Colorful Handicraft

Long after our guests went home, I could still be found felting and sewing as this creation slowly came to life.  Inspiration was drawn from an H&M girl's dress (only if I could find the fabric in bolts!), many colorful rovings bought from a local farm and combining fabric and felting.  

 

 

As with my most recent projects, I had a difficult time taking a break until finished...I was continuously thinking of the whole process until the next time I could pick it up again.  My heart is full!

To the beginning...

Before the guests began to trickle in, my daughter and I started to play around with the scraps of fabric and colorful roving to warm up our creative hands and hearts.

 To spark the creative process, a few finished projects made in years past were brought out including this felted macaroon and these felt critters.

     

A bit of history!

Some years ago, I stumbled upon The Cute Book by Aranzi Aronzo. The animals were so adorable, I could hardly wait to get home and make one! At first, I stitched a few resembling the ones in the book and then was drawn to add a bit of quirkiness by using different colors, fabrics and buttons. I also thought these would make wonderful kits, so I put together a handful as party favors for my daughter's birthday party.

Then it was time to try out my own design, this owl.

Back to the Art Experience!

  My daughter decided to make a felted animal and created this cute Totoro!

I love creating with repetitive movements while the mind relaxes and becomes thought full.  Even though I didn't have a chance to make one, I watched as several of the girls created their own.  
 

My daughter's creation has many entwined memories for each fabric scrap was originally sewn clothes, costumes or quilts for her and her brother.

Christmas Delights

 A lovely winter afternoon was spent crafting with a few dear friends. Every possible craft supply that may give inspiration to the heart and hand was carefully set around the creative space.

While making things, yummy treats sweet and savory along with Esprit de Noël tea and homemade hot chocolate with whip cream and teeny tiny chocolate chips sprinkled on top for the children were sipped and nibbled on while cutting, gluing and conversing.

Using these wooden spools was at the top of the list!

Before everyone arrived, I had a quiet moment to entertain my craving to craft. A few natural items created this pleasing piece. 

During the following hours some glitter was accidentally added to the tree and gave it that bit of sparkle it needed! Thank you dear friend!

A hand felted fluffy bird was the beginning of this colorful place marker.

 The first of the wooden spool place markers! The natural grooves in the wood sparked the stripes.

 Now for some pink!

  

Yay! The birch bark paper straws found a home in this piece along with the bell, inspired by one of our dear friend's creations!

 Searching through the whole collection of beloved deer, this one was the perfect size.

Our dear friend brought a gift of beautifully homemade wrapped twig ornaments... which inspired wrapping Lake Superior driftwood!

Gold,  hearts and some natural items were gathered and put together in an ornament.

 Using the same idea, my daughter added shimmery color to the letters and glitter! Love it!

 A couple more of her design!

String Art

For this Art Experience, we made string art!  

I've wanted to make this project for a long time and finally have the chance!  For this piece, I had inspiration from a drawing I did on the bathroom mirror earlier in the day. 

Even if it's raining and feels gloomy, the raindrops can shower us with color!

My daughter made the following beauty!

Cut & Paste

Sitting under a canopy in the backyard on a breezy summer day while browsing through magazines was an ideal way to spend time with friends. Every now and again the breeze would lift one of the cut images into the air to let it fall somewhere in the grass. One image was taken away to not be found! Off to the next image. These are the surrealistic images that were created over hours of cutting and pasting, chatting and sharing.

The following two images were created by my daughter. She has an eye for arranging the images!

Whimsical

This was a relaxing and meditative art experience using layers of paint. Connecting with your own flow, the canvas was painted with many colors, followed by a veil of white paint where some of the color would peek through to catch your eye. When the paint dried the image was drawn and filled in with more color!

Hedgehog

Pelican by Mila

Tree with Multi Colored Leaves

Raindrops