"Buried Treasure Project"

This is my entry in the collaborative project "The 2011 Buried Treasure". This project, the brain child of Seth Apter over at The Altered Page will take place this year on Thursday July 28th.  This annual e-vent asks participating bloggers to re-post a favorite post from their own blog.

 

I am re-posting “Come Play With Me”● originally posted 5/27/2010. This piece is totally interactive. Constructed in a vintage oak file box that has been altered and embellished with wooden inserts to hold things that are ROUND: A wooden top, a vintage light bulb, a tea ball, a lovely glass door knob, a compass, a doll's head, a globe, and eyeball that sits in a glass funnel.  All items can be picked up and played with, as their texture tells the story of the life they had before they came here.  This piece also includes a wind-up music box, and brass drawer pulls on each end. (click on any image to enlarge for a closer look.)  IN PRIVATE COLLECTION

Do stop by Seth’s blog on Thursday 7/28 to see tons of links of favorite posts by some great bloggers! This is a link to Seth's blog.

"Rocky"

"Rocky" ●
In following my love of 'over-embellished' things this wooden rooster came into my studio about 6 months ago. When he arrived, he had very long legs and he was painted dark green. I began by cutting about 4" from his long legs, then I covered him in bits and baubles, political buttons, bottle caps and bells. Silvery buttons on the tail make sure he is struttin' his stuff. His green shoes and measuring tape socks complete the outfit. The wooden base is covered in copper sheeting left over from a garden project, and a silvery curtain rod finial on top give him 'presence' and provide an easy way to transport. I named him Rocky because he really 'rocks'. (click on any image for a closer look)

"Altared Days"

 

"Altared Days"
Last Fall, around the time of "Day of The Dead"  I made 2 of these altars,  The first one was titled Altared Nights was posted on this blog earlier, and can be seen here.
This sweet piece is made inside a mahogany drawer found at the flea market, the front columns are made from the wood of a vintage child's crutch. The inside of the drawer is covered in hand made paper and in the center is a glittery image of the Our Lady of Guadalupe, holding silver stars in her hands. At her feet are clear glass marbles, and the rose is a diadora cedar cone, I found in my back yard. Glow in the dark lighting bolts line the inside of the drawer.
Religious altars are made by people from Mexico and much of Latin America. They are made to honor their faith in god and in their saint of choice. The very poor and faithful find ways to create things of beauty from nothing or very little. Altars are not special because of the cost of the things they are made from, rather they are valuable because of what they represent.

"Wanting It All"

 

"Wanting It All"

   When I was 6 years old, I dreamt of being a ballerina. I had a small jewelry box, when opened, it played music and a tiny ballerina would spring up and dance. My playmate, Junior (I honestly don't remember his real name) and I would spend hours playing, he with his toy cowboys and indians, and me with my music box. One day, I remember saying "when I grow up, I want to be a ballerina", to which he quickly responded "no you don't because everyone will see your underwear". I have to say, at age 6, this realization broke my heart. Although I am not disappointed with my life or the experiences I've had, or the places I've been, or the amazing, people who are in my life today, I do think back on that little girl's dream.

   Recently I came across this child's jewelry box with the tiny ballerina, and I was instantly taken back to that day many years ago. I titled the piece "Wanting It All" because sometimes I wonder about the road(s) not taken.

   Difficult to photograph because the box is small (10"x10"x4").  Ceramic doll hands reaching out of a beautiful Italian garden scene, mirrors all around and a tiny ballerina in the corner dances endlessly trying to 'have it all'.

"Old Friends"

"Old Friends"

I was at an estate sale a couple of weeks ago, and I saw these 3 in amongst the tools in the tool box  . . . The first thing I thought of was "Larry, Moe and Curly", really!  I just knew that because they had been together all these years, they HAD to stay together. I could not split them apart. This piece came together as a result. I found shoes for each of them, and a small metal "square" to act as the hugging arms for "hammer head". Last week, my sister sent me a vintage canvas tape measure in the mail, which was added at the last minute.  (click on any image to enlarge)