Storm MOON 5

As is the case eachmonth, I have an idea, I change it, refine it, re-imagine

 it, then begincreating it.  Mid-course design change ideas abound, generally including amistake or two on my part!!! 

My original goalwas to carve a doll face this month.  Instead, I used a mold to createhands, face, and adornments with Polymer Clay.  Until this month I havenever worked with polymer clay!!  In a future month I will handcarve/sculpt something fun.  This month, I was led in a different direction. Polymer Clay was simply one of the firsts for me this month.   I alsodecided to create my own hand painted fabric, a hand tied scarf for my doll,and to add words of wisdom/encouragement on the fabric.

I love jewel tones– blues, purples, greens, etc. so they are incorporated in this month’screation.

The words writtenon the fabric are meant to be thought of like those magnetic puzzles on therefrigerator where you arrange the words for your thought of the day ormoment.  Following are the words/poems included:

One saying by RitaMae Brown:  Creativity comes from trust – Trust your instincts. Another is (not sure of author) “ I am a woman clothed in strength, dignity,and pride”.   Use these words and the words that follow and arrangethem as you view/hold this creation day to day:  Love, Faith, Creativity,Dream, Be, Confident, The, Strong, Queen, Possibilities, Tomorrow, Today,Artful, Content, In, Believe, Kind, Moon, Stars.  Since my recipient thismonth is none other than “The Queen of Possibilities” I wanted to include thosewords and a crown!  =)  Please note the beautiful auburn hair!!!!!!

I love spring andbeautiful cherry blossoms so the background of the shadow box has a photo thatshould be glued down to serve as her resting place in the park.  I made acorrugated COPPER stand with a beautiful flower on the front that should beglued down towards the front so the flower extends below the ledge.  Sherests here peacefully contemplating all things in her beautiful park.

I hope you enjoyyour Snow Moon doll.  Funny thing, today was the first day we actually hadmore than a trace of snow!!!  Just over 3”.  Timing is everything…..aperfect day to complete her.

Lynn Vernon
 Hello
an update from Peg
Adding photos of my lovely Goddess now resting in her new home, and you can see she is creating spring flowers everywhere

STORM MOON 4

While the rest of the country is buried under a blanket of snow, spring has showed up here in the great Northwest. Glorious blue skies and sunshine, daffodils, crocus and hyacinths with tulips right around the corner! Gardening always comes to when I think of Beth. With a backdrop of daffodils I created a wee veggie garden using polymer clay. What veggie garden would be complete without the resident bunny? He's a bit shy, so all you see of him is his cottontail!
Happy Spring!!
Cyn

Storm MOON 3

For our March entry, I was inspired by Spring.  I know, “what a concept”.  But on one of our morning walks in late February, or early March, the birds were putting on an unusually full symphony.  The start of a new season, more light, longer days.  I decided then that if I could make a recording of that symphony and put it in Spot B of our little altars project, that’s what I wanted to do.  Well, after some thought, it seemed like that was a pretty unworkable idea – at least for now.

So I moved to some other approaches to my spring inspiration. For Lou’s box  I knew I wanted a color palette that would transition directly from Halloween to Spring.  I figured that would be a bit difficult, since the starting point was black and orange, and I wanted to end up with spring brights and the greens and yellows of daffodils and new leaves.  I think of spring as being pink and white, light and very bright.  And it looks like Lou has painted her box black.  I ended up with a dark background in watercolor washes, and some watercolor-dyed Japanese papers, and some shiny mica watercolors.  I knew I wanted flowers, so I tore the Japanese papers and layered them.  Then I stitched some (Peg) sequins from Turkey under some magatamas for the center of the flowers, added some acrylic too.

As I was sitting at my beading table stitching the beads on, I thought to myself, not for the first time, that this ended up not looking very spring-like after all. It was dark, and purple, and neutral, and orange, and green.  I’d really studied the colors I chose for going with black and orange, but it didn’t feel like I’d hit “SPRING”.  And then I looked across the room at the tulips sitting there (on the far end of their glory), and saw that I was STARING at the same colors that are in my little altars piece.  So I think I got to Spring after all, and in the process I enlarged my own perception of spring colors.

