Gathering Flowers

 

Several years ago, my daughter, some of her friends, and I, opened a little art studio downtown.  It lasted a couple of years and was hard work, but FUN.  We all 'did our own thing.'  That made it fun AND interesting.  Among the things I chose to do was painting on fabric, then embroidering over the painting.  Among the fabrics I chose to paint, then embroider, was not only cotton fabric, but also cotton quilt batting.  And, then, one day, I came across some cloth diapers that had never been used, so naturally, I wondered how painting and embroidering those would work out.  So...here,

This odd little painting.

 

 As I remember, I painted on damp cloth...made it a little easier to do.

 

There was really no thought process about it...just picking some colors, kind of at random, but not really.  I'm not much of a random kind of girl....preferring to "ponder" a bit.  As I do in everything else.  Remember, I am a 'control enthusiast.'

 

 I can say there doesn't seem to be a right and a wrong while painting like this.  Another reason it's fun.

 

There is always a tiny hint of a bird or two.

 

 I don't use yellow very much...but I have to say, when painting like this again, I will use yellow again.  Seems to have made the piece a bit more  'joyful' to look at!!  

And, yes, you MAY gather every flower! 

 So, using that yellow taught me something.  Same as Mr. G did long ago when he encouraged me to try some orange!

 

There was a second diaper found that day...and yesterday, I found it again in a box of scraps saved from that first one.  Here it is.  Well.  It's available, so maybe in the not so distant future, but who knows when, I may use this one as a background and embroider something over it.  After all, it was fun to do.  We will see. 

 

I did this on the first one....cut out an opening in the middle of a piece of paper and placed it here and there on the diaper, then took some photos, trying to figure out the best way to use it as a background.

Boy, that's fun!!  So, just a few minutes ago, I tried it on this second diaper.  I've taken a few photos, trying to find my favorite.

 

Look them over.  See what you think.  Tell me.  I will consider your thoughts when I again work on this piece.

 

I think this is my least favorite. (?)

 Vertical or horizontal?  It's up to you.

 

What do you think?  Would you do this?  Or, am I just too silly.

 (By the way, I don't mind being silly.)

And, just so you know...someone DID buy that piece.

  

 I chose the wording and cut them from an old book to add to the mat after making this piece.  That's another fun thing to do...words...just make something up.  I love doing that.  When I decided to do this post (yesterday), I also wanted to mention that Monday (the 25th), is our 52nd wedding anniversary.  I said at the very beginning that my goal was to be married for 50 years.  He tried to last. And, I'm still here, still counting.  Still remembering.

When I wrote those words, "You may gather every flower" it just came off the top of my head.  But, now, looking back, I realize that is what the Old Navy Man was continually doing.  He would always go out on our back acreage and find a little bouquet of some wild flowers and bring them to me.  I took the photo of his hands holding this little bouquet a while before I painted and embroidered the piece shown here, but, doesn't it just fit the story?  

I miss those little gathered bouquets.

until next time

BE WELL

from

Bird Nest Cottage

♥️♥️♥️

 

The Latest Bird Nest

 

And, now for more of the story.  After the Mystery Nest was found and the mystery itself solved, I received a call from my friend, KATHY.  Could she and Morgan stop by the next day?  OF COURSE.  Well, wouldn't you know - not only did they bring me a hydrangea for the patio, but they also brought me a lovely bird nest found on their fence.  Oh my!  Here you see it....I decided to place it, the Mystery Nest and one I found on my own fence into a wooden bowl I purchased at the Junk House.  So, here they are: their nest with the Robin's egg in it.  (I found the egg out in the yard years ago, broken, but still beautiful to look at.)  On the right is the nest from my fence, on the lower left is the Mystery Nest.  There are also some very old bits of tree from my sister's back yard, collected last year when I was there.  I think they make a nice trio of nests to wonder at, don't you?

 

A close up of Kathy and Morgan's contribution to my collection.  It's so pretty!  I like to put a little slip of torn paper in each nest to identify where it came from. ♥️

  

 Here's their nest turned around....evidently, the bird was making do - as WE should.  A plastic shopping bag has been worked into the twigs.  Very resourceful!!! 

"The art of the bird is to conceal its nest both as to position and as to material, but now and then it is betrayed into weaving into its structure showy and bizarre bits of this and that, which give its secret away and which seem to violate all the traditions of its kind."

John Burroughs

 

This is the Mystery Nest....quite a bit smaller than the others.

