Janus Designs

Spring is coming!

2012-01-24T20:46:00.001-07:00

Garden Goddess

Spring will be here before you know it so all you gardeners ...get ready! This Sassy with Attitude has her garden boots on and is happy to celebrate the passion of gardening.

I can fix you!

2011-11-01T18:15:00.000-07:00

This Uncanny Character would be a great gift for a doctor, nurse or other medical professional. She is ready to take care of ANYTHING with her pills, potions and lotions, bandaids and gauze. Made from a vintage band aid tin, this cutie stands about 10 inches tall by 7 inches wide. She is made from paper clay, wire, fibers and whatever.

I am Not Bossy...I just know what you should do!

2011-09-16T21:28:00.001-07:00

One of my newer line of Sassies with Attitude. Made from paper clay, wire and beads, these Sassies have a lot to say. These Sassies can be hung on the wall or in an office cubicle or wherever. They hang on a heart shape wire. Always brings a giggle to my customers. I love that!

No More Silent Nights!

2011-09-16T21:15:00.002-07:00

Do you know a new Mom? I can recall these days...can you?

Made from a Johnson baby powder container, this Mom feels....well like most new Moms...TIRED!!! She holds her sweet little baby and a baby bottle. She has fabric hair and oh so cute fuzzy pink slippers. It reads "No more Silent Nights". So true right?

Party Girl

2011-07-17T13:50:00.005-07:00

Party Girl is a new whimsical character created for a celebration of anykind. A mixed media sculpture, this cutie has a clay cake body and fun ribbon skirt. I like her ice cream cone and silly candle on her head!

She makes me smile when I see her...she is just so happy and silly.

The Fiber Artist

2011-05-21T18:49:00.004-07:00

I've just returned from the Chandler Art Walk and enjoyed visiting with customers. It is always nice to hear comments and especially the giggles of onlookers. This Uncanny Character was just finished a few days ago. She sold last night, but I plan on making some more similiar characters.

This uncanny is made with spools and bobbins and thimble hats. Buttons and needles and tape measures can all be found in her attire. I like her pattern paper skirt and wee little scissor earrings. Her hair is material scraps. Thanks to all the people who stopped by last evening. It is always fun to hear the giggles, comments and see who adopts my creations.

The Fifties

2011-03-19T21:08:00.003-07:00

Ahhh...the Fifties...such a fun time. Do you remember green stamps? Well this Uncanny character's dress is adorned with real S&H green stamps. Her skirt is a view master slide...remember those? She has those typical roll bangs with her pony tail an bow. Of course the neck scarf is a fifties tradition as well.

Hanging from her skirt are metal letters spelling out "Fifties". Her saddle shoes complete the outfit.

A great gift for a fifties enthusiast!

2011-03-05T18:17:00.003-07:00

The Jewelry Artist! This artist has her beading needle and strand full of beads with a charm at the end reading "I love to bead". Lots of beading detail here with beads galore! Her earings, her necklace, her body and legs. Check out the ring around her waist. I like her wild hair and cute shoes.

There are SO MANY creative, wonderful jewelry artists. This was a custom order for one of those wonderful jewelry artists I know Aasiajewelry.com.

2011-01-28T21:35:00.003-07:00

The Photographer. Do you know one? Are you one? This Uncanny Character is made from a vintage Kodak film tin. She hold her film between her hands and her camera hangs around her neck. She is standing on the paper instructions that were in the vintage Kodak tin. This would be a great gift for the photographer in your life....which just might be you.

Mint to be

2011-01-18T20:23:00.005-07:00

This is a happy couple that was "Mint to Be". This was a custom order I recently did and would like to do more. Email me your personalization and I can make one for you! janusdesigns@hotmail.com. Aren't they a cute couple? This would be a great gift too!!!

2010-12-22T16:39:00.003-07:00

Cownt your blessings! Something we all must remember to do every day. This little cow has numbers all over her as she counts all her blessings. I like her pearls and mary jane shoes.

