Interesting month for me...

I had a total hip replacement on the 17th so I kept  myself busy with this month's challenge and what a wonderful painting too be inspired by!

Paul Gauguin

1892

Oil On Canvas

I saw a lot of things but focused on the leaf, birds, that green thing whiich looks like a vintage end bar. On this one I made the tube focal out of polymer clay, in the necklace I used  leather, wood button, Sari silk. wood beads, picture jasper, Vintaj findings, and agate.

This one reflects the green thing I took apart a vintage cabinet handle, Czech flower bead, poly bird by me and leopard jasper, also little round orange poly beads by me too.

March Jewelry Challenge

Art Bead Scene

Armed Bird's Nest in Acacia Bush, Chile

Marianne North

1870

Oil On Paper

Well who could resist? Not me!!

Especially after having these beautiful carved bone flowers just waiting for me to use them and a beautiful Tin Snippet by Loreli Eurto

The flower beads were purchased in West Virginia around Charlottesville. A C-Koop flower from Lima Beads many moons ago.

The leaf and disc beads I made from tin and polymer clay.

The rest is red leather and red waxed string also from Lima beads.

I thought that it was interesting that the title of the painting is, "Armed Bird " and the painting is so bright and colorful yet there was this dark leaf hanging there like a shield. I'll be dealing with that next project. I chose the red because when I look at a challenge if I can find red I usually use it. I could see some reddish in the far right bottom of the painting and then of course there are the twigs. My bracelet is organic but not as wild as the nesting and trees project. I wanted to stay true to the challenge and the focal

and yep... it's mine!

Forget me Knot

These flowers are one of my all time favorites because they bloom these teeny tiny little bright sky blue flowers.

I adore blue in the garden and these flowers are small enough that they can fit just about anywhere!

So when I saw SJ Designs January challenge, (yes I know I am very late), I also was given this tin. 

Though it is not a finished product I made the link and added some components that I would have played with in putting together a piece.

Here are some sunsets that fall into this palette too that I took pictures of.

 Hellooo Ever-y-body!!!

Well that is my online Grover impersonation!

What will happen now? I know I've been busy doing the life thing and well, sometimes that happens.

Any-whooo I can't stay away from art for any too long of a time! ( I wonder if that should have some hyphens in it?? )

On the artistic side of my life actually my husband has had a few successful exhibits with his pencil drawings and that means I do more dishes.

On my side I made a qilt-ish not done yet blanket. I love the colors and if you look at my jewelry you will see a lot of teal aqua colors.

Don't look at the mess...

Not perfect not finished but I still like it.

Moda fabric with a William Morris design.

It is supposed to look like a trellis-ish thing but it looks more like window panes. I quilt and applique.

 Terri from Terri's Blooming Ideas gifted this to me when I started my quilt. I am finally at the point that I am going to use them

Little sewing area - until I get new glasses!

Pencil drawing by artist Sifus Thompson.

Today I want to show you the latest close-up of my husbands latest drawing.

Batman vs. Superman.

All I can say is I think he is a spectacular artist

SJ Designs Honey Do List Challenge

This was quite the challenge. There was so much to pick from, which should make it easy but I can't let anything be easy. I finally came up with many versions of this bracelet but I also have to want to wear it so it changed many times and may change again.

I absolutely love the beads by Grace Beads. Sorry about the wrinkled background I was happy just to finally get here!
Side note the bee is for the carnivorous plant!

August

Like everyone else this month is a busy one. So many things going on but too hot to do most of them.

one thing I  had to do was to participate in this month's Art Bead Scene challenge.

"Park Near Lu"

By Paul Klee, 1938

Oil and coloured paste on paper on jute

I loved the simplicity and I saw many shapes but being very organic.

Trees and branches of course but also people, a bird, leaves and I was intrigued by the dots.

I made the focal from polymer clay carved and pigmented with alcohol inks, also the pink beads and the one bead cap-ish bead. I was also able to use some beads from a winning from Ragged Robyn which I felt worked great with this necklace!

Here are some polymer clay bird beads.


Here is the necklace. I felt that the painting is simple but bold and the colors play such an important part of the expression of  it. I guess the black really called to me in that it represents the nature and its elements but that really is subjective For myself even when it is winter and everything looks bleak I am always anticipating the Spring time and I think about what I feel the tree really is, full of life! It holds and supports life too like the birds.
I used a Gaea bead from Lima Beads and the rest are polymer clay made by me.


This is the back of the bird!