Unusual Girl Studios

Here's just a little peak at some Christmas goodies for the stockings. All of you craft enthusiasts will recognize the necklaces as pre-made, available at Hobby Lobby for 1.99.  The pendant is made on top of a ceramic plate from the miniature department of the same store.    I'm a big fan of using nail polish as paint.  It is, after all, an enamel!  See- its not what things are- its what they could be..... I used various and assorted thingy-ma-bobs that I already owned to make up a dozen of these pendants.  The cupcakes are decorative brads from a scrapbooking store.  Those of you who remember Cherry Cupcake may recall what a cute brassiere they made.  I also used some shaped glitter that I had on hand.  Using clear nail polish I anchored the charm on the background and after that dried I added more layers in which the glitter floats.  When all is said and done, I intend to add a dollop of real resin to the top but honestly...I've used clear nailpolish for a lot of thing

You know I miss you all in blogger land. I'm a little behind in my Christmas preparations so I can't spend much time with you.  (Yes, I know- I look very old and my hair is very short.  Read back a few posts to understand my problem with anxiety and hair cutting.) But its that time of year where "pleasers" like myself feel obligated to not just "make people happy" but to make them "over the moon in joyous rapture" at their gift.   See Exhibit (A) below.   Yes, that is Chinamommy.   Now see Exhibit (B) below. Eeesshh!  Wowsza!  She couldn't even fake liking her Pareo.  (That's a fancy name for scarf big enough to wrap yourself in.) "Why don't you like it?"  I whined?  "Its a very popular color scheme!  See?" See?  Even major industries approve of this attention grabbing color scheme.  And speaking of attention grabbing...That yellow is a safety feature built right in!  See?  The very same shade is used to mark

I thought you's be relieved to see she's decent!  She has a little black dress made from gessoed tissue paper and undies as well.  Whew!  (I said it for you.) She also has eyes!  And a 'faux' head to wear on top of her neck.  Working on the arm replacement but not quite finished.  But, please notice her oh- so- stylish hand bag made from a mettallic brillo pad. I am working so backwards on this one!  I have to paint her which will be more difficult now that she's clothed.  I have to toss around the idea of coloration.  After all- if you've been decapitated your complexion may not be so rosy or peaches and cream.  Any thoughts?

Warning!!!!   There is some uncomfortable nudity in this post.  Let me temper that with the fact that most nudity is uncomfortable for me.  (Hey- I won't look at your parts if you promise not to look at mine.  Well, actually- even if you do happen to inadvertently see something of mine I am still going to try like Hell not to see anything of yours.)  So what is this oddity below?  Why is there a creepy head in a creepy cage?  And why share that?  Because that's me.  I share.  Headless Amy came about in protest to the unfairness of my children being able to play with dolls that look like friendly and fashionable monsters.  If you haven't heard of Monster High Dolls well....it just means you don't have kids in the 8-11 age group.  I find them hilarious.  I hated those slutty Bratz dolls.  Thanks, people for sending my girls the message that "hot" means barely dressed.  It really conflicted with my message that hot means don't touch the stove.  Monster H

Ever had an employee review?  Remember the comment section of your report card?  Did you ever hear phrases like these?  If so...I like you. Not quite square- peg in a round world. Flunked out of "ordinary". Doesn't think outside of the box because...she lost the box and is still looking for it. Reliably tardy and somewhat foolhardy. Is at war with reality. Doesn't quite fit the mold. Easily lost in minutia. Still contemplating a style of frame to fit "the big picture." Carries the world on her shoulders and is armed only with a good support bra. Have a good week everyone!

Man, I had a busy weekend...some friends threw a surprise party for me...(It was great- thanks, ladies!)...I'm way behind on the ole' schedule.  So I thought what if I just don't post this week- that would be alright- right?  And then the thoughts came creeping in....what if I was in a horrible accident and never posted again...and my last ever post was my bare naked face covered in huge mountainous zits ? So if you can give me just a couple of days I'll post something....it may be my explanation of how I fumbled the whole "this is where babies come from" fiasco.  It may be this hilarious story that Kayla wrote- and when I say hilarious I mean it- she's a genius.  Or it could be about our not so recent discovery that she has O.D.D. which stands for Oppositional Defiant Disorder, commonly associated with ADHD.  Or it could be about Headless Amy- my newest art doll/self portrait/new friend.  I'm obsessed with her right now.  Probably why I don't ha

Remember how busy I was with the whole sculpture/artprize thingy?  Well there were a lot of things that happened this summer I wanted to share with my blogger friends.  Why you?  Because you like me and I like that about you.  I think all of us who blog get that we are doing it because we need an outlet and a way to document for posterity's sake all the weird things that happen in our lives.  Two things recently, big things in my little world that I pictured going just a bit more smoothly. 1.  The 25th class reunion 2.  My young daughter learning about the facts of life. Now, when I explain the 25th class reunion I should explain that it did go well.  It was a blast.  Thanks to Facebook a lot of the awkwardness was avoided.  About a year ago we, the classmates that are friends on FB started discussing the reunion and someone suggested creating a page which I did, mainly because I happened to read the suggestion look to the side bar and see the words "create a page"

