Heart of the Belflower Tree

The Forgotten Language of Flowers “In the early 18th century the Turkish "Secret Language of Flowers" was introduced to Europe by Lady Mary Wortley Montague, wife of the British ambassador to Constantinople. Flowers had long been a sign of romance but now lovers were able to send secret messages to each other by means of sending a posy of flowers. Each flower had a specific meaning and the order of arrangement had much to do with the intended "message". The French seem to have taken this idea to heart. In 1819 a French woman writing under the pen name of Madame Charlotte de la Tour (Louise Cortambert), wrote and published "Le Language des Fleurs" which offered seasonal floral and anecdotal advice to those wishing to send "secret" messages to each other. The following list of flowers comes mainly from that original book but has been augmented to include some common flowers of today as some of those from yesteryear are unknown. Enjoy this glimpse into the past and keep this in mind the next time you send or receive flowers!”

Bell Flower: Constancy; Gratitude

                                   By joelessacredgrove.com

The process of creativity begins with a problem. That may sound silly, but, from that thought/problem comes the idea for a solution followed by the action of solving that problem. Let me take you through that process from mental seeds to physical tree with this fun and easy tutorial.

Watch my Wrapped Wire Beaded Tree YouTube video tutorial!
 

Materials:
14 gauge wire - 10" or more
22 gauge wire - a roll of it
Round nose pliers
Wire cutters
Chain nose pliers
Hot glue
Frame - optional
Charms to hang on the tree - optional

1. Cut 2 pieces of 4' 14 gauge wire and fold in half.  Fold a bent wire 2" from the bend and bend in the opposite direction on both sides of the bend.

2. Pinch the two folded parts and twist. These will be roots. Repeat with the other 4" wire.

3. Cut a 2' piece of the 14 gauge wire and bend one end, twisting to make a 5th root.

4. Holding the roots together, begin twisting the tree truck wires together.  Add as many extra wires as desired to add bulk to your trunk.

5. Decide where the branches will open up and separate them.

6. Cut 20 or more 2" pieces of 22 gauge wire and fold them in half.  Twist each for added strength and thickness.

7. Begin wrapping the smaller wires around the trunk, working upward and around the branches until you have the look you want.

8. To add charms, curl the ends of the branches, slide the charm on and secure by completing the curl.  I made charms from purple flower shaped beads with gold bells and leaf beads.

9. To add into a frame make sure the roots and branches have a flattened back side

10. Make sure there are plenty of contact points between the frame, backing and tree for the glue to create a good bond.

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Owl Mail

I've been having so much fun coming up with ways to make art mail!  Cake mail made from a sponge was too much fun NOT to explore further.  What else can be made from a sponge?  An owl postcard!  Hoo wants to try it?


Watch my Owl Mail YouTube video tutorial!

Materials:
Aleene's Super Thick Tacky Glue
Grout Sponge, or smaller sponge
Tissue blade - it's a super thin razor blade used for polymer clay
Marker
Felt
Eileen Hull's Sizzix die Flowers with Heart Petals (optional - to use for the felt eyes)
Buttons
Needle - a narrow 2" long one is best
Strong thread
Paint
Paint brush
Tooth brush (optional) I sued to pounce on the felt pieces to push glue deeper into the sponge
Owl Pattern
Owl Pattern for Felt Cutouts

1. Print and trace the owl pattern onto the sponge.

2. Use the tissue blade to saw the sponge carefully

3. Paint the whole sponge and allow to dry.

4. Cut eye, beak and wing patterns from felt.  My wings were ovals with flat bottoms and that worked for me.  Play with the pattern to get the look you like.

5. Using lots of glue, glue the felt eyes in place.  Pounce on the felt with the tooth brush to help the glue get into the sponge, if desired.

6. WHILE THE GLUE IS WET, sew the buttons in the center of the eyes, pulling slightly to make sink in to the sponge a bit.

