Saturday 30 August 2014

Curiously Assemblaged...

Gooooodly Morning to all you Compendium-ers!  Today sees the start of a brand new Compendium of Curiosities 3 Challenge.  To see all the details on how to join in with the challenge, CLICK HERE.  Also, if you pop across to Linda's blog, you will see all gorgeous creations that my talented teamies on the Curiosity Crew have made... well worth taking a cuppa and a packet of Digestives :O)    The challenge is sponsored by the The Funkie Junkie Boutique this time... so you will have a chance of winning a very generous Gift Certificate to spend there.  As ever, Tim & Mario have very kindly donated goodies for an extra prize... which will be awarded to the "Curiosity Crew's Choice"... so you have two chances of winning fabby prizes!  If you haven't got your Compendium book just yet, you can order a signed copy directly from the man himself... HERE.  And... Linda has also done a FAQ page for you.. HERE it is... all the info you will need is listed there.   This week we are turning to Page 33 of the book and altering an Assemblage Clock.  Now, as usual with the Compendium Challenge neither I nor the Curiosity Crew will be posting the technique instructions and participants must not do so either. We all want to encourage people to buy Tim's awesome book; giving away the instructions wouldn’t be fair to him. Linda will have no choice but to un-link any entries that don’t follow this rule. 



My entry this week has been one of those ideas that has been abuzzing about my bonce for yonks - well, ever since the CC3C started actually.  I knew the week we were going to be altering our Assemblage Clocks and I actually planned ahead a little on this one!  I know!  Forward planning and all that!  This post is very photo heavy as there are lots of little details on my clock, so please do feel free to put your feet up and grab a choccy bar :O))



I have seen a fair few altered Assemblage Clocks around and all of them are delightful but I wanted to make something slightly different... something very natural and organic.  The brainwave started out when I picked up a half dead hydrangea from the local Lidl store for a couple of quid at the beginning of June.  The plant had some lovely flower heads all over it but it was really on its last legs... needed a big glug of water and unfortunately, the flower heads were too floppy to revive.  So, I cut them off!  Not only was I promoting new growth, I was also setting aside said flower heads for usage in my clock!  I set them out on a bench in the back garden and hoped they would dry out and skeletonize (new word!) ... which is exactly what they did!  Hurrah! Now I had some "bones" for my clock decorating....



As well as the plant, I also have had this little birdy sitting on my windowsill in the Room of Stash for absolutely yonks.  She was attached to a little log and she was supposed to be being altered in the stylee of the other altered birds I have done over the years... but as per, I haven't got around to it.  She was a bit big for the clock but minus log and minus glass for the clock, she fits perfectly.



So, the altering!  The whole vision I had in me head was one of an old discarded alarm clock, sitting in a hedgerow, covered in rust and reappropriated by Mrs Blue Tit into a little place for her to call home.  The clock comes in a bright silver tone and whilst this is ok, it wasn't anything like what I wanted so once I had removed the glass frontage,  I set to with some Ranger Texture Paste and Alcohol Inks.  I started by mixing up Ginger and Rust into the Texture Paste and popping it onto the clock with a palette knife.  I then used the same AI's along with Butterscotch and Pebble mixed in, applying with a felt pad and in places where my tool wouldn't fit, I used the palette knife to smudge the inky felt into it.  Directly dropping Rust and Ginger AI's onto the paste made it really rusty and a wee sprinklage and Vintage Photo Distress Embossing Powders added some extra texture to it.



For the inside I mixed Walnut Stain and Frayed Burlap Distress Paints and painted this one, drying with a heat tool and then adding more of the Texture Paste inky mix and repeating the process I used for the outside.   I wanted to add something pretty for the background so I chopped up some Wallflower paper, stamped my usual diamond stamp (gotta get it in there somewhere!) and then blended some Vintage Photo DI around to mucky it up a smidge.  I wanted to add a few words so I used Chit Chat stickers to make a little phrase to sit inside the clock.


Mrs Birdy was a bit bright - as normal, I forgot to take before pics... ooopsies!  I used a sanding block and took off some of her painted coat and then using the same mix of Distress Paints as before, I lightly painted over her and wiped off the excess... once dried, I added Distress Inks to make her tone in.  



