MudBay Musings

Tears & Treasure

2010-06-18T23:22:00.000-07:00

Jadite gems, opalescent glass, and a piece of turquoise-glazed pottery

top off this wonderful gathering of time-worn treasures.

Last week was one of great sadness, intense anticipation and overwhelming thankfulness. Each year, the date of the lowest low tide has slipped past us with out celebration... until this year. This time, my friends and I planned a trip to Glass Beach - an irresistible draw to artist-hunter-gatherer-scroungers like ourselves. I could barely contain my excitement amidst thoughts of hunting for beach glass in an area that used to be a town dump a century ago. The scenery there is heart-wrenchingly beautiful... a quiet, soul-reaching kind of beautiful. A memorable day surely lay ahead - magnificent vistas combined with the allure of collecting trash, sea-tumbled through the last century into tiny jewels rivaling the loveliest of gems.

The beach area at Point Wilson Lighthouse in Port Townsend, looking West toward North Beach at Fort Flagler, which is the "by foot" starting point to Glass Beach

What is it about beach glass that is so captivating? Perhaps it's the soulful metaphor of embracing something that was tossed aside, appreciating the subtle beauty that emerges through decades of daily turmoil... a beauty that can only be realized through time and wear and cannot be replicated any other way... revealing a weathered patina, luminous from within. Perhaps it is the meandering hunt itself that is so enticing, providing a reason to be outdoors, allowing oneself the luxury of being wrapped in a panorama of cliffs, waves, sand, pebbles, driftwood and revitalizing sea air. Or, perhaps it is one's own "collector gene" kicking in... the thrill of unseating each rock or pebble with the hope of unearthing a treasure that has remained hidden for decades. Whatever the reason or source of the passion, holding a fragment of beach-worn glass is an enchanting encounter. A reserved radiance emanates from these charming relics; what were once broken and cast aside utilitarian objects have been transformed into cherished, time-worn jewels.

An amazing pottery shard with seawater-colored glaze.

It's so interesting how the pottery wears at the edges, but glaze on flat surfaces is left intact.

The downside of going to Glass Beach is the two to three mile hike in each direction, and I began to have serious doubts as to whether I could navigate the path during the allotted time between tides. Knowing how much I was looking forward to the trip, G offered to shuttle me to the cove by boat. I hardly slept the night before, envisioning sifting and digging through the sand and pebbles for pottery shards, discarded toys and colorful glass. Like hunting for sharks' teeth at Venice Beach, shelling on Sanibel and Captiva Islands, digging up a trilobite or vacationing in a hummingbird nesting area, this foray was for me pure "bucket-list item" bliss. My anticipation of filled scavenging bags and fulfilled dreams, combined with the sorrow of losing a friend to an accident the week before, elevated this little outing into an emotionally significant trip.

Some of these glass pieces are actually shaped like tears, appropriately also called Mermaid Tears.

Beautiful examples of opaque and opalescent as well as transparent beach glass.

G and I got an early start on the day, although dubious about the weather predictions; our supposed first seventy five degree day of the year looked a bit doubtful that morning. As we loaded up and made our way into Port Townsend, the cloud cover seemed a bit too thick for the predicted noontime sunshine. During breakfast at the local waterfront diner, we blithely watched a seal as it scrutinized nearby kayakers and rowers, savoring what would unknowingly be our last bit of warmth for the remainder of the day. We departed the restaurant with our waitress' perky comments about the supposedly imminent cloud burn-off still agreeably ringing in our ears.

The Marine Science Center lagoon on a calm day; the boat launch is off view to the left.

From the Marine Science Center pier looking South, on a calmer, sunnier day

Launching at the Marine Science Center on the East side of Port Townsend was no easy accomplishment. The tidal action was extreme, slamming the boat repeatedly as we readied the bumpers and unloaded from the trailer. Due to the extremely low tide, it was apparent why no larger boats were launching on the East side, but with our boat's extremely low draft and G's piloting skills we were soon on our way. The open water away from the dock was calm, and we set our sights toward the point and Glass Beach with only a half hour of water to be navigated along our way. Only thirty short minutes standing between me and Beach Glass Nirvana.

From the launch site, looking North toward Point Wilson Lighthouse.

We need to continue around the point, then West for several miles.

Although windy and chilly, it was a pleasant ride... until we rounded the point. As soon as we skirted Point Wilson Lighthouse, the once-pleasant waters took a decidedly unpleasant turn, becoming swirling and choppy, topped with brisk, breath-snatching wind.

In spite of the wind, I think we would have remained undaunted toward our destination had it not been for the immense labyrinth of kelp. Kelp... everywhere... masses of it. In order to navigate the kelp rafts, we had to throttle the motor back, which then made us more vulnerable to the wind and swirling currents. The energy of the Strait along with our kelp-monitoring motor speed resulted in a very laborious, rambling course toward Glass Beach cove. Waves continually pummeled us, soaking us from head to toe. Actually, we were only soaked waist to toe since we were wearing marine jackets. But trust me - we were wet. And cold.

Currents on another day, in the Straight near shore.

Somewhere in a very cynical corner of my mind, as I was contemplating the taste differences between Atlantic and Pacific seawater, I kept hearing the foreboding theme song from the old Gilligan's Island television show playing over and over again. Also going through my mind were the blogs I had perused in prior weeks, which had painted a tranquil picture of reaching Glass Beach by kayak. I wondered if their kayaks had been airlifted into place.

Seagull feather, beach at Point Wilson Lighthouse.

Jadite glass along with what I believe to be a worn marble. Judging from its size, it must have been a shooter in its former life. In its new life, it will be incorporated into a piece of jewelry.

At this point, while gazing upon a seemingly endless kelp maze and imagining our motor becoming entangled in meters of golden-green seaweed, we began to discuss turning back. As we saw our destination still far off in the haze, I began to prepare myself for the shattering of my dream of "puttering around the little cove with the sea glass floor." I couldn't help but appreciate the irony of sea glass' lesser-known name, Mermaid Tears.

Nereocystis luetkeana, or Bull Kelp, prolific in the Strait. Ironically, Nereocystis is Greek for "mermaid's bladder." I'm sensing a theme here...

Photo by Scott Gabara, courtesy of PISCO image gallery

As we were mulling over the reality that things weren't going so well, the next few seconds provided the deciding factor in the course of our day's journey. Seemingly out of nowhere, an enormous sea lion surfaced right beside us. Although I'm not inherently fearful of these inquisitive creatures, there is something quite unnerving about being the object of amusement for an animal that exceeds the dimensions and/or weight of your vessel. Albeit a bit startling, this pinniped's surprise visit was not ominous in itself - it was its lengthy, bellowing, maniacal laugh that shook us to the core. A laugh that seemed to have been unleashed from the depths of the waters, from a creature whose spine-chilling gaze and sinister grin intimated that in regard to species' intelligence, we were the least astute of the two.

(Just in case you're curious, this is what a maniacal, laughing sea lion looks like.)
(Photo credit: SeaWorld, Japan)

After exchanging a few astonished words (which included G muttering something about Davy Jones' Locker), and taking one last look at the still-distant Glass Beach, we turned back toward our starting point. Upon reaching the dock, we were soaked, exhausted, chilled and extremely thankful. And I, also severely disappointed. After calling our friends to let them know we wouldn't be joining them at the cove, I spilled a few mermaid-worthy tears.

A Mermaid's Obi, washed up on Point Wilson beach.

Our friends Lyneen, Kris and Beth, and best canine pal Pixie, made it all the way to Glass Beach by foot and were rewarded for their efforts by bags filled with glass, pottery shards and rocks. Their journey is a story in itself; their trip took over three hours of walking time - all the while enduring bone-chilling winds, slippery rocks, unstable driftwood and shifting sands. What an adventure!

Typical scene at Port Townsend's beaches. On the North side, looking West.

Isn't this the loveliest thing? I wonder who once owned this gorgeous piece of turquoise-glazed pottery and what it was used for a century ago ... did great-grandmother mix cookie or bread dough in this turquoise bowl, or display violets in this planter or roses in this vase... did she pour milk from this pitcher or lovingly serve sandwiches on this plate?