7. Glue beak and wings in place.  Pounce with tooth brush, if desired.

8. Trace the sponge on cardstock and cut out.

9. Before gluing to the back of the sponge trim the cardstock to make sure no edge will stick out from the sponge.  Glue on and allow to dry.

10. When you address the postcard, remember that the post office will only deliver to the address that is lowest on the postcard and that they need room to put 2 stickers on it.

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Patriotic CenterPiece

America celebrates its rich heritage with holidays that venerate those who gave their lives to protect her, those who work to keep her running and the brave souls who gave everything to make her a free country!  In our solemn ceremonies, observations and celebrations, we proudly display our flags.  Red White and Blue are everywhere, from garlands to banners, from hats to party decorations, and we do it BIG!  Here's super easy centerpiece to bring color and sparkle to all your patriotic get togethers!
Watch my Patriotic Centerpiece YouTubevideo tutorial!

Materials:

Plastic patriotic hat
2 small flags
Marbles
Block of Styrofoam cut to fit in the hat
12" tall red white and blue spray of shiny stars with weighted bottom wrapped in Mylar
Silk roses in red and white
12" tall spray of white - I took mine from another weighted spray
Wooden skewers
Hot glue
Glittered balls in red (optional)

1. Pour the marbles into the bottom of the upside down hat.

2. Put the Styrofoam block on the marbles.

3. Unwrap the Mylar from the bottom of the weighted red white and blue spray, and set in the center and fan it out.

*At this point I'd like to point out that I didn't glue mine together so it will come apart easily for storage, but you could certainly glue yours.

4. I bought my roses in bouquets, so I cut them off to place individually.  Begin adding roses, pushing the stems through the foam.  Angle the roses so that they fill in below the spray.

5. Cut the Mylar in 4 squares.  Hot glue one corner of each piece to a wooden skewer and twist to secure.  Push the Mylar pieces into the foam above the roses and around the spray.

6. Push the white spray onto one of the wires of the red white and blue spray so it stands highest in the center.

7. Push the 2 flags into the foam on opposite sides

8. Optional - glue red glitter balls around the brim of the hat.

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Here's a fun and fabulous way to turn a jar into a gift that will remind a loved one that they have a special place in your heart.  I made this for my best bud, Lynn  and, with some simple wire wrapping techniques, you'll be making one in no time!

Materials:
1 quart jar
Aleene's Jewelry and Metal Glue
Electrical wire or 14 gauge wire
Round nose pliers
Chain nose pliers
Wire cutters
Beads
Head pins
22 gauge wire
Drill with 1/16" bit
Decorative paper

1. Clean your jar and remove any labels.

2. Wrap electrical wire around just inside the edges of the lid, twice. This will be the base of your crown.

3. Wrap 22 gauge wire around the crown base to cover it.

4. Cut a 2' piece of electrical wire. Beginning in the middle, bend the wire in small loops by crossing one end over the other. Make your loops about an inch apart and measure it frequently on the crown base. To measure, just start with the middle loop and bend the sides around the base. This will show you how many loops you will need to go all the way around. Between loops, bend the wire in a downward curve so that the wire touches the base and curves back up into the next loop.

5. Attach the looped wire to the base by wrapping it with the 22 gauge wire.

6. Slide one or two beads on a head pin and wrap the tail around a loop so the bead is on top of the loop. Add another bead and wrap the remaining tail around the lower end of the loop. Repeat for all the loops.

7. Drill 3 to 5 small holes in the lid beneath where the crown will sit. "Sew" the crown onto the lid with the 22 gauge wire. Cover the wire inside the lid with decorative paper.

8. Cut eight 6" pieces of electrical wire. Take 4 of the wires and make a loop in the center. Make a coil from both ends, wrapping toward the inside to form a heart shape with the loop at the bottom. At this point you can a charm to each heart's loop if you'd like.  Refer to the photo below to see how it should look.