For the inside decoration, I nipped into the garden and snipped up some old twiggy and leafy bits, picked up some feathers, foraged for pebbles and seed heads and of course, grabbed some of the hydrangea heads, they had gone exactly how I wanted... skeletonified!  I then made a circle nesty shape from some grasses and started building up her nesty abode.  Of course, she has to have some eggs so I pinched a few pebbles from the garden, painted them with Weathered Wood DP and lightly spritzed them with a Sharpie Marker and the Distress Spritzer to add some speckles.   Finally, I added some more nesting material around the edge of the clock... the ivy across the top was actually a piece that we cut back at the beginning of the summer and it was missed when we picked all the cuttings up... I was chuffed to see a real spidery web and a dead peel bug stuck to the end of it!  Can't get much more realistic than that!



That's all for now - don't forget, you will have two weeks to enter the challenge... and a bat at the chance of grabbing the Crew's Choice prize which is a mahooosive haul of stash donated personally by Tim & Mario... so if you are joining in, remember to comment on all the Crew's blogs and you will be in with a chance of winning that too *believe me, this is one gigantic pile of goodies*  I will just say a big thank you to every one of you who has taken part in the challenge so far, it has been great to visit your blogs and see your wonderful interpretations of the challenge themes!  Thanks for looking, have an inky inspirational day!  TTFN

71 comments:

JanBianchi said...

Hels I love all the natural elements you incorporated into your assembleage clock! It feels so cozy I wish I could curl up in it! You more than achieved what you were looking for. All of the organic pieces enrich this project ten fold. I love how you distressed the exterior and pulled it all together. Wow. Beautifully done and each of you have such a unique take. I love them all. Very lovely and I really love your piece. Thank you for sharing. Good works.l

Lisapmac said...

Loving the old rusty look you have achieved, very rustic x

Vic said...

Wonderful home for your birdie!

Ruth said...

AWESOME HELS! My favourite so far, I've just completed a bird in a box nesting, so this is right up my street....my clock arrived the other day, no idea what I'm going to do yet but really looking forward to this challenge. Love that you've used the natural elements, I adore this muchly! Ruth x

Unknown said...

How beautiful Hels! This piece makes me excited for Fall. It makes me yearn for the changing of the leaves and the crisp morning air of autumn. I can almost smell the smoke from peoples fireplaces... This I just amazing. Thank you for sharing this project with all of us players.

Astrid Maclean said...

Stunning!! Love the lush autumnal feel of this one, yummy on the outside too!

Redanne said...

You have aged and rusted your clock to perfection Hels, I love the twigs and dried seed heads that you added, it really does look like Mrs Bird made it herself, with love and care. It does look (and is!) organic and so very beautiful.... I am so looking forward to this challenge! Hugs, Anne xx

Sue said...

I love the rustic-ness of this clock! All the elements spilling out makes it so organic! Simply stunning!

rachel said...

this is so utterly charming hels. i adore all the details and the processes both mental and physical to bring about the transformation are fabulous. can't wait to have a go! hugs rachel x

Candy C said...

Hels...your clock is sensational! I so love that old rusted, like your metal clock had been sitting outside in the weather for years look. :) The natural scene you've created in the interior of the clock really does look like something you would find out in an old field or yard around a forgotten farmhouse. The bird has simply made its home in that old weathered clock. :) Love everything about it!!! <3 Candy

Claudine said...

This is beautiful Hels, I love that the bird and nest spill out over the edge of the clock. Love it!!

Julie S said...

Fabulously done!

Julie S said...
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Yvonne said...

ABSOULUTELY LOVE the texture on the outside of the clock...I'm going to have to try that!!! I love that you have the bird's nest spilling out of the clock...you are so clever. Fabulous!!!! It really looks as though that bird created that nest...you rocked this one girly!!! Woot Woot!!!

Anita Houston The Artful Maven said...

This is a piece I'd love to see up close and personal! There is so much to love and appreciate, and to have those eggs underneath is wonderful! Love the bird and all the feathers too! JUST GORGEOUS!!!

