make a wish bone 2011

well wishes 2011

wish upon a feather

gold luck clover 2011

pink bird yellow background 2009 6"x 6" mixed media

The bird in this piece is created from vintage sheet music. *This piece was recently purchased as part of a movie set. The movie is currently in production, so not knowing much about the industry, I don't know how long it will be before I possibly see it again (on the big screen). When the movie comes out, I'll fill in the details.

hook and barbwire 2009 6"x 6" mixed media

The bird in this piece is created from a page from a vintage book about Peter Pan, a book that Heather (my partner in artistic crime) gave me.



top of the mornin to you 2009 6"x 6" mixed media

The bird in this piece was created from a bit of a vintage map of Ireland.




golden song 2009 6"x 6" mixed media

The bird is fashioned out of paper from a vintage children's book--then sprayed gold and enhanced with acrylic paint and pencil.



three's a crowd 2009 6"x 6" mixed media

I think I get the relationship between these three. [This is one of those pieces that I unintentionally created a relationship among these birds, and didn't notice until I stepped back when complete]. The female demurely sits and watches as her partner puffs up in a defensive stance because another bird is leering at her with an offensive confidence. Funny.

spirit of memories 2009 mixed media vintage postcard

These postcards used to belong to a collection that I've kept to myself for several years. I'm a collector of sorts, and I realized it doesn't do me [or anyone for that matter] any good to keep my treasures [like these postcards] to myself. These cards sat in a book, untouched and unseen by anyone until I decided to incorporate them into my work. Honestly, I'm a little torn about altering the original integrity of these postcards, but I consider each one carefully before adding my bits. The titles in this series mostly have the phrase "spirit of" to reflect the ghostly nature of the subjects, and to pay tribute to the original owners of these cards--likely long gone from this mortal plane.

spirit of quiet 2009 mixed media vintage postcard

changes 2009 mixed media vintage postcard

spirit of history 2009 mixed media vintage postcard

light as a... 2009 mixed media postcard

the birds 2009 20"x 20" mixed media

This painting was finished yesterday, with purpose. Many of my pieces are out at show right now, and it leaves my walls bare. It's not that I intend on adorning my walls with my own work, but a girl on a budget (such as myself) isn't able to fill a house with the works of others, so many of the walls in my house hold my work between shows. This has left my bedroom, in particular, bare. I decided I wanted to hang the king and i, but I felt it needed a companion piece--something to lend balance.

[reminder] the king and i

The birds in the complementary piece are created from vintage paper, sketched, and sprayed gold (for brillante). Once the two pieces were side by side, it inspired a new series I'd like to create called birds and beasts (like the animal fair).

2009 10"x 10" mixed media

This is a piece that will appear at an auction event benefiting Water for People. It is technically a plywood bird piece, but this is larger and fancier than I generally create. It's birch mounted onto a wood frame backing that pulls it up from the wall, similarly to deep gallery wrapped canvas. I'm waiting on a title--thinking of a 3 word [noun, verb, adjective] name that has been required for the show.

3 wishes 2009 24"x 24" mixed media

Last month I was fortunate enough to have the opportunity to visit New Orleans for a few days. This piece is inspired by a memory made during my trip. The subject of a balloon release may not be significantly original, but this one is to me. It was a warm promising night as we let 3 balloons go over the Mississippi after taking some time in quiet to consider a wish. As soon as they floated up, I saw the painting in my mind, and there it stayed until today, when I finished this piece. Now I can let it go--like the balloons.

By the way, I know that at least 2 of the 3 wishes have come true [one being my own--more than nice].

spirit of seeing 2009 mixed media vintage postcard

I generally don't like to post new work I'm creating specifically for an upcoming "hang" [showing], but I'm so excited by this inspiration, I thought I could at least preview it. I have several more of these, and they will actually be part of an installation at Mode Organic Salon [on Roosevelt] in Seattle, so even by previewing these, one would have to stop by in person to get the whole feel. I plan to combine organic material from which to hang these pieces, which will lend itself nicely to Mode's cozy organic atmosphere.

spirit of understanding 2009 mixed media vintage postcard

quiet in chaos 2009 mixed media vintage postcard

london peek-er 2009 6"x 6" mixed media

This piece is created from a vintage map mounted on plywood, and the bird is made from a page out of a vintage program from the Ice Capades. It's actually my program; I'm a [reformed] collector of whatever, and it pains me to call this treasure vintage--but let's be straight, it's vintage (by Etsy's standards 20 years at least), NOT antique.

did you hear something? 2009 6"x 6" mixed media

This little bird is created from an illustration from a vintage English (as in European) book for girls.

the cat, the bird, and the feather 2009 6"x 6" mixed media

The bird in this piece is created from a page from a vintage children's book [that my partner in artistic crime, Heather, gave me].

