Funky Art Queen

OK, it has been a few weeks since I got the Kesley Excelsior Type O vintage printing press that I proudly bought off of ebay!  I have to be honest though and admit that I do have thoughts of what in the world was I thinking?!!! Still, I'm intrigued by everything I have to learn in order to print anything.....even one small Christmas card for 2011! I think that is exactly what I love.....the challenge.  SO.....I finally ordered the new rollers from a merchant on Etsy.  The came all the way from the UK so they must be brilliant right?  They were on my doorstep today when I got home.  I could not wait to open them. I'm just a little confused about all of the different ways I could go to create my christmas card.  Do I just do a linocut?  Or maybe a photopolymer design? I don't have any furniture for the type that I just bought.  Can you just make your own furniture with wood?  If I do photopolymer with boxcar press, do I still need furniture? ...

OMG!  What a great shot! I took this picture last week of our Goldie/Lord Sebastian and I did not realize that the background of the Project Runway judges would show up like this.  It looks like he is in front of the stage and he is not happy with the discussion!  LOL I love that show!  I love the creativity and the pressure to create within budget limits and theme oriented boundaries. I noticed....during the commercials that there is a new show coming called something about accessories.  I want to do that.  Hmmmm......could I stand the pressure?  Could I work with the crazies that they bring to the show?  I don't know....but it is so exciting to watch these wonderful young and sometimes not so young people step into action and create! It's just lovely to watch.  Bravo to all of them....my heart breaks when they get voted off....I scream with joy when they win!  I'm so proud of the artists/designers for putting themselves out there! ...

So here is a funny story.  From the moment I decided I wanted a printing press, I decided my first project would be our family Christmas card for this year.  I wanted to keep focused on something to get me going on this new adventure.  I looked and looked for the right price and a nice little tabletop press.  I found "Kelsey" on ebay and got it last week. Here is the interesting part.  Kelsey came with some extras.  One of the extras was a (linocut stamp-I believe) that is a Christmas card that someone made.  It just gave me chills...to think that someone-maybe like me....decided she wanted a printing press and made her own Christmas cards.  Here is the linocut print that I could not wait to do by hand so I could better see the impression. I don't really get the ship but it is well carved and still lovely.  I think it would have print better on paper better suited for this purpose but I just had to see it now.  Anyway, on the back of...

Woohoo! Here we go! I got my Kelsey Excelsior 5x8 Type O Vintage Tabletop Printing press off ebay last week and it arrived.  I still have to get new rollers but I found several dealers on ebay and Etsy so that does not appear to be a problem.  I think this old art form appeals to my love for Typography.  Or, it just appeals to my obsession with creating and cracking a new code.  I get bored easy-Attention Deficit Disorder maybe?  Anyway, I'm so pumped about this!!!! Slow down there Cowgirl!  There is a huge learning curve I will have to tackle.  Don't worry, I will document as much as I can in case any other crazy newbies like me come along.  I'm going to keep my journal on this blog and they will all be tagged "Kesley 5x8" so you can filter through all my other rants to get to the meat of the matter! Also, in the future, I will refer to my printing press as "Kelsey" so don't think I'm talking about someone! LOL Here is a list of links that I hav...

I made my first linocut print!  I was so excited.  You can't even imagine what a task it was for me to understand the whole mirror image idea.  I have some kind of positional deficit!  But I figured it out and this is what I made for my first linocut.  I hand carved the stamp, inked the stamp, and put it on cardstock.  The frame is digital. Then, I decided to try and make a photopolymer plate-I use that for my precious metal clay to transfer images.  I started out by creating what I wanted in Pages on my Mac.  I had to learn how to change the direction of text boxes so the "shine" could be along the side of the other wording.  Then, I created the photopolymer plate.  I inked it and added it to the card stock.  This is what I came up with... Still not completely satisfied with the results.  I wish I could attend a letterpress class!  I also have commissioned my step father to make me a home made letterpress!  Hope...