I love the way the glaze has a matrix of dark lines now - just like real turquoise...

except much more precious.

I was able to meet up with Lyneen a couple of days later to relive the day and see her beach treasures first-hand. After dinner, she deeply touched me by giving me a huge portion of her finds from that day... glass and pottery she had unearthed from Glass Beach and carried for three miles in her backpack. With still-sore muscles and raw fingers days later, she cheerfully and generously scooped up handfuls of these gems and handed them to me, along with a fabulous egg-shaped rock. (How many people do you know who would carry a rock for three miles... just because they know you will absolutely love it?)

The beautiful array of treasures that were a gift from Lyneen.

My dream of going to Glass Beach turned out to be so much more than I could have envisioned. As I look at these beautiful pieces of weathered glass and pottery, they mean so much more to me than anything I could have found on the beach myself. They represent the gift of friendship and self-sacrifice. It is a blessed life to possess such true treasure.

Antique Birdcage

2010-05-25T22:30:00.000-07:00

For three more versions of this sweet antique birdcage, click here to visit my vintage images blog.

Thanks for stopping by!

Globes de Mariee

2010-05-19T22:11:00.000-07:00

During my recent "gal-livantin'" trip with Dolores, we "just happened" to stop by Silverdale Antiques. They always have a wonderful selection of items to fill the eyes. At one point, while gawking at something ahead and not paying much attention to what was beside me, I walked by an antique chair with what I thought was a mohair throw resting on top... and suddenly... the mohair moved!

Look who raised his sweet little head - Kirby, the shop dog! Can you tell he'd been sleeping soundly until my startled laugh? Cute little Kirby's definitely a mellow fellow!

Silverdale Antiques specializes in items imported from Europe, and this is where I first saw the Globes de Mariee. Please excuse the poor pictures - low light by phone - but I know you'll like these two Globes. Aren't they lovely?

For more information and pictures of three more globes on an earlier post, click here.

For those of us who adore these reliquary antiques but cannot afford their price-tag, there is hope...

Ulla Milbrath has offered a free tutorial of a Gilded Fairy Chair, which would be the perfect beginning to your own Globe de Mariee! Ulla teaches some amazing classes at Castle in the Air, and you can buy some of those special Globe de Mariee supplies at their online shoppe here.

For pictures of Ulla's incredible Globe de Mariee chair (French Wedding Chair) class sample, click here. It's absolutely stunning, and it's hard to believe it's been recently crafted! It will inspire you!

Have you noticed the pretty little reliquary boxes at the bottom of these Globes? Ulla sells complete instructions in her Etsy shop on how to make these, and a picture of her class samples can be found here.

Ulla's archived blog: http://ullam.typepad.com
Ulla's current Tumblr blog: http://mothtales.tumblr.com
Ulla was featured in the book Where Women Create - Book of Inspiration by Jo Packham and Jenny Doh - click here for a look at the picture spread as well as her link to the photo shoot. While you're at it, spend a few hours perusing both of her blogs - you'll be so glad you did!

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Give-Away at Tattered Gold!

2010-05-18T14:41:00.000-07:00

My friend Paula over at Tattered Gold is having a wonderful giveaway!

Paula is one of those rare souls who opens her heart, puts pen to paper, and the most incredible prose and poetry just pour out. Her blog is a delight to read and will fill your heart.

She's having a fabulous giveaway for her readers.... there are 7 pictures filled with yummy items to feed your "inner magpie." Post a comment for a chance to win, and double your chances of winning by becoming a follower. Thanks, Paula for offering such lovely prizes! Good Luck, Everyone!

Oh Boy - Koi !

2010-05-17T23:37:00.000-07:00

A few days ago, my good friend Dolores and I did a bit of "gal-liv-antin"(my husband's pun) around town. We seemed to close down everywhere we went, getting to places late and rushing through. Sometimes fun things can happen at the last minute though, can't they? We had fifteen minutes to peruse one of our favorite plant nurseries before they closed, and I had a camera with me. Dolores had her eyes set on some beautiful geraniums, and I headed straight for the Koi pond. These fish make me smile. They're like little water-doggies with scales, coming up to greet you, begging for treats. Sweet and full of character. Photo opportunities don't get much easier.

It was evening and the light was getting a bit low. As a result, the original photographs weren't that great. You can guess what comes next... creative play with Photoshop Elements software!

Below is the original photograph of the above piece, before digital altering:

You can see what I mean - the photos were milky and uninteresting, except for the subject matter of course. The first thing I did with all of the photos was to use the Auto Smart Fix tool - this cleared up the milkiness rather like using a polarizing filter. Then started playing with the Enhance-Adjust Lighting features,adjusting highlights/shadows and brightness/contrast. Also did some creative cropping and / or horizontal rotation. After that, Filter-Artistic-Dry Brush, playing with the numbers for Brush Size, Brush Detail and Texture.

Turns out there is a lot you can accomplish with Photoshop Elements without having to do any layering, masking, erasing, coloring, etc. I did use the clone tool to remove weird-looking objects at the end of the digital alterations; sometimes bubbles or floating pine needles left a bright white spot that took away from the final piece.

Here's another alteration of the above photo:

And just for fun, here's a vintage version - very easy with the Filter-Adjustments-Photo Filter- using various strengths of different warming filters. (Another way of saying I don't remember which warming filter I finally used or how strong it was.) I was going for a faded, vintage postcard feel:

Following are three more examples of original photos and altered versions. (Don't overlook your "busy-looking" photos... the last two photos here seemed to have a bit too much going on, but by isolating a few fish at a time the images were usable.)

MudBay Bird House

2010-05-15T22:55:00.000-07:00

MudBay Bird House Badge

I've started a new blog called MudBay Bird House as a way to share my home bird photographs with other artists. I have hundreds of bird photos to share and will be posting many of them during the next few months.

The photos are not meant to be artistic in themselves, but it's my hope you will find them a handy reference for your quilts, collages and mixed-media projects.

This is a blog for those of us who need or prefer a bit of help in the drawing department...  I've tried to capture various poses of my feathered friends since I always seem to wish I had a slightly different angle of them for this-or-that, but just can't seem to wrap my brain around how to draw the changes.  I hope you find these images fun and useful - thanks for stopping by!

From the Garden

2010-05-10T17:46:00.000-07:00

Thought some mixed-media garden pieces might be in order in the midst of all of these bird picture posts! The photograph above was taken at a lavender farm in Sequim, Washington. Next is my loose interpretation of that photograph. The poppy heads were made with Golden's light modeling paste and have chenille stems.

I made this second piece for my mom for Mother's Day, to go along with some "real" delphiniums. Golden's light modeling paste was used for the texture of the fence and the plants, and added dimension was added with bits of vintage lace. After painting, I added a few garden stakes cut from old pages of text. I rarely use words in my artwork, so this was a fun brain exercise. I can see now why everyone loves to add text to their work - it was amazing how many sentences from just two pages of an old story fit the mood

The digital frame I've used in this post can be found here on my images blog.

Thanks for visiting me today!

A Little Birdie Told Me So!

2010-05-08T23:24:00.000-07:00

The original, totally uninteresting and poor-quality photo (many photos were taken, some slightly different poses, all with the same results.

Poor birdie! Ever had bird photos that didn't turn out quite as you envisioned? Hmmmmm.... what to do....

My multiple attempts to capture the image of a back-lit song sparrow as I was being serenaded were all utter failures. His songs had been so heart-felt, I just couldn't bear the thought of trashing the pictures of him, even though he wasn't much more than a poor-quality silhouette.

Let's see what a lightened image looks like, with a turquoise sky.

That looked a bit bland, so let's try a lighting effect added behind the bird.

Time to roll up the proverbial sleeves and experiment! Have you ever noticed that sometimes when you have nothing to lose, fun things can happen? With extremely limited Photoshop Elements expertise, it's possible to salvage some very poor photographs.

All of these images were altered using PE color and lighting adjustment tools. By changing saturation, shadows, highlights and contrast, replacing colors, and doing a bit of creative cropping, I was amazed at the different effects that could be achieved - without any complicated layers or digital painting.