2009 6"x 6" mixed media

I actually don't remember what this piece is called. I created it and sent it off to Florida, to Studio Gallery of Grayton Beach. I remember it had a good title, something to do with singing.

The birds are created from excerpts from a vintage children's book.

and the tree was happy... 2008 30"x 40" mixed media

This is probably my most favorite painting I've ever created. It was a commission piece--a family tree. The client and I went back and forth because she wanted muted colors, and I [if you've noticed] am a loud color girl. I called her over often to look at it while working, because I was so afraid I would go over board with color. Maybe that's why I like this piece so well, because it's not entirely my idea.

Incorporated into it are leaves made of vintage cookbook recipes, and blossoms made from snippets of cotton. The title comes from a line out of Shel Silverstein's The Giving Tree.

el capitan 2008 16"x 20" acrylic

This is one of my favorites also, adapted from a photo of my oldest son's dog Brutus. He's enjoying a boat ride on Lake Chelan--lucky dog.

jail bird 2009 6"x 6" mixed media

I think the black and white stripes give this bird an old school jail house rock feel--hence the name.

flag feathered friend 2009 6"x 6" mixed media

I'm always looking for something other than wires and branches to perch my birds on. Today I passed by a car lot that had flappy flags over-head, and it inspired me to created this piece (although in real life the flappy flags might be too unstable for a bird to perch?--I don't know; I'm not a bird expert).

dans le jardin bird 2009 6"X 6" mixed media

I wanted to create something light and airy, and it somehow seemed french when finished.

spring 2009 24"x 24" mixed media

This painting is an adaptation of a photo I took last spring. Its creation came from my hands and head while listening to inspiring music. This piece is mostly cathartic expression of color--painting for the sake of painting.

divine bird 2009 6"x 6" mixed media

Most plywood has a "good side", and with each of my plywood paintings, I try to pick the best side on which to paint. This piece did not have good side. In fact, the side I chose to paint is actually the side I would generally shy away from, but instead of trying to fill in all the cracks and sand down all the bumps, I decided to enhance them by letting the imperfections shine through (like I say, imperfections = charm).

lemon love bird 2009 6"x 6" mixed media

I entitled this piece with love, because I LOVE my new lemony colored spray paint [I kind of want to lick it, but I know it will probably disappoint like when you try to eat flavored chapstick]. The bird in this piece is created from an illustration of A Christmas Carol, taken from a vintage book, and the flower is cut from vintage drawer lining paper.

pleasant 2009 4"x 4" mixed media

This little painting is created from acrylic and spray paint, featuring a bird made from a vintage illustration from a book.

upcycle sign birds 2009 11"x 33" mixed media

This piece is created from an upcylced sign. It was sitting outside the back door of my work, basically where we put things that are to be recylcled and thrown away. It was a shabby chicish sign (white). I asked what it was doing outside the door (because it seemed perfectly useful to me), and my boss said, "you can have it" (he must have seen it in my eyes).
It was so great; this white painted sign, in terrific condition with hangers already measured and aligned on the back. All I had to do was paint it. BUT, on a very rainy sleepy day, I began painting it. It was coming along well. The colors good, the birds perfectly shaped and painted--it was all going well...until...I went to mount the birds on the painting. I unthinkingly placed all 3 upside down. It was my mad painting skill. I had created such a nice branch in which the birds would sit, that it looked just as good upside down (maybe that's not a good thing). It wasn't until I flipped it over until I realized I had placed the birds upside down (and not on purpose like in some of my work), and had ruined the beauty of the sign being pre-hung.
So there you have it. By the way, I re-wired it, although the original hangers are there too, if one was inclined to hang it upside down.

girl on a string 2009 12"x 16" mixed media

I personally love this one. The colors and content. The bird is fashioned out of a vintage cookbook recipe and the girl from a vintage illustration from a book.

plywood bird paintings

a bit of an off day 2009 6"x 6" mixed media

The bird in this piece is made from a photograph of a festive table from a vintage cookbook.

cast off bird 2009 6"x 6" mixed media

The bird in this piece is made from a recipe (pattern) for hand-knit gloves from a vintage book.

