In My Heart There Rings a Melody-A Peek-A-Boo Project

 My childhood was spent going to church at a small Baptist Church that stood on a hill just  about a mile from my county home. There were many restrictions and expectations about what a Christian should look like and behave. I felt trapped sometimes by its dogma. As a gay man I knew that I was condemned to "hell"  and I was an abomination. These words kept me from expressing my true self, but I did grow up with a value system that seems to be missing from much of our world today. I have made my peace with my faith and am thankful for all the darkness it has carried me through. I used to pray that my hope would be taken away because I have known some very deep disappointments. BUT  I am thankful that prayer has never been answered and I have somehow managed to keep a positive disposition through most of this past year. This is the inspiration for this artwork.    

    1. Attach Song Sheet to Wooden Cigar Box Substrate with Weldbond. This is from a church hymnal that came from Moreland Baptist Church. My dad loved singing in their small choir.

2. Add additional depth and interest using  ArtFomies Writer's Block and  Golden Quinacridone Nickel Azo Gold paint and script stamp and pink ink.

3  3.First Paint Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts-Sandra Evertson Filigree Heart - Mixed Media Chips (Pack of 2) with neon pink paint.

    4.  Paint Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts-Leafy Hearts with Transparent Red Iron Oxide and Pyrrole Red Paint.

    5. Paint  Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts-Heart of Gears with Lumiere Metallic Rust and Copper Paint.

6  6.  Layer Hearts to see if there is enough contrast between the three layers.

7  7.I felt it needed more contrast and added some acrylic pain first then embossing powders  and  a Script and  a Wooden Grain Stamp. I used these Embossing Powders-Red, Metallic Bronze, Vintage Photo. Etched Platinum, Pewter, German Silver. Cure with a Heating Tool.

     8.  At same time Use Versa mark Gel to add Etched Platinum, Pewter, German Silver embossing powders to the Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts-Barbed Wire Shape Set, Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts-Wrought Iron Set. Set with a heating tool.

   9. I layered again and felt like there still was not enough contrast between my layers and added metallic blue nail polish to the base heat.

    10. I added some streaks of neon pink to base layer to further unify the pieces.

    11. Add all the components creating your assemblage and adhering with Weldbond.

     12. Cover with waxed Paper and add heavy books to make sure all components dry securely and flat.

Some Final Thoughts.

My faith is now best described by Over The Rhine's song "All My Favorite People Are Broken"

All my favorite people are broken*

Believe me, my heart should know

Some prayers are better left unspoken

I just want to hold you and let the rest go

All my friends are part saint and part sinner

We lean on each other, try to rise above

We are not afraid to admit we are all still beginners

We are all late bloomers when it comes to love

All my favorite people are broken

Believe me, my heart should know

Orphaned believers, skeptical dreamers, step forward

You can stay right here, you don't have to go

Is each wound you've received just a burdensome gift

It gets so hard to lift yourself up off the ground

But the poet says we must praise a mutilated world

We're all working the graveyard shift

You might as well sing along

Cause all my favorite people are broken

Believe me, my heart should know

As for your tender heart, this world's going to rip it wide open,

It ain't gonna be pretty, but you?re not alone

All my favorite people are broken

Believe me, my heart should know

Orphaned believers, skeptical dreamers, you're welcome

Yeah, you're safe right here, you don't have to go

Cause all my favorite people are broken

Believe me, I should know

Some prayers are better left unspoken

I just want to hold you and let the rest go

Supplies:  Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts-Waterworks Shape Set, Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts-Heart of Gears,  Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts-Sandra Evertson | Filigree Heart - Mixed Media Chips (Pack of 2), Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts-Leafy Hearts, Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts-Barbed Wire Shape Set, Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts-Wrought Iron Set, Wooden Cigar Box Lid Substrate, Music Song Sheet, Weldbond, ArtFomies Writer's Block, Golden Quinacridone Nickel Azo Gold, Transparent Red Iron Oxide, Pyrrole Red, Diaylide Yellow Paint, Lumiere Metallic Rust and Copper Paint, Neon Pink Paint, Script  and Wooden Grain Stamp, Embossing Powders-Red, Metallic Bronze, Vintage Photo. Etched Platinum, Pewter, German Silver, Versa Mark Gel,  Heating Tool, Metallic Blue Nail Polish, Paintbrush, Heavy Books

I cannot wait to see your interpretation of this project. Share it on the Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts Craft Group Page on Facebook. I would love to see what new creations you are working on!

 

Sweet Little Summer Tag

One of the things that has sustained me in this crazy time we are living in is my garden. No matter how nuts and turned upside down things are in the world, things are as they should be when I am working in my garden.

This little tag is a small token that reminds me of what a special place a garden is and what peace and solace we can derive from them.

Perhaps you have a garden of some kind that has helped you as well. Make a little tag like this and stick it in your book or in your car our hang it near your desk to remind you that the garden will always be waiting for you.

In this piece I used four elements from Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts:

Stagger Tags Small

Arched Window Set

Wrought Iron Set

Tiny Bird House

Here is where I began...

I glued the Tiny Bird House together and gave it a coat of white primer.

Using the smallest tag from the Stagger Tags set as a template, I cut the paper for the front and back and glued them on. I sanded the edges and inked them up with a little gold ink and a little Ranger Vintage Photo ink to give the piece a little bit of age.

I cut out the elements that I wanted to use in the collage composition.

Often these bits and pieces change as I go along, but this time they stayed pretty consistent.

