….even though it’s sunny and it’s milder today winter is not done with us
There are, however, clear signs that spring isn’t too far off.
Signs of Spring????
10
Monthly Archives: March 2018
Sunday Trees – 331
….thanks to Becca Givens for hosting Sunday Trees
March Square – Circles of Green at the Mall
….thanks to Becky B for hosting the March Square
Another reminder of the green of St. Patrick’s Day. Here’s my contribution of a circles within a square for March 18th.
A Special St. Paddy’s Day Treat
….not your usual treat when you think of St. Patrick’s Day
In the coffee shop that we stopped into today they had run out of their specialty doughnuts but they had one green St. Patrick’s Day croissant left. Not only was it somewhat green but it was also filled with raspberry jam and Bailey’s Irish liquor. Since there was only one left we had to pair it up with a French chocolate almond croissant. Both were very yummy but the green croissant was extra special.
Cee’s Black and White Photo Challenge: Bikes of Any Kind
…thanks to Cee for hosting her Black and White Photo Challenge: Bikes of Any Kind
I went way back into the archives for this one and found a very old photo of my Dad on his motorbike taken back in the late 40s. I also found some photos from a bike show that we attended two years ago, a cycling trip with friends last summer and today I found a bike mounted on the wall in the coffee shop we stopped at.
365 Days of Art – Day 56
….getting papers ready for my Inspired by Lives and Letters class
Lendon Noe has encouraged us to make some art papers using inks, watercolour paper and tissue to use in future projects. I mixed up my walnut crystals to make walnut coloured ink and I experimented with purple and red ink.
The next step is to cut up these papers into squares and rectangles.
On the white tissue paper I used three different techniques. One was crumpling up the paper and dipping it into ink. Using red ink gives it the appearance of blood (not sure if that was a wise choice). The second technique involved folding the paper multiple times until it couldn’t be folded anymore and then dipping the edges into ink. The last method involved folding the paper like a fan and then running a water soluble ink pen down over the folds. All these techniques involved spraying the paper with some water. Not too much or the paper falls apart.
March Square – Happy St. Patrick’s Day
….thanks to Becky B on this glorious March 17th for hosting March Square
What could be more fitting today than a quilted square from the Quilt Belonging collection representing Ireland.
What could be more Irish than the Celtic cross cross stitched on Cashel linen. This piece was hand stitched by Loralyn Reilly Gazdik whose grandmother emigrated to Canada for economic and political reasons. For over two centuries the Irish have made huge contributions to the fabric of Canadian culture.
Tree Art – March Square
…..thanks to Becky B from Life With B for hosting March Square
Take a slice of a somewhat ’round’ tree trunk and you have art. This sculpture sits next to the elevator at Nordstrom’s.
365 Days of Art – Complicated Colour Fields Part 1
…..day 55
A week ago today Carla Sonheim asked us to create two colour fields of art using a variety of markers, pens, pencils, stickers, tape and stamps. This is the first part of a two part art lesson. Part 2 is already in my inbox so I thought I’d better get busy and do part 1. No idea where this going but it was fun doing it.
What Happened to My Art Challenge
….the last time I posted 365 days of art was 10 days ago
I’m feeling very stressed about not posting art projects that I’ve been working on. The truth is I’ve been doing very little art but I’ve been busy using my hands to create other projects.
A couple of weeks ago I signed up for beginner’s crochet class. So I wouldn’t forget what I’d learned I proceeded to use up yarn to make coffee cup holders and dish rags. I think I’m ready now for the next level.
Before I tackle
a new crochet project I decided I needed to finish some knitting projects. I started a complicated lacy shawl and I’ve taken it apart now four times because each time I found a mistake that completely messed up the pattern. The problem with this project is that you have to cast on 361 stitches and if you don’t discover the mistake until you’ve gone on for two or more rows it means having to undo over 700 stitches. I tried doing that a couple of times but then I was dropping stitches and after hours of work I was ripping it all out anyway. Today I’ve started this project for the 5th time. Wish me luck.
My father also asked to borrow my sewing machine so that he could hem his jeans. By the time I pulled it out, found the thread he needed and lugged it down two flights of stairs I offered to sew them myself. It took me some time to clean off my art table but now I feel that when the machine comes down I’ll have a clean surface to start painting again. After I hemmed his pants I found a pair of my own that needed hemming and then I made curtains for my Dad’s apartment.
The last 10 days haven’t been an art free zone. Every day I go on-line and open Carla Sonheim’s daily posts and I signed up for a class given by Lendon Noe called Inspired by Lives and Letters. In this class Lendon has taught us how to create two kinds of envelopes that can hold messages written on art squares that we create with watercolour paper and ink or plaster. Here are some of the envelopes that I’ve made so far.
Day 54
One of the things that I purchased for this class was Walnut ink. Actually I purchased the walnut ink crystals to make my own ink. When I saw the price of a small bottle of walnut ink I just about fainted ($46.00) so the store owner showed me the crystals at 6.95 a bag. I only need 1 tsp. for every 1/2 cup of water. There’s probably enough crystals in the bag for 3 or 4 cups of ink. When all is said and done the cost of one bottle will probably be $1.00. Stay tuned for the next 365 Days of Art post when I’ll show you how I use the ink.
Mama Cormier 