Running With Scissors

Happy Thanksgiving

2011-11-24T12:55:00.001-08:00

Dave Huddleston sketch, a photo by SabiiWabii on Flickr.

Right message, wrong date....

Sketch by hubbie, Dave the Famous Artist, a few years back.

Painting Giveaway

2011-08-20T00:06:00.000-07:00

Dave...the famous artist is having a painting giveaway.

"Every Chipmunks Dream"

All you have to do is go to Facebook and "LIKE" his page.

Then post the title of your favorite painting of his.

If you're not on facebook comment on his blog,

I have connections. I can make it so that you can be included.

Give away

2011-08-15T20:36:00.000-07:00

We are giving away a "Greta" scarf.

The width is so nice and full that it also works well as a beautiful summer wrap.

It is hand knit by the women in Peru with a technique known as Orquilla.

All you have to do is "Like" our facebook page at Our Hands For Hope

or our shop page to be entered.

As soon as we reach 100 "Likes" we will have a random generated drawing.

Now GO and tell your friends.

Artist: Dave Huddleston

2011-08-13T19:42:00.000-07:00

Island collection by my hubbie, Dave the famous artist.

"Crouching Parrot Hidden Gecko"

6" x 6" collage on watercolor paper.

See more details HERE

Artist: Dave Huddleston

2011-08-05T20:15:00.000-07:00

The Diary of a Tourist: Lady Luck

by Dave Huddleston.....my hubbie.

One of fifteen in the series.

6" x 6" collage on watercolor paper

See the entire series here.

Duke

2011-08-02T12:37:00.001-07:00

Don't let the regal posture fool you.

He's a monster I tell you, a monster!

Yippee!

2011-08-02T12:36:00.001-07:00

This is what I look like jumping for joy when a large wholesale order comes in to

Our Hand For Hope

Artist: Dave Huddleston

2011-07-29T21:40:00.000-07:00

This is one of Dave's latest paintings for his upcoming show in October.

The theme is "Backroads of the Napa Valley".

I LOVE this painting!

Acrylic on canvas 12" x 24"

Dave's Daily Doodles

2011-07-23T22:37:00.000-07:00

More silly nonsense my hubbie, Dave, the famous artist has created.

If you go over to his website, leave him a comment and tell him there is no excuse

for not blogging more often!

Cuddle Gram Logo

2011-07-20T20:03:00.000-07:00

The new and improved logo.

I am loving it.

My favorite part is where PERU is written, knowing we can interchange country names as we move into other areas to assist and collaborate with other women.The blog is up and running as well as the website.

Details on my Dress Form

2011-07-15T17:34:00.000-07:00

"Tablescapes"

2011-07-12T23:05:00.000-07:00

My absolute favorite piece of art.

Created by

Dave, the famous artist

All the figures in this painting were actual sculptures that we had created over the years.

The close up is of "Ethel and her kids".

The matradee actually held a long feather and was named, "The tickle monster".

About 15 years ago, I was invited to participate in an design instillation titled, "Tablescapes" for the Downtown Roseville Merchants Association in Sacramento, California. Each artist was given a room, area or empty window throughout a shopping mall and were asked to create a fantasy environment for a table setting. It was an exciting show for me to participate in because I was in the company of two of my favorite UC Davis design instructors, Dolph Gotelli and Jo Ann Stabb.

This painting reflects what I had set up for that show.

Our Hands For Hope, LLC.

2011-06-30T23:02:00.000-07:00

It's official.

We've launched.

One year ago I was in the barrios of Peru and here we are today

launching the opening of our on-line store.

Our Hands For Hope, LLC

We are facilitating economic opportunities to better the lives of the women in other cultures, beginning with the barrios of Peru.

We are working with women artisans living in the barrios to create luxurious hand knits out of alpaca and Peruvian pima cotton.

Please go check out the store but come back and tell me what you think.

These photos were done by two great friends and photographers.

Sarah Lane and Damion Hamilton

Client: Our Hands For Hope – www.OurHandsForHope.com

Lead Photographer and Creative Director – Sarah Lane (Sarah Lane Studios & Studio Twelve) - www.SarahLaneStudios.com

Details Photographer – Damion Hamilton - www.DamionHamilton.com

Makeup Arists – Keli Campbell & Kim Alexandra

Hair Stylists – Margaret LaPorte & Brandyn Connor

Hip Hero's

2011-06-25T09:39:00.000-07:00

Hubbie and I were "Cool"...at least in my mind we were.

That was until we had kids reminding us everyday we seemed to lack in the "Hip" department

(my word not theirs).

I think theirs might be "Rad" or "Phatt".

Since I am at an age where weight and awareness go hand in hand,

being called "Phatt" is not my idea of "Cool".

Officially this week, I believe I am an "empty nester".

Not too sure since I still can not see the floor in her room.

So with an empty house, we now can get back to the foundation of who we really are.

It seemed appropriate to recreate our true identities....

We decided to paint life size figures first.

As our "Phattness" might get in the way of our "Hipness" inside spandex, at this time.

Artist: Stefania Morgante

2011-06-21T22:01:00.000-07:00

I am totally in love with the art of Stefania Morgante.

I first became aware of her when she donated an amazing piece of jewelry (actually art) for the

RED Party a few years back.

Soon thereafter became aware of her aiblity to capture pure character humor in her sketch work.

She seems to be able to interject a liveliness into her figures in a way that you don't see often.

Her latest venture is about to launch and you can get a sneak peek if you go here.

Add your name and you will receive a free download of the cutest paper doll and accessories.

I framed mine!

Spirals

2011-05-27T19:44:00.000-07:00

Flickr photos by:

1. on their way, 2. stone spiral, 3. on their way, 4. KEN026, 5. mandala constellation

DIY: Fabric Flower Wedding Bouquet

2011-05-18T21:01:00.000-07:00

The complete fabric flower bouquet from beginning to vows.

Part 1

Start with circles cut in 2", 3" and 4" diameters from a variety of fabric scrap fabrics.

Preferably synthetics because they will melt and not burn.

Carefully burn the edges by waving close to a candle flame.

See more here.

Begin by layering petal after petal and stitching together.

Here's the secret:

Off set and use your burned circles as petals. Do not just center them one on top of the other.

Continue added petals and increasing them in size.

Petal after petal, stitch after stitch.

Don't worry about "messy stitches...they will all be covered up.

The goal is to get everything to hold together.

Now is the time to pull out all the fun brooches, buttons and broken earrings

to add to the centers of your flowers.

Part 2

After the petals are all stitched together and centers added, you're ready to attach a backing.

You can create them into corsages at this point by attaching brooch pins. Or add loops to attach bobby pins to wear in your hair.

In order to add stems for a bouquet, this is the easiest way I could come up with.

