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My name is Melody M. Nuñez - I’m an artist, a writer, and an art teacher. To learn more about me and the book I published - An Altered Existence: Fictitious Stories About Faces from the Past - please view the “About” & "Book" pages…-
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Category Archives: antiques
A New Assemblage: Solitary
I recently created the newest piece in my series of assemblages. This one, titled “Solitary”, makes use of the same house-shaped box as its predecessors, and includes items like vintage wallpaper, a vintage photo, a mini tart mold (the “head”), key holder and keys, an old camera lens cover (the clear “halo” behind the silver tart mold), and other elements.
I really enjoyed putting it together with my trusty friend, epoxy. This piece is available for sale in my Etsy shop, so if you’d like this piece of handmade, original art please pop on over. It’s signed, and is ready to be shipped out. :]
Please let me know if you have any questions, dear readers. I hope you’re having a great week!
Warm regards,
Melody
Also posted in art, assemblage, vintage
Tagged assemblage, found objects, vintage photo, vintage wall paper
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Making Art: Four New Assemblages!
I love the creative process, and assemblage is one of my favorite artistic mediums. It’s perfect for me, since I’m a gatherer and collector. Many of the drawers in our art studio (aka converted dining area) are stuffed with odds and ends I’ve found at flea markets, thrift stores, and antique stores. And I have an entire drawer full of vintage photos! I guess it’s a good thing I’m actually putting some of my treasures to use in these assemblages. :]
These first four assemblages will be followed by ten more since I have a total of fourteen little wooden houses. Some will be made available for sale – like the Fishhook and Bereft assemblages below – and some will stay in my personal collection. The dress in the Mending assemblage was handmade by my great-grandmother, Elizabeth Lillian, so I’ll be keeping that piece.
If you’re interested in purchasing an assemblage you may do so by visiting my Etsy store. You may also see more photos of each piece – there are five photos of each assemblage…
Mending
Fishhook
Bereft
Waltz of the Flowers
I hope you’ve enjoyed this peek at my artwork! Please let me know if you have any questions regarding these four assemblages I’ve created.
Warm regards,
Melody
Also posted in art, art supplies, inspiration, vintage
Tagged antiques, assemblage, mending, mixed media, tintype photos, vintage tart mold
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New Assemblage Series: Then & Now
I recently created a two-part assemblage series, and thought I’d share it with you. These pieces are particularly significant to me for a few reasons. One: they’re more personal than my previous assemblages. Two: measuring 12″ x 15″, they’re the largest assemblages I’ve made thus far and incorporated heavier objects. I even used epoxy for the first time, so now I feel all official. :]
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I really enjoyed creating this series, and look forward to creating many more assemblages in the future. This mental shift towards more significant assemblage work is evident when I shop at thrift stores, estate sales, and antique stores – I’m now looking out for more dimensional pieces than ever before!
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I really enjoyed creating this series, and look forward to creating many more assemblages in the future. This mental shift towards more significant assemblage work is evident when I shop at thrift stores, estate sales, and antique stores – I’m now looking out for more dimensional pieces than ever before!
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Rather than take you through the assembly of these two pieces step-by-step, I’ll give you some of the highlights :
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THEN – first in the series
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This assemblage includes the following items: a vintage photo of a young girl, a traditional wooden ruler, a square wooden ruler, a doily, a pair of scissors, a heart-shaped tart tin, vintage graph paper, red fibers, 3 large beads, 2 vintage rhinestones, gold joss paper, and a small silver frame.
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The picture above was taken with the glass lid up, to reduce glare. The image below shows the lid down…
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NOW – second in the series
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This assemblage includes the following items: a vintage photo of a woman, a small glass container, a vintage bunny figurine, a small doily, three vintage pen nibs, a nasturtium seed packet, a projector light bulb, lace, ribbon, a vintage measuring spoon, a vintage book, a paintbrush, a foreign postage stamp, a clear lens, and a piece of vintage cloth measuring tape.
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Again, the picture above was taken with the glass lid up. The image below shows the lid down…
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- Both assemblages made use of pre-made wooden boxes with glass tops. The boxes were purchased at Michaels, and the wood was left its natural color but was sealed with a clear varnish.
- The inside of each box was collaged with vintage sewing patterns before the other elements were added.
- Though each assemblage stands on its own the two were meant to work together, so some elements are used in both pieces – like photos, doilies, measuring elements (ruler and tape), the deep red color, and metallics.
I hope you enjoyed this peek at my newest assemblages. What do you think? Please post a comment with any questions or feedback.
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Warm regards,
Melody
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Also posted in art, art supplies, vintage
Tagged assemblage, assemblage series, ephemera, epoxy
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Estate Sales: The Thrill of the Hunt
Do any of you frequent Estate Sales, or is it just me? I’ve been to a handful or so in the last year, and I have to confess that I can’t get enough of them. In fact, this may be a new addiction – uh oh!
For me part of the fun of an Estate Sale is the hunt. Not knowing what I might find – peeking and peering around in search of things that I consider treasure. Treasure, for me, includes vintage photos, buttons & notions, and linens. I look for inexpensive crafting supplies for my at-risk art journaling students. I’m now looking for more jewelry and findings that I can make necklaces with, and have also been known to pick up a vintage mini tart mold or two.
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Do I need any of this stuff? No – these items are purely recreational, and are intended to appear in some of my creative projects. That said, collecting and creating keep me out of trouble, and it’s a relatively inexpensive form of entertainment all things considered.*
Example: on a recent Saturday morning I visited two Estate Sales, and had a few hours of fun looking around. My purchases for the day totaled $10, and I ended up getting four vintage photos (including one in a frame), one handkerchief, a knitted baby sock, two doilies, a thread spool holder, metallic thread, a vintage star cookie cutter, and two clipboards. The next bit of fun is figuring out what I’ll make some of these items into. :]
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Do you have any tips or tricks when it comes to shopping Estate Sales? I’m curious about whether or not folks like to go on Friday when the sale first opens (for the best selection), or if they prefer to go on Saturday when prices are often half off. I’d love to hear about your Estate Sale tips and tricks, and what you like to look for when shopping, so please post a comment if you can.
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Happy Hunting!
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Warm regards,
Melody
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Also posted in art supplies, crafts, inspiration, life in general, vintage
Tagged doilies, vintage handkerchief, vintage photos
8 Comments