A month or so ago, my friend had a chair for sale. Another friend of mine bought it and gave it to me to paint for her office. I wasn't quite sure what I was going to do. I made a couple of sketches and did some internet research but in the end I thought about the personality of my friend. She likes owls, her school colors are green, she is a child of God, and she's pretty awesome. She needed a chair to fit her uniqueness. I scrapped all previous ideas and painted it in her school colors first.
I had made a bird and an owl for this friend but wasn't sure how or why to give it to her. This chair was going to be perfect. With the way the chair was made I thought I could fashion a tree from it. A tree with branches to hold the bird and the owl.
Here is the finished product:
The bird and owl are made from plastic grocery bags. I took the bags and fashioned them into the shape I needed but using duct tape. This was a very long process. They were flimsy, but I wasn't done. The next step was to make a paper mache with mod podge. I used many many many layers of newspaper and glue. I let dry for a week. Then I made a texture paste and covered the outside of each animal in a thick layer. I used my fingers to make bumps along each animal body to make it look more real. This dried for two weeks because I went on vacation....when I came back to them they were hard as rocks. Very lightweight but very hard. PERFECT!!!
The chair was painted first with gesso to give the surface a bit of tooth. I then painted the whole thing green to match my friend's office and school colors. After that dried I painted on a background of a tree branch. Next, I took a stencil and wood icing (both purchased from Ephemera Paducah www.ephemerapaducah.com) and added some tree bark and texture. Once that dried I started painting on leaves. I added the bird and viola we have a painted chair. 
Here is a photo of my work station. I was going to work on a Marilyn Monroe drawing that I made. It was inspired by a pose she did in a publicity still for Niagara. She was pretty wicked in that movie and I recommend you see it if you have not.
These steampunk inspired items were featured in the Mia's Madness booth. I simply love everything they sell. It's junk to most by an absolute treasure to me. I chose some items from the junk bin. A triangle pendant, a washer, and a few other metals. Stay tuned to see what I made from .50 of stuff. 
This is a photo from the yard sale. This is where you sell items you no longer need/want were gifted. I sold a bunch of stuff this year and I did not spend one dime of money shopping it. Now I did get things but everything I bought was with money I made in the yard sale. 
Check out this wagon! It is all mine! I have been going to TCC for many many years and never won a thing. I was sitting with my friends in the church and telling them all that I hoped they won something. And I listened and wait a minute I realized Jill Rogers finally called MY name. I won one of the grand prizes. I got the third grand prize awarded the first two prizes where $50 cash. I prefer the wagon because it is something I have always wanted but I never would have bought for myself. It is extraordinary. I am very grateful that my name was called. 
I made a couple of sketches but this is the only thing that I finished on the TCC relaxation day. A wood panel of the Marilyn Monroe drawing I made. The panel was painted a few colors, I didn't like any of them and finally I got to this green and I liked it. Next I used Barquoe Motifs to stamp some swirls using StazOn! ink. Then I used some Aleene's tacky glue and painted it onto the board. I let it get a bit dry then I painted it with white. What a nice crackle finish it leaves. I did a die cut of the Tim Holtz viewmaster thingy and place the die cut on the board. I used wood icing to make some texture for the background. Once this dried I used some Walnut Stain ink by Tim Holtz for some effect. I cut MM out from the paper she was drawn and painted on and used Mod Podge to put her onto my board. I think it's fabulous!!
This is the project I made using the stuff reclaimed from the junk bin. I did not take a before picture...boo. The top picture is when I first put it all together. I used wire to hold the circle onto the triangle and made the elder wand with wire down the center. I painted it with gesso to cover the mixed metals. I added glitter because I thought I would keep it black, but no I found my Krylon chrome spray paint. I layered many layers of paint on here. I think it turned out grand. 
Next, I used my brand new viewmaster styled Tim Holtz Distress Die and made a couple from regular white scrapbook paper. I inked both of them with distress inks...walnut stain, vintage paper, and tea dye. Then I sprayed with Michelle's Musings brown ink on one and java ink on the other (I can't remember who made it...I broke the original bottle). One of the viewmasters was covered in Michelle's Musings modeling paste the other in a heavy gel. On the heavy gel one, I added glass glitter. Once the two viewmasters were dry I cut them apart and added to the mixed media paper. Next, I took off my mask and painted the lady.
And the last one is a homage to Audrey Hepburn, Michelle's Musing style. This one was fun for me. It is a bit of everything...just like me! 
