Arrangement in Glass Cloche

I have had the idea for this arrangement in my head for a couple of years. Yesterday I finally brought it to fruition.

I adore nests and often think of all the labor and skill required for birds to build them. Whenever I see one that has fallen out of a tree I pick it up and add to my collection. What makes this nest even more special is that fibers from my angora goats, who have since passed over the rainbow bridge have been incorporated into the design.

This is Baby Dumpling. He was one of our naughtier goats but I adored him just the same.

I don’t have a miniature angora goat so the lamb will do for now. Perhaps in the future I will make one with some of the goat hair that I have saved. I could not seem to photograph a good close-up without including some sort of reflection from myself. In this picture it looks like the girl is holding the camera, which I kind of like.

If you would like to make a similiar arrangement I have some nests and a cabinet photo listed in my Etsy shop Metaphor Alchemy that would work well.

https://www.etsy.com/listing/102757064/actual-birds-nest-real SOLD

https://www.etsy.com/listing/102758467/young-girl-with-flower-basket-cabinet

https://www.etsy.com/listing/103397352/actual-birds-nest-real

https://www.etsy.com/listing/103397063/actual-birds-nest-real

https://www.etsy.com/transaction/85342977?transaction_id=85342977 SOLD

https://www.etsy.com/listing/103397352/actual-birds-nest-real

Fredonia Village Wide Rummage Sale

 

A few weeks ago was the Fredonia Village Wide Rummage Sale. One of my favorite events, not only for the thrift appeal but also for the exercise/walking aspect. Nothing like the anticipation of a good find to keep me walking.

I wasn’t feeling very good but decided to at least go to try and walk a little bit. The first stop I found the above book. About 6 stops later and I still wasn’t feeling well so I decided to head home.

On the way home I passed a house with a sign ANTIQUES in front. I had stopped there before during previous sales. His prices were generally high. Perhaps it would be fun to just look. I seen this machinist’s chest not priced. I asked the price…and I was rewarded for stopping! I have yet to fill it. I want to reorganize my studio space and haven’t yet decided what function this cabinet will provide me.

MORE DRAWERS!!!

A Trip to the Cabin

 

Tuesday we took a drive up to the cabin. Mark is measuring the roof that needs to be replaced. You probably will not find me up there as heights make me woozy. Notice the blue sky, it was a beautiful day! I even was able to finish a journal page (see previous post).

A bird’s nest under the eaves.

Another view, as I am partial to home builders.

We took the dogs along too! We set up a pen for them on the porch as the ticks are awful up there this year. Also, we didn’t want to risk losing any dogs in the woods.

Rufus was nervous and didn’t want to be left behind so he waited in the truck the whole time.

Sketchbook Challenge Book - Blog Hop

Help Us celebrate the release of The Sketchbook Challenge book this month!

The Sketchbook Challenge:Techniques,Prompts and Inspiration for Achieving Your Creative Goals officially releases on 6/26 and Sue Bleiweiss the author along with the artists who are featured in her book are celebrating it with a blog hop and to give away over $1200 worth of prizes donated by some incredibly generous sponsors! Read on for details!

Available at Amazon, ArtPlantae and Barnes &Noble

So how does a blog hop work you ask? Well starting on Tuesday June 26,2012 and continuing through July 10 we’ll be featuring two blogs for you to visit. Each of the blogs will have a post about the book and information about the prizes you can win just for leaving a comment on the post. And let me tell you,we’ve got some amazing prize packages for you to win –here’s the list of what we’ll be giving away:

Mistyfuse:Mistyfuse is giving away NINE packages of a 10yd combination package of Mistyfuse that includes 6 yards of White and 2 yards each of Black and Ultraviolet and a Goddess Sheet and ONE package of Three 10yd packages of Mistyfuse:a white,black and ultraviolet and a BIG Goddess Sheet.

