Make time to see the mini- golf exhibit before May 20. You’ll be glad you did. This exhibit is really fun send information to a museum in your area because it should be on tour. Why not in your town. Nine Austin Artist put together entertaining, engaging holes; it is a great day for the whole family or a date.

More Photos at http://badartworld.com/

http://amoa-arthouse.org/2012/art-on-the-green/

Make your own Recycle Cans Storage

Recycled Cans Make Great Industrial Storage

 

The cubbies can sit on a shelf or hang on a wall and be joined together if more storage is needed.  Not only will you create a wonderful storage, you can also recycle cans in a beautiful way.   Repurpose it’s better than recycle.

Supplies:

4 tins

Screws

Nuts

Washers

Hangers

Drill

Large drill bit

Screw driver or awl

Optional

paint

hook

shelf

Step one

Cans, clean and sanded if need to insure opening are  not jagged. Use

foil sealed coffee cans or use a can opener which leaves smooth edges.

Step two

Paint cans if desired or clean up any marks

Mark holes and drill

Holes should be close to edges of can a quarter inch is fine.  Line up holes from top to bottom.  I used the first can as a pattern to mark other cans.  If cans are imperfect mark holes to cover bad spots.

Second Hole positions  

On two cans mark the first hole and at 3 o’clock from the first hole place a new set.  This will give the cans the wave pattern so they are staggered.  It also allows you to stack more than one row on top for extra storage.  

Step three

 

Place your screws in the holes.  Use a short screw drive to tighten the screws

I used washers on both sides of screw to protect the raw hole opening.  

Step four

Place d ring hangers on the back of the end cans.  The hangers will be a quarter of the way down on the back of the can.  Look at the cans to decide if you favor one side or other as top or bottom before drilling holes.   The d ring will be set with a screw, washer and nut also.  

You can for go this step if you’d like to sit the tins on a desk or shelf.  Further, you can screw the tin directly into the wall.  Please use anchor bolts it there will be any heavy weight in the tins; evaluate your individual situation for best options.  I have some in my garage for tools; they have a 60 weight anchor bolt to insure no big messes.  

Accents

The tins are now ready to use.  You can increase the use factor by attaching a hook to the bottom or side.  Place a shelf across the top or place heavy magnets on tins to attach notes.   Thanks I hope you enjoy your can cubbies

Unique Gifts for Everyone?

Cherrywood Art Festival (Dec. 10-11)

Cherrywood Art Fair features 100 juried local artisans specially selected for quality and uniqueness. There's music all day, food vendors, and a wonderful vibe. Oh, and Cherrywood's proceeds are used for charity, funding the wonderful Little Artist Big Artist program.

Articulture will be there with floating worlds, terrariums, and other one-of-a-kind arrangements.

WHEN: Sat & Sun, Dec 10 & 11, from 10am-5pm

WHERE: Maplewood Elementary School, 3808 Maplewood Ave.

HOW MUCH: Free admission.

This is always a super cool event with great artist.  Make the time to check it out.

collapsible soft sculpture crochet basket

 The basket collapses flat but can be filled to stand seven inches high and 18 inches across the bottom.  http://www.etsy.com/shop/Badart



This collapsible soft sculpture crochet basket is made of recycled fabric.  I used a torn pale blue cotton table cloth  mixed with t-shirts in grey and a white poly fabric.  I got the white fabric in rolls from a friend.  It is very strong and I’m unsure what it was used for.  It was left over from an art project and would be in Austin’s land field had I not rescued it.        

Recycle Your Foam Egg Cartons

Egg Cartons
I want to recycle  a box of egg cartons.  We usually purchase the 18 pack of eggs so I have 12 green Styrofoam cartons.  I have recycled plenty of these carton but need  a place to send the extras. 
I found a gentleman named Enno de Kroon’s who paints the two dozen egg cartons beautifully.  Not helping me but very cool.

  Recycling Options
There are many resources to help find out how to recycle.   1-800-Recycling.com has a super resource to help with common items.  They make it very easy. In Austin, Texas we have Ecology Action of Texas   who does not take egg cartons.   However, they do take lots of waste you can not place at the curb.  Further, they have lots of cool volunteer opportunities.  We are lucky in Austin to have single stream recycling at the curb.
 Recycle Foam
I did find a company Dolco Packaging who recycles clean foam egg cartons.   The cartons can be mailed to them at one of seven locations.  I am very happy to have made the connection and will mail may cartons there from now on.  It would be nice if egg producers could use products that were more suitable for recycling .  But I am glad Dolco is recycling foam waste.
See Change?
12 cartons fit perfectly in a small uhaul box.  It will cost about $6.00 to ship to Dallas.  All this has made me rethink my egg purchases.  Actually, if I can’t find  a local recycling spot this  adds fifty cents to each egg purchase.  Mmmmm,  at that price I should be buying local eggs with no carton?badartworld.com

Holiday Basket

This sturdy red and white plastic bag took a lot of work and too many HEB bags. It took one bag to complete four loops and the bag is 47 inches around, 9.5 inches high and 18 inches across.

