Stone???

Indeed, the last few weeks have been spent working on carving(!) a piece of alabaster.

Who knew you could saw stone?  Our teacher gave us lots of demos for how to let the stone become the form it wants to be.  After Paul helped me saw (which took 2 hours or so) and it was two pieces, then I started to chisel.  

 Here is an action photo using the flat chisel:

What did the stone want to become, you ask? Well, with a little guidance from me, it became a cheeseboard and matching nut bowl!

The last photo was during our final critique. I put dried beans in the bowl instead of nuts, assuming people would reach in and get their germy hands all over the bowl--beans seemed a cheaper way of wasting food.

New Parsley Art Studio Website

Parsley Art Studio's website has been updated!  There are still a few small kinks to work out, mostly to do with class offerings, but WELCOME! Come have a look around!!!!

Creative Energy Rocks!

I've had so much energy to be in maker-mode for the last 6 weeks I'm exhausted. But it is super totally fun, and productive!  

Little paper houses have been taking over my life!  Here are some updated photos:

That last photo shows the same house as in my last post, just on a base and with the wiring all set up. The little pouch is the battery pack, which you could hide behind a book or a lamp or something if you don't want it to show.

Also in the last 6 weeks, I've made this cool tool box, custom built to fit one of the shelves in my studio that wasn't being efficiently used. Now I have a place to store my hammer, tape measure, new Dremel, and such!

Two challenges in making the wooden box:

• The transition from not knowing how to use power tools to knowing how to use power tools. It was a frustrating learning curve, and scary. But once I got it, I felt like Superwoman! Now I know how to use power tools and I can do anything!
• Installing the drawer hardware on the bottom drawer--I needed Paul's expertise and even strength to get it all to work, but we did it together and now the drawer opens and closes like butta.

Finally, I've been wanting to develop DIY Advent Calendar kits for years. With a little feedback and help from my BFF, I finally got there. Visit my Etsy if you'd like to buy one! More calendar designs to come soon!

A Light In a House

I've been wanting to make this project for a long time, and finally, here is a prototype!!  I made a template of my fold-up house, which is exciting enough, but then I made an LED light to go in it!  These are still in their developmental stages but I couldn't not share the progress with you.

My dad helped me to know what I'd be looking for if I went to Radio Shack. Indeed, I bought almost all the right stuff. I only needed a 2-battery holder, and the switch needs to be a bit bigger (the customer service guy at Radio Shack was completely useless).  But now I have a clue about what I'm doing and what I need.

The light is only a few components put together: a battery pack for 2 AAA batteries, some wire, a switch, and an LED "bulb." Isn't it fun?

Must Love Art

Barbara Gilhooly and Ayn Hanna must be two of my fave all time artists. Their work, their studios, their commitment to the local art scene, their personalities... they are just great and they both provide constant inspiration to me. Well, they just got married! And in honor of their union, they had an art show that featured a ton of work by both of them. It was wonderful.  Both their websites are linked to this blog over on the right, or you can follow them on Facebook.

For their show, they invited their artist friends to make a heart for their Wall of Hearts, a centerpiece of the show. In fact, they exchanged vows right in front of this wall!  Everyone's art heart was so unique. Here's a close of up of the one I did. I sure wish you could see it in person... this photo barely does it justice!

"Cloud Nine"

Cloud Nine was collaged in a way similar to the pear I made for my mom a couple years ago. The balloon's basket is woven paper. The clouds and balloon are suspended by clear thread in a white frame. You can't see this, but the frame sits off the wall about an eighth of an inch, and the frame can be attached to the wall by magnets on flat-head nails. That isn't how it was displayed for this show, but that was the idea.

Here was my favorite amongst all the other hearts. 

"The Wedding Vow" by Mary Bergherr (from Minnesota)

Below was my other favorite piece at the show! Haha. The works in the background are all by Ayn Hanna.