Mother Nature---are you happy now? AND My Thread Spool Doll

Hello there, I have been tardy sorry about that.   Been doing whatever relaxed retired people do.   What you may ask is that?  Don't know just enjoying the moment and being sort of bums without any stress.  Hummmm that may be it.   

Now I don't know about  y'all but I know dear Mother Nature has been sort of ugly to us.   I have a ciggie/silkie done of her and thought maybe I will do a Crazy Quilt block of her.  Maybe to sooth the feathers so to speak.    I had her almost done and then ugly weather again including snow in May and in Montana and Northern New Mexico.  So I got the block out and finished her.

Here's to you Mother Nature.   Love ya gal and your weather changes but time to go into normal weather and semi retire on the bad weather for a while.

So here she is.  Sorry about the Watermark but sometimes you have to protect part of your work.    Any who, I added organza to the wings and some fancy dancy thread, gave this Mother Nature some bling on her crown.   I think I almost saw a smile when I finished her.   The golds and rusts I usually don't use a lot of but with that glorious red hair it just called for it.  

Here is the whole block finished.  I got to thinking what if she gets mad because I didn't share the whole block?     I did use some silk sari ribbon I had and the trim at the top left has mirrors in it, just something fun.  The black pretties on the right is from a bracelet I deconstructed ( how do you like that word instead of tearing up? ) from an estate sale. 

Now I also did a little shadow  box, my first and have been looking at Diane Salters beautiful work and thought ok it looks like fun and I want to play this week so here it is and I hope I will explain the  steps as my mind led me.


Here is the finished box.   Well not actually a box but an 8x8 deep ( 1 1/2 inch ) canvas and this is the back side.  With the wood etc showing.  I got out my craft black acrylic paint and painted this little thing stem to stern   Inside, outside anything that showed white.  

I then gathered and gathered all that I could think of that might go with some kind of a theme.   I did discover lo and behold I don't have enough stuff!!!! Yes you read that correctly.  More stuff.   I use to have lots of little things when I had my photography business but gave them all away.   Oh well don't want to be a hoarder but a semi one would be nice.  So off to the store with a good excuse to buy.  My motto has been    SHOP TIL YOU DROP, SPEND TIL THE END AND BUY TIL YOU DIE  or some such wording like that.   Hubby is so patient and just reads a book when we go this kind of shopping and then of course I am exhausted and we have to eat lunch out somewhere.  Isn't that the rules?   Mine anyway.  

After gathering things I measured the paper width I wanted to use and thumbing thru what I had a decision was made.  All the paper was then cut to where it wanted to go.  I even cut a piece for the back as well as the sides on the inside.  I didn't not glue yet even though I wanted to incase I changed my mind.  We ladies do that you know.  A lot. 

I am doing this for a special Princess so here goes.   I found the doll head thingie at Michaels.  It was a head with some little things fastened to it.   I took the gold crown with "diamonds" off of a necklace and used a lot of E6000 glue throughout the whole piece of art.    I then gathered some sparkled tulle and put around the empty spool of thread and glued some lace at the neck also and then tied ribbon and a bling button on this .  So far this is all I glued together.  

I placed and placed again and finally came up with a design I liked. 

 I did use Modge Podge for the paper though.   A friend told me when I was having troubles with air bubbles, thank you Janet, that to coat the paper and the base and you will be good to go.   But don't glue on yet.   Then I placed things and replaced them until I was again happy with it all.  THEN GLUE!!!!!   First the paper, then the pretties one at a time.  

A close up of the paper sparkle flowers and a broken pin for more sparkle.   Old jewelry works wonders.  Something no one wants anymore finds it's way here and I just reuse like crazy.   I even cut the jewelry apart at times.

 

Now this butterfly was bright red so with some glue and pink glitter it doesn't scream out at you.  Just an accent.   The ballerina is one of those birthday things you use to fancy up a cake.  Several years ago I received 2 of them in a kit I got and thought what am I going to do with these little things?   TaDaaaaaa   now I know.  Looks girly to me. 