This was lots of fun too rather than being angry for bringing home yet another plastic bag I would place it in line to complete this heavy duty basket. I have been working on this basket since mid June because I refuse to pick up a bundle of bags to complete the project. I use cotton bags for my daily shopping and rarely need a bag. However my bi monthly shopping usually sends me home with plastic bags I confess.

I wanted to show off the strength of the bags which is why we use them and why they are horrible. They break down but they do not go away. Please look at PBS forum to find out how this problem affects us all. The food chain is at stake here. Plastic frankly should be banned but at the very least make sure you are recycling what you use. Ask suppliers of products you purchase to use alternatives. BE THE CHANGE.

Pease Park Clean Up

Pease Park Clean Up


I recently participated in a park clean up at Pease park in Austin, Texas. It was a nice cool day and about 6 of us collected mostly cigarette butts from the road leading into the park. After a few hours I had 2 pounds of butts. GROSS!!!

Any way I also found this beautiful wasp nest and a rust metal post. I met some really cool people who care about our town and I had a great day.

Recycled Basket Assortment

                                   UT Shirts

UT shirts

                Plarn

I just put together a bunch of baskets I need to show off. All are hand crochet from recycled material.  Cotton sheets, t-shirt, plarn and jersey are the fabrics used here.    






Hockey Jerseys

Like my Fan Page to stay in the crafty loop.
https://www.facebook.com/pages/BadArt/172772216091802

You Can Help Feed the World

Take back the food agenda from multi National Corporation who only think about profit. We can feed the world, reduce pollution, and have plenty left over. How? Vote with you pocket books and don’t allow your elected representative to choose reelection and money over health and welfare. The largest situation to stop now is the use of food as energy. Corn use to feed the world now it feeds the commodity markets and cars. Tell your congressman to stop subsidies for any food product that don‘t feed the=he people of the world. Ethanol could be made with a number of non food products. Let’s push from both sides and help change the tide. Talk to your government and take dollars away from companies who use corn as energy. Call the gas companies and congressman now.

Make Plastic Bags Useful with Plarn

                                                 Crochet basket with two handles
Crafty Design Week Five : Plarn

Plastic Yarn: Yarn made from plastic bags. Plastic bags exposed to air and sunshine can take between 10 and 20 years to decompose. That’s why it took over as the material of the future in the 50’s and 60’. There is always a down side however. The horrible bags tend to multiply around my house no matter how hard I try not to bring them home they’re like gremlins. No water needed.

Because plastic is so strong I use it to make something that maybe useful for the next 10 to 20 years like baskets or rugs. Here’s how you can make plarn too.

Link

How to Make Carnations

Crafty Design
Plastic Carnations:   Plarnations

Plarnations have as many if not more uses than Carnations. They make a great center piece, corsage, hair piece, wreath. We’ll have to delve a little deeper later.  Directions to create the plarn/yarn is available here.  If you’d like to make a few plarnations of your own you can find the directions here.

Make this Canister with Recycled Napkins

Recycled Napkins with Canister
Crafty Design
All you need are a few t-shirts, a canister and a map to make this neat napkin holder.  You can display your recycled towels with pride in every room and remain true to ideals.   So pull out your supplies and get cracking.  It's easy to be green.
Directions to make your own are here.

Make your own Dish Towels

Crafty Design  Recycled Dish Towels


You can make batches of fun dish towels from fabric scraps. I used old clothes to clean up around my house for years. I would leave old t-shirts under the counter to clean up spills but I still used sponges to clean the dishes. These dish towels that are easy to make and are great replacement for sponges. They are cooler than pulling out an old shirt too. You can throw these in the laundry and they work best to clean counters and the table.

                                                                          Look here

                                                         for easy instructions to make your own.

Make an Heirloom Pillow Cover

Crafty Design:  Personalized Pillow Covers

The pillows are made from t-shirts and linen fabric stamped, sewn and embellished to form a pillow cover. The covers fit a 13 x 13 pillow and are washable. The t-shirt’s designs personalize and contribute to the heirloom quality.  You can save a team shirt or a special runners shirt to make your heirloom pillow.


