Friday, April 29, 2011
Who's naughty?
This piece is nearing it's completion. I feel she still needs a little tweaking but I have a few ideas up my sleeve. I do like the quote and feel it fits in nicely with the piece.
I do have some exciting news to share soon, but I am not at liberty to spill the beans just yet.
Labels:
artwork,
collage,
fairies,
laura locke,
mixed media
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
Bee Informed
A recent e-mail reminded me of yet another reason we should all attempt to put more organic foods into our diet. COLONY COLLAPSE DISORDER. For those who are not familiar with this issue, and I do not believe many people are completely unaware, CCD is a phenomenon in which worker bees seemingly vanish from hives. There are many suspects in this mystery but no clear cause is known.
Possible causes range from pathogens and microbes to pesticides and electromagnetic radiation emitted by cel phones to GMOs (Genetically Modified Organisms) and migratory bee keeping. While science cannot yet pinpoint the cause, I believe there are ways in which we can help the bee population.
Steps you can take to help keep bees healthy...
1. Buy organic produce at the market. Overuse of pesticides is likely to be a contributing factor in CCD as these tiny critters are exposed to many toxins. A vast number of different pesticides were discovered in vacated beehives.
An added bonus: Genetically modified crops cannot be labeled as organic.
3. Plant an organic vegetable garden of your own. Be sure to purchase organic seeds or plants.
4. Include good nectar sources such as red clover, bee balm and foxglove in your flower garden.
5. Collect or purchase beneficial insects such as lady bugs, green lacewings or praying mantis who naturally prey on destructive insects. Let the spiders work for you.
If we do nothing and our bees continue to die, we will be the ultimate casualties. A world without pollinators is a world without food.
Labels:
bees,
CCD,
Colony Collapse Disorder,
organic,
pesticides
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
Crafting with Kapok
I have been enamored with Kapok fiber for some time now and wanted to share my passion for this natural batting. Kapok fiber is a silky substance that surrounds the seed pods of the Ceiba tree, which is harvested in the rain forest and provides jobs to indigenous people.
This fiber is lightweight, nontoxic, mold resistant, odorless and a sustainable resource. The only issue I have when working with it is the way the fibers float through the air during the stuffing process. A simple filtering mask solved that problem. The end result is a pillow with all the qualities of down but with the added advantage of being hypoallergenic.
So below are pics of the new, decorative bed pillows I made to match my sunny yellow and white duvet cover...
I encourage anyone who has a desire to experience the satisfaction of creating with or purchasing eco-friendly products to visit white lotus home.
This fiber is lightweight, nontoxic, mold resistant, odorless and a sustainable resource. The only issue I have when working with it is the way the fibers float through the air during the stuffing process. A simple filtering mask solved that problem. The end result is a pillow with all the qualities of down but with the added advantage of being hypoallergenic.
I encourage anyone who has a desire to experience the satisfaction of creating with or purchasing eco-friendly products to visit white lotus home.
Labels:
artist,
eco-friendly,
kapok,
laura locke,
pillows
Monday, April 25, 2011
"New" Vintage Finds
Arturo had the day off today and the kids didn’t, so we decided an outing was in order. We began with a wonderful brunch at Victorias Delights in downtown Oxford. The crabby benedict was fantastic (not exactly what I needed after yesterday’s Easter Feast, but I could exercise no self control). After plying my consort with a wonderful meal, I was able to convince him to escort me on an antiquing mission.
The birdsong has had my attention lately as it seems spring has finally arrived, and I'm crazy about colorful objects, so I was immediately drawn to this piece...
It is vintage venetian glass and very evocative of spring. I had to have it.
My favorite items to shop for at these vintage/antique shoppes are embellishments to add to my art pieces. I scored with the following items
Vintage letter and number cards.
Lacy hand-tatted doilies.
These vintage Vera linen kitchen towels won't be embellishments, but may show up on my Etsy as fun decorative pillows. I'll keep you posted.
I love the little ladybug, it is a good gauge when trying to determine the date of her pieces - 1960's - 70's. The ladybug was discontinued in 1976.
Friday, April 22, 2011
Imagine
"Imagination is everything. It is the preview of life's coming attractions"
-Albert Einstein-
I have been struggling with this project for weeks now and I finally see the light at the end of the proverbial tunnel. This is my third attempt at creating what I see in my mind and I believe I am now on the right path. These pieces are soooo difficult to capture on camera and I wish I could invite you into my studio to see them first hand. There is still much to do to meet the May 15th deadline for entry into my next competition.
On another note, I will, over the next few weeks, attempt to expand my blogging to include other areas of interest. When a piece takes this long to bring into existence, I find myself totally immersed in the process and without much to blog about. By diversifying my blog, I hope to inspire others to bring creative expression to everyday life.
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