Perhaps a blue sky... and take out some of the bird details with the shadow adjustments, so it looks more like a hand-stamped image using paint on fabric.

Hand-stamping sounds interesting... wonder what it would look like as black ink on paper?

Or as a batik fabric look in warm tones...

Or perhaps batik fabric in lavender and green...

Or as a salt crystal batik fabric with a paint-stamped image? At sunset?

Or at sunrise?

Or as a retro silk screen print?

So, the next time you end up with what you think is a useless photo, start playing around with your photo editing software instead of filling up your trash file...

"But how did I find out

What it was all about?

A little birdie told me so!"

(lyrics 1926 by Lorenz Hart, music by Richard Rodgers)

Daily Double

2010-05-08T20:49:00.000-07:00

SO excited today - the Osprey finally came within 100 feet of the dock! I heard them calling this afternoon and went down to the water in hopes of getting a few pictures. One flew on by to our neighboring point, while the other sat across the bay, calling every few minutes to keep tabs on its partner.

The opposite shore is too far away for the 200mm camera lens to capture much detail, although that embankment does make for some spectacular binocular viewing. To my delight, the osprey decided to check out our side of the bay for a change, perhaps out of curiosity and the noise of the camera shutter, or perhaps from being harassed by the kingfishers. After a short, uneventful fishing expedition, it alighted in our neighbor's tree.

I realized after about 20 minutes of contorting my body to keep the camera steady on the rail (keeping the camera body braced squarely while looking sharply upward took some doing, let me tell you) that some canoers were watching with some amusement from the opposite shore. All I can say is, when an osprey lands near you, sacrifices in poise must be made! And there is no dignified way to inform people a few hundred feet away, "I have a camera." (Like that would explain everything.)

This was a busy day for the Kingfishers across the bay as well. Both parents have been constantly scouting food, chattering so loudly that they can be heard several hundred feet away. Each time they enter their nest hole in the embankment, it sparks quite a racket! I hope to get across the bay soon with the camera in hopes of catching them close up. This is the clearest picture I have of them to date, not for lack of trying. They flew by several times today, and I just held my breath, kept the auto-focus on, and panned with them. They are seriously fast flyers! It's quite a treat to watch them with binoculars this time of year - one parent always guards the nest from a nearby tree entanglement and harshly reprimands anyone that gets within a close proximity. Both adults dive-bombed the perched osprey, which worked to my advantage today, unsettling it from it's far-off tree. Life is Good!

Thanks for visiting today!

Fishing Lessons

2010-05-07T21:59:00.000-07:00

"Joy"

One of the joys of living in Western Washington is the variety of bird life here. We keep track of each species we find here at home, and watch our feathered friends with great joy and awe.

Tasty morsel of crab.

Yesterday I had the opportunity to watch a group of Great Blue Herons fishing at low tide... one of those magical days when sunshine, moderate temperatures and a "low" low mid-day tide happened to coincide - the perfect chance to view the herons at work.

Fishing lessons... doesn't the little one look a bit bewildered?

Stalking worms (!)

Mealtime tug-of-war... herons three, worms zero.

I had the camera resting on the dock rail for stability and used auto-focus capability "sans eyeglasses." Due to the lack of prescription eye-wear at the time, I couldn't tell exactly what the herons were eating, but assumed they were pulling some type of mollusks from their shells.

The second-biggest worm of the day.

What I thought at first was a mollusk body...

Biggest catch of the day - a large, tasty sea worm. (EEEwwwww! No more walking in the mud for me!)

Wrong! Once we downloaded the pictures and zoomed in, I realized that their tasty morsels looked like small, red snakes. After a bit of online research, I realized they had been catching polychaete worms. Who knew? It blew my mind that we've lived here for ten years and I've never seen these large sea worms before. You can be sure I'll be thinking about that the next time I think about dangling my toes in the water!

This juvenile was getting a bit aggravated by this point, not having much fishing success.

Juvenile camouflaged in muddy plumage -and just look at those muddy "leggings" - aren't they great?

Squabble between the siblings, which ended in one of them flying off in a huff.

The hour of watching was a dramatic one, complete with squabbles between juvenile herons as well as heron-gull tiffs. The gulls were relentless, each following their "own" heron, leaning in upon each catch hoping to snag leftovers or snatch the prey from the inexperienced juveniles. The juveniles were awkward and didn't have much success at the dinner buffet, but from the amount of worms the adults swallowed I have no doubt there was dinner for all back at the nest last evening.

"Mine." "Mine." "Mine."

Ratio of gulls to herons - 1:1

A few words were said to the gull beyond the picture frame at right; amusingly enough, the gull above seems undaunted by the harsh reprimand. ("Who, me?")

A bit perturbed, this heron had finally had enough of the gull invading his personal space.

Gulls - nature's "Peripersonal Space Invaders"

My favorite picture of the day; I love the way the light reflects on the rippled water and the water reflects on the heron's under-body as it flies past. And honestly, who wouldn't love those long, lanky legs and "turkey feet?"

Hope you enjoyed our little outing - thanks for visiting!

One More New Blog.....

2010-04-26T17:22:00.001-07:00

Hi Everyone, I have one more new blog.... this one is dedicated to nature and natural wonders of the world. I love science and the beauty and complexity of the world around us.

First up: the giant Cave of Crystals in Naica, Mexico.

"Have you ever thought about what it would be like to miniaturize yourself and climb right into the middle of (or even live inside of) a geode? I used to daydream about such things as a child, while holding one of these fascinating, crystal-laden rocks in my hands. Sometimes, dreams do come true...."

http://mudbayworldwonders.blogspot.com/

Thanks for Stopping By!

Joys of Spring

2010-04-13T19:35:00.000-07:00

Take time to smell the blossoms...

Art Fest Art Feast!

2010-04-12T22:56:00.000-07:00

The Castle at Fort Worden

I'm still basking in the glow of art-euphoria from my time at Art Fest a couple of weeks ago. Three full days of art classes at Fort Worden in gorgeous Port Townsend, WA, immersed in a temporary community (a glamorous way of saying we all stayed together in military housing) of five hundred and seventy other enthusiastic, art-loving souls.

My little home-away-from-home

In the throes of the excitement of this being my first Art Fest experience, I didn't take hardly any pictures. Too much other exciting stuff going on to think about something as "mundane" as a camera... in other words - I was having so much fun that I forgot! However, here are some quick shots of some of the incredible student work displayed at the retreat's gallery on our last evening, which will give you a taste of what goes on during the day. (My apologies to the artists for the military dining hall-lit/over-the-head/under-the-arm/through-the-crowd pics...)

As you peruse these images, imagine the individual artists' experiences and enthusiasm in creating each of these pieces under the tutelage of some amazing teachers, multiply that energy by nearly 600 people from all walks of life from all over the world, multiply that by three days of classes and four evenings of gatherings, impromptu creating, and trading tiny pieces of artwork and supplies at every available opportunity... and you have an idea of what Art Fest is all about.

Artwork from students taught by: Bee Shay, Misty Mawn, Tracy Batista, and LK Ludwig:

Lulu Moonwood

Sorry - missing the name of this artist

Nancy Brister

Heather Foust

Betsy Spencer

Barb Brister

Nelly Eisenhower

Lorna Sommer

Students' in Stephanie Lee's class created their own Santos:

Sorry - missing the name of this artist

Also missing this artist's name... creator of perhaps the first Jackalope Santos - ever...

Melody

from Alex Shur's spontaneous watercolor class:

(I'm SO embarrassed to have forgotten this lovely artist's name, especially after our wonderful evening conversations. If anyone knows this artist from Dorm 202, please email me!)

The technique involved quickly puddling colors, then looking at the puddles and painting in details of "what you see" - rather like seeing shapes in clouds. I was so blown away by this gorgeous cat - and the artist had never painted or used watercolors before. Isn't this amazing? It's truly one of my "very favorite things" from the entire week.

Robert Smith's students made the most fascinating items out of wire and...
sausage casings! (Who knew?)

