Big ol Chunk of new Work2-The Animals

More new pieces, continuing on the circus freak train.This time though the freaks are domestic animals-dogs and cats. They are 6 "x 8" in size and are limited editions, signed and numbered. I am thinking of doing more of these later in the year so let me know if you like them! They are made from clay, wire and painted metal on the sides of the frame. They will be priced at $175.00 each.

BOCONW-(big ol chunk of new work)

Well I'm almost done with a whole new group of work and I have all the photos on facebook (link to the right) but I'll post a bunch here also since I know everyone doesn't subscribe. I've been doing a series of "circus freaks" except these have their own individual twists. In The Transparent Man and Woman shown below, their tattoos appear from the inside out, revealing their deepest thoughts and feelings (can you imagine?) I've also included The Disappearing Lady, who "always feels as if something is missing" and The Escapologist, who "lives in a prison of his own making." They will be for sale at the upcoming Plaza Art Fair on Sept. 24-26 here in KC or afterwards on my website.

More Pics of New Pieces

Here are 2 more of my newest pieces, now all packed and ready for Uptown Art Fair next weekend in Minneapolis. Ashley's Gallopers (shown at the top) is another electric piece that contains a moving carousel under a glass cloche. Then there's the Firecracker, a rework of an older roller coaster piece of mine that I've added a 12v light to along with some graphics and a stage. The carousel piece is approx. 10"h x 12"w. The Firecracker piece is approx. 14"h x 10"w.

Rat Race

This is my first turn crank piece. This piece is constructed of metal with handprinted canvas over it, clay, wood and rubber sheeting. It is called "Rat Race" and it's a take off on old rocket rides that you see at carnivals only this time the rocketships are filled with adults who are racing racing racing in circles to get to their jobs and make more money. Many many thanks to my husband Mike for working out alot of the technical details of the crank on this while I worked on the other pieces. This piece will also be for sale at the Uptown Art Fair Aug.6-8.

more new moving pieces

Haven't posted in quite awhile but for good reason--have been working on more pieces with motors, lights and turn cranks and now I have 3 new pieces that I'm really excited to show.

Here's the first-it's entitled "Her Dream House". It's constructed of clay, wire, cloth, and wood and is built in an old box that I carved on the outside. It runs on a 6v motor and has a 12v light in the center. It's approx. 13"h x 10"square. This piece is about a little girl who goes to a carnival during the day and that night when she goes to sleep, dreams her house has become the carousel she was riding on. I painted a scene of the outside landscape on cloth that lines the walls. The light in the center of the carousel casts the reflection of the carousel horses onto the walls, making them look like they're galloping around the countryside. Around the door are the words "That night she dreamt her house became the carousel." I'm planning on taking this piece with me to the Uptown Art Fair in Minneapolis next week.

Recent Work 1:Train of Thought

It's been awhile since I've been home and not hurrying to get ready for a show so I thought I'd start posting some of my newest work. This is one of my two-dimensional mixed media pieces. It consists of handpainted clay tiles over painted metal train cars. The words are made from handprinted fabric. The wheels and chain are made from wire. It's entitled Train of Thought and it's about the thought process that I go through almost every time I start a new project. As you can see, I sometimes start with Fear: even though I know better and I read self-help books, sometimes I can't tame my thoughts that say my ideas aren't good enough. The next step if I start with Fear is Doubt: this is where I edit and cross out many of my sketches before I even give them a chance. Then what I usually do is take a break at this point and either call an artist friend or do something else completely like go for a run to clear my head. When I return to my work after this break, things don't seem so bleak. New ideas have usually popped into my head while I'm running, or my friends and I brainstorm another way of approaching my discarded ideas. Enter Hope: the clouds part, the sun shines and the process seems fun again. And with Hope, I finally approach Courage: I realize that I do this to myself and also realize that it's just a part of the creative process. The finished piece may never have happened if the initial "wrong" ideas didn't come to me first. This piece is 16"h x 42"w. The price is $595.00. Please email me if you have any questions or are interested in purchasing this piece.(Click on the photo to see larger version.)

New Orleans Jazz Fest 2010

I just got back from doing the New Orleans Jazz Fest art fair. Here's some photos of my son Murphy and I in my demo booth. I demonstrated my wire work for 4 days of the fest and it was a blast. I even won the Best of Show award! The people there are so supportive of the arts. I had a great time, ate some AMAZING food and it's wonderful to know that I'll be back next year.

