Repurposed Leather = Pillow Heaven!

Some sewn to sell

---some sewn to keep.

The fabric's natural color and linen/cotton woven texture is a perfect match for 

--- free-motion stitching and repurposed leather.
Did I mention that I bought the fabric at Home Depot?  Painter's dropcloths ---washed soft and dried .
Draperies anyone?

What a simple, cozy, fun, economical update for a living space.

Repurposed and Well-Traveled

We'll Keep the Light On For You

     

Road Trip

Been a little busy in the workshop.  Just wish I had stopped to take "Before"pictures.  These Fowl-Playhouses were remodeled.  The wheels on the left were actually on the house on the right and other elements were taken away with new things added. ... and now they both have treats on the inside to be viewed with a little flashlight!

This vintage sled used to hang on the front porch in the winter---now it has a much cooler purpose

The 3 front edge slats
have original paint
and the curvy side pieces
came from a sliced chair leg

This hanging cabinet's red topper came from a child's wagon wheel, sans the rubber tire.

 A neighbor gifted me with four old wooden boxes. They sat in her basement holding nails
for 40years.  My eyes dilated and my pulse quickened as I visualized their future in my studio.

This one attaches to the wall using the holes in the Flexible Flyer piece. If you look closely you can see hooks on the underside.

All of the above,
plus more, are going with me
to the Pettengill Farm
June 23-24. 

Layer It On Thick ...

... then take it away.

  

My new weapon of choice is rubbing alcohol.

Reduction is the technique.  Layers of acrylic paint are applied with knives, then ----after scraping, drying and contact letters are peeled away ---I attack with alcohol.  

I am addicted to THIS kind.

Not quite a triptych, Give and Take. (acrylic on board)

Four-Give

Double-Take

A Little Give
A serious lovely 3-D affect ... a horizon in the distance, whipping turquoise bits in the air.

Garage Finds

 This is what happens when I help clean out my dad's garage.
Cool little finds make their way across the US to my studio.

 6" copper leaf trophy head

)

 title: Divergent Thinking

Wheels, reels,dials, gears, rims, springs ... circular findings call out to me.













The 10', century old farming implement's original paint now glows
---only because I spent time gently cleaning off  years of grime and thick dust.
Its rounded edges were created (I'm supposing) from horses rubbing up against it.
Love that stuff.

Vintage Farm Timber Meets Fused Plastic Bags

Past Meets Present. (15"x 34"x11")

Pieced and fused plastic bags meet free-motion stitching for another mod transformation. 

Wheres the wiring?  Vintage grater gets magically illuminated.

I'm visualizing the original implement attached to a farming wagon.
Considering this piece has been weathering for a century,
perseverance was necessary to get the hardware loosened and off. A sibling lamp is in the works.
My vision came to fruition with the kind assistance of
acquaintances managing tall drill presses. (BIG sigh)

The Journey

I've said it once and I'll say it again, using power tools is empowering.  To cut thru the slats of an old shutter ... to drill holes in dense hardwood ... to slice chunks ... to sand flat rough-cut ends ... to make a curve from a straight edge ---physicality and risk are required.
To have an idea is good.  To make it happen is better.

Repurposed Leather ... So Soft

 After two years of scribbling designs for my scrap leather collection, I finally took the time to make these pillow slipcovers.  Think I'm going to attack a single cafe curtain soon with a similar touch.
 Note to self: clean-out and oil sewing machine ... leather "puncture pits" abound.

Standing at Attention: Found Objects Assembled

I think we are each entitled to a great fall once in our life.

Parents or masked crusaders might
come a-running.

A little "mental mending" is in order.

The Cabinet

      and

The Eagle Has Landed

---from the Noyes Farm series

Medical advice is at our keyboard fingertips.
---------------------------------------

In grammar school, science and I were miles apart, but an interesting textbook cover
could catch my attention for awhile.
These polkadots and tiny numbers were actually from the inside of a nuclear reactor.

Apollo, in the flesh.

Do you remember where your
 feet were planted as our Apollo spacecraft's
astronauts planted the US flag on the moon?

 The vintage painted timbers I used for the bodies of the assemblages were originally farming implements.  The farmer probably did not have this kind of repurposing in mind for them
---as they were stored up and away in barn rafters for decades.  Last winter's heavy snowfall collapsed that barn's roof and they landed in my creative hands.

Pockets Of Heat

Started as one large painting, I soon realized this single view of distinct pockets
should be standing individually.  Each breathing, pulsing, murmuring life hidden within
and radiating outward could truly survive on its own.
In a collection or solitary, each holds strength and a feeling of hope.

detail of One, 8"x6"

detail from Two, 8"x7"

detail from Three, 10"x10"

detail from Four, 5"x10"

detail from Five, 8"x14"

... at the Sudbury Art Association Holiday Market

salvaged samples repurposed as soft "leather-wear': cuffs, pedants, lapel pins

fused plastic bag belts

Farming implements repurposed in my Noyes Farm Series

a fruitful trio made from pieced and fused plastic bags 

Snowgnomes ... mischievous winter folk

                                                               ode to Noyes farm                                                                                                                                                                                                               

Coveralls

- two sold from the countertop
before tags could even be place

Meeting interesting people,
making connections with the potential of prosperity,
feeling community, sharing about repurposing,
exchanging creative ideas ... all good.