To welcome Summer, I have a couple of new articles to share with you.  In the current issue of Somerset Studio Gallery…

…you’ll see some watercolor painted doors in my article, “The Fluid World of Translucent Color & Beeswax.”

And in the new issue of Sew Somerset…

…you’ll see some felted wool pieces in my article, “Cup of Joy.”

Here’s a little something special that I made for Brook.

And here’s a cute way to share your crafting supplies.

I used recycled dryer sheets to make my own tea-bag bookmarks (seen below.)  The dryer sheet that I used was previously dyed in a batch of real tea for some cozy color.

In case you’re interested in making your own versions of either project shown above, I included the specific how-to instructions in both of the articles.  And to answer Julie’s question (a request from a prior Giveaway post ) regarding tips on using beeswax:  be sure your brush (I like to use a 1″ wide bristle brush) is evenly coated with beeswax before applying it on top of the canvas or collage.  Also, work quickly as you brush on the beeswax (it solidifies quickly.)  And if you don’t like the way it looks as is, then use a quilting iron to smooth out and adjust the areas that don’t appeal to you.  Also, I like to use a very light hand when applying the beeswax (to me, too much layering or build-up takes away from the images below.)

In addition to doing a lot of reading this Summer, I’m also wanting to dive deeper into watercolor painting.  What about you…what are you looking forward to doing these next few months?

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Thank you very much to everyone who participated in my giveaway.  I wasn’t expecting to receive such meaningful comments, thank you…really.  While reading your generous messages I was especially moved by a verse from a poem that Sonya shared, so I thought I’d pass this on for you all to enjoy as well.

HOPE is the thing with feathers
That perches in the soul,
And sings the tune–without the words,
And never stops at all
– Emily Dickinson
(You can read the whole poem at your leisure.)

This poem says it so well.  Each carefully chosen word is simple on its own, but together, wow…what a powerful message.  Okay, back to announcing the winner of my giveaway.  I placed all of your names into an earthen bowl and then shut my eyes and picked the name Jingle from it.  Jennifer, please email me your snail mail details so that I can send things your way in the next days, thanks!

It’s been a really tough week and I’m sure that you’re all aware of the devastation that has been happening in Joplin, MO, as well as in other parts of the Midwest.  The tornadoes and extreme weather conditions have destroyed so many homes and towns, and many have lost their lives.  My heart goes out to everyone who’s been effected by this tragedy, and I can’t even begin to imagine how they’re all coping.  When something horrible like this happens I feel powerless, don’t you?  And we want to help…but how?  And I’m guessing that some of you have probably already sent funds to the Red Cross (I know what big hearts you have.)  However, if you haven’t donated yet and have been considering it, I made the necklaces below as a way to help raise some money to send to the Red Cross.  If you’re interested in joining me in this donation, please email me which feather necklace you’d like to buy (I’ve been getting around $70 for each, and I’ll cover the shipping cost) and the first one to respond will have first choice on which necklace.  I’ll forward 100% of the proceeds to the Red Cross specifically for the Midwest relief.  Just email me at becky@beckyshander.com.

While we are on the subject of feathers, I thought you might like a look at how one magically appeared on my kitchen window last Fall.  I like to think that this frosty feather came to me as some kind of sign.  And I’m really glad that I noticed it on that particular morning…paying attention surely has its rewards.  Do you see random signs like this too?  Perhaps these random signs aren’t really so random…I like to believe that they mean something…so I’ll keep my eyes and mind open, and my heart ready.

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Lately I’ve been into making jewelry with leather and feathers.  And actually, I’ve been feeling more free-spirited altogether…how about you, have you been going with the flow too?  It feels great to let go!  And speaking of letting go, I am offering the two jewelry pieces below as a single giveaway.

I was thinking of a walk in the woods when I created this bracelet.  The blue colored stone represents the bright sky above…it’s like a big surprise beyond the canopy of tree branches and leaves.  The trees in my neck of the woods lately (finally!) have been rapidly filling up with dense, lime-green leafy-life.  The air is alive and bursting with energy!

On the quieter side, here’s a necklace which features a single feather.  The simple yet stunning beauty of Mother Nature is ever-amazing.

I’m not sure exactly why, but the floaty quality of a feather gives me a feeling of hope.  I’ve been wearing a very similar necklace to this one and have found that wearing this token of hope next to the heart feels comforting and reassuring.  Sometimes I can even hear a voice inside whisper, “anything is possible.”

To enter this giveaway please leave a comment to this post by 5:00 pm next Friday, May 27th.  And I’ll be back the next morning to announce the winner.  Until then, happy, easy-breezy, blissful week to you all!

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Bill regularly enjoys having a bowl of oatmeal for breakfast…me, I like something more substantial to bite into.  Having grown up in an Asian household I’m used to eating all kinds of savory and somewhat odd breakfast meals consisting of rice (or porridge) with a fried egg drizzled with soy sauce and maybe some kind of sauteed vegetable from the night before.  I’m a big fan of leftovers for breakfast – pizza and pie are at the top of my list.  I know these choices aren’t exactly healthy, especially at breakfast time, but I try to be mindful of my portions and I don’t do it every day…practicing balance is a daily thing for me.  Anyway, back to the empty oatmeal box which I used…

…to create this hanging bird house project.  Bill thinks the shape of my house looks very much like the Pope’s hat, and I can definitely see what he means.  So, this project can either be a bird house or a hat…whatever you want it to be.

