And she dances...

I've been very inspired lately by my daughter, Ava who had her first parade performing ballet folklorico. I loved the way these bright colored dresses twirled around.  Ava says the parade was a lot of fun and cool!  These beautiful photographs were taken by wenonacole.com

                                                  *All photographs by wenonacole.com*

In Memory of Gracie

I was commissioned to make a  memorial piece for a mother, who lost her 17 year old daughter to cancer.  I was given a few blogs to read and then asked to design something simple.  It was a  pleasure reading about this amazing young girl named Gracie and heartbreaking reading about her fight with cancer.  I learned she loved fashion, her best friend Zoe and God.   I meditated on Gracie and this information for several days.  I really wanted to connect to this piece in hopes of bringing the slightest comfort to her mother.  I felt honored I was asked to design a piece of such significance and I felt challenged because "simple" isn't something I can do easily.  After a few days of meditation, I realized I was focusing on clouds a lot at home.  I was drawing them, painting them, adding happy faces on them but I felt something more was missing; then, I was given a lead that Gracie loved ladybugs.  

I designed this piece in her honor.  The cloud represents heaven and happiness and the flying ladybug represents Gracie is set free.  Gracie passed away at the young age of 17.  The wings of the ladybug include 17 spots representing each year she gifted the world with her life.  

It was a pleasure reading about such a beautiful soul.  I hope heaven is a giant play ground for Gracie.

 

Making beads and jewelry out of recycled plastic.

I taught a Valentine Jewelry class at WAL
earlier this month.  We had a great time. Lots of mothers and daughters attended. We made jewelry from plastic lids, berry containers from the market and disposable party trays.  This was a great introduction to the kids to be creative with our scraps, instead of filling up or landfills. I was really blown away by their creations. Here are photos of a few of them...

Done by the lady of WAL, Abira

Artist Gracie Miller

Eliza The Great

   

Prior to the oven

Eva is a fantastic designer!

Luciene in gorgeous shades of blue to match her beautiful eyes.

Ella hard at work

This beads says I <3 The Beatles

The Artist Ava Miller

I love her drawing and thick choice of chain.

The Artist Diane Micheali. Designed for her mother and included all of her families initials.

 This design was illustrated by Eva Lindholm. Her, plastic scroll joined the chain and vintage beads together.

 

 

To make these pieces at home. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees. Line a cookie sheet with foil. Have a spatula and oven mitt handy. Cut out your desired plastic. I recommend #1 or #6 but all plastics work.  Take a piece of sand paper and lightly rub the plastic until its dull and has no more shine. Sketch your design in marker or pencil. Use a whole punch to put a whole in your piece prior to baking.  Then place your bead on the foil wrapped cooking sheet and put it in the oven for a couple of minutes to shrink.  If your plastic curls, use your spatula to gently flatten it out.  I do recommend using a toaster oven outside or a well ventilated area in your kitchen.  Please be sure to air out your oven after each use!

Handmade Holiday

Happy New Year!! I hope you all had wonderful holidays! Our family really enjoyed each other, the rain and all the yummy food to eat!  We had a mostly handmade Christmas this year.  It was lots of fun!! We made marmalade from organic home grown oranges.

We baked and decorated lots of mini cakes and cupcakes!

We made ornaments for friends 

I made our nieces felted and embroidered necklaces

 A Japanese bunny for Sammy

 A frog in a scarf for Falyse

 A little girl mouse for Chayla

A Flash Dance Panda for Roxie

Our 7 year old Ava, handmade gifts for all of her family and friends. She even wrapped them herself. This was one of the best parts of Christmas.

Here is what she made me! :)

I love it! She also made me a felted envelope bag, glitter trees, a jewelry box and clay sculptures. I was very impressed with the thought and time she put into each gift.  May everyone have a prosperous healthy and happy New Year!