Industrial Surplus Fun

Last weekend Cathy and I went on a little art adventure. We headed off to Zygote Press to view the current exhibit RAISED VOICES: ARTISTS' BOOKS FOR TROUBLED TIMES. The show featured a variety of amazing handmade books that we were able to pick up and read. While we were there we discovered an artist open studio event going on in the neighborhood, so we took the opportunity to visit three artist studios located in the building next door. That was a nice, unexpected bonus.

Before going to Zygote Press we decided to check out an industrial surplus warehouse that I had seen featured on the local news. I'm always on the lookout for anything weird and unusual that can be used in art and this seemed like just the place. Holy Dooley! The place was HUGE and had the most bizarre stuff. I had no idea what most of it was--but it sure looked cool. Most items are sold by the lot so you can't just buy a little bit of this or that. But the longer the stuff is there, the cheaper it gets.

Here is mini-Arthur (our official field trip mascot) checking out a piece of surplus. I love the greasy grunginess of the control panel and all the type and numbers.

We managed to find a boxed lot of electric motor laminations that had been there for a couple of months. Of course, we didn't know that's what they were until we got home and I googled the company on the box labels. Until then they were just really cool little metal thingees. This is what we bought for $5!

This is what they look like out of the boxes and scanned. We're cooking up some ideas for what we can do with them. Stay tuned, I'm sure you'll be seeing them again.

I was so excited about our find that I did a journal page about it.

Postal Art

Pssst...Pass It On

I recently reconnected with an old mail art friend when she left a comment on one of my blog posts. So I hopped on over to Candace's blog and found the Pass It On, Random Act of Kindness, Give-Away posted there. It took me all of two minutes to decide to participate and now I am following the rules and posting a similar give-away here. The rules are simple and it seems like it will be a lot of fun.

The first five (5) people to comment on this post will get something from or made by me. This offer does have some restrictions and limitations so please read carefully:

• I make no guarantees that you will like what I make (if I decide to make something).

• What I create or give will be just for you.

• It’ll be done over the next 12 months.

• You have no clue what it’s going to be. It may be a watercolor postcard. It could be a felted monster. Might even be a book I think you will like. Could be a sculpture or a painting. It may be a gift certificate from a place I think you would like. Who knows? Not you, that’s for sure!

• I reserve the right to do something extremely strange.

• I reserve the right to change the rules!

And in return, all you need to do is post this text into a post of your own and make or give 5 things for 5 others.

Of course, you’ll have to send me your mailing address...

Sound fun? Comment below and let me know you want to participate. Pass it on...

The Irony of Life

Yesterday I wrote about the irony of the sketchbook I was waiting to receive getting lost in the mail. It turns out it wasn't exactly lost--just delayed due to an incorrect zip code. Today it arrived and the sketchbook I randomly received in the swap was Cathy's sketchbook! She's the one who told me about the project and inspired me to join in the first place. How ironic is that? I couldn't BEE happier to get this wonderful little book filled with bee sketches and quotes.

This is the sketchbook cover which has been coated in beeswax giving it a wonderful patina. The yarn is attached to a tag which is tucked into the pocket at the back of the book.


I love Cathy's handwriting, her sketches, and her affection for bees. Check out her blog for more bee characters.

Spit the Dummy

I can totally relate to this bit of slang today. I'm about to spit the dummy because Cathy and Casey both received their sketchbooks in the mail yesterday from the Utrecht Sketchbook project. I thought I would get mine today but it still hasn't arrived--after I created an entire homage to mail!! Ironic?

I might have to console myself with a cuppa. At least we were able to get the computer repaired and I recovered the scans of the postcards that I mailed a few weeks ago, including the infamous "assie slang." What a bonza mistake that was!

I'm a Winner!

Check it out here. I can't wait to spend my prize money on art supplies! Yippee!

Fair Suck of the Sav

This is probably my favorite Aussie slang expression that I've illustrated in a postcard so far. I thought the colorful expression deserved a colorful design and it's just one of my favorites all the way around.

In this postcard I invented my own Aussie slang. I came up with "Assie slang" when it was brought to my attention that I mispelled the word Aussie on one of the cards. I haven't posted the typo card because I lost a few scans when we experienced a hard drive crash a few weeks ago. I'll post those cards if and when I retrieve the files.

Envelope Art

When my daughter decided to apply for a scholarship for her upcoming semester in Australia, I suggested that maybe a little envelope art was in order. As a lover of mail and mail art, a plain white envelope seems to me like a waste of an artistic opportunity. So I got out my markers and water color pencils and decorated the envelope during our recent Artfits get-together. I don't know if it will help with the scholarship, but I hope it will brighten someone's day along the way.

Utrecht Sketchbook Project

Yesterday, I went with Cathy and Casey to Utrecht Art Supply to check out the sketchbook project that we participated in. There were 17 sketchbooks submitted and displayed. Viewers can vote for their favorite and the artist who receives the most votes will receive a store gift card. After April 26th, each project participant will receive another artist's sketchbook in the mail. There are several that I would LOVE to get! Cathy brought her camera, so you can check out the display here. Of course, while we were there we just HAD to buy a few new art supplies. I felt just like a kid in a candy store and wanted one of everything. I treated myself to a new Moleskine sketchbook and a bunch of pens.

Paper Sushi Scan

I've been working my fingers to the bone making little paper sushi rolls out of magazine pages. I have an idea for using them in conjunction with the Big Ball of Happiness which I blogged about previously. I really like the way the circles look, so I thought I would try scanning them before I actually use them. Maybe it's just me, but I think circles are beautiful!!!