New Terrarriums

Today, I made some terrariums. It is something I first wanted to do years decades ago. 

The largest one (above) will come to sit beside me at work.




Rains finally let up, to allow working outside.

 Since I could not find the precise mini-plants most suitable for terrariums, these may not last. But, I'll keep the lids off, see how they do, and replace as needed. 

It felt good to finally make something! This one (above) is "sedum makinoi ogon" but to me it looks like little clovers, appropriate for St. Patrick's Day just around the corner.

 Nearby, the bees were all a-buzz at the red bud tree.

New Notebooks, But Hitting a Creative Slump

I made a bunch of new notebooks last month, with my acrylic painted covers. Some I use to collect my art ideas, some are now in my Etsy shop.

This Steampunk one below has a cool fastener that really works and some lacey covering inside the covers. It's not in my shop yet since I don’t know how practical it might be but I love the look of it! What do you think?

 

 
Aside from assembling these notebooks, I haven’t been very creative making new pieces. Although I’ve had ideas for projects, weekend usually finds me trying to clean up my studio and cull items I don’t or won’t use anymore. Haven’t painted in a long time, either. Is anyone else having trouble getting motivated creatively in 2012? Tell me how you got out of artist’s block.

From Sketches to Completion

These earrings I made for my friend Lyn took a long road from inception to completion. Starting as a discussion before my Ireland trip in 2010, Lyn suggested collecting water from Brigit’s Well and provided me with various-sized vials with cork tops. She sketched an idea of using one as a pendant made from crochet. But the crochet idea kept throwing me off since I don’t know how to “free form” in yarn.

When I’d see jewelry ideas in magazines or books, I’d get ideas for different ways of encasing the cork bottle. I filled several pages in my art notebooks with ideas and possibilities. I experimented with copper wire and spirals but had a clunky design. Something clicked, however, when I saw mini-bottles in JoAnn’s jewelry section having screw eyes in the cork.

Then, I brought my materials and ideas to someone I know who does wonderful jewelry work—my sister, Maria! I showed her my last design and she helped me craft the earrings which I filled with Irish sand from the beach at Enniscrone, County Sligo, instead of well water. Lyn loved them—success! Sometimes it takes a long time for an idea to reach fruition. But don’t give up; you’ll finally reach a solution. It might be radically different from your initial idea but that’s what art is all about—thinking, sketching, trying, discarding, adding, starting anew, and finally reaching conclusion. Have fun!

Recent Notebooks

Here are some notebooks I made in a flurry of production last month.

Northern California trip

Trinidad Head

I was lucky enough to spend the holidays with my sister. We traveled up to Northern California and experienced Nature in her wildness. We also got to spend some time doing creative things together~such a treat!




Trinidad Head





Redwood Forest near Humbolt



Newest Leather Journal

Here's the latest leather journal I made.

It was a big one, with six signatures, three kinds of paper, three different colors.

With three of my painted pocket pages.

Making Business Art Cards

20 Different Business Cards showing My Journals, Notebooks, & Paintings

After meeting my new art friend Jennifer Martin she pulled out one of her business cards. Although I have read about other artists praising MOO cards  I finally got to see the lovely work in person.



But, I decided to make my own version. Using Avery labels purchased some time ago, I finally wanted to try them out. It took a long time to select and insert photos of my work, to match the orientation of the photo to the text on the back, to align photos without showing any white space or bleeding onto its neighbor card (still haven’t perfected that yet). I can see why ordering online would be quicker. But I like the amateur results!


I used Microsoft Word and Avery White Two-Sided Printable Clean Edge Business Cards, #8871. Once you print both sides, they snap so cleanly and feel like heavy cardstock. I’m very impressed with the product and wonder why it took me so long to try these. But, it’s great to be inspired by another artist!