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Tuesday, November 25, 2014

FEATHER STAMPS FROM STYROFOAM

Living in Ukraine has made me quite aware of recycling since I can't just go out to a big craft store as one can in America.  So my studio is quite full with things like tea tins, cookie tins, boxes, Altoid tins, tin cans, paper, card board and Styrofoam.  So here is one of the crafts I do.
In the top picture you can see I cut off the curved edges to get a nice flat piece of foam.  Upon that you can draw any picture you want for a stamp.  I've been into feathers for some time, but I've done flowers and other things as well.  This is the back side.  Turn over for the smooth side.
This picture is an example of the drawn feather.  I simply used a pen to make my marks.  At this point you can stamp in a square or your can remove the outside negative space to have the feather shape as I did in the picture below.
And don't feel like you have to make things realistic.  A little whimsy is always fun as you see with my curls.  I love curls, don't you?
Finally, the actual stamped images.  Styrofoam is soft so these won't last a long time, but then they are so easy to do.  And as a mixed-media artist I've learned to embrace imperfection.  As a matter of fact, I like imperfection.  It gives that hand-made feel that creates the distinction of art as opposed to something manufactured.  So give this a try and see what you come up with.  I know you'll love it.

Tuesday, November 4, 2014

"ROCK" GARDEN

This and the following couple pictures were taken before the weather in Ukraine turned so cold.    Now we've had several hard freezes.  I always feel sad as this time of year comes around because I like being outdoors and in the garden.  Now that has come to an end.
Pretty much we've put the garden to rest for the winter.  That includes, besides leaves, cutting back a lot of soft vegetation that would be a mess by spring if I didn't do it now.   Ordinarily we might have chrysanthemums for a while, but the hard freeze took them too.
I will still post some summer pictures that I just didn't get on and they make me feel good to see the beauty of nature when it is so cold outside.
A slight blurr here but you get the idea.  I always watch for heart shape rocks.



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