Fragments of Nature ~

I've been busy in the studio!

Thank goodness...

I think the worst is over with the pollen around here ~

It's so good to finally feel a little better

and get something accomplished.

I know you've seen this botanical here before...I just love it!

Scroll down to the bottom of my blog

to see how to save it at its largest.

Another clipping from an old Victoria ~ love, love, love!

I thought I'd share with you my bits of progress with

the new nature assemblage.

I placed little ledges inside the opening on the back of the canvas ~

See them on each side?

These will allow me a sliver of a shadow box space...

I slathered matte gel medium all over the place and using the original pages

from a great old bird book, began the process of covering the entire back.

Wrinkles? Yeah! Who cares...I love them :) They add character, right?

I added a piece of stained tissue paper over the very center to dilute the text a bit.

And that wasn't enough.

I lightly dyed some scrim, ripped it to size and it will now

be the foundation for my fragments of nature ~

I'll probably stitch the scrim on...that's the beauty of working with canvases,

I can use strong thread and sew right through the back.

I haven't done it yet though ~

And to show you where I'm headed with this piece,

I positioned a few found nature elements here and there over the scrim,

and placed the glass over top.....

each item will be carefully secured.

Next I plan on taping the glass in with wide copper foiling tape

and then soldering over it to seal the glass down and the treasures inside!

I have some wonderful stain to age the solder too....

We'll see how these last few steps go ~

So that's the anatomy of what's on my work table this week ~

I just love working with these small treasures....

and seeing a new idea come to life!

Wishing you a wonderful Tuesday precious friends,

hugs and love,

Dawn

Nature inspired ~

I always forget how much I love creating assemblage art!!

And if it involves birds and elements of nature...

I love it even more!

I just finished the pocket assemblage and am really pleased

with how it turned out ~

A layer of wonderful unique paper and

a print of the bird antique sheet music turned

out to be the perfect back drop for this nature gathering.

All the components are nestled inside THE BACK

of an 11" x 14" stretched canvas.

Even an old drawer pull embellishes the top!

Now I want to go make more luggage pockets and put them on everything!!

I just listed this nature assemblage in my Etsy store if you'd like to take a look ~

Thank you always, always for stopping by here to see what I'm up to!

I cherish your comments and you just don't realize

how much you truly inspire me....

Have a beautiful Wednesday dear friends,

hugs and love,

Dawn

I always seem to forget ~

And just what do I forget, you ask???

How wonderful I feel when I make something!!!

I have a new "creed", "mantra" or purpose this spring ~

make something beautiful....every. single. day!!!

So here is my current offering and new artwork.....

Remember my recent giveaway?

I just had to try to recreate it

as I loved making it and

how it turned out ~

And you can find it in my shoppe too!!!

Be sure to double click my photos to see more detail ~

Another piece I finished is a petite nature assemblage

housed inside of an old wooden box!

It's tiny but oh-so-detailed....

and it's in the shoppe too!

Yes, I do laundry (when folks are moaning :)

Yes, I try to cook my family a tasty dinner every evening.

And yes, I do try to keep this old place clean.

But girls,

making these treasures

TRULY makes me SMILE!!!!

Have a beautiful Wednesday my sweet friends,

hugs and love,

Dawn

Need something for your walls?? Make your own art!

I've been gathering some wonderful treasures....

trying to decide how I want to display

these gorgeous pieces of nature ~

Well, as I was cleaning and getting ready

for our Christmas eve party with my family,

I decided to re-use this padded frame that I'd made awhile ago.

I had it hanging in my studio at the old house with ephemera pinned

and clipped to it but hadn't decided

how I wanted to use it here at the farmhouse.

When I visited Lisa in Texas, my goal was to find some wonderful things

to create a type of Cabinet of Curiosities display for our living room.

I found the beautiful turtle shell in Debbie's booth at Winnie & Tulula's....
We found the skull and horns at a yard sale!!!

The magnifying glass is a souvenir from when I owned The Plum Tree,

the little fish net is another antiquing find....

I added a bird feather, strips of tree bark from our last house.

A gorgeous acorn from the burr oak tree,

a sweet gum ball from our last home and a

wasp's nest given to me from one of the boys....

This, my dear friends, is a true assemblage!!!

A gathering of treasures you love displayed together ~

The only other element that I would love to add?
Gorgeous aged Latin name labels to each item!

OH! And how did I attach these goodies to the padded board backing?
Which is a washed canvas drop cloth fragment over polyester batting
and crudely taped to the back of the Masonite board....
I simply sewed each element on!!!
I'm in love with button and carpet thread,
it's much stronger than regular thread ~

Thank you SO VERY MUCH for your precious birthday wishes,

you inspire me so and absolutely made my day!!!!!

Wishing you a wonderful Monday dear friends ~

you truly are loved,

Dawn