Tribute ... an Amazing Gift

Every year my mother-in-law asks me for a birthday wish list ... this year she didn't, but I sent her one anyway (as she has me trained soooo well) ... the list included:

Roughcast #4 by Seth Apter of the Altered Page (found HERE)

an older EB created by Michelle Schafer from the Studio at Crow Haven Farm (I checked Etsy and that particular EB is no longer listed, but you can find Michelle's blog HERE)

one of Denise's Spirit Dolls (found HERE ... or you can visit her blog HERE)

THIS piece

and a few other random bits and pieces ...

What I didn't know is that she had been paying attention when the Shrine Auction was happening ... yesterday when she came to pick us up for my birthday dinner at Amimoto (seriously exceptional sushi), she delivered my prezzie:


Tribute

by Marilyn Radzat



My photo (above) does not do this piece justice. It is exquisite ... you can visit her "reveal" post HERE



The detail photo is from THIS post. The sheer amount of detail in this piece is mind boggling & I'm still a bit stunned that this amazing creation is right here ... in my home. This begs the question ... how, exactly, do I thank my mom-in-law for this one?!?

Progress Report

5/26 update ... I keep playing with the medi box. The inside is officially fini'!



and now I am working on the outside ... wouldn't I have been a bit brighter to have painted the top BEFORE attaching the stone bits?!? (don't know the center stone, snowflake obsideon, turquoise, fresh water pearl -I think - garnet, more pearl, more turquoise) I will try to remember to plan a little bit better next time. *grins*



ps - anyone want to trade small tin box(es) for cigar box(es)?

I've been working on a little "pocket" shrine, but am a bit stuck. The inside doesn't feel finished to me (specifically the right as I was hoping to add a little dimension) and yet I am having issues adding more ... suggestions? I just might have to throw in the towel and call it a meditation box instead.

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I think my offering to grrl+dog's National Museum installation is done ... or nearly so ...

one side:



and the other:



the more I look at it, the more it seems to be wanting a little more. Indecisive, anyone?

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Right now I only have one person taking me up on making something for them in a Pay It Forward ... if anyone else is interested, please visit my previous post HERE

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Happy Memorial Day to All!

Project, Prizes & PIF's

Nothing like biting off a little more than I can chew ... I recently saw THIS post at Crafting with Cat Hair ... and somehow I am determined to make at least one doll to contribute. In a nutshell, Craft Hope is currently taking donations of handmade dolls for the children of Casa Bernabe, an orphanage in Nicaragua & the deadline is June 13th. Click the image above for the whole scoop.

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It often pays to follow the rules ... case in point, Saucy from Saucy's Sprinkles (found HERE) offered up a few pairs of cupcake earrings for getting the word out about her Jonas Brothers concert giveaway ... I was game & a lucky recipient of these ADORABLE made-by-Saucy cupcake earrings:



too sweet, eh?!? If you happen to be a Jonas Brothers fan (or know one) there is still time to enter the giveaway ... just go HERE for all the details.


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And remember Amber Dawn's International Charm Day? If not, go HERE. She had some wonderful giveaways including a signed copy of this:



The first round winner never claimed the prize, so there was a second drawing ... and I was drawn!! The book just arrived yesterday and I have to tell you it is chock full of goodness. I stayed up way too late last night ooohing and ahhing over it. I can't wait to try my hand at some of the projects.


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Plus, Lorraine from Love of Collage posted a mini charm swap (HERE) in honor of International Charm Day & I jumped at the chance. Lorraine sent these little beauties:



In exchange for a couple of my dipped crane charms ... my package just left the states this past Monday, so I am hoping that she'll receive them before the end of the month.


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As if that isn't enough, I have signed on for two Pay it Forwards ... the first with Bairbre Aine of Don't Interrupt Me When I'm Talking to Myself and more recently with K of Urban Craft

Now it's my turn to pay it forward.

Here is how it works . . . I will make a handmade gift for the first 6 interested people who comment on this post (because I signed up for two PIF's). I'm not exactly sure what the handmade gift will be, but if there's something that you'd really like me to make for you, just let me know and I will at least consider giving it a whirl. Also, please note that I am giving myself three months to complete the task. The only catch is that you must be willing to continue the challenge by sending a handmade gift to 3 people. That's it. If you would like to participate, please be sure I have some way to contact you to get your mailing address.

Haiku Festival ... & ... 10 Commandments

In my blog travels this morning, I happily stumbled upon:



(click the image to be directed to the details)

I have visited a number of Festival contributors and have to say that my day has been made better through these travels. If you have some time, I highly recommend the festival tour.

Here's my offering:

Flowing through my thoughts
Creative juices travel
Yearning to emerge
MDWalker 05.11.09

For a list of participants, please visit HERE and HERE.

Not long ago I was lead to the Joy Rebel (with a name like that, how could I not check it out?) ... anyway, I've been visiting fairly often and have decided that I, too, am a Joy Rebel. Big surprise, right? If you'd like to learn more about the "army", please visit THIS post - it's worth your time.

All this leads to today's mission Monday ... 10 Commandments ... the whole scoop is HERE. I have to admit that after reading Brandi's, it's hard to not want to adopt all 10 of hers, but I have a feeling that if I let it, my own 10 Commandments will simply fall into place.