Supplies needed:

Wire 20 gauge

Florest tape

Needle and thread

Long nose pliers

And always a good pair of scissors

Bend wire in half and twist the entire length down,

leaving a loop at the top about the size of a quarter.

On the back side of your flower, behind one of the petals, insert the wire.

Hand stitch around the wire through the back petal and into the petals on the other side of the loop.

There are so many layers of petals that you won't see the stitches on the front.

This will hold the wire and flower in place.

Now bend the wire stem and loop 90 degrees.

Beginning about 2" down from the flower begin wrapping the floral tape up to the flower then back down. Pulling tight and twisting until you come to the end.

Cover the entire stem.

I did all my stems this way. When I decided how to arrange them, I added a thicker fake flower stem to some of the flowers beginning about 3 1/2' down from the flower base.

I only added this stem to a select few.

This gave some girth to my stems for the bouquet to be held but not too thick.

On the backs to cover up the stitching add a silk leaf or two with the glue gun.

You really can't see the backs when there done but,

you'll know that it would hold up in a 4-H fair judges critique!

Now you're ready to assemble them together.

I added a few silks in with my fabric flowers and brooches. I felt like it needed that third element to give it textural interest.

Wrap all the stems together with florist tape.

I covered my stems completely by wrapping with lime green cotton ribbon and added the pearls to the ends of the loops.

Now for a bit of shamless advertising. Looking for the perfect gift for the wedding party?
Check out the buttery soft alpaca throws ready to ship to you from
Our Hands For Hope

You can help change the lives of the women and children living in the barrios of Peru by sending a
Cuddle Gram

Action Hero ties the knot

2011-05-07T00:09:00.000-07:00

He danced.

He frolicked.

She swooned.

He proposed.

Today they're married!

Happy Wedding day, Action Hero.

Flickr photos by: Ballet-school.ru

"The Dinner Party" sets the stage for Go Girl Gallery

2011-04-30T23:27:00.000-07:00

I am honored, to be honored by this cute little Fancy Nancy

at the Blue Oak School's,

Go Girl Gallery, a celebration of women through art.

Art instructor Leslie Gevurtz has developed a
"women's study through art" curriculum.

Having been influenced by Judy Chicago's "The Dinner Party", an art instillation brought to life by hundreds of volunteers creating china plates and textile runners paying tribute to women in history;

Leslie brought the idea back to her students.

Anika, a very talented young woman who is pursuing her interests

in art and fashion created a table setting honoring me.

Everything was perfect down to the last detail: buttons, pins, thread and needle.

A perfect setting and a true honor.

Thank You, Anike!

Fabric Flower Bridal Bouquet

2011-04-26T22:35:00.000-07:00

The Brides bouquet is finished!

Every petal cut, burned and stitched together.

The centers are a combination of brooches and buttons.

Royal Wedding and Peru

2011-04-23T11:00:00.000-07:00

Wedding, Peru, wedding, Peru, wedding, Peru this what consumes my days now, planning a wedding and preparing to go on-line with the Peruvian hand knits for Our Hands For Hope, LLC.

So, I've found a great way a to "marry" the two...so to speak.

With wedding plans in action for my daughter and the overwhelming publicity for the

William and Kate Royal wedding,

I was struck by the two smartly costumed William and Kate Peruvian cuy's.

Photo: Sky News

The Cuy, which is an important animal to the Peruvian culture is highly honored at a festival in Huacho, Peru.

Photo: It's Called Wonders

These cute little guinea pigs are costumed and paraded

to compete for best dressed.

Awards are given for Best Dressed, Couture, and

Flickr photo: Butch Osborne (Back Soon)

Best Dressed, Epicurean!

They say they taste like chicken. Yum.

Fabric Flower Bridal Bouquet

2011-04-13T21:29:00.000-07:00

Today was the beginning of the brides bouquet.

I sent over all my scrap fabrics to Action Hero's (aka the Bride's) house.

Running with scissors just like I taught her,

she cut them up into circles.

Then carefully burnt around all the edges.

Flickr photo: Venvierra

She was a very good girl and didn't do this!

Flickr photo: Firefighter Spot

Today my bag of petals arrived.

I started stacking and stitching.

And stitching and stacking more.

I'm not going to worry about the messy stitching on the back

I'll figure out how to cover it all up when I add the stems.

Tomorrow I will be auditioning centers...so Mom...I need the brooches and buttons now.

Wedding Decor: Tissue flowers

2011-04-11T23:22:00.000-07:00

Wedding decorations have begun.

Some basic tools, the Dollar store and a bit of inspiration from Martha.

Accordion pleat 8 sheets of tissue paper, wrapping the center with a thin wire.

Carefully pull the layers apart. Do not do this after having just finishing your morning coffee.

Slowly and carefully pull are the key words here. This will make half a pom-pom.

I wired two together to form spheres.

They price out to $2.00 each.

Wedding inspiration

2011-03-27T22:22:00.000-07:00

Let the wedding plans begin!

Action Hero's inspiration board.

Our Hands For Hope, LLC.

2011-03-22T18:17:00.000-07:00

Every day we are closer and closer to our website up and running!

The concept is simple.

For every soft, cuddly, alpaca throw you purchase; we purchase a warm and snuggly fleece blanket for a child in need.

Not only is it simple, it's helping those most in need.

These beautiful hand knit throws are lovingly created by women in the barrios of Peru.

Is it really Spring?

2011-03-20T12:00:00.000-07:00

1. Aija, 2. Untitled, 3. Butterflies, 4. Monarch Butterfly sipping nectar from red Spicy Jatropha flowers, 5. Custom Butterfly Necklace for a bride, 6. Butterfly Wing Cane 365/3, 7. Butterfly Pompon, 8. Gorgeous Butterfly Note Card, 9. Felt Butterflies up close

It's "Tradition"

2011-03-15T23:57:00.000-07:00

Now that the big Spring Trunk Show is over I now am ready to concentrate on my daughters wedding.
Well, "kind of", wedding. You see they are already married.

Let me back up 5 months....

You may remember Burbank Baby who soon graduated to Action Hero status when she decided to ramp up her life by jumping out of flying things.

Well, her "friend" who was around "visiting" for about a year was announced that he had moved up the ranks into "Boy Friend" status. Not more than three weeks later we were told that it once again had moved up into "Engagement".

The Friend was soon to become my first Son in Law!

His name is Jesus, pronounced "Hey Seuss" as in Doctor Seuss. That should make it very easy for me to remember his name.

So, do you think I could call him that?

....Noooo...

I, for some reason refer to him as Jesus when speaking to others correctly but, when I am face to face,
I call him Jose!

I have no idea why and it now has become quite embarrassing. I would love to blame it on something profound but I have not come up with anything good as of yet. If you have any ideas, please let me know.

