Exploring

~Tuesday~

I decided to spend more time EXPLORING mixed media

pictures rather than hopping from one project to another.

I need to be the best I can be and that takes lots of

practice,

practice,

practice!

This picture is very small... 4"x4".

It was a challenge to me to work this small.

It needs a coat of gel medium to finish it off.

I took a photo of it on the wall in the dining nook

as the light is the very best there.

This photo was taken on an angle to show the ribbon around

the edge of the picture.

It substitutes for a frame.

"Now in a cottage built of lilacs and laughter

I know the meaning of the words ever-after"

~Polka Dots & Moonbeams

Make this a GREAT day!

Joni

I'll share a few more Valentine's Day ideas on my next
post.

Repetition of Shapes

~Sunday~

A few days ago I read a blog about the 'repetition of shapes'.

Ali edwards had made a picture with lots of butterflies

repeated in rows.

It was so clean looking and appealing that I had to play with

it this weekend and make it my own.

I decided to use heart shapes as they're my favorite.
The most time-consuming part is choosing paper
that blends well. 4 of my paper choices are from Amy
Butler whom we usually associate with fabric.
I placed a 'pop dot' behind each heart to raise it off
the background paper.
The frame needs to be a double mat or a collector's
box to allow space for the raised shape.

I've enjoyed looking at it this weekend.

I tend to create 'busy' things and it's a delight to

have something 'simple' in the house.

Make it a great week!

Joni

"BEAUTIFUL THINGS"

~Friday~

Look around your home. What is Beautiful to you?

(NO humans allowed!)

I was thinking about this the other night and got the idea for this

mixed-media picture.

I couldn't wait to get out of bed to play with my ideas.

A soon as the sun came up I was up and out and at the worktable!

Beautiful to me??...

My books

Gabby Cat

My soft red chair

My camera

Tea

I put a cupcake on the arm of the chair to represent all things tasty.

I'd have to say photo albums & scrapbooks too.

But I'll save those for another picture sometime.

Here's a closeup of the books so you can click to see titles if interested.
Cutting these out was the most time-consuming part of the
project.




This is a closeup of the background paper. It's from KI Memories and
has lots of words associated with HOME. So perfect for the feeling I
wanted to capture.


I sketched my next picture, but need to run out to get the

right-sized canvas.

I hope you're having fun too!

Joni

"THIS and THAT"

~Wednesday~

Do you know 'The Land of Nod'??

A wonderful store with a great catalog.

This is their winter catalog and it is overflowing

with goodies to buy or to just inspire you.

And they do ship internationally!

I love their covers and often frame them.

They always have delightful illustrations!!

I have lots of empty frames... usually bought on sale.

Just cut off the cover and pop it in an 8x10.

I change these all the time.

I love the Oilily catalog covers too.

Look at these girlfriends! Aren't they adorable!

Here's a knitting challenge for you.

I'm in love with this color combination.
It's like walking into a candy store
with a lot less calories.

Explore some new color combos this year.



Another little knit guy... a bunny.
These 2 melt me. I want them!

The colors in this quilt are yummy and I love

the circular quilting.

I get inspiration from many places. Catalogs are just

one of the many, many sources to explore.

Last night... after playing with these pictures,

I was so inspired to create something that

I sketched in bed instead of reading.

And then I couldn't sleep because the ideas

were

dancing.

I'm off to set up my work table for one of those ideas

that kept me awake.

I'll share with you in a few days.

Make this a GREAT day!

Joni

"HOMEMADE MEMORIES":

Valentine's Day

~Monday~

A Valentine gift for Boyd?

Hmmmmm... a picture!

So, this weekend I cleaned off my work table,

put a "Do Not Enter" sign on the room's door

(I would have peeked... he didn't... he's so good),

and I went to work.

By the time the Super Bowl began on Sunday evening

I had gotten this far.

All I have to do today is to print a small photo of

the two of us together... cut it out... paste it

in the window.

Completed!!

Dry.

Wrap!

