alexa lett...artsy merchant: June 2010

WELCOME!

Welcome to my studio! Yes....it's below ground level. The steps to the basement provide the walking tunnel to creative freedom. This tiny ledge and wall on the way down have become my daughter's art gallery. In this space are my favorite artistic endeavors created through 15 years of her life. Every medium is covered....every subject matter is exploited and my, oh my, has improvement and skill increased. This area provides a visual stimulant of color, memories and quirky style. Just the right creative appetizer for what will eventually lead you to the buffet of fun!

View from the bottom of the steps.

Close up photos of the results of art teachers instruction. Cool stuff! Thank goodness art is a part of her daily school experience. It all starts with a crayon, glue and some macaroni!

This framed instruction is hung at the bottom of the steps! I found these vintage alphabet cards and spelled out and framed the theme of my basement.....Come Play!

The door to my studio greets you with this simple phrase. A regular vendor during the Ga-Zillion Mile Yard Sale paints these simple little board signs. Love her words....

The actual room is about a 10x10....but, it is filled with stuff if placed end to end might circle the globe eight times. I can cram 50 items into a shoe box sized rubber tub....loose it...forget about it....and accidentally stumble across it while looking for something else, and scream like it is Christmas and Santa just brought me the piece of junk I've been dreaming about. This little shelving duo is oozing with goodies!

The top shelf is a flashback to my childhood! If you have any interest in Gumby, Ms. Piggy, Pez, all things bowling, a barrel full of monkeys, cabbage patch babies, plus a metal fridge with food decals on the door, this shelf will speak to you! The color...memories....and texture delight me completely!

Notice the "DivaStar" in the original package gazing from the bulging blue eyes....yes, her name is "Alexa". As a child, one of my biggest beefs was the inability to stumble across my name on stuff. I yearned to own a key chain...pencil....leather bracelet or Christmas ornament with "Alexa" emblazoned across it. My best friend "Jane" had the pick of any spinner rack. Let me tell you "Alexa" was on notta'. But, at 38 years of age, my 7 year old daughter gave me this as a Christmas gift. It warmed my heart! I feel certain a big headed doll that only says obnoxious fashion phrases like, "I'm a fashion guru", "I like beautiful hair extensions" and "Love me, love my style" is not quite the iconic Ms. Piggy I wanted to associate with....but, my name is officially emblazoned. Whoop, whoop!

Willy Wonka was my favorite childhood movie and yes, my daughter begged her Dad to get me this for Easter. My little bunny gave me this full of golden wrapped chocolate bars. Candyland was my favorite game, and my honey gave me this lunch box in the right corner. Detecting a pattern of patterns?

My studio closet closed...

My studio closet opened and maximized!

This is the epicenter of my creative madness! My little Stickley 'styled' desk is pleasantly placed in front of the only window in the room. Art provides drapery for the late afternoon sun.

The chair (a.k.a. rolling throne) is simulated, cow hide, with a comfy square pillow that totally contradicts all things around me, and defines the opposite style of everything I create....."Simplify"! Since when I'm in there, my booty is sitting on the word....therefore, its essence is only obvious in embroidery....not in style! Contradiction....yippee!

Bird's eye view of the epicenter!

You just can't have enough pens, pencils, needles and planters. Oh, the planters. The floral soup can holder was created by an artist friend.

Surrounding yourself with works from your favorite artists is very important to me. The late Howard Finster is one of my favorites. I only have two pieces but, each is quite awesome.

These four little people (artistry on a squashed soda can) are fantastic! The name of the artist escapes me (many apologies), but the artistic line is called "Cannibals". Love them!

Yes, this is a tie...and yes it has a monk painted on it. I purchased this from a high school artist during a fundraiser at my daughter's school. I thought it was so odd and couldn't go home without it. His name was written in a language I couldn't read....sorry.

Not to steal someones wording...but, this is my "inspiration" corner. Things I really like, manage to find a home stuck in this board. Clearly, I like texture and color! Call me a maximalist! Writing is one of my

favorite forms of creativity! An abundance of color and whack-a-doo stuff seem to stimulate my need to speak like I think. Not necessarily eloquent...but, me.

Since my space is relatively small....I'm a huge fan of fishing tackle boxes. Display space and shelving is a premium in my domain, so once I'm in a creative zone, I line the tackle boxes along the floor and open them all up! Instant hardware and findings in complete view.

This is a doll head.....

this is a doll head on craft.

(little creative humor...argh, argh)

Let's now tip toe through some art that was created in my abyss of junk. There is no doubt the end result of my assemblage of stuff strongly reflects the environment from whence they come.

I tend to create small things....because the bulk of the pieces can often be created while in the car, sitting on the bleachers of a volleyball game, or sitting outside. The little stitchy birds were made at Notre Dame High School while sitting on the steps of the gym. My daughter was at volleyball practice. Found the silver freezer lid at a junk sale...glued the music on the back about a month before the birds were created...freezer lid needed something interesting...one day while staring out the window I threw the stitched birds on the work table...it landed on the freezer lid...bah-dah-bing! Union of the two! So deeply thought out...don't you think? I'm never a victim of "over analyzing"!!

I LOVE PIN CUSHIONS! I am a wee bit over tired of the tomato version, so one day I started beadazzling all my little planters, vases and most any open container. This was the end result! Great gift to give a fellow stitchy person!

This piece was HUGE for me...it was 16x20...very three dimensional for me!

Back to normal working size for me....9x9! Loved the little plastic puppy!

No clue how this came to be....had an extra cigar box....stuff laying around.....it all came together! Kind of quirky, yet fun!

Win This Little Piece of Art!

If you have taken the time to possibly read....thumb through all these photos....give me your attention...there should be some type of reward. The above piece of art with the key, bird and the fabulous quote:

"Distinction is the consequence, never the object of a good mind."

-Alliston

can be yours!! Simply leave a comment at the end of this post to be a part of the drawing. Don't forget to leave some type of contact information if you happen to be the lucky recipient. I will need to find you! Drawing will be June 23rd!

There it is....my studio! Thank you for stopping by....please come back! Thank you to Karen Valentine of My Desert Cottage for the opportunity to share. It's been fun...and sometimes a little lens peaking in is great motivation for clean up. My creative buffet can get a little messy.
Fun! Fun!