I cut out several numbered patterns with bold colors and patterns. The photos are the test pattern for my next group of pillows. I have dozens of numbers and bold patterns to mix into pillow. I keep interesting fabrics or clothing for your pillow.  I’ll be using various techniques to accent my pillows. I like stamping, silk screen, sewing, embroidery and various printing styles. Get directions to make your pillow here.

You can recycle anything!

Baskets from Hockey Jerseys

Recently I was given a bundle of hockey jerseys that had been used to make quilts. Chris Wenz, of Over the Top Quilting Studio, apologized for the mess. I’m sure she was thinking what will she do with that. I spent the summer cutting a large bag jerseys into yarn. The rough, polyester fabrics turned out to be perfect for baskets. The colors are bright and bold while and the fabric is thick and durable.

http://www.etsy.com/listing/79734598/hand-crochet-hockey-jersey-laundry

All the handmade crochet rag rugs and baskets are projects of love. I like unusable fabric with no life. When fabrics are cut into strips the colors and textures change and have a new depth. The baskets show how even the must unexpected material can have a second life.

http://www.facebook.com/platform

Photo Shoot

I am so excited I have a photographer to shoot my work. I have a girl with super model potential. I can say I knew her when! She is perfect. We will be shooting her today at Butler Park in Austin Texas. I will have my vintage and up cycled clothing featured with my art pieces. Greta Olivas will be behind the camera. I can’t wait. Click to see more of the finished product.

Organizing Through Goal Setting

What is truly great is I am active, organized and focused on completing task. I am giving myself to task 100% for given periods in my schedule. I know how much time steps in my projects take so I lay out task to complete. I am mixing mundane task which I find bog me down with more stimulating task throughout the day.

Schedule Blocks

For example, I broke down fabric while I watched Hitchcock movies. It is a simple repetitive task so I develop a rhythm and get lots of work done in one 80/90 minute block. Today I completed sewing some towels and afterward organized smaller rugs into large projects. It was such a rush a reward for the sewing which I’m not crazy about.

I can schedule a hour block on the dining room table while my family is out swimming. I pin thirty dish towels ready for sewing the next block I have.
I set up blocks at the end of each block.

Online study and emails are combined, I read about clay types, marketing, studying blogs and other things I need. I have email time in blocks also. If I need to communicate more often because of sales, posting, photos or writing I set up standard blocks. In between if I need to check communication I am only allowed to respond to the specific task and nothing more until I have a larger block scheduled. In email blocks I limit myself by attempting to touch things once. If it is a quick easy response I handle it right there. I make a snap judgment on how I use my small block of time by deleting junk and getting the most out of my time.

DIY Shrinky Dinks

                                                                      Before the Oven


I don’t know why I love repetition but I do. I came across a DIY shrinky dink and decided to do something with this great picture of an old VW I had taken. I love the car and wanted to do something fun with it so I thought a collection of DIY shrinky dinks in various colors would be awesome. I have all the colors and a cute little grouping and ideas are pinging off my head like a pin ball machine. Have look at my car collection in pictures.

After the Oven









I used the number six take out boxes. And colored the boxes with sharpies. I scanned the panels because I see this turning into something else I just don’t know what right now. I also have to wait until my family is out of the house because cooking plastic fumes can’t be             good for them, Right? You’ll see the results as soon as I do!

Focused Attention

I recently read a wonderful blog “A day without Distraction Lessons Learned from 12 hours of Forced Focus”. I found that to ridged or relaxed goals could defeat the purpose. Of completing goals. In addition, you must build in rewards to aid in success. My list of goals is long and the day is short so here is my plan.

My plan is to focus attention to accomplish specific goals. To do this I need to prioritize my goals and create a plan of action. I do this first because I need to know where I’m going to make the map to get there. Now I have always had a map but I get off the path frequently and would like to correct this obstacle.

To accomplish more and have a more productive day I will have no more than three main goals at a time. These goals are than broken down into daily action steps. I have the goals posted for all to see and I have the steps broken down on my daily calendar. Before I go to bed and when I wake up, I look at the plan.

This week I needed to upgrade my phone, run a firing of bottles, write and complete a large crochet project. Everyday I have family and outside work requirements also. The trick is blending my obligations to accomplish both.

Here is an example of my daily to do list.

