Friday, February 24, 2012

Inspiration Avenue: Texture

This week Maggie (Magpie) laid down the TEXTURE challenge at Inspiration Avenue. She provided several examples, one of which used buttons for flowers. I was also inspired by Annette, aka Voodoo Vixen and Donna at Findings Art, who both showed how to make what Annette called "cabbage roses."

I didn't start this project using any of these materials, but what I started to make, turned out as something I had too many failures with. So, I went with Plan B.


Does the background of this piece look familiar to anyone? It should, especially if you visit my blog with any regularity at all. It's a piece from my old, well colored shower curtain I had on the table before I replaced it recently. The texture was divine, especially from the curtain texture, as well as the bumps that had gotten too close to my heat tool. I knew glue wouldn't stick to the curtain, so I used my sewing machine to attach everything.


A zipper became the flower stems, and the flowers (unlike the ones made by Donna and Annette), were made using one of Marilyn Rock's favorite substrates: deli paper. I painted the deli papers, then wrote the word "Love" in gold leafing pen. Since I didn't have the requisite size circle punches, I hand cut these, then assembled them using a bit of glue stick in the centers. Unlike both Donna and Annette, I ruffled the flowers after the glue had dried. I attached buttons to the center of each flower. The leaves were cut from Valentine chocolate wrappers (eaten as a sacrifice to art), and the "grass," made from cheese cloth, was dyed to compliment the background.


More true to color, this piece was large enough, it wouldn't quite fit on my scanner. Of course, once I scanned the flowers and leaves (which I only sewed at the "stem"), they had a tendency to "wilt."

Want to see how others interpret the texture challenge? Want to create your own challenge piece? Then you should head over to Inspiration Avenue before noon (U.S.) EST on Sunday. While there, thank Maggie for this awesome challenge!

I realize I'm posting rather early on Friday, but I was up and quite excited to get this weekend started. I'm off on a "virtual" trip to Orlando for the three day NBA All-Star weekend. See here for a schedule of events. Yep, I'm a HUGE basketball fan, or rather Lakers fan, and although only a few of my Lakers will be playing this weekend, it will still be a fun, fun time for me.

25 thoughtful remarks:

Helen said...

Well, you got plenty of texture here!! Have fun with your virtual weekend, lol!

Yvonne said...

AWESOME card, Elizabeth! Texture glore :)

Craftymoose Crafts said...

I think your piece is a lot of fun. No only do you not waste a scrap of anything...but really, to eat candy in the name of art? Brilliant! The cheesecloth made excellent grass--I am going to have to investigate this forgotten "gem" that I have a ton of (a few yards, lol)

Have a great weekend and enjoy your virtual trip!

Diane said...

Elizabeth--this is gorgeous--love the texture and those colors!

Anonymous said...

Plan B turned out great! Love those cheery flowers. xox Corrine

~*~Patty S said...

I salute you for making chocolate sacrifices for your art AND you're making me hungry ;)

Love how nothing goes to waste at your house...that shower curtain certainly is a wonderful surface...your pretty flowers make me smile!

Enjoy your B Ball weekend!
oxo

voodoo vixen said...

This is lovely Elizabeth!! Great colours and textures and your shower curtain background is a gem indeed and the sewing machine stitches add that fabulous extra touch!
Enjoy your Lakers... I think I will be shovelling snow... and preparing my AB!!

Dandelion and Daisy said...

Beautiful, E. shower curtains and zippers make for some special artwork.

Diane ~ said...

wow this is fantastic! i love your creativity in materials & your use of color! terrific blog! & thanks too for visiting mine :D

Titbelsoeur, mixed-media addict said...

hi Liz, your piece of art is amazing ! this is such a good idea to use recycled papers, buttons and zips !

Ariel said...

Wow!Elizabeth you recycled so many things and created awesome texture I love the flowers they're so colorful and bright.

Darla said...

You included an Amazing amount of texture in this piece. Love how colorful it is.

Darla

Maggie said...

Your ingenuity is always thrilling!! I love the different materials you used to create this fantastical garden. I love the crinkled paper of the flowers...it adds even more interest and texture. You inspire me to think more carefully before throwing anything away, whether it's a shower curtain or candy wrappers lol! Everything was put to beautiful use!

sandra de said...

Always a delight to see what you have been creating. I know I don't have to send you some skeleton leaves. But I would love to!! A range of colours will be in the mail in the next month. Thanks for the wonderful information on altered books.

Jennifer McLean said...

Hi Elizabeth & Bluebeard!
Thanks so much for the lovely comment on my blog. The drawing of the twine was so much fun and totally freeing. I'm usually so precise that just throwing caution to the wind and sketching was quite illuminating. Oh, a message to Bluebeard, you, sir, are one of the most beautiful cats I've ever seen, but I'm sure you know that!
Elizabeth, I'm now a follower of your oh so creative blog, your collage art is so colorful and makes one want to touch it.
Best,
Jenn of www.JustAddWaterSilly.com

artangel said...

Wow! You always leave me in awe of your creativity in sourcing materials - who'd have thought a shower curtain and zippers could be used to make something so lovely!!

Anne Manda said...

Super-creative and amazing, love all the different materials and textures! <3

Priti Lisa said...

You are so resourceful, Elizabeth! I have met my match in you:)
This project turned out beautifully. The zipper was such a brilliant idea!
♥♥♥

Evil Edna said...

this is wonderful and the chocolates should be glad of their noble sacrifice.EE

Anonymous said...

Congratulations Elizabeth! I also love that you sacrificed for art by eating those chocolates. lol
Stay inspired!

bluegiraffe (Sherry) said...

Wow,Elizabeth, this is beautiful! Congrats on winning the IA Red Carpet challenge.

Kim Collister Studio said...

I love the colors, the texture, the paper, the paint, all nicely woven into a fabulous piece!

CONGRATS on walking the RED CARPET, well deserved!

IA Love ~
Kim

gma said...

You always have such creative projects. This one is great. Shower curtain table cloth is brilliant!

Kelly Jeanette Swift said...

Love those flowers. Alot of texture going on. And I have to salute you for making the candy sacrifice for your art.

Kat W said...

This is a wonderful entry into this week's 'Texture' challenge and I can totally understand why you won the Red Carpet Gallery spot for this week. Congratulations on this well deserved win. I love the way you've used such an eclectic mix of materials in such a beautiful way. I love the idea of using zippers and adore the sewed on effect. Your cabbage flowers look great. I love making these and did so recently using old magazines which gave a good variety of colour and pattern. I like the pretty way you've coloured/decorated your deli paper.

I appreciate your sacrifice for art - it must have been super hard eating chocolate ;-))Lol. Your comment made me chuckle.

Fab entry for the 'texture'challenge!

Oh and thank you very muchly for the lovely kind comments you left on my latest blog post.

Kat X