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My name is Melody M. Nuñez, and I’m an artist and a writer. Please look around my website and make yourself at home. I post new blog entries weekly, and hope you’ll subscribe to my blog and come back often! To learn more about me, please view the “About” page…SUBSCRIBE
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Category Archives: vintage
A Rite of Passage
My book, An Altered Existence: Fictitious Stories About Faces from the Past, is just over a month old now. Self-publishing has been a wonderful adventure so far, and I thought I’d share a happy “new author” rite of passage I recently experienced. Until a week or so ago, all my book sales had been done through Amazon and Etsy. I hadn’t seen my book for sale in a bookstore, but that was about to change.
While on a road trip I stopped into a bookstore near my destination, and ended up selling them a copy of my book. Yes, one copy. They very nicely explained that because they’re a small store they could only start with one book, but I was so excited you’d think I’d made a best seller list. I was even more excited when one of the two ladies I was doing business with walked over and put my book on their New Fiction section in the front of the store.
OMG – there it was! My book – for sale – in a store! It was a first for me, and naturally I had to take pictures to mark the occasion. I was grinning ear to ear as I left the store and drove on down the road. It was a small victory, but I was elated anyway. Woo hoo! Later on in my trip I went to sell another 7 books, including five that were purchased by an antique store, and it was a wonderful feeling. I wish I’d brought more books with me. :]
It’s unlikely my little book will make a big splash in the literary world, and I probably won’t sell tens of thousands of copies. This is a project that came from the heart, and seeing it through to being published – and beyond – is food for my soul. I strive to be mindful and grateful in daily life, so you can be sure I’m going to appreciate all the firsts and unexpected joys this literary journey brings my way.
Like the pleasure of seeing MY book on a shelf in a bookstore…
Warm regards,
Melody
A New Crocheted Wreath Variation: Spring!
I’m continuing to modify the crocheted wreath I created back in December – it’s so easy to do since the doilies are just pinned on! Thus far I’ve shared two versions: Christmas and Valentine’s Day. Today I’m showing my newest version: Spring!
I used crocheted doilies and floral pot holders in purples and yellows, and love how the wreath turned out. Two of my favorite flowers are irises and daffodils, and the color scheme of this wreath reminds me of those two flowers.
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I didn’t make this a “strictly Easter” wreath since this version is likely to hang until June, when I’ll work on creating a 4th of July-themed wreath. So this wreath uses spring colors, but doesn’t include bunnies, chicks, or eggs – though I was tempted because I love all three of those things!
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Spring begins tomorrow, so I’d like to wish you a Happy Spring a bit early. If you live in a cold climate, I hope you enjoy nicer weather. :]
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Warm regards,
Melody
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Also posted in crafts, DIY, holidays
Tagged celebrating spring, doilies, Easter, spring, St. Patrick's Day, vintage crocheted wreath, vintage doilies
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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 antiques, art, art supplies
Tagged assemblage, assemblage series, ephemera, epoxy
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An Altered Existence – Giveaway Winners!
Thanks to everyone who entered my book’s giveaway. It was a treat to read your wonderful comments!
It is my pleasure to announce the lucky giveaway winners. The following three people have each won a signed copy of my new book, An Altered Existence: Fictitious Stories About Faces from the Past.
1. Mayah
2. Debbie M.
3. Amie*
For those of you whose name I didn’t draw, please visit my books’s amazon.com page and consider purchasing a copy – I’d really appreciate it. Big thanks to those who’ve already ordered a copy! :]
WANT A “SIGNED” COPY OF MY BOOK?
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If you’re planning to buy - or have already purchased – a copy of my book from Amazon.com, but would like it signed, I can provide a signed bookplate/label for you to put in your book. Simply send me a SASE – I’d be happy to send a signed book plate your way! Here’s my mailing address:
Melody M. Nuñez
P.O. Box 60030
Irvine, CA 92602
Happy reading, y’all!
Warm regards,
Melody
Books & Bunnies!
Greetings from Book Central!
I received my first big shipment of books on Monday, which will be used to help promote the book, and I’m so excited! Feedback on my book has been very positive thus far, and I’m a happy camper. I’m looking forward to sharing my “baby” with more people in the coming months, so I also ordered some bookmarks and postcards to help with that. They arrived last weekend and I think they look fab. Hubby did such a great job on them!
In other book-related news, some (very) informal market research has been done, and two out of two bunnies surveyed find my new book delicious! ;]
So, have you entered my giveaway yet? I’m giving away 3 signed copies of An Altered Existence: Fictitious Stories About Faces from the Past, and will announce the winners this Tuesday, March 5, 2013. Please enter now by commenting on this link’s post, if you haven’t already! :]
I hope you have a great weekend, dear readers…
Warm regards,
Melody
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 antiques, art supplies, crafts, inspiration, life in general
Tagged doilies, vintage handkerchief, vintage photos
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The Launch of My Book! And a Giveaway!
![Pageflex Persona [document: PRS0000039_00069]](http://melodynunez.com/wp-content/gallery/aae-book/aae_bookcover4web.jpg)
I’m thrilled to announce the release of my book, which is now available on Amazon.com!
The title of my book is An Altered Existence: Fictitious Stories About Faces from the Past. It’s a combination of both my writing and altered art, and I’m so happy to see the project come to fruition!
About the Book (from the back cover)
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An Altered Existence is a collection of short stories, each illustrated with a vintage photo. These photos, also known as cabinet cards, were “orphans” collected from flea markets and antique stores. They sparked the author’s imagination, and resulted in 14 short stories illustrated with photos “altered” by the author.