 

The side of the canvas/box and I did cut all the paper a tad smaller so the black would show, I thought it gave it a good look.

 

 

 

I found some of the metal tags by Tim Holtz and they were perfect for little messages. 

 

So here it is again.  I hope my meandering thoughts will help anyone who wants to make one.  

 

So THANK YOU  Diane Salter for inspiring me.   Now I need to go to flea markets and pick up oldies but goodies for more of these little boxes.  It was really fun.     I did add a little guardian Angel at the top of the box just for special   I Love You.  

 

Now one more piece.  I am finishing up this front of a purse, using the wonderful Shibori Ribbon.. I found a piece that I had that was purple.   Now this is the same Ciggie/silkie I used on  another purse front but that is the only repeat.  I just don't like to make two things alike.  In fact I don't think you can.  Your mood or circumstances are different and they just don't turn out the same.  You can use the same elements but nope-nada they will not be the same.  

 

 

Alright that is my doings for a while.   This time of year the yard calls you and my goodness our is yelling at us.  What we usually do in March and April is just now getting done.  We love it though and really don't complain about the yard work.  We would like it to be lush but being in West Texas and a tremendous drought we are fine with it all.    Like I said the weather has been horrible with winds that howl and cold and you may remember we don't like cold.  

 

Thanks for stopping by and seeing what is going on in my world today.  

 

XOXOOX

Annette

 

New CQ Purse Finds a New Home

   

Hello and happy Friday or whatever day you read this.  Another week has flown by and have gotten a little done besides just rearranging my ever changing art room.  Moving paints from one container to another and threads here and there.  The usual Nana shuffle as I call it.  I always think I am going to----GASP- throw something away but I just rearrange it.  Looks different so should work also.   Right?  

 

Now when I start a new project I have to get my art room tidy and ready to go again don't know why but I do.   Then some of my rearranging is like hide and seek when hunting for my "stuff" I use.  I think why did I move it around but seems like a good idea at the time.   I have a rule that when something is lost it is usually within 18 inches of where I am standing or sitting.   Now when I do my messy work, painting etc I stand.  Yep stand, maybe I will grow taller?  I don't know but that is my work stance.  Doing the needle work though is in the chair beside hubby sitting or wallowing in the chair.   That chair, you can't sit comfortable in it, you have to wallow in it.   Don't know if it is me or the chair.   Probably me, kind of when babies a learning to sit and they seem to have round little bottoms and just tip over?  That may be my problem come to think about it.

I wanted to share the newest, hot off the press purse I just did and it sold instantly but did remember to take pics.  I forget to do that sometimes do you do that?

So with no further ado here goes the purse.

I at first was going out of character and printed this faerie lighter than usual and was going to  do a paler than usual purse or square.   So I tried and it was not working.  I remember Pat Winter telling us you need to go with colors you like.  I do like the softer colors and  the art created with the fabrics like that are beautiful and I think I can do that I know I can--- but the purse was fighting me tooth and nail.  So I just went with my usual bright colors and the whole piece just flowed.   I should have listened to Pat in the first place.   Sorry MB.  

 

I had to try some of the fancy smancy  Shibori ribbon going with the pleats and all.. I think it is so pretty and you just go with it and play and see where it leads you.  

I used part of a "prom" earring like the girls wear to prom and thought this will go perfect with this heart I had. 

 

I had received this beautiful green medallion from a sweet friend  and just hated to use it and it would be gone so I just cut it in half and now I have another one to use on one more piece of CQ.   Of course had to put bling on it and the roses just went with it perfectly.   

 

I tried my had a dying some of the lace and this little flower did perfect and enhanced of course with  beads and flowers and some of Geraldine's glitzy trim she sent me.  

