A BIRD IN THE HAND?

Our challenge this month is to use a bird theme - it can be anything you like from ATC to three dimensional piece, or digital, as long as there's a bird in there somewhere!


I've had this birdcage a LONG time, waiting for inspiration to strike. I bought it in a hardware store sale, and it was verdigris green at the time, but not a pleasing effect. I spray painted it cream and antiqued it a little, adding a perch for my bird to sit on. The ivy leaves are individually cut out and glued in place.

But don't limit yourself - you could make a bird like this lovely felt one Linda made for me - the choice of materials is yours and the result only limited by your imagination! We can't wait to see what you come up with!

EVEN MORE DRAGONFLIES ...

Well it's nearly time for a new challenge - look out for it on the 17th. I must apologise that my own dragonfly never appeared to complement Linda's beautiful effort. Sad to say I was working on a metal piece, but when it was done I HATED it, so it might have to go in the bin ... I tell you this as reassurance that we can make rubbish art as skilfully as the next person. But isn't it wonderful when it all goes right ....?


Anyway, I wanted to highlight these two dragonflies, not least because they're so different from each other!

Jan's tiny gold backed piece is a wonderful example of shimmery, vivid colours which she's achieved with shrink plastic and mica paint, sealed with Diamond Glaze. Lynn has taken a completely different approach to her 6" canvas, using natural colours and textures, but I love this too. Each in their own way is a striking example of the diverse ways you can approach a theme, and I only wish my piece had been half as good ....

It's not too late to enter, you still have a week or so!!

Rosie

Digital Art

I've never thought much about digital art until recently.
But we seem to have had more and more contributions from digital artists over the last few challenges........and now I am being converted. We've already had some beautiful ATCs, tags and collages from you for the dragonfly challenge (you still have 2 weeks to join in), but I wanted to give these two pieces a particular mention.
The first is by Lori at http://ravenpainting.blogspot.com/ ....... absolutely stunning.
The second is by Lumilyon http://lumilyon.blogspot.com/ ........ totally enchanting.I hope you agree.
Now I want to learn how to do it!!

Linda x

A DAZZLE OF DRAGONFLIES........

........... is what we'd love to see from you this month.
Dragonflies are such beautiful creatures, its such a shame they only live for a few weeks. But fortunately your art can give pleasure for much longer than that, so we challenge you to use the image in your artwork........... ATCs, fabric, jewellery, inchies, twinchies, metal.....the choice is yours!
I've made a mixed-media piece using fabric, Angelina fibres, a Crafty Individuals stamp, rusty leaves from Retro Cafe Art, Angelina film, text and gems.
The words are from a poem by Dante Gabriel Rossetti:
Deep in the sun-searched growths the dragonfly
Hangs like a blue thread loosened from the sky.........

Come back next week to see an example from Rosie.

Have fun!

Love Linda x

Shell Challenge Showcase

What a great challenge this has been.......such a wonderful variety of work to behold!!
Thank you all so much for taking the time to join in; your artwork is amazing...........

Rein

Patty (Magpie's Nest)

Pattie (The Joy of Nesting)

Ooglebloops

Meikoningen

Sharon

Lynn Stevens

Lynn (Her Creative Spirit)

Lynn (Its A July Thing)

Lumilyon

.

Luisa

Lilibulle

Lay Hoon

Kimmie

Jaqi

Gini

The Gypsy

Debsea

.

Daisy

Christen

Blackdragon

Annie

.

We'd especially like to thank those of you who take the time to visit all these blogs and comment on people's work. (Blog links in comments box)

Come back later for a new challenge!!

Shell Challenge

Hope you're all ready for a new challenge!
If you wish to join in, you have 3 and a half weeks to make a piece of art (ATC, canvas, painting, collage, fabric, etc...) on the theme of shells. You can use real shells or pictures.........Rosie chose to use real ones for her gorgeous piece of art.

This is Rosie's challenge but she's currently on holiday in Florida (lucky girl!) so has asked me to post these words for her........

"Shells have always been special to me - in fact I love all natural (God-given as opposed to man-made) beautiful things. The quote I've used is from The Prophet by Kahil Gibran, and is one of my all time favourites, and has very deep meaning for me. I used a small 5 x 5"canvas which is deeper than they usually are at 1 1/4" and turned it around to take advantage of the deep "window" inside it.

The canvas is painted with acrylic (Folk Art Bayberry) which I then sanded and distressed. I lightly stained and matte varnished the wooden frame because I liked it the way it was - and it also seemed right for the "natural" beach feel I was after. Linda gave me some of this amazing tissue paper which has a small script all over it, and I put a panel of it deep inside to provide a backdrop for my lovely shell which I found in Malta.

Thinking about the brokenness of the theme I tore and pasted more strips of tissue fairly randomly using Mod Podge, and gave the quote (computer generated) a similar treatment. I had a box of tiny shells which seemed just right, and the larger one on the outside is from a necklace. I loved the friend who gave it to me but never liked the necklace which was very large and chunky, so I took it to pieces and used the shells instead. Although she is gone now I'm pretty sure she would approve."

I'm sure you'll agree Rosie has made a beautiful example for us.

We're looking forward to seeing your creations as always!!

Linda x

"Your pain is the breaking of the shell that encloses your understanding. Even as the stone of the fruit must break, that its heart may stand in the sun, so must you know pain."

Kahlil Gibran

PS We have a new friend who has just set up a blog for the first time and has created a mini book for Jaqi's photo challenge. It would be lovely if you could go along and say hello..... her name is Gini.

PHOTO CHALLENGE SHOWCASE!

Well, I think Jaqi's great aunt Rosina would have been thrilled to see all these wonderful pieces of art.....we certainly are!! A huge thanks to everyone who joined in and of course to Jaqi for being our guest challenger. Don't forget to come back tomorrow for a new challenge!

Now just enjoy this fabulous gallery of art ..............Great Aunt Rosina

Chimene

Sandee

Rubymay

Rein

Patty

Ooglebloops

Michelle - Bohemian Gypsy

Mary Ann

Lynn

Lilibulle

Lay Hoon

Jeanette

Jan

Hazel

Glycerine

Filetta

Fifi Flowers

Denise

Daisy

Christen

Annie

Ali

Jaqi

Rosie

Linda

If I have missed anyone out or typed any names incorrectly please let me know - email address here.

Thank you

Love Linda