Steampunk TinkerARTdoLL

tin·ker noun /ˈtiNGkər/ 
tinkers, plural

1.(esp. in former times) A person who travels from place to place mending metal utensils as a way of making a living

2.A person who makes minor mechanical repairs, esp. on a variety of appliances and apparatuses, usually for a living

3.A Gypsy or other person living in an itinerant community

4.An act of attempting to repair something








TinKeR.......By Amy Maisel.......Altered Bendidoll with Mixed Media Objects..Beads, fabric, fibers, jewelry, odds and ends, etc.

I was just hanging out in the studio one Sunday afternoon with my daughter and she wanted to make a steampunk doll with my felt. Well, I wanted to do something similar. As I went through my scrap fabric I found a zipper I salvaged from an old bookbag. I thought about the zipper being a mouth....then I realized I had a ready made bendi doll I got at Michaels and I envisioned what you see now...A steampunk Tinkerdoll. I was influenced by Tim Burtons movie "9". I love anything vintage, tattered and well loved...and well, this looks all three. Tinker is my favorite doll I have ever made!! She has a lot of love and a lot of little stories in her.

Four Elephants

Animal Power Meanings: Elephant = Commitment.
Elephants can teach us the power of gentleness, commitment, and communication in relationships. They are deeply committed to all creatures with whom they have relationships, are powerful when protecting others and gentle in nurturing them. The matriarch of a herd practices leadership in a way that is both gentle and inclusive. Elephants' ability to communicate telepathically can teach us how to truly listen to others.
















FOur Elephants........By Amy Maisel.................Acrylic on Wood

I love elephants, I have collected a few elephant statues over the years, got an elephant tattoo, drew many elephant pictures and now I did this piece. I actually started it over a year ago....I drew it out and painted the background around the elephants. I put it away for awhile though because I just didn't know what to do with it. I guess it wasn't calling me until a month ago. I saw it sitting in the corner and it just wanted some color. I love painting in bright colors and then taking it down with stain, or brown paint. It gives it a folk art quality to it.
The space above my kitchen cabinets was the perfect place for this piece. There are four people in my family....My husband, two children and I. We are all strong, nurturing, protective and intuitive....especially with each other.That is what this piece represents!!!!

God is really only another artist. He invented the giraffe, the elephant and the cat. He has no real style, He just goes on trying other things.
~Pablo Picasso

“Life is either a daring adventure or nothing. To keep our faces toward change and behave like free spirits in the presence of fate is strength undefeatable.”
~Helen Keller






"A little bit of my spirit"......By Amy Maisel.........Mixed Media

I had the opportunity to take a fantastic ArtDoll class in New Mexico this summer. There, I connected to a fantastic woman by the name of JEAN...A.K.A. RAVEN! Well, she has woken me up in terms of how to view myself as an artist (I kind of lost it for awhile). Anyway, she had the chance to see my artwork and commissioned me to do some pieces for her. I was apprehensive at first, then I even tried to give her the artwork, but, she explained to me that I need to look at myself as a serious artist who has something to share.... A little piece of my Spirit! I can do this with my art. I made her a wire Raven...Because she is a mysterious and Sly Raven! I made her a chicken because she loved one I had made for "MYSELF", and I made her a driftwood spiritdoll because she connected to it. So, what I have learned is to start sharing my art and put myself out there. I have been hiding for too long!!! Thank you Jean...Love you SisterFriend!!!

((((((((((*mY sTuDiO*))))))))))

The studio: A room to which the artist consigns herself for life, is naturally important, not only as workplace, but as a source of inspiration. And it usually manages, one way or another, to turn up in her product.

~Grace Glueck

Crying Chicken

The key to everything is patience. You get the chicken by hatching the egg, not by smashing it.”

~Arnold H. Glasgow










"Crying Chicken"......Created By Amy Maisel.......Mixed Media-Fencing Wire, Tinfoil, Wooden Bowl, Plaster Cloth, Encaustic Wax, Walnut Ink, Tacks, Nails, Metal Buttons.

My kids went back to school last week after what seems like a very short summer vacation. Well, I got up the other morning and took my daughter to school like I do every morning and when I pulled back into the garage...I saw all my wooden bowls sitting on the shelf. I have been lugging these bowls on our "MANY" moves just waiting to get inspired to do something with them. Well, I pulled into the garage and looked at them and thought.....Those would make some cool little animal bowls!!! So, I immediately went up to my studio (wooden bowls in hand) and set up to create my first wonder......"CRYING CHICKEN"! My poor little chicken! I used a new glue to set the buttons for eyes and thought it had set, but after leaving it for a few hours, I came back to see it had tears running down it's face!!!! Well, I love how these things may look like a mistake, but actually turn out to be quite awesome! SO, Crying Chicken now lives in my entryway greeting friends! Tears or not, I really do love her!!!

