Fern Prints

Currently,

I am co-teaching a Robert Frost poetry class

on Wednesday nights

at Horne Memorial UMC.

My awesome co-teacher focuses on the poetry discussion

and I bring a creative exercise for each class.

This week's Frost poem is:

Stopping by the Woods on a Snowy Evening

What better creative exercise to do than making fern prints!~

something I have always wanted to do

Rolling (acrylic) paint onto the back of the frond

These fronds are from my backyard and our recent cold weather

had frosted a few leaves.

I couldn't wait to see how they took to being printed with!

                                                    

A vase of  fronds  

This was a beautiful metallic green color~

The consistency of the paint and the shimmer was quite lovely.

An accidental mix of pink and gray was quite effective and 

unusual where the pink was saturated.

It also looked like a larger frond~

the line down the center seems to always draw your

eye back in.  

I enjoy seeing how some colors pick up the details more so than others.

Once you have rolled the paint on the back of the frond,

lay down the frond on blank paper.

Place a piece of paper on top and press down gently but firmly

with your hands and rub out the color from the frond onto the paper underneath.

You may end up with paint on the top sheet also..

maybe a ghost print?

What to do with these prints you ask?

So many ideas!!~

Frame worthy art, book cover, card making,

background for photos, mixed media project,

and on and on and on!

A Lenten Project 1

At our Ash Wednesday service

we each received this piece of burlap

with our ashes.

Burlap cloth has biblical history.

We were asked to keep it present in our lives

during this time of Lent

to remind us of our repentance.

As the pastor was sharing about this small piece of burlap,

my mind immediately went to the thought - 

I will add to this piece of burlap for each day of Lent

and create a visual representation

of my journey.

Day 1:  I added the purple yarn,

the color of majesty.

Day 2:  I added a piece of paper I made a few year back 

with flower petals meshed it.

Nature's delicacy 

Day 3: I added the loose page from an old religious book

I was given.

Words God has heard spoken

in the air I breath today.

I sewed the old page onto the burlap and the handmade paper.

Right away, it begins to take on this presence of age and relic beauty.

An old singular peacock feather earring I had

around my studio was calling to join into this

uniquely visual journey.

Day 4: An old singular peacock earring

tied on with a yellow string,

this demonstrates God's use of his fantastically perfect pattern and color scheme.

The end of Day 4!

Day 5 Lenten Project

Day 5:  I added an old yellow piece of salvaged wood

The Lenten project thus far was tacked onto the yellow piece of wood with 2 nails.

These copper nails symbolized the nails that went 

into Christ's hands.

My Lenten journey thus far...

Ceramic Plates

My first attempt at 

hand building plates

Each plate is textured and showing different glazes.

Each plate has a central focus

Detailed center

Green with areas of transparency

Another detailed center

Yellow on speckled brownstone

Love the edge on this one

Signature on back

This is how they all began...

Using a paper plate to trace

Ready to be shaped inside the paper plate

Textures added - LOTS of texture

Some textured drawn, other using 

my texture wheels and plates

made from clay

Always enjoy the center as the focal point

Maybe a flower, maybe not?

Always love pushing the clay

and seeing the glaze react to it!

Hymnal Inspiration

Currently,

I am co-teaching a Robert Frost poetry class

on Wednesday nights

at Horne Memorial UMC.

My awesome co-teacher focuses on the poetry discussion

and I bring a creative exercise for each class.

This week's Frost poem is:

The Aim was Song

Through my research on the poem,

I have focused more on all the lovely words of hymns.

So, this week's creative exercise is

making "pass it along" cards

with words from our favorite hymnals.

I wanted to share a few examples:

A favorite, The Old Rugged Cross

Though I don't recall singing this hymn before,

the words are inspiring.

I always love singing the Doxology during service.

I can't wait to see what my participants do with this exercise

and which hymns they choose!

Some they will keep and some they will give away

Simple and meaningful creative fun

is what I strive for every time,

sometimes successful

but always

an experience to build on.

Heart Cards

Simple, Colorful and Unique...

Cut out hearts ready for their debut!

Too many hearts to choose from!

Each heart is cut out of painted paper.

Auditions for each card~

I enjoyed grouping the hearts by similar color combinations.

Once placed on the postcard, 

they were ready for the polyester film

and sewing up all the edges!

There is a static between the hearts 

and the polyester film that helps hold them in place!

Once sewn the hearts are "floating" within the seams!

The hearts may overlap or turn as they are mailed 

to your loved one.

You just never know how it will look!

These are postcards I found prepackaged 20 postcards 20 envelopes

for a few dollars at Target!

Polyester film can be found here for purchase.

I sewed each one with a sewing machine using metallic thread.

This polyester film has been so much fun to use!

Sending lots of love 

to you and yours~

hannah