Saturday, September 10, 2016

American Kestrel

(Look out-- I was a prolific crafter yesterday and have many posts coming today.  Apologies to those of you who frown on this, but I blog when I can, and this weekend, I CAN!  We have been so busy since, like, all summer long, and now that things are settling down [and my best friend's wedding and associated events are OVER!], it is nice to have a weekend of nothingness!)  Cheers!

Here's a fold-out "book" holding a single quote by Richard Jefferies (typed out at the bottom of this post), English nature writer of the 19th century:


Had to include my mermaid,who helped out by holding this up!



Supplies and notes:

  • Watercolor paper scored to fit within the cover, which was cut from heaving packing kraft.  
  • Binding accomplished by punching holes with a Crop-A-Dile II and threaded with yarn and a heavy needle.  The yarn was from the quilt show booth where the woman had bins for people to rummage through... in other words: heaven.  
  • Tim's new StampAnon set "Patchwork Pieces" inked with his Distress Mixed Media palette
  • Patchwork pieces colored with Distress Crayons in (what I felt were) autumn colors
  • The Kestrel images and information cut from Birds of the World (Eyewitness Handbook), which was beyond repair at the elementary library. (No: I was not the person who damaged it-- in fact, I'd tried to save this book many times before a first-grader checked it out for the last time...). Anywho, all of these pieces were adhered to the project with Tim's Distress Collage Medium in Crazing and Matte.  I used my brush to texture the bird wings.  
  • The quote was written with a brown Prismacolor brush pen.  I have to admit that I copied Jefferies name incorrectly, and therefore these images show it misspelled.  Rest assured, I fixed it.
  • Dyan Reaveley's Breeze of Birds stencil used with DI in Gathered Twigs for some added avian life

I plan to share this at the following challenges:

A kestrel can and does hover in the dead calm of summer days, 
when there is not the faintest breath of wind.  
He will, and does, hover in the still, soft atmosphere of early autumn,
when gossamer falls in showers,
coming straight down as if it were raining silk.
-Richard Jefferies


11 comments:

  1. Mimi, this is fantastic!! Love how you used the quilt pattern to such beautiful effect in your mini, and the colors are gorgeous!! Happy you joined us at Simon Says Stamp Monday challenge for Stamp It! xx Maura

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  2. AMAZING! Look at you rocking those hexies! I just got some from my win with Stamplorations, they are tiny, but I can't wait to play with them! This is such a fab book, so much awesomeness! Love the fold up idea and genius cover/spine! The subtle birds really bring it all together, loving this poem! Hugs, Autumn

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  3. A damaged beyond repair book turned into art and a very original and exceptional piece. Love this one, it's different and beautiful.

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  4. This is brilliant! What an unique and exquisite piece of art! I absolutely love it! Thank you so much for joining us at Stamps and Stencils this month! Branka DT x

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  5. this is soooo cool!!! thank you for playing along with us at simon says stamp wednesday challenge!

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  6. Fabulous book and the quote page is stunning. Better you should recycle portions of the book than toss it, I say. Thanks for joining us at Frilly and Funkie.
    Hugs!
    Cec

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  7. That's fabulous! I love the use of the stamp set on this. Thank you for sharing with us at Frilly and Funkie xx

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  8. Gorgeous book, love the stitches and the earthly tones. Thank you for joining STAMPlorations Mixed Media challenge, hope to see you soon again.

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  9. stunning work - gorgeous colours - thanks so much for joining my challenge at stamps and stencils this month! Hugs rachel x

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  10. What a fabulous project. I love the way it folds out. The watercoloring and colors look stunning. Thanks for sharing your book with the STAMPlorations Mixed Media challenge.

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  11. lovely project! Thanks for playing along with us at STAMPlorations Mixed Media Challenge this month!!! :)

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