BUSY As A Bee

I have been so busy gardening, pressing and unpressing flowers, I haven't had much time to post. I think about it often. I am also teaching another online class for the World Wide Pressed Flower Guild. This month the subject is fairies.

Monarch In The Meadow

One of my latest pictures, this was created for a class I am teaching online through the World Wide Pressed Flower Guild. I am a bit crazy about butterflies, so this was fun to do.

How Does Your Garden Grow?

Right now mine grows tall and full of weeds, lots and lots of them. Generally speaking though my garden grows only those plants which can be pressed and used in my art, and a few edibles. I am not ashamed to admit I plan my entire garden based on a list of my favorite flowers to press and create with. Yes, that means I spend days cleaning, preparing and planting, and many more hours maintaining my garden, just so I can pick most of what grows there and press it. The upside to that, is after the flowers are pressed I can enjoy them much longer than just a few days in the garden.





This year I am off to a late start, as the spring weather hasn't been the best. This past weekend I was able to really get in the garden and start clearing the weeds and prepping it for the pretty pressable that will soon grow there!





In the meantime , my perennials and bulbs are keeping me inspired. My Irises are blooming as well as some Forget-Me -Not, Columbine, Lily Of The Valley and just today my Poppies started opening.

This is my first year with these irises, I dug them up from a friend's house last year. They are beautiful. Thanks Phyllis!

These are my favorite columbines. They press great!

This pretty pink flower bloomed on a gray rainy day!

I am planning all kinds of things for these blooming flowers. I 'm sure you will recognize them in later art projects!

Flowers Under Resin

Recently a coworker asked for a few neclaces for her daughters, to give as Easter gifts. For about a year I have been hooked on making simple flowers necklaces. They are pressed, laminated, then encased in resin. I wear mine all of the time. Of course I have one (or two) in every color.

They are fun to make, and fun to wear!

These are ready to be made into necklaces by adding the bail and cord.

Winning Ribbons and The Philadelphia Flower Show

The 2011 Philadelphia Flower Show is officially open. All of the hard work is behind me, and it's time for fun.

First I have some good news to share. Three out of four of my entries took ribbons this year at the show. My "Vin' picture won third place.

My watch in the jewelry class also won third place, and my purse won an honorable mention.

To top it off, all of my nieces were winners with their entries too. Of course I am so proud of each of them. We have so many artists in this family!

My nieces, left of Jaci's picture

The kids were anxiously waiting for the judging to get done.

We got a great preview of the show Friday night!

Philadelphia Flower Show Entries

After a few years as serving as chair or vice -chair at the show and not competing in this art form, I am happy to say that I completed all four of my entries for the Philadelphia Flower Show. It was a tough task, as I was a bit rusty in the competition area. In addition, for the first time this year, I branched out from the Pressed Plants Class, and entered the Jewelry Class. Though not one was perfect, I was pleased with my entries, and the fact that I was able to get them all done.

Here are my entries for the 2011 Philadelphia Flower Show" Springtime in Paris":

Class 142 "Bon Appetit"

Made from bark, leaves and flowers, this class called for a picture depicting a cafe.

Class 143 "VIN"






Requirement: A Scene incorporating wine or a vineyard.

Made with bark, leaves, roses, hydrangea, tendrils and more all natural plant materials.







Class 145 "La Boheme"

This was a three dimensional class, calling for an opera purse.

My Jewelry Entry:
Class 181 " Heure D' Aller! " (Time to Go)






The objective was to create a wearable timepiece inspired by a french jeweler.

Truthfully I was inspired by my materials, more than anything else! Materials used: cloves, sago palm, birch bark, lotus stem and dogwood petals.

This class, unlike Pressed Plants, allows for painting of plant materials. Because this is new to me, I was a bit crazy trying to make it all come together.

Getting Ready For The Philadelphia Flower Show

Getting ready to start my entries for the Philadelphia Flower Show. My first chance to compete in four years, since I am no longer chairing. I am excited . This year's theme is Springtime In Paris. I am still advising for the class, so for any of my friends with questions, please feel free to contact me.
There is a lot of work in the planning stage. I have to read the titles, and come up with a really creative idea. I have to get myself to feel the theme,"Paris". I have to sort through thousands of pressed flowers. I have to sketch out the design of my pictures, and make my plant materials work as paints. This for me is the most time consuming part, and usually takes me a couple of weeks. The actually picture assembly tends to go faster, once I know what I am trying to do.

In addition I am working on an edition of the newsletter for the World Wide Pressed Flower Guild, that will highlight the conference in China.
I am glad the cold weather makes me want to spend more time indoors, so I can get things done.
Wish Me Luck!

Micki