Tory Breckenshire's illuminated octopus

Jennifer Cabezas

Jennevieve Schlemmer

Pretty in Red!
Students of Richard Salley, Pamela Huntington, Gina Rossi Armfield and Linda & Opie O'Brien

Linda Freeman
Linda's show-stopper (literally) mixed-media collage. She used pieces from decorative tin cans, vintage Christmas light reflectors and other elements to perfection. As always, Linda - such a stunning piece!

Morag Campbell
Morag's sweet portrait of herself and her sister. From what a little art-bird told me, Morag continued to do some further techniques to this pretty collage after Art Fest. .. Can't wait to see the finished piece, Mo!

Morag Campbell
This is a small portion of Morag's multi-piece 3-D theatre. She did some very cool things with her theatre, including adding an audience as a front/top layer. She had already taken it apart for packing at this point - hopefully she will post a picture of the assembled piece now that she's back home.

Lynn Davis

And for those who love mosaics...

Kathy Taylor created this beautiful portrait in Katherine England's class

And this, you wonder? No, it's not a piece of artwork from the mosaic class - it's actually a small portion of a very nice woman's completely encrusted CAR! Only at Art Fest!

More Mixed-Media Beauties:

Linda Freeman created this beautiful copper Talisman necklace in Melissa Manley's class. The box opens to reveal a secret scroll - you can just see a peek of it in this picture. What does it say? I don't know... it's a secret!

From Tracie and Marylin Huskamp's FABulous textured landscapes class:
(By the way, if you EVER have a chance to take a class from Tracie and Marylin, Do It! This was an amazing day - they are incredibly talented - and incredibly sweet!)

Rhonda Parent
Just look at that sky and the dramatic red foreground. Stunning!

Heather Bentley's gorgeous moonscape
Heather was my table-mate in this class. It was so amazing to see her beautiful piece in progress - a bit of lace here, thread there, scraps of netting, a few beads, and that gorgeous seashell moon that she tinted with an amber glow... another one of my "very favorite things" at Art Fest!

Heather's table-mate (me!)

I had the lavender fields of Sequim on my mind...

Lynn Woodard

I love Lynn's piece, especially her clouds... and the marshy water... and the way she used her embellishments... and....

From Lynne Perrella's large-format layered collage technique class:

(My piece is still in-progress... will be posting pics at a later date)

Tory Breckenshire

Molina

Michele Vass

Another missing artist's name... why oh why didn't I write these down? This gracious woman was in my class, and it was incredible to see this collage progress throughout the day. Such drama and rich colors and texture - what a lovely, lovely collage. See the subtle way she echoed the parasol images with the real paper mini-parasol, the way the maiden's gaze is fixed on the bird, and the way she integrated the lower scenery into the bodice... stunning!

And Lastly, students of Michael deMeng

(alas, another of my pieces still in-progress...)

Michael's techniques are extremely intriguing, and it was quite interesting to see students' interpretations of the three different class themes; however, most of the artwork did not echo Michael's very dark style. Here are two beautiful pieces from our class, "Cave of Pages" - I wish I had a picture of each person's work from that class - so imaginitive with stunning use of color and texture.

Jennifer Lorton

Roberta

And Finally, three incredible assemblages from Michael's "Masks" class:

Inez Gray

There are some very cool things going on here - an intriguing piece from all angles.

Janne Robberstad

Just love this piece of Janne's... the "asymmetrical symmetry," gorgeous verdigris, and subtle humor. Another one of my "favorite things."

Q: Can you guess what she used as the main element in her assemblage?

(A: An old hairdryer!)

Sue Hadden
Of all of the 1500-plus pieces of artwork created that week, this is my hands-down favorite - so lovable, humorous and completely unexpected. There were constant gasps and and huge smiles as everyone gradually made their way around to the end of this table. Definitely the most unexpected interpretation of Michael's mask theme. I don't know what the artist used as her main component, but from the back it was hollow and threaded - so intriguing. So imaginitive. Definitely possesses the "it" factor... whatever "it" is, this lovable pup has it!

Hope you've enjoyed this little sampling of some of the creativity expressed at ArtFest. It was an amazing week and an incredible experience. But as fabulous as that all was, friendships - both new and old - were the most lovely part of it all.

A Pigeon Called Noah

2010-03-13T22:16:00.000-08:00

In a departure from my usual art-related posts, today I'm happy to share one of the sweetest, most heartwarming stories - thanks to Dolores for forwarding this to me. Now, meet an extraordinary pigeon named Noah:

All content and photos by: Wild Rose Rescue Ranch

"These little bunnies, about 6 days old, were attacked by a dog and orphaned. Two out of the litter of five did not survive, and these three were not doing very well.

Enter Noah—the non-releasable, one-legged homing pigeon/rock dove that we have here in rehab.

Noah kept going over to the bunny cage and looking in—even sleeping in front of the door to the cage. Then, 2 days ago, I only counted 2 bunnies in the cage, so I hurriedly picked Noah up from the front of the cage so I could look inside. And to my surprise—there was the tiny bunny—under Noah's wing—sound asleep!

The bunny had crawled through the cage—preferring a featherbed, no doubt. Now, they are all together, and the bunnies are doing GREAT. When the bunnies scoot underneath Noah's feathers, he extends his wings out to surround them—and they snuggle. When one of them moves and they start sticking out here and there, he gently pushes them back under him with his beak!"

For an update on Noah, and to learn how you can help, visit the Wild Rose Rescue Ranch.

Paper Doll Dresses

2010-03-10T17:12:00.000-08:00

On Sunday, we had our first Art Party of the year. I don't know about all of the other Lunch Ladies, but I have greatly missed these days together. What a wonderful day, filled with fun and laughter, creativity and the company of such lovely, generous, thoughtful friends. I'm truly one of the luckiest gals on the planet.

For our project this time, we made Paper Doll Dresses. We put a big pile of community goodies in the middle of the table, then created our own dresses on a base of cardstock. Thanks to Linda and Grace's Big Adventure to the Paper Doll exhibit in Edmonds - that was the inspirational starting point for our project. Thanks to Lyneen for providing links and ideas on her blog, and to Linda for bringing a template. And to Everyone for bringing goodies, smiles,great food and their zest for life. Lunch Ladies Rock!

Kris added a paper doily apron to her dress with the flower collar - so sweet! If this doesn't make you think spring, nothing will!

Miki's nearly-finished dress is gorgeous in muted shades of brown and blue. She wins the Best Use of a Bird Image honor of the day. (Yes, I just made that up!) But, if I were a paper doll, this is definitely one dress I'd want to have!

Linda's gingham dress is so cute - look at those teeny buttons and lace trim! And, such a cute pleated text collar. She started the clothes-pin trend, also. Can't you just imagine this adorable spring frock hanging on the clothesline, gently flapping in the breeze?

The back of Grace's dress is just as beautiful as the front! Such a lovely way to use music sheets, and look at that lovely pleated hem! This would have any doll humming a happy tune!

The back of Grace's dress - yes, the back! Isn't it pretty? Her doll will be coming and going in style!

My nearly-finished dress, which has since been revised by the addition of a gorgeous birdcage image given to me by Lyneen. Thank you, Lyneen! The beautiful flower print is from a dinner napkin Miki threw into our community mix. Thanks, Miki!

And here is Lyneen's knock-your-socks-off creation. She made her own French-style pattern and embellished with machine-gathered crepe paper, lace, tissue paper, and Dresden trim. Isn't that bodice the cutest thing ever?

Thank you, Ladies, for once again making the day fun and memorable!

Egg Dyeing with Silk

2010-03-10T16:57:00.000-08:00

Many thanks to our friend, Miki, who is such a "Good Egg!" (Sorry, Miki - couldn't resist.)

At our Art Party last weekend, she brought us each an egg that she had dyed with a technique using recycled silk neckties, water and vinegar. I had not heard of this technique before, and oh my - what gorgeous eggs she made! I made a nest out of my fabric - just look how the egg picked up the swirls of color from the silk. Beautiful!

Recommended Quilting Book

2010-03-07T23:03:00.000-08:00

Our dear friend and quilting mentor, Karen Sievert, has just had her first book published by Martingale and Co. We are SO excited for her! How wonderful it is to see her labor of love in print and on the bookshelves! Congratulations, Karen!