3 little sugar birds 2006 6"x 6" mixed media

The birds in this piece are fashioned out of vintage cookbook recipes.



rick rack blue bird 2009 6"x 6" mixed media

The bird in this piece is made from the vintage paper packaging from rick rack (for sewing projects), and the background is fashioned out of the cardboard that use to line my painting workspace (mounted to plywood). The cardboard acts as history to my work--a collection of my favorite colors and materials.




under the weather bird 2009 6"x 6" mixed media

The bird in this piece is made from a vintage cookbook recipe. I thinly sprayed this plywood red, leaving some of the natural wood's attributes to seep through.

tv cathedral bird 2009 4.75"x 6" mixed media

I just completed this piece today. The postcard is a vintage European, from the late 19th/early 20th century, and the bird is created from a vintage television owner's manual (70s I think). The frame is a tacky little piece I picked up at the thriftstore, sprayed it and transformed it into an object of cool.

table and chair birds 2009 6"x 8" mixed media

These two little birds are fashioned out of a vintage card; the illustration on the card is colorful and I've been meaning to work it into projects. The background is a postcard from the late 19th/early 20th century, featuring a historical cabin in Oregon. And the frame comes from the thriftstore, was originally silver, and sprayed with my favorite Montana Gold Himalaya blue spray paint (love that stuff).

crows, what do they know? 2009 approx. 6"x 6" mixed media

I love the bird in this piece--sketchy. The copper background shimmers through the splattery blue. The crow is fashioned out of vintage cookbook paper painted black.

generosity plywood bird 2009 approx. 6"x 6" mixed media

The bird in this piece is made from a comic illustration of A Christmas Carol, and on the bird's body is a excerpt about Scrooge's new generosity. The illustration is from a vintage book.

blue monday bird 2009 approx. 6"x 6" mixed media

How does it feel? This poor little friend is fashioned out of an illustration of a European cottage from a vintage book. When I stepped back to look at this completed piece, one of my all time favorite songs came to mind--Blue Monday by New Order.



bulls eye bird 2009 approx. 6"x 6" mixed media

This bird is made from a comic from a vintage book, and if you look closely, you can see people dressed as bears--curious, and makes one wonder what the story was.

fried prawns party bird 2009 approx. 6"x 6" mixed media

The bird in this piece is created from a photo of a party table from a vintage cookbook about foreign party food to impress your guests.

3rd bird has the key 2009 8"x 10" mixed media

The birds in this piece are created from a page from a vintage cookbook that is entitled something like foreign food with flair. The key is an actual key, like that of a cheap diary, which may explain the meaning of this work. It's funny, but a piece like this is just as mysterious to me as the random viewer. Sometimes when I'm finished, I realize an unintentional story has come to fruition, although I usually don't even know what it is. This piece, for instance, evolves through color and placement--a bird here, a bird there, then a key to fill a void, and Voila! When I step back I realize, something is going on between these 3, but what?

windmill bird mini framed art 2009 4.5"x 5.5" mixed media

This little painting has a rather drab title, but for practical reasons I wanted it easily understandable for those shopping in my etsy store. It began with my love for this thrift store found vintage frame. I intended to open it and fill it with new art, but when I popped the original art out, I found it charming. It looked to be a snippet out of a vintage magazine, possibly a photo of an original, printed in a magazine. I decided to add to it instead and draw from its charm. I put it all back together and sealed up the back--ready to hang.

cathedral canary 2009 5.25"x 7.25"

This is a marriage between things I love: upcycled pieces (like the frame) + vintage (like the European 19th/20th c postcard) + my art. The upcycled element brings a tacky frame to relevance, the postcard brings character and history to the entirety of the piece and my artistic addition brings new life to once forgotten pieces. The postcard is one of many I've collected--mostly from a particular girl who went on a European holiday at the turn of the century (20th).



bon voyage blue bird 2009 6"x 8" mixed media

This piece also incorporates an upcycled frame, a vintage postcard (from Astoria Oregon) and one of my birds (fashioned out of vintage sheet music), with a background of recycled cardboard that used to line my work space, so it's basically a history of colors and materials I've used in various projects.




country cottage bird mini framed art 2009 4.5"x 5.5" mixed media

This piece is also made from a vintage frame purchased at a thrift store, adding to the art that was already inside. The bird is made from vintage sheet music.