Michelle's 10 Commandments
(or ... Practice, Practice, Practice)

1. be mindful

2. act in kindness

3. accept grace

4. wonder

5. hope

6. breathe well

7. be open

8. love wholeheartedly

9. play often

10. laugh from the inside out

Live in the moment
A loving heart wide open
You've become the gift.
MDWalker 05.11.09

Thread Goddess' Gather Round

Something truly amazing is happening with grrl+dog

... and WE can be a part of it ...

"If you knit, crochet or shake your poms poms, you can contribute to an installation at the National Gallery of Australia ... Be audacious and have your art alongside such names as Magda Sayeg of Knitta Please. Think of that on your resume! There are six poles to cover and each is 10 meters high, that's over thirty feet."

Click on the image below for the whole scoop!



I currently have a crocheted piece that is a little over 4"x44".
Looks like I may actually have something done and on
its way WELL before the deadline ... how's that for a first?

... and for something more on the ordinary side of life ...

I had a play date with the spouse tonight ... it was good being with just he and me (critter got a date with worlds-coolest-grandma) ... while we were out, I took a couple of quick pictures.

First:



Second:



Do you know what it is? It's pretty obvious to me, but then again, I was there.


And to think ... we went to the beach ... did I take any photo's there?

Nope.

I did find some pretty cool rocks and a small handful of sharks teeth.

... and the winners are ...

Sorry to keep you all waiting ... the winners from my:


(click image for my giveaway post)

giveaway are:

Janet from Fond of Snape
(click above to be directed to her blog)

&

Sue from Barton Originals
(click above to be directed to her blog)


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As for this one:


(click above for giveaway post)

... I have to plead for forgiveness ... I just realized that I had never done the drawing ... bad me ... hopefully

Michelle from the Studio @ Crow Haven Farm
(click above to be directed to her blog)

will find it in her huge heart to forgive me as it was HER name the was drawn.

International Charm Day - a Tutorial ... I hope

Many of you already know that I have a thing for paper cranes, so in honor of

International Charm Day
(click above to be directed to the event blog)

I give you my step-by-step on taking a paper crane from ... paper to charm.

(fingers crossed)

Materials: Assorted Origami Papers
Petal Porcelain (or other preferred setting agent)
Paint Brush
Wax Paper
Needle (or straight pin)
Head Pins
Various small beads

Step 1: Select your paper.

I highly recommend using thin paper (thinner than copy paper, but that can still hold an edge - tissue paper is out). The sheets below are 6"X6" origami papers.



Step 2: Cut your papers into 1" or 1-1/4" squares:



Side note: The smaller your squares, the more difficult they will be to fold, but practice - I promise it's worth the effort.

(I used the 1-1/4" squares for the photo's below)

I like to cut up a bunch of squares in one sitting, so I'll have a nice stack to work with:



Step 3: Put on some favorite crafting music or pop in a movie
(preferably one that doesn't require your full attention and is good for a giggle)

Step 4: Fold yourself some little paper cranes - I usually fold at least a dozen at a sitting.
(more is better as I almost always have a few casualties in the dipping process)

Another Note: If you don't know how to fold a paper crane, I recommend CLICKING HERE. (There's even a printable PDF link on the page - don't be daunted by the instructions; they look more difficult than they actually are. Also, practice a few on larger 6"x6" squares first.)

The picture below shows a nutshell progress of the folds:



Step 5: Once you have your flock, take a photograph of them!



Sorry about the bad photo - happens when you wait till after dark to take pictures.

Step 6: Dip each crane in The Setting Agent.
(I generally dip them twice - one time I hold the crane by the tail and the other time by the head)

**** Sorry - I don't have pictures for Step 6 Through Step 14 ****

Step 7: Brush off the excess Setting Agent and allow it to dry completely.
(at this step, it is common for the beak and wings to want to turn up - try to push them down gently with the paintbrush as you are removing the excess Setting Agent - also, if you are really careful, you can sometimes "reshape" them once they are completely dry from the first dipping.)

Step 8: Repeat Step 6

Step 9: Repeat Step 7

Step 10: Carefully poke a hole through the bottom of the crane
(if you brushed the excess Setting Agent off, there will still be a hole in the bottom - you'll see)
up through the center of the back
(as close as possible - it's fairly easy to find the center as you will be able to see where you folded the paper)

Step 11: Feed a head pin through the hole, add a bead (or beads).

Step 12: Trim any excess length off the head pin.
(keeping in mind that you will finish the head pin off by making the end into a loop for hanging)

Step 13: Can you guess?!? Yep, finish the end of the head pin by turning it into a loop for hanging.

Step 14: Add a coat of clear varnish for shine
(optional ... you might choose to paint your cranes prior to adding the varnish if you used a solid color paper)

Viola!



Yes, I know, this isn't a crane from this batch - the first flock is still drying. Thank goodness I save ALL my photo's.

As an added bonus, I'm offering sets of six dipped cranes to two people. If you'd like to be included in the drawing, please leave a comment on this post by midnight EST time on Thursday, April 30th. I'll let Sadie draw two names from the hat (or bowl, or bag ... ) on Friday, May 1st

BONUS that'll be May Day ... the first day of my birthday month!

Have fun visiting all the participants from the first ever

International Charm Day!
(click above to be transported to the event link)

Thank you, Amber Dawn, for hosting such a FUN event!!