 Nancy Strahle

Storm MOON 2

Here is a picture of my take on collectors cabinet filled with reminders of Spring. Bottles of feathers, shells gathered on a favorite beach, gifts of fur for nest making. I made the Shrinky Dink butterfly and when this piece is installed in it's new home the pin will hang from the top of the space. The lace is to be glued along the top of the space, with the big tape measure at the bottom. This is a miniature still-life of what my craft room looks like! I hope it reminds Lynn Vernon of past happy Springs!      Beth


UPDATE

Lynn Vernon sends these photos of  Beth's work installed! 

Storm MOON 1

Altar Project – March 2013 – Pass to Gwen!

March is here and the full moon is tomorrow!  I am a lucky and happy traveler.  I have just returned from almost a month in SE Asia having visited parts of Thailand, Laos, Vietnam and Cambodia. I was bombarded by inspiration through  textiles, food, the magnificent temples, scenery, thousands of buddahs and the people that we met.  I pass to Gwen this month and knowing that she likes textiles I had to pass on a great idea that inspired me using scraps of fabric to create a large Naga that we saw at Ock Pok Toc, a woman’s co-op we visited in Luang Prabang, Laos.

Ock Pok Toc means “East meets West” and is a co-op run by an English and Laotian woman. We had a fabulous lunch there, toured the center and learned about natural dyeing and then each of us dyed a silk scarf. I chose to do an indigo dyed scarf  as indigo has always fascinated me.  The hill tribes in Laos have used indigo to dye silk, hemp and cotton.  The background of my altar section for Gwen is a copy of an indigo dyed piece of hemp that would be used to create a woman’s skirt.

I made a copy of the fabric and then cut the picure to fit into the space.    I then made an accordian fold-out book (made with handmade paper that I also purchased in Laos).  The pictures in the book are all of Nagas, a mythological water serpent that one sees guarding the entrance to all of the beautiful temples.  The Naga looks much like a dragon and is supposed to have unparalleled magical powers.  They come from an underwater kingdom called Badan and can assume the form of other beings such as animals and humans.  Lao legends tell off love affairs between Nagas and humans.  Generally they are seen as benevolent beings that protect and save humans from illness, hunger and bad spirits.  When they are angry, Nagas use their powers to create floods, storms and other natural disasters or inflict illness and even death.  Usually at the entrance to a temple there are effigies of a multi-headed Naga emerging from a Ngeuk’s mouth.  A Ngeuk is a water dragon and is the same to animists as the Naga is to Buddhists.  The pictures in the accordian book are of Nagas carved from wood; made from plaster and painted; woven into textiles; and the large one hanging in Ock Pok Toc  has the dragon head with the scales made from fabric scraps.  It makes a fun and whimsical large sculpture.

What a fun way to use fabric scraps!  So I also made a small armature   and used ribbons to represent the fabric scraps.

And of course the altar needed a dragon…..sort of like having its very own Naga at the entrance to the Altar section. The dragon is a paper cut out that I found in Vietnam.  Lift the dragon….sort of like opening the door to the section – representing guarding the entrance and you can look at all the pictures of the Nagas!

     

And here is the section completed!! 

Gwen – I hope you like your Altar section and the ideas inspire you to learn more about Nagas, try some dyeing, embellish something with fabric scraps or to use your great stamps for an accordian book!  It was great fun to make this section and to reflect on my fabulous trip.  Enjoy!!

Kathy

March Little Altars Project Storm Moon

Chihuly garden & glass Seattle WA

Welcome to the Full moon of March 2013.
In my original research before beginning this project I looked up the names of each month's full moon. It was very interesting to discover how many different names there were and how they changed according to location and people who had lived there.
 The storm moon ring right for me and I have really enjoyed all of the weather changes that have occurred this month. I have had the pleasure to go to the Chihuly Glass and Garden Museum twice last year and spend several very pleasant afternoons drinking in the rich colors and forms displayed there. This photo reminds me of the way Mother Nature calmly but forcefully brushes winter aside and the bulbs thrust forth from the barren ground full of promise of new life and color.

