Well it seems that just as we'd thought that there'd be an early spring around these parts, a heavy snow fell last week. So what to do but make a snowman! I found an old aluminum pie tin over at the dumpground and it was so rusted and split that it couldn't be made new again so I just went at it with a scouring pad and cut it into a heart. I think he looks fabu. if I must say so myself. Oh the whole neighborhood has had something or other to say about it. I shot this photo only a day before the sun came out and melted him away into the magic realm of memory.
Also at the dump I found an old Nabob coffee container. It's glass and has a lovely red lid. I'm just going to clean it up and use it for my new/old cookie jar. Then what is a Queen to do but to fill it with cookies. Let's see...sugar or gingersnaps? I'll let you know. Ta!
Thursday, January 24, 2008
Wednesday, January 16, 2008
Winter fairy birds
A photographer I am not. These paper birds are made of layers of collaged tulle, music paper, quotes, text, calligraphy done by me, goldleaf punch outs, petals from a 'money' plant, stamped images, and sequins. They have bead eyes and wire feet. Beaks are wrapped string painted and highlighted with acrylics. Buttons sometimes hold on wings. Tails are layers of tulle from old wedding dresses combined with a touch of pale blue fine tulle. A frosting of the most delicate of sparkle finishes them off along the back and top of their heads. Some have images that have been applied with a gel transfer technique. The quote on the small bird reads: We must embrace pain and burn it as fuel for our journey. KENJI MIYAZAWA~ Each bird has a different quote. Birds have a stuffed layer in between the two sides to give them a sort of 'body.' Shown here are a large size and a small. I am working on a medium size bird and then I plan to list them for sale on etsy. Meanwhile, I am giving one of these types of birds to the first 3 people who sign on for the PIF post on my blog.
Sunday, January 13, 2008
Pay It Forward
The Altered Diva http://alterediva.blogspot.com/ has invited everyone to take part in this Pay It Forward challenge. I too think it is a great idea and am willing to play! I will send a handmade gift/thingy/something to the first 3 people who leave a comment on my blog requesting to join this "Pay It Forward" exchange. I don't know what that gift will be, and you may not receive it tomorrow or next week, but you will receive it within 365 days, that is my promise! And truthfully, it will probably be later than sooner! The only thing you have to do in return is "Pay It Forward" by making the same promise on your blog with a link back to me. So basically, if you comment I'll send you something crafty that I'll make! Once you sign up, copy and paste the above paragraph on your blog, and three other lucky people will be the recipients of your handmade work. You must post this on your blog to be eligible.
Wednesday, January 9, 2008
Breakfast in the garden
Originally uploaded by minnasusanne on flickr., we see that an early spring may be on its way.
I was walking in the woods yesterday, and noticed that my shoes were tracking red and blue color and just as I thought that they would be interesting colors to dye something, I heard a sweet chattering above me. I looked up to witness the loveliest of fairies who had joined a family of birds for a meal.
I am going to come back later to collect fallen berries to use as color for something or other. Wouldn't these colors make lovely ink! I'm making cloth collaged birds at the moment. As they do have calligraphy on each, perhaps I'll deviate from the india ink I am using and try some color. My birds are winter white with a hint of blue traced with pearl. These colors are strong but may be the beginning of a different collection! Well time for a piece of shortbread with chai. Ta!
I was walking in the woods yesterday, and noticed that my shoes were tracking red and blue color and just as I thought that they would be interesting colors to dye something, I heard a sweet chattering above me. I looked up to witness the loveliest of fairies who had joined a family of birds for a meal.
I am going to come back later to collect fallen berries to use as color for something or other. Wouldn't these colors make lovely ink! I'm making cloth collaged birds at the moment. As they do have calligraphy on each, perhaps I'll deviate from the india ink I am using and try some color. My birds are winter white with a hint of blue traced with pearl. These colors are strong but may be the beginning of a different collection! Well time for a piece of shortbread with chai. Ta!