Better Together: Two-Block Designs for Dynamic Quilts is a wonderful book and would make a welcome addition to any quilter's library. Below is the review I posted on amazon.com, but you can purchase the book directly from Karen on her website.

"As one would expect from Martingale, Better Together is a wonderfully produced and well-written book that will inspire both beginning and advanced quilters. In the first few pages, the award-winning author provides insight on fabric selection and preparation and quiltmaking basics, including many of her useful "insider" tips for piecing and quilting that will also be useful to advanced quilters. The cover photo is an appropriate representation of the book's contents - the quilts are striking and beautifully photographed in full-page format.

Through the 10 main chapters of the book, the author shows how to make dynamic, visually-intricate quilts by combining only two separate block designs in each quilt. The author's choice of colors and value take advantage of the alternate patterns that emerge as the different blocks are joined. Included are examples of how different color choices can dramatically alter the look of a quilt, as well as patterns that would be suitable for large-patterned themed fabrics.

The blocks are all rotary cut and constructed with squares, rectangles, and half or quarter square triangles. Instructions for each quilt, including fabric requirements, cutting measurements and construction steps, are complete and clearly and concisely written. Full-color illustrations matching the photographed quilt accompany each step.

The author's personable writing style makes you feel as though you had a good friend sitting with you as you are sewing. This is a lovely book from beginning to end. The author's knowledge, passion for quilting and warm writing style are an inspiration - Quilters and this book are truly "Better Together." We hope to see another book from this author soon!"

Hand-Marbled Fabric

2010-03-05T21:09:00.000-08:00

For years now, we've looked forward to seeing Suzi Soderlund at our local quilt shows. Her hand-marbled cotton fabrics are luscious - each one a treasure.

Mom and I always pick out a few pieces of fabric, dreaming of butterfly wings, rolling seas and dramatic flowers. Although it's nearly impossible to pick a favorite, I'm always drawn to her rosey-browns, purples and greens. Mom heads straight for the teals, blues and yellows. Just look at these gorgeous colors!

Someday, I may even have a project special enough to warrant cutting into one of these masterpieces. Like with vintage ephemera and photographs, I just can't quite bring myself to use them... they provide so much joy and inspiration just as they are! However, here are a couple of Suzi's examples of how to actually use her fabrics !

The newest addition to her collection this year is amazing Snow-Marbled fabric. And yes, she really uses snow as part of her process! Before their home was graced with its first snowfall of the year, her husband scouted out some snow and brought it back home to her in his pick-up truck. You've gotta' love these folks!

Suzi's incredible Snow-Marbling

To find out more about Suzi and her passion for marbling, you can visit her blog and website.

Silly Words - Part I

2010-03-04T18:44:00.000-08:00

Ah, the things the dogs and I come up with when we're bored and acting a bit silly...
Today, we have some silly words to share with you!

SillyWord Dictionary - Part 1
by Daggar & Honey

antiquote
(an ti kwoht) - noun
- the act of demonstratively telling a joke or story while waving one's arms and jumping about

Art Mewveau
(ahrt myoo voh) - noun
- period during the 19th century usually associated with the years in which feline paintings reached a height in popularity

calmfoddery
(kahlm fod er ee) - noun
- the peaceful feeling gained from feeding one's own livestock

fiddlepaddle
(fid l pad l) - verb
- the act of repeatedly dropping one's oars while rowing, canoeing or kayaking

guardherbelt
(gahrd her belt) - noun
- someone who is dieting; sometimes referred to as "watching one's waistline"

hypermentholate
(hahy per men thawl eyt) - verb
- the giddy feeling one gets as a result of eating too many mentholated coughdrops

hypermentilate
(hahy per men tl eyt) - verb
- the condition of over-thinking, usually resulting in a feeling of stress; can cause sleeplessness

lieberrian
(lahy ber ee uhn) - noun
- a person, usually a child, who lies about having eaten jelly, pie, cobbler or other berry-based foods; usually accompanied by a tell-tale "berry face"

petrollium
(pet rohl ee uhm) - noun
- area in one's yard where one's pet dogs frequently discover fragrant items to roll in

planitarry sighence
(plan i ter ee sahy uhns) - noun
- the study of the resultant frustration in cases when one does not get things done in time according to plan

possumbility
(pos uhm bil i tee) - noun
- the ability to be able to deceive onlookers by pretending to be dead, unconscious, or uninterested in the onlooker's requests or discussions

toedstool
(tohd stool) - verb
- to step in something objectionable; usually accompanied by a frequency of dogs in the area

viceroyal
(vahys roi uhl) - verb
-the act of getting one's finger stuck in or pinched by the works of a vintage, manual typewriter (a.k.a. Royal brand)

Kitsap Quilters' Show

2010-03-01T22:42:00.000-08:00

Mom and I recently had the opportunity to attend the Kitsap Quilters' show at our local fairgrounds. It was a wonderful afternoon, filled with inspiration. Here are some portions of a few of the quilts that caught my eye. Unfortunately, I don't know the names of any of these artists - I was having so much fun gawking and taking pictures that I forgot to write down any of the artists' information! As you can see, they are a talented group of quilters:

A lovely, bright combination of patchwork and applied flowers:

Very sweet oragami-style flowers:

Bright swirls and stars:

Oh my - just look at all of these tiny points! Wonderfully accented by the
black and white inner border:

And, you've just gotta' love the gal who loves Elvis enough
to have crafted this tribute:

Gorgeous Hawaiian-style applique' in shades of the sea:

Stunning Blue Jays in Native Alaskan-style applique

Very classy blended hexagons:

Traditional patchwork designs in contemporary batiks:

Amazing thread-painted quilt
(yes, those feathers are made of thousands of yards of thread!):

Very imaginative use of fibers in this lovely seascape mini-quilt:

And my personal favorite:
Handpainted seashells in natural shades in the style of Velda Newman.
Just look at the exquisite quilting on this piece!
Fancy threads, handpainting and just a hint of sparkle to complete the under-sea fantasy.

A close-up of the starfish that made my heart go "pitty-pat..."

Globe de Mariee

2010-03-01T16:55:00.000-08:00

The tradition of the Globe de Mariée began in nineteenth century France. The domes were created as a display for wedding souvenirs, which often included wax orange blossoms. Each component of these lovely displays had a special meaning, and couples would carefully choose each part of their display.

The happy couple often added special mementos to the display over the years. These three beautiful examples were recently offered for sale at Silverdale Antiques.

Oak leaves - Longevity

Ivy leaves - Commitment

Roses - Eternal love

Daisies - Purity

Bird & wreath - Family

For more information on the symbolism of these exquisite domes, visit:

http://www.feteetfleur.blogspot.com/2009/09/globe-de-mariage-globe-de-mariee-and.html

Inspiration

2010-02-28T22:07:00.000-08:00

Thank you all for joining the Blog Party and sharing your thoughts and artwork. Your beautiful prose and creations are an inspiration!

Beth finds much inspiration in nature - her imaginative drawings and cloud paintings will knock your socks off! See her wonderful artwork and photography on her blog.

Lyneen finds inspiration in her collections of buttons and gifts people have given her; she displays these treasures in her studio. Check out Lyneen's blog to see how she uses some of these buttons in goodies in her artwork - you will love her creativity and enthusiasm (and she always has the latest news on "what's happening...").

Pammy Jo momentarily felt as though her muse was drowning from lack of sunshine, but sledded on through February journaling, reclaiming space and doing some wonderful painted "prairie portraits." See her lovely artwork here.

Sandy has had quite a prolific month creating beautiful cards! She is inspired by OWH and takes many photos to share with OWH donors; she's created an inspirational project honoring Operation Write Home, too. Other things about Sandy.... she has a sketchbook for jotting down ideas, says her cards sometimes subtly reflect her moods, like me loves those walks in the woods and on the beach (but doesn't do that nearly often enough), feels the burden of mowing and dandelions by mid-June, loves to snuggle with Ciara, has a bright yellow car, loves watching birds at her feeder in the morning, loves the sound of bacon frying (yes!!), loves blogging, has gained control over those flea market-garage sale urges. Thanks to Sandy for sharing her heart with us.

