BLUE WATERS

Here's my latest bracelet added to my Etsy shop:  http://www.etsy.com/listing/72166624/handstitched-fiber-art-bracelet-blue

HAPPY EASTER! Hope you have some blue waters to sit next to this holiday weekend.

SPRING COLOR AND TEXTURE

I've been spending a lot of time this week pouring over the art of two of my favorite artist. First is Judith Baker Montano, http://www.judithbakermontano.com/, who is well known for her crazy quilting. More recent works are beautiful landscapes that are heavily textured by the use of a variety of fabrics, threads, ribbons and adornments. Everytime I look at her work I want to go back to my first fiber love, embroidery. Carolyn Saxby is a recent favorite artist. Her work is also all about beauty and texture, but her art is a little more abstract. I anticipate each post of her blog. She has two, http://love-stitching-red.blogspot.com/ and http://carolysaxby.blogspot.com/. Her photography is lovely and her words even more special. I hope you will check out both of these artists.

A few nights ago I got the itch to stitch. Just wanted to practice some couching with different threads to see the different textural affects. Well before I knew it I had a little bit of a design going and couldn't stop. I limited myself to my two favorite spring colors, spring green and daffodil yellow, but some of the threads and yarn were variegated in color so added some nice contrast. Love doing this free form stitching--just letting my subconscious take me for a ride.

Enjoy your weekend!

Bracelets

I spent most of last week retaking pictures of all of my bracelets in my etsy shop. It got me to realize that I don't think I have ever blogged about how I started making them. So here's a little history on my bracelets:

Needle arts have been a part of my life as far back as I can remember. Embroidery, dressmaking , tailoring, quilting, beading and needle felting have all played a role in developing my creativity. With all of this stitching has come a hugh inventory of fabrics, beads, buttons, ribbons and fibers. My bracelets were born out of a desire to use up all the bits and pieces I have amassed over the years. Small lengths of silk ribbons became flowers, strands of fibers were intertwined with each other to create a base for embellishment with beads and buttons. These bracelets have taken on a life of their own. I now have people sending me their leftovers to use. The most fun has come with creating special bracelets for clients who wanted a keepsake created with cherished ribbons and yarns from their own collection. I hope that everyone who views my art can appreciate the fine detail work as well as the process of creating something out of what may appear to be destined for trash.

To see more of my bracelets visit my etsy shop at http://pdlugos.etsy.com/

FINALLY!!!!!!!!!!!!

At last, daffodils blooming in my garden. Been waiting so long to see their happy faces. Spring has finally come to the Rocky Mountains.
                                                    
"Daffodils"
I wander'd lonely as a cloud
     that floats on high o'er vales and hills,
When all at once I saw a  crowd,
    A host, of golden daffodils;
Beside the lake, beneath the trees,
Fluttering and dancing in the breeze.

Continuous as the stars that shine
   And twinkle on the Milky Way,
They stretch'd in never-ending line
   Along the margin of a bay:
Ten thousand saw I at a glance,
Tossing their heads in sprightly dance.

The waves beside them danced; but they
   Out-did the sparkling waves in glee;
A poet could not  but be gay,
   In such a jocund company:
I gazed -- and gazed -- but little thought
What wealth the show to me had brought:

For oft, when on my couch I lie
   In vacant or in pensive mood,
They flash upon that inward eye
   Which is the bliss of solitude;
And then my heart with pleasure fills,
And dances with the daffodils.

               William Wordsworth