to give a wee flashback, we originally did two pieces for seth’s disintegration collaboration. we = my son and i. he wanted to do an “asian scroll” so designed this all by his five year old self (he’s six now, for the record). i did this little doll arm fetus “thing”.
they “afters” of those can be found here for both and here for the excavation of the doll arm since it didn’t decay enough the first time.
and now for the now. i assembled this little… assemblage out of most of the disintegration bits and a few others i’d found along the way (all old and or aged to keep the theme). i first made the box out of a cigar box, mat board and foam core for compartments that are “raised”/less deep:
it’s not actually ALL the way done but i am already two days behind schedule thanks so our 100-106 degree heat wave and a wedding we attended this weekend, so i figured i should post it as is rather than wait any longer.
this little “nest” was the arm’s bracelet as you’ll recall. and the branch was a copper thing i found at an antique store around the same time (along with the grapes in the lower left as shown above), and among the first round of things i rusted with vinegar and water. i love the little bottle, which i found at another antique shop, but i’m not sure if i’m going to keep it there with a scroll/secret note in it or replace it for a different bottle (i wanted to make a necklace out of that one).
i never washed the dirt off the arm, but rather painted over it to preserve its disintegrated appearance. i think it looks pretty darn fab. this photo is crap so i’ll re-shoot one of these days. you can see the tiny book i made in the small compartment.
i made some tiny scrolls out of the paper from the large original scroll, and added a spring i recently found on my beach combing trip. i added a charlotte because it needed something and having been buried for so long it felt like it fit the feel of the piece.
here is the book out of the box:
and lastly, some of the texture on the sides of the box:
i’ll post more photos when i have it complete. i haven’t decided if i’m going to figure out a way to hang it or put it on a small base with feet. i think it needs something added to the top as well, but we’ll see.
thank you so much, seth! this was a lot of fun!!
51 comments
Comments feed for this article
4 August, 2009 at 1:18 am
LaWendula
Great stuff! So much inspiration!
Thanks for visiting my blog!
CU
4 August, 2009 at 1:20 am
alteredbits
you’re very welcome and thank YOU for visiting mine! yours is fabulous!!
4 August, 2009 at 2:14 am
Zoe
Lovely work.
4 August, 2009 at 2:17 am
marie danti
I like this a lot! Like all the compartments but the doll arm is my favorite.
Thanks for your comment over on Cinnamon Studio!
18 August, 2009 at 8:02 am
alteredbits
you are very welcome and thank you so much for yours! the doll arm is my favorite too. 🙂
4 August, 2009 at 2:35 am
remnants
Hey this turned out great! I love that you preserved the dirt on the arm. A girl after me own heart!!!
And the crusty texture is awesome AWESOME. Oh and the book too! Well I really think the whole thing is wondrously cool can you tell. : )
18 August, 2009 at 8:04 am
alteredbits
thank you, sweets. /blush
you’re the best!!
4 August, 2009 at 2:57 am
Laura
This is nice,’specially like that you painted over the dirt on the arm. And I like how the texture on the side of the box relates back to the arm.
18 August, 2009 at 8:04 am
alteredbits
thank you, laura! i actually didn’t do that on purpose and only noticed when you just pointed it out to me. that makes it even better. 🙂
4 August, 2009 at 4:29 am
Renee
Love the box and all the close-ups. And, I especially like that you painted the arm without cleaning it off! GREAT idea. Oh – I see other’s commented on the same thing. Hmmmmm birds of a feather. Or we are all strapped for time! – speaking of, “someone” needs to get a dinner going around here. hmmm – wonder who that might be. 🙂 Thanks for taking part – what a wonderful escape for all of us!
18 August, 2009 at 8:05 am
alteredbits
thank you too, renee! and i know what you mean about being strapped for time — it’s days and days later and i’m just NOW getting around to responding to things. hmmmm.
4 August, 2009 at 4:35 am
marianne
this is great! having so much fun seeing the wide variety of great art that came out of this project!
4 August, 2009 at 7:42 am
diane cook
What a grand assemblage! And, what a great idea about painting over the dirt on the arm! It looks very primitive that way.
I love the rusty spring spiraling down over your Charlotte.
BTW….It looks like your Charlotte and my Charlotte might just be sisters~LOL.
18 August, 2009 at 8:06 am
alteredbits
oh my gosh, they are twins indeed! i lovelovelove your piece too, diane! it’s just fabulous, as is the story accompanying it. very well done!
4 August, 2009 at 8:07 am
rachel whetzel
LOVE LOVE LOVE!! It’s stunning!! And to answer your Q on MY blog… if by getting that 106 degree weather you mean did we get unseasonably hot 88 degree weather, then yes. We did “get” it… lol but no. We didn’t see numbers ANYWHERE near the stuff everyone’s having inland.
18 August, 2009 at 8:07 am
alteredbits
thank you so much, sweet lady! i would rather have 88 any day (except today, which is what it was). it ended up hitting 107 three days in a row after that if you can imagine. it was hell and death all bundled together with an ugly, sweaty bow.
4 August, 2009 at 8:17 am
Jill Zaheer
What a wonderful soulful box with surprises in each compartment! The cute doll arm and bottle, copper wire, scroll and key, words, rosette and those wonderful looking grapes! Just love that tiny book hidden inside! All beautiful- your crackled looking cigar box is just perfect! What a great construction from this Disco project!
18 August, 2009 at 8:08 am
alteredbits
thank you so very much for your wonderful comment, jill! you are so very kind!
4 August, 2009 at 9:01 am
Robyn
Love the texture on the side of the box and the book…what about the book? Is it filled with secrets? Love it!