 

 

I added to the back some crochet that I had picked up at an Estate sale to make a pocket for cell phones.  I know peps don't like to be very far from their phones.  Ready for a quick draw.   Now our phone, stays in the car when we are out and somewhere in the house when we are in the house.  

 

Kind of the scoop of the whole business put together. 

 

Here it is the finished piece.  Well I did add some more Jesse James beads to it on the side but I added a gusset around like the boho bags so it will hold more stuff.  Then did a body cross over strap and it is good to go.  It is purchased and now off to Europe for 6 weeks.  I guess I should have sent more cards with the lady who purchased it?   Naw just making them one at a time while watching baseball is good enough for me.  I did fall in love with it and thought oh I want this but a sweet friend wanted it if the new owner didn't .  So will start a new one, same Faerie, she loves this Faerie and different every where else.  

 

Love love love doing this CQ art, almost and I say almost better than eating chocolate cake.    So will be off and piece the new one and maybe get to start on it tomorrow. Baseball season is upon us and there is lots of games and lots of time to do the CQ.

 

There you go what is going on in my world today and thanks for stopping by.

 

OXXOXO

Annette

A Penguin Inspired Project

Now I know you are wondering how in the world do some sweet little Penguins inspire a project?  Sometimes as you might well know it doesn't take much to inspire a project of art or love.   It just hits ya over the head with a giant, but soft, hammer and says loudly it's little message.  Be it a Muse or just your inner self and you better pay attention because if not you will just be spinning your wheels and anything you attempt will turn out not the best work you have done.

We have a group at Roses on my Table called Kindred Spirits.   Like the Emperor Penguin we huddle around in a circle for a dear one to keep it warm and give it lots of love.  Isn't that a great idea to send love and warmth to someone who needs a little tender love and care?  I was in charge of this one we just finished.  Zinnia and I  gave out a call for anyone who in Roses would like send some love.   So 13 wonderful and talented ladies sent me a 4x5 card decorated front and back with encouraging words.  I made not one but two fabric books for the cards and off it went by semi snail mail.  Now I say semi snail mail because it had to go over the waters to Australia but still snail mail.     The cards were decorated with lots of texture and that is why we need two books.  

Now I thank Pat Winter for the instructions a year or two ago  that she had posted on her blog Crazy Quilt Gathering.  I took it and had a blast with it and Suzy at Suzy's Threadworks was also an inspiration but my books pale to hers but if you get a chance go over there and look at them.   Beautiful textures and fabrics and laces.

I tried not to out do the cards and for the lace books to say look at me but to also enjoy the beautiful cards.

 

The outsides of the books different but alike.  

 

 

The spine of one of the books with an angel I had "forced" myself to buy at an estate sale.  I didn't have a clue what I was going to do with it but it now has a home.

 

The side view of one of the books, fat little thing isn't it.  Lots of lace besides the cards.

 

One of the table of content pages.

 

 

 

I am not going to show all of  the inside of the book and it's cards, but did want to show the outside and what a wonderful idea to send love and hugs from afar.  So thank you Emperor Penguins.

 

 

Thanks for stopping by and seeing what is going on in my world today. 

 

XOXOXO

Annette

Quirky

Hello, now isn't that an odd little word?  Quirky?   I think this year's weather could fit under that category 100%.   Now here it is nearly and almost  Easter and still snowing in parts of the U.S.   Of course we know not to ever never ever plant anything like flowers and pretties like that until after Easter.  The mesquite trees have not put out yet around here so we know that NOPE  it is still winter.  They haven't been fooled since I have been alive.   Now we were a tad south yesterday and they had started putting out their bright little green buds but not many of them.  

You know we have seen it snow on Easter so nope no planting of anything YET !!!!!  Well I guess we could but don't like the thought of black curled up leaves on plants it is just not becoming to them.   So we will hold our hands and wait until MONDAY !!!! Then will go see what we have to have, need or want in the line of plants and force ourselves to purchase some of them.   Love doing that seeing all the pretty colors of Mother Nature and seeing what might survive the triple digit weather we have.   A tricky little dance we do isn't it?   The weather and Mother Nature and the sun or lack of it?