Now this is where the fun begins....

On any ol', regular November morning, I awoke and made myself a cup of coffee. I picked up my phone to see if I had received any messages over night because I have become quite a social networking kind of gal.

Oh, look. I have a text from Action Hero.

It reads, "Getting married at the recorders office at 10:30 am today. Be there."

I turn to Hubbie and say, "Hun, get up were going to a wedding!"

I phoned a friend and asked her what she was doing at that moment.

Her reply, "Making eggs".

Which I then asked if she would run quickly to Safeway and pick me up a dozen roses and meet me in the Second Street parking garage.
The great and dutiful friend she is, followed direction and asked very few questions.

I then made a phone call to Action Hero and asked her what she was wearing.
She replies," I don't know yet. I'm at Target. It is the only place open right now besides Wal-Mart".

Within the next hour I am dressed, holding a mini bouquet of Safeway roses, wrapped in a left over cream ribbon that I found in the backseat of the car and sitting inside a 12 x 15 foot room inside our County Recorders office. Decorated with maroon carpeting, dusty rose chairs, two perfectly pleated burgundy polyester drapes, lovingly tied back to expose a photo mural of Napa Valley grapevines with mustard in bloom and a fake green plant sitting on top of a white wicker stand.

My daughter, beautifully adorned in her early morning Target attire and my new son in law Jose...I mean Jesus repeated their vows both in English and in Spanish for the five witnesses present.

The entire ceremony took three minutes. The fact that it was bilingual helped extend the time.

We took a hand full of pictures against the vineyard wall art and were then kicked out of the room because there was another wedding waiting.

"Anyone up for breakfast?" says, the new Father of the Bride.

Now for all of you who think we got off easy and are forwarding this post to your daughters in hopes that they will follow suit and relishing the good fortune we had with the lack of emotions, shopping, tastings, dress shops, bridesmaids, family dramas, cake, invitations etc.....

We are now in the throws of having a wedding. Not your ordinary wedding like you see in the movies or on the wedding blogs.

This is what is called an authentic Latino Catholic wedding....well, kind of.

The words authentic or traditional are "Not" in Action Heros vocabulary.

So, the wedding is becoming more and more interesting each day.

It seems that there are very "traditional" ceremonial events that will need to be taking place. These have been requested by the new inlaws.
Each time something is questioned the answer is,

"it's tradition".

Action Hero and her lack of "Tradition" seems to be countering by expressing
her creative abilities in strange and unique ways.

This is the cover of the wedding invitations that were just mailed. Action Hero with her ability to photoshop any face into any photo has created what I have to admit is the most creative wedding invitation I have ever seen.

I was just informed that the first dance song was chosen by running through the Nokia phone ring tones and "Fur elise" was the song of choice.

It's "tradition", from what I am told.
Not sure if it's the choosing a song from a phone or the song itself that is "tradition".

Action Hero having the ability then to choose the second song has now chosen,
"Move, Shake and Drop" by DJ Laz FT. Pitbull & Flo Rida.

It was either that or "Get Low" by Flo Rida,
for Hubbie and I, to attend to the dance floor with our new family.

No matter what, we lack the ability to roll with the Rumba, Sumba or Salsa but, promise to make a valiant effort for our daughter.

I was holding out for a little "Night Moves," by Bob Segar or

"Do Ya Think I'm Sexy," by Rod Stewart.

At least that way in my mind I will look just as cool

as I thought I looked
when I danced to them the last time.......30 years ago!

Now that's "Tradition"!

Makes my heart sing

2011-03-12T20:16:00.000-08:00

1. Lovely Little Throw, 2. work en progress - gilet pour Nathanaelle - custom order, 3. FreeColors by Héloïse, 4. Mini scarf, 5. on their way, 6. Granny Chic, 7. Detail Pot Pourri, 8. Detail of freeform crochet scarves, 9. Handspun Alpaca/Mohair Beaded Yarn

Our Hands For Hope, LLC.

2011-03-04T21:49:00.000-08:00

Artwork By: Cazzie Cathcart

I love that these....

Flickr Photo By: Janruss

Flickr Photo By: Tambako the Jaguar

Flickr Photo By: Rob Gruhl

Create this...

Flickr Photo By: North Star Alpacas

And can be spun into this...

Flickr Photo By: Snowberrylime

Or better yet these.....

Photos from: Yarn A Day

Then can be knit like this...

To cuddle up like this....

For a cause like this....

Our Hands For Hope, LLC

DIY Clothing Labels

2011-02-25T20:21:00.000-08:00

I was all over the Internet looking for easy clothing labels without having to put out a large financial commitment. Especially since Federal Trade regulations require fiber content and washing instructions. Huge print runs for each fiber blend can become expensive.
So off to the fabric store, I went looking for alternatives.
Here's what I came up with and it works!

There are many different inkjet fabrics on the market but, there are only a few that fit my needs.
This one by Blumenthal Craft PhotoFabric 100% Cotton Poplin Roll is one of the best brands I've found for a couple of reasons.
First, it's fused "on grain". Not all brands are. This will present problems with fraying if you use a lesser brand.

Second, this is the only brand that I can find that is BOTH hand washable and dry cleanable, but only if you follow directions.
Let's begin.

I laid out my graphics so that after it's folded in half, the back side when flipped up will have all the washing and fiber information.
(You have to find your own daughter to help you with that step...sorry.)

Follow the package directions and don't skip any steps!

Run your fabric through your inkjet printer.
Let it dry completely. I actually let mine sit for about 3 hours. You want to be sure it's dry.

Peel the paper backing off and place in lukewarm water to soak and rinse.

After rinsing, I laid mine out onto a clean towel to absorb some of water before ironing.

Press hot.
I put it on the wool setting and pressed until dry with a piece of cotton as a pressing cloth always next to the inked side.
There was a very faint release of ink, but all the colors stayed vibrant, clear and clean.

Cut by using a straight edge and rotary cutter. This way you can get a VERY clean line.

Using these tools instead of scissors, will help cut "on grain" to eliminate fraying.

I finger pressed in half and folded in about a 1/4" on both top edges.

This will give you a clean area to hand or machine stitch your labels in.

They hold up well and do not seem to be fading.

Since I have just completed stitching these into about 300 alpaca hand knit items,
I am very happy with the outcome!

Our Hands For Hope, LLC.

2011-02-11T19:28:00.000-08:00

It's official. I can finally talk about what has been going on these last six months. A year ago, I began working with an organization called, Project New Hope International.
One of the many areas they are working in is Trujillo, Peru. Peru is a beautiful country and the people of Peru are just as beautiful and inspiring. I was blessed to have been able to travel down there last April.
The women I have the privileged of working with, created a cooperative called Peruvian Mothers. These mothers have all been trained in textile arts. Some having felt the need to pass on what they had been taught, have gone out into barrios of Peru and trained up other mothers.

