Mother Nature and the Little Doll Head Box

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

One more Faerie to a good 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?  

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

Emperor Penguin inspired

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

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.    This little gal is Juanita.   Which after watching Romancing the Stone is Spanish for Joan.  Which was my mothers name.  The lady in the movie was Joan Wilder.   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.

 

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

Annette

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.  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.  

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.  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 thought in celebration 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.

 

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.  

 

Sparkle is one of my Essence faeries, I took her essence from a dear friends 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.  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. 

 

Thanks for looking and coming to my world of Crazy Quilt to see what is going on today.  

 

OXOXXO

Annette

The Mermaid has a Home

I just wanted to update you on the sweet mermaid I Crazy Quilted.  She has a home.  Our granddaughter who now lives in Hawaii, having the time of her life I might add, wanted her.  So being a Nana I cut a matt and painted it and off she went to go play in the sun and surf.

I do have to add granddaughter is a strong and free spirited young lady, just celebrated her 22nd birthday I might add.  I think Hawaii is the place for her.  She does love it there and is basically there all by herself.  I am not sure if I would have been brave enough to do that at then 21.   She sold her car and off she went.   Go Allex or as we call her Princess Giget Allex.  She has learned how to Tandem surf and this in my book is pretty good being as she was raised in a land locked part of the world. 

 

Here is the block originally, I just thought it would be easier to see it here than going back to the last post.

 

 

 

Here it is in it's new home with Allex peeping around the frame.  She would probably say NANA!!!! It was early morning and she is here with some friendship bread (muffins for ease in eating) I made and mailed to here.  Man they weigh a ton but she and her brother love them.  Always make enough so she can share with her co-workers.  Still love the pic of her.

 

 

I had to share one of the tandem pics of her and Auggie. 

 

There you go what has been going on in my world lately.  I do have an April block done so will share soon.  I realized I was behind on my blogging.  Seems like what ever "stuff" we had for 6 weeks came back to visit again.  Coughing and all.   I guess it was good stuff   lol

 

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

 

OXOXOX

Annette

 

A Whimsy Mermaid--Done and Done

Hello and Happy March.   Come on Winter it is time to be over and our March winds are blowing you away.   We will share our strong March winds with you all.   Well hope so anyway.   How does that sound today?

I have been wanting to do a beach/Mermaid CQ block or something..   There are some out there in Blog Land that are breath taking with the beads and everything that goes with them. 

As you know I have been on a faerie tear lately and have done one more but thought OK Annette do a Mermaid.  So being semi lazy this last week I peeked into my art journals and tada there were a little school of them on a couple of pages.   I guess mermaids are in schools they are part fish.   Anyway I photographed part of the page and loaded it onto my computer to resize it and print if off on fabric.   She is very whimsy so I thought the CQ should be also.

Sweet readers here she is.   Mermaid #1.  ( may have to do some more of these cuties)  Best part about it is Grand daughter wants it.  Of course I started with the fabric and thought Annette do soft colors and do dads now.  As you can see that didn't work, the softer background colors yes but that is where it stopped.  I used food colored dyed cooking gauze for the orangish sea debris.  I then wanted the starfish I got at Tisha's Threadworks  810-678-8191.   A great place for anything we could ever want, just call her and you will love doing business with her.  Anyway the starfish, I didn't know how to cover it with thread so I got out my trusty glue and beads and blinged it up Texas style.  I then just kept adding and doing until it weighed 100 pounds and knew it was enough for today.   I did add some stitching to her hair and fins also.  The little fish at the center I got that bead in Sedona and had to add little bubbles for him also. 

I made a funky matt for Grand daughter and will get a 12x12 frame and mail off Tuesday to Hawaii.  I bet this little mermaid will be excited to be over there and be cute.

The new faerie I just painted, she certainly had a mind of her own.   I wanted it to be light and airy ( the right side is lighter than it shows), but noooooooooooooo  she had a mind of her own.  So I let her mellow or whatever they do when I put them at the bottom of the pile.   Wound up doing her like this, I think she is happy right now because she is with the other faeries have drawn.   She will also be available soon on my Etsy shop.

There you go now you know what is going on in my world today.  Thanks for stopping by and Happy CQing to you all. 


                                                             XOXOOX
                                                              Annette