The MOVING Target

I'm so excited to have my first kinetic piece finally complete and ready to show. It will be a part of my first solo show at the Hilliard Gallery at 1820 McGee in KCMO. Stop by if you can between 6-10pm on April 2, 2010. The show will run until April 26. This piece is about trying to avoid being hurt in relationships. She literally keeps moving to avoid the pain she's experienced in the past although her heart is still a target, showing how vulnerable she really is. On her skirt is the word HOPE but it's shrouded as she keeps that part of herself hidden away. This piece is constructed of papier mache, old sheet music, wood, metal, fabric, and a 12v electric motor. It's 30" h x 40" w. Please contact me for more info on this piece if interested in purchasing. Even though the screen may look blank, just click on the arrow below to play the video.

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Somerset Studios Article!

I was so thrilled to get to write an article featuring my circus lamps in the current March-April issue of Somerset Studios magazine. They did an amazing job with the photography and I can't thank Jenny Doh and Pam Garrison for finding and contacting me. I'm extremely grateful to them both! Also be sure to check out Jenny's newest project site here-http://blog.crescendoh.com/crescendoh/

Lee Lou from harem6

Take a look at this amazing creation. This doll was created by a duo called harem6 from Romania. I just found them tonight and am so glad I did. Each of their pieces is so unique and original! If you have a chance, click here to see more of their incredible work on their blog and in their Etsy shop.

Notes from the BMAC show

Well I'm almost back home from the Philadelphia Buyer's Market of American Craft show that ran from Feb. 12-15. Right now I'm stuck in the Milwaukee airport due to a de-icing delay so thought I'd check in to give an update on how it all went. Despite weather delays getting to the show (I had to move my flight from Wed. to Thurs. afternoon), I was able to get to Philly by 5:30 Thurs. night and work til around 11:30 that night to get my booth set up. Alot of the other artists and buyers weren't so lucky and ended up getting to the show on Friday or Saturday. Anyhow we all persevered and the show ended up going really well. One of my dream goals was to get my work in the American Folk Art Museum shop in NYC and I'm happy to say I met that goal as they ordered some of my pieces for their store! All in all, I met some wonderful buyers and artists and got several new gallery accounts as well as maintaining the ones I already had so I'm really glad I didn't cancel when the weather reports were sketchy. Travel is hardly ever without hitches but all in all it's pretty fun to get to hang out for a few days with people who create what they love for a living.

Circus Apron by Dirty Laundry

My cute friend Jeanee Duval and I did a trade recently--take a look at this awesome reversible apron she made for me to wear at shows! Jeanee not only makes aprons, she makes cupcakes--the kind you drop in warm bath water and they fizz and smell wonderful. Check out her blog here:

http://blog.shopdirtylaundry.com/

Balance, Equilibrium and Juggling

As I've mentioned previously, it seems I've become even busier than when I had a full-time job and at times I have trouble juggling it all. Thinking about how to balance everything-work, family, time with friends, and time for myself-has been on my mind alot. Part of the issue with being self-employed is that you're always at work and having an unfinished project or order in the next room is hard for me to ignore. I just can't shut it off at 5 or 6:00 in the evening and so spend alot of evenings with wire in my hands while I hang out with the fam. I have a feeling I'm not the only one who does this! When my lovely friend Wendi suggested that I include the word "balance" in one of my trapeze artist pieces because so many of us struggle to find it, I realized that she was right--I've been working on trapeze artists and jugglers without realizing how they were an illustration of my own life. Here are the new pieces-they'll be at the BMAC show in Feb. and at the wonderful Lizzie Lou's in Roundtop, TX in March.

uncommon goods!

My crate is packed and on it's way to Philadelphia again for the Buyer's Market show....can't believe we have to get it there several weeks in advance. Maybe it's a good thing that it's done though because I've begun to get busy with orders from uncommon goods. They are carrying 3 of my pieces in their current catalog and on their website, and so far it's going really well! Above is a photo of the three pieces plus a link to them here.