 

 And, the one from my fence.  Next to the house, under the Crepe Myrtle tree....such a nice spot for a nest!

 

Here's a small nest, found behind my house in Two Pines Park last year.  Just there on the ground waiting for me as I walked past.  A reward.  A treasure.

  

There are books stacked everywhere here.  May as well use one or two for a bird nest display stand.  More or less.

 

 Here's a very small nest, sitting atop a cute little cabinet...which houses, wait for it.....tiny bird books!

This little nest sits in a vintage black coin purse.  It will fit in your hand with some room leftover.

So cute.

 

 

 Another very small nest perches on the window between my living room and kitchen.  It came from my daughter and son-in-law's yard.  He found it one day and saved it for me.  Notice the quarter sitting beside it.....it's showing you just how tiny that nest is!  There is also some tiny feathers there and believe it or not....a bit of fur I do believe belongs to my grand-dog, Trixie!!! 

 

 So...some lovely bird nests.....I do enjoy finding them and then enjoying them as time goes by here in Bird Nest Cottage.  You just never know when or where you will find one....but I'm always looking.  For feathers also.  It's fun!

 

 I don't know why, but thought I'd include a photo of my "Rock Birds."  Well, you might have to imagine a good bit here...but years ago now,  the minute I found these rocks - birds just naturally came to mind.  I have used them as "patterns" to line embroider birds before...they make me 

laugh....a good thing.

And, for today, that is it.  Hope you enjoy the nests AND the rocks.  Have a wonderful new week!

until next time

Be Well

from

BIRD NEST COTTAGE

♥️♥️♥️

Like a Bird

 

Today I watched the birds.  

They are just the same as we are - busy trying to peck out a living and a life in a sometimes cruel world under circumstances that aren't always helpful.  No matter what - they do something we often fail to do - they continue to SING.  We should each "write" our own song and sing it

every day in some way, as do the birds and NEVER GIVE UP. ♥️

Update #1:  

I did find out who put the bird nest in my mailbox last week.  It was Tommie, down the street.  She said she found it and thought something should be done with it as it was so beautiful. 

Thinking of me and my BIRD NEST COTTAGE, she put it in my mailbox.  That was so nice.

Lucky me!

Update #2:

Earlier this year, I wrote about a 1930's quilt top I was going to quilt for my sister-in-law's mother.  It was made in the 30's by the mother's sister and never quilted.  And, it needed to be mended first.  So, I've now finished that quilt and it was delivered today.  I will be showing you that quilt after it is delivered to her sometime in July, for her 90th birthday.  Whew!  So glad I managed to get that done!

Also, I'm posting this on a Tuesday, rather than a Sunday, because my sister surprised me at my front door last week.  I did not know she was driving up here from Texas...what a nice surprise.  We enjoyed the visit....doing whatever we wanted...which included watching all three seasons of Broadchurch on netflix even though we had seen all of them previously.  Excellent!!!  

My sister left this morning, delivering the quilt to my sister-in-law this evening.  I heard from my sister-in-law....she is happy with the quilt.  Yea!!!  You'll hear more about it toward the end of July.

And, I'll try to post again on Sunday.

until next time

BE WELL

from

Bird Nest Cottage

                                                                              ♥️♥️♥️
 

A Summer Pop Up Shop at the VanHooks

As this ad says....a Summer Pop Up Shop took place this weekend at my daughter and son-in-law's home.  If ever a house was suitable for an art show...well, it would be this one.  They had a Pop Up last year with great success, so by request....another.  I am showing you some photos I took while there........just ran through snapping a few photos.  I thought you might want to see some of the art.  Several of their artistic friends displayed their work too.  It was wonderful! 

I'm not going to say much else.....just enjoy!

 

 

 I do have to say this though....my daughter, Kelly.....she worked so hard to make this event a success and it was!  And, Rick, my supercool son-in-law has been painting  like crazy.  They both have.

I'm so proud of them!

 

"Art is long and time is fleeting."

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

"Art enables us to find ourselves and lose ourselves at the same time."

Thomas Merton

"One eye sees, the other feels."

Paul Klee

"Life is a blank canvas and you need to throw all the paint on it you can."

Danny Kay

  This little church, painted by Misty, has found it's way to my house!

 I believe a good time was had by all.

  So, as you can see, there will probably be ANOTHER Pop Up at some point.

until next time

from

Bird Nest Cottage

♥️♥️♥️