If you are interested in Waldorf Homeschooling, you MUST check out this AMAZING GIVEAWAY!
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
And now for something completely different...
Two completely different and OOAK wreaths have just been added to my etsy shop...
(Talk about an artist with divergent interests, LOL!)
The first wreath was inspired by my travels up the Northern California coastline...the second wreath is the first in my series featuring OOAK handmade art dolls.
Stay tuned for the next in the series--Alice in Wonderland (with a removable handmade doll suitable for children to play with)!
Sunday, May 9, 2010
TEN new luscious wreath materials...
Oh, I'm dreaming of new luscious wreath materials...let me know if any of these inspire or interest you...
1. brilliantly hand-dyed wool roving
2. hand spun wool art yarn
3. needle felted figures
4. vintage items--like raggedy anne dolls and coffee tins
5. shells, shells, and more shells
6. fabric (especially silk and velvet) roses of the millinery quality
7. hand made vine bases, spray painted all sorts of interesting colors
8. exotic birds from far off lands (not real, of course :)
9. vintage child's tea set for a delightfully mad teaparty-esque wreath
10. pacific northwest pine boughs and branches...even with the purple berries...
MMMMMmmmmMMMMMmmmmm....now MUST finish my book deadline so I may immerse myself in wreath making :)
1. brilliantly hand-dyed wool roving
2. hand spun wool art yarn
3. needle felted figures
4. vintage items--like raggedy anne dolls and coffee tins
5. shells, shells, and more shells
6. fabric (especially silk and velvet) roses of the millinery quality
7. hand made vine bases, spray painted all sorts of interesting colors
8. exotic birds from far off lands (not real, of course :)
9. vintage child's tea set for a delightfully mad teaparty-esque wreath
10. pacific northwest pine boughs and branches...even with the purple berries...
MMMMMmmmmMMMMMmmmmm....now MUST finish my book deadline so I may immerse myself in wreath making :)
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
New wreath series coming...
I'm beginning a new wreath series...handmade cloth art doll wreaths! (The perfect way to display those lovely dolls so that they don't simply collect dust on your shelves.) First in the series is a vampire goth wreath...then I'm thinking a couple of vintage raggedy ann wreaths...and of course, a luscious zaftig wreath...
More to come...watch for it!
More to come...watch for it!
Thursday, April 29, 2010
Important tips for wreath-making...
A few of my customers have asked me to compile a list of tips for making wreaths...
1. Do not skimp on product! Buy the highest quality, for a wreath is only as good as its components. Always buy a bit more than you think you need...you almost always use more than you think, and don't worry...you'll use that extra product where you least expect it in the future!
2. Choose one or more items to build your wreath around--a doll, a sign, two masks, three fairies, four flags, five pumpkins...whatever you choose as your central items, make sure you place them FIRST upon the wreath before anything else--these will set the tone and theme of your creation.
3. Plan ahead. The more pre-planning (and prior envisioning) you do for a wreath before beginning, the better the wreath. If you just "throw together" a wreath, it will look exactly like you "threw it together".
4. Look beyond the craft stores for wreath items...antique stores are great...party supply stores...garage sales...ebay and etsy...I've even found some superb items at Target, of all places!
5. Think outside the box--a great wreath is rarely only flowers...think mixed media...think different textures and fabrics...think "how has this holiday or theme never been expressed before?"
6. Learn different ways of tying bows (there are lots of online tutorials), and experiment with all of them--don't get in a bow rut.
7. Decide on 2 or three primary colors, and try to stick to this throughout your wreath...of course, the one exception to this guideline is a wreath whose theme is many, many colors--then go crazy, but still stick within color families (pastels look good with pastels, primaries look better with other primaries, etc...)
8. Don't forget the greenery! Often greens and leaves are the little things that make or break a wreath.
1. Do not skimp on product! Buy the highest quality, for a wreath is only as good as its components. Always buy a bit more than you think you need...you almost always use more than you think, and don't worry...you'll use that extra product where you least expect it in the future!
2. Choose one or more items to build your wreath around--a doll, a sign, two masks, three fairies, four flags, five pumpkins...whatever you choose as your central items, make sure you place them FIRST upon the wreath before anything else--these will set the tone and theme of your creation.
3. Plan ahead. The more pre-planning (and prior envisioning) you do for a wreath before beginning, the better the wreath. If you just "throw together" a wreath, it will look exactly like you "threw it together".
4. Look beyond the craft stores for wreath items...antique stores are great...party supply stores...garage sales...ebay and etsy...I've even found some superb items at Target, of all places!
5. Think outside the box--a great wreath is rarely only flowers...think mixed media...think different textures and fabrics...think "how has this holiday or theme never been expressed before?"
6. Learn different ways of tying bows (there are lots of online tutorials), and experiment with all of them--don't get in a bow rut.
7. Decide on 2 or three primary colors, and try to stick to this throughout your wreath...of course, the one exception to this guideline is a wreath whose theme is many, many colors--then go crazy, but still stick within color families (pastels look good with pastels, primaries look better with other primaries, etc...)
8. Don't forget the greenery! Often greens and leaves are the little things that make or break a wreath.
Monday, April 26, 2010
2 New Summer Wreaths just listed in Etsy shop!
I just listed two new summer wreaths in my Etsy shop...an OM wreath (with a hand carved wooden sign from Nepal), and a RELAX summer wreath (with jungle roses and sea shells).
How are you going to adorn your front door this summer?
How are you going to adorn your front door this summer?
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
New Summer Patriotic Wreath just listed in Etsy shop!
I've just added a spectacular Summer Patriotic Wreath into my shop on Etsy...
Let Freedom Ring Patriotic Americana Celebration Wreath...Memorial Day/ July 4th/ President's Day/ Veteran's Day/ Summer...FREE SHIPPING
I've also put a special wreath on a super sale for Mother's Day...
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