MY HERO . . .

. . . WEARS CAMO.








My grandson, Kyle is home on leave from duty in Iraq. There he is a scuba diver, a sargeant in the US Army. Last week he was simply "Scooter". We enjoyed the beach, good food, friends and family.

Here he is pictured surrounded by the hands of his wife, Rachel; Mother, Deb; Step-mom, Stephanie; and his Grandmother, me. We are wearing the bracelets I made in his honor.

Please keep him in your thoughts and prayers

as he returns to duty next week.

INDEPENDANCE DAY

Today, as we celebrate with patriotic songs, colors, parades and fireworks. please remember those (especially my grandson Sgt. Kyle Broughton) who are working to preserve and protect the freedom and independence we enjoy.
And should you wish to send a note of encouragement to a soldier:

Sgt Kyle Broughton

511th En Dive Team

APO AE 09337

Beware of UFO's, PIGS and WIP's

That is UnFinished Objects, Projects In Grocery Sacks and Works In Process.  I have declared open war on them!  So, to help me be accountable &; stay on track, I'm posting a picture of just a few of them.

These are all beading, some will not be finished, but incorporated into other things.  Some are just samples from teaching a stitch.  But others are just abandonded projects & will be finished.  Feel free to check up on me!


On that track I finished up two recently begun projects: A big white felted purse and a big blue one (it's my favorite)

 

Art Inspiration - two weeks' worth!

Here's a couple of inspiration cards.  I haven't drawn any for a while.  But, I have been busy!  The advice to step away is intended to get us to look at things from a new perspective.  Back up a few steps to see the whole picture, squint your eyes to see colors and shapes instead of details.

The brain drain emphasizes that our art comes from within ourselves.  it does not spring from out paint brush, needle and thread or clay - but it comes from within our minds.  So clearing our minds from "clutter' helps us create - our art to come alive.

I've FLIPPED OUT!

Here's the Flip Flops I have ready to drop!  Click here to come play with us .  Deb and I set up a blog.  The rules are simple.  See Deb's Blog for some more info.  Leave a comment or e-mail mi for text to put on a tag to leave with your flops.

COMFORT and CONNECTIONS

So, here's my art inspiration for this week.  The emphasis was to create a comfortable time and place to create.  Sounds like a good idea - but no bunny shoes for me! Barefeet are my idea of comfort.

CONNECTION!

A few weeks ago I purchased some arts & crafts items that had belonged to an artist - unknown to me.  There were fiber things, a box of copper enameling supplies.  And this unusual ceramic piece, unglazed, with holes around the edges.  Perhaps it was intended to be a basket base?  As I looked through the pages of notes and sketches, contemplated the patterns and tried to decide what the ceramic base was intended for - and what I might create from it, I felt a connection with her.  So perhaps some day my collections of art supplies and unfinished projects will become a connection to a future artist.

Copper - again!

                                                                                                                                                                         Here's the three latest pendants.  The one in the middle is probably my favorite.  They are made from sheet copper - formed & patinaed, pennies, washers and a piece of a drink can.

Learning - -

This is my art inspiration for the week.  Lerrn by reading, classes, or just by doing!  But try new things - take a class or teach a class.  Be inspired by your surroundings.  Just create!  My newest obsession is copper jewelry, especially pendants.

It's REALLY spring now

You can tell I'm really ready for spring & summer!  I'm even glad to see the weeds blooming!

I once heard an organic gardener say that a weed is only a plant growing where you don't want it.  So in our yard - there are no weeds!  We welcome anything that is green and blooms!

This bouganvilla blooms almost all year - and comes back strong and colorful after cooler weather or being trimmed.

This oleander is a real survivor.  The mother plant was bent and broken by a hurricane.  A branch that was placed in a pot rooted, broke out of the container & sent roots down into cracks in the patio.  I've nicknamed her Wendy (get it, windy?).

And tiny tomatoes for a future salad

GREAT BALLS OF - - - SQUASH!

Yes - round zucchini!  I found these at my local produce stand yesterday.  Never seen them before.  They were really good roasted with some red peppers, onion and garlic.

A new obsession

As if I needed one!  So here's the beginnings:

The first three are knit bags - before felting.  The ruler is 18" for a size comparison.  The last three pictures are drying after felting.  When dry, I'll post another pic with the ruler so you can see the size change.

DO WHAT??

You must be kidding!  While I do believe you CAN teach an old dog new tricks, this one is not for me.  But I read the suggestions on the back of this art inspiration card - It makes sense.  Look at things from different angles, in different lights, without preconceived ideas.  It's amazing what we can see - if we just look.

A camera is a good tool for this - a close-up, different light and shadows can give new perspectives. 

BE SILLY!

The art inspiration card I drew for this week says "Be really silly".  That's pretty easy for me, but there is a fine line between silly and ridiculous.  So I thought I'd share a silly story that happened last week:

Jack handed me two tiny flowers.  I carefully placed them in water in a shallow dish.  Two days later I marveled at how long they stayed alive.  Then he handed me another - that he pulled from his pocket!  As I carefully placed it with the others, I realized THEY ARE NOT REAL!!  So they still reside on the kitchen window sill - to remind me of my own silliness!

More copper pendants

Here's just a couple of pendants I did - One is woven of copper foil.  The other is copper sheet - folded and formed with dangles of sterling and beads. 

RAW MATERIALS

This week's Art Inspiration emphasized using quality materials in your art.  That's a real challenge since I like to recycle and repurpose found objects .  It's not always easy to decide what's trash and what's treasure.

ART INSPIRATIONS - TWO WEEKS WORTH

Here are the art inspirations for two weeks - I missed the one last week. It must have been about deadlines.  So, the first one - From the Heart, I'm not too sure of, see previous post about emotions.  But the deadlines - It really works!  If I have a deadline it works!  So, wonder how I can combine the two?  They seem to be counter to one another.  But perhaps not!

Hot Metals, Balls, and Weaving! OH MY!

What a fun workshop with Mary Hettmansperger! 

The Florida Tropical Weaver's Guild's annual conference had her as a workshop instructor.  We wove with metal and wire.  We shaped copper, colored it in a flame, formed balls of red and of black on copper wire, and did some pounding & bending.  Above are the results.  It was fun!!

Funky Fabrics

I saw a new technique - tried it and here's the result.  After painting interfacing & ironing it on, I'm not sure the process is worthwhile - maybe painting right on the fabric makes more sense?  But I do love the colors!

Adventure

Here it is - my last weeks art inspiration.  Although I feel I'm usually open to adventure, I'm going to seek out new ones!  An new outdoor place to walk & enjoy nature, a new art techinque - something!

Riverside Textures

Miscelaneous meandering.

While we were having lunch at a local riverside restaurant, these textures on the water's edge caught my eye.  Seeweed and Barnacles make nice art, don't you think?