Wow! Day sixty already! Good for me for doing this. Good for you for reading and encouraging me on my journey. Thanks!

Today we had sunshine again, so I hung my laundry out to soak up the fresh air. Also, the maintenance crew finally came and cleaned up my patio, hauling away masses of pine cones and needles, oak leaves and other debris, along with my dried out Christmas tree! ahhhhh. Clear space is lovely!

I left working on art too late, due to some other distractions, and I realized I’m too tired to make something new, though I did attempt another collage (didn’t come out as I wanted). So I’m happy to share this beautiful doll that I made some time ago. EnJoy!

Francesca

This was one of those days wherein I did not seem to get much accomplished. However, a friend came over around 4 pm and we spent time talking, walking, eating a yummy dinner, and sharing poetry of Rabindranath Tagore and Hafiz. We also sang and danced a Sufi dance together, and sang along to a recording of another. What a lovely afternoon and evening!

After my friend left, I added some tiny seashells to the front of the Ocean Blues folio I made the other day, and decided to make a collage/charm from an empty tea bag! I layered natural (unbleached) cheesecloth, a scrap of linen, and a sticker from the Botanical Tea collection that I had adhered to cardstock. I stitched the ribbon loop together, then glued it into the opening of the tea bag and took a couple of cross stitches to hold it in place.

I also tacked the center of the layers down before covering with the bird sticker, and I sewed the ribbon rose and the bits of lace in top left corner, too, as glue was not sufficient to secure these elements. I did use E-6000 to glue the pearl in the center of the lace flower. I also decided to glue another tea bag to the back of the collage to cover up stitches and give it all more strength. I want to make more of these now! EnJoy!

Ocean Blues Accordian Folio Updated

Bluebird Tea Bag Charm

What a day this has been! I spent ages making a slideshow with Photos, importing it to Keynote and then trying to add voice-over; not easy or obvious! Then I thought I’d try iMovie, but every time I imported the video, that application quit. Arrrgh! Decided to go walk off my frustration, since there was a break in the rain anyhow. Later I talked with a friend who suggested that I make the video with Zoom, so I did a screenshare and recorded just my voice while the slideshow was running and ta-da! Now you can watch that video right here.

I also made another little collage with some scraps of paper, lace, pearls, a butterfly and ribbon, just for the joy of it. EnJoy!

Follow Your Dreams Collage

We have more rain tonight, yippeeee! Making things nice and green around the neighborhood.

Today I decided to tea-dye a bunch of papers and some scraps of fabric to use in my art making. I also received a gift of a package of natural (unbleached) cheesecloth. It’s good to prepare materials for future creations!

I did finish my pocket letter for the swap I’m in, though I’ll have to show photos after my partner receives it so she’s surprised!  So I will share another little collage that I made a couple of days ago but did not post. EnJoy!

Reminder:  Just one week left before the drawing of all those who engage with my posts, and the winner will receive a surprise gift! Invite your friends to subscribe and join the fun, too! So get your comments posted, share and invite friends before the 27th!

Tea Dyed Papers

Tea Dyed Fabrics

Tea Bag Collage

Today I set myself some tasks: to finish one UFO (Unfinished Fiber Object), to use up two items from my stash of boxes, and to work on a pocket letter for a swap I’m participating in.  I did some tasks, omitted one and added two others! (I did work on the pocket letter but won’t show it until I’ve sent it to my partner.)

First, I wanted to use an empty almond milk container, and attempted to cut the sides down so I would have an even edge for making another container. However, the bottom does not lie flat and it was difficult to make each side the same height! So I gave that idea up and took the carton apart, instead. Evened up the edges and decided to make an accordian folder, with room for writing inside. I have to find some of my tiny seashells to embellish it with.

Ocean Blues Accordian Folder

Ocean Blues Accordian Folder 2

Ocean Blues Accordian Folder 3

Ocean Blues Accordian Folder 4

Almond milk carton

Next, I borrowed an idea from the book, Layered, Tattered and Stitched by Ruth Rae. She showed how to make a gift wrap by stitching some music paper between two layers of wax paper. Mine is not quite big enough to wrap anything, so I may use it for a pocket in a journal. I also made a tiny collage using scraps of paper and an empty tea bag that I cut and opened out.

Music Page with Wax Paper

Tea Bag Collage

My last project was to sew a small bag from some scraps of a very thick, felted wool sweater. I stitched the seams with four strands of crewel embroidery yarn, then stitched a pink heart in the center front with thicker wool yarn. EnJoy! 

Felted Sweater Scraps

Felted Sweater Bag

Felted Sweater Bag 2

Today I made two pockets from old business envelopes, inspired by “Junk Journal ideas with Donna.”

For the first one I covered the envelope with an image from a calendar, and used another one on the tag inside. I glued this pocket into a scrap journal I’m working on.

For the second pocket, I used a larger envelope that already had a pocket, and cut my paper to go on top. I covered with paper on both sides so it can be a separate gift or glued into a journal page. I used scraps from Stamperia’s “Dream” collection for this one. EnJoy!

Bluebird Envelope Pocket

Bluebird Envelope Pocket Tag

Laugh Daily Envelope Pocket

Laugh Daily Envelope Pocket 2

Laugh Daily Envelope Pocket 3

Laugh Daily Envelope Pocket 4

Laugh Daily Envelope Pocket 5

Happy Easter! Happy Spring!

I finished adding elements to the pages of the journal I posted yesterday, and decided to add a soft white ribbon for the closure instead of the black clip. Much better for this delicate paper! EnJoy!

Today I finished reading Brighty of the Grand Canyon by Marguerite Henry, an awesome story of a brave–and real-life–burro who live from about 1882-1922. Well worth reading again and again!

This afternoon I began making another small journal with a paper bag cover, this time using most of a small bag that I cut the bottom off of. I covered with more gorgeous papers from Stamperia, and used extra copies of pages from The Science of Getting Rich that I had on hand. I have not quite finished the journal; I still need to add more embellishments to the pages and something to go inside the pocket on the back cover. Here it is so far. EnJoy!

Pink Roses and Pearls Journal

Pink Roses and Pearls Journal 2

Pink Roses and Pearls Journal 3

Pink Roses and Pearls Journal 4

Pink Roses and Pearls Journal 5

Another day that seemed to slip away very fast! I did manage to get in a walk as the rain had let up for a time. We’re suppposed to get more rain tonight and over the next several days.

This evening I made a little journal from part of a paper bag for the cover and pages torn from my scrap journal. I added a paper bag journal card tucked into the front pocket, a collaged pocket on the inside front cover with an altered playing card inside, and a simple folded card in the pocket of the back inner cover. I sewed the pages into the journal and added an embellished paperclip for the closure. I used more scraps from Stamperia “Shabby Rose” and “Dream” collections. What fun can be had with a paper bag! EnJoy!

A Kiss Journal

A Kiss Journal 2

A Kiss Journal 3

A Kiss Journal 4

A Kiss Journal 5

A Kiss Journal 6

I did not get anything created today except a batch of awesome cookies! Now it’s too late to start something new, so I want to share these beautiful glass jars that I embellished some time ago. EnJoy!

Rose & Fairy Bottle $35.00

Rose and Fairy Bottle

Drink Me! 2

Silver Dreams Bottle (Sold)

Wishes Dreams and Miracles (Sold)

Wishes Dreams and Miracles 2 (Sold)