 Over the last couple of weeks, I have found myself obsessed with Typography art. I've been there before.  Remember my blocks?  I just love the artists who I see doing Letterpress type work such as this print that I recently purchased on Etsy.  This was created by Rawartletterpress -an Etsy shop owner.  I have been an admirer for some time.  I have always loved this saying.  It reminds me of something I read in The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People about first being present.  Any how......I love letters and words....you can see that in my Thoughtfully Adorned things on etsy.  Also, another cool thing about this artist is that she connected with her sister who works with silver clay.  I bought a pendant with "You Are My Sunshine" for a friend of mine.  You just have to check them both out to understand.  I think they are brilliant and great artists. Oh, both of them had the best packaging!  So go and check them out!!! ...

I never really thought it would be so wonderful to be a Grandmother.  My little Caden is about to be 8 months old!  Though we don't get to see him much, his Mom and Dad post pictures so often that we feel we are close and watching him grow.  This is a picture of him this weekend at the mall experiencing frozen yogurt.  Looks like he was pleasantly surprised!   I decided to create my own "Cool Grandma's Club".  It is a club for only the Cool Grandma's....you know who you are!  If you think you are a cool Grandma.....then you are already in.  Before I share the little collection of grandmotherly quotes with you....please take a moment to check out all my hand stamped jewelry on Etsy.  I actually named this section "The Cool Grandma's Club " .  Here is the link!  Now, please enjoy all these fun quotes..... Cool Grandma’s Club Welcome to the COOL GRANDMA’S club!  This is an elite club for only the Cool Grandma’s in the world...

I want my living room to look something like this!  I found this picture weeks ago on the web and now I can't find it again to credit the photographer.  I love the light in this room.  I love the hint of colors of teal and cream.  I have decided that if I can't live on the beach, I will make my house feel like the beach.  I do not want to paint though.  I would so love to have someone do it this time.  I have painted this house so many times and I know it is a major job! My sister says that I go overboard with themes and she fully expects to see sand on the floor in the living room.  LOL

AS IF I don't have enough to do......I just added another Etsy shop. It is called Ten Roof Rusted and you can find it right here.   I wanted a shop where that I could display my vintage items and things that I have created that appear vintage.  I love making jewelry but I need something else sometimes you know?  So if you get a chance, stop by there and let me know what you think.  I found the above wood deer bowl at an estate sale this weekend.  It was unfinished and appeared to be hand carved?  It was just so interesting that I bought it and finished it up with a white wash.  I added the glass balls and listed it on etsy.  Hubby said it needed a bow or something on the neck but I preferred the clean line of the neck. Today is Father's Day and I find myself thinking of my father who passed a couple of years ago.  He was a funny man....always cutting up with others, flirting with waitresses, a winker!  He loved his girls and always w...

I made another Yin and Yang pendant from the PMC 3.  Yin and Yang represents balance to me and the idea that opposites are necessary to create balance.  My sister and I always say that she is one and I am the other in the Yin and Yang idea.  I think I'm the Yang.  I "googled" the meaning of Yin and Yang to refresh my memory and this is what I found:  "This Simbol(Yin-Yang) represents the ancient Chinese understanding of how things work. The outer circle represents "everything", while the black and white shapes within the circle represent the interaction of two energies, called "yin" (black) and "yang" (white), which cause everything to happen. They are not completely black or white, just as things in life are not completely black or white, and they cannot exist without each other. While "yin" would be dark, passive, downward, cold, contracting, and weak, "yang" would be bright, active, upward, hot, expanding, and str...

I made another Yin and Yang pendant from the PMC 3.  Yin and Yang represents balance to me and the idea that opposites are necessary to create balance.  My sister and I always say that she is one and I am the other in the Yin and Yang idea.  I think I'm the Yang.  I "googled" the meaning of Yin and Yang to refresh my memory and this is what I found:  "This Simbol(Yin-Yang) represents the ancient Chinese understanding of how things work. The outer circle represents "everything", while the black and white shapes within the circle represent the interaction of two energies, called "yin" (black) and "yang" (white), which cause everything to happen. They are not completely black or white, just as things in life are not completely black or white, and they cannot exist without each other. While "yin" would be dark, passive, downward, cold, contracting, and weak, "yang" would be bright, active, upward, hot, expanding, and str...

