Hortensia Album

Are you someone who loves feminine and romantic decor? Do you know someone who is? Then this exquisite album is perfect for you or your loved one! Filled with hidden doors, passageways, secret pockets and places to write, draw, paint, or add photos, you can dream to your heart’s content.  Made from recycled card, trims, and new paper, this one-of-a-kind album will be treasured for years to come.

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Be sure to round up to the nearest dollar; those extra dollars get donated to Rising Worldwide, a non-profit that helps women in impoverished countries rise out of poverty and thrive.

I’ve recently been asked why I create my art, what motivates me? My answer: I create art for the joy of it! Because I must, because we need more beauty and magic in the world. Because it lifts my spirits to create, and my art lifts the spirits of others. I create with love to bring beauty, joy and magic to others. EnJOY these beautiful examples!

Stitcher’s Companion

Packing Paper Journal Front Cover

Fabric Box 4

Layered Hand

Ganesha Paper Bag Journal

I Finally got around to making this lovely Trinket Tag, my second completed project from the fall Making Zen retreat! I so enjoyed the workshop presented by Amanda Trout.

Another fun challenge from Pam at the Paper Outpost! The instructions were to make 3 bowls with different prompts: color, texture, and wild card, then draw one from each and create something using those elements. I chose silver, lace, and surprise tuck spot, and turned them into this fun little notebook! The cover is a painted business envelope that I used silver and gold paints on. EnJoy!

October Challenge Booklet

October Challenge Booklet 2

October Challenge Booklet 3

October Challenge Booklet 4

October Challenge Booklet 5

October Challenge Booklet 6

I made this little notebook a week or so ago, just now remembered to post it! I got the idea from Natasa of Treasure Books and used packing paper for the cover. Two layers glued together for strength, only minimally decorated. The pages are beet-dyed papers that I made last year some time. This was an interesting lesson in restraint, as I often add a lot more embellishment to my journals. I’ll leave that to the recipient, or add more later if that seems appropriate. EnJoy!

Butterfly Notebook

Butterfly Notebook 2

I decided to work on this Little Wanderer project from Tiffany Goff Smith, another in the line-up from the Making Zen retreat. The idea was to start with a shirt cuff, add layers of fabric scraps and stitch those all together to make a little pouch. Mine are much simpler. The green cuff came from a favorite old velour shirt, already embroidered so I didn’t want to cover that up with more fabrics or stitching. I used a simple blanket stitch to close the sides and changed the button from white to red. Voila! Perfect for holding my lip balm when I am out and about.

The black and white check cuff came from another shirt and since it’s a gingham pattern, nothing for it but to make a few rows of cross stitch! A new button, blanket stitch on one long edge and a heart-shaped earring complete this cute bag. EnJoy!

Green Little Wanderer

Green Little Wanderer 2

Green Little Wanderer 3

Green Little Wanderer 4

BW Little Wanderer

I just finished my seventh project from the Making Zen retreat, this lovely little Stitcher’s Pocket Companion from Giovanna Zara. I started with a piece of denim from old jeans that I lined with lavender felt and stitched over. The pockets are made from the gorgeous fabric in the first image, so colorful!

I chose buttons and embroider floss to harmonize with the pocket colors, adding the blue button to the closure first so I could stitch around it. Next I added the green button and embroidered the front, and finally copied the pocket pattern onto the back with a woven Spiderweb in the center and rays made with French Knots. I got them larger by using 6 strands of floss instead of the customary three. The whole thing is finished off with a hot pink ribbon to close the pouch. EnJoy! 

Stitcher’s Companion Fabric

Stitcher’s Companion

Stitcher’s Companion 2

Stitcher’s Companion 3

Stitcher’s Companion 4

Stitcher’s Companion 5

Stitcher’s Companion 6

A few days ago I dyed some paper and a few envelopes with beet juice, along with the yarns I posted about previously. The dye did not work as well as the first time I used beets, and I tossed a couple of the envelopes. This one, however, came out all right, especially when enhanced with two magazine images, a butterfly, and some lace trims! I used the papers I dyed last year to make the little booklet to fit into the envelope. The color came out far better the first time! I’m chuffed with how this project turned out. EnJoy!

Beet Dyed Envelope

Beet Dyed Envelope 2

Beet Dyed Envelope 3

Beet Dyed Booklet

My aim with this first project was to create a collage on a scrap of brown paper bag that I embellished with bits and pieces of scrap found on my desk, plus some trims from my stash. It became a sweet little envelope that now closes with a magnet, and holds a plain,  cream-colored card. Amazing how one can turn trash into treasure!

Special Delivery Envelope

Special Delivery Envelope 2

Special Delivery Envelope 3

This second piece is a fun little item inspired by Natasa of Treasure Books. It’s simply a scrap of blue and white upholstery fabric that I rolled up on the long edge, stitched in place, then embellished with a lace trim and a strand of faux pearls. It could be used to enhance a pencil, as in the first image. However, I decided to turn it into a tassel by adding beads on very thin wire that I inserted into the tube, plus the white ribbon and lace to dangle. 

Blue and Lace Roll

Blue and Lace Roll 2

Blue and Lace Roll 3

Blue and Lace Tassel

Finally, I dyed some white eyelash yarn with beet juice left from cooking, along with a little plastic ring that I’d previously wound with white wool yarn. The colors are just gorgeous, even better in person than in the photo! EnJoy!

Beet Dyed Yarns