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Tuesday, February 28, 2012

Next Steps

It felt like spring today, and even though there are still a few piles of melting snow, things are sprouting up everywhere!
Here's a hyacinth and below, the tulips are beginning to sprout.
The daffodils have already got a few inches of leaf sticking out...
and lo and behold, the first crocus! It's always a thrill to see the first crocus, even though we've had such an easy winter here compared to last year! Apparantly winter is not over yet... the weather men are predicting snow here tomorrow. I've heard reports of anywhere from 1 to 7 inches of snow may fall tomorrow before changing over to rain. It sure would be nice to get a little bonus time at home, especially since tomorrow is Leap Day. Certainly we could all use an extra day to be at home doing what we enjoy most!
Speaking of things I enjoy, here are the next few steps I've taken on the totem project. I completed a yellow seahorse out of the painted burlap I showed in the last post...
... And I painted some green burlap for the third and final seahorse. I used that interesting honeycomb cardboard again, this time in two ways. I bought these moldable stamps almost a year ago and haven't played with them that much. If you heat the surface with a heat gun or iron (cover the foam with parchment first), it will take and keep an imprint until it is reheated. It can be used over and over too - kind of a neat tool to have. After warming it up, I pushed the honeycomb cardboard into it to create that scaley-looking surface, which I then used to apply the green paint. Then I dipped the cardboard in yellow paint to add the hexagonal accents. Should make another nice seahorse!
Although I'm enjoying working on this project, I'm still tempted by the charm supplies. It's not too late for me to sign up for a "springtime in Paris" swap with the yahoo artcharm group. The description reads: "This swap is flirty, feminine & oh-so-French! Colors: pale-to-medium pink, spring or lime green, & black, w/ gunmetal/silver findings. Inspiration: Eiffel tower, vintage French text & maps, floral patterns, fleur de lis, vintage labels, lace & ribbon, French ironwork & architecture." Sounds tempting, doesn't it? I'd only need to make 20 charms... it would be so fun to play with some lacy stamps on shrink film or to get out some pink ribbon and black lace and make some pretty fabric beads... if only I had more TIME!!!

3 comments:

Vivien Zepf said...

"Only" 20 charms? Sounds like a lot to me! But if you're inspired, maybe you should consider it...

Love what's happening with your totem. Hoping to get to mine later today.

Norma Schlager said...

It looks like you have a good start on your totem. I'll be away all month so I won't be able to watch the progress. I look forward to seeing the finished product.
And as Vivien said "only" twenty charms? That sounds daunting to me. Have fun!

ArtZhodgepodge said...

LOve your charms... the gals playing in the Paris swap are so lucky