Hair Shoe

I don't know why I like this so much.

Hair Shoe, September 2012

Lauren hair

Nests

Here is something that I am still working out because I am not fully satisfied, but I just needed to share. I just love these teeth so much! Hair and teeth... what's wrong with me? 

Anyway, these were the makeshift "nests" I made to present these porcelain molars on for my BFA review while the real pieces were being fired in the soda kiln.  I suppose the basis of this idea is that teeth, like hair, are found to be precious things, yet take on completely different characteristics when they are not in a person's or animal's mouth.  My mother, AKA the Tooth Fairy, saved my baby teeth when I was young. When she finally showed them to me when I was grown up, these tiny teeth she kept in a box inside of another box seemed to be treasures to be cherished forever.  

With this piece, I wanted to create that odd juxtaposition of a tooth and a nest, something you lose when you are a child kept inside of the home structure of different animals.  A safe haven.  The connection between human and nonhuman, how when it comes down to it, the structure of a home to keep precious things safe is hardly different.  

Each nest is around 2"-3" in diameter and are created with fallen autumn leaves.  Each tooth varies from .5"-.75" in length, and are Helios porcelain slow-fired to cone 06.

What to do with these?

Here are just some snapshots of a deer skull that Cody found in the woods and gave me a heads up about!

I am so obsessed with bones... it is very weird.  But anyway I was able to learn how to bleach them (quite a task) and ever since have been itching to go find more! Mom, Dad, I'm sorry you raised such an odd child.

"I grew up in a pretty house where I had space to run and I had the best days with you."

Here is the final for my Comfort Reality project in Terri Lindbloom's Experimental Drawing class.

These are all things that remind me of home-- my family, Bella and Kitten, my comfy chair, my love of wine and photography, and the ever present scene of birds on power lines.

I used micron pen to create my subjects, which were then accented by orange, pink, and blue watercolor.  All are drawn onto old children's books that remind me of my past.  

So, I think this calls for a little song that reminds me of home:

"I have an excellent father

His strength is making me stronger

God smiles on my little [sister]

Inside and out

[She's] better than I am

I grew up in a pretty house

Where I had space to run

And I had the best days with you

There is a video

I found from back when I was three

You set up a paint set in the kitchen

And you're talking to me

It's the age of princesses and pirate ships

And the seven dwarfs

Daddy's smart

And you're the prettiest lady in the whole wide world"

-The Best Day by Taylor Swift

old things made new

These are the old springs from the seat in my newly refurbished wing-back chair my friend Josh and I garbage picked from the curb near the beach. Papa thought they would make for an interesting subject...

The bottomless pit that is Pipi's basement

Written a few days ago. Computer is finally up and running again after a charger fiasco...

So my journey in Connecticut has finally come to a close. I have gone on some amazing adventures with my cousin Devan, I was fortunate enough to be able to spend some quality time with my Auntie Sue going through her Aunt Pipi’s basement. This woman and I for sure share some hoarding tendencies. Auntie Sue assured me I could take anything, so of course I took advantage of this rare opportunity to dig through mounds and mounds of things in search of some antique-y treasures.

Now I shall list for you everything that I walked away with, considering I’m stuck in Friday afternoon traffic on the Jersey Turnpike on the long drive home...

Two great scarves that I will most likely use to tie up my hair… they are kind of old lady in nature, and although that is usually totally my thing, I have not yet committed myself to wearing silk scarves with track suits.

A beautiful antique handkerchief that seems to be from one of her many travels to Europe. I think I may turn it into a pillow.

Some great patterned material. Who even cares what I’m going to do with this? It was just too lovely and quaint to not take.

It started out to be just a black and white flannel long sleeved shirt, but obviously when we found matching bottoms, I realized that this pajama set was a must-have.

Two vintage skirt slips and one full body slip.

A great thin blanket with tiny details that will be perfect for my apartment.

Of course a brassiere from the 60’s, at least.

A makeup puff from the middle of the century from the brand Lushus, which is not even in existence anymore.

Celsuds lingerie detergent- also no longer in existence.

An entire case of copper bobby pins, then costing 29 cents.

Two lovely bobby pins with flower detailing.

Vintage Oil of Olay lotion… still smells the same as today’s… mmm.

Various notes left by Pipi. She was a librarian and catalogued EVERYTHING, including what was in each box and why she bought each thing with the location and dates purchased.

Many, many postcards from around New England- some from friends, others just noted on.

A Wethersfield, Connecticut bicentennial coin. There were three, why they were needed… only Pipi knows.

A Pink N Ink eraser.

A tea steep in the shape of a tea kettle. I'll definitely be using this.

A vintage Beauty Maid tin bobby pin holder. Don’t think I will need this, but this bullet-shaped case is just too cool.

A couple of books: Moni the Goat Boy and Other Short Stories and Perfect Little Cats- complete with stationary. Was this find even in question?

A five year diary. Pipi had about eight of these, completely filled. Each entry started with the day’s weather.

A super cool Sage Allen paper bag.

The December 9, 1980 edition of the Hartford Courant. Front page story: Ex-Beatle Lennon Killed in New York.

An album of beautiful black and white photographs from San Francisco, the Redwood Forest, and other places around California.

A portrait of a Native American girl, to go with my painting of a Native American. My mascot is a Seminole Indian; these were necessary for my apartment.

A sweet fur hat. I don’t think it will be that cold in Tallahassee ever, but looking like a Russian snow princess is something I’ve wanted to become. Real or faux? I’m thinking the latter.

Skinny belts! Eight of them. Love it.

An entire bag of slides from her travels to Europe. I don’t think anyone realizes that one bag was only a fraction of the ones I left behind. Next road trip. I will be making these into a shade and hanging them from my window.

Thirty-four wooden hangers. That saves me a trip to Walmart before school.

Unfortunately, I had to turn down some things. A huge amount of bright orange shag carpeting, for example. A wool army blanket. An entire box of Old Spice men’s deoderant. Twelve bags of bows and fifteen rolls of Christmas wrapping paper.

Left behind: About fifty million slides (exaggeration, but only a slight one). A great old trunk that I will be for sure getting the moment I return.

A great few hours looking into the life of a stranger, I must say.