Paint cones

Wash bottles
Call optometrist
Movies
Visit north farmers market
Hangers for rugs?
Bank
Phone?
Spanish lesson
Exersice


Borrowing from A Day without Distraction I have decided that I will achieve more by giving each task individual attention. Yesterday I set out with one goal in mind to purchase a phone. That done this morning after quickly looking over emails I set up the new phone.

I have my baskets of yarn set up for quick access to work on crochet project through out the day.

I have broken down the steps to firing the kiln and when I have blocks of time I knock out another step. Count down to firing.

In between, I take care of work and family.

Creative Meditation

I had a wonderful, media free day today. I went to the lake armed with a picnic, a book and yarn. It was the most tranquil day I've had in a while. The water was mesmerizing while the wind blew hard and cool.

Completely media free I had no camera and decide to leave the phone in the car. I listen to the wind and my own thoughts for hours and I was very creative. I try to do this for a little while everyday. Today it was 6 hours. I feel like I wiped the cob webs from my brain. I usually enjoy all or part of my exercise time media free. It is like watering a seed and giving it time to germinate. I keep a pad close by because I often have inspirations at those times.

I prepared myself for success today. I brought my copy of Ready Made, several balls of t-shirt yarn in various colors and a crochet needle. I had a location for my family to hang out and have freedom. I could see them from my cliff perch while I played with my yarn. I let my imagination wonder.


I also spent a good deal of time just enjoying the view. I listened to the wind the other people and watched the animals. Because I gave my mind a chance to do nothing it was free to make something. I will do this sooner than later and maybe expand my daily quiet, media free breaks. Creativity is as important to me has good food or a healthy diet. I need to spend more quality time nurturing it.


Steps to Creative Care?

Ask and You Shall Receive!

I have had plans to make a certain item and was collecting material and out of no where came an offer. I love the universe. Well, I have a large bag of blue jeans from a BabesinBiz member. Thank You! I am making test pieces as soon as I get the jeans out of a hot wash. So far everything looks great can't wiat to share. I'll do pitures asap.

Patterns, Pillows

I saw patterns int he t-shirts. As I was cutting down the shirt remnants to yarn I found I had some cool elements I could mix with other fabrics. All the fabrics are reclaimed from stained items or unusable things. I have problems cutting up items that can be used for their original purpose. I move those on to Goodwill, freecycle, friends and family. But worn out, stained, out of date items will be recycled. I'm working on these pillows. I will add a few more elements before the are available on my etsy craft site Badart.

La Pena

On my regular art trip through Downtown Austin and found that La Pena now serves coffee, Mexican Soda and Breakfast Tacos. They said it was a way to pull a broader audience to view the art. I never needed an incentive to visit this little gallery. I am always eager to see what ever artist they have. This month they have a show from students at Sanchez Elementary. The children's art is great. Each painting is full of rich detail with visual storytelling and they have traditional PAPEL PICADO or cut paper. The designs are simple but elegant. I wish I had been there for the formal opening with the students, music and festivities. If you live in Austin this should be a regular stop, the tacos were tasty and the art is always sweet.

Rags To Riches

As a sustainable artist I work backwards. Once I have supplies I decide what to make. I wrote about a bag of t-shirt remnants recently. Well, that bag is full of great colors and I am about half way through the laborious task of cutting the shirts down so thay are suitable to crochet. I am very excited by the color and have many ideas for this batch of yarn. I am happy to turn this bag of wastful scraps into beautiful rugs. I am trying to hold back until I see exactly what I have. Here is a sample of the colors I have so far. LOVE IT!!

Earth Day Exchange

I made a wonderful Earth Day Environmental Exchange. A few months ago through Linked in I logged in as a sustainable artist Chris Wenz, of Over the Top Quilting Studio in Austin Texas contacted me. Her Quilting company makes quilts from t-shirts and collected lots of remnants. I told her I would love to take the extra remnants off her hands. This week I picked up an over sized bag of t-shirt pieces. I will be crocheting some beautiful rugs. The generosity of moving unused shirts gave me more product at no cost for supplies and one less bag in the land field. There is a symbiotic relationship out there for many businesses. In honor of Earth Day find one and divert something from a land field. Do something to create a smaller foot print.
Five Steps To Save
* Be sure you are recycling at home and at work.
* Ask places you frequent to recycle.
* Send an Email or letter to companies you use ask them to reduce packaging.
* Make list of useful items you throw out; someone needs them.
* Post a needs list on you web site; some one is throwing out what you need.

Now if ten percent of businesses cultivated such a relationship what would happen? Those business would see more options to save and cut cost and create more relationships. Get this ball rolling.