I wait  not so calm and collected each month as each artist sends me photos and inspirations of their work, I do not allow myself to open the emails until the full moon arrives. I even make myself wait to open my own treasure arriving in the mail.
 It is with great pleasure I unfold this month's delightful full moon spectacle of Stormy Moon delights.


Peg

Snow MOON 10

My inspiration for the Snow Moon started with my walks at lunch time around Ballard.  I looked at the trees and took several photos. I liked the emptiness of the space with no leaves.  Also working Saturdays at Marymoor Park collecting parking fees for the Cirque du Soliel, I fell in love with their Amaluna poster. Can't wait to see the show in March.

With the peacock paper, it became my background for space A. Poking small holes around the print I put colored paper in small squares behind to slightly see their color. Added enameled cooper headpins with sequin colored pieces I settled them into the space.

The copper plate was my stickler, as I wasn't happy with it. Seems every time I sat down to work on it, it just wasn't happening.  As time ticked, ticked away, I finally had to tell myself, push and you'll overcome.  It was Black History month in Feb, so I had a dream it would get done.

 Little wisps of Peacock feathers were added to my enameled head pins/sequins and secured on my cooper plate. My little altar for Kathy Dannerbeck was missing something, knowing Kathy is in Tucson several times throughout the year, I thought a Zuni Fetish of a Wolf with an offering of coral / turquoise would be perfect. It's wrapped with Peacock feather piece and connected with cooper wire.

Really love my "Moon Beam Dreams" from Lynn Hranac for space A.  The little white trimming looks like flowers and sweet stamped swirls. The messages inside on each page give many kinds of inspirations. Great addition to my Little Altars box that is staring to grow.

 Kimberly Kostal

Snow MOON 9

The cycles of the moon are expectedly on my mind these days and so was the fanciful world of Faerie Tales.

 I have always loved the Man in the moon and especially the quarter waxing moon. So after seeing the amazing gnomes and birds and snowcicles    Cyn made last year I was very inspired to try paper clay.

 I worked with it back in the mid 90’s stumbling my way thru but stopped and carried on with metal clay which led me to all of you! But I digress, so back to the process… I adore faces young, old, human, critters,  drawn, sculptured. You get the idea. So off  to my studio. Created the faces and waited  for 3 days of drying time to pass. In the mean time off creating my flower crowns and fascinators bases.

 Time is up…dry ready to sand then off to the studio to paint. I wanted these to have the look of old bronze weathered and patinas of blue green. I have been studying with Michael DeMeng who is a master of acrylic washes to achieve weathered effects with paint. Well-l-l-l-l-l-l a week later I finally achieved bliss.

Then off to my paper supplies cupboard to find just the right background for Mr. Moon. Used 60lb water color paper and applied free form inks in metallic and opaque inks in a random pattern. The golden heart was a surprise the next morning when I went back to see what occurred.

It was a delightful joining of paper to moon and inspired February  Love  themes, as well as Lance and I celebrating our 35^th Anniversary on Valentines Day.

 So Dear Lynn Vernon I am sending Mr. Moon inspirations  to grace your  spot A

Peg Gyldenege

Snow moon *8

I was very hungry to do some bead embroidery.  I was interested in Lynn’s ocean and beach passion.  I wanted to add a little sparkle to Lynn’s Little Altar. 

I designed an ocean beach-to-horizon bead embroidery piece to use blues, shells, and several different stitches.  Blues are not normally colors I find easy to work with but this time I wasn’t uncomfortable. I wanted all kinds of bead embroidery textures.  But after the piece was about a third of the way finished, I decided that the design was not well balanced, and that the piece would feel heavy and overworked when it was finished. 

In the meantime, I’ve been studying about watercolors, and playing with photographs in Lightroom (a great program!).  I put some watercolor paper in the printer, printed a photograph.  I discovered how the printer inks (dye based) liquefy with a bit of water, and I tried adding watercolor to the photograph.  Pretty darn interesting!

So I decided to take another tack for my February project.  I found a photograph that I took several years ago and printed it on watercolor paper.  It was taken in January, at Ebey’s Landing on Whidbey Island, looking across to the Olympic Mountains.

