#4 Coaster

This is a picture of #4 Coaster I made for my DIL as part of the series that I've been posting the last few days.

This image really called to me; I love her expression and I think that's why I just love images of faces; children, women, men, boys, animals; it's all in the face ya know?

I decided to use the word CHANCE with this piece as what are the chances of seeing the sun here in the Northeast????? hahahahaha

Seriously, though, I really enjoyed working on these for Kate. I so hope she'll like them; they certainly were created with love :)

Bottle Art

A friend's birthday is coming up soon so I thought I'd work on a little art gift for her. I collect antique apothecary bottles for my home as well as my art. This picture is of an altered bottle. I dripped alcohol inks inside, had to use a skewer with some felt pieces to get good coverage, added a transparency inside. That was tricky but I found if I rolled it up tightly then pushed through the bottle, the transparency actually burst open inside the bottle. I didn't have to do much manuevering of it either :)

I then dripped some beeswax over the bottle, added wire, beads, fringed beads, charms and fibers. I cut up a cork and etched some design elements on a piece of metal tape, wrapped that around the cork, dabbed on some alcohol inks and added some rhinestone embellishments.

This isn't the clearest picture but it's so darned hard to take a picture of glass. Oh well; I hope this gives you an idea anyway. It was fun working on it :)

Nature is so entertaining :)

Hello Friends! I just wanted to share this with you. It's not the clearest picture but I had to take the pic through a screen in our back room. Perhaps if you click on the picture, you'll get a better look.
Ted and I were taking a break, this morning, from cleaning up outside, and we noticed this woodpecker working away at making a nest. Ted knows his birds :) and said this is the Hairy species of woodpecker and the difference between a Hairy woodpecker and a Downie Woodpecker, is the Hairies build nests in live trees as opposed to Downie's who build nests in dead trees. A little science corner from the Rocks :)

Anyway, we were observing this woodpecker and he actually got stuck in the hole. Apparently, he was testing it out to see if he could fit and he got stuck. I took a picture of him as he was in this position for the longest time and eventually got himself loose! We could actually see him bucking back and forth trying so hard to free himself. While it was funny, at same time, we were worried he'd really get stuck in there and how would be get him out? But; nature provides and he's free, now, and keeps coming back to work on the nest. Cool, huh?

Good Morning! It is Saturday and a gorgeous start to the day with sunshine and warm temps. expected; woohoo!! We deserve it wouldn't you say?

I took some time, this morning, to work on another coaster for my DIL. This is coaster #3 and it's part of a series, of sorts, with a children's theme.

I thought this image fitting as it brings to my mind my son proposing to Kate :)

I wish everyone a wonderful day and enjoy the onset of spring!! Love, Marilyn

This is coaster #2 for my daughter-in-law. I'm using some vintage images that a dear friend of mine shared with me. It's so hard going through them as I have so many favorites. Kate (DIL) loves children so I thought I'd go with this theme.

More to come ....................

Well; it's good to be back to some art for a change. What a week! I've been on and offline for about a week and a half and I think we've finally got it! A very nice Verizon technician came to our house, this a.m., and really helped us out. There was a little glitch between here and the central office that he discovered very quickly. :)

My husband and I have also been busy in our basement suckin' up water as we fell victim to the heavy snow and rains beginning Sunday. We're in pretty good shape here now and things are drying out. I know there are a lot of people worse off than we are so I'm not going to whine about it too much.

I needed a break from even thinking about water and tech stuff so I decided to turn to some art. My daughter-in-law asked me over the weekend if I'd make some coasters for her and my son's new home. They just recently decorated their living room in blues, burgundy and cream colors. I was honored and thrilled that she asked so I'm going to make 4 for starters. This is a picture of the first one and I'll try to remember to upload pics as I create the others. I will add felt to the bottom of each coaster and also will use several coats of paint varnish on top as a protectant so they can actually be used :)

A Special House Guest......

This weekend my husband and I have had the privilege of having a very special house guest. These are pictures of Haley, a 3-year old Golden who is just a pleasure and joy to know.

Her "Dad" is in NYC proposing to his girlfriend (they should be officially engaged at this writing) and we offered to take care of Haley while James (her "Dad") is busy working on a "mom" for Haley.
James has been helping me with my new computer set-up and all and is also a very close friend of my son's. James has trained Haley and she is such a well-behaved dog. She responds to so many command words and I think I've challenged her to the max. I've tried teaching her to respond to two words...."cook" and "laundry" but she just doesn't seem to be responding. Hmmmmmmmmmmm. James is picking her up, soon, so I'd better get back to my training :)