WIP's

OK, I give ... I really do like it when I have more than one thing on my plate at a time ... here's some "Works in Progress" First, I'm working on a new yarnish project & have been testing some squares like:

and:

I think I like the stitch better in the first square, but I LOVE the yarn of the second one ... it's super soft & the earthy colors feel good.

My mom-in-law threw down a challenge ... she wants me to try my hand at making a doll for an ADO (Art Dolls Only) challenge ... the theme is "Grimm's Fairytales" ... do you have any idea how many there are to choose from?!? Tons! I still haven't figured out which character I wan't to do, but figured I better get cracking on making an attempt, so I started by playing around with some aluminum wire I had on hand. I formeded some legs, arms & trunk:

and then started wraping (think hemp necklace knots) the legs in black and red embroidery floss:

here's a detail:

I haven't got a clue where this is going or what I'm doing next, but hey, at least there's something sitting on the table. :)

This one:

is the beginning of a sort of thank you project for a girlfriend. I know where this one (the gessoed cigar box) is going, but shhhh! it's a secret!

Finally, I have been trying to figure out what to make for my Peace Felt project. I think I might be onto something ... started with an aluminum "frame":

I thought I would wet felt an already too small black cashmere sweater, cut it to shape & sort of loosely whip stitch it to the frame ... then I was thinking I could cut a peace symbol out of the felted piece and "stitch" little Swarovki crystals into the open space ... I haven't got a clue if it'll actually work, but hey, I figure it's worth a try.

wish me luck ... lots and lots of luck!

Last Update Before Posting to the Auction Site

Thank goodness for extensions ... and Friday's off ...

here's where I am at:



the interior of the box (all four sides) have been slathered w/gel medium and "tiled" with these really cool beads rescued from a not so cool necklace with a few random alternate beads. Prior to the gel medium drying, copious amounts of glitter was dumped to enhance the "grout" (top half of sides & top in a dark blue extra fine glitter, a teal glitter break line and bottom in a darker teal glitter)



trying to share various angles



...



and a couple of close ups as well

...



sometimes it's not so great having a terrific camera ... these were taking during the "setting" stage (right now as I type) and have not yet been brushed of loose glitter, etc. ... next step ... once again, your guess is likely as good as mine (some might argue even better) ... but the muse is ordering me to bed ... said she'd be back in the morning and promises to help me have this finished and posted on the auction site well before midnight tomorrow!

Remember to go check out the auction preview.

Auction goes live April 17th and items will be up for bid thru the 24th.


please note: I won't be near a computer from Sat-Mon, so if you send questions during that time, please know that I won't be able to respond until Monday night.

Two Shrines

(Click above image to be directed to the auction site)

*** MY NEXT POST WILL FEATURE THE AUCTION ***

But first I thought I would give everyone a little history as to how I got involved in this project (you might want to grab something to drink, kick back and relax for a bit ... I have a feeling this isn't going to be a quick post).

In November I visited Yoli's blog and came across THIS post; the timing couldn't have been better. I had just recently participated in my first "Dia de Bloglandia" event hosted by Susanna & Stephanie. Since it was a first, I had to do some research about Dia de los Muertos. The traditions & expression of the holiday spoke directly to my heart and soul. I truly enjoyed the process of making items, gathering others and simply erecting the shrine for friends and family that had passed. There was a real sense of healing in honoring these people that had touched my life (you can see the shrine HERE), so when I saw Yoli's post, I jumped in feet first ... the brain caught up a little later.

I committed to contributing a Cigar Box Shrine/Memory Box to benefit the Street Children of Oaxaca. I cannot explain why, but I felt a really strong urge to do a shrine in black & white ... once I began the process, my muse insisted that red be included, too. As for the cranes, it has been long believed that cranes not only bring luck and represent longevity, but they are also symbols of peace. How appropriate?

The birdhouse was cut down to a one inch depth to fit inside the closed box; there is a crystal heart attached just inside the opening of the birdhouse. I folded the cranes from squares of (just over 1") washi paper. Once all were folded and open, each one was dipped in a setting agent to strengthen and allowed to dry. Once dry, I painted half of them black and the other half white with acrylic paints and then sealed with a gloss varnish. The birds were strung along with black and white glass beads and clear Swarovski bicone crystals. Each string is suspended from the "ceiling" of the box. The three cranes at the base are attached.

Once all the elements were attached, I added the design in white acrylic paint to the inside cover, box front (has the name of the piece "Osmosis") and the sides.

