November 20, 2009 #8

This is the small piece I was going to leave a few weeks ago when I changed my mind and went to the angel.

The piece is hand made of polymer clay. The sentiment on it says "Prayers to heaven on angel wings, my wish for you..all good things. Stands about three inches tall, and the back is decorated as well.

This item is number three of four.

November 13, 2009, #7

This began with a doodle that stemmed from a particularly unproductive time trying to be creative. The Psalm came into my head, and I realized that sometimes I simply need to learn to be still.

From that, a card was born.

This week the drop is a set of ten cards with envelopes created from the original work.

November 05, 2009 #6

With everything that has gone on over the last two days, I thought "Betsy" might be the item to leave.

She is a handmade art doll. Her body is made of polymer clay that has been painted and her face drawn on, then glazed for protection. Her skirt is made of a stars on blue cotton fabric, hand sewn, with a ruffle of red. It has a bit of weighting in the bottom to her stay where she is put.

She is an original.

October 26, 2009 #5

I'm employing a new tactic....I've asked a friend if she will "drop" the next item for me, so that they can spread out a bit over the city, rather than just hanging out where I hang out in town.

This week, it's a wee bear.


I'm not sure how these came to be...other than I wanted to do another toy for The Toy Society. I wanted a simple, small, eeensie, weenie bear, or bunny...or maybe a monkey. Really, I wanted a monkey, but that tail never did work well...I will get it to bend to my way eventually, I'm certain.



But, I digress...back to this week's drop. After a bit of bother, I finally designed a pattern that I like relatively well. There are a few things I'll tweak about it with the next few batches of these, but, for now...she's pretty cute. She is really small. Fits beautifully in the palm of my hand...see....





I sewed a grand total of 7 of them over the weekend, got them stuffed, and their faces all on. Three of them I got dressed, as you can see above. The one in the pink dress will be The Toy Society drop, and this little one that is so colorful is going to be left in some random place to be found by my friend Connie. I've given her instructions to leave it somewhere she thinks the little thing will be found. The bear is little, and the world is big...I worry...


Update...I was notified this afternoon by the friend who dropped the little bear that she left it in the fort at a park near Palomar....I hope she finds a good home!

October 21, 2009 #4

This drop is different, this is more of a "controlled" drop for lack of a better way to phrase it. This is one of the angels that you first met in the second drop, you can read their "history" there to know the background of how they were created.

When the angels were created, they really sort of "assigned" themselves to what sort of felt right for each of them. The first, and most simple one, was meant to stay with me, I love the simplicity of her. The second, with the yellow face was meant to be a drop and was the second in the series. The third, with the opening line of the Desiderata poem on her front, she sort of felt like she was meant to go somewhere else, but I wasn't sure where.

It wasn't more than a couple of days after she was made that I got a phone call from a very sweet woman I've never met, although we have worked together from quite a distance. She is one of those really sweet people you just know you would love to have as a friend. Things have been a tad hectic for her of late, and she was checking in to see if we could make something happen a bit ahead of schedule because she is taking a bit of medical leave in November. I just "knew" that the angel is meant for her. So, "technically", this drop isn't going to be for just any random stranger, but just as "technically", while she and I have worked together on a couple of things...we've never actually met, so in a way we are strangers. And, in the end, since it's my art project, I get to amend the rules as I please. Besides, in the 52 weeks that this is promised to run, I really want to know that at least one of the creations makes it into the hands of someone real, and isn't "lost" out there somewhere.

Now, because I am pretty sure that she will be curious enough to check out the blog, a little note just to her....the angel really did just need to be yours...she wings her way south (terrible pun I know....)and she brings with her my prayers and good wishes for all good things...and hopes that there are no more leaks in the ice maker, or at the very least that the dog learns to bark if there is...and I can't wait to hear how well it has all gone!

October 16, 2009 #3

This is not at all what I had intended to post this week, but sometimes, you have to go with what you feel...

When I began this project I made a few things ahead in case I have a week that I simply don't "feel it". Those happen, it's just a part of the creative cycle. I put the things I make in a box, sort of like a treasure box, and when I decide that "today is the day" as far as giving away something for the week, I just pick something out of the box.

As I was picking out what I wanted to give away this week, I was thinking a sweet little shrine with the message "Prayers to Heaven on angel wings, my wish for you...all good things" was a good choice. I'm giving one away on my other blog, so why not two?

Obviously, that isn't what you see. I had the shrine all set, had the card on it...and something just kept telling me...not the shrine, you have to go with the angel. Try as I might, I just couldn't shake that feeling. So, angel it is...