BUT there are other little things that can be quirky and quite cute and whimsical to see.  No really it is true.   I am not pulling your leg.   

I have just finished week 15 inspiration lesson on Life Book and Tammy's cute little animals are Quirky.  Or Quirkie as I think sometimes I write it.  Pretty cute little things and I did a couple of cards for Easter for the Grands, different than this one I did for my book.   I think the next ones I do will be even Quirkier?   I don't  know about y'all but sometimes the next or several next exercises in art I do get maybe not better but deeper in depth.   Make sense?  

So here are my Quirky/ie animals.  Hope you enjoy them. 

 

Of course I had to have a fairy in there.   Of course.

 

Thanks for stopping by and seeing what is going on in my Quirky world today.

 

xoxoxoxo

Annette

The Faerie Juanita

Hello and happy Spring.  Well I hope it is spring where you are and some of you it is Fall.   Now some of my faeries have not gotten to be created in CQ yet and I do have ciggies printed of them all.   So I thought OK I will make this some sort of a project for myself and even can use it in my CQJP2014 that Kathy Shaw hosts.   I should have done Mother Nature first maybe she would calm down some but she is next. her flaming red hair and all.  I don't know why she came out red headed but she did and looks a little older than the other gals.   Hummm maybe that is why she is playing havoc with the weather?  Surely not. 

 

This little gal is Juanita.   Which after watching Romancing the Stone, Juanita is Spanish for Joan.  Which was my mothers name.  The lady in the movie was Joan Wilder a author and was in South America for an adventure.  Really can't remember why but she and Michael Douglas had a fling of sorts.    Loved those movies but anyway back to Juanita.  

 

I printed this one on silk which made her colors softer and not having any really soft colors of supplies she got to be brighter if she wanted it or not.  I guess I should have some soft colors on hand just in case of a faerie emergency shouldn't I? 

 

So I thought what am I going to do?  Not a world changing  project or dilemma to lose sleep over but still a faerie dilemma.  You know those little magical sweeties, no telling what mischief they might do.  

 

I had some silk with some orangish flowers and thought OK the background was light light very light purple and I will just push it a little and see what happens.    So here you go what Juanita did and how she came out.

 

 

 

 

 

A close up of the flowers I had on hand and did some silk work and of course had a faerie charm, of course. 

 

Another close up of some SRE and of course beads



 

 

Here is a close up of her, with the sweet little birdie listening and peeking in to see what she was doing in the faerie garden. 

 

The finished block, hope you like it.   Now when I pieced this one I did 3 others, it is baseball season you know and I need something to do while watching it on TV and besides we might get a wild hair and go somewhere.  I think we are over almost 100% the CRUD, so time to start moving and shaking I do believe. 

 

There you go, Juanita the purple faerie.   Thanks for stopping by and seeing what is going on in my world today.

 

OXXOOX

Sparkle

Hello and we are celebrating.  We got 1/8th of an inch of rain.  Now I know that isn't much but they gave us a chance of sprinkles.  So to us that is a deluge.  The patio and drive way even got wet and some water standing.   Come on rain we can never have to much, well unless it is the great flood like Noah is associated with.   Our little playa lakes are low low and the Canadian geese that come to visit  for the winter are not happy.  Sometimes the little lakes are packed with the geese, I mean like little sardines.   

