Art Unraveled........

.....another EXTRAORDINARY experience filled with EXCITEMENT and the BLESSING of creating and meeting NEW FRIENDS!

Although our trip was off to a rocky start with Tracie's flight being canceled and her flying standby all the way, that was NO indication of the rest of the weekend in Phoenix. Once I arrived at the hotel EXCITEMENT filled the air and the fragrance of friendships old and new captured my senses.

After getting settled in the room it was time to meet my INchie group for our swap. WOW! What a group! They were the loveliest and most talented women one could hope to meet. We spent the next hour or so swapping our INchies and sharing introductions. My only regret is that I did not get to sit with each of them and visit the night away. I could hardly believe my eyes as I looked at each of the UNIQUELY created tiny works of art! Each and captured my heart as I thought of how these tiny bits of art were carefully and lovingly created and assembled.

Everyone pitched in to ensure that all participants received INchies from the other! Look at these BEAUTIFUL CREATIONS!!!









I received these AWESOME gifts from various members of the INchie group. I can hardly wait to use these in artistic creations.




Soon it was time to pick Tracie up at the airport. We went from the airport to dinner then headed to our room to get ready for class the next morning.

Arriving at class we greeted each student then the FUN began! It was as though we were all friends FOREVER! There was much ANTICIPATION as each person picked up their paint brushes and began to paint. Their creations were brought to life as the paints blended on the canvas. Here are a few pictures of our students working on their FABULOUS works of art! ( I apologize for not getting more closeups of everyone's work but you can visit Tracie's blog as she has pics of the students with their finished artwork):



























As Tracie and I hugged each person leaving class there was a moment of sadness that the day had come to an end. We had made new friends and loved being able to share our time with them. What BEAUTIFUL works of art they had created in class!



As always the next day proved to be as much fun as the day before. This was the Vintage Journal class. WHAT color combinations and textures! Aren't these just BEAUTIFUL!!!












Again we felt moments of sadness as each person left. More new friends had touched our lives and took a special place in our hearts.



Later that evening we went to the banquet and had a TERRIFIC time. Here is a picture of us with Vicki, one of our students and friend! Isn't she lovely?













As we began our journey home we reminisced on the experiences, fun, excitement and sense of joy in sharing with others.

AGAIN, Linda had put together a time for all of us to leave the worries of the world behind and to spend time with friends.

She had given all of us, teachers and students, an atmosphere filled with creativity and relaxation!

Please visit Tracie's blog to see more pics of our classes.

Adventure at Art Unraveled

Tomorrow I head to Art Unraveled in Phoenix to teach a class on Friday and another on Sunday.

Saturday I will be selling some special items at the Extravaganza that Linda has organized. I hope you will find time to stop by and take a look at the goodies. (sneak peak - Vintage French magazine pages)

I have some new Ma'Dam Bags that I will be unveiling.

When I return I will share some pictures of this FABULOUS Retreat!!!

Cards

Cards are always a challenge for me but when that Heather Simpson-Bluhm organized this swap I just knew I needed to join the group. I gave it a whirl and had a GREAT time making these!!! I can hardly wait to see what others send to me!

Here are the results of my meager attempts to create cards for any occasion:















































To send a gift created with your heart and hands is a WONDERFUL way to share your talents with those you love and cherish!

Tiny Visitors

Walking about in the flower garden I spotted some tiny visitors. They were quietly moved about enjoying the florals. From time to time they would pause allowing me to snap a picture quickly.





This dragonfly circled the various floral botanicals as though he was on patrol. He flew quickly from this flower to that pausing only slightly. I watched him for several minutes until he finally lit on the wooden post in the center of the garden. Do you see him there in the center?






This interesting little guy is a night hawk moth that was enjoying the sweet nector of the petunias along the walkway to the front door. At first I thought he was a hummingbird until he stopped on the petals. His long proboscises was probing deep within each of the flowers as he drank. I snapped his picture fasinated with his interesting small body.




Fluttering among the other colorful florals were a couple of monarch butterflies. They, too, were stopping frequently to savor the sweet nector.












Look very closely and you will see the tiny tree frog that was singing as I started toward the house ending my tour.

These tiny visitors bring such joy!

Say Hi!!

Please say Hi to my little sea creature! (I just can't decide what to name her. -- Any suggestions???)

She was sooo much fun to create! Have you ever seen a piece drain pipe look so cute?.

My husband was wondering what I was doing at Lowe's as I was browsing in the plastic pipe connections. He asked what I was looking for and I must admit I had to say, "I don't know, but I will know when I find it!"

