WINNER! of the Fine Art Contests...

As all ways, I seem to be running a little late and this time I can not blame it on my husband or kids.  My first week back to work and all I wanted to do and did was sleep.  But while I was napping there was an Orchid Passions Contest going on and thanks to all those who participated.


Mother's Orchids by Diana Gunning won first place.

Purple Orchids by Kathleen Struckle won second place.


Each piece is so uniquely wonderful that I had a hard time voting myself.  Please visit these links and take a look at what these wonderful artists are accomplishing!

Fine Art America - come view!

So, I am trying to do a few new things every month.  I suppose you could say it is a new year's resolution of sorts, if I ever really do those in January and not 3 months after that time.

This month it is painting my living room.  Which in this house may actually take a full month because I have to move furniture and toys away from one wall, spackle - respackle - sand - spackle - sand - wipe down, and then paint 2 coats.  Move everything back, and then move to the next wall.  So my living room is looking alot like my studio space.

I did say a few new things, so the other new thing is to be a little more active on my websites and groups.  With that in mind I uploaded some of my photography onto www.fineartamerica.com.  That takes you to the full site and it can be daunting.  There is so much awesome art out there, you really need to have something in mind to search for, otherwise you will get sucked in to a time sink.  Although this time sink is filled with lots and lots of beauty! And you can pin what you like to pinterest!

So my site there is http://fineartamerica.com/profiles/heather-quinones.html.  After uploading a few new photo's I took a tour of their contests and entered a few.  Then I decided to host 2 contests - Orchid Passions, to which the public can vote on the piece they like the best (in 4 days).  Then I will, with the artist's permission, felt a piece like the winner's photo.

The second contest is truly just for fun.  Zoo Visits is just for FAA (fine art america) members to vote on but it is so easy to join and they have free membership so join!  And then enter my contests and let me know about it so I can take a gander at what you are doing.

Now I must take these small wee people who are hoarding toys and send at least one off to school.  The weeist one is stuck with me all day and I hope is completely enamored with his trains to allow mommy to get a first coat of paint on this second to last wall.

Ya, he is trouble
 

Painting with Felt

I know that it was sunny and warm and felt a lot like spring today.  I know that I was just complaining about spring teasing me and how I absolutely hate that in-between seasons.  But I could not help myself, I just had to spend the day inside. 

The reason for abstaining from peering through the leaf mulch, looking for signs of spring?  Felting class, not taking one but teaching one.  I was honored to meet 2 lovely ladies this morning who were thrilled to learn a little bit about felting.  I love that they have been around abit and are still willing to learn!  Awesome, awesome day. 

They each created 2 pieces and went with a more abstract version of landscapes.  I would love to see what they end up doing with the pieces in the end...

 



And so after 4 hours of felting, needle felting and sharing stories my two lovely ladies went home.  They have relatively quiet homes to go to, I have a house full of boys, messy boys, boys who like to jump and make everything into swords.  So, instead of dutifully packing up and heading home like a good little mommy I played a little hookey (it's never to late!).

 

 

Now, before you call children services or anything, my 2 gremlins were off at their abuello's being ornery, snacking, and basically being as spoiled as possible.  My husband was most likely at home playing video games, which left me with either 1. staying at Peninsula Art Academy and felting or 2. packing it all up, heading home, unpacking and then finish painting the next wall in the living room.   Of course I chose #1!  I mean, all the fiber stuff is already out, I have my kindle on pinterest so I can look at my fiber inspiration board and there is no spackle to be sanded or wall needing to be painted there.

 

So, I did 3 pieces, a swing, a path in the woods with spring flowers, and a forest of birch trees in flowers.  Here is the start of the birch tree one:

 

Can't wait to finish it off with the details!  But alas, it has to dry...and so I wait impatiently...sigh....

 

 

 



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Teasing me...

As many of you know I am not only a fiberest at heart from knitting, sewing, to my all encompassing felting BUT I am also a gardener.  I love growing everything!  And I hope to one day be able to retire and retire someplace really warm like Mexico, where I can grow exotic fruits and grow veggies all year long. 

So when I had that 45degree day this past week, where you could just taste spring coming in the air I was ready.  I headed off to clean up the garden where I consult, helped a 3rd grade class pick one of the new beds for their project, and make a to do list for when I would be fully mobile and less limpy (stupid knee surgeries are catching up to me).  And I made a huge list of seeds to purchase.

So today, when I get up and I see light snow I think OK, its just getting it out of it's system.  But it is now almost 11am and the sidewalks are gone, the plow has gone by 2x's, and I can see that my car not only needs gas but will need to be uncovered.  sigh...I want spring, the trees want spring (you can see their buds are starting to turn colors), the birds want spring (they are trying to nest in the air vent from the oven), and most importantly my kids have cabin fever....

In honor of spring teasing me here is a nice photo of my felte dryier balls.  They will be referred to as "snowballs" for Yankee Peddler but everywhere else, they are dryier balls.