Celtic Clockwork Kinda of Love-Peek-a-Boo Project

I have written how differently my husband and I are in past blogs: 

 “My partner and I are vastly different as the ocean from the desert. A love that can endure the differences and embrace the substances that matter last a lifetime. We are a mighty team, better together than apart, fuller because of our emptiness and sweeter because of shed tears. I love seeing what dreams will still come true, we have some huge ones left to dream.”

We continue to grow in love and respect for each other as we endure the daily grind with its joys and sorrows. They are the inspiration for this artwork.

Supplies:  GSLC Celtic Hearts, GSLC Steampunk Hearts, Metalic Acrylic Paints-Gold, Copper, Bronze, Acrylic Paints-Reds, Pinks, and Neon Orange,Chipboard, Cutter, Scrapbook Paper, UHU GlueStick, Permanent Ink Pad Brown, Ink Blotter

1. Gather Supplies.
   
2. Paint GSLC Steampunk Hearts in Metallic Acrylic Paints-Gold, Copper, Bronze.
   
3. Paint GSLC Celtic Hearts in Acrylic Paints-Reds, Pinks, and Neon Orange.
   
4. Cut  Two 5 by 5 inch Squares from Scrapbook Paper Using a Cutter.
5. Cut One 5.25 by 5.25 Square from Scrapbook Paper Using a Cutter.
   

   
6. Glue Scrapbook Paper to Chipboard Squares Using a UHU GlueStick.
   
7. Use Permanent Ink Pad in Brown and an Ink Blotter to Darken the Edges of the Squares.
   
8. Use a UHU GlueStick to Layer the Painted GSLC Hearts onto the Prepared Squares.
   
9. These can be Framed and Would Make Very Attractive Wall Display.

Final Thoughts:

I love the concept of of yin and yang, dark and light, good and evil, a time for everything under the sun. My husband and I seek balance in our life, knowing fully it is ebbing and flowing, to and fro from one day to the next one may be sad the other happy, one’s pain can be soothed by the other. Life is about give and take, the ups and the downs, burdens and days of joy, the soft and the hard, the rough and the smooth, the content and the restless. We are in constant flux but we can choose the perspective we will embrace.

To know someone fully is to dive into the depths of the deepest oceans. When we first fall in love we do not dive in too deep, it’s a drop in a cup of water or the shallow waters of a springtime shower. It’s only as we stay together and weather the storms that we discover the magnitude of our lifetime companions.

I love this song by Natalie Merchant, 

The Feast of Saint Valentine

In the deep and darkest night of your soul

When you curse and rue the day

That you did dare to give your heart away

Take courage in the thought you belong

Good comrade, you're not alone

We're here to give you shelter from the storm

In the blindness and confusion of the fight

When the blood is soaking through

We'll come to you, we'll come to bind the wound

We'll come to you

March on, march on you soldiers of the heart

You ragged, weary crowd

You retreat in your defeat but you move on

Such a vast uncharted wilderness to see

Strange lands, strange beasts

But I'll go where you lead

Where you lead

I'll go where you lead

I'll go where you lead

And on the feast day of Saint Valentine

In the bleak mid-winter cold

Come lay your blood red roses in the snow

Come lay them in the snow

Don't stop your search now

Go, by the grace of God

Keep your courage, keep your faith

And take this paper heart to keep you safe

Keep you safe, keep your hope and faith

Love will lead you safely on

Love will leave you wounded

Love will bring you harm

Love will be the curse and be the charm

Love will be the bruising and be the balm

Love will set you free 

And love, love love, will be your bonds

Love will win

Love will conquer all

Three Sides of January- Peek-a-Boo Project

January is named after the Roman God Janus, he is depicted with faces one looking into the past, the other into the future. He is the god of beginnings and endings, openings and closings, gateways of to and fro, transitions through time, duality of our days. The two sides of January that many of us contemplate are the year that has been and look forward to the year that will be, the third side if January and if I daresay in life is the day and time that is, the present. These are the inspirations of this artwork.

Supplies:  GSLC Triptych-Towers Top , GSLC Cathedral Frame , Antiquarian Sticker Books, Acrylic Paints-Browns, Metallics, Yellows, Green Gold, Neon Green, Golds, Paintbrush, Scrapbook Papers, Pencil, Scissors, UHU GlueStick, Rub-On Transfers, WeldBond Glue, Metal Clamps, Small Plastic Spatula 

1. Gather Supplies.
   
2. Paint the GSLC Triptych-Towers Top  and GSLC Cathedral Frame with Acrylic Paints- Base Layer of Browns, Metallics, and Yellows.
   