We thought of doing a Rain Dance  but just going to deep water the trees.   Now we found this little ring that attaches to the water hose and waters like 12 inches deep to the trees.  The underground water system just does not water deep so we think SAVE THE TREES.   Now Bermuda grass just keeps ticking like a Timex watch.  Just can't kill it even it the grass is brown it is just waiting to spring alive, especially if it is a flower bed.  And it will grow like crazy over the drive way and you have to use the edger.   We use to have blue grass that takes lots of water in another house.  When I bought the seed they said it will never over seed we have to till the grass us and start from scratch.  Well guess what?  I over seeded and it looked like hair and thick oh my.  So don't always pay attention to  THEY.    We are fortunate to have a water well but still would water the trees deep even if we didn't.  In West Texas Trees are far and few between and what we plant is what we have. 

I remember once we were coming in on a plane and I was sitting next to a young man coming to Lubbock to play football or basketball, forgot now, but he looked out of the window and said it is so flat.  Yep that is West Texas, but we love it. Flat and brown and wind blowing all the while.  It has great people though and that counts for a lot.    

I thought in celebration of the rain  I would go ahead and post Sparkle.  A sweet little faerie I drew and painted a while back.  I did make a ciggie out of her and thought of doing softer colors but these colors just screamed at me. I have a little 9 drawer cabinet we bought at Hobby Lobby and painted it RED of course.  It proudly holds my colors for CQ and my threads.   So I pull out each color and see who yells at me.  They do speak to us you know if you let them. 

 

Meet Sparkle,  I had to give her a head band with sparkles in it.  The upper right is a fabulous button that I was told about on FB and the lower button is a depression glass I think copy.  Not sure haven't tried to break it to see if plastic or glass.   The rest just kind of grew to where it wants to be.  I never plan a thing with these little gals and I just start and see where things want to go.   Guess that is called creating.   This is for CQJP 2014.   Just a self motivated  project.  I put these in a book and one did find it's way to the Princess Giget in Hawaii.  Now the reddish color is more magenta, sometimes it and purple photograph different.  LOL I am to lazy to set up lights to take it's pic so you get the picture I bet.  

 

It is hard to name these little gals, one I painted I named Mother Nature.  Not looking the friendliest in the world, hummmm maybe I should have made her looking not so stern?

 

Sparkle is one of my Essence faeries, I took her essence from a dear friend's granddaughter.   But added bangs and the hair color is definitely not hers.  Just wanted a little look of her granddaughter.  

 

I have 4 more blocks ready to embellish.  I need to do some more before we get busy, our Relaxed Retirement is a job.  Baseball season is fixin to start and I have to be ready to have some busy work to do while we watch them.   You know there is down time with Baseball and there are 162 games in a season before the world series.  We are going to have to root for two teams this year, some of our favorite players have gone to the Boston Red Sox from our Texas Rangers.  Whew a job indeed.   

 

Thanks for stopping by and seeing what is going on in my world today.

 

OXOXXO

Annette

Who says you can't teach an old dog new tricks?

Wow am I behind here friends.  Well I don't like excuses but we have been under the weather AGAIN!!!!  Funny sometimes when you get the "crud" as I call it and it lingers and you get over it--surprise it comes to visit you again.   Guess it liked it here and just didn't want to die.  So sort of back in the saddle again.  Nope not a real saddle we don't have a horse.  Well the steel stallion we drive. 

Now I haven't been a bum totally while under the weather.  I have been "trapped" in my art room.  A good trap but my little sanctuary.  Hubby knows when I don't feel 100% not to really talk to me.  I just want to be breathing and arting and the crud will go away.  Do any of you feel that way when you get sickish?  He says I am a good sick person though, just leave me alone !!!!!

Now get a cup of coffee, hot tea or good and yummy Iced tea because this is a long post.  No kidding.  Might even need a sleeping bag or take a break, go run around the house, go get the clothes out of the washer into the dryer.  

Life Book  2014    http://www.willowing.org/life-book-2014/  has been keeping me busy.  They have a new exercise each week and you can do it if you want and I wanted so here is some that I have done.    This is the third year I have taken it.  Last year shouldn't count though I think I only did like 6 or 8 exercises, we had a lot going on.   I wasn't going to do it this year but wow am I ever glad I did.  I just keep learning things, so the saying of teaching an old dog new tricks is true.   I am a living testament of it.  Bow Wow. 

