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/

Patty - http://bitze.wordpress.com/2009/01/16/abaa-bottle-caps

Pattie - http://thejoyofnesting.blogspot.com/2009/01/rabs-scavenger-hunt.html

Nicky - http://thealteredinker.blogspot.com/2009/01/my-very-first-art-doll.html

Jendy - http://jendypendy.blogspot.com/2009/01/abaa-bottle-cap.html

Jaqi - http://jaqi-scrapbookinginmysleep.blogspot.com/2009/01/awfully-big-art-adventure-bottletop.html

Jan- http://jan-jansjournal.blogspot.com/2009/01/2cre8art-bottletop-challenge.html

Dawne - http://dawne-abitofthisabitofthat.blogspot.com/2009/01/awfully-big-art-adventure.html

Ellen - http://scrappanic.blogspot.com/2009/01/tin-and-bottlecap.html

Hilda - http://inkythings.blogspot.com/2009/01/art-adventure-bottle-tops.html

Rosie's Chunky ATC and An Award

Rosie emailed the pictures of her woodblock to me last night and it is GORGEOUS!

I can't wait to make more of these. Its really nice to hold something thats decorated on all sides.

Rosie has taken the words Angels in the Architecture from a Paul Simon song.

Hopefully she's inspired you to have a go...........

We are very grateful to Helga at Artchix for giving our blog an award. Helga's blog is very inspiring (as is her website) - full of wonderful colours, fabulous art materials and inspirational ideas. I recommend you take a look.......

http://www.myartisticlife.typepad.com/

http://www.artchixstudio.com/

More news to come about Artchix in the coming weeks - Rosie and I are very excited ...... so watch this space!

ONLY TWO DAYS TO GO!

In two days time we will be launching our new blog with a special challenge (thats Friday 19th, put it in your diary) and to celebrate, we are having a prize. I am donating some of my collection of Artchix and Retro Cafe Art shrines (don't worry, I've still got plenty left!) Here they are......... .......there are 7 in total (two of them are very tiny!)
Doesn't matter where you live - we'll post the prize to you, so everyone can enter.
Hope to see you back here on Friday!
Love Linda