I glued the portion of the Wrought Iron Set I wanted to use to the tag. (see above photo)

I then aligned the center of the window with the larger bit of the center of the scroll, which is to the right of the tag and glued it down. The flowers I butted directly against the window and glued them down.

I decided to paint the birdhouse green and after giving it about thirty seconds to dry (I hate waiting) I glued that at the bottom center of the window.

After the main elements were in, it was a matter of adding extras like the blue floral banner (which I glued on next) and the tiny paper flower buds.

I added little details to the bird house and dots of white acrylic paint.

I do love dots.

I also added micro beads by using white glue and a needle to guide the glue where I wanted it to go and then gently shaking the beads on the piece, thus allowing them to stick only where the glue was placed.

A pretty white paper flower and a bright green ribbon are the final touches to this cheerful little thing!

Hope you enjoy making your own!

Thank you for stopping by!

Additional Supplies:

Bits of scrap from Stamperia's Glory of the Garden

Grass Green Mocro Beads

White Acrylic paint Pen (I used a Sharpie Poster Paint Pen)

Paper Flowers

Ribbon

What the Finches Said

I’ve always been a big birdwatcher and springtime brings about a flutter of activity. There are nests to build and yummy morsels to discover. The Purple Finches and Goldfinches begin to get their more robust plumage. This is the inspiration for this instillation.  If Finches could speak I think they would remind us that winters always pass, time to get busy is upon us, follow the seasons, listen to the spring winds, beauty is sometimes hidden, and don’t be afraid to sing your sweetest most haunting songs.

1.  Paint GSLC For the Birds Birdhouses and eggs with White Gesso.

2.  While still wet sprinkle with Fusion Slime and Rusty Car stains.

3.  Layer and Spray with Aqua Net until you have an interesting effect.

4.  Allow to dry fully before taking apart GSLC For the Bird birdhouses and eggs.

5.  Find an old wooden cigar box to tear apart and use the bottom to create your panel.

6.  Coat Wooden Cigar box with matte Medium and add Bird Tissue paper randomly.

7.   Use Acrylic Paint in Shades of Brown and Yellow to paint a GSLC Bird Nest.

8.  Glue GSLC Bird Nest Together Layering with four eggs.

9.  Dab Metallic Paint in Shades of Gold and Copper using a paintbrush sprinkling with Chili Powder and Ground Nutmeg to add further textures on to GSLC Wrought Iron Corners.

10.                Add GSLC Tiny Shingles to the top of the GSLC Birdhouses you chose.

11.                Layer your Art Panel together using Weldbond.

12.                Weight down with a bag of kitty litter or other weighted item to squish all the layers together.

Some Final Thoughts.

All Over Ohio- Over the Rhine

Well the rain it has been falling
Like it wants to drown us all
And the trees are gently swaying
Like they're thinkin' 'bout the fall
I still get shivers when I hear
You singin' down the hall
I'm gonna kiss you all over Ohio

And the starlings they were flying
Earlier today
Doing their maneuvers
Clouds of feathers on display
Makes me wanna kneel in prayer but
I've forgotten what to say
I'll just name all the birds in Ohio

Now the reason I am writing
Is to tell you 'bout the flood
Ahh, the river is so beautiful
But it leaves a load of mud
All I have now are these dirty songs
I guess they're in my blood
They make me wander so far from Ohio

(Yeah) It's a silly undertaking
To fly halfway 'round the earth
With an imaginary womb of songs
Intent on giving birth
I gave all that I had to give
I'm not sure what it's worth
Scatter the ashes right here in Ohio

All I wanna be is a thousand black birds
Bursting from a tree into the blue
Love - let it be not just a feeling
But the broken beauty
Of what we choose to do

And the halleujah
Used to make my Daddy cry
I still wonder 'bout the ruckus
Angels make up there on high
In the meanwhile there are measures
We can take to get us by
Lay me down next to you in Ohio

But my expectations stand still
Like beggars at the door
I'm flat broke from the dues
I've paid them all before
Gonna let the Cuyahoga
Wash me up on burning shores
Shipwrecked with you in Ohio

All I wanna be is a thousand black birds
Bursting from a tree into the blue
Love - let it be not just a feeling
But the broken beauty
Of what we choose to do

I have seen the slow corruption
Of the best ideas of Christ
In the pulpits of our nation
Gospel turned into white lies
If you preach a subtle hatred -
The bible as your alibi
Goddam you right here in Ohio

But my shameless hallucination:
He's still knockin' at my door
And I know how this one's gonna end
He's gotten in before
I've run as fast as I can run
I've had to ask, What for?
He haunts me all over Ohio

All I wanna be is a thousand black birds
Bursting from a tree into the blue
Love - let it be not just a feeling
But the broken beauty
Of what we choose to do

Well the rain it has been falling
Like it wants to drown us all
And the trees are gently swaying
Like they're thinkin' 'bout the fall
I still get shivers when I hear
You singin' down the hall
I'm gonna kiss you all over Ohio

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Supplies:  Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts-For the Birds, Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts-Wrought Iron Set, Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts-Tiny Shingles Sampler, White Gesso, Paintbrush, Fusions-Slime and Rusty Car, Aqua Net Hair Spray, Wooden Cigar Box Bottom, Bird Tissue paper, Matte varnish, Acrylic Paint in Shades of Brown and Yellow, Weldbond, Metallic Paint in Shades of Gold and Copper, Chili Powder and Ground Nutmeg 

I cannot wait to see your interpretation of this project. Share it on the Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts Craft Group Page on Facebook. I would love to see what new creations you are working on!