Thanks to "Nicole" at "How To Make Jewelry"  and a very good video tutorial by Aunties Beads  , and much trial and error, I finally cracked the Leather Wrap Bracelet code!  I just love the Chan Luu bracelets and they seem to be all the rage right now but they are very expensive.  So, for all us little people-unlike Jennifer Lopez who is sporting one in this photo..... we just have to make do with our own versions.   This one is not my first one.  You don't get to see that mess.  This is my second one!  It is made with turquoise beads on brown greek leather and it is a triple wrap.  The pink one below is my third one and it is a quadruple wrap! I really love the greek leather cording as it is strong and yet soft to touch.  I made another one with turquoise beads and copper glass beads on the brown leather cording and I added real vintage travel tokens.  I have not taken pics of that one yet.  So I will try to get those done...

Finished Product! This is one of the finished pieces of PMC with cement coloring.  I showed you the start of the project yesterday.  I was very pleased with the outcomes.  I love the texture of the concrete.  I just wish I could come up with something very original using this technique.  My brain is just not in HIGH CREATIVITY mode lately.   Something exciting! I ordered a photopolymer kit today.  I'm so hoping to perfect the fingerprint technique using this technique.  The current process I'm using does not produce a print that is as defined as I would like.  Always striving for perfection! Will keep you posted on that.  Meanwhile, I have been busy with mother's day orders of the Brag charm necklaces and some fingerprint hearts.   We just got back from a quick trip to see my son, daughter-in-law and our NEW GRANDBABY!  It was so nice to see them!  I have lots of pics and will be sharing soon.  xoxo Happy Easter Al...

Happy Easter Weekend everyone!  I'm so glad to get Good Friday off from work!  Three day weekends are the best!  Finally, I have time to work on some jewelry.  I've had this book for some time and from the very first time I saw the pieces with concrete used for color-I wanted to try it.  I ordered the concrete and color tint several weeks ago and I have been dying to try it out.  I made these pieces a couple of weekends ago with the intention of filling the little cutouts with colored cement.  I feel like this will be a way for me to have color-that you know I love-with the silver pieces.  Just more opportunity for creative ideas with the pmc.  So, I worked on these two pieces this morning.  I'm waiting for the concrete to dry-then I will clean them up and post an after pic!

I tried copper clay for the first time yesterday and I was very pleased with the results.  I used the "copper clay" brand. I fired them at 1700 for 3 hours in the stainless steel pan with the coconut charcoal.  I followed the instructions that came with the clay and it worked out fine.  Except for this one thing. This morning while working with this piece, the dragon fly circle fell off the base!  I think they copper paste I made was not thick enough.  So, now I have to find out if I can refire after repasting the pieces together.  I was soooooo tempted to superglue the pieces!  LOL Today I made this bracelet, and this necklace from my copper pieces.  Plan to make earrings with the leaf squares and a pendant with the dragon fly when I figure out how to fix it. Happy Sunday all!  Enjoy a creative day!

I just watched this show for the first time this evening.  I really enjoyed watching this little show about two sisters who opened up a cup cake shop in DC.  Their whole entrepreneur spirit, sister dynamics and creativity really got me.  I watched the one where they created a special center piece like a Mardi Gras mask for a St Jude's charity event.  They worked all day and through the night to complete this beautiful work of edible art.  When they came in the next morning to proceed.....the thing had collapsed!  So....they had to make the thing all over in less than 3 hours.  They managed to get the awesome creation done and delivered on time.  It was just greatness-and they earned 1600.00 for St. Jude's Children's Hospital! Wow!

fine silver and leather bracelet Originally uploaded by Funky Art Queen I figured out how to close the bracelet and I am very pleased with it. Now I want to make others with different things stamped. Today, I purchased some cobalt blue colored leather and I have an idea for it! Oh this is so much fun!

