inspiration rediscovered

i've recently discovered that

just when you think inspiration is your new BFF

and you're thrilled because it wants to hang out with you day and night,

it will turn around and go on vacation.....

a really loooong, extended vacation.

so long, in fact, that you start to worry a bit

and wonder if it's ever going to come back.

so while i was waiting.....and waiting.....for inspiration to return,

i decided to take my mind off of my long-lost friend

by diving into some of the stitchy-goodness

that i truly loved doing as a young kid.

and then i wondered what would happen if i mixed in 

some of the journal-goodness i love to do as an "older kid".

and as you can probably guess, by the time i was finished

with all of this kid-goodness i realized that

inspiration had slipped in through the back door 

and finally came home to my heart.

now it's time to follow it.

(you probably knew i was going to say that.... :))

{thank you, inspiration!}

{supplies:  design from a page in my art journal printed on kona cotton

at spoonflower, DMC embroidery floss, size 8 black perle cotton floss,

watercolor and batting for heart, 11/0 glass seed beads, 

colored pencil, embroidery hoop, needles, scissors}

play time

i was so inspired by some of the projects in ashley calder's book, "Scraptastic!", that i decided to take some time and do a little experimentation.  it's amazing how much more creative i allow myself to be when i know that it's "play-time" instead of "i-need-to-have-a-piece-done-for-an-exhibit-tomorrow" time!  everything seems to flow so much smoother when the pressure is off!  anyway, in one of ashley's projects, she had painted a little flower on a piece of canvas and i thought it was so cute i just had to try it for myself.  i used 10 oz. art canvas, painted some gesso on top and then used watercolor to paint the artwork.  i decided to embellish it a bit with some embroidery on the stems using cotton floss.  i also sewed some yellow seed beads in the flower centers to give them a bit more dimension.  i'm really happy with the results, although i'll have to admit that my fingers are a little blistered after sewing through the thick canvas.  next time i may try this using lightweight muslin! click on image to enlarge