"Day Dreams"

 

 

"Day Dreams"●

At the edge of the garden, let the dream begin . . .
~ Author Unknown ~

Wkipedia defines a daydream as a visionary fantasy, one of happy, pleasant thoughts, hopes or ambitions, imagined as coming to pass and experienced while awake. Daydreaming can also be a reference to future planning or a review of past memories.

While daydreaming has long been considered a lazy, non-productive pastime, daydreaming can also be constructive and productive. There are many examples of people in creative, artistic careers, such as artists, composers, novelists and filmmakers, who will often utilize day dreaming to develop new ideas.

This whimsical assemblage is housed in a sewing machine drawer that has been lined in green tissues, mirrors and magazine images. A porcelain doll head, a music box and a protractor reflected on mirrors add to the story. The word DREAM is spelled out in Boggle letter dice.   The glass lidded box is dotted on the outside with acrylic paints (nail polish). On the back I have attached a beautiful brass calendar, and a vintage bingo card. The music box plays the tune "Somewhere My Love".

  

A life without dreams is like a garden without flowers.
~ Author Unknown ~

"Circus of Sadness"

  

"Circus of Sadness" (Cirque de la Tristesse)

"The world is a circus if we want it to be. 
The sadness of circuses comes at night. 

Don't get close enough to see the illusion for what it is.  
It is at night when the clowns are sad."

This piece was inspired by a childhood memory of going to the circus. I once saw a clown who had a tear painted on his face. Since then, every time I see a clown, I always look into their eyes to see if there is sadness behind the smile.

Sewing machine drawer covered in hand made papers on the outside and encyclopedia pages on the inside. A tearful clown looks sadly out - a mirror reflects the viewer as they look in. I used wooden drawer pulls for feet, and a crystal drawer pull as the topper. A colorful wooden fish swims casually by and a wind-up music box plays a cheerful tune.

"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'.

"She Wanted To Fly"

"She Wanted To Fly"
   She's a wife, she's a mom, she has an amazing career. . .  she has worked hard and has created a wonderful life for herself and her family. Sometimes, every now and then, 'she wants to fly' just to take a break, just to see what's out there, just to remember her dreams, the ones that slipped away.
    A vintage sewing machine drawer is the box that contains this story, a story many of us share. A "winged victory" statue depicts her feelings. At her feet we see her child, her work, her faith, while her dreams line the walls, under glass. A music box, plays a tune, and mirrors reflect the size of her world. (click on any image to enlarge)

"My Not So Still Life"

I was thinking about all the things in life that fill our days. At times, the minutiae seems insignificant, but in reality, these are the details that add depth and character and color to our lives.

This assemblage is created in a mahogany knife box, covered in New York ‘stock exchange’ paper, reflecting the results of the day. The collection includes a small wind-up music box, a skeleton key, a vintage fishing lure, and a small wooden fish. A glass cigar tube contains marbles and dice that move freely inside the tube. Very fun! (click on image to enlarge)

"Open Heart"

"Open Heart"●

Assemblage constructed in a vintage sewing machine drawer covered on the inside with "bleeding" tissue. Includes vintage children's blocks, a wooden heart and a porcelain doll's head, and topped with a vintage glass drawer pull. This piece includes a music box that plays "It's A Small World".  IN PRIVATE COLLECTION