Saturday, October 13, 2012

bjp 0912 - day and night

September shows signs that the seasons are changing!  The children go back to school, the days get shorter as the nights get longer, and the cooler nights hint that autumn and then winter are fast approaching.  It's time to pull on the socks and root around for cooler weather gear.

The nine in this photo was taken from an old telephone I found at Value Village.  It seems to me that VV is not quite the bargain it used to be.  Either that or I need to start shopping in other neighbourhoods, because my local one seems to be getting fairly saavy about prices. The glass tube was also taken from the telephone (I was very excited to find it!) and this section also includes a found washer, attached and embellished with a little needle weaving (that's impossible for you to see). The crystal button is from the family button box and the distressed silver disk was from Kaite (I think).  The letters directly below the crystal button spell "life"!  They're attached to a stick pin I received in a swap and has been included, to remind all of us of the precious nature of life.  


The metal button is from an old pair of Liz Clairborne jeans (circa 1980's I believe), the carved white button, an especially fine one from the family button box and the black/silver one is from my vintage collection.  The small black nine is from one of the cell phones I dismantled earlier in the summer.  I poked the number through a distressed washer, glued it down with E6000 glue and then found, to my dismay, that the rubbery nine started coming adrift.  So, I did what any self respecting artist with a background in the needlearts would do, I stitched it down!!!  Not the most tidy solution, but certainly effective!


A spring from a dried up pen and a little scissor charm show up in this section. The spring was stitched down with perle cotton, that had been strung with black beads. My intent was to have the beads move freely, however they're now crammed into that spring fairly tightly, so I'll try the interactive movement idea on a future bjp!


I love this piece! 

When I feel that my brain is overstimulated and has been saturated with bright shots of colour, I sometimes find the need to let it rest with a calm, sophisticated pallette.  Black white, grey and silver................ahhhhh!!!   Call it a visual re-set button!!!!  Do any of you experience this type of overload situation?  If so, what do you do to rest your brain?

I used stacked, boucle/bocce and peyote stitch.


Don't worry!  My retreat from colour will be short lived, as I have big plans for October.  The only thing that's stopping me from getting started, is my search for the perfect "10".......................any ideas?


12 comments:

kaiteM said...

Love, love, love it - black and white is just perfect for you at this time with the changeover of seasons. You include such curious little bits and bobs too, such fun!
I look forward to the next one but have no ideas for the perfect 10 for you except for dividing it up into a 1 and a 0. Maybe a heavily machine embroidered 10 on fabpaper?

Penny Berens said...

Don't think I'll ever throw an old pen away again! Love the colours...Very sophistique! Whatever you come up with will be perfect!

Anne Marie - Toronto said...

Thanks to Kaite and Penny!!! What, were you both sitting on the computer??? Ha, ha.....

Kaite, the "bits and bobs" are the fun part!!! I love trying to incorporate strange and wonderful things into these pieces. I've already thought about embroidering a number, but I'm just not sure for which month. I do have some other ideas, but just haven't had a chance to try any of them out yet. I'm waiting until the ideas 'season'.

Penny, I took apart the pen, noticed the nice, shiny spring and then immediately put it on the beading mat. Imagine how many we've thrown out in the past. Also, don't be surprised to see other parts showing up as well.

Linda Kittmer said...

I love this one Anne Marie. Black & white always look so classy and classic! As for a 10, have you considered a scrabble tile? Might be a bit big, but it depends on how you might use it. Another idea is a little 10amp fuse (the tiny tube ones used in cars). Good luck. Can't wait to see what October brings.

char said...

Beautiful job, I really like this one, of course I've liked all of them to date, but I love black and white, its very graphic. Linda mentioned my idea about a 10, or maybe two tiny dice. Anyway, thanks for sharing, your work is just great.

Rachel Murphree said...

The spring is just the COOLEST thing! I believe you outdo yourself with each one, and then the next one comes along and it's an even bigger winner!

Judy Ferguson said...

Aren't we all searching for the "perfect 10?" Love you number nine. Out of the box thinking. When I get brain freeze, I watch t.v. I get so bored that I start daydreaming. Then the daydreaming turns into projects.

aprilZ said...

I think this is a favourite with everyone. I love the way you incorporate 'junk' as if it totally belongs - great lateral thinking.

Anne Marie - Toronto said...

Thanks to all of you!!!

Linda - the fuse is a great idea, but unfortunately, it's so narrow that the 10 would be very small, As for a scrabble tile, isn't that just for letters?

Char - the dice are already on the menu, but perhaps not for October.

Caryn Joy - framing is a strong possibility. I'll probably stitch them all together and then frame in one long, skinny frame. I plan to do something interesting with the background as well, but won't show until I know that it works.

Rachel - I love the spring too and expect that I'll be pulling apart old pens (and perhaps a few new ones) for years to come.

Judy - I just free associate or think about the project or problem just before bed and then wake up with a solution. TV meditating is also a good idea. Especially with my eyes closed!

April - I love junk!!! Don't you? I get the biggest charge incorporating all the odd little bits and work hard to balance the pretty with the weirder elements! It's like a puzzle to me and when I find the last piece, it just works!

Magpie's Mumblings said...

I love all the tiny little details! As for VV - I know exactly what you mean. I used to get pretty much all my denim fodder for the jackets from there but have had to quit buying from them...I can often buy a brand new pair of jeans on sale for less than they are charging for something that's already stained and full of holes. What's up with that?!!

Robin said...

Yet another amazing piece, Anne Marie! You are a collage artist with beads... not many have that talent, and yours just shines!

The perfect 10 makes me think of Barbie and Ken... doll parts?

I can't wait to see them all together!

xoxoxo R

Judy Martin said...

Hi Anne Marie

It was nice to meet you yesterday at world of threads.

Interesting idea - a bead journal. It's good to set ourselves these kinds of challenges, isn't it?
All of them are very beautiful.
x