FEBRUARY 2016 Day 29 Final Day of Month of Hearts

Hearts week 1

Hearts Week 2

Hearts Week 3

Hearts Week 4

Final Month's Hearts

 A whole month of hearts. Now on to something new!

Happy Leap Day to everyone. I read several articles this week that said today would be a super lucky day. I like the sound of that! May your day be filled with delightful and fun surprises, opportunities and experiences! Would love to hear of anything wonderful that comes your way today...leave a comment.

FEBRUARY 2016 Day 28 Into the Blue

Into the Blue

This week, a friend recounted some events she'd recently experienced and her response to those was a feeling of sadness. As she spoke, the sadness seemed to lift and her mood changed. After parting to get on with our days' activities, I felt a touch of lingering sadness. It was almost as if a tiny cloud had wrapped itself around me.  I wasn't sure what was contributing to it, other than it had been some kind of energy transfer. I allowed myself to feel my way through it and put this little felt together. "This too shall pass," it seemed to whisper to me as I sewed on the beads. And it did. That small sadness lifted, dissipated, and I was back up to speed. The only way out is through and it was ok to temporarily be "into the blue."

Into the Blue is made of needle and wet felted Corriedale and Merino silk with assorted stones and beads.

Tomorrow is the last day of the month long Heart Felt project. I'll be putting up collages of all the pieces I've done over the last four weeks.
Thank you for stopping by, having a peek and for leaving  kind comments! 

FEBRUARY 2016 Day 27 Bloomin Heart

Bloomin Heart

Got to see many lovely sunflowers during the painting challenge in January as Sheila Delgado presented her watercolor sunflower collection. Decided to do some 3-d versions and add silk throwsters and tiny glass beads as embellishments. Looking at the vases of flowers and close ups of individual blossoms with their delicate shading and subtle coloring, I had to play with the wool to create my own version of something flowery.

See Sheila's colorful and playful sunflower collection and find out more about her work HERE. 

Sunflower paintings by Sheila Delgado

Bloomin Heart is made of needle and wet felted Corriedale, silk throwsters and glass beads.

FEBRUARY 2016 Day 26 Keeper of the Heart

Keeper of the Heart

Chose to work 3-d today. Found this lovely vintage ceramic piece in a local opp shop and envisioned a pin cushion tucked inside. The natural medium shaded wool was the perfect color for a small bear, blues and greens for a tiny scarf to keep warm in winter, and red with green for the little heart he watches over.

Keeper of the Heart (4"x 4" x 9") is made of needle felted Corriedale, vintage ceramic piece and straight pins. 

Only a few more days of February Hearts. Now in search of a new theme for the long month of March...hmmmmm. Any ideas?

FEBRUARY 2016 Day 25 Inspired by a Dare

Inspired by a Dare

I really had fun with this piece. Orange is one of my favorite colors and during the big painting challenge I participated in for the month of January, I found the work of some painters whose irresistible color combinations practically made me swoon. How is it that color can have such a profound effect on us? Being exposed to particular colors can influence us in a number of ways. Restaurants and retail shops know this as they pay designers boatloads of money to help them select the very colors that entice us to eat more food and spend more money in their establishments. 

Inspired by a Dare is made of wet and needle felted Merino with cotton, gold thread and assorted beads. The combination of colors is borrowed from the glowing paintings of artist Laurie Mueller. See her work HERE .

Laurie Mueller's "Dare to be Different"

I found this painting of Laurie's on her blog as Day #24 of the Leslie Saeta's 30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge. See her blog here.

FEBRUARY 2016 Day 24 Red Blossom

Red Blossom

Playing with the red and green combination, while avoiding the Christmasy look. Seeing those two colors together usually suggested something with a holiday theme. I love a red and purple combo (which sometimes suggests a touch of royalty), so challenged myself today to combine a new color trio.

Red Blossom (4.5" x 5") is made of wet and needle felted Corriedale with cotton and assorted beads.

What are some color combinations that you'd find challenging to combine?

FEBRUARY 2016 Day 23 Untitled

Untitled

Another piece using a two color palette. I've always like the combination of red with black and when keeping it in mind, it seems to show up in different places. Titles for pieces usually show up somewhere in the process, but this one didn't whisper its name to me.

 Untitled (2 1/4" x 3") is made of needle felted Corriedale.

FEBRURARY 2016 Day 22 Outside the Comfort Zone

Outside the Comfort Zone

 Watched a demo recently of someone using india ink on Yupo. With just black and white, she was able to create a wide range of textures and special effects. After that, I saw some black and white photography and chose to focus on making a piece using only black and white. With umpteen colors of wool at hand, I often want to squeeze in as many different colors as I can. Using a limited palette...stepping outside the comfort zone.

 Outside the Comfort Zone (2 1/4" x 3") is made of needle felted Corriedale.

 

FEBRUARY 2016 Day 21 Bulls Eye

Bulls Eye

I've been working a on special project and had gotten stuck the other day..the momentum had slowed and I was wanting to get to a place where the ideas would pick up speed again. But, that's often the time when they disappear and become  more elusive in direct proportion to the amount of energy I put in. I headed to the shower, letting go any notion of needing to find answers. Under that warm flow of water, I got caught up in the sounds. It was almost like standing under a tree in a spring rain. I relaxed in that downpour, and seconds later, the ideas materialized. Bulls Eye!  That moment when it all pulls together and makes sense.

How do you experience that aha moment where it all comes together?

Bulls Eye (3.5"x 4") is made of needle felted Corriedale.

