My Tramp Art EVolution

After a couple of inquiries, I just wanted to show a brief glimpse at how my tramp art creations and style have evolved over the years.  It was really fun to dig up some old pictures of earlier pieces.  It’s amazing how a few years of experience and growth can transform things.
 

My wood working started with trying to create a basic frame that would complement my fraktur paintings I was creating.  With no directions, a miter saw and a determination to  create something that that had that rustic feel,  I started creating very basic primitive frames.

Here are two early examples of my frakturs in frames.  The yellow tramp art frame was my first attempt at tramp art.  Not bad!

 

 

 

After getting more confidence and more comfortable with wood chipping knives, I experimented with different shapes, colors and types of wood.    I discovered decorative tacks and nails, and enjoyed sharing my creations with many collectors far and near.  I was honored to be featured in the book “Tramp Art: Another Notch, Folk Art from the Heart” by Clifford Wallach and am proud to say he is the owner of two of my pieces.

 

 

 

 

Just recently, I have started to solely concentrate on the design and creation of the frames.  I have found that this has allowed me to fine tune the designs and spend more time on material and embellishment selection.  I can see how this change has changed my end product more than anything.  More variety in design and color, better quality completed pieces, and a much more relaxed end product. 

 

 

 

 

 I have created other pieces outside of picture frames, but continue to call picture frames some of my favorite and best creations.  My pieces continue to change and evolve, becoming bolder and more complicated.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It continues to be exciting for me to find that amazing chippy spindle, rusty spigot and that next amazing design.  

 Happy Upcycling!      Angie

 

Pepsi Crate Tramp Art APothecary

So excited to share my latest creation with you all.  This piece is not one of my usual creations but incorporates tramp art and upcycling to create a very functional piece.  I started out with a vintage pepsi crate and a dozen wooden match stick holders.  After removing 2 dividers, I had the perfect bones for an apothecary.

 

With a few cuts with the miter saw, I had twelve sound drawers on which to build my tramp art.  I decided on hearts in the center with home made drawer pulls.  Antique shades of red and blue jumped out at me.  After experimenting with several shades of stain, I believe with the help of my husband, we found the perfect shade that blends with the old wood of the crate.  I dug out some vintage yard sticks that I purchased and used them on the face of each drawer.  Their vintage colors and advertising is amazing.  Sanding, notching and more sanding....Viola!  A Pepsi Crate Tramp Art Apothecary with 12 functional drawers painted in rich antique blue and red.

 

 

I am very happy with the end result and the amazingly rich colors.  Let me know what you think!!

 

Happy Upcycling    Angie

 

Old but Good BOnes!

I have two amazing vintage wooden Pepsi crates that have lived in my basement for probably 5 years or more.  Had to have them.  They have old but good bones.  You know...worn and smells old, great patina, worn paint, and rusty but not bug or water damaged in anyway.  They have been waiting for that upcycle idea to pop in my head too long.

Well today is the vintage wooden Pepsi crates day for upcycling.  After removing a couple of the dividers, coming across a lot of wooden match boxes, I have found their destination.  I haven't put the design on paper yet, but have a Tramp Art crate apothecary forming in my head.   I believe with a few alterations, the 25 or something match boxes will become the drawers.  The faces of the drawers will have to be tramp art of course with maybe some chippy paint vintage knobs.  Or maybe a carved bird.....time will tell where these old bones will take me.

 

Happy Upcycling   Angie

Needed Inspiration this MOrning

Feeling kind of not creative.  The best medicine for that is a break in projects.  Nothing that a early morning walk wearing the muck boots, through the wet grass can't solve.  I found some amazing inspirations:  gatherings of new ferns, a sunbathing cat and a flowering quince bush.  After slowing down, grabbing the camera and the dog, and heading out into the sunshine; here are some of my favorite shots.

Flowering Quince

 

Uncoiling Fern

 



Fiddlehead

 

On the Prowl

What a way to rekindle that creativeness than to get outside in the sunshine and work on those photography skills!  I love this part of my work.

 

Happy Upcycling     Angie

 

Creation of the Turquoise Star Tramp Art FRame

I started this star tramp art frame with a simple .99 cent sturdy frame from Goodwill and the desire to create a simple, not complicated tramp art piece.  I tend to stray from the Keep it simple philosophy and usually end up with a project much larger than intended.  I truly believe that I stayed with in the simplistic guidelines this time and created a intriguing piece.

 

I created the design and the basic template pieces.  I find the more time I spend on this step, the better the frames come out; the pieces fit together better and I spend less time correcting measurements.

 

 

 

After cutting, sanding and notching, I put the pieces together for a dry run.  It never fails, I always lose pieces in my travel.  Outside to sand and notch. Inside to paint.  I also think my cat hides them on me.  I'm learning the value of bins and ziplock baggies fast.

 

 

 

After painting, distressing and putting together, here is the final turquoise star tramp art frame.  It was embellished on the inside of the frame with decorative brass tacks.

 

 

 

I am quite happy with the finished product but more happy that I was able to keep it simple stupid.  Sometimes, less is more!

 

Happy Upcycling     Angie

 

 

Tramp Art Heart Frame COmpleted

After many hours of chipping, painting and sanding, the tramp art heart frame is complete.  It consists of approximately 75 wood chipped pieces, an hand crafted finial, and decorative tacks.  The frame measures 14 x 14 and can accommodate a picture in the 9 x 6 heart opening.

I created a lacy looking border for this frame and embedded two blue hearts that were finished off with black decorative tacks.  It turned out amazing and looks very close to my original design.  The finial was not part of the original design and was created using a vintage knob and spindle.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



Now to find a good home for this frame.  Maybe a wedding gift, in a primitive home displaying a vintage photo.....

 

Happy Upcycling     Angie

 

 

Tramp Art Heart Frame Well UNderway

So Happy to declare the Tramp Art Heart Frame well underway.  It looks very much like my sketch except for the added finial on top. After creating a from scratch heart base and having the glass cut by the great guys at Glassource, the tramp art pieces have been cut.  All 75 of them! Here is a picture of my unsanded, unchipped dry run.  I created a finial out of a vintage knob and an old spindle.

I'm up in the air on the final color choices but am considering reds, blues and yellows right now.  Maybe some green.  We will see.

Well off to sit in the lawn chair to get down to the sanding job.  Stay tuned....

Happy Upcycling    Angie