To date there are about 400 women all trained and capable of producing amazing textile work in knit, crochet, orquilla, crewel and embroidery.

My job has been to create a business here in the US to promote their work. I have been helping them design and chose colors for the US market. At our first sale we sold well over 3/4 of the beautiful alpaca hand knit luxury items and by word of mouth continued to sell through Christmas until nothing was left.

New stock is now here in the US and we are getting ready to have a
Spring Trunk show in March.
Our web site is almost done and I received my LLC papers from the state!

It's official
Our Hands For Hope, LLC
is up and running!

M is for Monkeys

2011-01-23T20:50:00.000-08:00

Monkey's are just to do darn cute and who doesn't love a pink one?
Look what my blog buddy Viv just made!

I haven't begged, I mean asked, if this one is for sale yet.
If you poke around her site you'll find some pretty darn cute Teddy bears also.

You can go purchase this little guy from MisterSockMonkey1 on etsy.

Or these guys from TheWillowTree on etsy.

Not too sure which part of this one is for sale, but he looks just a cuddly as the others.
citefuzz on etsy

Still a Burden

2011-01-22T00:14:00.000-08:00

I wrote this exactly 3 years ago today...

Sometimes a painting can speak volumes to you. This one, "The Burden of the Materialistic Man" was done by my hubby, Dave, the world's famous artist. It holds alot of meaning for me. My burden is not the "stuff" as much as the "stuff that could be". You know...If I glued this with this it could be a ......If I painted this it could be a.....If ever I need something it could be a.....I think I'll ask him to do a painting titled, "The Burden of a Junk Junkie Woman".

I guess some things never change.

January 17, 2011

2011-01-16T21:46:00.000-08:00

If you want to know what this day represents go

HERE

Technorati 100

2011-01-14T22:24:00.000-08:00

Yep, that would be me number

photo: Leo Reynolds

Top 100 in Arts and Home
Technorati rankings

Now in the grand scheme of things that makes me 46,811 out of 1,252,211 blogs
So what if the Huffington Post is number 1
and
Celebrity Dirty Scandals is ahead of me.

Can they make a bubble bee out of a pipe cleaner?

Enough said.

It's my Blogoversary

2011-01-11T10:18:00.000-08:00

3 years

Today 0n 1-11-11

Oh NO!

2011-01-03T21:35:00.000-08:00

If it wasn't enough trying to keep track of all the jewels here in blogland by playing "hop blog". Moving from one site to the next by each blogs links.
Discovering treasures here and there and establish new friendships with like minded souls.

Then came the "follower" button where they just begin to "appear" in a cohesive manner on your personal dashboard.
Today I find this:
Stumble Upon.
Oh great, in the first 5 stumbles I find 4 that are sites I can't wait to visit again! I am torn between sifting slowly within the new found site or hurrying to "stumble upon" the next jewel.
What is a girl to do?
Too many visual sites to see and not enough hours in the day.

Running With Scissors...

2010-12-29T18:23:00.000-08:00

Should only be done by a highly skilled professional.

Sadly, she was NOT.

Artwork by Patricia Waller

DIY: Blossom and Bumblebee pin cushion

2010-12-20T14:13:00.000-08:00

Here's what you'll need.
Blossom
cotton fabric
hand full of stuffing
needle
buttonhole thread
silk flower
button
green raffia or tissue
shot glass
Bumblebee
yellow pipe cleaner
black permanent marker
corsage pin
stiff clear plastic

Begin cutting a 6" circle out of 100% cotton.

Using a heavy buttonhole thread, sew a running stitch 1/4" in around the circumference of the circle.

Pull the thread to begin gathering the circle.

Slowly add poly-fill stuffing. Fill it very tightly.

Pull up your gathering thread and tie off.
Do not cut.
Leave the needle and thread attached.

Take apart a few old silk flowers.

Two large petals for the base.

Small petals for the top.

Bring the needle up through the center of the ball.
Attach the small flowers and a decorative button.
Bring the needle back down and pull very tight.
This is why you must use strong thread.

Knot and cut your thread off.

Hot glue the flower top onto the large petals.

Flower is done.

Hot glue 3 large leaves onto the base.

This is a shot glass.
I purchased a set of 6 at the dollar store.

Add green raffia or tissue into the shot glass and hot glue the top edge.

Immediately place the glued glass top onto the flower leaf base.

OK...It's bumblebee time!

Here are your tools.
A black permanent marker will color the pipe cleaner and the head of the corsage pin.

With needle nose pliers, grasp the end of the pipe cleaner.

Wrap the pipe cleaner up four times.

Cut off and tuck end into the large base.
Cut off a 1" piece of your black and bend in half.

Tuck the black into the large open end of the yellow.

Place the corsage pin into the head end of the bee.

Add a drop of hot glue and push into the bee.

Now for the wings.
You're going to cut a shape that looks like a stubby valentine.

I used a plastic that was ready for the trash.
Cut out and use a fine point permanent pen to draw on the veining.

Just a drop of hot glue will attach the wings right at the base where the black meets the yellow.

Bend the pin slightly.

Place him into the flower top so that he can hoover above it.

I did this project with a kids sewing class and they all turned out great.

If you make one let me know.
I'll start a flickr group to showcase our floral bouquet.

My Owl Barn

2010-12-16T22:14:00.000-08:00

If you haven't created your own Owl Lover 2011 Calendar ,
go do it.

Right now.
I'll wait.....

Artwork by:
upper Julia Hartling lower Cally Johnson Isaacs

Now you've seen how cute these are and how easy they are to make.
There is no excuse for not having a Christmas gift for the hard to shop for relative.

How to ship from Peru

2010-12-10T19:48:00.000-08:00

You place an order on October 10, 2010.

You purchase and place as many stamps as you can fit on top of your box.

You patiently wait until you receive a letter from Home Land Security.

They tell you, you have to find a broker that will sign for your box in Miami.
You call 225 brokers until you find one that sounds trustworthy.

You go to Staples and buy a ream of paper and printer ink
to print all the pages the broker sends you.
You cry when you realize all the forms that have to be filled out.
Then you remember how soft and cuddly the hand knit alpaca sweaters and throws are.

You fax in the forms.
You call everyday for 33 days.
The day arrives when they finally tell you that your box has been released from Customs Jail.

You count down the days til arrival.
You return home to find that they tried to deliver while you were away.

You go to the Post office the next day.
They find the box after the third time looking.
They tell you to wait on the side of the building.
You move your car four times because it's taking the postman to long to come out.
Five other postmen and women ask if they can help you.