This is a real mixed-media work...

A stretched canvas

Paint

Gel medium

Torn paper

Magazine pages

Rubber stamps

Cardboard

Letter tiles

Micron pen

Ribbon

Trim

Photo

What fun!!

It was like being a little kid and making a real MESS!!

Can't wait to make another and I have an idea

in my mind.

Make this a good day!

Joni

"HOMEMADE MEMORIES":

Valentine's Day

~Saturday~

This is Gertrud the Valentine Angel.

And I just bought her at Syko's Etsy Shop.

I just loooooove her!!

Another bit of whimsy for our home.

You must stop by Syko's etsy shop and see the darling handmade
creations.

OR

Visit her at her blog for more information.

Weekend hugs...
Joni

"HOMEMADE MEMORIES':

Valentine's Day

~Friday~

I've been felting wool and I wanted to make something

that I could use at least one piece of it on.

I'll really start exploring/sharing it after Valentine's Day.

~~~~~

The inner pink heart is from a pink sweater I felted.

It was fun to sew on and I just stitched abstractly with

my machine.

The buttons came off a red sweater I'd felted and are

the cutest little flower shape. I should have taken

a close up of one before I started today's post.

The green leaves are a mixture of wool,

synthetic, and felted wool felt.

The light pink dots are French knots.

I blanket stitched around the outside of the felt to
join the front and back together. The stitching is even

although it didn't photograph that way.
Matter of fact all of the photos are not great but

it's already afternoon and I didn't want to take the

time to take them again.

The heart has found a home on the dining nook wall.

I just transformed the guest bathroom with fun

Valentine's goodies.

I'll share with you on Monday!

Remember...

"Love makes the world go round!"

Joni

"HOMEMADE MEMORIES":

Valentine's Day

~Wednesday~

I want to thank Nan for the "You make my day award".

I'm glad I do something for someone!

Thanks Nan! That was sweet of you.

I'm NOT going to pass it on because so many of you 'make my day'

and I don't want anyone to feel left out.

Feel free to send it on to someone if you wish.

NOW... on to Valentine's Day.

I had lots of fun sewing and creating and playing yesterday.

The only project I finished was this appliqued cupcake bordered with

my family's sentiments about cupcakes...

"The cupcake is the perfect dessert! Lovely to look at and even

better to eat. YUMMY!"

(The writing was done with a 05 Micron pen)

I photographed it on my messy work table so you could see the

chaos it evolved out of.

The scissors on the table gives you a gauge for the small size of this

project.

I haven't decided where to tuck it in the house... but I do know that it

will outlast Valentine's Day.

I associate cupcakes with Valentine's Day because it's a day when there

always were cupcakes.

When I was teaching I was in cupcake heaven.

You have never seen so many red, pink, white, and chocolate

delights as in an elementary school.

Off to read a few blogs and work on my felted hearts so I can

share them with you on on Friday.

Love, love, love... that's what it's all about!

Joni

"HOMEMADE MEMORIES":

Valentine's Day

~Monday~

Mr Yummers surprised me with this BEAUTIFUL basket of flowers.

The colors are sooooo lovely... I had to share them with you.

He's my valentine!!

This heart was made from a piece of a very old quilt and has been

in our family for a long time. I haven't mended the small holes as

I think they add to the charm. I sewed a loop on the back and it hangs

on the wall in the guest room.

A touch of the past.


This heart was a gift from a friend. I love the white-on-white

embroidery! So simple and clean looking.

This is a wonderful 44 page book full of ideas and instructions.
I found it at www.needllovedesigns.com.
It is filled with yummy heart projects!!

This is one idea from the book and I love it!! I'm about to throw
on some clothes, and head out to get a wreath, and some
felt. I have been felting wool but I don't have any red yet,
so I'm off to pay full price for some red wool felt. Ish!
But...
I think it will look great on our front door!


Make this a good day!

Love to all of you sweet people!
Joni

"HOMEMADE MEMORIES":

VALENTINE'S DAY

~Friday~

Wire and Bead Heart

Several years ago my daughter Kristin gave me this heart as a gift.

It has hung in a number of different places in two different homes.

It was handmade by an artisan... and inspires me to play with

different gauges of wire and a variety of beads.

The heavier gauge wire was twisted around and

around a rod or dowel and then stretched into a heart shape.

A finer gauge wire was then twisted and twirled around the heavy wire

