HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY 

 EVERYONE 

I hope everyone is having a delightful day.

I thought that I would show you a piece that I made a while back called "The Little Black Box". After you have found the love of your life and tossed out your little black book here is the place to keep all of those cherished love letters and momentos... the little black box.

The hand-cast, hand-painted composition heart is trimmed in pale blue chenille, green chenille and a spray of vintage turquoise flower pips. It is lined in pink hand dyed silk. The heart rests on flocked vintage grass paper. Around the base and under the heart are vintage feathers, a hand made bird’s nest with eggs in it, a cluster of vintage berries, a vintage rose stem with buds, erica moss and cotton batting mushrooms. Inside the heart is a 1920’s crepe paper napkin. A vintage black velvet ribbon runs under the oval of grass and down to the bottom edge of each end of the box.

The inside is padded and lined with hand dyed silk edged at the top with fine antique trim.

I'm back!

It has been well over a month since I have made a blog post and I can't think of a single excuse that I can use to tap dance my way out of it!

I have been collecting images for ideas for future sculptures. Nothing seemed to be very inspiring or even a direction that I was excited to explore.

Last August my Mum passed away, she was 95. I received a bit of an inheritance so besides being sensible, which I was, I treated myself to some books that I have been wanting for a while. One of the books that I bought was "Magic - 1400's - 1950's" published by Taschen Books. It is a pictorial history of stage magicians. There are posters galore. It isn't a how-to book on stage magic but a visual feast of graphic advertising for stage shows, photographs, and book illustrations. After trying to come up with ideas, very unsuccessfully I might add, I knew what direction I was wanting to go for this Hallowe'en's sculptures.

I love stage magicians! Two years ago Amelia Schaefer of Sweet B Folk Art, Lori Rudolph of Retro Rudolph's, and myself did an online Hallowe'en web sale called "Trick or Treat Street". Part of my collection were some figures and candy containers depicting a magic show called "Princess Rosamund and the Attack of the Pie Zombies".

My plans for another magic show last year were derailed when my computer crashed. This year there will be magicians!

I have four very large vintage Italian metal frames. This rectangular frame will be a magic shop vignette. I am working on it at the moment and I am very interested to see what it will finally look like. The sculptures are all improvised as I work. There is a definite direction but the road to the final destination has a lot of twists and turns.

The two identical oval frames will either a set of twin magicians or a husband and wife magic act. They will be large 3D portraits whatever I decide.

This final oval frame will also house a 3D portrait as well.

These large framed pieces will be ready and be for sale at "Hallowe'en and Vine" this September. There will be noisemakers and other items besides magicians.

I must get off to my studio and get to work.