Tuesday, May 29, 2018

In the woods

I was weeding my little fairy circle garden the other day.  Usually I just walk by quickly with the dog and don't take the time to really look.  Everything looks different when you are on the ground.


Saturday, May 26, 2018

Library play day

Yesterday was "Do Your Own Thing" day at the library.  I did very little as I had to run to the hospital for the some tests during part of the time.  I did manage to play a little with stencils, paints, and fabric.  I think some stitch will be nice on this hexi...


Wednesday, May 23, 2018

Monday, May 21, 2018

Harvest home

I'm trying to make little pins to advertise our fall event at church:

Thursday, May 17, 2018

Eye see...

I took my mom to visit her cousin near Branson, Missouri this week.  Madeline turns 95 in September!  She was full of energy and is bright and alert - she even still lives by herself and drives!  She is very amazing to talk to.  We were looking at family photos and other family items.  At one point she was telling about how her husband was injured in WWII.  She turned to me and asked if I would like to see his glass eyes.  Of course I would!  She ran into the bedroom and returned with 2 small boxes.  I was fascinated, as I had never seen one before.  When I asked if I could take pictures, she almost seemed flattered that I even cared. 





Monday, May 14, 2018

I don't really paint...

I'm not a painter, but I do love pushing the paint around on a canvas.  While "working" on a canvas, I am able to just ponder, think, and pray.  I've decided that it doesn't matter what is happening on the surface, if the soul is being fed.  This canvas is actually many layers of paint that have changed over the years.  I wish I had taken a few photos along the way.


I did think to take one before 'bird on stick'...


Funny me...  I don't even remember what is under her.  I just know that I didn't like it and was so happy to paint over her...


Saturday, May 12, 2018

friday / dye at the library

I spent an enjoyable time at the library yesterday turning my hands green.  This morning I washed and dried my new dyed treasures:


The old doily took the dye very well, as did the rayon yardage.  The rayon has been in my stash for a few years and ready to no longer be that bright white that I never know what to do with it...  Now at least it will move from the box of white fabric to the box of green!



I've not tried dyeing paper bundles before.  They may hang in the woods for a few days before being opened.  That kind of behavior always weirds out my family.




Thickened dye with a stencil on rusted/tea stained fabric...  Friend Linda said, "aren't you tired of butterflies?"  No, I guess I'm not.  It certainly needs another layer of something...  time for some stitch? 



I usually throw the thread waste away, but this time I think it needs to be used.  Maybe with the butterfly?


The rest of the fabric is nothing to write home about.  I do have thickened dyes in the refrigerator! Maybe after my chores are done....

Wednesday, May 9, 2018

rust and tea

Before I left for Carbondale with my son, I wrapped fabric with tea bags and rusty "treasures".  I boiled the bundles in water and left them in an old 9 x 13 pan for a few weeks to let the magic happen.  Yesterday I opened the bundles, rinsed and dried the pieces.  Most of them need a second go round of either more rusting or some dye.  This piece is ready for some stitch:


Bundles:



Ready to open:



The bottom of my pan!  Ready for some digital art...


Monday, May 7, 2018

Spring = magnolia

I was barely home in time to see my magnolia tree in bloom this year.  The wind had taken most of the flowers, but a few were spared...  I missed it last year too.  My son questioned why I would grow something that I never get to see bloom.  For me it goes way back - my great grandmother had 2 magnolias in her front yard.  They were beautiful old trees with twisted branches, framing her front door.  We talk of comfort food, maybe magnolias are comfort trees to me!





Friday, May 4, 2018

plaster gauze

I am finally home.  Everything looks so green!  I even have tulips in bloom - I was gone too long!

One of my new play materials is plaster gauze.  I had purchased some awhile back to use in an on line workshop that I took.  I think Jon found it online for less than 10.00 a roll.  Very affordable toy...


I used cereal boxes to cut out shapes.  The gauze was cut into strips, dunked into water, and applied to the cardboard.  It sticks well and dries pretty fast.



I am adding this bird to a mixed media piece that also includes fabric, paper, and stitch.  The piece just needed a bit more and a bird seemed perfect - plus it let me play with the plaster gauze again! I worked on him in the hotel room, but didn't have paint for his eye... a little more play before he is done.


I may have already posted these three...  They were part of a workshop I held in April at our local library.  I love the texture that the plaster makes:




Thursday, May 3, 2018

Travels with Jes

I woke this morning to the gentle snoring of my son.  We travel well together, (as long as he is well fed and gets plenty of sleep).  This trip was a college visit and time to finalize plans before beginning summer term.  Neither of us had been to the Carbondale campus before this week.  He has been stationed in Germany in the Army until a few weeks ago.
Today we head to St. Louis to pick up his car, and return it here for storage until he moves down.  Then the dreaded 6 hour drive home.  The weather is not promising with rain in the forecast.  I guess like most of life, we will move forward and pray for the best.

Wednesday, May 2, 2018

Crazy Women!

A to Z was tons of fun!  Now to catch up on other art with a few crazy women posts:





Tuesday, May 1, 2018

A to Z / My finished alphabet book




The April 2018 A to Z challenge may be over, but I have bound my book and want to share...  I am also happy with myself for completing this challenge!