Showing posts with label Victorian. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Victorian. Show all posts

Wednesday, July 26, 2023

Eclectic Celtic Adornments-A Peek-a-Boo Project


 Some Projects Manifest themselves such is the case with these. I was looking through my stash of GSLC chippies and chose a few of my favorites to combine in these creations. 

There is a word circling in some artist’s communities-farrago - It is defined in the dictionary as a pile of odds and ends or random assortment of stuff; a motley assortment of things; a hodgepodge; a mismatch. I simply called it eclectic. Other artistic communities have Frugal Friday Postings. Growing up poor and in the country; with parents who lived through the depression I am acutely aware of it’s meaning...no dictionary necessary. They are the inspiration for this artwork. 


Supplies:  GSLC Celtic HeartsGSLC Fern FrondsGSLC Peacock Feathers Shape SetGSLC Queen Anne's Lace, Pearlescent Glitter, Acrylic Paints, Fan Paintbrush, Red FolkArt Design Cream, Scarlet Embossing Powder, Rust Powder, Heating Tool, Variety Of Green Markers, White and Pale Tan, Acrylic Paint, UHU GlueStick

  1. Gather Supplies.
  2. Cover GSLC Fern Fronds with Pale Green and Quinacridone Nickel AZO Gold, Green Gold, Radiant Yellow and Color Shift Green Acrylic Paints Randomly with a Paintbrush.
  3. Apply Pearlescent Glitter while Wet so Paste acts Like an Adhesive.  Allow to Dry Fully.
  4. Use Variety Of Acrylic Paints to Paint GSLC Peacock Feather Shapes.
  5. Rub Randomly With UHU GlueStick and Apply Pearlescent Glitter.
  6. Color Hearts with Red FolkArt Design Cream, Scarlet Embossing Powder and Rust Powder.
  7. Cure With a Heating Tool.
  8. Use Green Markers and White and Pale Tan Acrylic Paint to Paint GSLC Queen Anne’s Lace.
  9. Use UHU GlueStick to Assemble Adornments.
  10. Dry Fully Pressed and Weighted. 
  11. I Wanted to Give the Adornments and Place of Their Own and Bought Some Cheap Wooden Frames-$1.00 at Michaels. 
  12. Use Cardboard from Inside of Frame to  Cut Pieces of Natural Felt.
  13. Attach Felt to Cardboard Using Double Sided Tape.
  14. Use Another Cardboard Piece to cut out Transparency Film to Use Inside Frame. These Cheap Frames Came with None.
  15. Attach Assemblage to Felted Cardboard Using a Needed and decorative Thread.
  16. Make a Slurry of Lava Paste and Red Acrylic Paints.
  17. Spread and Cover Wooden Frames, Sprinkling Randomly with Cinnamon  While Still Wet For a Rusted Organic Look.
  18. Cure with a Heating Tool. 
  19. Add Highlights With Other Acrylic Paints.
  20. Trace Frame on Scrap Papers to Seal in Back of Frame. Looks Tidy and Professional.
  21. I added Blue Stitching to the Corners of Prepared Adornments  for interest and to Highlight the Peacock Eyes the Feather.
  22. Assemble Your Frames and Seal in Back Portion and Add Mechanics for Hanging if so Desired.

Final Thoughts:

Throughout the Victorian era pressed flowers were important. For the Victorian woman, it was an enjoyable pastime. Flowers were often combined with ribbons to create pretty pictures, whilst a flower was often slipped between the pages of a book, to preserve the memory of a special day.

Ferns are some of the oldest plant on our planet, dating bak 400 million years.  They can survive in a variety of climates. They do not reproduce from seed but rather from spores that grow from the bottom side of lives upon reaching  maturity. Ferns may symbolize spiritual protection, or used to bring about wealth, fortune, and luck. In Victorian England, the fern was a symbol of magic, fascination, confidence, and shelter. Ferns could be used to pass messages from a secret admirer. They are said to be symbols of longevity, rebirth and renewal. Fiddleheads, the coiled tips of young Ostrich Ferns, are a springtime delicacy enjoyed by some in the Northeastern U.S. Be sure to go with someone acquainted with harvesting these springtime treats as many fern species are toxic to humans.