I played with watercolor painting it to enhance the printed image and then sealed it with archival varnish. And like lots of things in life, when I was looking in one of my esoteric stashes of unfinished project ideas for some certain beads to add to it, I found these vintage two hole beads instead.  They inspired me in a different way, and I got to do some bead embroidery after all.  You might call it embellishment, but I’m calling it embroidery! 

I’m happy that this is a lighter, simpler, and more fanciful solution to my original desires for this month’s Little Altar spot.

 Nancy Strahle

Snow Moon 4

Love &
 Hope Stitched Heart
It was hard to figure out what to do for Lou. I like Halloween also, and it is the month of her birth. But that was not it. Then maybe magic! What I wanted to do could not find the supply needed for it and ordered but it was late in coming. So it came down to the month of love, February, so thus the heart. I have made these before and also taught a class in beading using these little hearts. It is always a joy to work with beads as it calms me working with my hands. Each stitch is taken with a wish or hope even if I am not aware of or know the person that will receive it. I do look forward to meeting all next year.

Marilynn

Snow Moon 7

This moon, I was inspired by the cheerful reds & pinks of Valentines,
and the moon some call the Rabbit Moon.  I sculpted this bunny of
polymer so that he could easily fit on a wee ledge. I've never really
sculpted a bunny or animal before this. And I find my sketches of them
to be primitive. I have a difficult time properly understanding &
proportioning their shapes. So I was delighted at how excellent this
sculpture turned out. The ears are my fav!  The "Love Me" came from a
mini box of really great chocolate frogs I received as a gift.  And
last, the pièce de résistance, the miniature banner of washi tape
flags.  To make these 1/8" - 1/4" wide flags I used the width of the
washi tape itself as half the height of the flag. Then to ensure I had
a tiny enough width to allow for lots of flags over a mere 3", I cut
strips that were ~ 1/8" or so by 1/2" (width of washi tape). The
result? A magical, miniature, banner of flags fit for even a Lego guy
to hold! Yay! I love it, just like the words say.

Gwen Gyldenege

Snow Moon 6

I have always LOVED Faeries……….. Since I was child I believed in their existence! They were my playmates and friends!

Faeries have been on my brain, in my dreams and my days! For the very first time I attended FaerieCon West at the beautiful Renaissance Hotel in downtown Seattle! Faeries and Elves and Mermaids OH MY!!!!!! What a grand time we had.

I have chosen to highlight one of Cicely Mary Barker’s Flower Faeries for this month’s Little Alter. Cicely Mary Barker was born in Croydon, South London in 1895 and died in 1973.  Her Faeries were first published in 1923, which brought her international acclaim as an artist.

I love the little Faerie highlighted in a shadow box setting. It soon will be spring and Cicely Barker’s Flower Faeries always make me think of this time of year while I plan for my garden that the Faeries will love the new plantings.

Open your eyes and hearts to find a Faerie or two of your own, they make great friends!!!

Lynn Hranac

Snow Moon 5

It is February 10^th and the moon is a waxing crescent moon at the moment. I had hoped to have this written and done when it was a new moon – since this is a new project! But Alas… I didn't quite make it.

Hopefully, I am the first to turn in this month’s project.  But that is because I am leaving for Asia and will be enjoying the full moon in Luang Prabang, Laos.  But I will be thinking of all of you!

As many of you know, Peg is the queen of possibilities, and I have never met anyone who is so talented at all she tries!  So everything is a possibility!  So with having her space for the February project, she had to be a queen… and it is February so the Queen of Hearts seemed perfect! But after seeing her beautiful altar with its soft muted colors, a bright red February altar seemed to be too glaring.  So I returned to the thousands of pictures that I have taken and chose a door from Germany.  The colors looked like they fit well and so I planned it so Peg could open the door to find her Queen of Hearts and Altar surprise!  This is the original Picture:

I printed it and then worked with it to make it look more like a water color. I did this by putting a paper glue on the back of the paper (and lots of it!) so it completely soaked the paper.  It gently washed the ink out so it gave a watercolor effect.  I had planned to cute the door down and then make it open the center to reveal the red altar inside. But, that did not work as well as I had hoped.  So I attached it to recycled tyvek stuff from a mailing envelope so that it could be glued to the Altar box and the door could be lifted.  The small green dot you see in the picture is the “door handle”.  And now the picture looks like:

I also went over some of the detail of the door with a watercolor pencil so it gave it some more definition.  And when you open the door… there is a surprise to the Queen of Hearts!!!

