the Ocean floor

What a better way to celebrate Earth Day than to debut this oceanic tribute to our beautiful blue home.

Unlike some of my other map chairs, where a cut vintage maps into pieces and affix them to a chair, this time I couldn't bear to cut this one. I love the way you can still see the creases in this National Geographic map from 1967.

I had one in my stash, but it wasn't enough to cover the front & back. So I went to my go to source for all cool old stuff...Etsy and wouldn't you know it...I found another one from this lovely shop.

It is fascinating to see all those mountains, caverns and formations that mysteriously lie beneath our oceans.

The cool blues and jagged topography is so striking together, I just love it.

I have been talking to Tammy over at Hatch about this idea for weeks, so I am very excited to send it her way. If you have not been, it is such an eclectic gallery that has been a great venue for my quirky, recycled art.

Enjoy this Earth day and find ways to make your little part of the planet a little greener, not just today, but everyday.

Rose

This week, I finished my chair for the DAIS auction and she is in full bloom.

I named her Rose. Not only because of its floral theme, but like all of the women who use this local shelter, they have a name, an identity and are 'rising' up against their situation.

For the seat and back, I used pages and pages of recycled magazine images of beautiful, cheerful flowers. Lilacs, peonies, tulips...and roses.

And the legs, or stems, covered in a verdant spring green.

The chair had such wonderful lines I wanted to keep, and even highlight, the empty spaces. Finding just the right image to wrap and sculpt around the curves was the finishing touch.

I am delivering the chair next week, with the auction happening in early May. I not only hope Rose goes to a happy home, but also raises a garden full of money for these brave women.

Minute makeover

Presto chango. This weekend, in 10 short minutes, I transformed a vanilla, vanity chair

into a beautiful, vintage boudoir stool.

Although I could have painted the frame and changed its entire color scheme, sometimes it is better to just work with what you have. And what I had was a really great chair that needed just a little love.

By simply unscrewing the cushioned seat and stapling on a new cover (I choose a retro Sears reversible towel) , I made this thrift store wallflower into a real looker.

The hardest decision was which side to use. Vintage towels are a perfect alternative to new fabric. Check out here & here for other examples. They have loads of charm, groovy patterns, very durable....and oh yeah, GREEN. Pick one or two up at your next thrift store outing and create a transformation of your own.

DAIS chair

Today I started working on another charity project, and this time it is a little more familiar. A chair !

It is all for an upcoming event here in Madison "Give a Chair a Chance" benefiting DAIS (domestic abuse intervention services).

DAIS is the only emergency shelter, in Dane county, for women who are victims of domestic abuse and their children. Sadly, this shelter often has to turn away people as they just do not have enough resources. As an artist, I don't always have the cash flow to make the large monetary donations as I would like, so I love when I can participate in an event like this and do my part to support needed programs like this.

The chair is due at the end of the month, so stay tuned for the after in a few short weeks.

my Italian Opera

A month or so ago I was asked to adorn a pair of opera glasses (and case) for an upcoming auction benefiting the Madison Opera.

Although much smaller in size than some of my other charity projects, it was still a challenge, but was really happy with its after.

So, here is what they gave me....

and here is what I returned to them

When I think opera, I think Italian, and since I am such a fan of maps...I choose to cover my glasses in a vintage map of Italy. Ironically- the opera's next performance (at the end of the month) will be the Italian classic "La Traviata".

Colorful, whimsical and still quite usable, I was sure to highlight all the popular Italian cities on this small little palette.

and for the case...

Antique sheets of music, and I am talking antique here, from 1892. This piece was part of a collection that I found in our family barn. Since it was already pretty destroyed...I thought I would extend its life just a little longer by turning it into another form of art.

The event is April 30th with all proceeds going to help support the opera.