You spot a guy, in blue, carrying a really big box with stamps ALL over it.
He places it in your car!

Home at last and yes they are just as soft and cuddly as I remember.....

From Peru to California....
Piece of cake!

DIY: Wire Flower Brooch

2010-12-04T23:34:00.000-08:00

What a tangled web we weave...
or I wove...
well crocheted.

Tools needed:
Thin 28 -30 gauge wire, crochet hook (J), really cool vintage beads.

Pre-thread on beads. It was easy to slide one up and crochet in when needed.
Helpful hint:The wire on the spool wants disparately to uncoil.
I allowed about 18" out at a time, keeping the wire clipped into its grove on the top of the spool , allowing out only what I needed.

There is a rhyme and reason to this design believe it or not.

It is the exact same as any basic crocheted flower.

In case you were wondering, messy is just fine.

Wire on a bar pin to the back.
Helpful hint: Place it just above center. If it's centered it will not lie flat when worn.

Wear as a brooch or on a velvet ribbon as a Victorian choker.

Artist: Katwise

2010-11-30T22:08:00.000-08:00

Just thought you should know my birthday is coming up.

Oh, and if you miss my birthday,

CHRISTMAS is just around the corner.

Kat O'Sullivan aka: Katwise

FYI

Her next posting of coats will be on Sunday, December 21st at 2pm New York time.

DIY Sachet Tutorial

2010-11-19T16:59:00.000-08:00

With the launch of the new business we wanted to give a gift to all our guests.
A sachet seemed like the perfect item.
They are simple to make and have a practical purpose.

Computer Printer Fabric is one of the most fun materials to use.
I love that you can draw anything and transfer it to fabric instantly.
Printer fabric, white cotton, cheese cloth, ribbons and lavender are the basic essentials for this project.

You can use any drawing or design. I sketched out our bird logo in black and white with a sharpie pen, then scanned it into the computer.
My hubbie colored it in with his Bamboo sketching pad, adding color and dimension to the design.
Notice the great ribbon I found AFTER the design was done.
How cool is that?

Print your finished art onto Computer Printer Fabric cotton following manufacturers instructions. There are lots of brands available now. I choose the June Tailor brand.
The cotton is a great weight and light enough to allow the scent of the lavender to pass through without any of the seeds falling out.
Lay out your printing to maximize your design on the fabric.
I did mine at 16 vignettes per page.
Print and heat set with a hot iron.

Cut out your printed design with pinking sheers 2 1/2" x 2 1/2".

Also cut:
2 Cotton squares 4" x 4"
1 Cheesecloth square 3"x 3"
1 Open weave ribbon 4"
1 Decorative ribbon 6"
Layer the complete top layer only.
Leaving off one 4" x 4" square and the decorative ribbon.
Stitch around the edge 1/8" in to hold all layers together. See where the pin is.

Now lay completed sachet top, on top of the back 4" x 4".
Stitch around three sides at 1/2" leaving the top edge undone.

Pour in 1 tablespoon of fresh lavender.
Cloves or cinnamon sticks would be a great alternatives.

Tuck the decorative 6" ribbon into the top leaving a loop to hang.

I allowed the ribbon to just fall to the back to give the back side some interest.
Stitch across the top through all layers.

This is a perfect, inexpensive gift for any occasion.

Wrap three to five together with a beautiful ribbon as a complete presentation.
These would also be great for wedding party favors.

Somethings Bugging Me

2010-11-13T12:13:00.000-08:00

Wanda's Designs A genius with polymer clay.

Ulla Norup Milbreth: Who I want to be when I grow up.

Wanda's Designs: Go see her teapots too.

Ulla Norup Milbreth: Yep, still want to be creative like her.

Kup Kup Land: A unique sense of creative style.

June Bugs In July: Brings back the Girl Scout badge memories.

Hansigurumi: How does one even begin a project like this?

Liz Vandel: If I could do it all over again, I'd join the circus and wear this.

Chosetec : Big deal. I could do this too.
If I had a three month supply of coffee and a truck load of paper.

Artists: Segal and Vanderwal

2010-10-21T23:24:00.000-07:00

A pictures worth a thousand words or is it a thousand words like, sweater, leggings, belt, bracelet, shawl, necklace, shorts, pants, blouse, coat, hat, etc...... make a picture?

Look at this photography by Mark Segal and

I am in love with the styling by David Vanderwal.

Disney

2010-10-18T21:55:00.000-07:00

You just gotta love
the happiest place on earth

HOPE

2010-10-05T09:34:00.000-07:00

The color of HOPE

Ribbons represent awareness for so many different causes today.
Fire Mountain Gems has put together a great list of colors, their symbolic meaning and matching beads to incorporate into jewelry designs.

Artist: Violise Lunn

2010-09-28T21:37:00.000-07:00

I am so fascinated by paper art.
I love it when an artist can transcend the expected and emerge into the unexpected.

"Allowing herself to divide her time between these two artforms, the usable and the useless, Violise Lunn lets them feed each other with inspiration. Their origin is the same – to permit dreaminess and the search for perfection."

Artist Violise Lunn from Denmark does just that.

Railroad Crossing

2010-09-26T21:10:00.000-07:00

This is a sketch from hubbie,
Dave the famous artist
who never writes in his blog.

Purple

2010-09-24T18:55:00.000-07:00

Well purple was not quite as painful as I thought it might be.
I had no back ups though.
This is it!
The color wheel is finished.

1. Ronde, 2. Flowie, 3. Pretty in Pink Detail, 4. Dior, 5. Vogue Italia Dec 05, 6. Candyland Crown! 8, 7. paint me, 8. in praise of woman, 9. Crazy Cupcake Cake, 10. herding poppets, 11. Water Drop #23, 12. It's Show Business：西天取経, 13. The Faerie Queendom of Violetopia, 14. purple paper dress 2, 15. I'll eat you alive., 16. El amanecer de las mariposas

Blue

2010-09-22T19:07:00.000-07:00

Blue
Cordon bleu was what I ordered on my first date with my husband 26 years ago.

The next one is going to be difficult. I'm just not a purple person.
OK, deep rich purple I'm ok with...it's the soft lavender stuff that you will NEVER see in my house or on my body!
I wonder what that means about my personality?
It's going to be interesting to see what I have in my flickr fav folder.
Until then, enjoy these blues and go see the artists that created them.