1.  After watching way-ay-ay too many scary movies while forcing the children to fold laundry my daughter says.."Mommy....I'm scared...."  and I reply with a question "Why?  Do you see dead people?" 2.  On the trick or treat trail through the never ending subdivision I decide I am tired and want to be done.  When I tell the girls that I want to turn around and go back they cry like little sissy babies and say they don't have enough candy yet.  Always the problem solver, I tell them to switch jackets and hit up the houses again. 3.  When the perfect one staunchly says no, she won't do it, I suddenly have a vision of her years later as the crabby librarian with the wart on her nose telling all the fun kids to shush up.  I offer her a dollar and actually use the phrase "C'mon, you know you want to!" 4.  When the only home owner who has a clue recognizes my little criminals I loudly state (as they shuffle back to me empty handed)..."

Hey doesn't everyone have an old First Communion dress hanging around?  And don't all you Catholic girls wonder if this isn't a little bit sacreligious....well....don't you? Don't worry- she doesn't really look or move like these pictures depict.....we practiced that.... Of course there are those times that I've wondered if I would ever wake up and find a child's face hovering over mine....with an axe in her grip...... Happy Halloween- must go to bed...and lock the door behind me:)

This is a re-post from 2 years ago.  I like to get the story out of the storage bin along with the rest of the Halloween decorations.  I thought I'd make it a tradition.  (Plus I am all out of clever things to blog about and way behind on grading homework!)  One wonders, is the mean girl still lurking just outside the dressing room? The mean 20 year old at the dressing rooms told me there was no flash photography allowed. So I promised not to use my flash. She then said "no pictures at all!" I said "Seriously?" You have got to be kidding!" Really, does she think I was going to run home and copy the super girl outfit on my sewing machine? Couldn't she tell by merely looking at me- that I am almost 40, that life has been very hard recently as I rush around trying to get two little girls off to different classrooms with different schedules and different events going on every freakin' day with different homework every freakin' night and that not

A lot of people are doing these cute posts- "Wordless Wednesdays" "Ten Random Things" etc....I thought I should do one.  But which one?  Hey- why not make up one of my own?  So I am going to do that- make up one of my own! Because I have been gone so long and when I have been here I've only been talking about one thing....many different and clever ways but still- I sense you are bored with me. C'mon, admit it.. I won't be offended...I'm bored with me! So I thought I'd remind you of while you follow me....not because I am so darn talented...not because I am so witty and clever..... but rather because you sense there is a little bit of crazy lurking around my corners....and you like it! SEE the CRAZY?  Yeah, thought you did! Here's my 10 things about me you are going to wish you didn't know! 1.   Rules .  I don't like them.  They make me itchy.  A little ornery.  Definitely oppositional.  REALLY?  I have

I had to lead with this.  I won't be foisting too many more pictures of Art Prize on you unless I think that its so cool you really can't live a full and enlightened life if you haven't seen this artwork.  That's how I feel about this.  I wish I had more of this entry to share with you because its actually four dresses on mannequins and while this one was spectacular you deserve to see all of them.  This one seems very light and innocent while the others are darker- mysterious and maybe just a tad menacing?  Love this little walk on the dark side. Back to me.  I know- I've not been there for you lately.  My life has been hi-jacked between A.P. and this year's parade of homes, in which my firm has two.  We are designers- we did not build these homes but they have our design print all over them.  The kitchens, the baths the built ins, wall colors, lighting...you get the picture.  But when the deadline is approaching for parade everyone gets a little psycho.  Not

This lady is covered entirely in beads! This man is made from game pieces! soooo pretty! I will add in the artist's names and more about their piece later...must go get my work done!!!

 Whew HOO!  We are excited!  For Art Prize!  I know, I know- you aren't here so its just not as exciting for you!  (By the way can you please pray for us in regards to that last adult tooth coming in and pushing those two front teeth together just a little more???) This work is by artist Terry Brennen and is called "Dumpster Diver".  All of these sea creatures are formed from upcycled or repurposed 'junk'.  Thought you'd like to take a look- but look very closely to see what the pieces and parts used to be- because that's the fun part! All of the fish you see here and the scuba diver are made from upcycled objects.  Can you see the baby carrier in the scuba diver's belly?  This man is crazy clever. This tiny squid is one continuous piece of wire. This artist has been a welder for forty years and this is his first work of art.  He spent a year on it.  Hmmm, sound familiar? This is my Art Prize lovin' family.  Where do I fit in in this