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.