ArtPlantae Today is giving away Making Handmade Books and a second prize comprised of one copy of Botany for Artists and one package of Plant Notes Bookmarks

Gelli Arts is giving away two 8″x10″Gel Printing Plates

Joggles is giving away two $25 gift certificates to Joggles.com

Sue Pelland Designs is giving away A Leaves Galore Grande size template ,Quilter’s Chalk Line,and the pattern of their choice from her website with free shipping (Continental USA).

ProChemical and Dye is giving away two $25 gift certificates to ProChemical and Dye

The Thread Studio is giving away a pack of machine embroidery threads and a pack of flaked gilding leaf.

Blue Twig Studio is giving away A pad of Borden &Riley Bristol Plate

The Artist Cellar is giving away TWO complete sets (28 stencils each!) of Artist Cellar Stencils.

KathyAnne White is giving away a free member ship to the KathyAnne Art Website which includes free access to over 40 workshops in a variety of subjects from journaling to digital printing on alternative surfaces with a new free workshop for members posted every month! During the blog hop,KathyAnne will post a coupon for a free workshop “Studio Journals Mini Workshop” In this workshop she shows you how to create a studio journal based on her journal for her project in The Sketchbook Challenge book. Look for details on June 27th in her blog hop post on how to find the coupon to download the workshop from the KathyAnne Art site. www.kathyanneart.com

That’s over $1200 worth of prizes –can you believe it?! Here’s the official blog hop schedule –visit the featured blogs on the days indicated for your chance to enter to win a prize:

June 26:
Jill Berry
Sue Bleiweiss

June 27:
Violette
Kathyanne White

June 28:
Kathy Sperino
Leslie Tucker Jenison

June 29:
Jamie Fingal
Lynn Krawczyk

July 2:
Jackie Bowcutt
Lyric Kinard

July 3:
Jane Davies
Kim Rae Nugent

July 5:
Carla Sonheim
Carol Sloan

July 6:
Susan Brubaker Knapp
Diana Trout

July 9:
Tracie Lyn Huskamp
Judi Hurwitt

July 10:
Jane LaFazio
Kelli Nina Perkins

So mark your calendars for Tuesday June 26th to help us celebrate by hopping for prizes!

Collaged Journal Page

 

I made this collaged journal page at the cabin yesterday. It was a near perfect day except for the ticks that I found crawling on me. So I drew them on this character’s face. You can click on the picture to enlarge it and see more of the detail. I really was able to lose myself in the process once I gave up on preconceived expectations.

My Current Art Journal and Journal Entry

Since the Einstein journal didn’t sell in my Etsy shop and it was time for me to start a new one, rather than listing this journal again, I’m using it myself. I really liked it anyway. Perhaps I’ll make a similar one some day.

Here is the journal page that I created at EphemeraFest. I actually felt the opposite of what I wrote on this journal page on that day. The picture of the eagle was the inspiration. I added a sleeve to the hand and a paint brush in the eagle’s claws. A bottle of ink drips inspiration down the page. The last step was a wash of turquoise fluid acrylic paint.

The dropped “I” was actually a spelling mistake. I forgot the “T” even though I penciled in the saying first. So I changed the “I” to a “T” and added the letter “I” below. I actually think it is more interesting this way. You can’t hold me back…

New Etsy Shop – Metaphor Alchemy

I opened a new Etsy shop on May 15, 2012. This shop specializes in antique and vintage tools and components for the artist. I love to make assemblages and I also love the thrill of the hunt to find items to incorporate into my pieces of art. To enable my treasure hunting passion and to have another outlet for all of my finds I have opened this shop.

So far I have listed a total of 86 items. My goal is to have a much larger inventory of several hundred items. The thought of parting with some of these items is difficult for me. Every piece I look at sparks ideas. Perhaps this venture will help me to be more productive. Below is a sampling from my shop MetaphorAlchemy:

Antique weight

Antique wood casting pattern.

Antique ???

Wooden Floats.

Driftwood

And more to come…here:

http://www.etsy.com/shop/MetaphorAlchemy