SPRING IN MY GARDEN

I know Spring officially started last week, but here in the rocky mountains, at the base of Pikes Peak, I am just beginning to see signs of life in my garden. I have decided I want to document my garden from now until Fall so I'll be posting pictures regulary. My garden is another way that I can enjoy texture. I spend most of the winter trying to recreate the textures of nature in my art. Now I get to go outside and play and enjoy the textures up close and personal. Here are some photographs I took this afternoon.

This first one is of my daffodils. I love how they are peaking out of the dead leaves and branches that have blanketed them all winter. Can you see the munchings from the deer? They wreak havoc in my garden all summer long and I guess forgot from last year that they really don't like daffodils. Beginnings of life on the Maple tree. My husband's eyes are already beginning to water.

Fuzzies on the Aspen trees. The juncos and house finches in the garden have already started to go for them instead of the seed in the feeders.

This coming week is supposed to be in the 60's and 70's so maybe I'll have some first blooms on the daffodils to show soon.

TAOS FIBER ART BRACELET

A couple of years ago I started making these bracelets. I was looking for a way to use up the bits and pieces of fibers leftover from other projects. It was just one of those moments when something clicked and I had to run with the idea. Here are the fibers I started with for the Taos bracelet and then a picture of the finished bracelet.

What's happening in my neck of the woods

I finished my second book from the LK Ludwig painted papers journal online class. For the book I used all the paper leftover from my first book to make the pages. Last time I used vibrant colors so this time I decided to stay with more muted tones but the pages still have plenty of texture. It was great fun to make these books and I can't wait to fill them up.

Book measures 4.5" high and 3" wide. It's a cute little book.

Love the texture on these pages.

Handmade banana leaf stamp on this one.

THOUGHTS FOR TODAY

"All you need is deep within you waiting to unfold and reveal itself. All you have to do is be still and take time to seek for what is within, and you will surely find it."---Eileen Caddy My husband gave me this amaryllis for Christmas. He planted it for me in a pot the next day. We have waited and waited for it to do something and FINALLY about two weeks ago it began to show some life. I thought for sure it was dead. But with some patience life emerges.

WORK IN PROGRESS--SANTA FE SKY

Been working on this needle felted landscape the last few days. I'm using merino roving and a crazy batt from http://atomicblue.etsy.com for the sky. I picked apart pieces of the batt that were just the colors I wanted. It doesn't show up in the photograph, but there is some angelina fiber that gives the sky some sparkle. For the trees I'm using merino wool and some silk fibers that add great texture. Just have to do a little hand stitching and then I'll mat it and probably list it in my etsy shop.

Painted Patterned Paper Journal Online Class

I've been taking an online class with LK Ludwig. We have painted papers and learned two binding techniques. Below are photos of my first book and a few of the pages. Still working on the second one. It has been great fun painting papers, creating lots of texture and color, and then binding them all into a journal. You can join the class at any time. Here is the link: http://gryphonsfeather.typepad.com look for the paintedpatternedpaper class

HAPPY MARDI GRAS

I love Mardi Gras. I have lived in Colorado for 21 years and I still miss it. It is such a part of the history and culture of the city, and so much a part of me and who I am. I remember the day I learned that not everyone celebrates Mardi Gras. It was like finding out there was no Santa Claus. I felt so sorry for all the people who couldn't enjoy this special day. And I still feel sorry for them. I feel sorry for myself too, because I'm not there. Especially this year with the Saints winning the superbowl. From what I hear, it's been one long party since they won the playoffs. Here's a picture of me when I was 2 and a half. Probably by very first Mardi Gras in 1959. I'm the one in the middle with my 2 sisters. I also remember wearing that nurse's costume. Then there was another year when I was a cowgirl. Oh and the year I wore a big mexican hat. Didn't have to lift my arms to catch beads, the hat caught them all. Drove all the people around me crazy. This lovely picture was taken in the 70's. I had on my Dad's sweater, my mother's dress, a mink hat with a balloon attached to it, striped socks and tennis shoes. Don't know who I was trying to be, but I sure had fun that day.

Here is part of my dabbloon collection. I have coins dating back to the 1960's. I had them all stored in a coin collectors book at my mother's house. When my son got interested in coin collecting I had her send them to me. I am so glad I did that because her house was destroyed in Hurricane Katrina and I would have lost them for good. I consider them to be some of my most prized possessions.

And here are some of the beads I have collected over the years ranging from the 70's , 80's, 90's and 00's. Again I am so happy I have these. I display them every year during Mardi Gras season. So even though not everyone may celebrate mardi gras in their town, we can all have a mardi gras heart for a day. Be crazy, give up your worries for a day and have some fun. Laissez les bons temps rouler!!!!