Vanity Free....Vanity Fair

The only cure for vanity is laughter, and the only fault that is laughable is vanity.

~Henri Bergson






Found Vanity Treasure.....Reclaimed/Refinished/Painted by Amy Maisel.....Acrylic Paint, MinWax

I found this on the curb outside my neighbors home!!!! It is probably a 1930s-1940s Piece and in pretty remarkable condition. It was missing a few parts here and there and I removed the side mirrors (to be put in later or some other kind of surprise)!!!! I actually put this piece in the garage about 20 minutes before a huge thunderstorm/dust wall...I don't know if I would have taken it all waterlogged and muddy!!! I painted it turquoise and then distressed it with minwax! I love how it turned out and it fits into my decor perfectly!!!!

(About a week after I refinished the vanity-I went to Anthropologie and bought these beautiful floral knobs. The hardware at that store is like going to a candy store!!!)

New Treasures

Art Unravelled had the most amazing Artists and Vendors there!!!!! I only wish I had more $$$ and more time to talk and shop!!! I met the most amazing people:

Ricë Freeman-Zachery...Author of "Creative Time and Space" and "The Creative Life" (AND I must point out that this woman has just as colorful of a soul as she does her hair and clothing!!!...Just by the way she walks through a room!!!
See her here: http://voodoonotes.blogspot.com/
I also met Eric Scott and David Modler....Authors of "The Journal Junkies Workshop"...Which I bought and they Signed....They were cool Guys!!! Find them here: http://www.journalfodderjunkies.blogspot.com/
I met Lisa Loria....Who I bought all those beautiful vintage earings from...WHich I cannot wait to make some wonderful mixed media pieces!!! Lisa is a fantastic Mixed Media artist...she uses amazing vintage finds in her work...check her out here: http://lisaloria.blogspot.com/
I met so many others...but cannot name them all!!! I had a blast though...such a wonderful experience!!!

Art Unravelled -Phoenix 2011

A pretty a day
A pretty a day
(and every fades)
is here and away
(but born are maids
to flower an hour
in all,all)

O yes to flower
until so blithe
a doer a wooer
some limber and lithe
some very fine mower
a tall;tall

Some jerry so very
(and nellie and fan)
some handsomest harry
(and sally and nan
they tremble and cower
so pale:pale)

For betty was born
to never say nay
but lucy could learn
and lily could pray
and fewer were shyer
than doll. doll

Written by: E. E. Cummings.








"POD HEAD NIMPH".....Created by Amy Maisel....CLass and Design by LISA RENNER ....Mixed Media Art Doll

This was my first year at Art Unravelled...I guess this was my first year for taking any classes (outside of college classes of course)! I really wanted to experience what all my favorite artist bloggers were talking about!!! I have lived in Arizona for 3 years now and regret I did not come until now! I had an amazing time and wish I could have taken more classes!!! Well, the class I did take was called "Pod Heads"....which spoke to me because of the mixed media with natural elements!!!! I also really wanted to try my hand at Encaustic wax (which now I am addicted)!!!! Anyway, I loved the instructor Lisa Renner and she is an amazing artist and sweet soul!!!! I hope I can take a class from her in the future!!! The piece I made turned out really cool and I love her!!! I created these really cool wings out of Wax, Wire and Tissue Paper!!!! L.O.V.E.

"SWEET TWEETS" Calendar

Live each season as it passes; breathe the air, drink the drink, taste the fruit, and resign yourself to the influences of each.

~Henry David Thoreau






"Sweet Tweets" Perpetual Mixed Media Calendar....Made By Amy Maisel...Class and Design by Shirley Varkoly-Seay a.k.a. Artsy Fartsy Fairy ....Mixed Media Art

I love this little shop in downtown Mesa called MYSTIC PAPER and they have cool classes all the time. Well, I tend to ponder on things a long time before committing and taking a class is no different! Anyway, I saw this Perpetual Calendar class over a year ago and have been wanting to take it and, well, here I am I finally did it! Funny thing is I signed up for it a week before the class on a Whim!! Well, I have no regrets!!! The instructor is the most awesome person ever...she is so warm, generous, fun and sweet!!! I love her designs that she comes up with and she collects all these fun fiddles for each and every calendar!!!!! I can't wait to make some of these for gifts!!!! THankS SHirlEY!!!!!