1. pear white, 2. Why is a Raven Like a Writing Desk?, 3. pillow, 4. Special Dahlias, 5. The right leg, 6. starlight girl, 7. Bali Sky, 8. Crossing The Border !!, 9. Coral and Shells, 10. The Sister - Kite, 11. Willy Nilly, 12. Off into the Wild Blue Yonder Skirt, 13. Embroidery, 14. Dancing Dots, 15. Tattooed snails 5/33 and 6/33, 16. Pilze

Green

2010-09-20T18:52:00.000-07:00

Apple, army, asparagus, Caribbean, celadon, chartreuse, olive, spring, jungle, dollar, electric, lime, emerald, fern, forest, guppy, hooker's, hunter, jade, kelly, lawn, mint, malachite, meadow, myrtle, napier, pear, pine, pistachio, rifle, sap, shamrock, spring, viridian, Xanadu,
GREEN

1. Mad Hatter, 2. Showtime Pendant base flowers close up, 3. Funny toes, 4. Fabric Flower Necklace, 5. Woodland Faerie, 6. Mini Fiber Book, 7. wedding decor, 8. Puddle jumping, 9. Monkey with big ears, 10. GILL2784, 11. Visions of Salvador Dali, 12. Druid, 13. the birthday wish snail, 14. Being Kermit the Frog., 15. Wicked Witch of the East, 16. Red in Yellow (Vertorama)

Yellow

2010-09-19T22:31:00.000-07:00

What is Yellow?

Yellow is the color of the sun
The feeling of fun
The yolk of an egg
A duck's bill
A canary bird
And a daffodil.

I'm just now realizing where this obsession to these color collages is coming from.
My favorite book as a child was
Hailstones and Halibut Bones by Mary O'Neill
How fun it would be to illustrate this book.
I think I will add that into my 100 dreams list.

1. Yellow flower, 2. venetian mask, 3. Tord Boontje, 4. Mini Fiber Book, 5. trollz, 6. My 2008, 7. Shabby Fabric Flower Necklace, 8. colorful stare, 9. day 180 : 365 may 21 • peace and love, 10. :: where gretel lives ::, 11. The Wicked Witch of the East, 12. Rubber Duckie You're the One..., 13. tutu for you?, 14. Woven paper hearts, 15. ding dong the witch is dead, 16. Colar

Orange

2010-09-18T09:34:00.000-07:00

Yes, this has become an obsession.
But what better way to show off the cool photos I have collected in Flickr?
Ode to Orange

1. Orange (365/340), 2. Metamorphose, 3. Formosan Sweetgum：フウの木, 4. aDRESSing the situation, 5. Alice at the toadstool, 6. Rick and Laurens wedding, 7. Mad Hatter - Johnny Depp, 8. Flamenco felted scarf, 9. Existential Bird Considers its Shadow, 10. Princess Painting, 11. Spectral, 12. cleo, 13. THai°ZiPPeR, 14. Fishing for Compliments!, 15. Do you have advent calendars in your country?, 16. advent calendar...

Black, white and RED all over

2010-09-16T20:47:00.000-07:00

A weekly stop for me is Calamity Kim's. She inspired me by posting a great study in blue.
I thought, blue is fine and all but you can't beat RED!

So, here is my
Ode to RED.

1. Cut me (365/194), 2. Opposites attract (365/238), 3. My heart is yours (365/280), 4. red tulips.............., 5. Ice Cream Sundae Charm, 6. Broken Die, 7. Sharp and fuzzy shoe, 8. red marble, 9. all*love, 10. Umbrella, 11. recycled, reimagined, 12. fiabe, 13. Untitled, 14. Stairs, 15. Rosenlandschaft, 16. Cat In The Hat's Lollipop

Ode to PINK

2010-09-15T22:30:00.000-07:00

There are so many great artist and photographers.
Here are just a few more of my Flickr favorites in
PINK
Isn't the word pink such a silly word?

1. Rose, 2. Flamingos Partying, 3. WATER BOTTLE FLOWERS _4291, 4. Lovechild Boudoir - Birth of Venus bustle, 5. Candyland Crown! 2, 6. Quinceanera Pink Tipsy, 7. Mini Valentine Sock Monkey Twins, 8. Enchanted April's Parasol, 9. Altered Advent Calendar, 10. Splash!, 11. Tord + Tiffanys, 12. Garden Cake, 13. PINKLOVELY Scarf Crochet Freeform detail, 14. pink fairy shoe, 15. My fabulous pink wedding shoes, 16. poppy

It's all about color

2010-09-14T22:54:00.000-07:00

1. Fun colors against a night sky, 2. tase ike candy, 3. AU CIRCUS TWO, 4. Pride, 5. Advent Calendar 2007, 6. Day 20: Rainbow, 7. 37:365 A Sink!, 8. May Luck Be On Your Side *, 9. Count Your Ladybugs, 10. Acorn daisies made with sweater felt, 11. TWTME 1st Flickrversary, 12. Water colours., 13. Pincushion, 14. colorful mosaic of a rainy Istanbul, 15. Pinzas, 16. Transparency / Transparencia

The Bra Project

2010-09-01T20:38:00.000-07:00

What a great project.
I am looking forward to seeing the creative art traverse the globe.
Join in the project here and watch the clothesline grow.

The Birds and the Bees

2010-08-30T17:08:00.000-07:00

BIRDS DO IT

I went looking for bird nests and low and behold on an Alpaca site I found this picture! Not only does Alpaca Farm Girl have a great natural nest photo but a great site about the cutiest animal on earth.

Nova clutch had this wonderful nest made by a "city bird". This photography is to die for.

BEES DO IT

National geographic featured this article about a rare bee that makes flower cocoons.

WE DO IT

Yvonne Stefani at wool & water on flickr creates all kinds of amazing fiber art.

And this art shawl was found on flickr by ArcEnCielcreations

FIBER ART

Free Form Fiber Art

2010-08-28T21:32:00.000-07:00

A few pictures of some of my Flickr favorites. I actually LOVE looking at my file. If you like whimsical color, dramatic patterns and animated sculptural art take a look.

Flickr photo: Atelier Monica de Godoi

Flickr photo: Irregular Expressions

Flickr photo: Sara Aries

Flickr photo: Gramarye

Flickr photo: Marie Castro

Flickr photo: DreamWoven1

HOPEFUL

2010-08-21T20:44:00.000-07:00

I have officially moved to a new house.
A big box here, a big box there.
All I seem to do is shift "stuff" from one room to another.
I wish my stuff was all like little charms that you could wear around your wrist.

Always with you and all the attached emotional memories condensed into a tiny little unit.
No more boxes, bins or storage.

But since my life is NOT condensed into any assemblance and I can not find any room to attempt to be creative,
I have dedicated this post to other creative people since I've got nothin' to show!

This is the charm bracelet that Amber Dawn put together from her Storybook charm swap for the RED party.

It took place months ago but the cute charms are ageless!

Amber is also hosting a "one word challenge" right now.
Its all charm related.

My one word right now that would hold significance for me would be,
declutter,
no unboxed,
no rested,
no hopeful....
yep HOPEFUL.

