A few days ago my husband and I celebrated our 39th wedding anniversary. Each year I make a piece to mark the day. This year I made a little book that contains images of all of our bunny companions.
Our First Bunny
Our New Bunny Pair
Materials List
Flash cards 9″ x 3″, kraft paper, roofing felt, tree wrap, printed photos and labels, contact paper, PVA, cotton and linen cord, pit fired ceramic beads, wax, hardware cloth, and crimping sleeves.
One of my concrete cherubs and flowers from my garden.
Every year on April 11th, I do something to acknowledge my nephew’s date of birth. When my nephew was 17 he had a major surgery. He survived the surgery, but died later that day.
This year feeling a bit done in, perhaps it is partially to do with the past year and the daily COVID news. I recently was fortunate to receive my first Pfizer jab. It is a bit of a relief that I am in the system.
The piece evolved from a celebration to a memorial piece for the loss of nephew, dad, sister, and mother.
Code
The code on the bowl has my nephew’s, dad’s, sister’s, and mom’s DOB and DOD.
Memorial Bowl Placed on Box Filled With Family Keepsakes
Materials List
Wool, Safety Pins, Roofing Felt, Photos Printed on Paper, Fabric Stiffener (Corn Starch and Water)
Received an Amaryllis bulb for my birthday in November. Predicted the flower would open today, Valentine’s Day. Wanted to use it for a Valentine greeting.
Looks a tad like a heart. If you squint a bit.
I embroidered the background for a piece. Didn’t quite work. Maybe someday it will find a home.
Sunday, Valentine’s Evening
Moved to a warmer and safer location overnight.
Monday Early Morning
Moved the plant back to the warmest spot in the house.
Can see the white Brugmansia flowers outside. The Brug is a Brazillian White that I grew from seed. We try to keep it to 6′, but currently is over 10′.
Monday Nearly Noon
Sunday Afternoon, February 21
The weight of the three flowers is too heavy for the potting mix and pot. To the right is a bamboo stake in a pot of heavy rocks. When the fourth flower blooms, probably tomorrow, the weight of the flowers should be distributed a bit better. May not need support.
There is bamboo yarn inside a handkerchief to support the plant. The handkerchief should protect it from being cut or damaged by the yarn.
Used the Instants Photo Edition app to make the Valentine greeting.
Dashiell Greeting
Elliot Greeting
Dash enjoying a piece of my first sweet potato pie.
I found the bits next to the tissue box in the bathroom.
When I looked up, I realized one of my pieces was damaged.
This was the piece. It is part of my Cleanse Your Palate Series, No Guilt.
The image was taken by Sharon Tetly when the work was on display at Western Nevada College.
The piece has pit-fired components. The bird head is hanging from a strand of pit-fired beads. Of course there is code in how the beads were strung. The beaded piece references chaplets. The idea was to remove the chaplet, hold it, and repeat, “forgive yourself” for whatever perceived wrong.
The piece is hung in the guest bathroom. It actually has been in the same location for several years.
There are a few of the same pit-fired beads in my stash of beads for comparison. Maybe tests.
The pit-fired beads and bird head have all fallen apart.
I removed the chaplet, but haven’t yet warmed to how the piece looks without it.
Why did the beads fall apart? My initial thought…the flaking off of the surface is the result of humidity. Why now? Most likely it was a gradual process until the point that flaking occurred.
Am I upset? No, more curious about how the damage occurred, how to prevent it in the future, and how to make it occur if I want to age a piece.
