Dragonfly Fantasy Necklace

This necklace was a kit from www.beadinspirations.com  It's called "Dragonfly Fantasy".  There's a small photo of the finished necklace but I ended up putting my own spin to it.
I love antique brass.  The kit includes brass findings, beads, crystals, glass beads and a large brass butterfly.

Finally Finishing a U.F.O.!

 I was going through my fabric stash when I came across an unfinished quilt top.  I never knew what to do with it either.  Sadly it languished in my fabric stash for at least 5 years!
 I also had a Dayrunner  organizer/folder that had seen better days.  But I didn't have the heart to throw it away.
  Then a *Lightbulb moment* came.  I glued some batting onto the folder to give it some padding.  Then I used a strong fabric glue to attach the quilted piece on top of that.  Then I glued some a fabric border around it.  Voila-a new journal I like and feels good to carry around.  Plus the scraps will make nice bookmarks too.
  It feels fantastic to finish a former "UFO"--an Unfinished Object".

  Even if the project had its beginning in another decade.

Small Treasures, Small Pleasures

 I got this little 2 inch brass thingamabob years ago-I can't remember when or where.  I had it sitting in my little curio cabinet. where it never thought of it.  Today I decided it would make a neat pendant. It's made of brass and has a wonderful scrollwork design aroound it.
  I was surprised to hear something rattling around inside it.  When I unscrewed it I found a wooden needle holder with a bit of thread still wrapped around it.  There was also a rusty thimble inside. What a treasure, especially since I love to sew.
 I'm having fun thinking of what I could do with this.

Here it is, opened with its contents:

One Trueself

  Painting is difficult to me.  But I keep at it, getting into the process and letting it take me wherever....
  I paint horses because they are my totem animal and I am a Wood Horse in Chinese astrology.  I've always been attracted to them.  And I love mythology too.
  I call this painting "One Trueself" because I am always trying to discover what my "style" is.  I create in a sunny studio, surrounded by things created by artists I admire.  I remembered a quote Judy Garland said-"Always be a first-rate version of yourself, instead of a second-rate version of somebody else."

"Comes to Water"

  Comes to Water was inspired by my love of prehistoric cave art and ancient petroglyphs.
  It was painted with acrylics on a piece of plywood.

D'arte Frog

  Today is just a gorgeous day here in Tucson.  60 degrees and sunshine.  The rain yesterday washed the sky clean and even the air smells fresh.
  I was thinking how Winter in Tucson is so different from other (read "colder") parts of the world.  Now is the time we plant snapdragons, pansies and other annuals and enjoy their beauty until the summer comes.
  Today I wanted to be outside and start sprucing up things.  The first thing that needed attention was a metal frog I'd bought a few years ago.  He was a brown, rusty color that to me, just didn't suit its whimsy.  So out came the metallic red and purple paints, some flat marbles and some industrial glue.
  Froggy can go courtin' now.

My Home is My Canvas

 I was  feeling guilty about not creating as much as other artists seem to do.  What do I have to show for all my time?
   Then a thought came to me, almost like a voice shouting out, "My house IS my canvas."
   It really is.  What better place to experiment on?  To do things to that say "This is ME.  This is what I LOVE."
   An on-going project.  A large, ever changing gallery and living exhibition.
  The biggest mixed media expression I can make.
   My home is my canvas.