Loving E-bay

I really like Etsy because of the creative outlet and the interesting things you can find. However all things are not meant to be there. I Love my e-bay too.
http://us.mg1.mail.yahoo.com/dc/launch?.gx=1&.rand=eov5dn6cjpfhv
Click here and you can see some of the stuff that does not fit on Etsy. It is still cool stuff.

http://www.etsy.com/shop/Badart
http://www.etsy.com/shop/Badarttoo?ref=pr_shop_more

Ebay Store

I've been busy the last few weeks working on an ebay shop. There I have useful things that have been trapped in the loop of excess. I am attempting to place these item back into the stream of commerce. I like to move things along not into the land field so I am a collector, (or hoarder if you as mys son). I have kept things with the very best intentions. But lets face it I have brought in more than I will ever use. I believe the world is a continual flow and by putting my excess on e-bay I am participating in this tremendous flow.
I work hard to be a sustainable artist so this venture is a continuation of creating a more sustainable life. I feel better knowing that the things I had such hi hopes for have a chance to be useful again. This week I will be putting Magazines, Antique and Vintage books on ebay and in my etsy shop
http://stores.ebay.com/No-Ordinary-Items?_rdc=1
http://www.etsy.com/shop/Badarttoo

Natalie Wood Print

My Natalie Wood Blossom Encaustic Collage was placed on a site dedicated to the star. She was such a wonderful actress; I'm honored to be included.

http://nataliewoodlove.tumblr.com/post/4569148327/natalie-wood-blossom-print-by-della-badart

Della Badart
Austin, Texas

http://www.badartworld.com/
http://www.etsy.com/shop/Badart
http://www.redbubble.com/people/dbad/art

Color Party

I just discovered this really cool shopping experience on Etsy. It is fun and colorful. In fact if you like color click on and please click on the black botton and throw a cyber color party.

What does it mean to be a sustainable artist?

What does it mean to be a sustainable artist. Well, for me it means utilizing items that would other wise be waste. It is very simple; if on a daily weekly or quarterly bases I am throwing out a particular item I begin to think about that item. I put all my energy there until I think of a way to reinvent that item. Sometimes I simple collect the item. In bulk I may see a clear use that was not there with a single item. Often, I pass items on egg cartons, coffee post and of course compostables.

I craft items from those items in a pleasing way to be used or appreciated. My rag rugs and 3-d tin collages are a few of the ways I utilize this process. I work at a restaurant and I mange to get my hands on a few things there. I know any business throws away so many use-able items the potential flow is endless. We could reduce the land fields tremendously if we looked at waste in more creative ways.

Well, that's what being a sustainable artist means to me. How could you be more sustainable?

Earth Day

I love recycle art!

I have dozens of mint boxes and have been in a trance placing mini collage stories in and on the boxes. I am searching for the right phrase the perfect picture to complete each individual story. I have let my mind wonder and it has done me good to take breaks from these mini pics. Sometimes I am frustrated by drying times and the need to find an appropriate text or photo. However, it makes it that much sweeter when all the objects meld and the image takes root. Look for me at the Earth Day Festival Down town on the 18 of April in Austin Texas I’ll be at the Imagine Art Booth.

African Symbol Quilt

I'm working on a small adinkra symbol quilt; it will be a banner. I love the symbols.

Quilt's in Austin

I have been working on a study of surface design work from last fall. I call this piece "The Natural" and it is a combination of dying techniques with stencils and silk screen designs. This Quilt will be on display at Real Gallery in Austin Texas the October 18-19; it is part of a larger collection of quilts by my Fiber Arts Groups.

I'm Back.

Yea, I have not blogged for some time. I've been finding myself. Cliche but true. I've been on journey and it's has been interesting. I've wanted to be more creative and make that more a part of my life for years. Well, I've stopped saying it and sarted doing it. SLOWLY... Started out on Ebay, moved to Etsy and now I have my things in shops Austin Texas.

You can find my Silk screened Shirts at
East End Craft Gallery, 1101 Navasota St., #4 Austin, Texas 78702 512-479-0100
Myka, 5800 W Slaughter Ln., #330 Austin, Texas 78749 512-706-9557
Austin Gift Company, 4211 S. Lamar Blvd., Austin, Texas 78704 326-9460
Austin Baby, 505 west Mary St., Austin, Texas 78704 512-448-018

And You can find me at
First Thursdays at Prima Dora, 1912 S Congress Ave., Austin, Texas 78704
Fourth Fridays 11th Street and Lydia ( on the south side of the street)

I'll have my Etsy shop restocked soon. Come out and see me at First Thursday June 5.