I'm a big believer in the theory that you really have to go with what your heart tells you...I hope she finds the person who is meant for her.

October 9, 2009 #2

This little piece has been created from an antique quilt. The quilt has been worn to a frazzle...the fabric is so thin that you can see through it. It is a beautifully worn piece that has been well loved through these many years. The quilt came into my family when I was young, the house my parents had built burned and nothing was saved.

The blessing about growing up in a rural area in that time was that the entire community came together to help us begin again. We were gifted with several handmade quilts.

This particular quilt was not the most intricately designed one, nor did it have the tightest of stitches, but in the time that has passed between it has seen laughter and tears, and has always been a wonderful comfort. Now that it is falling apart I cannot bear to just toss it away, or to store it where it is never touched. Part of the magic of a real quilt is the touch. The touch of those who put love into every stitch as it comes together, and the touch of those who are covered by that love later. This quilt deserves to be more...so...I'm turning it into new things to be loved...hopefully she will be. This is the second project...


The angel was dropped this morning when I dropped off a payment on my way to work...she was left in a plastic bag because we've had yet one more day of rain and storms..

Bonus drops....

The next item is ready to be dropped, I just haven't decided where to leave it yet. I'll figure that out later this evening. In the mean time, I've left three ACEO (Art Cards Editions & Originals)out and about...







Bonus 1













Bonus 2














Bonus 3

Validation...

A friend of mine sent me this link...it's sweet, and sappy, and makes you feel all gooey inside (in a good way)...



Doesn't it make you want to go out and validate strangers?

Why are you still sitting there?

October 2, 2009 #1

Here we go with the first project.

She is an angel made of polymer clay. Her face and wings were formed using a mold, the heart was created using "canes" that were hand created.

The back of her wings are covered in torn pieces of paper that came from a vintage book that had seen better days, and she has a "tassel" of beads that have been hand strung to give her a bit of fluidity, movement and color.

I tried to drop her at the post office on the way home yesterday, but even in all the rain, there were just too many people around who might see me leaving it. Part of this whole project is the "surprise" aspect, so I opted to wait until today, if an opportunity presented itself.

She was left to be found in a bank drive through...

The beginning...

What if, when you go to the bank to make a deposit, as you open the container that gets sucked up the tube you found a small soft sculpted heart?

How about when you go to the grocery right between the can of tomatoes and can of corn you find a little painting?

Maybe, when you stop to drop a letter in the post box you find an art doll hanging from the handle with a note that it is for you...would it brighten your day?

For some time now I've left little pieces of "art" around my town for random strangers to find. The art is left with the the idea that it is nothing more than making the day of a random stranger a little brighter (hopefully). It is left anonymously, in the most ordinary of places, where we all spend portions of our day doing things that need to be done (you know, the daily grind stuff, the stuff we all really don't want to do, but have to do)...the shelves of the groceries we shop in, the trails we walk, the outside bank tubes, the tables in restaurants...anywhere we are all going about our daily lives is fair game for a little piece of art.

Each little piece is left with a note explaining what it is so that there is no confusion about its purpose, and asking the recipient that, if they choose not to keep it, to either leave it for the next person, or give it to someone they think would like it. Once each piece leaves my hands I know nothing more about what happens to it. I've done this with some sense of secrecy because the intention isn't about getting praise for doing it, it's about doing something that I find fun.

I have to admit though, I am curious about what happens to these little things. I wonder if they actually find their way to people, and what the reactions are of those who find them. to that end, I am creating this blog. The only thing that will change about the process is that this blog address will be left on the note of those random pieces. IF they want, the recipient can let me know what they thought...they can do that in the comment section under the post that contains a photo of what they found...if not, then I will continue to hope that they find their way into the hands of people who need a moment of surprise in their day.

I've decided I'm going to do this once a week for a year, after that, I may continue, or I may think I've given it my best shot...only time will tell.

I welcome your comments, your thoughts...and even your participation if you'd like...this idea isn't unique, anyone can do it, join me in sharing "Little Art, Big Heart"...who knows how many people might have a bit better day if lots of us participate? And just think about all the good things that might happen if we all have just a bit better day. If you do create something to leave, let me know, I'll include it here and add a link if you blog...and, if you'd like a copy of the cards to leave with the little art big heart gifts let me know, email me...just hit the contact us button.

With that in mind, here's to little art with big heart...may it spread a smile wherever it is found...