and a bead was added here and there.

I tried it with a Christmas tree shape and it was very easy to work with.

Here is a detail of the bottom of the heart so you can see how it was joined.

I love the spirals twisted into the wire .

Look at the variety of bead types and styles that were used.

You can use this idea to inspire you to create your own heart or any other shape.

This technique would make wonderful napkin rings

or candle rings.

It's quick, inexpensive, and easy.

Enjoy the process!

Joni

Thanks Kristin for the lovely gift and the inspiration it has brought me.

"HOMEMADE MEMORIES":

VALENTINE'S DAY

~Wednesday~

Zelda-the-Valentine-Vamp

When I was growing up my mom and I used to make dolls of paper and/or felt. Often simple heart shaped bodies with arms, legs and embellishments from a large box that held ribbons, rick-rack, and other goodies. We'd hang them in the windows, from a cupboard handle, or the refrigerator. They'd twirl with the air currents and smile down at us from their display spot.

Last week I discovered Dot from Australia and her blog Dot's life and Art .

I fell in love with her dolls and knew I had to make one... NOW!! (no patience)

SOOOOOOOO...

Introducing (drum roll please) Zelda-the-Valentine-Vamp!

And here she is in all her splendor... decked out for a night on the town.

Hair piled high on her head.

Ornaments in her hair.

Lipstick carefully applied.

Sparkles on her dress.

Favorite high heels for dancing.

Go, Zelda, go!!

Here's a close-up of her hair ornaments and lovely face.
The possibilities for these art dolls are limitless. And I feel a collection coming on.
Mr Yummers says, "Oh no... the 'C' word".

Dot created the Dotee Doll to "... bring color and happiness to people and to connect to people from different parts of the world."
"The Internet has made the world a much smaller place and my heart is warm thinking of people making little dolls to swap or to give as gifts", Dot shared.

There are Dotee Doll swaps at www.swap.bot.com.

Dot has a Dotee Doll tutorial on her January 18th post.

Zelda is only a bit bigger than the palm of my hand.
I may make a doll each month to match the flavor of the month.
I'd like to see them all on a little tree at some time.

Please look at some of the other Dotee Dolls.
Each is different, fun, unique and sometimes quirky.

Enjoy, enjoy, enjoy!

Joni

"HOMEMADE MEMORIES" :

Valentine's Day

~Monday~

The Valentine Tree

I started this tradition with my daughters when they were young.

It started as an Easter/Spring tree and expanded to other holidays and special occasions.

We usually gathered twigs or small branches and painted them white. If I found some interesting twisty branches I would save them for several years... or start fresh.

One year we hung the tree with small decorated heart-shaped cookies tied with ribbons.

This year I kept my Christmas branches in the same place and added small ornaments to the branches.

I like to use our Valentine Tree as the centerpiece on the table, however these are very long twigs and aren't suitable So they remain in our bedroom.

Last night when I crawled in bed to read, the tree cast a warm atmosphere in the room.

I felt all cozy and peaceful as I read... with memories guarding over me.
Some of the ornaments are very old... some new.

A close-up into the thick of things.


I associate Valentine's Day with chocolate.
I found several chocolate ornaments a number of years ago
and they are so perfect for the tree.


There are lots of these little hearts on the tree. They are made from red, white, or pink polymer clay. I think this brand was Sculpey. It's easy to work with... but it is toxic. I rolled out pieces of the clay and cut out hearts with a small canape cutter. Then put a small bent wire (about 26 gauge) into the top of each heart. They need to be baked... directions are on the package. Bake them on tin foil on top of a cookie sheet. Cool right on the tin foil and hang!

A trip to the scrapbook store will provide you with lots of materials for making ornaments.

You can even make small paper chains, heart cookies, candy, etc.

Let your imagination go wild!!

So many possibilities!

Your tree can be small and be adorable. Experiment!

ENJOY!!

Joni

"HOMEMADE MEMORIES":
Valentine's Day

~Friday~

Memories...

My mom always had a wonderful stash of fabrics, felt, and oilcloth.

What a wealth of fun!!
We had a Singer machine that was in a small table and had a knee pedal.
She sewed beautifully and taught me how to sew when I was very young.

We even took sewing lessons together together and entered sewing contests together.
I'll always be grateful for all the time she gave me.

The best of gifts!!