Being the wonderful husband that he is he began to help me look for what I didn't know I wanted yet.....Soon, there were the perfect pieces - a "hub to hub" (whatever that means), a 90 degree elbow and a 45 degree elbow. Yeah! I had the beginnings of a body!

When we arrived home I rushed into my art room to begin work on this darling creature. I looked for the duct tape and wire - found it!.. Now, where are those glass eyes I had?..... Oh, there they are!

Now I could begin. OOPs! What will be used to cover the body? I ran to the basement and dug out an old sweater, then into my bedroom and saw the toe socks - PERFECT!!!...I had this pair of toe socks that just wouldn't stay on my feet so I decided to put them to good work.

NOW I can begin... So THAT I did! ...I taped, wrapped, wired and sewed until this WONDERFUL creature was all put together! She still needed something......
EYELASHES!!

I drove to the local Walmart and purchased some eyelashes. OH, they look GREAT!!!

AND HERE SHE IS!!!!



Hope you like her!

KNIT - STITCH - FUN

Introducing Ma'Dam Bags !


During the winter I love to knit. It is relaxing and can be set aside to finished later. Since I have practically every skein of yarn that is available I am always seek ways to use it for creating something. I decided to take a skein of inexpensive worsted yarn and combine it with a skein of a special designer yarn and just knit a row until all was used.

This provided various sizes of rectangles that I needed to use for something. Since I love making purses I decided what better way to use than to make purses. I call my purse creations - "Ma'Dam Bag".

I love bright vibrant colors so I used various fabrics from my stash. It was fun selecting just the right print for each knitted creation.

Here are some of the bags I have completed.





Yellow is my favorite color. This bag is really fun with specks of colors hidden beneath the fuzzy yellow.








Hot pink - FUN- EXCITING -and of course, it has a small splash of yellow within the chucky yarn that is combined with the hot pink eyelash to give a fuzzy look. The fun lining reveals hearts with designs of yellow and bright green. This is definitely a bag to accent an otherwise plain outfit or blue denim jeans.










Aqua is always a color for any special occasion. It looks GREAT with black, white, navy, yellow, grey and numerous other colors. It has a lining that is very whimsical with the stars and swirls. Since I am a lover of fantasy this bag stirs my imagination to a vision of fairies or other WONDERFULLY whimsical creatures.




















A little more on the conservative side this brown and mauve purse makes a wonderful accent to a suit or jeans. It captures the beautiful tones of autumn and winter and the lining is one of my favorite fabrics. It is a batik that has accents that give the appearance of trees and other follage.







The red orange color of the bag is just the right splash of color for a plain outfit that you want to give a little pizzaz! The colorful lining is a bright combination of red, orange and yellow.

All the bags are one-of-a-kind originals. They are fun and softly feminine.

I am placing them in my etsy shop. For those of you who have been fans and customers for a long time I want to thank you for your patience. It has been forever since I got anything placed in my etsy shop. Since my mother became ill and passed away I haven't been able to get anything in my etsy shop. I just wanted to say "Thank You" for continually visiting my blog and for emails inquiring about when I would be getting items in etsy.

Romantic, Mysterious, Captivating......

....words to describe the experience of Beautiful Orvieto, Italy. This will be a hands-on learning experience to enliven your awareness and touch your senses! The culture, food and wine will captivate your love for adventure with our "Adventures In Italy" tour as we are accompanied by Bill and Kirstin Steiner.





Tracie and I will be teaching ways to capture the experience in a journal where you will create memories from the surrounding elements. We will be sharing techniques centered around use of native wines, botanicals and soil. This will be a class that you can adapt into future travels to immortalize adventures within the lovely journal you will assemble.






The experience will certainly change you...giving you a perspective where you will understand how Italians embrace life. The trip is focused on the wonderful powerful rhythms of the day to day life in this quaint and captivating community. We will be staying in an historic convent where the rooms are modern and have placid views. It is located over the Etuscan caves and has 14th and 15th century frecos.

Walking in the market and experiencing the excitment of purchasing local goods from those who have grown or created the goods will be only a small part of the day's adventures. You will taste Italian prepared meals and listen to the chimes of the bells as they ring in the hours. Cooking an Italian dish is but one of the activities planned.

The simpliest walks are filled with three thousand years of history. Looking from Orvieto is the most majestic valley....so breathtaking it can make you speechless.







Don't just dream of this experience.....Plan to go with us in May 2009 as we begin this wonderful....Romantic, Mysterious, Captivating...adventure.

Visit Adventures in Italy to get all the detail so you can join Tracie and I on this FABULOUS learning experience!!!