DSCF1778 Originally uploaded by Funky Art Queen I "Believe" I can finish this project in a manner that will be pleasing to me! I always have these ideas and without considering the project all the way through.....I begin the task. So.....here I am again.....stuck! I wanted to stamp a piece of fine silver clay with an inspiring word like this one to make a bracelet. The concept seemed an easy one. I would make a center charm with a word and two holes for the leather straps. I did that as you can see......but how to close the dang thing? I looked at several tutorials on slip knots and sliding knots on you tube. I worked on those for a while....or I should say until I was ready to scream! LOL I finally put it to the side until I figure out how I will close this bracelet. I may end up using some little crimp beads (probably not what they are called" that can be squeezed on to the leather straps. Then, I will add some connectors. I wanted to hang a charm off of th...

Thoughtfully Adorned Originally uploaded by Funky Art Queen It has been a nice Saturday. I made some earrings last night-that I posted on Etsy today. I created a pair of shells out of precious metal clay and turned them into earrings-not in this mosaic. I got to visit with my daughter-in-law and son and my grandson on Skype and that was fun. Again, it has been a blessed day! xoxo Lesley

Hey all.  I am getting spring fever! You? It has been warm here in West Texas this week (like the 80's).  I'm seeing people out in shorts, sandles (OMG gotta get a pedicure) and all kinds of spring/summer wear!  As always, gotta say this is my favorite time of the year.  I just get a renewed spirit-I'm so not a winter person!  I have a lot of things on my mind in the creative department that I want to share with you.  Hopefully, it will keep me focused if I write it down! LOL I'm so loving the Precious Metal Clay!  I'm learning so much.  I'm still very much in the basic and intro level.  I search the internet over for tutorials and instructions.  I even joined a yahoo group on this topic.  I have ordered some copper clay and that is my next adventure.  Eventually, I want to make a group/line of jewelry that is mixed metals-more specifically, copper with silver.  I have always loved copper with silver. More things I wan...

Do you ever feel like a plastic bag Drifting throught the wind Wanting to start again Do you ever feel, feel so paper thin Like a house of cards One blow from caving in Do you ever feel already buried deep Six feet under scream But no one seems to hear a thing Do you know that there's still a chance for you Cause there's a spark in you You just gotta ignite the light And let it shine Just own the night Like the Fourth of July Cause baby you're a firework Come on show 'em what you're worth Make 'em go "Oh, oh, oh!" As you shoot across the sky-y-y I love this song.  It really inspires me!  

Thumbprint on my Heart Originally uploaded by Funky Art Queen I love the idea of having your grand child's or your child's thumbprint on a piece of jewelry. I have seen others do this so I thought I would give it a try. I can do it easily if the person is there to put their thumbprint-still working on packaging of the fingerprint kit so I can offer these on my Etsy shop! So while hubby is watching the Super Bowl today, I will be researching this problem and finding a test person for my first trial. Anyone want to volunteer? You would get a free heart (that might have your child's fingerprint on it) lol?! It is a lazy Sunday and it is sprinkling outside-very cold. It is supposed to be another bad weather week. Oh, so looking forward to spring! Enjoy SuperBowl sunday! I'm looking forward to the half time show and the commercials.

Happy Groundhog Day! 2011 First of all, let me just say that I'm very happy that  Punxsutawney Phil predicts an early spring on Groundhog Day 2011 !  I'm so not digging the cold weather we are getting here in West Texas.  We don't know how to deal with it for the most part.  We get like two days a year of a little ice and a little snow.  We went from 72 degrees and sunny this weekend to 3 degrees right now.  The roads have been icy and and dangerous.  That probably makes you people up North laugh....but we are just not equipped or prepared for this stuff.  We get no practice on driving in this weather and our systems are just not in place.  I don't like to be cold and I don't like cold weather but I know it is necessary so I just duck my head in my little neck scarf and bundle up with layers of clothes. Next.... ..Power Outages!  So this morning, we were doing our usual routine....getting ready for our jobs etc.....and right when I wa...

And we did not have to call these guys-too bad! I have wanted a kiln for so long and I finally purchased one of the Paragon jewelry kilns back in November.  I had so many hand stamping jewelry orders that I decided that I would not try to use the kiln until after the holidays. I was so anxious about using it....I don't know why.  I just had visions of burning down the house or using up all the electricity in the neighborhood and causing a black out or something......really.  I don't usually get this alarmed about something but for some reason I was just anxious about it.   I finally tried it out last night.  I had already done much reading and watched some online tutorials so I had no more excuses!  I did it!  I first fired one item of pmc-an OM pendant like this one .  It turned out good so I fired a little tray of items.  I can't show you them yet because I have to clean them up.  Maybe tonight I can show you.  Anyway, I am thri...