~~~~~~~~~~~~

The next generation...
I remember when my oldest daughter Kristin was in elementary school, she drew the most incredible detailed heart. We made a silk screen and copied the heart onto pink fabric with red paint. We used these to make little heart-shaped pillows with red & white polka dot ruffles around the edge.Kristin gave them to special friends for Valentine's Day.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Yesterday I sewed a heart on hot pink felt and kept going around and around the heart with different stitch lengths and a variety of stitch styles. I didn't want it to be symmetric... I love the whimsical. Then I sewed on a few buttons and glued the heart to a patterned piece of cardstock.

I stamped the word love around the heart (rubber stamps) as it needed something else.

I popped it into a frame without glass and
It's now sitting on the top of a bookshelf in our bedroom.

This is the mess I made looking for just the right eleven buttons for the heart.

I'm still picking them up off the floor as Gabby Cat bats them with her paw.

This could be made with simple hand stitching or elaborate embroidery stitches.

Whatever you make... make the process enjoyable.

Have a wonderful weekend!
See you Monday with... Our Valentine Tree.
A tradition that goes back to my childhood.
Joni

Our home team, The Green Bay Packers, play the New York Giants
Sunday here in Green Bay. The winner goes to the Super Bowl.
This is very, very exciting!!
The weather will be hovering around zero degrees F.
We had ticket offers but declined. It's so cozy on our couch,
fire in the fireplace, some low fat snacks, and a large screen TV.

"HOMEMADE MEMORIES":

VALENTINE'S DAY

~Thursday~

When I was growing up my mom usually gave me a small gift with an "I LOVE YOU!" tag on it.

I remember a new box of watercolors, a box of 64 crayons, a heart pin, and many other sweet things through the years.

This gift was always wrapped in tissue with ribbon and in the middle of my plate at the breakfast table. My dad's gift was always the same... a heart shaped chocolate cake. And "NO!" it wasn't in the middle of his plate. The heart pans are still being used. There was always a card at each person's table setting. Another tradition in our family is heart-shaped pancakes for breakfast on that morning. And another simple beginning to the day was a message on the bathroom mirror written with a Vis-a-Vis red marker.

As long as we're on the subject of gifts , look at these great gifts from Etsy that are under $10.This is just a sampling, as there are over 3,000 pages of wonderful handmade treasures under "hearts".

This cute soap heart is from Tigger Bonn.

This is a needle-felted heart pin by Julie Persons.

These adorable pins all have such a cute detail on them.
They're from Paper Fish.
I love this little forest box. It can be found at Forest Families.

One of many cute watercolor cards by Happy Day's Studio.

I love this unique bookmark by Double Dee.

These heart-shaped soaps are made from shea butter. They're hand made by

Dee's Home Goods.

This heart is made from twigs, wire, and paper. Made by Nest USA.

COZY!! This collar is handknit and can be found at KnittyKittiesShop.

Aren't these great?? And handmade!!

I tried to give you links for them all, but couldn't find the last two.

You might want to hop on over yourself and take a peek.

Kristen... from Gock's Frocks has just released the most adorable,

unique, and fun new collection of clothes for little girls.

Take a look at the creativity and beautiful workmanship.

Tomorrow:

Something you can make!

Joni