Friday 6 February 2009

Milagros Hearts (and Bottletops)

With Valentine's Day coming up we thought we'd challenge you to create a milagros heart. Milagros are small metal religious charms found in many areas of Latin America, especially Mexico and Peru. The word “Milagro” means “miracle”. They often depict arms, legs, hearts and animals and are pinned to crosses or wooden statues of various saints, the Virgin Mary or Christ. If you google (images) milagros heart you should find lots of examples to inspire you.
I decided to make a needle-felted heart which I then stitched onto a quilted organza background. Under the organza is a piece of text I transferred onto some fabric using jetFX. Finally I couched sari silk around the edge, stitched on some beads and made a metal heart for the centre.

Rosie made a heart out of metal and coloured it with alcohol inks. The image inside is from Artchix.

Of course you don't have to make them out of fabric or metal ..... we know you will come up with all sorts of other ideas!
We look forward to seeing your artwork as always.


Better late than never....... here are your wonderful bottletop creations!!
Virginia - http://littlebookofme.blogspot.com/2009/01/awfully-big-art-adventurebottle-tops.html
Sherry - http://gotart4u.blogspot.com/2008/02/time-for-martinis-happy-hour-record.html

Rosie - http://alteredartandstuff.wordpress.com/2009/01/18/altered-tins/

28 comments:

Karen said...

These are ALL so brilliant, such a variety of ideas! X

Karen said...

Your milagros hearts are outstanding! X

June said...

Hi I love your theme this week and have made one over at my blog here http://junesartyretreat.blogspot.com/
Your work is inspiring thank you
June x

Jaqi said...

Fantastic collection of bottletops, and your milagros hearts are beautiful, Well done, what an inspiration you both are, JAQI

Jan said...

Ooh this is a good one - will have to get thinking!

Unknown said...

I made something that fits your challenge yesterday :)

Love Letter

But, I'll also google milagros heart and enter the challenge properly :)

nancy said...

Oh my! These are so beautiful. I'm afraid I won't be able to participate until I get myself relocated into my new house. Meanwhile I am enjoying the wonderful creations everyone is coming up with.
Kindest regards to all.
Nancy

AliMayes said...

What a fun challenge! I'd never heard of these before but here is mine.
Ali xx

Talking Horses Arts said...

OOoh, people you just keep amazing me. Went thru all these pictures several times. I am lost for words!
What a beautiful creations, one after another...
Part of it must be the amazing challenges that you guys get put in front of you from these ladies here at the blog?! I am soo glad tha I ever found this blog..would never wanna miss out on all that talent and inspiration!!!!
Andrea.

Jendy said...

I had a GREAT time meeting this challenge! Mine is on my blog. And I am loving what everyone else is coming up with. Excellent choice of theme!

Alix said...

gosh i love your felted heart :) gorgeous!

Sue said...

Wow, great theme!!1 Here is my entry, thanks for looking.

http://sroddis.blogspot.com/2009/02/milagros-heart.html

Sherry Goodloe said...

That clock I made from the LP, cd, and bottlecaps? Yeah, well, I'm giving it away for the OWOH event. So if you're interested in a chance to win it . . . you know what to do :)

Linda said...

I love your hearts. I made mine before your challenge was posted so I hope you don't mind that I added a link to my blog post that shows it. I made the design for the OWOH event so if you haven't entered, please do. You can find it here.

Ellen said...

what a great variety of bottletop creations. So many different ideas .

And now this one I'd never heard of it till now. thanks for enlightening me .

my attempt can be seen ,

here

Jan said...

Thank you for this challenge. I really enjoyed it an am going to try to make something else as well. Mine is on my blog. Thank you for looking

Sue said...

Ok, call me picky if you like but I didn't like the photo of my heart on my blog so I have re-done it this morning!!
Hopefully you can now see that the central part is actually a niche with a rolled back door!!

http://sroddis.blogspot.com/2009/02/milagros-heart.html

*jean* said...

ladies, i was so inspired by your creations, thank you!

mine is on my blog, please click on my name to view it....

jean
http://bluebirdslivinginthemeadow.blogspot.com/2009/02/milagrosome-vessels-are-marked.html

Becky Bunn said...

I have one I posted before I found your challenge. Please take a look. Love the felted heart

RubyMay said...

I love the Milagro challenge you've set...it's so different. Your designs are a real inspiration x
Here is my milagro heart.
Thanks for looking x

Rosie said...

I think these are wonderful bottlecap creations - really inspiring!
Thanks to Linda's inspiration and encouragement, I have made my own Milagros heart hanger! It's here:

http://alteredartandstuff.wordpress.com/2009/02/09/love-and-milagros-hearts/

Unknown said...

Here is my "official" milagros heart. Brilliant challenge - they're sooo beautiful!

Milagros Heart

Jan said...

This challenge has motivated me to make ANOTHER milagros - this time in a niche. It is on my blog if you have time to take a look - thank you.

Maureen said...

A very different challenge, mine can be found on my blog.

Rosemary said...

An excellent and different kind of challenge - I finally got to participate in one (has been a long time). Here's my entry:

http://freeadvicewortheverypenny.blogspot.com/2009/02/challenge-milagros-heart.html

Viv said...

First time taking up the challenge here and was inspired after seeing two beautiful examples from blogging friends! Hope my effort meets the challenge - it's on my blog
http://vivsvisuals.blogspot.com/

Jaqi said...

Sorry everyone ive had a hectic week but at last im finished my entry is here; Thank you Jaqi

Jana said...

I did it. I finally did one. I have been peeking over here often and have ideas regarding all of the challenges thus far, but this time I DID IT.

http://icantwanna.blogspot.com/2009/02/milagro-heart.html