Changing things up

2010-07-20T08:09:00.000-07:00

I learned to sew right around the time I leaned to walk.
My mom taught me, NOT while wearing an apron...it was more like instead of wearing one!

My first sewing machine was a Singer 401, new on the market the same year that I was born.
I still have it today.
It has seen many miles of thread pass through it.
I've sewn professionally for what seems like forever. From swimsuits to wedding dresses, costumes to cushions, I have sewn it all.

I have now come to the time in life that I realized grace and dignity are lacking when I attempt to stand upright after marking a hem.
Groaning on the way down, then the attempted roll to the side, to the knees then slowly up just does not have that, "I'm a professional" look to it.

So I'm changing things up. The last wedding has been completed.
My apron is coming off....

and I am passing the pin cushion and seam ripper to the next generation.

Sewing will no longer be creating stress.
It will only be for releasing it.

Nancy Ann dolls

2010-07-10T22:02:00.000-07:00

Pictures of a few of my Nancy Ann doll collection.
They are packed up now and ready to move to a new home, with me.
If only we all knew when and where our new home will be.......
Hah! That rhymed and I didn't even plan it.

Whatever is....

2010-07-07T21:42:00.000-07:00

Artwork by hubbie, Dave the famous artist.

DIY harvest moon wedding

2010-06-28T08:17:00.000-07:00

Take a harvest moon, a warm summer night, a beautiful bride, a breath taking location,

oh and a pretty cute groom,
what do you get?

A too die for wedding.

The bride was in a Carolyn Herrera gown.

I've sewn and altered about a million dresses through the years and this one by far was the most beautiful. It was put together so well, that it was difficult to alter.

The milliner veil was cut from a vintage pill box hat and a bow made from part of the train's ribbon.
Her maids were wearing Anthropologie dresses.
The bride created fabric flowers for all the girls to wear as corsage's, hair ornaments and wrist cuffs.

The bouquet was loose and organic.
We used succulents, orchards, coleus and wrapped them in fringed burlap.

The mom made all the men's ties. Each one in different neutral cotton prints. It was the same print used for the girls flowers.
With the left over fabrics I put together a bridal garter.
Presented in it's own burlap and lace bag with a vintage button.
Burlap was draped with globe lanterns for the ceremony site as well as the dance floor.

The center pieces held mini, numbered chalk boards to let the guests know their table seating.

Succulents were arranged in low glazed planter bases.
The long troughs were vintage bread molds placed upon burlap runners for the head table.

Guests took a numbered brown bag from an easel cork board full of flower seeds.

They scattered the flowers into a prepared flower bed before heading to their seats.

Look at this settee!
A 1900's French love seat white washed and brushed with gold leafing.
It is overed with burlap, silk rushing and small pompon's. The seat is long faux fur.

It was a beautiful day for a beautiful couple.
Congratulations Collin and Jackie!

Artist: The Poppy Tree

2010-06-16T21:07:00.000-07:00

There is something eternally touching about Kelly's artwork at The Poppy Tree.

They are so sweet and serene. Each piece telling it's own tale.

I just found out that Boopsie Daisy is her sister!
I LOVE her photography! Lots of talent in that family.

Doilies

2010-06-11T08:46:00.001-07:00

Emma Cassie

If you want to have some fun do a goggle search on "Doilies".
I've always been taken by them, but have never seemed to come up with a great design solution.
Well, no longer!

Country Living

Apartment Therapy

Apartment Therapy
Poor Hubbie, he has no idea what our new home is going to be decorated like.

(Note: Still working with the women in Peru and textiles....Can't wait to share!)

More Notes on Peru:

2010-05-28T19:39:00.000-07:00

My creative work over these last few weeks seems to be focused on wedding alterations, teaching and some basic strategic planning for the work in Peru. Nothing visual to show yet. So, I decided to post more pictures of Trujillo, Peru.

These are fishing rafts known as Caballitos (little horses). They are found in the seaside village of Huanchaco and made of the tortura reeds which are found in this area.

You can actually watch the locals ride these out into the waves.
Unlike the ones you see at Lake Titicaca they have a flat bottom and are solid reed.

All in a row I couldn't help but think they look like a line up of dwarf hats.

These are pictures were taken from the road of Chan Chan,

the ancient Chimu' kingdom. If you look here you can see some detailed photos of the area.

There it sits eroding away in the wind. It is amazing how much still exists considering it's age dating back to 700-1400 ad. But this area has very little rainfall, about 1" per year and most of that is concentrated in a fog like mist. So the mud walls disappearing have done so slowly over the last 600 years.

Show what you create blog party

2010-05-20T22:18:00.000-07:00

I collect and combine fibers, colors and textures all together.

My tools of choice are a sewing machine
and a pair of scissors.

I call myself a designer/artist.
The designer part seems to always win out.
When I create I seem to always have an end product in mind.

When I am in a practical mood it becomes clothing items.

Sometimes it becomes fashion accessories.

At times it becomes goofy gift stuff.

And sometimes it becomes goofy home stuff.

But in the end it is always stuff on stuff, color on color and texture on texture.
A little paint, thread, glue, fabric, yarn and glitter, all done while running with scissors.
Thank you, Vintage Bella Studio for hosting a fun blog party.

Notes on Peru: Barrio's

2010-05-16T21:19:00.000-07:00

Peru, just out of communism is still struggling as a country to pull its people out of sever poverty. Jobs are being created but not quick enough.

An organization that is at work there is
Project New Hope International.
One of the best days of my trip was to go into one of the barrios with two of the organizations directors.
A barrio is referred to as a district or community of people that are living on top of landfill areas in the outskirts of the town.

How the barrio system works in Trujillo is sad yet hopeful.
The city is ever expanding from the center out. If you draw imaginary concentric circles around the city's core you eventually come upon a 7th, 6th, 5th, generation barrio, all the way to the outskirts which would be considered the 1st.
These are pictures of a first generation barrio.

The family, usually women and children have come out of the Andean mountains in hopes of finding work in the city. The government has set up a system where a small (approx 15'x15') plot of land is given to them.
The concept is like homesteading, you develop your home and you get to stay.

The houses are created out of anything found; cardboard, plastic, twin, reed.

Eventually they begin adding adobe brick, maybe a found window, a plywood door and a small plant out front to beautify their home.

Over time the homes being to grow into each other. Businesses are created by entrepreneurial spirits and a community is formed.
The first year the government drives by with a water truck once a week and families collect water in whatever they have gleaned.

The second year, a community water station is built.
Third year, electricity is dropped in and a few main roads are paved.

Fourth fifth, and sixth years more roads are paved, trees planted and a park is created.

Now the barrio has begun to blend the boundary's and has become a part of the ever growing city.

