Tea Dye,Fiber Art,and Rust..Yea Rust!

I'm pretty sure Hubby thinks I have a screw loose somewhere..tubs of tea dying gauze and lace on the windows..





..and with all this beautiful gauze lying around I simply had to attempt my first fiber art..It's not finished yet,but thought I would give you a sneak peak..I created it with layers of gauze,fabric,beads,stitch work and a lovely rusty plate with a clothespin that reads C'est la vie(Such is Life,or That's Life in french)..

I choose that title because the organized chaos in the fibers remind me of life's journey.

I loved the clothes pin so much I made some for my new store on Etsy..

..and speaking of rusty things..I've had a blast experimenting with rust...Ive used a store bought rusting solution,vinegar,beach and at the end of the day,I find that good old lemon juice with salt works best...





As always,
thank you so much for stopping by

A Secret Heart

A new little book..but this little one has a secret..only to be seen in in the light of the moon.


"Secret Heart" measures approx. 2 1/2" x 3 1/2" and has three panels.


Each panel is made with fabric softener sheets that have been loved with a layer of modge podge,paint and glitter....But when at first you look..Nothing but a blank slate..


..but when the moon is high..the secret is revealed..stitched between each panel are the secrets at last...

I have a love for texture..

and words..


..and Music...

Each holding a special part of my heart.
Shhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.

As always,
thank you so much for stopping by

"Stillness of the Mind"

My father used to blast his classical melodies while the house went on as always.My love for classical started there and I moved from there to love all genres,but always having a place in my heart for this style of music that stirred inside what could not be spoken.Nowadays I find love like this in the soundtracks of the cinema.Movies not only visually stunning and a treat for the eyes,...but for the ears as well,....filling me up with unexplained happiness.Movies like Pride & Prejudice(Jean-Yves Thibaudet-Composer),The Painted Veil(Alexandre Desplat-Composer),Lord of the Rings(Howard Shore-Composer),Shindlers List(John Williams-Composer).

I wish I could explain to you the beauty this kind of music resonates in my head as the notes dance in my heart.Music like this awakens the soul,fills the heart and mind with nothing but feeling.Perhaps sweetness,perhaps sadness,perhaps joy,perhaps love.Only Feeling.

Last Night I found that feeling again,moving me to tears.Its not very often that music brings me to tears,not very often my mind begins begins to whirl,dizzy with emotion.Not very often a lump arises in my throat wanting to speak,and I cant.

When I first saw the preview for "The Single Man",I immediately put in on my Netflix list,...not because it looked like an interesting movie but because the music caught my ears and I simply had to enjoy more of it.Then again..Colin Firth was in it and .....Yowza...Me liky Colin Firth!!

I was alarmingly surprised by the movie.Beautiful,tragic,shocking,heartbreaking,evocative and that was in the first 20 minutes.

The first scene drew me in..the scene..the music..ahh the music..playing "Stillness of the Mind" by Abel Korzeniowski.Stunning.

After the movie,I did the obvious and ordered the album on itunes and have been enjoying it ever since.
Beauty like this,feeling like this..has to be shared.


Abel Korzeniowski http://www.abelkorzeniowski.com/



As always,
thank you so much for stopping by

Captain of my Soul

A couple of weeks ago I had this mad crazy idea..I know what your thinking and yes...just a little bit crazy..but anyway..I thought why not open up a new shop on Etsy.I know..who in their right mind would want something else to do...I just couldn't seem to shake the idea of having a shop with the mixed media artist in mind. A store that sells a little bit of this and a little bit of that,some doods and some dads..plus a little bit of thingamajigs and maybe even a couple of whatchamacallits..all perfect for the mixed media mind.Your probably so relieved I explained to you what I'm selling.

Check it out when you get some time..its not fully up and running but I'm getting there...Just click the link on the sidebar! "Doo-dads for the Mixed Media Soul"
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Invictus


"Out of the night that covers me,
Black as the Pit from pole to pole,

I thank whatever gods may be
For my unconquerable soul.

In the fell clutch of circumstance
I have not winced nor cried aloud,

Under the bludgeonings of chance
My head is bloody, but unbowed.

Beyond this place of wrath and tears
Looms but the horror of the shade,

And yet the menace of the years
Finds, and shall find me, unafraid.

It matters not how strait the gate,
How charged with punishments the scroll,

I am the master of my fate:
I am the captain of my soul."
-
-William Ernest Henley

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thank you so much for stopping by

Has Anybody Seen Candace?

The day after Candace arrived here...something dreadful happened..I can hardly even believe it,..its too frightful to say..and if I had not witnessed the act myself I surely would argue the point...but you see dear friends I did witness it and now I must confess....that on the day of her arrival.....breathe Cat....one of her sweet little eyes went missing....eek..yes..you read correctly..her precious green wooly eye came undone.After the initial shock Candace tried to console our troubled minds by sharing hugs and kind words,however she soon started having trouble with her vision and began bumping into things..Oh dear.

The next morning we woke to find the most dreadful news..Candace has disappeared...well not exactly..she left us a note..it read the following..


Dear Kerr Family,I am off to find my eye..Do not fret,I will be back soon.-Candace

What!!! This cant be happening.

The next day,we received a call from Bob at the Bowling Alley..He said he spotted Candace playing a game ... "Huh?"



Then we heard from Phil at the theatre.."She's here at the 8pm showing of Eclipse".. "Excuse me?"


Then Mary called from the Local Library.."Candace has opened up a library card and is taking 5 books out,Can you please make sure they get returned?".."Of course" I added quickly..


