Before and Happily Ever After

I took on a task that was slightly outside of my normal creative ventures. I was asked to rescue a wedding bouquet that had been made into a wreath, but had since suffered a mishap and lots of fading. After a long period of waiting for thr inspiration to tackle the project, I am fairly pleased with the result. Those old brittle flowers were difficult to work with. But I did what I could, with those that didn't just fall apart in my hand.

In the end there were still some pretty flowers left, so I scented them with rose and lavender and put them in a clear vase.

Pretty As A Picture

In June, while teaching the pressed flower butterfly class I wanted to create a swallowtail. While I played with different ideas for a background, I decided a nice piece of almost white art paper was what I wanted. This bright butterfly, made from pressed maple leaves, tulip petals, larkspur and a touch of cosmos will look best in a square frame, just the way it is.

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!