FEBRUARY 2016 Day 20 Gifts of the Sea

Gifts of the Sea

After making this one, it looked like something that came from the sea...blue swirling currents, a few pearly beads, and small sparkly bits that reminded me of sea glass. I can almost hear the surf....

Gifts of the Sea is made of wet and needle felted Corriedale and Merino silk with cotton, seed and glass beads.

FEBRUARY 2016 Day 19 High 5

High 5

I found this interesting brooch in a shop recently. It sparkled as I turned it around in my hand. The blingy quality was very appealing. Envisioning it in a wool piece, I bought it, along with a few other assorted items. The central grouping of stones forms a flower with 5 petals. The number 5 is often associated with luck and good fortune.

The High 5 is frequently the social gesture of choice when we are celebrating something or get hit with some great news or wonderful surprise. High 5s and hand turkeys.

Five was designer Coco Chanel's lucky number. 
"I always launch my collections on the 5th day of the 5th month so the number 5 seems to bring me luck- therefore, I will name it No 5," she said of her famous and wildly successful perfume, Chanel No 5.

I grew up being familiar with that scent as it was my mother's favorite. It brings to mind dressing up, special events, and celebrations.

High 5 (2.5"x 3") is made of needle felted Corriedale with added vintage brooch.

FEBRUARY 2016 Day 18 Lady Bird

Lady Bird

This has been an odd winter for sure. Two weeks ago, I found several lady bugs in my kitchen. Not sure how they managed to get in, but as it was still quite warm, I scooped them up and set them out on the railing of the back porch. Another sign of summer during the winter season. Surprising and delightful.

Living in New Zealand a few years back, I discovered ladybugs are known as Lady Birds. Very regal sounding name, so I made a lady bird of wool and gave her a big gold button. 

Lady Bird brooch (2"x3") is made of needle felted Corriedale with a vintage button. 

FEBRUARY 2016 Day 17 Tiny Fruit

Tiny Fruit

Temps are going up this week...snow one day, rain the next and it's practically spring in the middle of February. I enjoy hunkering down during the cold months, but a few people I spoke with last week told me how much they miss the warmth, sun and gentle breezes. Two were missing picking strawberries. Today's heart is for the strawberry lovers. A little reminder of the luscious color and sweet taste of summertime. What foods remind you of summer?

Tiny Fruit (3"x 3.5") is made of needle felted Corriedale and beads.

FEBRUARY 2016 Day 16 The Crossing

The Crossing

Yesterday's storm left a heap of snow. This morning as I looked out into the front garden, I saw crisscrossing paths of green, footprints left in the snow by the kids on the return from their walk. The grass peeked through the inches of snow, leaving a green zigzagging trail. Ideas just outside the front door.

The Crossing (2.5" x 3")is made of needle felted Corriedale. 

Where do you find inspiration for the creative things you do?

FEBRUARY 2016 Day 15 Summer Breeze

Summer Breeze

Looked to summer skies and the ocean for color inspiration, as today's skies are full of snow. It snowed all night and continues to fall, blanketing everything and creating a lovely stillness. A good day to stay in on this holiday Monday.

Summer Breeze  (1.5" x 2.5") is made of needle felted Corriedale.

FEBRUARY 2016 Day 14 Love to Faraway Places

Love to Faraway Places

Today sending love to faraway places...Christchurch, New Zealand that was hit by another big earthquake yesterday. The village of Sumner sustained severe damage as the cliffs on both the Sumner side and the Taylors Mistake side broke off and crumbled into the sea. I was living on the cliffs of Taylors Mistake five years ago when the Feb 22, 2011 quake hit, breaking off cliffs then, too. From what I've just seen in the news, no one was injured in this one. It was a relief to get texts and email from friends there yesterday and finding out they are all ok. I felt very sad knowing that that beautiful city has, once again, been hurt by yet more earthquakes.

Love to Faraway Places is made of needle felted Corriedale.

 

FEBRUARY 2016 Day 13 Bee-ing

Bee-ing

Having fun with adding more sculptural elements. I've built up layers in the wool to make a small stage where I can pop found objects. I like the image of bees...they are amazing to watch in the spring as all the flowers are appearing once again. Slowing down and focusing, I can hear the soft hum the bees make as they move from flower to flower. 

Bee-ing is made of needle felted Corriedale and a found metal bee charm.

FEBRUARY 2016 Day 12 Little Bit of Both

Little Bit of Both

Still a bit of frost and light snow on the ground..but lots of sun which, looking through the window, feels like spring. This piece is a little bit of both

Little Bit of Both is made of wet and needle felted Corriedale, with cotton, glass and seed beads.

FEBRURARY 2016 Day 11 Sparkly Berry

Sparkly Berry

The color inspiration for this one comes from a berry pizza I saw the other day...a dark nut crust, with a thin layer of cheesecake, a glaze of pureed fruits and topped with fresh blueberries, raspberries and black berries. All those lovely shades of blue and purple.

Sparkly Berry is made of wet and needle felted Corriedale and Merino Silk, with cotton, glass and seed beads.

Where to you look for inspiring color ideas for your art pieces?

FEBRUARY 2016 Day 10 Pearl

Pearl

Looked out this morning to see frost covered grass..looks like a dusting of icing sugar on everything. Having worked as a baker years ago, I did lots of sugar dusting on pastries. It added a finishing touch, gave it a lightness and allowed what was underneath to still shine through. Inspiration for today's piece. What gives you ideas for the things you create?

Pearl (2 1/2"x2 1/2") is made of wet and needle felted Corriedale with cotton, glass and seed beads and mother of pearl vintage buttons.