Winter

 

 

 

Just a few views of winter from my part of the world

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Rustic Handmade Beads and Necklace

 

'Beads' was the challenge this week ... hosted by Norma.

It reminded me of some beads I made from some local seeds. 

 

 

These seeds are from the Donjek Berry, and have been used traditionally for years as beads by the local First Nations people.  Once the berry part is rubbed off, the seeds are beautiful, but still quite soft.

 

 

I put a hole through them and strung them on a piece of wire.

 

 When they dried  they shrank in size and hardened and became lovely little beads.

 

The other 'bead' I like to make is actually just a piece of wire wrapped around something.

(in this case a well worn wooden skewer)

I then remove the wire wrap, cut it into pieces, and bent the ends toward the middle of the bead. 

 

I used these seed beads and my wire wraps in making this rustic necklace.

 

 

 

 

The necklace can be worn long.....

 

or short with the chain wrapped twice around your neck.

 

To see more of the 'bead' challenge be sure to visit Norma

Finished . . . . I Think

 

 

I have had this creation in the works for some time, and have been slowly adding to it.

Today I think it is finished.

 

 

It is an 8X10 inch piece made on tea bags which I then drew on and painted with white acrylic paint and pan pastels.  Then more scribbling was added... then more pastels... then more scribbling... then more paint. 

 

I think you can see the slight texture that the tea bag gives it.

 

 

 

 

 

And finally how it looks in a mat.

Blog Party

 

Hello

If you haven't been here before, welcome to my blog!

 

(if you are looking for the drawing challenge please see previous post) 

 

I live in a remote part of Northern Canada, where the mountains are high and the winters are long. 

 

 

 

Because of this remoteness,  I am happy to join in this blog party, hosted by Vicki at 2 Bags Full

 

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

 

I have always enjoyed being creative, but I always thought I couldn't draw.

So a few years back - although I was already in my 40's I decided it was time to learn how to draw, and I have been working at learning ever since.

 

Besides drawing, my favourite thing to create with lately is tea bags. 

 

   

 

  I have used them in making luminaries. 

 

accordian books, that also have some of my bird drawings in,



 

 

as well as on the front of my journal I made.

 

 

I am also trying my hand at painting

 

at collage making

 

 

and at all kinds of putterings.   

 

 

Including making jewelry.

 

 

 

Creating is a big part of me, and I always have something in the works.  

 





 

Thank you so much for visiting my blog. 

 

This original tea bag collage is ready to find a new home. 

 If  you would like a chance at winning it, please leave me a comment and I will randomly choose a winner on Feb. 1. 

 

UPDATE - February 1

Thanks for all the comments!  I loved hearing from so many of you, and loved visiting new blogs.

The winner of my small gift is

Terri from Artful Affirmations



Crowning Glory

I was busy drawing a fish early this week when I found out that the drawing challenge

prompt for this week was 'crown'.

Well I do think my fish was very surprised to find herself with a crown of flowers.

 

But I kinda like her that way. 

 

For more crown inspired works, visit Stefanie.

Enjoyment

 

I am afraid there is little new here, as I continue to enjoy creating with tea bags, collage, transfers, ink, pen, pastels, paint and whatever else happens to be close at hand at my messy art desk.  And once I finish there I play around on my computer. That is how the piece above was created.

The pieces below were made by my hand with much enjoyment.

 

and I couldn't resist a bit more of computer play.

 

All of the above art was created from this simple photograph I took (with the above creations in mind when I took it) on a enjoyable walk with my daughter over the Christmas season.

 

 Before my daughter returned to university, she asked if I could make her some bookmarks that she could give as small gifts to some friends.  I enjoyed my afternoon making these bookmarks from my tea bag creations.  Yes fun was had.... lots of fun.

Such Enjoyment!

 

New Bracelets

I love bracelets, but have a very tiny wrist, and bracelets are usually too big for me. 

 

Therefore I decided to make one for myself, and being a lover of birds, as well as recycling, I made this one.  The metal that the bird image is on is reclaimed metal, and the cord is adjustable, so I can slip it over my hand and then tighten it as much as I want.

 

A friend of mine saw it, and her husband purchased this one for her.

They are a bit more time consuming then the similar necklaces I have made, as I sew the decorations right onto the cord.  - but still so enjoyable!

More jewelry to come....

A Cherished Day

A few days ago we had a day that I will cherish. 

 

We spent the day outside playing on Kluane Lake.

 

The cold temperatures have kept us inside lately, but this day was just perfect for playing

And exploring.

The wind blown ice surface, was covered in hard ridges of snow, but also had patches where the snow was blown away

and displayed these beautiful bubble patterns.

 

So fun to discover!

The windblown snow is hard packed, but still tricky to walk on as it is more uneven then it appears.

And  there was a huge pressure ridge to explore.

with beautiful blue ice.

 

The pressure ridge is  small compared to the size of the lake...

but large compared to us. 

 

A wonderful family day that I will add to my cherished memories of 2013. 

 

Jenny shares a wonderful idea of how to save and remember these special types of days here.