Growing up in the country, my momma would always say Queen Anne’s Lace was also known and wild carrots. It turns out she is partially true as it is from the Daucus Genus that include all the carrots consumed for food today.It belongs more closely to the family that includes celery, dill, and many other edible herbs.Most Queen Anne’s Lace is pure white with a darker center to each flower. White: Cleanliness, freshness, new beginnings, healing, innocence, and purity. There is a pink variety too, that symbolizes-Joyfulness, playfulness, youth, fun, celebration, platonic love, and sweetness. My momma loved “coloring” the delicate white flowers that grew will along the country roads of my childhood. 

In ancient time, peacocks were to thought to have magical power e would put the newly cut stems in red and blue food coloring water and magically overnight they would become pastel pink and blue by morning time. A magical memory of my childhood.

In Ancient Times, the peacock was thought to have magical powers against evil spirits. Peacock feathers may symbolize, open-mindedness, protection, uniqueness, creative productivity, good luck, renewal and self-realization. In Victorian Times, There was an Art Nouveau’s Obsession with Peacocks and their feathers.

Celtic Hearts are meant to symbolize the everlasting love between two people. The Celtic heart is warm and wide, a place where love and peace abide goes one Irish Saying.




Wednesday, April 8, 2020

King of Fools-Jokers Wild-A Peek-a-Boo Project

I’ve always enjoyed the look of playing cards and fondly remember playing cards with my family growing up as we had no television in our humble home. The joker was my favorite card because sometimes he would become a “wild card” and trump all. So often the joker stayed in the box on the table and was not used at all. The joker is the inspiration of this “April Fools” Instillation. Trying to bring some humor into our crazy world.
 
Supplies:  Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts-Small Tag Set, Images of Jokers and Back of Plying Cards, Scissors, Acrylic Paint-Copper, Van Dyke Brown, Transparent Iron Oxide, Burnt Sienna, Paintbrush, Weldbond, Deli Paper, Sandpaper Blocks, Antique Linen Distress Stain, DecoArt One Step Crackle Finish and Triple Thick Glass Glaze, Antiquing Cream-Red Oxide, Burnt Umber, Patina Green, Matte Varnish,
1.  Print Images of Jokers and Back of Playing Cards adjusting size to fit on GSLC Small Tag Set.
 
2.   Use dry brush technique and Acrylic Paint-Copper, Van Dyke Brown, Transparent Iron Oxide to randomly paint all tags front and back.
 
3.  Cut and glue images to front and back of each tag using Weldbond.
4.  Crinkle a piece of wax paper or deli paper to dab on some of the above used acrylic paints.
5.  Once completely dry sand the edges of the GSLC Tags making them looked aged and vintage.
6.  Distress edges of GSLC tags using TH Antique Linen Distress Stain.
7.  Make a glaze of DecoArt One Step Crackle Finish and Triple Thick Glass Glaze and Burnt Sienna Acrylic Paint.  This will further the ancient, archaic look I am known for.
8.  Once completely dry use Deco Art Antiquing Cream-Red Oxide, Burnt Umber, Patina Green to fill in the cracks, wipe off with a baby wipe.
9.  Seal GSLC tags with a Matte Varnish.

 Some Final Thoughts.
Although April 1st was a week ago, I wanted to celebrate this often-forgotten holiday, much like the joker card itself hidden among the deck of playing cards. We need laughter in our lives, to look for the everyday joys that are sometimes hidden especially nowadays.  Here are some fun quotes from the Joker of Batman Movies fame.
“I don’t suffer from insanity, I enjoy every (explicative) minute of it!”
“I keep telling myself to stop talking to weirdos but then I wouldn’t have any friends left.”
“I don’t care what others think about me I enjoy my Life with my own rules”
“if you are good at something never do it for free”
“Some people ant to see you fail. Disappoint Them!”
“Sometimes you have to play the role of the fool to fool the fool who thinks they are fooling you”