Making houses makes me feel warm and cozy inside…it’s my own comfort food, just like having a bowl of oatmeal.  What things bring you quiet happiness?

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Did any of you receive the current Post Script from Stampington?  Just in case you didn’t receive this newsletter (available through email/free to subscribe,) I thought you might like to know that within this Post Script, you can download a free copy of my article, “Open to Imagination.” This article was previously published in the November/December 2010 issue of Somerset Studio, and provides the specific how-to details to create the following artwork.

These door and window images that you see above were created from photos that I took while in Europe with my family.   And below are some images that I took during our recent Spring break in DC.  I’m not sure how I’ll use these images yet, and I’m also not in a hurry – right now I’m just having fun imagining all the possibilities…gotta leave the door open for inspiration to flow through right?  And it’s good to remember not to rush the process either.  How about you, what have you been dreaming up lately?

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Unfortunately, sometimes the big picture isn’t clear, especially in challenging times.

However, if we look long and deep enough we might recognize glimmers of hope.

Crescendoh is currently hosting a reverse auction to benefit the Japan disaster victims through the American Red Cross. I hope you’ll stop on by to take a look at the original art being offered.

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While in DC we saw happy shots of red…

…and yellow.

And we even saw these two colors combined…such as at the National Cherry Blossom Art Show at Union Station.  All the pieces in this show were created by grade school children. While looking at these wonderful works of art, I made a mental note to myself to go home and play around with some old-fashioned tissue paper.  BTW, I like how this artist snuck in pinches of pink.

Worn red bricks with a bright yellow door…I love this classic and understated look.

I also love this over-the-top look.

Here’s a hot air balloon with the same color accents.

And speaking of hot…have you ever had a fresh, out-of-the-oven Krispy Kreme donut?  I never did until this one, and it was so fabulously good that I had to have seconds.  BTW, notice the red and yellow in the background…it’s interesting to me how these happy colors were everywhere.

I hope you’ll be surrounded by an abundance of warm and happy colors on Mothers Day…wishing you many sweet and tender moments as well.

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It’s good to be back.  I wasn’t expecting to step away for so long…have the days been slipping by you too quickly as well?  Have you been playing catch-up like me?  And speaking of catching up, here’s a quick look at some things I noticed during our Spring break vacation which ended over a week ago…see, I’m behind on things…oh well.  BTW, we were in DC over the break and everywhere I looked I saw pink!

Pretty pink petals with sunshine in the middle…this combination is perfection.

I love how this red painted door fades into a chalky-pink.

Windows dressed in passionate pink makes quite a bold “shade” statement…this definitely grabbed my attention and made me smile.

Here’s something that looks like an underwater sunflower to me.  I love how water has a way of making things look dreamy and more alive.

I created the piece below using light layers of pale pink watercolor paint along with a few other simple materials/techniques.

Adding subtle brush strokes here and there, going completely by gut is oh-so fun.

At the moment playing with this gentle rosy-shade gives me that tickled pink feeling.  What about you…what color has been tickling your fancy?

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Every Spring I treat myself to a pair of new sandals.   And I’ll be bringing these chocolate brown ones with me on our family vacation which starts tomorrow…yay!

With every step, I’ll be thinking of “dolce vita” – Italian for “the sweet life.”

And here’s a bit of something sweet for the eyes.

Some consider Lilies of the Valley to be the “flower of May.”  I’ve also heard that they represent sweetness, purity and happiness.  Finding the meaning behind every day things enhances my every day…it amazes me how these little things matter…like how the colors of my sandals with their pink label are the same as the pink and brown in the plate above.  Also, the shape of the mini-lilies is echoed in the plate designs, which reminds me a bit of the braided leather strap of my new sandals.  After coming across connections like these many many times, I’ve learned to be a conscious observer of my surroundings.  This in turn allows me to better enjoy the moment…I believe this is where the sweetness in life lies.

Happy sweet every day to you all…I’ll be back in a week or two.

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Over the weekend Bill baked a batter of chocolatety goodness.  He’s a much better baker than I am…precisely measuring ingredients isn’t my thing.  And BTW, look at Mac…he’s always at the ready to lick up any crumbs.

Looking at Bill’s bundt-shaped cake made me think of my batting cupcake.

Sewing makes me happy and is definitely more my thing, and I love having the freedom to just wing it.

And speaking of wings, here’s a fluffy one.  Birds and batting go together like chocolate and cake.

One of the best things about sewing is that it doesn’t require a lot of fancy ingredients.  With some batting, cotton fabric, buttons and some other scraps, that’s basically all you need to create all kinds of this n’ that.  Simple and easy…I’m majorly-focused on this mindset right now.  How about you, what Spring things are on your mind?

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