I had a great show at the Mesa Holiday Art Festival. Thanks to all who stopped by our booth and said hello or purchased a fun item.

2010-11-26T20:44:00.003-07:00

I am preparing to participate in the Holiday Mesa Art Festival.

My studio is filled with funny little people such as the nurse pictured here. There is getting to be quite a collection of uncanny creations watching me each day create the next member of the weird little troop. If you live in Phoenix, come visit me at the festival. I would love to see familiar faces and previous customers. It is December 11th and 12th.

Halloween!

2010-09-12T11:27:00.002-07:00

Halloween...a favorite holiday for me. Lots of fun and silliness. This day of the dead chic is made from a death mints tin. Ya gotta love her dog who is sculpted from paper clay. I like her black nail polish, sylish shoes and spider web stool. Lots of detail, fun and silliness here.

Conserve Water Drink Wine

2010-07-27T20:41:00.007-07:00

New Sassy with Attitude for Wine Lovers! For every wine lover out there...which includes me, this Sassy is for you! Made from paper clay, wire and beads, she measues 12 inches by 5 inches and hangs from a heart shaped wire. I love her grape earrings. Do you see that her body is an upside down wine glass?

This new line of Sassies has been fun to create. So many fun sayings with a bit of attitude thrown in.

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Save the TaTa's Sassy

2010-07-07T12:02:00.004-07:00

This Sassy is one in a new line of "Sassies with Attitude". Her body is made from paper clay in the shape of a Breast Cancer awareness ribbon. Do you see her cute litte Breast Cancer awareness charm earrings? She has some wild wire hair with a sassy dash of pink. High heels finish her look. Made from wire, beads and paper clay. She hangs from a wire and is about 12 inches tall by 4 inches wide.

I am making these to order. Which means I can customize them for you as to color of hair, eyes or whatever you want. So email me. janusdesigns@hotmail.com.

The Newlyweds

2010-03-09T21:30:00.006-07:00

This couple is "Mint to Be"! I think these two are just meant for each other. Do you know someone who is getting married...and just meant to be together? Love...it's grand. This couple is made from two mint tins, paper clay, wire, beads and what have you. Check out the big ring he has for his love.

Enough coffee...bring on the Margaritas!

2010-02-12T19:46:00.003-07:00

Okay, I've recovered from moving and now it's time to settle into a cosmopolitan lifestyle....so bring on the cocktails! Margaritas are a staple in Arizona. It's HOT here, we need all the liquid and ice we can get our hands on. We have limes growing in our backyard....perfect. And finally we have a fabulous Spanish influence that pours some mean tequilla....so Margaritas for all!
This crazy gal is made from a vintage salt shaker. She has boobs...he..he. She has a vintage salt shaker lid hat with a little clay salt shaker embellished on top of her hat. She is holding a margarita with a little lime. A metal "M" hangs from her skirt and love the high heels with shoe laces. The text at the bottom reads "Conserve Water...drink Margaritas". Amen.

I've moved!

2010-02-08T21:58:00.003-07:00

I have needed many a Starbuck's Mocha to get me through moving from a big house and acreage in Arizona City to a small loft apartment in Phoenix. Whew...a lot of downsizing, selling stuff, giving away stuff, donating stuff....just too much stuff. But now we are somewhat settled in our highrise loft and enjoying a whole new lifestyle. I can actually somewhat function now in my much more compact studio space....so time to create! Thanks Starbucks...caffeine is a good thing!

Lampwork bead lady

2010-02-08T21:31:00.007-07:00

I love glass beads. They are almost magical in their unlimited shapes, colors and design. So, of course, I admire artists who create wonderful lampwork beads. This uncanny character is one of those talented artists. She is holding her torch and glass rods and is ready to create. She is made from glass and wood beads and other doo dads. She is standing on wooden blocks that read Lamp (on the back side) and Work (on the front side). She stands about 8 inches tall by 6 inches wide.