18 August, 2009 at 8:09 am
alteredbits
it will soon be filled with secrets, yes! unless i sell it… but i’ll probably keep and and fill it with lots o’ secrets… not that i have many, but i’ll make some up if i have to!
4 August, 2009 at 10:12 am
Where I Talk About Art
OOOOOooo! Look at all that wonderful goodness! Kudos to you and your young one 🙂
4 August, 2009 at 11:12 am
Debrina
Hello dolly (i must now call you dolly, as you are my nearest and dearest, which qualifies you), and because you are dolly mad, of course. Well, I am LOVIN’ this final piece Alicia!!! I love the doll’s arm and the ageing on the sides of the box and the little wire nest and the little compartments and the book and, and and…well, all of it, really!!! AND, guess what? I’ve been VERY busy working on a little book for you too, which I finished just yesterday…I’m so excited about it, I can’t wait to send my big parcel off to you! (Which will be next week, dolly!).
ANYWAYS>>>gorgeous art work Alicia – so much work has gone into it and you can really see that.
Love me
18 August, 2009 at 8:09 am
alteredbits
i’m just going to email you a novel right now. loves to you, beautiful lady!
4 August, 2009 at 1:42 pm
Orit
Gorgeous assemblage!
18 August, 2009 at 8:10 am
alteredbits
thank you so much, orit! can i get a link to your blog again? i have lost it and must catch up with you and all your wonderful creations!
4 August, 2009 at 6:19 pm
caterina giglio
very visually chewy work! I really love it all, and the assemblage is very good!
4 August, 2009 at 10:09 pm
Stephanie
wonderful! Beautiful…love all the old rusty details…
4 August, 2009 at 11:47 pm
nancy neva gagliano
you have that patina thing going on!! wow!! what a collection put together so nicely!!
5 August, 2009 at 2:38 am
Kim
Alicia this is fabulous. Love all the patinas on the pieces. Dollies arm looks wonderful. Looks like it aged so far it just fell off her! Great idea to just paint over the dirt, too! What a wonderful little treasure box!
18 August, 2009 at 8:11 am
alteredbits
no, sweet kim, YOU are the wonderful treasure!! 🙂 but thank you so very much for your kind words.
xx!
5 August, 2009 at 2:58 am
~*~Patty
WOW, this piece is fantastic, great rusty bits and that doll arm IS really fab, lots of disintegrated eye candy to take in!!!!
6 August, 2009 at 5:08 am
rivergardenstudio
Wow… this is an incredible piece! I love it all, the surprises, the details, the rusty bits and the book (!) Is it inside the box, and what is in it?! I am so excited to see all of your work and completely inspired now! Roxanne
18 August, 2009 at 8:13 am
alteredbits
thank you so much, roxanne! there is currently nothing in the book but one day soon it will be filled to the brim with secrets, probably written in code. or perhaps something sweeter. i am just not sure yet! i had more fun making the wee book than almost any of it. hadn’t really thought of its indented contents just yet to be honest.
6 August, 2009 at 11:34 am
Gail
Thanks for stopping by my blog. Your piece is marvelous! love what you did with the components, very inspiring.
18 August, 2009 at 8:13 am
alteredbits
you are quite welcome, gail and thank YOU! 🙂
6 August, 2009 at 3:49 pm
herminesplace
Fantastic!
7 August, 2009 at 10:56 am
Maj Carita
This is an intrigueing piece, with all the little details and crackles and rust. Well done!
7 August, 2009 at 4:10 pm
Trudi
Rich with texture and packed full of symbols isn’t it! I like that you reburied your ‘parts’ for the additional month. A very original gritty assemblage ! Congrats!
7 August, 2009 at 8:04 pm
Julie Prichard
Beautiful project…and really nicely photographed!
18 August, 2009 at 8:15 am
alteredbits
thank you so much, julie. i was actually a tad worried about the photos, particularly the one of the piece in its entirety. that makes me feel so much better!
8 August, 2009 at 7:29 am
mar
enjoyed your project…
and the buried treasure too!
that is what i call buried!!
8 August, 2009 at 5:58 pm
Lisa Jurist
Really fantastic Alicia..your work is always so creative and interesting! I love all the depth and detail and grunge!! Your photos are excellent and that book is just superb! Love it all! What did you use for the texture on the box side?
18 August, 2009 at 8:16 am
alteredbits
thank you so much, lisa. that is a huge compliment coming from you! i will email you a paragraph or three about the sides so as not to ramble on too much here. 🙂
9 August, 2009 at 10:39 pm
Patti
Your assemblage is fabulous! Love all the bits and pieces. I makes is so interesting.
Thanks for visiting my blog too. 🙂
10 August, 2009 at 1:33 am
Lee Anne "Nikki"
Alicia…..this is so fabulous! What creativity…..love the rusty spring…well I just love it all! Congrats!
18 August, 2009 at 8:17 am
alteredbits
thank you soo very much, lee anne! and how have you been? i haven’t talked to you in months — since the last zine, i guess. i will have to go catch up with you and your wonderful blog.
11 August, 2009 at 7:03 pm
Bleubeard and Elizabeth
This is a grand piece. Magnificent. I’m late in getting around to visiting all the DisCo projects, but I’m so glad I got to yours today. What gorgeous eye candy.
18 August, 2009 at 8:26 am
alteredbits
i am much later than you! no worries at all and thank you so very much!
13 August, 2009 at 4:18 pm
Anne
fantastic creation !!
14 August, 2009 at 6:14 am
dryadart
I love the tiny book, I love making little books, I just can’t bear to throw beautiful paper away can you?
18 August, 2009 at 7:19 pm
donna joy
what a great piece! love all the rust/colors/components