I have been thinking about this for awhile....being the list maker and checker offer that I am.  I love to conquer my lists and goals!  I decided that I would make a goal of selling something in each of the 50 United States.  But, to make it fun....(and a little bit easier to achieve) I decided to do this with a friend who is also crafty and goal oriented: My Friend Renea ( Pocket Full of Prettys ) was excited to join me in this self imposed goal/deadline.  We decided to give ourselves 3 months to make a sale in every state of the U.S. by April 24th, 2011.  Between the two of us, surely we can sell items in every state!  So, it is on!   Now, we simply can't do this by ourselves.  Wouldn't it be more fun if our Etsy friends joined us in this lofty goal?  We say find a fellow Etsy Artisian and jump in to try this challenge!  Let us know if you are participating and keep us posted on your progress.  This could turn into something HUG...

I saw some really cute little felt mushrooms on Etsy and decided to try and make some with clay.  I used a light-weight stone clay and they are very light.  I could not wait to take a picture of them.  I also took a pic of them by my little fairy door that I bought on Etsy a while back.  I think I must be in the mood for spring!  LOL

I hand stamped this little sterling silver dog bone with my Molly's name on it today.  I added a swarovski crystal and some little heart spacers-connected it to a key chain loop and put it on her collar.  Of course it took much convincing to get Ms. Molly to let me take a pic of her wearing her new little bling!  But she finally decided she would do it for a cookie! Anyway, you can find the link to these charms in my Etsy shop ! Come and see.  Did you have a good weekend?  I certainly hope you did.  

OK, let me just begin with this.....it has been a really bad week!  That being said, you will appreciate how happy I was to get home today to find a package from one of my best and dearest friends.  I opened it up (which took forever by the way......lots of mailing tape.....which I think she did to be ornery lol). There were two little tissue wrapped presents.  One was a little funky bird figure with the quote "and she decided to sing her own special tune"which made my heart melt.  My husband was in the room when I opened it and when I showed him the bird and the words.... we agreed that my dear friend knows me too well!  LOL Then I opened the little pillow (above) with the picture of my new little grandbaby Caden on it and I laughed out loud.  I just squealed with delight.  Oh, my little grandbaby Caden.  Oh it is so lovely how she did this pillow.  She's a genius I tell you!  She grabbed this pic off facebook and used it to make t...

I tried the Felt Chocolate Covered Strawberry tutorial that I mentioned in my last post and I just could not get my chocolate to look right.  Normally I work on something like this until I get it.  But, tonight I have a cold or a sinus infection or something and I'm not feeling my best so I gave up early.  I gave up on the chocolate dipped felt strawberry and decided to go for the easier plain old strawberry!  We don't need it to be dipped in chocolate anyway.  Just eat Whoppers while you are making it and you will be fine.  I found another tutorial that seems like it would make the strawberry a little more 3 D.   Have a look at it here.    When I am feeling better I will try and conquer the dipped in chocolate look for strawberries!  Have a good night all.  xoxo Lesley

OK, so I ventured off again!  I'm ADD like that.  I'm back!  I have recently decided that I truly AM the Funky Art Queen.  Funky in that I can't stay on any one task for too long of a period!  LOL.....I like making jewelry which is what I have been doing.  But, I have to be able to move freely about the craft world and I figure since I have deemed myself Queen, then I can do that.  Any objections?  LOL It has been a very inspiring week for me.  Almost too much wonderful and creative stimulation to share!  But, of course I have to share...... onelatenight Did you know that Lady Gaga and Polaroid teamed up last year for creative ideas?  Either go to Google and search for Lady Gaga+Polaroid or go to Polaroid.com and check it out.  That is if you care anything about Polaroid.  I'm a finnatic actually.  Now, take a look at the picture above.  That is a "Plush" are you familiar with Plushes or Plushies?  I...