Lovebirds On The Wall

True Lovebirds in Heart Shaped Perch-8x10

In the background are the words "love-adore-devotion-admire"

Lovebirds Under Circus Tent-4x6

On the sheet music are the words "You're the little birds that sing, darling you're my everything"

Bluebirds in Heart-5x5

In the background are the words "angel-darling-sweetheart-sugarplum-honeypie"

Lovebirds in Heart #2-5x5

Lovebirds in Large Heart-8x10

Here are the new 2D mixed media versions of my lovebird cages that I mentioned in the last post. They are constructed with wire, fabric, painted metal, and wax encaustic. They're for sale in my Etsy shop now-just click on this link to take you there!

Happy New Year--and New Work

I hope everyone had a wonderful time at the holidays...I did and it was great with my family at home but also a challenge to get any work done. With that in mind I did a few pieces around the theme of "balance". These women all have different words beneath them such as "equilibrium, poise and grace". Although you can't see it well here, in the background is a repeat of all those words. The trapeze couple piece is entitled "Faith and Trust". To me, trapeze artists encompass these qualities. In the background are similar words-faith, trust, love. Some will go into my Etsy shop soon and some are destined for the BMAC show in Philadelphia in February. In the next few days I'll have some 2D lovebird pieces to show too.

A Bird In Hand....

Isn't this bird just delicious looking? My friend Andrea Ring from Amuck design created this piece and we traded just a week ago. Since then I've been wearing it EVERY day as it goes with practically everything I own! It's a definite attention getter. People notice it immediately. For more of her fantastic work, click here!

More Circus People: World's Strongest Man

Here's the latest circus person in the collection(which right now consists of two but is growing.)

It's hard to get a good pic of this guy as he lives in a 5 x 7 shadowbox frame that is lit by a 12 V replaceable light. It is run by a 9V battery on the top of the frame. The trapeze artist from the previous post is already sold but I will be making more and different trapeze artists and other circus folk! He is made from plus clay and wire. The frame title is made from metal and printed fabric. To see more info or to purchase this guy, click on this link for my Etsy shop.

Now Introducing: Circus People-Trapeze Artist 1

In the last few days, I got these images in my head of what my circus people could look like so decided to add them to my body of work. The trapeze artist is my first but I have more in the works. Please give me feedback--would like to know if you like this new twist!

Pre-Christmas Sale!

Be sure to check my website and/or Etsy shop for reduced prices on select items--starting today and continuing through Dec.10.

Small Hanging Cages with Lights for the Holidays

The entire group of 3 lighted cages hanging together

Lighted Patterned Circus Tent with Nest-This piece contains a new circusy printed fabric of mine that creates the tent top.

Lovebirds on Hanging Plaque with Light-On this variation of one of my earlier pieces, I have added a wire word "Love" near the top of the wood plaque.

Lighted Circus Nest with Lovebirds-In this piece I created a tiny fabric lightshade for the bulb. There is a small rusted metal heart in the bottom center of the cage and a tiny fabric sign that reads "Circus" on the cage front.

This was an entire family project but we have finally succeeded in putting some tiny 12 volt lights in my small hanging circus cages! The lights contain replaceable screw in bulbs and they run on a 9 volt battery that is inset into the back of the piece. There is a small on/off switch at the bottom of each piece. They are now for sale on my website-www.homemadecircus.com or in my Etsy shop.

Ever Distract Yourself ??

Okay today I woke up with alot of plans to get alot of artwork done--I mean, I had taken most of Friday off (to see Men Who Stare At Goats and eat Indian food with my husband) and do a few errands (who else is going to buy the wedding gift and return the jeans), then Saturday was spent trying to figure out a way to add tiny lights to my cages....something that I always thought would take one hour and it took five....more trips to Radio Shack and the hardware store...then today came and I thought--I'm doing it-I'm sitting down at my table and finishing that last gallery order but then--I had to answer emails to friends(that can't wait can it?), go to the grocery store times 2(seems we don't go to just 1 store anymore) so 4:00 comes and what do I do instead of work? The answer is above....and of course I have to blog about it so that takes time. I'd say I feel guilty about it but I have to go put another sheet in the oven...What distracts you?

Cloth Paper Scissors!

Hey kids-just wanted to let you know that I received the exciting news that I'm in the upcoming Nov/Dec issue of Cloth Paper Scissors! Here's a pic of the first page below-you can find it in the artist profile section-page 30. Cate Prato wrote the article and I thought she did a great job. It should be out in stores after Nov. 6!