More works in progress...

Here are some materials I'm working with right now...
Pieces from a clock with some keys and chain...
We'll see how it turns out.

Here are two finished pieces. They photograph way better on a black bust instead of rumpled up on the counter.

I am working on several things at once, waiting for everything to culminate into finished pieces. Sometimes you have to have them in your hands for awhile until you know how to put them together.

The Wolfman!

I have seen The Wolfman and I must highly recommend it!
I won a seat at the premier tonight and it was pure eye candy all over the screen. I scarcely paid attention to the plot because I was consumed by every detail of visual delights throughout the entire movie.
It is an homage to the original 1941 film starring Lon Chaney. So many things I love seem to come from that era...
The screenplay is breathtaking, indoors and out...

It is Industrialized London, sooty post Jack The Ripper era. There are interior shots in the begining that I couldn't find online that are just delish; very Steam Punk/The New Antiquarians/Victorian cabinet of curiosities that I so dearly love. I want to live in this world! Even though I couldn't help but notice a few things I thought were off, like the tiger furn trim on a totally fabulous robe Anthony Hopkins is wearing in the beginning; the fur looks fake and I don't know hey they didn't use a more realistic faux fur.

I can overlook such details in light of everything else that makes this movie a genuine visual treat...especially this time of year, after the saccharine sweetness of Christmas and before the blooming pastel beauty of Spring.
The Wolfman is a sight for the Halloweenstress's sore eyes.

I will be going back to watch it again with my sister and her guest Dani very very soon!

Here is my latest assemblage.

This is brass chain with miniature escutcheons, jump rings and a skull bead converging on a prefabricated cast metal piece. I cut these skulls in half and drill holes through them to turn them into beads. Then I gouge out the eye sockets to accommodate vintage rhinestones in their original settings. A bicone Swarovski bead hangs beneath the skull.

I love making art from found objects and using materials in unexpected ways. I have a few more interesting things in the works such as a plastic doll face set in a Byzantine bezel and a necklace featuring clock hands.
I will be posting more pictures as projects are completed!

Brandi's Pagan Birthday Party!

Saturday we celebrated my sister's birthday like the fun loving blaspheming pagans we are.
Friday night, after cleaning and organizing my house all day I had the coolest idea...I decided to make her a cake in the lamb cake pan I found earlier and give it birthday candle horns! I did a test run that night with a home made chocolate cake and it did not turn out right at all, a first for me. But no matter: Saturday morning I made a red velvet cake in the lamb and it came out perfectly, even the little ears! I covered it in home made cream cheese frosting and decorated it with a little bit of black gel icing. The eyes are Valentine's day candy corns stuck into his head. I experimented with heating up candles just enough to curl them into horn shapes without melting them. After two sets of trial horns I had the technique down to make these cool flaming horns out of black & white candles.
It was hidden away in the fridge and Bran didn't see it until we lit it and brought it to her singing "Happy Birthday". It was too fun! We had a great guest list with friends dating back to the 80s.
You can't have a party without Sally Bingham. She wrangled me and helped me with the cake unveiling amidst all the chaos. Thank you Sally!

Here is Brandi about to sacrifice the lamb, with my cleaver no less! It was a riot, a sacrifice to the birthday Gods to ensure a fruitful and fabulous year ahead for Miss Brandi. Plus it was really really yummy.



I didn't get pictures of everyone because I was too busy mixing & mingling. That's the thing about parties; you just don't get to spend enough time with anybody. But a good time was had by all!
Dee & her oldest daughter Kerrie Clayton came by. Aren't they just the cutest two little things you ever did see? I gave Kerrie a clock that didn't sell on eBay; that's the upside to when something doesn't sell, you get to give it to a friend.

Misty & Phil were there too. Philip is an old friend and Misty is a relatively new one, and they make a great couple.
I love being a hostess and getting all my friends together. A new friend of mine from my MS group came too, and it is really interesting for me to talk to someone else who has it who knows what it's like.
Vanessa, Tiffany & Janine were there too and I didn't get to talk to them hardly at all. I'll just have to have another get together real soon.
As I sit here fresh from the shower, towel still on my head, Roxi is snoring by my side and I am winding myself down for bed. Tomorrow I get to see the results of my last MRI and I just know it will show an improvement.
Always expect good things my friends.