Miss Fancy Plants

2009-10-18T11:41:00.004-07:00

For all the wonderful gardeners in life. Let's celebrate that special bond with mother earth. Miss Fancy Plants is made from a vintage Watkins Parsley spice container. She has her cute yellow gardening crocs on and a flower pot for a hat. Her flower petal hair compliments her cute seed packet earrings. She is ready to commune with the earth. Check out that humongous carrot from the fruits of her labor.

2009-10-04T14:05:00.005-07:00

Tic Toc Tic Toc .... I've been busy making clocks. I am rolling out a new line of little box desk clocks. "Time to Create" is the first of the line. Made with all my creative type soul mates in mind, this little clock is made from a hinged wood box and paper clay, wire, fibers and other doo dads.

Fall is in the air and here in Arizona it is FINALLY cooling down to the high 80's. Nearly perfect now. Off to make more clocks.

Summertime is HOT....let's go swimming!

2009-07-29T20:51:00.003-07:00

It is HOT! I think, here in Arizona it was 115 degrees today....holy cow. Pretty toasty! Time to try to keep cool and get wet....which is a bit of a problem as we have no pool. However, being resourceful, we have converted our hot tub...to a cool tub and sit our butts in there quite often....yeah!

This funny fish is a hanging ornament. I call him Snorkel Fish. He is made from a plastic egg, paper clay and this and that. I like his flippers....and crazy ass hair too.

Enjoy summer everyone and keep cool.

Love the Ocean

2009-04-23T21:29:00.003-07:00

I have always loved the ocean. And, even though I live on a urban lake in Arizona, every once in a while I need to head back home and visit the Oregon coast...or Mexico or somewhere that there is the sea.

This fellow, I call Lifesaver. He is made from a Life Saver tin and has saved a big fish. I like his flippers and mask and, of course, his funny hair.

Ummm....dreamin' of the sea shore.

More Clocks

2009-03-24T19:59:00.006-07:00

I continue to enjoy doing work for the Dental Gift company. This desk clock I am working on is for the Orthodontist Specialty. I think he is pretty cute and funny. Do you see his braces. I am kinda getting hooked on clocks. They are really fun to do....and anything can be made into a clock pretty much.

Cup of Tea

2009-03-06T20:43:00.011-07:00

Ahhh, don't you just love to settle into a big ol' comfy chair with a nice cup of tea? Although, I am definitely a coffee girl in the morning, the evening seems right for tea and a little something sweet.

I remember these cute little vintage tea tins from when I was a little girl. They are so cute and each type of tea is in a different color tea tin.

This English Tea Lady is enjoying her little tea time too. She looks a bit prim and proper in her expression and dress...with the high heels and pearls and such. She has a fun wire hairdo with some vintage flowers repurposed from a piece of jewelry. Don't you love her big glasses? How about her tea bag earrings? I like the little spoon and steam in her teacup.

I think I'll go have a cup of tea.

Vintage Tea tins will vary per availability.

Pizza!

2009-02-26T21:25:00.007-07:00

Pizza has to be one of the great favorite foods of all time. There is a pizza for everybody, veggie lovers, meat lovers, white sauce, red sauce...you name it. I love the gourmet pizzas...especially the veggies and white sauce variety. It's a great finger food, family food, party food...and NO DISHES afterwards....ya gotta love it! We just finished pizza and beer at our house tonight. It's a warm 85 degree day here in Arizona and we enjoyed dinner outside.

This pizza man is made from a vintage oregano spice tin. He is what you would expect a pizza man to look like, huh? He sold recently to someone who was all about pizza....it's their passion and business. Yipee for the pizza makers!

Laugh until you Tinkle

2009-02-20T20:46:00.008-07:00

Don't you cherish those times when you and a friend start laughing so hard you think you might just...tinkle? I have had a few of those moments lately and they bring a smile to my face just thinking about them. The laughter doesn't ever seem to be about anything significant, just something that hits your funny bone just the right way.