Shelly has a wonderful sense of humor that will captivate you, and makes the most scrumptious things (like cake toppers and decorated boxes) out of paper... oh my goodness... Yummy enough to eat! With trims and embellishments galore. Her blog truly will bring some bling into your life! Her three art muses are her Angel/Cherub "Emma" who was inspired by her "Oma (Grandmother)," her "Marla on Maple," mannequin head, and God. To read her comments in their entirety click here.

Wrightstuff undoubtedly draws deep down for her inspiration - her paintings are beautifully enchanting... some of the most soulful eyes I've ever seen. And, many congrats to her on her100th Post Anniversary this month!

Paula writes from her heart, and her words will touch your soul. Her words flow like a river of poetry - a beautiful, inspirational blog.

Thanks, Melanie for joining in as well; we'd love to read about your inspiration on your blog when you're ready.

It's a Blog Party!

2010-02-28T14:46:00.000-08:00

(Scroll down for recent posts - this post will remain at the top of the list until the end of February.)

It's a Blog Party - and you're invited!

February is international Muse Month! Let's celebrate by having a "Muse" Blog Party!

OK, I admit I just made up the part about February being international Muse Month, but doesn't a Muse Blog Party sound like fun? For some of us, months of winter have been upon us, pelting us with rain, sleet, snow and frigid temperatures. What better way to recharge our inspiration batteries then pay tribute to our Muse? For those of you who are in the middle of a warmer season, perhaps a diversion from that is warranted as well.

Have you created a piece of artwork that embodies the spirit of your Muse? Are there people in your life that constantly inspire you? Do you have an inspiration shelf or board in your studio? Do your emotions find their way into your artwork? Are you renewed by taking walks in the beach or woods? Does working in your garden refresh your soul? Do the antics of your children or pets keep you grounded? Do you love to surround yourself with particular colors? Does watching your feathered friends give you wings? Do favorite sounds or fragrances ignite the writer within? Does journaling give life to, or put to rest, your innermost thoughts? Does the mere mention of a yard sale or flea market make your heart jump for joy? Does your everyday world have another life through the magic of a lens?

We each have our unique way of seeing the world, and as a result each have our own story to tell. This Blog Party is all about sharing those things, however small, that ignite our creativity and inspire us to record, share and embellish our lives.

Oh, and if you feel you've momentarily lost or misplaced your Muse, join us anyway... we've all felt that way at one time or another. To kick off the party, I'll be sharing an original tale about a tiny Fledgling Princess named Artiste', who of all things... loses her Muse!

If you'd like to join in the Blog Party, leave a link to your blog here in the comments to this post so we can find you, and pay tribute to your Muse on your blog during the month of February. Grab the official Party badge at the top of my sidebar!

Happy "Muse Month" - and thanks for joining the Party!

Antique Album Pages

2010-02-09T21:18:00.000-08:00

I've had SO much fun during the last day! My dear friend Lyneen gifted me with the most wonderful antique cabinet card album - really blew my socks off! I was speechless - which is a bit unusual for me. Lyneen loves these antique albums and cabinet cards more than anyone else I know (myself excepted), so to part with this was quite a sacrifice. Well, Lyneen... rest assured that as much as you loved this album - I cherish it even More!

To see what fun I had digitally altering this album page, and to access other free vintages images, take a peek at my images blog: www.mudbayimages.blogspot.com

Birds of a Feather

2010-02-05T20:05:00.000-08:00

Thanks to The Three Muses for this wonderful challenge - "Birds of a Feather." One of my favorite topics! This little Junco told me he would like to join in the fun!

The Fledgling Princess - A Fairy Tale for Artists

2010-02-03T15:52:00.000-08:00

The Fledgling Princess

A Fairy Tale for Artists
and
Anyone Who Has Ever Lost Their Muse

An Original Fairy Tale and Photographs
by
Catherine Mitchell, copyright 2010

Once upon a time, there was a tiny Fledgling Princess named Artiste', who lived in an Enchanted Garden where smiling flowers wore skirts of crinkled silk and shimmering jewels of morning dew, butterflies flirted with the breeze, bees busily groomed pollen-laden blossoms, and everyone sang songs because they were happy in heart and it never occurred to them not to sing.

Mornings were a magical time in the Garden. Overnight frost embellished the tiniest leaves with dainty picot edging, while leaving remnants of ghostly feathers upon the rocks. As soft rays of sunlight trickled through the fog slowly warming the Garden to life, a myriad of songs began their crescendo into a glorious symphony.

Honeysuckle blossoms dripped from the arbor, hiding a secretive regiment of ants - their bodies plump with sweet nectar as they made their continuous journeys to and fro. It truly was an Enchanted Garden, gloriously alive with the mundane and ordinary, just as every breath and heartbeat articulates its own tiny miracle.

Fledgling Artiste' had bravely negotiated the many trials thrust upon her when leaving her soft, safe nest, but soon she would face even bigger tests in life, as is the curse befalling all true Princesses.

One of Artiste's responsibilities was to tend the Enchanted Garden. If truth be told, that was her only responsibility. To aid her in her toil, Artiste' was bestowed with Inspiration, whose name was Muse.

Muse was a precious companion, opening Artiste's eyes to the extraordinary beauty of the Garden, teaching her to appreciate its wonder down to the most minute detail.

Although Artiste' adored her Enchanted Garden home, she soon became a bit spoiled, and a bit bored, as is often the case with Fledgling Princesses.

One day, Artiste' awoke to find that Muse, her Inspiration and the life of the Garden, had vanished. At first Artiste' was angry, as she felt betrayed by Muse. But more importantly, like most Princesses, she did not enjoy being alone. Artiste's anger soon turned to despair. She had taken Muse for granted.

Nothing was the same without her beloved Muse. The once-vibrant hues and tantalizing textures of the Garden now seemed flat and lifeless. For days, Artiste' mourned Muse's departure. Then, one day, as all real Princesses must eventually learn to do, she decided to take matters into her own hands. She would enlist the help of her friends, she determined, and together they would search for Muse.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Artiste' thought it prudent to first pay a visit to Owl, as Owl had the reputation for being the wisest bird in the garden. "A missing Muse will not be easy to find," pontificated Owl. "Quite difficult. Yes, quite difficult indeed. I believe knowledge is the key to solving this problem. You are welcome to immerse yourself in my vast library... perhaps it is there you will find your Muse."

Artiste' thanked Owl for his wise words. She eagerly ruffled and rummaged through Owl's collection of tomes, but Muse was not in the books.

As Artiste' continued on her journey, she happened across Crow. She was very pleased, as crow was always apprised of current goings-on in the Garden. Surely if anyone knew where to find Muse, it would be Crow. "Oh, I know just what you need," said Crow. "You need someone to talk to! I will be glad to tell my friends about your plight, and then they can tell their friends. Soon, everyone will know about the disappearance of Muse. The more we talk about your problem, the better chance we have of solving it. I do believe that endless conversation is the best way to find Muse."

The thought of endless conversation made Artiste' feel very weary. She thanked crow for being so willing to help, but knew that talking would not help her find Muse.

Squirrel, who had been listening to the conversation with Crow from a nearby tree, immediately chimed in, "Oh, I believe that worrying is definitely the way to solve this dilemma. Whenever I face a challenge, I sit and wring my hands - doing so always helps me think. Worrying is a form of thinking, you know."

Pigeon, also listening from the same tree, vacantly cooed, "Life is too short to be talking and worrying all of the time, Artiste'. Just empty your mind, let go of your thoughts, and then... if you wonder what you should do next, just follow what everyone else does. This life strategy sure works for me... by the way, who did you say you were looking for?"

Artiste' realized her friends were trying their best to be helpful, but in spite of their efforts, her troubles left her feeling quite forlorn.

On she trudged to Jay's home, hoping he would have a solution. "Perhaps we should bury your problems," said Jay. "I've buried my problems in the Garden for years, and doing so has served me well. Out of sight, out of mind, I always say. However, I admit I do run across some of those old problems from time to time."

