This is a unique challenge blog where we are inspired by and focus on the Vintage; shabby; mixed-media; art journaling; industrial, timeworn and steampunk genres and encompass the talent, flair, expertise and ideas of many artists that we are inspired by. We welcome all types of projects - cards, journaling, assemblage, layouts, albums, atcs, altered art in fact whatever you want to share (as long as it is in good taste).

Monday 28 April 2014

Our latest Guest Creative Guide……..

Today we have our fourth Guest Creative Guide at A Vintage Journey and we are so pleased to welcome the lovely….
Andrea Ockey Parr
 
Andrea Ockey Parr

Andrea is a self-proclaimed literary nerd and eternal librarian who can never get enough Ralph Waldo Emerson or Gesso.  Her artsy style is whimsical and colorful with some grungy vintage elements mixed in.  Though she failed to sew an A-worthy 90's floral vest in her junior high sewing class (patterns give her hives), she does love to incorporate fabric and stitching into her projects.  In addition to fabric scraps, she enjoys working with paper, stamps, ink and paint.  Her creations have been featured in several publications, including cover art, in such magazines as Cloth Paper Scissors, Stuffed, Somerset Studio, SEW Somerset, and The Stampers’ Sampler. She has also served on several prominent Design Teams and enjoys teaching local crafting classes.  To see her work, visit snappingmonsters.blogspot.com.
 
 
VJ Doll far away 2

When I heard the theme of "Spring Flowers," I immediately pictured some sort of forest nymph with flowers adorning her gown.  And so my project was born!  I made the body of this mixed media doll from a re-purposed jewelry hanger that came in the shape of a torso.  I removed the jewelry hooks from her neck and arms and replaced them with a head and arms that I molded out of clay. 

VJ Doll head shot 2

I made my girl a brand new wardrobe using Tim Holtz's fabulous "Dictionary" fabric for her dress.  This is such a great fabric to use for a text-filled background on any project.  I adhered scraps of colored fabric to my girl's dress and rubbed on some Tim Holtz Distress ink to give it more dimension.  I also stamped some butterflies onto her dress using Tim Holtz's Papillon stamp set. Once the gown was finished, I adorned it with flowers. 

VJ Doll flowers 2

The flowers I used started out white, but I gave them an ethereal-looking paint job using Tim Holtz Distress Inks and water.  Since I wanted my girl to look like a nymph or fairy, I created some wings for her out of craft wire, scraps and string.  Lastly, I gave her a head of gorgeous orange hair made from various yarns and fibers with one section tied back with another flower.  This theme was so inspiring and it was a thrill to use Tim's products to welcome in Spring after a long, gray, slushy Winter!

VJ Doll side view 2


Thanks Andrea for joining us for this leg of our journey as a Guest Creative Guide and for sharing this amazing project with us. It’s fabulous to see Tim’s fabric being used and in something so creative and inspirational.
To find out more about Andrea's fabulous work please pop over to her blog to see more of the amazing art she produces.

Don’t forget you have another four days to join in with our current challenge which is ‘Spring Flowers’ hosted by the lovely Jennie and please remember to TELL US IN YOUR POST WHAT THE STRONG INFLUENCE TO TIM HOLTZ IS SO THAT WE CAN FULLY UNDERSTAND YOUR THINKING and know the inspiration behind the project you have made.

I have to give a shout out to the amazing Creative Guides where 5 of us got an amazing accolade from Tim on his Springtime Blogworthy Links post last week. Thanks Tim for including us in your special mentions.

Before I finish – have you got your Compendium of Curiosities 3 yet? It’s packed full of Tim’s newest wonderful techniques and you can get your copy from Tim himself (who will sign it for you) or from Country View Crafts (sorry not signed by Tim although Susan said she would sign it for you if you wished lol. She also has CC1 and CC2 available if you want them too). Once you have your book you will be able to join in the CC3 Challenge at Linda Ledbetter's blog Studio L3 where she is the amazing host and leader of this wonderful challenge. She has also gathered a fabulous Curiosity Crew who have provided some incredible inspiration. Do go take a look at this weeks theme which is great technique from Tim.

Thanks again to Andrea for sharing her incredible project with us here at A Vintage Journey and to all of you who jump aboard to travel along with us.

Have a great week everyone.

hugs Brenda xx



20 comments:

  1. What a fascinating piece of Art. Lots of colour and texture and the flowers are fabulous too. Hugs Rita xxx

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  2. Love this piece, so interesting to look at x

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  3. Barbie never looked so good!! Only kidding Andrea! - I adore the way you've altered this beautiful doll with so much colour and vibrancy. Great to see your fantastic work on display here at A Vintage Journey. Jenny x

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  4. Wowzer - what a glorious creation... I love your Springtime nymph, Andrea - romantic, ethereal and so beautiful. And such clever use of all those Tim goodies too... brilliant! Thanks so much for sharing such a fabulous make with us here at A Vintage Journey.
    Alison x

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  5. This is truly amazing with so many textures and beautiful colours to admire.

    Love Chrissie x

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  6. Wonderful to find out more about you Andrea! Your creation here is truly amazing, whimsical, original and just stunning all round! Great to see you joining us to share your incredible creations!!

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  7. Fun, funky, colourful, love it - a fab guest piece. Thanks for taking time out to guest for us Andrea. Chris xxx

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  8. I am a mahoosive fan of Andrea's art. The way she incorporates fabric j to her pieces just completely blows me away! This doll is simply stunning! X, Candy

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  9. Andrea, this is wonderful. I love the colour of her hair!!! The whole project is fantastic. Jean.x

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  10. is it just me or does Andrea's doll look like andrea. (its the hair)... what an amazing project. much as i love "tags, curio configurations, shadow frames, cards and plaques, it is SO refreshing to see something different in altered art. this is beautiful. very very much so. a great guest. thank you for sharing this.
    (oh and YES i ordered my signed copy of CC3 to be shipped over and I await its arrival). :D

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  11. Wow Andrea, what an absolutely stunning creation! I love your nymph and her glorious long hair which certainly brings more than just a touch of Spring! Thank you so much for being a fabulous Guest Creative Guide! Anne x

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  12. OMG... Andrea
    I adore the way you've altered this beautiful doll with so much colour and details. Wonderfull to see your amazing work here at A Vintage Journey.
    CU hellerlittle

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  13. Oh My Word Andrea - so colorful and amazing. I love all altered things but this is just so different in a wonderful way. The hair just says it all. Thanks for sharing your talents with us.

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  14. This is such an unusual and eye-catching project. I love your nymph Andrea. It is such an inspirational piece of art. Julie Ann Lee xxx

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  15. Wow! Just stunning and what a wonderful interpretation of our current them! I just love it! Jennie x

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  16. What an original project! It looks to me like an earth mermaid... Lovely! Lys.

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  17. Wow! Love the colour so bright especially her beautiful flowing hair
    Very inspirational

    Congratulations to the guides too!

    Jools x

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  18. What a fantastic artist Andrea is! I am thrilled by her vibrant and unique piece..fabulous!

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  19. Absolutely incredible, i love it x

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