Today it's otters

A flash of inspiration, a quick (or not so quick, that's subjective) search of etsy, and here we have an adorable collection of creatures who eat off their tummies.

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Heart Strings

Hello Valentines

This Valentines Day I was inspired by my memories of grade school....the tiny valentines in envelopes, candy hearts, and crushes.  My two favorite colors at the time were pink and red, together, and February's decor fit the bill perfectly.  So, while thinking about color combinations, I decided to make simple felt heart garlands, starting of course with pink and red, and settling on a combination of red, turquoise, gray and white.  

First, make a quick pattern.  I like to use graph paper ( my favorite pattern helper.)  These will ensure that all your hearts are the same size.  It took me a couple of hours to cut out enough hearts for three garlands.  This is a good project if you have a movie you'd like to watch ( for a second time)...a love story perhaps?  

After you think that you have enough hearts, you can sew through them, down the middle,  using a sewing machine, and simply pull the thread out when you want more space between hearts.  I mixed the colors in no particular pattern, placing them end to end.  

et voila!

I hope you all have a lovely day.

Procrastination

I may need a haircut.  I think though, rather than scheduling an appointment, I'll just look at these photographs of animals who seem to be getting along just fine with their extra long 'do...

What I Am Reading...

For a while now I have admired the work of UK-based print maker Angie Lewin.  For Christmas last year I was lucky enough to receive her book!

With enough beautiful photographs inside to hold even my short attention, including landscapes, plants and specimens, and work-in-progress shots, this book makes for a interesting short read or long term stay inside a snuggie.  It is fascinating to see how her mid century-esque, beautifully layered images are created.

A quote from her website...
"Inspired by both the clifftops and saltmarshes of the North Norfolk coast and the Scottish Highlands, I depict these contrasting environments and their native flora in wood engraving, linocut, silkscreen, lithograph and collage. These landscapes are often glimpsed through intricately detailed plantforms."
And below, my new favorite, a unique collage, can be found here among a few other lovelies...

 Derelict Croft IV

Angie Lewin

Priorities

We have a lot of snow here in Pennsylvania.  That's all there is to say about that.  So I write now, whilst  sitting at home (trapped by another winter weather advisory), and thinking about my local skating pond, and how I will have to shovel said skating pond yet again once this current storm has passed.  Well worth it.  However,  I fear that a clear skating pond is the mark of a neglected blog.