Cheryl Grigsby said...

Girl, you already know how much I love this! Your texture paste tinted with alcohol ink is beyond brilliant. I get a sense of the joy you had while creating this gorgeous thing. <3 <3 <3

Julia Aston said...

LOVE your nature clock Hels - what a marvelous nest you created with all the dead foliage - and to even get a spider web in there! (kind of ucky - kind of authentic!!LOL!!) wonderful rusting of the clock too!!

Dagmar said...

That's a fantastic nature scene in your Clock - designed as detailed - a genuine work of art

Meggymay said...

Gorgeous autumnal setting for your sweet little bird. Awesome details to look at.
Lovely to meet you today and thank you for all the tips, tuition and inspiration at the workshop in South Shields.
Yvonne

Marjie Kemper said...

Oh, Hels, the mix of nature and 'store bought' is fantastic. Your bird looks like he flew in from the yard. Love the skeletonized (and yes, I think that is a word) flower bits and all the layers of funky goodness.

CathyP said...

What an original idea! I would never have thought of doing a bird's nest! The rusty clock is gorgeous!

vicky's scrapping passion said...

I love the clock/nest. Very imaginative and the quote fit it completely...

Studio Rose said...

Beautiful! The texture paste is genius; really changes the look of the whole thing and one can believe you found this old clock case in the garden taken over by birds!

Also very happy to see that harlequin stamp peeking out in the last photo; I was worried for you there for a moment...

Patricia Howarth said...

Morning Hels, Wow !! this 'clock nest' is stunning !!
Lots of love from Patricia xx

Carole Z said...

Hi Hels, this is a stunning piece of assemblage...I have had one of these clocks sat on a shelf in my craft room for over a year just begging for me to alter it...today I took it down and put it on my desk...one step closer, thanks for the inspiration, hugs Carole Z X

tocovya said...

congratulations, its the loveliest thing. Of all your unique work I love this. Sometimes some things just come together right.
Thank you for sharing, I have loved staring!

Pambi7 said...

I love the rustic fall theme. So much detail, with all of the natural elements. Beautifully done.

Marci said...

It looks like you were very INSPIRED when you made this. It seems to have a sense of joy about it. I have enjoyed staring, trying to see every little thing. Fantastic!

Marci said...
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Carol said...

What a great idea for a holiday centerpiece! I like how the flowers spill out the front!

I thought about removing the glass but didn't have a wrench small enough and was sure I'd break the glass anyway.

Rhea said...

I just love how you extended the project outside the clock casing! Brilliant!

Two Mad Dahlias said...

My favorite of the bunch! The rust, the bird, the nest, everything is just perfection.

JuJu Crafts said...

The feathers in the nest add such a great touch!

Sharon Y said...

Wonderful natural feel. Love all the rustic elements. The rusty effect is so much fun. Thanks for sharing.

Unknown said...

Wow! That's an amazing look with the natural elements spilling out of the clock face along with the bird. Lovely and rustic.

Kerstin F. said...

Wow. Great idea, such great elements combined together.

Terry said...

Hels, I so love your nesting little bird! So many wonderful details you have fit inside that clock. Love the rusty old clock! Enjoy!

Cim Allen said...

I love the rusty look of the clock .. that is so cool. It reminds me of my favorite season that is coming .. FALL.

Annette Green said...

Oh Hels, this is so beautiful! You captured the natural feel so perfectly. I love your use of real nature in the clock and I am blown away by that rusting technique. I will certainly remember that clever one. Amazing creation once again, my dear!

Rea' said...

Seriously "Delightful" was the first word that came to my mind when I scrolled to your clock (I hadn't read your message inside the clock)... that's so cool ! Love the natural feel! LOL love the new word "skeletonize" too !
WOW, that paint job/technique is AWESOME !!

Unknown said...

OMG!! This is soooo Beautiful, Hels!! :) I love your mama bird in her nest!! All of your itty bitty details and natural elements are Fabulous! OH--LOVE your new words-skeletonized/skeletonified!! LOL!! :) Fabulous creation for the CC3 #10 challenge! Totally inspired!! XOXO-Shari T.