This little uncanny character depicts those moments. She is made from a vintage silver tin, clay, wood, wire, fibers and what have you. She makes me smile just looking at her and thinking of those special giggling fests. I hope we all have more of those moments....they are priceless.

Clocks

2009-02-10T20:12:00.006-07:00

I am working with a great dental gift company Dental Giggles. It has been great fun creating some clocks for them exclusively. All with a fun dental theme, of course. I have kinda got the clock fever now and will probably introduce a line of my own clocks in the near future. I really appreciate these new customer relationships where I can try new ideas.

Purchase at Dentalgiggles.com

Doctor, Doctor!

2009-01-19T20:16:00.006-07:00

It's been too many days since my last blog. I have been doing the dreaded annual doctor visit thing. I have to drive into Phoenix to my doctor appointments which is an hour drive....so visits and resulting tests take more time than the norm.

This doctor is made from a recycled vintage bandaid tin. His legs are vintage curlers and his shoes are typewriter keys. With his gloves, tangled gauze, pills, creams and surgical mask and headgear....he is ready for anything that comes his way! He is one of my favorites and seems to be a best seller with my customers too.

Are you a cat lady?

2009-01-11T20:12:00.006-07:00

I think I am a cat lady or maybe I should just say an animal lady. I love animals....how can you not? Having said that, I am animal-less at this point in my household. We lost our 12 year old Golden Retriever to lung cancer a while back...and I think it will take a bit to get over the loss of our beloved "Buster".

This cutie is a cat lover. She is made from a "Love" mint tin with lots of wild wire hair and cute kitties made from paper clay. I like her little mary jane shoes. Do you see the little mouse?

The Artist Life

2009-01-07T21:05:00.005-07:00

I have been busy with orders and designing new products...which is my favorite thing to do! Most artists are in their happy mode when creating new items instead of making over and over the same product. I do have some favorite items though, that I never tire of reproducing.

This uncanny Artist is made from a palette shaped mint tin. She is a bit messy...with paint everywhere (I can relate)! Her legs are recycled permanent hair curlers. It is so fun to repurpose items. She is a bit ecentric...multi-colored hair and all. I think most artists are a bit left of center. Yipee for that!

There is always Hope

2009-01-03T22:34:00.006-07:00

As we begin 2009, this uncanny character reminds me of the hope many of us have for the new year. Whether we are hopeful for the future of our country, our business, our families, or our health....we need to keep hope in the future...don't you think?

When I look into the face of this character, I see a friend hoping for a quick recovery of another friend's illness or a Mother day dreaming of a hopeful future for her child or a million other "hopeful" possibilites I imagine in my mind. What do you see?

Need Coffee!

2008-12-28T18:34:00.002-07:00

It must be all the sweets and food and cocktails we consume at the holidays...but I felt a bit lethargic today. It gave me an excuse (like I really needed one) to head to Starbucks for my favorite one pump mocha! Nummy!

This creation could be me or my local barista kinda looks like this too! I made this character from a Starbucks gum tin, fibers, paper clay and what have you. Good to recycle right? I like her one little silver spoon earring. She has her Starbucks to go cup in hand. She is a multi-tasking energized "Barista Sistah".

Thank God for coffee!

Creating silliness with recycled stuff

2008-12-24T13:15:00.001-07:00

I have been focusing on creating these fun, silly characters that I call "Uncannies" for the past year. Why Uncannies? Because most are made from recycled cans or vintage tins and the definition of "uncanny" being weird, unusual. My hope is these creations of mine will bring people a giggle.

This is False Teeth Man. He is made from a vintage Dentlock False Teeth Powder tin. He has a recycled salt shaker lid hat and seems to be a bit tangled up in his floss. I used paper clay, wire, fibers and this and that to create this fellow. He makes me smile and reminds me to floss and brush my teeth!