Finding Spring Flowers

I've been updating Etsy lately with new flowers, wreaths, and copper tiles.  As I was updating this grouping of pieces came together in my shop.  They reminded me so much of spring I had to share.

 Lavender Rose

Violets and Sunflower Wreath

Yellow Sunflower

 Rosey Lily

Pink Dahlia copper tile

Here in central IL spring is coming and going, but I should be happy it's at least teasing us with coming.  I spent the early months of this year in a creative whirlwind.  I finished 12 pieces!  And I've already did my first show this year.  The last few weeks I've been finishing up a couple of other projects, including working on our house.  As soon as I finish up a few of those, I plan to switch back into creative mode again.  I have more ideas and flowers to make.  One challenge I want to attempt is to go bigger!

a few more new 2016 pieces

Here are some more newly finished pieces.  I will be at the Spring Bloom Art Festival in Bloomington IL next Saturday.  If you are in the area come and check us out.

The Thistle is 8"x8"

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Flame Flower is 8"x6"

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Blue Swirls is 6"x6"

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Grape Vine is 8"x8"

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2016 Flower Copper Tiles some finished pieces

I've spent the last month working and riding a creative wave. I was accepted into Spring Bloom so I knew I needed to increase my stock. I just finished putting all the finishing touches on 6 new pieces. I'm hoping to finish 4-5 more before the Spring Bloom show.

Twin Buds is 6"x8" and then in a 1 inch frame.

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Lime Crown is 8"x8" and then in a 1inch frame

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Remember when it was 2015?

Yeah, back last summer when I was still attempting to blog?  And then life happened as usual and we went on vacation, we planned and had our bathroom and part of our kitchen redone, R started soccer, and then he started school!  I went back to work 5 days a week, slashing my creative time to nothing.  BUT I did start a new position at work and it's been fabulous.  I trained and ran in 2 5K's.  There has been a lot of adjusting.  I was in two other art fairs last year, and I was in two galleries over the holidays.  It was a good year for me.

This year is starting off just as busy.  I am already prepping for my first art fair.  I've applied to 3 this year, and have heard back and been accepted into Spring Bloom in Bloomington IL again.  I loved this show last year.  It is a one day show and it's super early this year, Saturday March 12 from 10 to 4.  It is in the Brown Ball room at ISU...which is a new venue.  I'm upgrading my booth this year to display my copper tile series.  I am just as smitten with this technique as I was last year at this time when I was developing it. 

Have I mentioned that my website is live again?  www.crymsonflower.com is up and I have a gallery of all my copper tiles on the site.  I haven't and I'm not sure if I will, put the tiles on Etsy.  But if anyone is interested in a tile, email me and I can send you a price and we can go through there.  I still have my Etsy shop, and right now plan to keep it with my flowers and ornaments. 

This space will probably be pretty quiet.  My hope if to post pictures of pieces as I finish them.  But if you want to see the pieces come together, and see them as soon as I finish them...follow me on instagram.  I post flower pics, beading pics, flaming copper pics, life pics.  I enjoy that platform most.  You can find me @crymsonflower

Both of the pieces in the pictures are on my work table and in progress.  Exciting flowers are being made in 2016!

More Works in Progress

Here is another copper piece that I've been playing with.  I love the shape of this flower.  It will look great in many different color combos.  Unfortunately, I freeze up every time I try and and start another one.  I can't quite pick a color combo that I'm in love with enough to redo this flower.  Silly, I know.  And I'll get over it.

So I've had this idea lately to try braiding the wire for an interesting flower stem.  This was my first attempt.  I haven't found a whole lot of braiding tutorials online.  Mostly just the same braids over and over again.  I think that calls for a trip to the book store to see what I can come up with there.  But for my first attempt at the mermaid braid I think it turned out pretty good.  

I think the piece need a single leaf just for a finishing touch.  And then it'll be done.  

Life

I've had lots of posts in my head over the last few months and very rarely was I sitting in front of my computer when I thought of them.  Or maybe I didn't have a photo ready and who reads a blog post w/out photos?  Well to put that in perspective who reads a blog post if it's never written down?

When I was pregnant w/ my second monster I was as most people are, huge, swollen, and uncomfortable.  Some how in my hormone induced brain I decided that running a 5K would be an awesome thing to do... after I had the baby of course.  Much to my surprise this thought stayed planted in my head.  It actually became a goal.  I'm not a runner, I've never really enjoyed it.  But being able to run a 5K seems like a big (for me) thing to have on my bucket list.  So this spring I downloaded the Couch to 5K app on my shiny new iphone.  I also joined instagram.  The two are separate but I really enjoy snapping pictures of flowers that I run by and posting them on my instagram account.  I've been enjoying it so much that I put a widget on the side of the blog here to share. 

My 5K is scheduled for July 11.  The worst time of year for a first time 5K.  At first my goal was to run it w/out walking.  But I won't be ready for that.  I'm excited about it though.  So far in my training I can run 2.3 miles with only stopping to walk 2 or 3 times depending on how hot it is outside.  I've been feeling my muscles wake up and firm up.  It's pretty amazing. 

This is our week back from vacation.  It was a lovely trip with lots of family, hanging out on the boats, fishing, eating and drinking.  Now that birthday parties are over and vacations have been had I've been trying to get myself to relax and bead.  I  have 3 almost done copper tiles, that I should finish.  I have fleeting glimpses of color inspiration or flower inspiration, but haven't really been able to hold on to any of them. 

Two days ago I came across a small art show in Warrenville Il, which is near family.  I emailed for details, the show is in September.  Enough time to get some inspired work accomplished...if I really work at it.  Which might be what I need.  A deadline looming.  Something to be excited about.  I printed out an application, so we'll see where that goes.

Can you see it? a work in progress

May has been a crazy month.  There have been birthday's, cookouts, Aunt's visiting from out of state, registrations for kindergarten, and meetings with contractors for updating the house.  My oldest turns 5 in two weeks!  And we are having a batman party.  I have been working on making capes and masks for our guests.  N is getting a brand new blanket  for our upcoming vacation.  Yep we leave in 3 weeks for Hayward WI, for a nice, attempt to relax with two kids.  And while the sewing machine is out I'm going to make a picnic blanket for a gift for a friend.

While all this has been going on I managed to find some inspiration again.  It took a small hiatus when I found out I couldn't do the Botanic Garden show.  But after spending lots of my extra minutes on Pinterest I think I've found it again.  What do you see in the picture above?  It is my next and to me so far very exciting Copper Tile piece.  What do you think it will be?