9. Repeat the coiled ends on the other 4 pieces, with out the loop.  Again, refer to the photo below.

10. Lay out the pieces with every other one a heart. Orient the non-heart pieces with coils down. Use the 22 gauge wire to join all the pieces

11. Slide the whole thing onto the jar. Tighten it up by making the coils tighter.

12. Add drops of Aleene's Jewelry and Metal glue wherever the wire touches the jar.

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The Mysterious Random Scarfer - using her mediocre powers of knitting for good rather than evil

Random Scarfing in an Ogden super market parking lot.  As usual, there's a tag that says "For you, stay warm, dear stranger".
I feel like I need a hat and trench cost to be more anonymous and sneaky.   I'm picturing Spy vs Spy style!
I now keep knitting supplies in the car and by my recliner.  I'm determined to practice constantly to get so good at knitting a straight line with no holes, that I can try other shapes.

Here is my street artist muse, Mary England.  She is A-Ma-Zing!

Spring Seeds of Intention

Candace Jedrowicz's air-dry clay project is a fun way to re-seed your garden*. As your egg weathers it will disintegrate back to the earth and plant your seeds. Featured on Cool2Craft TV. Watch Candace's Clay Easter Egg with Seeds of Intention YouTube video tutorial of this project!

Materials:
Earthenware or stoneware clay - it must be natural clay - I found some in my local craft store, but it's even better if you can dig it from your yard

Toothpick Water Paint brush Seeds - any kind

 1. Take two handfuls of clay about the same size.

 2. Begin by shaping them into balls.

 3. Hold one ball in the palm of one hand. With the thumb of the other hand, push into the center of the ball right up to the knuckle.

 4. Keep resting the ball in your palm with the thumb in it. Press toward the thumb with the fingers of the same hand. Press gently, turn the ball, press again, turn and keep pressing until you've gone all the way around. Move your fingers to a thicker part and repeat until you have a cup shape with a 1/2" thick rim. Repeat for the other ball.

 5. Gently pinch the rim of one cup and push out thin little petals all the way around.

 6. If you like, whisper your wishes and intentions for Spring as you put your seeds inside one of the cups.

 7. Scrape the rims of both cups with the toothpick, leaving clay crumbs on the clay.

 8. Dot water in the scratches.

 9. Put the rims together and push gently.

 10. Gently fold the petals of the one rim over onto the other half of the ball.

 11. Smooth gently with your fingers at first, then roll the ball on your work surface.

 12. Shape the clay into an egg. Scratch and dot water anywhere you want to add dots, squiggles or any other clay shapes. You can scratch words into the wet clay or symbols. Make it as meaningful as possible.

 13. Allow to dry. Place in your yard and let the weather take the egg back to the earth and plant your seeds.

*Point of fact:  I normally do this with metaphorical seeds of intention.  I hope you'll consider trying it and let me know what happens.  I'll update this oost with my findings as well. 

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Almost a Yarn Bomb

 

This week's Cool2Craft TV show is about yarn.  I've been inspired by my friend, Mary England, to try a yarn bomb, so I made and installed one on Historic 25th Street in downtown Ogden, Utah.  It's not very good, but it's only my first try.

Below is my second try and it's a little different.

  I love the idea of yarn bombing, but I'm a slow and inexperienced knitter. I had an idea to combine yarn bombing with a random-acts-of-kindness sort of thing. Mary leaves surprises and gifts for strangers all over Baltimore and D.C. I'm so inspired by her enthusiastic, happiness- spreading journey! I knitted a scarf and attached a laminated card that says "Stay warm dear stranger" My husband gave me the idea when he commented how cold the dinosaur looked after a snow storm. I thought I could tie a scarf on, instead of sewing the yarn in place, and HOPE that someone who needs it would claim it. I realize it's not an actual random act if I tell someone, so pretend you don't know that I did it., okay? I'll let you know what happens!

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