A nod to Mother Nature

dc113: Nature

Well I'd made a little book featuring an accordion hinge for a giveaway and really, the book was my first attempt and not really up to scratch to be actually given to anyone, never mind the winner of the draw! So I had to make another little book in the same style and as it turns out, it is perfect for this drawing challenge with the theme NATURE.

You can see the spine is made of large pine needles (the species of pine is unknown to me, but the trees are from somewhere in the United States.) The needles have been bound and embellished with tiny sequins and a button. The cover paper is handmade Japanese art paper heavily embedded with leaves and plant fibres. On the front cover is a painted mushroom.

Inside are pages of used tea bag paper, and a sheet of vellum. I've added gel medium image transfers of mushrooms, india ink script writing, and another small acrylic painting of a mushroom.

The mushroom theme comes from the idea of a mad tea party event that took place earlier this year. I enjoy making these little books very much and plan to make one for sale in my etsy shop. I'll keep you posted when I get it listed.

For this drawing challenge I applaud and celebrate our illustrious host Nadine who chose the theme of 'nature.' If you visit her blog she'll take you to all of the folk who joined in on this challenge. There is always such a variety of gorgeous and interesting creations offered here. Thank you so much for dropping in today and I hope to see you again soon. Norma, x

This little book will be sent off to its' proper owner (the winner of the draw) Designing Fairy Ronni!

Beds I Like and My Bed

dc112bed and board 

I started out looking for images of sidetables and maybe headboards that I like which was my planned contribution to the drawing challenge this week. I got stuck on beds, beds, beds. So I am staying with the bed idea. Here are a few that I like and they are ALL from the same site which I'll link to at the end.

And here is my real bed. Well it is a picture of the pretty-much exact same style. It is high off of the floor which I love, and it has the top part on which I drape with fabric according to my whim. Mine is very faded green (the colour of patinated copper) with red contrast. Pictures are painted on the headboard sections and Kali complete with snake is on the very center. Everything is so weathered I don't even wash it. I just give it a light dusting. One day, out of the blue, my Indian neighbour Kim, gave me the bed. It's from India and she used to own a furniture store so she'd get a whole shipment of Indian things to sell. This bed was just leaning against a wall in her garage. I love my bed.

The drawing challenge this week was chosen by our beautiful host Ariane and to see more interesting visuals and art and wonderful surprises, just click on the link and she will take you to such inspiring places. Thank you for dropping in today. I hope to see you again, soon, Norma. Most of the bed images are from my most favourite interior design blog, AN INDIAN SUMMER.

Whittling down...

dc111: FERN

This challenge took me on a few turns. First, I had numerous ideas and couldn't fix on just one of them. Finally I chose, and as is usual with me, my idea was a large one. I did get a start on it however, so I do have something to show you. This is a fern leaf and you will just have to believe me and use your imagination. It keeps morphing into some generic who-knows-what leaf, perhaps a fancy ivy or something. But my intent was to do a small section of a larger fern leaf, to show the underside where the spores form. I needed a leaf shape form on which to place the spores. Here is what I ended up with. It's a leaf shape made from baked 'Sculpey III.'

I sculpted a leaf shape to start out, then baked it, then formed a mold from it and baked that. From the mold I can make as many leaf shapes as I want. When the clay is pulled from the mold it stretches to make an elongated leaf shape. I like it in the end.

My plan is to make more leaf(s) and put them to use in different projects. I'll show you when I get some of them done. Meanwhile this mold making process is my contribution to the drawing challenge this week.

To see more art works from those playing along, just click onto their names and you'll get to their blogs which show their handiwork. Thanks for dropping in today and I hope to see you again soon. Hugs, Norma, x

THE PLAYERS: Cindi, Ariane, Sus, Celine, Nadine, Patrice, Lynne, TammieLee