Primer Gesso Coat on Jewelry Box and Bird Dyed Blue

Progress has been made on my current Altered Art Jewelry box. I was able to paint the base Gesso coat on the  Jewelry box. It is now ready for the color to be applied. I also dyed the automaton bird a beautiful Cerulean blue based off of a photo pf a Brazilian blue bird. I still need to set the dye with the chemical fixative and paint the beak a golden yellow. 

Painted the bird beak yellow. Turns out, for dying a vintage bird, setting the dye is not recommended, so I will let the little birdie be...it just needs to be kept out of the rain ;)

That's all for now!

Denise :)

Mystery Solved! Music Box Tune's "Real" name is a Romanian Classical Song Entitled "Waves of the Danube"

Mystery Solved! Music Box Tune's "Real" name is a Romanian Classical Song Entitled "Waves of the Danube" Here is how it was meant to originally be played, quite beautiful! The song was written in 1880 and is a waltz. It was "given" the title "The Anniversary Song" in mid-Century America.

Denise :)

Altered Art Jewelry Music Tune Mystery may be Solved! What do you think?

So, I could not place the tune, but asked my friends on Facebook if they recognized the tune on my altered art jewelery box. Here is the video:

My cousin said that she believed it was "The Anniversary Song". Here is the tune as sung by Andy Williams. What do you think? Same song? I think it might be :)

Is it a match? :)

Denise

New Altered Art Project!

I am so happy that I am working on a new altered art commissioned piece! I am restoring a vintage automaton swinging bird cage jewelry box. It's in rough shape and has lots of work ahead of it, but I have great plans for it! So far, I have removed the dusty and dirty velvet floor beneath the cage. Removed all the flowers [tossed those!] and kept the bird of course. I spent an hour sanding all sides tonight. Now, I just have to gesso it to make my preparations for painting! :)

Denise :)

Youtube video of "There is No Worry Among the Birds and Flowers" Altered Art

I was finally able to make a Youtube video of "There is No Worry Among the Birds and Flowers". Now you can hear the music and see the automaton bird swinging in action! Enjoy. Would love your feedback. Thanks! :)

Denise :)

"There is No Worry Among the Birds and Flowers" Altered Art by Denise Farinsky

Well, I finally have all my pics ready to show you of my latest piece. Brace yourself! There are many photos! This piece has so much detail that I wanted to show you and I hope you will enjoy it. Here is the description of the artwork:

"There is No Worry Among the Birds and Flowers"
Altered Art/Assemblage:

• Original Illustrations: Watercolor and Pen and Ink with Gold accents

• Decoupaged and Sealed with Acrylic Sealer

• 1969-1970 "HIMARK" Jewelry Music Box with Automaton Swinging Bird from Japan

• The bird swings to the song: "Raindrops Keep Fallin' On My Head"

• Vintage late 1940s/ post WWII Red Velvet "Forget-Me-Not" Flowers "Made in Germany East"

• Bird has been dyed black with India Ink

• New Acrylic Clear Panels for Roof

• Violet Sheer Ribbon

Dimensions:
6 1/2" H x 7 1/4" W x 7 1/4" D
Weight: 2 lbs
Copyright 2012
Denise Farinsky