3. Next Add Patina with Green Gold, Neon Green, and Gold Acrylic Paints.
   
4. Use Frame to Trace on Scrapbook Paper.
   
5. Cut Out and Glue to Back Portions of Frames using UHU GlueStick.
   
6. Choose Stickers from Antiquarian Sticker Books, Fussy Cut, and Glue to Scrapbook Paper.
   
7. Once Fully Dry add Rub-On Transfers. 
   
8. Glue Front Portion of GSLC Frames to Back Portion. Secure Tightly with Clamps.
   
9. Once Dry, Use a Small Plastic Spatula and Add a Thicker Layer of WeldBond to Unify the Stickers and Rub-On Transfers. 
   
   
   

Final Thoughts:

“The Past is Dead, and has no Resurrection: But the Future is Endowed with such a Life, That it Lives to us Men in Anticipation.”

~Henry Kirk White

“Let go of the Past, But Keep the Lessons it Taught You.” ~Chiara Gizzi

“Your Past is Done, so Forget It. Your Future is Yet to Come, so Dream It, But your Present is NOW, so Live it with No Regrets.”

“The Past is Filled with Pain, the Present with Opportunity, and the Future with Uncertainty.”

“Tell me, tell me, smiling child,
What the past is like to thee?
'An Autumn evening soft and mild
With a wind that sighs mournfully.'

Tell me, what is the present hour?
'A green and flowery spray
Where a young bird sits gathering its power
To mount and fly away.'

And what is the future, happy one?
'A sea beneath a cloudless sun;
A mighty, glorious, dazzling sea
Stretching into infinity.”

~Emily Brontë

The Song of Himself by Natalie Merchant puts thoughts into perspective.

Frozen in Time-A Peek-a-Boo Project

This time of year with the temperatures dropping, and the skies deepening, with the threat of winter storms, I wanted to put a romantic spin to it an imagine our perfect kind of snow day. This is the inspiration for this artwork.

As introverts the thought of getting snowed in is a tantalizing treat. Even much more now that we have moved into a condo community and not responsible for shoveling our long driveway, or sidewalks. We still must excavate our snow-encased cars eventually to go to work. 

But I digress, A perfect snow day is one where neither of us have to work, their is food in the fridge, electricity is heating our home and we have list of shows to binge watch. It’s always to have a sweet snack nearby, warm cookies from the oven, and a Keurig collection of coffees and teas. Half and half to soothe it just so. If we could choose the setting of this enchantment it would be in a cabin in the woods.We are simple people, and love simple pleasures, how about you?

Supplies:  GSLC Alarm Clock Frame Ups , White Gesso Paint, Turquoise Stencil Butter, Paintbrush, WeldBond Glue, Blue Glitter, Iridescent Glitter, Cheap Hairspray, Manipulated and Printed Images of Your Choosing, Pencil, Scissors, Rangers Glossy Accents

1. Gather Supplies.
   
2. Paint Two of the GSLC Alarm Clock Frame Ups with White Gesso
   
3. Paint the Other Two GSLC Alarm Clock Frame Ups with Turquoise Stencil Butter.
   
4. Spray with Cheap Hairspray and add Iridescent Glitter to White Ones and Blue Glitter to Turquoise Ones.
   
   
5. Spray Again to Adhere Glitter.
6. Trace Images with a Pencil.
   
7. Cut Out and Glue to Back of GSLC Alarm Clock Frame Ups.
8. Glue and Add top Portion of GSLC Alarm Clock Frame Ups and Secure Tightly, Pressing Down with a Weighted Object.
   
9. Once Fully Dry add Ranger Glossy Accents to Clock Face and Allow to Dry Overnight.
   
10. Once Dry add a Wash of Quinacridone Nickel Azo Gold Golden Paint to the Edges.

Final Thoughts:

I’ve said it many times before that Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening by Robert Frost is one of my favorite poems and t would be perfectly joined with these art pieces. But I’ll Close with this song by one of my favorite bands, Over the Rhine-“Let it Fall”

Have you been trying too hard

Have you been holding too tight

Have you been worrying too much lately

All night

Whatever we've lost

I think we're gonna let it go

Let it fall

Like snow

'Cause rain and leaves

And snow and tears and stars

And that's not all my friend

They all fall with confidence and grace

So let it fall, let it fall

Have you been carin' too much

How this one ends

Y'know it's not the kind of fight

That you lose or WIN

When you're down so low

You feel the imprint of the ground

On skin

Look around

Breathe in

'Cause rain and leaves

And snow and tears and stars

And that's not all my friend

They all fall with confidence and grace

So let it fall, let it fall