I have wanted to start making some pins and this is the first!!  A heart for Valentine’s Day! But remember… it is the first and there was much to be learned from this!

So I am thinking of all of you and looking forward to seeing what each one of you does!

Kathy D 

Snow Moon 3

This month I’ve been thinking a lot about doing a better job of writing down my ideas, sketching things for future reference, etc.

So my idea was to make a little book titled Moon Beam Dreams with inspirational quotes on every other page.  The book has double backed tape on the back and should be installed to the far right of the space so it opens up easily.  I photographed the front, the first and second pages as a visual reference.  The quotes contained in the book include:

Time clocks on front left referencing the passage of time

1.      Believe it’s possible

2.      Something to remember

3.      Scatter sunshine

4.      Never give up

5.      Magical

6.      Surround yourself with greatness

7.      Sprinkle it with Fabulous

8.      Make pretty stuff

9.      It’s all good

Lynn Vernon

Snow Moon TWO

Here's my piece for Gwen. A wee cottage in the woods. I'm not quite sure who lives here, be it a faerie, gnome, troll or sprite as I wasn't invited in for tea something about the size of their chair and the size of my bum. Never the less I better to keep the wee folk happy and be surrounded by their laughter than to never be able to find my keys!!

Cyn Bicker

Well what do you know it's The Snow Moon

Hello hello hello all you moon girls.
 The Full Moon for February was this past Monday February 25,2013.
 In my little corner of the world it was a clear night brisk and breezy and not a snow flake in sight. I have just returned from the Faerie Realm and an intense month in my studio creating faerie tale costuming delights. I will post photos after this extravaganza of the first exchange for our Little Altars Project.
 Going to start with Miss Lou who is having so much fun she is always early to finish her project. I just love her enthusiastic joy

 My inspiration for this "little alter" for February is Valentine's Day. Love is in my heart always, and Valentines' Day is a perfect way to express it! love you

Back to the Wolf den

Now the time has come to trot back into the warm studio and begin to create anew. This is the waning  of the moon and a time to rest, release and renew. to get ready for the next full moon and what ever it brings.

I however am working very hard creating some new items and jewelry as I will be vending at 

 FaerieCon West

 to be held in Seattle at the Renaissance  Hotel 

.February 22,23,&24,2013

.I will be giving away free passes in the next few weeks. 

Watch for the giveaway on my  Facebook  pages as well as here at my blog

 If you are in the area and want to have an unforgettable weekend .

 Be sure to  check it out.

 Keep tuned more fun coming soon

Final Wolf howl

May I introduce Marilynn a multifaceted artist, Lamp work Glass fibers quilts and more, I  have known her many years and traveled to some of the same bead shows selling our wares. It was a delightful sight to see her at the Huge International Quilt Show when I was there as a vendor  shortly after Katrina. She has always had a bright smile and the most interesting projects swirling around with the playful beads she creates.
Enjoy m'dears

This is one of my elfkins, her name is Dragon Fly Girl. 

 She loves shiny things, natural things, and stuff.

 Sometimes she sits on my shoulder to help with scrabble games. 

 Fortunately it is on line;

 if I play with board and tiles I find tiles missing....

 because she likes to use them for stepping stones.

Marilynn

A Spooky Howling Wolf Moon

Photo in day light

May I introduce a new friend, one who has talent running out her ears. She creates the most wonder purses and handbags in felt and fabric and beads.

 Welcome  Lou Hearnesberger

Photo in studio light

What a way to start off this project!!!

Hi Peg, I hope it's not too early in the month to show you what I've done with "my" little box. I know you wanted us to have this section ready by Jan.26... I was really anxious to get going on the alter and I knew it was going to have the theme of Halloween so I went for it. 

What inspired me: I've always loved the Fall months and October

 in particular and Halloween specifically! !

 Halloween, to me, is a time of mystery and magic, lore.

 The time leading up to Halloween means spooky movies, and

 dark nights where anything is possible and possible paranormal activity.

 Ghosts, goblins, witches, bats and pumpkins rule!