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Amy Lynn Johnson

@makermama

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Mother | Maker | Writer | Road Trip Lover

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Last week was the wildest whirlwind.

After a month of working on my giant cloud I had to face a hard reality: I wasn’t going to be able to get it out of my garage because it had gotten too heavy.

So I deconstructed the original and started over with just four days until showtime.

I reused the 2500+ post consumer plastic y’all donated and went to town on building a much lighter cloud.

The universe conspired with me though—and thanks to the incredible help of my ever-patient partner and a group of strangers on drop off day, she made it to Confluence!

She’s not the cloud I originally envisioned but I’m so proud of her, and @sariverfoundation put on an incredible event last weekend.

A huge thank you to everyone who donated supplies, cheered me on, and came out to visit.

Cloud Gazer is coming back home today where she’ll eventually be deconstructed again and live a second life as many new permanent art pieces. I can’t wait to see what she becomes next.

Here’s to dreaming up wild ideas and figuring out how to make them happen! taken in Confluence Park by @makermama

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4 months ago

Crushing on these recycled pencil zip pouches I’ve been whipping up.

I’ve moved on to a heat press to help get some more even texture while fusing. Still have a million bags to get through upcycling from the cloud, but it’s been fun getting creative with them.

Hoping to bring these (and more) to an in-person market around town soon. In the meantime DM me if you see one that catches your eye before I add it to my Etsy shop! taken in Highland Park by @makermama

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5 days ago

Summer slipped by so fast by @makermama

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8 days ago

Whipped up these little cuties out of more plastic packaging and I’m pretty obsessed!

Each one is made with recycled bubble wrap and those stretchy produce things—2 pockets on each side and one in the center. $25 each. DM me if you’re interested in snagging one! taken in Highland Park by @makermama

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21 days ago

Prepping more recycled plastic bags ♻️

I got to play with a new toy to help make the fused plastic even faster thanks to @artsysatx & @sunsetridgecollective.

Recycled some bags from @goodwillsa @whataburger and @hotjoysa (the Hot Joy bag is probably my fave). Tell me which one would you want a bag from in the comments 👇 by @makermama

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a month ago

True blue bag lady 💙

In my quest to steward all 2500+ plastic bags y’all generously donated for my Cloud Gazer installation this summer, I’ve fallen in love with crocheting with plastic yarn and fusing bags into sewable fabric.

A huge thank you to everyone who’s been cheering me along in my stories (and even snagging up the first few of my fused bags!). I’m excited to continue down this rabbit hole and see what more fun things I can make with this medium.

The blue bag is crocheted from the little plastic sleeves my paper is delivered in every Sunday and I’ve officially used up my entire stash—and I’m eagerly awaiting the next delivery so I can inch away on another bag I have in progress. Stay tuned!

Interested in securing a bag of your own? Shoot me a DM! taken in Highland Park by @makermama

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a month ago

Soaking up the August sun ☀️ ☁️

Dreaming of using this cloud as a mold for a new cloud-shaped pendant light.

Currently wrapping my head around how I can do so without having to make a giant mold of the sculpture first. Testing out on a maquette (and so dorky proud of discovering that word this year).

Slowly working through using up my stash of bags from my giant Cloud Gazer that so many of you helped support.

Art-making can be such a slow process when it’s done in the nooks and crannies between living and working but so grateful for every inch I’m able to carve out for it.

Sharing for posterity—and a reminder to keep inching forward. taken in Highland Park by @makermama

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2 months ago

Happy sweet 16 Amelia ✨

Today my youngest marks a new milestone and is just inches away from being a licensed driver.

Last month we celebrated early together on a mother-daughter trip to Boston and we had such an incredible time.

I’m so grateful for her joy and laughter and positive outlook on life. And so glad we got to make so many shared memories on our trip—from navigating the subway, eating sooo much great food, walking the Freedom Trail, all the art, and even a rainy afternoon in Salem.

Happy birthday beautiful! taken in Boston, Massachusetts by @makermama

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2 months ago

Let’s hang this Saturday 6/27!

Excited to pop up a @rancho.diaz from 10 AM to - 2 PM with my recycled paper clay goodies. I’ll have pots of all sizes and colors, my handmade horseshoes, giant pendant lights, and a never-before-seen goodie or two ✨

Shop small and sustainable and pretty up your space while you do. Free laughs and recycled art nerdery for friends who stop by 💙 taken in Rancho Diaz by @makermama

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3 months ago

Team lilac or team blue?

My favorite color is blue but I’m a bit partial to the lovely little lilac basket.

Also I placed one of these filled with oranges on my table at a local market next to my sign that read ‘Paper Clay Objects,’ and at least three people asked if the oranges were paper clay too. 😅

These are a little tedious to make but I’m kind of digging them—how do we feel about more baskets? by @makermama

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2 months ago

What a wonderful experience to view and interact with some amazing artists. Thank you @sariverfoundation for hosting such a creative event. ✨ We hope there are more to come!

Credit for use of the sculpture: @makermama taken in Confluence Park by @makermama

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4 months ago

We’re in the home stretch!

I’ve been living and breathing my first giant recycled cloud over the last 30 days. I’ll be making the finishing touches over the next week and delivering it to its home at Confluence Park from June 13 - June 18.

So far, building Cloud Gazer has included:

☁️ Partnering with 2 incredible organizations @sariverfoundation & @sunsetridgecollective for a community plastic bag drive—and OVER 2500 post consumer plastic bags & packaging reclaimed ♻️

☁️ Plastic packaging & cardboard donations from generous artist friends including @artsysatx, @mariajosecurrie, @howdyjayme, @xfactor.live, @trebla_art (including cardboard scraps from his incredible cardboard Wabi Gabi Spurs cutouts!)

☁️ Stuffing my cloud with my NIOSA volunteer apron & hiding one of my paper clay horseshoes inside (for good luck, of course)

☁️ 100+ hours of late nights working away to my favorite jams in the shop after work & on weekends

☁️ Discovering a mama possum and her babe hiding in the rafters (they’ve since moved out)

☁️ Convincing the manager at @traderjoes at the Quarry to let me ransack their giant bags of plastic packaging set to be recycled (and air drying them on the clothesline in my backyard)

☁️ A million trips for supplies and unexpected problem solving challenges with my eternally patient and supportive partner @cosmick_cowboy 💙

Sometimes this project has felt absolutely insane to work on, but I can’t wait to see it out in the wild. And I absolutely wouldn’t be able to do this without the amazing community of people around me—giant cloud-sized heaps of gratitude to each and every one of you!

Come see and celebrate with me during FLOW STATE, 7pm at Confluence next Saturday, June 13th! taken in Highland Park by @makermama

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4 months ago