We Got Cows - Twister - 1996

 As time waned on my desire to communicate with others, both personal and online, waned as well.  Like an early spring breeze breathes life back into the world, seeing engagement of others has helped lift the gray of covid winter.  My hope is that it will quietly recede into the medical depths of normalcy but if not at least we are better adapted for what may come.

On to personal engagement...

New ideas have been in full flow with the reemergence of longer brighter days.  With the fleeting light of winter I hunker down with yarn and a cozy blanket but flower blooms and sunny warmth sends me outside where I work with other mediums.  This season has led me to creating hanging art mobiles.  It actually started in the winter gloom, creating a Twister movie themed one for my son.  This is one of his favorites, being way, way too young to watch and actually a bit traumatized until a close tornadic call in an open shelter at Boy Scout camp brought ideas of storm chasing into his forethought.  

My first completed mobile was made with a coke can, wire and string, experimenting with the process.  It flows as it should, easily in the breeze. I got this!  Now let's make one that does not follow traditional rules. Do I have this?? For those who have not seen this cinematic masterpiece ( I jest, there is no sitting on the fence with this one.  You either love it or hate it) there is a scene where cows are flying through the air.  This was my starting point.  I wanted the cows to look erratic, out of balance, as they should in the middle of a tornado, but after many unsuccessful drafts, continuing to prove to myself that drawing is not my strong suit, I ended up with very stoic, pasture grazing cows.  In the end I was just glad they looked like cows.  Next off to the wire wind vortices which came about with much more ease.  Again, taken from the movie was the addition of a car being swept away, as this was a pivotal scene.   Up into our small, full attic I go in search of one 4 x 6 inch box containing Micro Machines (there is a very small portable world full of cars and other transports vehicles which my son was gifted, bribed, when needed), finding one that was a perfect fit if not the right color.  A little spray paint and touch up with a sharpie, the hot pink hot rod was transformed.  Parts pre-assembled and looking great laying flat on the workspace, whooo, this is awesome.  Hum, huummmm, hum...having only made the one now I am in a quandary how to proceed.  I now needed to think through the weight counterbalance to make this work.  I left it on the worktable enjoying the awesomeness while being mocked by indecision until the solution of fishing weights woke me up one morning.  Having a stash of these I was able to adjust the length of wire and size of weight until the storm blew as I had thought it would.  

He loved it and all was right in the world.

I hope this season of sunshine and warmth finds you happy and healthy.

Peace,

Hilari

A Blinking Adornment

 

This little darlin' whispered to my psyche the she needed to be introduced in this world.  Having been working with metal lately, I had my supplies ready to make the eyes and mouth.  I patina-ed the eyes the same as if I was coloring copper earrings, using an ammonia fume.   Color was added to the mouth with heat and boiling water ( I have discussed the process in a past post).  After those steps were completed she unfortunately sat and patiently waited for inspiration to move me again.  I could see what I wanted but was not sure how to proceed.  This is a normal occurrence, at this moment I have a three ideas sitting in limbo, just waiting for their spark to light.  Again, she whispered, and it was non-stop until completion.  Her hair is made from batik fabric sewn into tubes and stuffed, then sewn onto the wire base. 

The coolest part is that she blinks!  There is a small lever on the right side of her face, and when rotated her eyelids open and close.  I used a wire wrap that I had seen in a jewelry application, where items could be caged then hung on a chain.  Instead of a full cage I only needed half for my purpose, leaving an opening for the eye to be seen.

This idea was driven by my sister-in-law, who sent information about wall art needed at a location she and her husband patron.  The problem is that I make shelf sitters not wall hangers.  Well, not anymore.  As I was thinking about construction I knew I wanted to be able to reproduce the idea, allowing for freedom of personality in each piece.  I believe I will have the ability to do this through manipulation of features, hair styles, and materials used.  I still have to work on how it hangs due to the fact that it has to come away from the wall to allow the eyelids to rotate.  Even though this one is stable, a bit of refinement is needed.  I have had a drawing of a man that chatters, his mouth opening and closing, for quite a while and this may be the perfect application to give him a voice, so to speak.

Today we say goodbye to football season with the playing of the Super Bowl, so I must be off to get settled in.  I do not have a dog in the hunt so I can just enjoy the action.  It will be a long wait until next season.

Peace,

Hilari

 

Ring Ring

 

I have been enjoying playing with wire as of late.  My hands have mostly been full of yarn, so working with a different kind of manipulation has been a nice change.  This piece was made for BFF's birthday.  Due to her new(ish) wedding and subsequent move to husband's town (mine as well, but because of covid we have not been able to spend time together) she had to give up her almost 40 year old phone number that she and her mother shared.  It was one of the last physical reminders of her mother, who passed shortly after our high school years, and to her it was very emotional.  I hope this will help fill that void. 

As for the piece itself, numbers 1 and 2 are able to be dialed and will return with the use of a spring. I had hoped for more spin but it was not going to happen with how the base was created.  I used my trusty typewriter to replicate their phone number, and glued it to the rusted bottle cap in the center of the dial. The handset can be lifted off to make it more interactive.  Usually my pieces are shelf sitters but this one hangs on the wall, and I like how it looks suspended.  

Tonight is more wire work, making a tiara for a hot pink crocheted pig head.  While the head was easy to work up, I am not sure the vibrant hot pink color was the correct choice.  It lends itself to be an angry pig,  I am hoping the tiara will soften its look.  Maybe the larger the tiara, the less angry the pig.  We will see...

With Fall upon us it is time to get the fireplace ready for its intended use.  During the warmer months, to combat the big gaping hole where a fire should be, I set logs in place and hide a rotating, lighted glass ball.  When plugged in it it gives a nice warm glow, throwing shadows about.  This year was a different set up, using geodes and crystals with the lighted ball.  It was a nice change and next spring, which will be here before you know it, we will see in which mood I am feeling, earthly or celestial.

Happy Monday to all,

Hilari