- A photo of a bearded man with haunted eyes is paired with a silver key, and a story of a family with hoarding tendencies emerges.
- A wedding portrait of a young couple, combined with a gold wedding band and the words “false” and “true”, yields a tale about a gentle schoolteacher who sets her small town’s rumor mill on fire when she poses for a photo with a local scoundrel, though they’re not engaged or married.
- A young girl’s portrait, when paired with vintage buttons, births a story that many can relate to: loss, and the subsequent struggle to feel whole again.
Look into these 14 portraits from long ago, and venture into the “altered existences” they inspired. This collection includes stories about life, love, birth, death, self-acceptance, salvation, and taking chances. Their stories just may be our stories, too…*
GIVEAWAY!
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In honor of the launch/release of my book, I’m going to give away THREE signed copies! In order to enter, simply leave a comment here on this post. The winners will be announced on Tuesday, March 5, 2013, so please enter by Monday, March 4th. Good luck!
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Please spread the word!
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I’d really appreciate it if you’d share the news about my new book with family, friends, fiction readers, book clubs, and artists – anyone that might enjoy my illustrated collection of short stories. Thank you in advance!
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I hope you all have a wonderful week…*
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Warm regards,
Melody
TweetMy New Etsy Store
Happy Wednesday!
I’ve just opened a shop on Etsy, and wanted to share the news so you can pop on over and take a peek via this link! I listed my first 22 items, including 19 necklaces, vintage pen nibs, and 2 sets of photo note cards. I hope you like my initial offerings! Here are a few photos to whet your appetite:
I hope you’re all having a great week! Thank you in advance for checking out my Etsy shop. :]
Warm regards,
Melody
Also posted in art, art supplies, crafts
Tagged cork necklaces, Etsy shop, jewelry, upcycled jewelry, vintage pen nibs
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Crocheted Valentine’s Wreath
Hi, y’all!
Remember when I shared that Vintage Crocheted Wreath back in December? The one I hung for Christmas? Well, in that post I mentioned that it would be easy for me to modify the wreath for different holidays or themes throughout the year. By pinning my doilies and potholders on instead of gluing, it was super easy to take some of the pieces off and add new pieces to create a Valentine’s Day wreath. This version is all red, white, and cream, and I think it’s darling.
I’ll likely make a new version of the wreath for the spring, and will share that new wreath with you in a month or two. In the meantime, do you have questions, comments, feedback? I’d love to hear from you…
Warm regards,
Melody
Also posted in crafts, DIY, holidays
Tagged Valentine's Day, Valentine's Day wreath, vintage crocheted wreath
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The Art of Assemblage
Assemblage is the perfect art medium if you’re a collector like me. A collector of what, you ask? Odds and ends. Quirky bits and pieces. Vintage photos and doodads. Assemblage is a fantastic way to use some of these found objects I’ve squirreled away.
For those of you who may not be very familiar with assemblage, it’s defined by Wikipedia this way: Assemblage is an artistic process. In the visual arts, it consists of making three-dimensional or two-dimensional artistic compositions by putting together found objects.
Some assemblage artists of note include Robert Rauschenberg, Joseph Cornell, and my late friend, Janice Lowry. Janice was an incredibly talented assemblage artist, and it was a treat to see her work in person at her different art shows over the years. I was able to purchase one of her simpler pieces around ten years ago, and am so glad I did! It’s a wonderful piece featuring a crow (below), and is a lovely reminder of Janice.
Two New Assemblages!
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I recently completed two new assemblage pieces, one centered around horses and the other based on an image of a baby girl (shown at top of post). Here are some photos of these two new pieces…
Equestrian: 6″ x 16″ x 1″ – mixed media assemblage
Sugar & Spice: 13″ x 8″ x 2″ – mixed media assemblage
Sources of My Materials
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I love that each of these pieces contains elements gathered from many different places on many different days. Here is a brief run down of the places where a sampling of my creative elements came from:
Smaller wooden box (baby assemblage): junk store near Lake Isabella, CA
Rectangular wooden box (horses assemblage): an estate sale in Cambria, CA
Horse show ribbon (dated 1936): an antique store near Julian, CA
Horse shoe nails: metal junk store in Missouri
Photos: antique stores, flea markets and eBay
Baby food spoon: estate sale in Orange, CA
Baby shoes: CA antique store
As you can see, they came from many different places and were purchased over several years. I didn’t know quite how the materials would be used, but they caught my eye for some reason, and I knew I wanted to add them to my stash of supplies. I love how all the individual pieces came together to form these two wholes.
Balance in Assemblage Composition
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I strive for balance when I create my assemblages, and here’s what I mean by that:
- I include enough items to properly fill out the boxes, but not so many that my composition is chaotic and overly cluttered.
- I use a bit of color with the black and white/sepia that vintage items often have. Some color, but not too much that the eye gets no rest.
- I use a variety of textures, so there’s visual interest, but make sure these textures fall into the color scheme and into a few major types/groups – so they’re not overpowering. For example, in the horse assemblage I use metal, paper (including the photos), and fabric/ribbon – in addition to the wood of the box.
I hope you’ve enjoyed seeing these two new pieces of art, and found the overview of my collection and composition habits interesting. Have you ever created an assemblage? Do you have a favorite assemblage artist? Do tell!
Warm regards,
Melody
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Also posted in art, art supplies, inspiration
Tagged assemblage, found objects, Janice Lowry, Joseph Cornell, Robert Rauschenberg
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