MORE FRIENDS AND MORE GIFTS

I recently did a charm exchange with the lovely Anne of Bulles Dorees blogspot from France! If you want a visually stimulating sight, visit her blog. This is what she sent me....just beautiful little charms in all different combinations, just lovely! She sent them in this little box done in mixed media which I just Looooove!! Anne also creates beautiful mixed digital collages, just incredible!! Thank you again Anne. I have a plan to make something outrageous incorporating all these charms!!
I also am participating in a "Create it Forward" exchange, and this gift of a mixed media painting was sent by the lovely talented Laura Pace!! It is so much fun, and unlike anything I have!! It also came with a delightful recipe, but I can't promise I'll be baking anytime soon Laura!! I like to take all these gifts and keep them around my work area so I am always reminded of all the kindness that surrounds my life. Thank you Laura and ladies!!

GROWING........PART II

In my continuing obsession with wire, and my longtime struggle to incorporate some fiber in my work, I created this. Not so super sure I liked it at first, but definitely liked a lot about it, so I reworked a few times till I was content. Then I had to leave it for a few days and come back and it is growing on me. I really liked LeAnn's button with it, I thought it helped fit the earthy character of the piece and to anchor the colors. In any event, I am not done twisted wire!

GROWING

Another project from Mary Hett's book, "Wrap, Stitch, Fold & Rivet". This type of wireworking can be very addicting, and I really like how the physical movement involved in the process leads you to where you can go, and it can change with every twist of the metal. I actually made a few more projects that I will post later in the week.

FLANDERS FIELD

I guess it's very fitting, that my long awaited poppy blooming has occurred this weekend, in remembrance of the people who have served us in times of war. The poppy holds a lot of symbolic meaning for Memorial Day. It represents the blood lost by soldiers on the battlefields.
In 1915 a woman by the name of Moina Michel sold poppies as a way to encourage recognition of Memorial Day. The poppy is a wildflower, and it's seeds do not produce growth until they are disturbed. It is thought that in times of war, the soldiers marching through the fields turned the earth with their boots and poppies bloomed abundantly in places of desolation.

Let us all say our own type of pray for those who have sacrificed their time, work, and lives for our freedom!

USE THE MUSE II

Scarlet Lanson has launched her 2nd Use The Muse contest, and it looks very inviting to me. I missed the first one, so I'm anxious to jump in and give this one a try! She has teamed up with a few select sponsors for this , and they have put together a beautiful kit!! Scarlet's blog and website are a treasure to look at, and there is sooooo much information on it I suggest you visit it for yourself. An added bonus is that every week she is giving away a prize for spreading the news about her contest, and judging by the photo of this first week's prize, they are all going to be great as well!!! I just want to say thanks to Scarlet for all the hard work she must have to put into this, in order to share creativity with all of us. THANKS SCARLET! Here's a photo of this week's blogger rewards!!

SLOW SUNDAY

I finally have two days off in a row, since I usually work Saturdays, so my plan is to RELAX!
Sometimes I really have a problem doing that, but I'm sure going to try. More photos of my yard, which helps me to relax!

Hope everyone is enjoying their holiday!

FLAPPER

The Vincent Price movie really inspired me the other day , so I continue on with my vintage, retro motivation. That combined with some new and easy techniques from Mary Hett's book have given me a look I really like. I made my own headpins with silver and a torch for these and I really like the subtle patina, they way they look all aged , the balls sometimes dimpled and worn looking, in other words.... not so perfect. I really like when things are not perfect, maybe that reminds me of me.

The second pair of earrings I made the other day, and I just wanted to show you how my mood and feelings change from day to day, and what the end product is from that. That's the Gemini coming out.

I was equally happy with the two results.