Saturday, January 5, 2008
holly spirit
This paper artdoll was made for Jean in the U.K. When this lady was walking in the forest gathering up the bits of holly and scattered pinecones to make a nosegay for herself, she happened upon an elephant who was carrying the most handsome man she'd ever laid eyes on. Well the elephant must have thought that she was a ghost as he reared up upon sight of her and threw the Prince who was riding him, onto the ground. This resulted in a sprained thumb and a start by the Prince to be sure. As the holly spirit was so frightened by all of the commotion she fled, leaving me to muster the courage to speak to so handsome a being. To make a long story short, I wrapped the sprained thumb in a sort of splint, and invited the two of them to my house to tea. We enjoyed tea and biscuits and wouldn't you know it there was no one and I mean no one home to witness this. Everyone just has to take my word for it. I had a real Prince and his elephant over to my house to tea!
I did invite them to stay over for the night but they wanted to get going to continue their journey and so we said goodbye and best wishes all around. The Prince asked me what he could do to repay my kindness and as he insisted, I told him that he could send me exotic fresh fruit like pineapples, and exotic fancy nuts like macadamias so that I could bake really fancy fruitcakes. He said he would and also a surprise as well. I think it may be a bottle of sherry as I'd told him that one of my favorite things to do was to eat fruitcake with a wee glass of sherry at 4 in the afternoon. I'd said that I thought that that was about the most perfect thing I could ever think of to do. Well, with all this talk of cake I must go slice myself a piece right this minute. Ta!
I did invite them to stay over for the night but they wanted to get going to continue their journey and so we said goodbye and best wishes all around. The Prince asked me what he could do to repay my kindness and as he insisted, I told him that he could send me exotic fresh fruit like pineapples, and exotic fancy nuts like macadamias so that I could bake really fancy fruitcakes. He said he would and also a surprise as well. I think it may be a bottle of sherry as I'd told him that one of my favorite things to do was to eat fruitcake with a wee glass of sherry at 4 in the afternoon. I'd said that I thought that that was about the most perfect thing I could ever think of to do. Well, with all this talk of cake I must go slice myself a piece right this minute. Ta!
Tuesday, January 1, 2008
Adieu Sweet Prince
If wishes were elephants...
It's been quite an adventure in the forest these past few weeks. First of all came word that a real Prince would be passing by and may be staying for the night to rest up on his journey. You can imagine the pandemonium that caused! Suffice it to say that the households in the neighborhood that I live in have never been so spic and span. Mine included. How often does one get the chance to meet a real Prince in one's lifetime. It's never been heard of in this Kingdom. There were a few sleepless nights for the first week or so, and a few false alarms of potential sightings but nothing came to fruition and we all just settled back into the routine of life in the forest during a holiday season. Fruitcakes were baked, decorations hung, gifts made, a seasonal craft fair held, and life was pretty much as it should be. Or so we thought! Let me tell you what happened...
Earlier that morning I decided that I wanted to make just one more batch of fruitcake and knew that the supplies store would be open for only half a day due to it being the holiday season and all. I quickly grabbed a headscarf and tucked my handkerchief into my coat pocket along with the recipe. I decided to take a shortcut and so hightailed it down to the riverbank to take the trail over by the sheds and storage buildings that the people use. I don't often take this route as it is a bit scary to me but on this day I did. Oh! There's the door. Someone's knocking. Just a minute...
It's Merci. She needs me to hold something for her. I'll just pop over to her house and be right back to finish the story! Ta for now!
It's been quite an adventure in the forest these past few weeks. First of all came word that a real Prince would be passing by and may be staying for the night to rest up on his journey. You can imagine the pandemonium that caused! Suffice it to say that the households in the neighborhood that I live in have never been so spic and span. Mine included. How often does one get the chance to meet a real Prince in one's lifetime. It's never been heard of in this Kingdom. There were a few sleepless nights for the first week or so, and a few false alarms of potential sightings but nothing came to fruition and we all just settled back into the routine of life in the forest during a holiday season. Fruitcakes were baked, decorations hung, gifts made, a seasonal craft fair held, and life was pretty much as it should be. Or so we thought! Let me tell you what happened...
Earlier that morning I decided that I wanted to make just one more batch of fruitcake and knew that the supplies store would be open for only half a day due to it being the holiday season and all. I quickly grabbed a headscarf and tucked my handkerchief into my coat pocket along with the recipe. I decided to take a shortcut and so hightailed it down to the riverbank to take the trail over by the sheds and storage buildings that the people use. I don't often take this route as it is a bit scary to me but on this day I did. Oh! There's the door. Someone's knocking. Just a minute...
It's Merci. She needs me to hold something for her. I'll just pop over to her house and be right back to finish the story! Ta for now!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
LinkWithin