 

This was a class by Anna Dabrowska,    http://tworzysko.blogspot.com/wow  what a talented young lady.  She made it on canvas but I used 140 lb. watercolor paper.  That stuff is tough and with enough gesso and stuff on the paper it holds up well.   This was up my alley,  lots of pretties and goodies to our hearts content.  I do have to mention Anna is an awesome teacher.  I know lots of artists that teach but don't really share their secrets.  This little gal told it all.   Now I have the first one under my belt I am anxious to start another one.

 

 

This little girl, Tammy taught it.  It was fun to stray away to just do a whimsy little person.  she does them so well and love hearing her visit while she demos what she does.  I forgot why we did, possibly to have a tree hug or encircle us,  it but in 100 years it won't matter will it?  I did collage some tissue for her dress that came in some shoes I purchased.  Don't throw a thing away do  I?   I don't hoard I just recycle or repurpose things. 

 

I forgot now what this one was for and it wasn't a thing like it was suppose to be but I enjoyed it and kept me out of Hubby's hair.  It is the Basketball playoffs you know.

 

One more exercise, instead of a whimsy gal I just did a sketch I had drawn and for some reasons the redheads are coming to visit me and the horses.  They were some knapkins I had and I dissected them down to one thin layer and they work like a charm with the collage. 

 

Now I am not finished, I have a lot of catching up to do my friends.  In the Spring we have a few sand storms and wind.  We know when the weather gets warm that is what comes with it.  I feel for our Northeast friends and all that snow they are getting.   Mother nature has indeed cleared her throat this year. 

 

 

This was taken from the air, of course, on one of the sand storms coming to visit us. 

 

A close up of the sand.   Now I can remember in the 50's and the early 60's we would have some hum dingers like this.   Sand gets everywhere and I mean everywhere but it has been dry here and I hope this was the one and only one like this.   Usually just the sand is in the air and you just live with it.  That is just the way it is not from neglect of the land.   A strong strong front came in , it chilled and gave the East havoc with snow and blizzards
AGAIN.  I say it is population control for our part of the world.  I do have to add a PS to this paragraph.  Farmers are the stewards of the land, they take pride in taking care of the land and love their land.     The reason it is like this right now is we have had a terrible drought a terrible one like in the 30's.   I am saying NO rain.  They put the hopes and dreams on the line just as farmers do today.   You have not idea how loose the dirt is and it is the future for us all.   This is where the food comes from.   I know of not one farmer anywhere that neglects or abuses their land.    

 

The mermaid did make it to Hawaii.  Our warrior granddaughter as I refer to her.  She is brave and I don't know if I could have sold my car and moved that far away to Hawaii by herself.   She has met some great and good people and I think that says something of the Islands.    Sometimes I feel you have a calling and you should do it while you can. We encouraged her and said do it and enjoy yourself. 

 

She wanted the mermaid so I redid a matt I had and painted on it and framed it and off it went.  Of course had to make some Amish friendship bread to send also. That stuff is so good and weighs a ton. She and brother love it and of course we do also.  I like to give it away and people don't seem to mind it at all.  I included enough of course for her and her co-workers. 

 

I know she will say NANA!!!!! because of the pic but I love it shows her giant personality. 

 

Now here she is doing Tandem surfing.  I didn't even know there was such a thing, but hey I am land locked as she was.  Auggie, an artist   https://www.facebook.com/CostantinoArt  beside being a surfer taught her this fun sport.  He has a beautiful wife and family and from what I can tell loving Hawaii to the most a person can.  

 

So there you go, I hope you haven't gone snow blind or sand blind or anything or gotten eye cramps from all of this.  Just had to catch you up and give you hugs.

 

 

Thanks for stopping by and seeing what is going on in my world today, well the last few days.  

 

XOXOXO

Annette