I have an Art-O-Mat in my shop.
A WHAT you say? Well take a look at the website and educate yourself.
You'll thank me later.
They're very cool and are all about getting exposure to the arts and artists from around the world.
I wanted to map out where the machines were so I thought globally.
You can find these fantastic machines as far away as Vienna, Austria and Canada!
I really just love the gallery-in-a-box concept.
I plan on placing pins into the globe at the site of each machine,
but for now it hangs in my front window above a display of the miniature pieces of art.
And that's my Art-O-Mat there in the background.
They're refurbished cigarette machines that dispense ART instead of CANCER STICKS.
Yeah, mini-soapbox for ya. Sorry, but I don't like smoking.
To make the globe we used a $3 beach ball as a mold for our paper mache.
Used a flour/water mixture, a little newspaper and we were cookin'!
Mamie was a big help with the project but couldn't believe how it dried out our hands!
And I have to credit hubby and Trev for the wonderful faux ocean paint job.
I credit the idea for this design to Kiki magazine.
It's a great one for young girls - positive and encouraging.
Couldn't find it at the library or my local mom-n-pop bookstore, but it's worth the trip to Borders or B&N!
When's the last time you took on a messy project?
Try one - it's just so much fun!
I came to your blog via The Little Travelers b/c I liked your blog name. :) Lo and behold, you're talking about Art-O-Mats. We are HUGE art-o-mat collectors at my house, more than 150 at last count. Yet, somehow, I've never blogged about them myself. Hmm...must remedy that. Art-o-mats originate in my hometown, and I discovered them years ago at the site where they originated (Mary's Of Course). Very cool to see across the blogosphere. I hope you enjoy your art-o-mat machine!
Posted by: Joy | April 13, 2009 at 11:14 AM
love the idea of the art.o.mat....when i was a kid and we would travel and stop on the turnpike ...there were machines, that looked like cigarette machines, but they dispensed little toys. oh, how i loved them and would beg to get things
so glad you visited
i'm wearing my chucks today too :)
take care
Posted by: michelle@bluemoss | April 13, 2009 at 03:58 PM
I tagged you on my blog today. :)
Posted by: Joy | April 14, 2009 at 09:09 AM