Artiste' sighed to herself. The last thing she wanted was to revisit the same problem again years down the road. This was certainly not the path to finding Muse.

As Artiste' wandered on, Woodpecker suddenly swooped down across her path. "I think being yourself is highly overrated. Believing you are someone else is much more interesting! Why, look at me... I'm not a Woodpecker, I'm a Medieval Griffon - defender of castles and princesses in distress." And with that bizarre display, he was gone again just as mysteriously as he had arrived.

Stifling a giggle, Artiste' wearily shook her head. As cryptic as it was, she understood Woodpecker's point. But, she knew that silly charades would not gain her an audience with Muse. She would never find Muse by pretending to be someone else.

Flicker, not to be outdone by Woodpecker, thought of a more palatable ruse, "Perhaps a more covert operation is called for. Disguising your voice could aid you in sneaking up on Muse. I have various intonations in my repertoire, each with its own objective. By varying my voice, it is quite easy to camouflage my whereabouts."

Although Artiste' appreciated the suggestion, she knew she would not get any closer to finding Muse by imitating someone else's voice or using someone else's words.

As the day was rapidly coming to its end, Artiste' began to grow more and more concerned. She hoped Townsend would have a novel idea; he was quite brave and inventive. Just then, she heard his excited twitter, "I'm here to save the day!" he exclaimed. "Perhaps someone has stolen Muse and will be frightened into submission if confronted by the legendary Masked Avenger!"

Although she admired Townsend's enthusiasm, Artiste' knew she would never be able to fit into his costume. Furthermore, she knew she would never find Muse by wearing a mask or disguise.

Artiste' had one more prospect in hopes of finding Muse. Nuthatch was an expert problem-solver, having raised so many children. When Artiste' explained her dilemma, Nuthatch pondered for a moment between feeding her babies and then said thoughtfully replied.

"Perhaps all you need is a different perspective. In our family, we spend at least half of each day upside down. That way, no matter which way is up, we are seeing things the correct way at least half of the time!"

Artiste' felt a slight headache coming on at the mere mention of spending half of her life upside down, but the idea of a fresh perspective began to whittle away at her heart.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

By now, Artiste' was exhausted. The day was at its end. How would she ever find Muse? Her friends, although well-meaning, had not been able to help her unlock this mystery.

What would come of her beloved Garden now? Without Muse, the Garden will surely die, she thought, and perhaps she would wither away as well. Artiste' was overwhelmed with emotion, as Princesses are often prone to do.

Fearing all was lost, she wept until she felt as though she would have no tears left and hung her head in despair. "Can one go on living without the capacity to see or express beauty?" she cried.

As if to answer, something softly fluttered against her cheek. Through her tired, tearful eyes, Artiste' beheld the most beautiful sight - the angelic wings of her very own Fairy Godmother!

"Artiste', you have done well," said Fairy Godmother, her melodic voice soothing Artiste' like a cool stream on a hot summer day.

"But how can that be?" agonized Artiste', "For Muse is gone. I am unable to tend the garden and shall never be inspired again!"

Fairy Godmother, who was not only very kind but also very wise, replied, "Although you lost your Muse, you stood your ground through many well-meaning suggestions, which if implemented, would have certainly caused you additional turmoil. Everyone must chose their own path, and you have learned the importance of staying true to yourself and following your own heart."

"You have proven that you are ready to take responsibility for your life and are ready to guard the gifts that have been bestowed upon you."

"As of this day, you are no longer a Fledgling Princess - your full royal name shall now be known as The Princess Artiste', Keeper of the Enchanted Garden."

"Now, close your eyes and open your heart," instructed Fairy Godmother, as she sprinkled Princess Artiste' with enchanted fairy dust.

Squirrel, who was observing in awe from a nearby fence, closed her eyes too, out of solidarity.

For what seemed like an eternity, Artiste' kept her eyes shut tight. As she did, swirls of fairy dust raged around her. Then all at once, the whirlwind subsided.

Slowly, Artiste' opened her eyes... scarcely daring to breathe. "The Garden - it's beautiful again!" she gasped. At once she was overwhelmed by the intensity of colors and textures that enveloped her. Melodies entwined around her like vines, culminating in a glorious symphony.

It was all so clear to her now. Her Muse, true enchantment, had been there all along - right in her very own heart. She had only to open her eyes and look beyond herself to see the incredible beauty that was present before her.

From that day on, Princess Artiste' blissfully tended the Enchanted Garden, with friends at her side and Muse in her heart. And they all lived very happily ever after.

Like all classic fairy tales, this one has a moral, too:

Be true to yourself and follow your heart, and you will find your Muse.

The End

Recognize Anyone?

2010-02-02T21:38:00.000-08:00

For all of you other mixed-media / found object / assemblage / collage artists out there....

You know you are a Mixed-Media artist when:

You've attempted to weave your own faux bird's nest.
You see a gorgeous antique Lalique necklace and Tiffany pocket watch on Antiques Roadshow and can't stop wondering how they fabricated those amazing, fitted boxes.
You regularly find rocks, shells and feathers in the dryer and don't wonder how they got there.
You buy plants based on whether the leaves would make good prints, PMC earring bases, or molds for concrete bird feeders.
When you break a plate, you're secretly happy about the guilt-free addition to your mosaic supply box.
You save the lint from your dryer and keep it sorted by color.
You've posted pictures of tree bark, weathered wood, broken windows or iridescent oily puddles on your blog.
You postpone cleaning the algae off the sidewalk or repainting the fence because you find the weathered colors and textures to be an inspiration.
You have more than one (OK, more than ten) button box or jar.
You've tried making your own "handmade paper with inclusions" at least once.
You buy ugly old lamps and fixtures at garage sales just for the crystals.
You use your heat gun to melt things that require you to wear a respirator.
You've drawn, stamped or attached wings to something within the last two months.
You have several antique optometrist lenses - and know how you will use them.
You've made a bracelet or necklace using charms you've made from your "lone" earrings.
You rust things on purpose.
You've been squirreling away your dog's shed hair in a shoebox.
You've used your gas grille to strip the paint off of any metal object.
You see a cooking show detailing how to make creme brulee, and instead of inspiring your palate, it prompts you rush to your studio to heat-patina some copper mesh.
You save leftover tea or coffee for dyeing fabric and paper, and use the spent tea bags or coffee filters in your artwork.
You know what ATCs, twinchies, moos and fat books are.
You know what day the new arrivals are shelved at the thrift store.
You think those bakery cupcakes would look better with a touch of glitter.
You have more tools in your studio than in your garage.
You compliment your friend's new sweater, but what you're really thinking is, "I wonder if that would felt in hot water?"

Thank You !

2010-02-02T21:08:00.000-08:00

Thanks, everyone, for sticking with me these past few months and for your kind words of encouragement. It's been a trying time, but feeling better now and so glad to be back to Blogging again!

Here's a picture of one of my favorite winter visitors - a Townsend Warbler. This little fellow looks so menacing in his mask and tarantula shaped breast markings. He's colorful, fearless and much-appreciated. This year, we were happy to see two females accompanying him. They certainly brighten up our Pacific NW cloudy days!

Blog Giveaway Winner!

2009-11-26T16:12:00.001-08:00

Thank you all so much for your kind comments and encouragement and for joining me in this celebration. You have made blogging a joy and have touched me with your warmth and friendship. I appreciate each and every comment and am greatly inspired by all of your lovely artwork and creative blogs.

The winner of this blog giveaway is: Ginny Ciszek.
Congratulations, Ginny!!

100th Post Give-Away Celebration !

2009-11-11T20:10:00.000-08:00

Time to celebrate!

It's my 100th Post on MudBay Musings! Thank you all for your support during the past year-plus... it's been an amazing journey!

In celebration, I've gathered up some of my favorite goodies for a 100th Post Giveaway:

brass wings in two different styles
brass nest charms
little brass hummingbird with a removable wing
brass frames
brass kingfisher and flycatcher
large handpainted metal nest
1" badge buttons with one of my favorite antique images
vintage honey mother-of-pearl buttons
brass crowns and Victorian lady ornament
vintage W.German (1950s) glass pink oval stones
vintage Italian (1960s) chartreuse beaded knots
a tin containing three vintage pearl "eggs" in a Cotswold curly-locks nest
birdcage gift tags
piece of printed egg fabric
To enter / have a chance of winning my 100th Post Give-Away, all you need to do is leave a comment to this post between now and midnight Wednesday, November 25th (midnight Pacific Time in the USA)! On November 26th, a name will be randomly chosen and I'll announce the winner! Bloggers outside the USA are welcome!