Ivy (Ivette) said...

Hels you've done a great job with this clock.
Ivette

Unknown said...

I really love the rustic feel to this. I would have never thought to leave the glass out and have the bird coming out. Very Cool!

Judy Biggerstaff said...

You certainly accomplished your goal, Hels, with rustic and the flower head is fabulous. Wow, I love your details.

Anonymous said...

Oh my. Hels what a brilliant clock! I love how full and lush this nest is. The bird looks so proud of her creation just waiting for her babies to hatch. Fantastic! Karen.x

janna'scraftingattic said...

Wow, looks like a lot of work. Even has little eggs!
Fabulous piece of work Hels. Love all the dried hydrangea & wheat ears x

janna'scraftingattic said...

Wow, looks like a lot of work. Even has little eggs!
Fabulous piece of work Hels. Love all the dried hydrangea & wheat ears x

Mary said...

This is AMAZING! If I didn't know better I'd think you really did pick up that clock out of the hedgerow after it had been there for years. The distressing just looks so realistic! Love the whole nest concept as well. Thanks for sharing with us! =)

S@ndy Diller said...

I just love how you thought out of the box, or in this case, out of the clock. Simply beautiful.

sarascloset said...

I love your interpretation...an old discarded clock, indeed! The altering you did on this clock to make it look rusted is fabulous! I love the entire piece!

Vic's Creations! said...

I can't believe a bird built a nest in your clock! That's what it looks like, a very artistic bird built a nest in your clock! It's spectacular! Very beautiful. And I love the sassy bird who is all like, yeah, so I built a nest in her clock!

Kay B Mitchell said...

The nest and "goodies" are awesome. I like that you stepped "out of the clock" with your idea!

Juliz Design Post said...

Wow your rusting and ageing on this clocks fantastic Hels. Beautiful design.
Julie x

craftylyn said...

Wow this little birdie looks very settled in! What a very desirable residence.

JansArtyJunk said...

Oh Hels...loving your altered clock!! what a fabulous little home for your birdy!! He sure looks comfy nestled in there!!...and your distress exterior is so cool...You've rocked the rustic distress effect ...awesome inspiration :)

penny4thoughts said...

Great clock with everything bursting out of it - I love the rusty affect you achieved on the clock itself - very cool.

Kim said...

Organic is right!! I absolutely love it!

Unknown said...

Such a cute idea - lovely rust effect too x

Danielle L. said...

Wowee! Beautiful clock and I love how you took out the glass and have the bird spilling out of it.

Lisa H said...

I really love how organic it looks and how the bird spills out of the clock. It is just like it built its nest there. =)

Craft Addicts - Tracy Evans said...

Fabulous piece Hels, the rust is so authentic, I love it and the texture is fantastic. I love the nest you have created for the bird. A really lovely natural feel to this piece. Tracy x

Laurie Y said...

Hels, you are amazing, this clock is gorgeous. I LOVE the rusted effect on the outside. You did such a great job. I was admiring all the details. So much to look at.

toni said...

Simply gorgeous Hels! What a beautiful autumn scene ! Love your assemblage time piece ! X

Unknown said...

Helps I love it, lol I just realised you had a beautiful bird in yours too. I didn't look at the curiosities crews makes before I made mine this evening x
Dx

Unknown said...

This is beautiful Hels! Love the rusted look!

Anchal Sapra said...

Fab!! The textures are amazing!!

TangledBlueRose said...

Wow! You are so perfect with all the gorgeous things you add together! I am so in awe! Thanks so much!~kim

Unknown said...

I had no idea until I visited your blog that our chitchat phrases were similar. Great minds, eh? I love the nature theme (seems we both like birds too lol) and all of the fun elements you added. It's terrific Hels!

Kim said...

What a beautiful clock Hels. I love the natural embellishments and how you let your scene spill over without the glass.

Ruby Craft said...

Love the rusted look of your clock. Definitely looks like this lovely bird has been busy building her nest.

Unknown said...

Your clock color is awesome!! so cute

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