TAGGED.......You're IT!

MY!!!

It has been MANY years since I played this game! My dear daughter-in-law, Tracie, has tagged me!



This brings back memories of the sunny spring days when I would rush home from school and play this game for hours with my friends.

Well, being tagged means I must do the requrements of the "Taggee". Here goes:

1. Write the title to your memoirs in "Six Words".....mmmmmmmmmmm, of course they would be "Just a Mom, Living, Loving, Laughing". If I remember Ms. Noland's English class the "a" doesn't count in my words. Boy, I really didn't like that when I wrote those 500 word papers.

2. Make a blog post. This is it!

3. Link to the person who tagged you. Tracie Lyn

4 Tag six friends. Here are my lucky friends; Maija, Christina, Jan, Sammy, Albert and, of course, Brett (my son).

Have fun friends. And to all my readers - Please visit these fun blogs!

Marylin

MOTHER NATURE'S FURY

Currently having a storm. Here are some pics of the storm clouds as they moved in over our little village.








Awesome! I simply had to share.

GATHERING FLORAL AND FAUNA

Many of the beautiful florals are in bloom in the garden. They create a colorful landscape which I always enjoy when I look out the windows.






We have several varieties so there are blooms from early spring until the final frost. I love clipping them and pressing them for use in my art.







Tracie Lyn gave me a wonderful botanist press last year and I keep it full of the finds from my garden and my adventures in the country.












Whenever I see wildflowers along the country roads I stop to gather a few to include in my botanical treasures.

If you want to start collecting your own florals for pressing here are a few tips that I have learned along the way:

Gather your treasures in the early afternoon. If you gather in the morning there may be too much moisture that makes drying them difficult and may create mold. If gathering the florals in the evening the blossoms may be partially closed as many florals close their petals at night.

Don't gather florals immediately following rain. Too much moisture will create mold.

Gather the florals when the plants are in full bloom. Waiting too long may result in the blossoms losing petals and not being at their maximum beauty.

Keep a sack and pair of scissors in the car. I'm always ready to gather florals as I take a drive in the country. Driving down the country roads I frequently see wild flowers growing along the creeks and roadways.

Try pressing any florals. I have learned that sometimes when I think a certain flower may not press well, I may be mistaken. I have pressed some of these beauties and found that frequently they are the best. Never discard the prospect of pressing blooming weeds. I did several last year and they pressed beautifully.

Purchase a newsprint tablet when on sale and keep it handy. Frequently I find the newsprint tablet on sale for 30-40% off at Hobby Lobby. I buy a couple so I always have plenty when I want to press florals or leaves.

Purchase a good botanist's press. I started out using books and stacking several so there was plenty of weight to press the florals tightly. Went to a small 8 inch x 8 inch press and graduated to the wonderful press Tracie gave me! I suggest that you jump straight to a botanist press. It is well worth the money!

Experiment with ways to use the pressed treasures. I am always looking for ways to include these treasures in my artwork. These give you a natural medium to include in your work so you can get a true piece of nature look.

Press leaves also. Be sure not to overlook the variety of leaves you have in the garden. Press some in the spring, summer and the fall. All the various shapes, sizes and colors make a lovely addition to you collage creations. Shrubs have unusual and beautiful follage.



Have fun! If you have a child or grandchild they love helping gathering the treasures. This is a great outdoor activity that also is learning time. It s a super opportunity to teach the names of the florals and trees.

Nature's Gift

Nature's gift - freely given...beauty beyond description...colorful and totally encompassing.

As I wander thru my garden I marvel at the smallest blossom, the tiny insects and a color pallet where no matter the color it blends perfectly with the surroundings.

The flowers grow slowly and perfectly as though a hand is guiding their every twist and turn.

The sun sparkles on each leaf and petal as if to kiss them ... Oh, so softly!

The wind moves the stems creating a dance stirring the botanicals to life!

Even the smallest worm that crawls upon the ground provides movement to the roots so they can breathe.

Rain...the gift of life to these lovely growths..falls gently upon the plants as they thirst for more.

I reach down and turn a rock...beneath is a toad resting comfortably..feeling safe and secure.






The smell floating in the air is sweet and pure...providing a fragrance that is captivating to my senses.




Birds are singing..each its own melody...yet creating a song that has perfect harmony as all the melodies blend together.

Looking to the sky I watch the clouds floating gently by...swaying in rhythm with each and every sound I hear.

Blessed am I.....fills my thoughts...thoughts that warm my heart with love...

Love for the gift I have been given...