Thanks for stopping by my blog and for joining with me in my celebration!

Needlefelt - MiniBags

2009-11-11T19:43:00.001-08:00

...And, even MORE fun with needlefelting! Mom created these two cute bags for our Mixed-Media Market last week. This has become one of our very favorite things to do - there is something quite magical about seeing the transformation of fabrics and fibers as they are meshed together.

More Fun With Needlefelt

2009-11-06T01:07:00.000-08:00

More fun with needlefelting, preparing for the Mixed-Media Market on Saturday!

Needlefelt - Seaform Studies

2009-10-31T01:01:00.001-07:00

My mother and I have a wonderful partnership - I provide her with coordinating stacks of fabric and fiber, and she makes magic happen with her embellisher (needlefelting machine). The felted pieces then return to me for beading. Boy, do we have fun!

Shades of Autumn

2009-10-30T23:57:00.000-07:00

Although a departure from the maples' brilliant red and orange Autumn hues, these capital pear leaves are just as intriguing. I love this time of year, never tiring of the childhood pastime of collecting leaves.

We are so fortunate now to have access to technology that enables us to digitally preserve these treasures of nature. These beauties will be finding their way into a fabric collage soon...

ATCs

2009-10-26T00:27:00.000-07:00

The fairy image in these two ATCs is from one of my favorite antique cabinet cards; the teal wings are available for download here. Backgrounds for these two cards are reduced collages.

The scarab image is from my collection of personally handcarved stamps.

Good Fortunes

2009-10-26T00:24:00.001-07:00

Two of my favorite fortune cookie fortunes!

ATCs Gone Bad

2009-10-25T23:53:00.000-07:00

Sometimes, you just have to be a little silly! Cow Pi was my very first ATC years ago; I'll always have a soft spot in my heart for Elsie. Poor Marnie and Collette were the result of a late-night crafting session for a "What Not to Wear" swap. You have to admire them; if you're going to dress unusually, do it boldly!

Purple Palette

2009-10-22T19:02:00.000-07:00

Although the felted piece was created before seeing these beautiful cabbage bouquets at Pike Place Market in Seattle, it's remarkable to me how similar the colors are.

My mother whipped up this felted piece using bits of cotton batik, wool roving, velvet, silk, dyed ribbon and various fibers. She first machine needle-felted the fabric pieces onto a felt base, then machine stitched over all of the fabrics to permanently tack them down. Lastly, various fibers were added using decorative threads.

Quest for the Great Pumpkin...

2009-10-15T22:13:00.000-07:00

Although a bit pale in comparison to its brightly colored, 281 pound competitor, this lighter beauty tops the supermarket scales at a whopping 594 pounds - and sports a 132 inch waistline! Pie, anyone?

Upcoming Artists' Flea Market

2009-10-15T21:36:00.000-07:00

Our art group is having our first Mixed-Media Market soon; if you're in the Bremerton area on November 7, we'd love to see you! We'll be selling our own handmade items (mixed-media artwork & holiday gifts) as well as vintage treasures (embellishments & flea market finds). There will be refreshments and a free gift for the first 20 people through the door! Check out our Market blog for more info... we hope you can join us!

Mixed-Media Market
"The Artists' Flea Market"

Created by and for Mixed-Media Artists
and those that love pretty, vintage things

Saturday, November 7, 2009
9:00 AM - 4:00 PM

at the Westgate Community Center
1550 Rocky Point Road
Bremerton, WA 98312

Free admission and parking
2.7 miles from the Bremerton Ferry Terminal

"Sea Maiden"

2009-10-09T17:16:00.000-07:00

Once again, I've chosen Rossetti's lovely Fair Rosamund (1861) as the centerpiece for a mixed-media collage.

My initial inspiration was the aqua and brown "scales" print, which I purchased with the intent of creating a mermaid art doll. I soon realized that it would be difficult to realize my vision with this particular fabric, and gave up the idea of making a 3-D doll. I decided to re-interpret the mermaid theme and create a Sea Maiden mixed-media collage instead.

I'm still working out the details, but think she needs a grotto of some sort - perhaps as an archway overhead. There may be a wall below as well; I have a beautiful piece of Gothic pierced metal that I'm anxious to incorporate. The netting in the photo is actually a vintage hair net, and the shells on her crown are vintage lucite beads.

Bird Collages - Part II

2009-10-09T17:05:00.000-07:00

These collages were a joy to work on - nothing like sweet bird images to brighten the day! The main layers and embellishments have been completed - now just the backings, bottom trims and bindings left to do.

"Violet"

2009-10-09T16:13:00.000-07:00

Dante Gabriel Rossetti's painting, Fair Rosamund (1861), provides a beautiful focal point for a sampler collage using shades of lavender and purple.

I haven't decided whether or not to use all of the inspiration fabrics shown here; things have a way of evolving, and the initially chosen fabrics and embellishments often don't fit the final piece. So far, I've embellished her necklaces with seed beads and have given her a queenly crown. I'm off to search through the cabinets again... will keep you posted on her progress!

Bird Collages - Part 1

2009-10-09T15:52:00.000-07:00

I found some wonderful vintage bird images on Etsy last week. Armed with these pretty birds, I began gathering items for a few fabric collages. My first rummage through the cabinets yielded these beginning palettes.

Wings of Fire

2009-10-06T18:32:00.001-07:00

Sometimes, during an otherwise bleak afternoon, the loveliness of nature can bring hope and renewal to a parched soul. After hearing of the passing of one of our family friends, I went for a walk in the backyard. Hiding in the midst of a cluster of beautiful, fiery maple leaves were the most stunning seed pods I've ever seen.

I often find green maple pods on the ground earlier in the season, scattered like tiny fuzzy-headed Luna Moths congregating on the walkway, but never have I seen them in such brilliant red hues. Seeing these wings of fire brought peace to my soul. My hope is that during the midst of your own fire, you will find wings.

Trunk Show Sneak-Peek!

2009-09-08T18:26:00.000-07:00

Here is a sample of what I will be offering at the Salvage Studio Art Party vendor night on Saturday, September 19th. Vendor night is free and open to everyone, whether or not you are an Art Party attendee!

We'd love to have you join us at the party and/or vendor night, which will be taking place at ArtWorks, 201 2nd Ave. S. Edmonds, WA 98020. For more information on the Art Party, visit The Salvage Studio's blog.

Gothic Arches Challenge - Little Boys

2009-08-18T12:56:00.000-07:00

For this challenge, I began with a photo of my grandmother Virginia's Uncle Joe. I've always loved this photo of him as A Little Gardener, with his tiny wheelbarrow. I added the Hens & Chickens, arch and colorization with Photoshop Elements. I think he would be pleased that his wheelbarrow is no longer empty!

(For a copy of the original photo and more vintage images, click here. )

Brand New Blog !!!

2009-08-11T15:35:00.000-07:00

After eighty MudBay Musings posts, I've embarked on a new venture - MudBay Images.

This new blog is dedicated to original and vintage images, for you to download and use in your digital and mixed-media artwork. I'm very excited about sharing some of my favorite images with you. Thanks for stopping by!

Altered Legacy

2009-08-09T23:05:00.000-07:00

After scanning in some family Tintypes and Ambrotypes, I decided these folks could use a digital "pick-me-up!" I used the Tintypes shown, an altered frame from an Ambrotype, a 1792 farm sale document, and clip art (made into brushes in Photoshop Elements).

Unfortunately, there were no identifying names on these pictures; they are from the McEwen/Stewart and Irons/McCrory branches of the family. The top tintype is quite large (8 in.), and the picture appears to have been taken in a barn. If you look closely, you can see the earlier farm sale document in the background.

(08/11/09: added links to new blog for downloading above images)