Are you ready to take the second floor this time? If you have no clue what I am talking about- read all about it here 
The Second Floor Challenge
So today is our 5th Second Floor Challenge: Found Object
Click here to see what Julie did
Whatever that means to you or however it inspires you. The prompt is simply meant to get you started. The level of challenge you aim for is entirely internal and up to you.
Found Objects….Love them. What does this mean in the Art World?
Let me just quote Wikipedia: “A found object, in an artistic sense, indicates the use of an object which has not been designed for an artistic purpose, but which exists for another purpose already. Found objects may exist either as utilitarian, manufactured items, or things which occur in nature. In both cases the objects are discovered by the artist or musician to be capable of being employed in an artistic way, and are designated as “found” to distinguish them from purposely created items used in the art forms.”
But an found object could also just be something that you found!
My problem with found objects is, that I want to incorporate them in my work- but then I can’t get over me to use them. Because most of those objects are one of a kind findings at a flea market, a junk yard or something I have this “perfect moment” feeling. This leads to piles of stuff of objects that are desperately whispering “take me, take me!” yet….I am just ignoring it ;)
So the first floor was ….picking up stuff that I had in my pile of “found objects” to use. I didn’t make a huge effort – I simply picked the first three items I found on the pile.
Lightbulbs – mini lightbulbs, which i had found last in Australia at a junk yard, a little cross stitching hoop – I have no clue where this came from , and a vintage yarn spool which I found at a flea market in the States and says Kismet on the spool ends- FATE :)
I transfered some beautiful Prima Ledger Paper to a canvas fabric and then added the found objects on top of it, pit a frame on top and and knew I would love to give this my friend Katja who is a costume director and made me my favorite clothings in my wardrobe :) (If you are ever in Hamburg for longer and are looking for awesome tailored clothes – let me know !)
But what I didn’t know for two days before I glued it down, was…what else and which paint media I should add. It was taunting me. Every time I passed the project walking by…I thought…”I like it- but mmmmhh what am I going to add to it?”. I took everything apart, arranged everything differently and yet…in the end I would end up with exactly the same design as before. And walk out of the studio, sighing again…
And then…I slapped my hand against my forehead hard today…still have some fingermarks…”Mc Fly…you like it as it is, so just glue all down and leave it” . It is OK to not use paint media (pssstttt….I used gel medium but don’t tell anyone ;) )
What I learned from this challenge:
- It is ok to use stuff from the pile of found objects…it is not even noticeable that something is missing.
- The frame hiding underneath a stretched canvas is a beautiful thing.
- It doesn’t kill me to not use paint on a project.
- Less is sometimes more
- Projects like this are extremely hard to photograph– it looks so much better in real life …sigh
- I am cheating and even lie in my blog post since I actually not used the first 3 things I found in the pile…my hand magically wandered over the Dresden dolls…because seriously they need to be on a really really cool project, I haven’t even dreamed of yet ;)
If you’d like to leave a link showing off what you did in response to this challenge, here’s the linky list:
add your own creations inspired by our 2nd Floor Challenge: Found Object
have a wonderful day
hugs
Nat
Comments (23)
Sue
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I found an old English grammar book that was my mother’s in school and it has some of her doodles in it and I think I will do this with it. I was trying to think what I could do with the book and still have a bit of “her” inside. I have some older pictures of her and some family pics that I can add. Thanks very much for sharing this wonderful project Natalie.
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Kerstin
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Mannmann, ich bin ja gerade nich so bastelmäßig unterwegs, aber jetzt hätte ich Dich gern auf ‘ne Runde hier um mich, damit Du mir die Falterei näher bringst und noch einiges mehr. Totales Schmuckstück geworden!
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Yvonne
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Das sieht so wunderschön aus!
LG Yvonne
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Marsha.
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Love! Great photos, love the grammar book and this would make an awesome class!
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Julie Bonomo
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Love it, love it, love it! My thoughts are with you and your beloved aunt….wishing her a speedy recovery. Thank you for the inspiration.
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Andrene
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Awesome job Nat!! I love old books and have a couple waiting to be altered! Hope to see an online class on altered books. Your pictures are priceless especially the beach photo. I have pictures of my mom in the 1940’s style bathing suits – what a hoot!! Thanks for sharing!!
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Liz Thayne
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This is stunning- a wonderful tribute to your aunt. Hope she gets better soon.
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Carrie
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This book is gorgeous! I love the ways some of the pages are folded. And the vintage look of a lot of the embellishments is really cool. Is that diamond border on the cover from a stamp?
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nathalie-kalbach
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Hi Carrie, thank you so much. Yes that diamond border is a Prima Stamp- I love it . It is one of their new rubber cling stamps from the Rondelle Collection. wishing you an amazing day :) nat
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Riikka
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This is just unbelievable gorgeous! <3
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Cuchy
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This album is stunning. From the way you folded the pages to all the bits and pieces you put on there and all those old pics. This is a beautiful treasure.
Hope your auntie is better now. Be strong. Loves, Cuchy
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Barb Starace
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Love the way you folded all the pages and of course all the yummy Prima products. Hope Auntie is doing better this week and then you will be better. Great project!
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selena
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bravo pour ce bel album, moi aussi j’aime beaucoup le livre comme support.
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Kelly Belton
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OOOH – Nat I love this book. Bring this class with you when you come back to Toronto please!
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Cat
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I love this Nat!
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tina phillips
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Oh my goodness….this is absolutely stunning!!!
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Lisa Flaherty
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Absolutely stunning, Nat! Your details and fun folds are so cool, and the vintage book with those vintage photos are perfection! I’m sorry Auntie has been through a hard week, and I know a hard week for her means a hard week for you. What a wonderful way to find a bit of escape while maintaining a strong connection. Hugs to you both!
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Dottie
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Altered books are my favorite projects and I love this one!!! The folds and tags are great. This collection works wonderfully with the old book pages.
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Madeline Rains
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This is so moving! I feel like I know your aunt seeing it. I am inspired to make a book about my late mother now with an old book that she would have loved and b&w photos. Thank you.
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Anski
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Breathtakingly beautiful! I love the mood, the colours and the details!
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Sue Clarke
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I do believe that this is my favorite project ever using Prima products.
I hope that Auntie Margo will be feeling chipper again soon.
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mjmarmo
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What a gorgeous project!
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Milagros
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I love it, its a beautiful idea for altered book .
hugs
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