Assemblage - Component of the month (Art Elements)

For the component of the month at Art Elements, we got wonderful runes made out of bronze by Niky Sayers. The one I got was strength.

She also send a note with all the different meanings: Strength, sacrifical, animal, the Aurochs (bos primigenius) species of wild  ox

It took me a while to decide what to create with it. Also I got a really bad cold, some hardcore drugs with heavy side effects and was "out-of-order" for about two weeks, so also not the best starting point.

But there comes my wonderful/horrorful work table with so much stuff lying around. There is an order from time to time but I am not the one to keep that during creation... or when I only have limited time available, I prefer to use it for creating and not sorting.

This time it was a blessing because in one of the boxes were a lot of book covers I made last year (I showed you them over at Art Elements here). I took the rune and hold it against different book covers until I settled for the ones covered in dark brown leather (it was too thick for book binding but I still like it!).

Then I had a look what else was lying around me and started to create an assemblage of mixed materials to put on the front cover. So no way you can put this little book in a shelf but as an art book, it was never meant to be!

So, there is a branch with roots I found in the park and had to take with me, wonderful snail shells as well as broken shell pieces from Formentera, a hand I made with polymer clay (yes, body parts are also lying around ;) ), tiny semi-precious stones, and then some mixed media kind of paints I made myself (there will be more about this soon over at Art Elements):

I used some wonderful brownish/grayish sketch paper to sew the leaflets (110g/m2) and glued it in with a wonderful green paper with golden dots. Sadly it was too thin even though it didn't appear so.

Last but not least I attached a bone game pieces I got from a secret santa. I made the dangles in the "Use your stash" challenge at Art Elements and was not sure for what to use it. My ideas were earrings or necklace but Jenny (also at Art Elements, see below for her blog!) gave me idea to use it with a book. Thanks again for the idea! You see, I used it :)

And Niky, thank you so much for such a wonderful component that challenged me in the best way!
Please have a look what all the other participants made with Nikys runes.

Guests:

Kelly Rodgers

Deb Fortin

Art Element Members:

Laney Mead

Lesley Watt

Caroline Dewison

Jenny Davies-Reazor

Susan Kennedy

Cathy Spivey Mendola

Jennifer Stout Cameron

Claire Fabian (you are here)

Lindsay M Starr

Niky Sayers

Inside her head... there was a whole universe (January AE COM)

Usually I love showing you some pictures of the different creation steps of the "stuff" I create. In between being still ill myself, my husband still recovering from his operation, work, work and more work and my general winter induced low energy levels.... I simply forgot to take pictures.

This time we got a leather cabochon from Lindsay Star for our component of the month (COM) challenge over at Art Elements. If you are curious how she made them, have a look here (I also had to "steal" one of her pictures since I also forgot to take a good picture of the leather cab before I used it).

Don't you think that the all look like little galaxies? The idea of a nightsky was never leaving my mind when I pondered what I should do. Lindsay also send a lot of other little surprised along with the leather cabochon; beads, leather, fabric.... and a little wooden queen (nope, no princess, she has a scepter and the real crown on her head). Although she also reminds me of Alice somehow... maybe the style?

Seeing both together I knew I also wanted to use them together.

My table is always full of other materials and ongoing projects (nobody should visit me without a warning in advance ;)). There was the lid of one of those cheap and ugly little treasure boxes people buy as gift wrappings (to put a gift coupon or something inside). I couldn't get myself to throw them away (had two), instead I opted to take them apart... and let the parts lay around.

But the little queen and the leather cab universe were a perfect fit for the box lid. I added pages from an old book, painted all over the lid, drilled holes in the leather cab (that was scary!), added some glass drops (these were also send by Lindsay, aren't they lovely?), painted over the queen (I wanted to add my own touch and enhance the colours), added a layer of resin on her, cut the the labels from card board.... and finally wrapped and glued all together!

"Inside her head... there was a whole universe"

Please have a look what all the other participants made with the leather cab!

And thank you again Lindsay, I hope you like what I made with your treasures :)

PS: I am sorry that I am late with my blog post... I had troubles with my camera (still have).

Guests:

Ann 

Renetha 

Patty

Sherri

Kelly 

Linda

AE Writers:

Lesley

Laney

Lindsay

Caroline 

Cathy

Cooky

Claire (<-- you are here)

Diana

Jenny

Susan

Niky

"Frozen dream" - Necklace

Sometimes you hold a bead in your hand that is magical. It shimmers, it sparkles, there is something inside, a feeling, a moment. 

This bead was made by Kimberly Rogers from Numinosity Beads. It is such a rare precious treasure. A bead that has a story to tell, an ancient artifact...

It is quite simple compared to my usual style. But I love the combination of the black vintage leather and the bead. I couldn't add more. 

The clasp and wrapped leather ends were made with filled silver wire and oxidized with liver of sulfur. I made them a little bit bigger for an organic look and maybe after all to have the necklace balanced to the bead.

You can get it here :)

"Just be" - Earrings

I had some small leftovers from the beautiful pink leather I got from Kathy (Bay Moon Design) during the Swap n' Hop. It is a really wonderful soft leather that is actually moving! I have some other leather that looks the same but it is rather stiff in comparison.

I used the leather scraps to create some tassels and just combined it with some bright turquoise czech glass beads I got in one from Rebecca's "Curiosity Club" where I get a lovely (and sometimes challenging) bead kit every month.

Both colours are just bright and together they make me smile and think of summer!

Somehow I have Formentera in my mind, the water, the island, the people, the music, just the feeling... The moment where I am just am. In the moment. Content. Happy. 

Therefor they got the name: "Just be".

And yes, I am brave! I also listed them in my etsy shop! Go here for a view :)

Leather flower brooch - more steampunk

Another item which suits for me for my feeling and style of steampunk. I formed the leather pieces to the flower by using hot water and even hotter air (my embossing tool!). I love how the strong and thick leather looks floral! 

As center one of my polymer clay buttons and a metal brooch pin glued and sewed at the back :) A way to use up small leather parts, it works with thin as well as with thick leather! 

Leather flower...

Made from some leather scraps... 

I cut out circles, put a hole in them and put them in hot water to get some wrinkled shapes. 

Afterwards I used my embossing tool to get them dry in a short time. After this process the wrinkles will be permanent!

I added a little pin on the back and a real silver bead at the center of the flower. Quite simple but with a great effect... 

And of course... advent calendar stuff! ^^