And just this morning,Susie at local Vision Center called and said "Candace has selected a frame and they will be ready by 2pm."..."Uh, O.K..Thanks Susie."


When I had just about enough of this!!....we get a knock..Now what?


"Candace..is that you?".....frantically..I asked.."What happened?".."Did you find your wooly eye?".."Sadly, I could not find my wooly eye",she began.."it must have blown away,..but on my travels I met Bob from the Bowling Alley who insisted that I keep one of his lovely green buttons,.. and then I met Phil from the theatre and he suggested that perhaps the button could be my new eye and that I should sew the button on...but since I didn't know how to sew I spoke to Mary at the Library who directed me to the sewing books,..but she later told me.. that the button is not perfect match to my other eye,so I may need to go see Susie at the local Vision Center. Susue helped me find the perfect pair of glasses...and now I'm back to share the rest of my visit with you...."

"Oh Candace..we are so happy your here"..and I must add.."You look spiffy in your new Glasses"



Thanks to Hannah and Joshua for coming along on the journey.

As always,
thank you so much for stopping by

"Finding Your Way" A Midsummers Night Dream Party

Its Time for a party...a Magical Midsummer's Night Dream Party...This blog party was for everyone to "create that special piece and share their creative journey".

When the idea starting swirling in my head for the Midsummer's Night Dream Challenge I first thought of making a piece which represented what initially inspired me to take this leap of faith into the world of Mixed Media and Altered Art..I have been doodling in this and that for the last 12 years,but on the night of the full moon something happened to me.. the night that I decided to once and for all attempt to sell my work...the night that things became clear ..it came to me in the first line of my all time favorite poem "The Journey" By Mary Oliver.."One day you finally knew what you had to do and Began"...simple enough I know..but I honestly believe poetry speaks to you ONLY when you are open to hear it..that night I was open..it made sense for the first time..and even though I read this poem over 100 times..this night it spoke to me..and the words made sense...because for the first time "I knew what I had to do"..and my fear got stuck in my throat..and I prayed..and asked Grace for guidance..and he spoke to me in the light of the moon.He wrapped his loving arms around me and said now is the time and you are ready.

As a lover of Art and Play it only seemed natural to create something for this challenge that incorporated one of these elements..the poem or the moon...and then I thought....self.."I'm still moving..I haven't stopped...THAT was only the beginning"...the hard part was starting on the journey..but the truth is that I am still learning,everyday,every hour..

In the light of the moon,I am a seeker. It is in the spirit of creation,that we the seekers find who we are and what we need.It was in the light of the moon that my journey began..but there have been many moons since and still today I am moving,inspired,and eager...So today I see myself on a never ending journey,filling myself along the way,with new and fun ideas,like minded souls,creative muse,light,dark,shadow,..This road to finding myself has no destination,no east or west,just Go.Trusting myself enough to Go.

"Finding Your Way"

This sweetness was created using felt,muslin,map,gesso,stickers,metal doo-dads and more.


It measures approx.3" x 3"


Its small enough to stay close to your heart..

I love making pieces that are interactive.

Every Journey has a starting point..

...you are here...

and a road to the unknown..

..the important thing is to Just Go..

"Let yourself be drawn by the strange pull of what you really love.It will not lead you astray."Rumi

Be sure to check out the other party particpants at http://midsummernightssecretdream.blogspot.com/

As always,
thank you so much for stopping by

I've Gone Pendant Crazy!!

OK you guys know the kids and I love the library..and this week I found another great book named "Fabric Jewelry" by Teresa Searle ..Wow so many cool ideas.Plus I really enjoy working on this small scale.My first Pendant inspired by the felt in my fabric cuffs.This little beauty is called and it was created using felt,muslin,fabric,beads,safety pin,eyelet, and it has some stitch work.



The next pendant is called "all in Good Time".Created using a shell square,felt,muslin,stamp,rhinestone and button.

And my last pendant for today is a wacky twist on left over dollhouse furniture.The base is a drawer from an old set I had.This piece is called "Wish"..as I believe most caged birds Wish to fly.I also used clay,stamp,crystal,floral findings,pigment powder,felt,paint,charm and crystal...




So what happened after I looked at these pendants sitting on the shelf..looking all lonely and such..well...had to create some matching rings to keep them company.

As always,
thank you so much for stopping by

Candace has Arrived!!

Guess who came in the mail...yes I said WHO? Candace has arrived and I can tell you that she has quickly gotten used to the Florida Sun..Soon after opening up the box,I found her out back catching some rays..."OH Candace,Be sure to put on some sun block!"

Stay tuned for Candace updates as we will be enjoying her visit this week.And if you would like to see more of her adventures visit her Momma's blog at http://numinositybeads.blogspot.com/

We have also been enjoying ourselves in the summer sun.Yesterday we had a wonderful day at the beach.Taking advantage of these lazy,no schedule,kinda days...

I cant say I have had much creative time,but I don't really seem to mind.I did have to finish up some projects like these custom journals and cuffs...

....And at night when the house is quiet I manage to fiddle around with some digital work.Here are two recent challenge entries..

The first is the freedom challenge and this piece is called "Hope".The words are taken by the the song "Green Finch and Linnet Bird" from the movie Sweeney Todd.You are listening to the song now.I had to use the bird cage in this challenge.

Next is the Dark Challenge.Something I must admit, I am not totally used to,but I am having fun with it.The first Piece is called "Time"..

...and this one is called "Road Kill".I had to use the clock pieces and the dolls in the finished work.

As always,
thank you so much for stopping by