Here's a detail of the interior:

This second shrine was an experiment for me ... I have a tendency to play it safe when it comes to use of color, but I really wanted to push my personal boundries and go for something bold and coloful - on the lines of more is better. I had tons of fun working on this shrine.

On the right (interior space of the box), I glued down a fragment of the cloth I had used on the first shrine (for Dia de Bloglandia) ... it felt right to honor that experience in this piece. I also used part of the same Our Lady of Guadelupe image. Our Lady is surrounded by pink and green sequins with Swarovski crystals set in here and there. The sides are bordered with red and gray textured glass tiles. The little cards are from a miniature tarot deck with bold images and are floated on small squares of stacked wood chips. (More were used on the outside box lide and outsied edges) The base has six swirly irridecsent shells attached. The flower stem is made of green sequins, the center of the flower is a yard pebble and the petals are small pieces of turquoise. The bit of lace at the top is actually a veil suspended from the inside and can be pulled back over to "hide" the interior.

On the left is a cross made up of bits and pieces and set in a thick layer of gel medium that's been liberally dusted with a coarse white glitter. The first outline is made up of light green glass chips and tiny red Swarovski crystals. The next is a slver textured ribbon and is followed by a border of pink sequins - the rest of the background is super fine citrus glitter with many coats of high gloss varnish over it.

Here's a detail of the box interior:

Both Cigar Box Shrines are available through the Auction to benefit the Street Children of Oaxaca located HERE ... take some time to look through the catalog of offerings and feel free to share the link with all your friends and family. The more interest we can generate, the better!

"Just one person MAKES a difference"

Happy, Happy Heart Day!

It's time for an announcement!

Click the above image (or HERE) to be directed to the announcement of the

website for the Cigar Box Shrine Auction to benefit the Street Children of Oaxaca!

Over 80 artists worldwide have generously donated their time & artistic visions to the cause. Be sure to check out the amazing contributions

&

get your bidding hand ready!

... And just in case y'all thought I was darkness and dread during this proclaimed happy heart day, here are a few scribbles that just might change your mind ... or not ...

"Since you, the pieces of my heart are coming together"

"My heart without yours" ... is blue

"It was a good day when your heart colided with mine"

"May you enjoy a Happy, Happy Heart Day

filled with lots of love, love, love"

Always, ~M~

One World, One Heart 2009

02.12.09 Update ... let spouse pick a number between 1 and 366 ... he chose #33. I counted down (then double checked two more times) and the winner of the cigar box full of bits and pieces is:

the Bella Modiste

Thanks to everyone that took the time to stop by ... I know that I have added a list of people to the blogs I follow as a direct result of OWOH. I hope all of you have been exposed to a whole new world of ideas and inspiration.

01.29.09 Update - Sneak Peaks 1 & 2 can now be found HERE

It's official - One World One Heart is here!

If you are a first time visitor, I welcome you with open arms. Please feel free to stay a minute or a few hours and know that you are welcome back anytime.

To those of you that regularly visit, thank you. Your friendship & encouragement has meant more to me than I could possibly explain - YOU are the inspiration that fills me up. YOU help me find the courage to spread my wings & explore new things.

When I first started my blog, last years One World One Heart event was nearing its close ... through the links from it, I found a whole new universe full of possibilities ... it is precisely because of that that I wanted to participate this year. Yes, I am hosting a giveaway, too. I love how Lisa explained it,

"The giveaway portion is like hosting an open house......as if we were all living in this gigantic neighborhood where once a year we visit homes to meet, reacquaint and get to know one another. At each home there are samplings of goodies that you have a chance to take home like a door prize. You leave your name and at some point each home choses a winner or winners......and now you not only have met a new "neighbor" and you've seen where they live.....you have something that someone lovingly chose to give..... AND visa versa."

So, without further ado, here's my teaser:

This cigar box will be shipped to the winner of the random drawing.

Just a cigar box?!?

Uh, no - that's the teaser! I have started filling the box with "bits & pieces" & plan to have it chock full of goodies by February 12 ... I do plan on adding little teaser updates to this post between now and then, so feel free to check in.


Who is elligible: Everyone (but please be sure there's someway I can contact you)

How do I enter: Please leave a comment on this post between now & midnight Wednesday, February 11th. Everyone that leaves a comment will be entered into a random drawing one time (not one time per comment).

Winners will be announced on Thursday, February 12th

Thank you for taking the time to stop in for a visit. I hope to visit all the One World One Heart participants throughout the next few weeks.

Cheers! ~M~