The people that I met were wonderful. Cheerful, hopeful, and beautiful. They proudly shared their homes and posed for photos.
Kids were as kids are, giggly, playful and happy.

So, now I'm working on a project to work with the organization to bring some textile jobs to these mothers.
Seeing all these photos again, just reinforces how much I want to go back!

Notes on Peru:

2010-05-14T18:10:00.000-07:00

The colors and textures of Peru.

Notes on Peru:

2010-05-08T21:22:00.000-07:00

I finally dumped my photos of Peru onto my computer.
Rather than making you see all my home photos at once, I've decided to stretch them over a few posts.

This is Lima, Peru.
It is the fourth largest city in Latin America, boasting a staggering 8,442,00.
The architecture was fascinating. Most of the governmental buildings seem to represent the early Spanish colonial style.

Balconies jetting out from the buildings were everywhere. The word is that there are upwards of 1600 in the city. In order to maintain these works of art, the city has invited individuals and companies to adopt them. I was told that they were made from cedar wood.

This is the Archbishop's Palace.

This is the city square, Plaza de Armas of Lima where most of the governmental buildings are located. It is considered the birthplace of Lima in 1535.

Approaching the Basilica Cathedral of Lima. A Roman Catholic cathedral.

The Basilica Cathedral of Lima
That was the sightseeing tour.

Now off to the real reason we were there.
We headed to the outskirts of town.

To the area our driver informed us, he was taking the back way because it was unsafe for him to drive us through the area.

When we approached wall with 901 scratched into the adobe and Carlos our driver said," We're here". The first thought that came to mind was, I saw this movie and it didn't have a very good ending!

He gets out of the car, approaches the large metal door and knocks on it. A little peep door opens and I can hear two men speaking Spanish back and forth. Carlos returns to the car and the metal door is rolled open.

We drive in slowly, with men watching us from all sides. Skinny dogs running around, a large trash heap, run down cars and motorcycles and a few dilapidated buildings.
Oh and did I mention a man guarding the roof?
We are "escorted" into a building where one of the men disappears only to return with another man who nods to the first and they walk outside the door.
We are seated in an open room with one small coffee table, three chairs and a poster on one wall. Are you ready for this?
We talk Alpaca Yarn!

I snapped this photo when he left the room for a moment. Had I known the other men were waiting just outside the door I may have thought twice.
My guess is either Alpaca is a sought after commodity in Peru or yarn was not all that they were selling there.
To be continued........

National Apron Day

2010-05-07T17:33:00.000-07:00

Well, here is another great button and I have to admit...I am doing this only because I have too, to be entered in this drawing.
Keeping this a secret would have been a great way to increase my odds,
but no, the Ol' Calamity is too smart for that one!
You have to spread the word to be entered. I WANT TO WIN therefore, here it is and if you win because you saw it here, you must share the winning apron with me.

It's a blog party

2010-05-05T18:33:00.000-07:00

As a blogger, one of my favorite things to collect are blog buttons. It's a throw back to my girl scout days I'm sure. I have been reluctant to collect any lately with all the self imposed projects going on around here. But when I saw this one I couldn't help myself.

First
It seems doable.
Show what you love to create.
Second
How could anyone pass up this cute little blog button?
See Vintage Bella Studio for more details.

Artist: Woolly Fabulous

2010-05-03T22:49:00.000-07:00

Miss Odile Gova, aka Woolly Fabulous is quite fab!

Check out her latest pin cushions.

While you're looking at all her woolly art, you can sneak over and purchase some at her etsy site.
Too cute!

Virtual Shoe Museum

2010-04-29T22:09:00.000-07:00

I've never considered myself a shoe gal,
but then again, no one ever offered me a pair that looked like any of these.

Liza Snook, is the creator of the
Virtual Shoe Museum.

Huddleston Coat of Arms

2010-04-27T23:19:00.000-07:00

I was flipping through some old pictures and I came across this
Coat of Arms my hubbie,
Dave the Famous artist did.
I love it.
It speaks to everything we are about: our faith, family, life group and the arts.

Why am I an artist?

2010-04-26T19:37:00.000-07:00

Name this shape.

Now, name this shape.

While teaching a second grade art class, I informed the students that a hexagon has 5 sides.
I was corrected and told," No, it has 6 sides" by one of the kids.

I then attempted to faked my inept answer by saying,

"Correct. Just like a STOP sign."

And to think I graduated with Highest Honors from the University of California at Davis!

What can I say.....I was a Design major.
What a dork!

Notes on Peru:

2010-04-23T21:26:00.000-07:00

Here's Joanne and I in Aguas Calientes, Peru.
Joanne's the blond, I'm the brunette.

Just kidding, we were actually in Trujillo.

(cool photos from Style Copy Cat)

Notes on Peru:

2010-04-23T20:25:00.000-07:00

Flickr photo by: Hugo!

The colors and textures of the Peruvian culture were wonderful. While there, we were able to see the Danza de las tijeras also known as the scissor dance. I couldn't help but think how it looked like the forerunner to "krumping".

Flickr photo by: Hugo!
The dance is done with elaborate costumes and Keds tennis shoes!
The dancers do elaborate steps in unison, as well as facing off with extreme freestyle dancing showcaseing impressive moves all the while cutting the air with scissor in both hands.

Photo from: Cellar.org

Puts a whole new spin on Running with Scissors.

I am grateful for finding these great photos. The dance is so fast mine were just a blur.

Felt flowers

2010-04-16T10:01:00.000-07:00

Felt is no longer for under 6 and over 60.

Good bye tissue box cover and Christmas ornament.

Hello wedding bouquet!

Above bouquets were created by

Johanna Stapleton, Miss_Violonjello

*******************

Bouquets below were created by

Miss Jennifer Rae

I'm coming home soon! Can't wait to blog about Peru!

Recycled Plastic Bottles

2010-04-12T20:20:00.000-07:00

I'm not sure what is more stunning, Rod Pujante's flower art or James Addison's photography.

Either way it makes me want to dig through my trash!

****************
Artist, Laura Astor creates these gossamer brooches.

You can read an interview with her at GreenMuze

**************
The City Cradle gives a pretty good "how to" of this whimsical wall wreath.

And what can I say about Anthropologie other than I want to own one of everything!

**************

This bouquet created by Jan has instructions on how to make a flower bouquet at How Can I Recycle This .

*******************
From everything I've read it's as simple as clear plastic bottles,

photo credit

scissors

Photo credit

permanent markers,

or spray paint like Krylons fusion for plastic.

Cut, paint and cluster.

Easy Peasy

Artist: Dave Huddleston

2010-04-10T11:22:00.000-07:00

Still in Peru and I am hoping that I am not seeing anything that looks remotely like this painting.

More of hubbie, Dave the Famous Artist's work here.