So Happy

Last night, the sky was beautiful...



and my husband, who has been away on business in China for three-

count them - THREE weeks, came home at last.
 When I heard his car in the driveway,

I ran down the stairs with two cats under my feet,

and out the door to greet him.

Great big hug and kiss - so happy to have him back home!!

He brought me British magazines from Hong Kong, 

and a lovely necklace,

but truly,

it was all about his being back with me.

Feeling blessed.

Hope you're having a sunny day!

Gelli Plate Adventures

I've had my 8" x 10" Gelli Plate for a couple of years,

and have mainly used it to create prints on paper.

Since I'm working on a couple of fabric pictures for an exhibit,

I decided to make some hand printed fabrics to mix in with the

commercial fabrics I usually use.

I took these photos on my porch at dusk last night, so the colors 

look stronger than they actually are.

I put a mixture of shades of green on the plate and spread them with a brayer.

Then I pressed a sheet of textured paper into the paint for one print,

and a plastic placemat for a different texture in another print.

I did a couple of layers of color on each print and these were the results.

These should make interesting leaves and blades of grass when cut out.

I also worked in shades of brown and gray, which I'll 

use for rocks!

This probably looks pretty messy and ugly right now,

but the process was very enjoyable and, hopefully, I'll be able to

show you what I'll be using them for in the near future!!

I'm so grateful to find inspiration in creating things like this!!!

Wishing you a creative day!!

Joyful June

It is beautiful today here in New England,

perfect for the first day of June!!

It was a long winter, and still feels cool for this time of year,

but it's always wonderful to see that particularly lovely shade

of Spring green all around!

This month, I've decided to join my blogging friend Anne, 

of "My Giant Strawberry", in her focus on gratitude for the month of June.

 You can read more about it here, but basically, it is

a matter of looking for joy in everyday things throughout the month.

For one thing, our local Arts Collaborative is having an exhibit on June 11,

so I'm working on a few pieces of fabric art for that.

This makes me happy because I have needed a little "push" to finish some projects!

This one was started a while ago, but I've brought it out to see if

I can expand on it and get it finished for the exhibit.

I'll know by the end of today whether that will be possible!

And then there is this quilt collage I started in a class

last November! It will feel wonderful to complete it - it's nearly there!

So, I'll be sewing away for the next 2 weeks and posting 

more often as I recognize the joyful moments in these days of June!

Hope your June is off to a 

great start!

                       

Porch Therapy

I love the little porch on the back of our house.

It is a 3 season, but I have an electric heater that warms it up in the winter.

The cats love it, too, as it catches the afternoon sun for their lounging pleasure!

There is an old butcher block table there that I never have to worry about messing up.

Today I set to work with some napkins, tissue paper and methyl cellulose wallpaper paste

and did some collaging. I started with a piece of freezer paper, shiny side up.

I ripped and cut the napkins and tissue, along with some scraps I had of 

handmade papers, layering them with the paste. The methyl cellulose 

was suggested by my collage class instructor, the great Amy Ropple.

I had some left over from our last class, so it was synchronicity! 

More layering...

And done! For now!

I carefully peeled it from the freezer paper when it was dry

and taped it onto the porch window for this picture,

You could also use Mod Podge for this, but the methyl cellulose

is less sticky and dries with a matte finish. I used a flat brush to spread it.

Later, I did a second collage, in a different color scheme.

I was inspired by this video by Suzi Dennis.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bu6MpTZf-0c

Hope you're having a very good weekend!

Fictional Portraits: Laura

This is Laura. She lives in a studio apartment in Maine and works in 

an orthodontist's office. She loves cream puffs and lighthouses, and, in the evenings, 

she plays drums in her boyfriend's rock band, Open Windows. 

She plans to make this her full time profession, when they make it big.

Meanwhile, she is looking for a used bicycle to ride to work,

since her car has two flat tires.

Often times people are not what they appear to be.

When I create a "person", I like to imagine what might be going

on in his or her life, and I love to reach for the unexpected.

Right now I'm experimenting with different presentations of

my "cast of characters" and trying to decide whether to 

continue with mixed media, add a background, make 

a border or go to simple pen, ink and watercolor drawings.

They are fun to make, so I'll continue to create them,

trying different techniques.

I'd love to know what you think.

Wishing you a wonderful week!

Happy Mothers Day!

    Mom at 84, taking her first great-grandson out for a walk

For as long as I can remember, my first thought upon hearing the words "Mother's Day" has been an appreciation of my wonderful mom. We had our ups and downs, like any mother and daughter, but in her later years we became the best of friends. My mother could make me laugh like no one else could, and we had great conversations and shopping trips together. I greatly admired her devotion to my father, her wonderful cooking and organizational skills (neither of which I inherited), and her quiet strength when things got tough. She was a real lady, and each day I enjoyed watching as she applied her makeup and styled her curly hair. She was so skillful, and throughout my life I became accustomed to seeing her hands creating beautiful embroidery, needlepoint, knitting, crochet, hooked rugs and sewn items. When my sister and I were young, she knit us sweaters with little scottie dogs worked into the pattern, and even made us wool coats when we were a bit older. She made me feel very special, and I miss her.

With my daughter circa 1985

These days,  I also appreciate my own role as a mother. My daughter, now 33, was a creative and funny child. We too had our "moments" as she grew up, but we are now very good friends and I admire her greatly. She is a professor at an art university in Canada, an author and an inventor, and a wonderful young woman. Could I be more proud of her? I don't think so!

 I've been very blessed with wonderful people in my life,

including my sweet husband, who surprised me with these flowers.

To every mother who reads this,

I wish you a happy day,

and the love and respect

you so deserve.

And to those who are not mothers,

I hope you hold good memories of your 

own mothers on this day.

Happy Mothers Day!!

Handmade Joy Exchange

I recently participated in the 3rd annual Handmade Joy Exchange,

created and hosted by my blogging friend Anne Butera of My Giant Strawberry.
7 bloggers from different states, plus one from England, participated.

I received the name of Laurie Lewis at Hedgerow Rose blog,
and I made this beaded fabric picture for her.

…and sent it along with a card I had made last year.

I received this beautifully wrapped package

from Cori Kindred, 

an amazingly talented photographer 

and creator of beautiful handcrafted things.

Even the envelope was lovely!

The package contained these lovely postcards I cannot wait to send (after I have 

enjoyed them for a while!) ...

each one is a treasure...

and this is a beautiful Polaroid print which I have displayed

on my dresser.

And here is a tiny shadow box of whimsically named precious stones...

with a hanger on the back! I love tiny things!

Such an embarrassment of riches!!!

Cori, you are too kind and I love each and every gift!

Anne, thank you once again for facilitating this lovely exchange!

Hope everyone is having a very good day!