LOVE: a Challenge!

Ahh, February, the month of Amore!

"There are as many ways of loving as there are people in the world." 

~Mary Calderone

(more about this card at the end of this post)

Throughout the world, many symbols are used to express love.  Here, I concern myself with one, the most recognizable, the heart.

The ♥ symbol has long been used to express the core of a human--physically or emotionally, spiritually, and morally.  Even farther back in time, the ♥ was used to express the intellectual core of a person, the seat of the human mind.  Today, in our culture, we associate the ♥ with love.  

So without further ado, I introduce you to my favorite etsy team's February Challenge:

"In February we celebrate Valentine's Day.  My challenge to you: Create a love-themed item.  You can write a creative love letter, make a valentine, make a love-themed home decor item, etc.  Be Creative and Have Fun!"

This Challenge was presented by Edi of Memories for Life in honor of the Month of Love

I was inspired to get my fabric dyes out and create some heart shapes on clothing.

THIS

and THIS

 

became THIS

became THIS

and

THIS

I recently purchased cotton wash cloths and had already tie dyed some.  I wanted to create painted ones, too.  So I started the process of dyeing 4 cloths:

1.  tie 3 circles on each of 2 cloths

2.  soak all 4 in solution; wring out

3.  dye the circles and background color

4.  cure for 24 hours

5.  untie and wash

6.  soak all 4 in solution; wring out

7.  let dry

8.  paint

9.  let cure for 24 hours

10. wash and dry

That is the process in brief!

To paint, I laid out my towels (lovely, aren't they?!) and set up my supplies.

I mixed powdered dye with thickener and water and began to paint!  (You can faintly make out the 3 circles--soon to be flowers--in the photo above.)

the flowers start to take shape

and more hearts

hearts

 At this point the cloths are still thick with the dye paint.  After curing and washing, they look like this:

All the above can be found in my etsy shop, Splendid Little Stars. 
(In answer to a question in the comments below:  No, my dyed items do NOT bleed!  I use professional dye and have perfected my processes over a number of years!) 

To see what other teammates have created for this challenge, check out our team BLOG at the end of February.

LINKS: 

  Timeline: Heart in History, PBS

 Symbols.com  

Blogging Business Artisans monthly Challenges

Blogging Business Artisans February Challenge
 

more about the team and monthly challenges:

A new etsy team--Blogging Business Artisans--was launched last October. This team was formed to support and help its members grow artistically and professionally.  It's been a great joy to be a member of this team!

The idea was conceived of holding monthly challenges to help us grow and stretch our imaginations.  Team members must complete 6 of the 12 challenges within a year.
The first challenge, "New Techniques," was presented by Deb of storybeader  See my entry "New Mittens, Old Sweater!  a Challenge!" HERE. 

I'm linking up with my favorite teacher, Ms Jenny Matlock!  See others' completed homework assignments HERE. Come join in!  This week our letter is "L."

more about the card:

I put this card together at my friend Ginny Lee's house last night.  She made the wonderful heart with the flower.  The glittery red felt heart has a front and back hand stitched together.  The white heart is hand stitched to the red heart.  The flower (She made it!) and pearl are glued on.  The heart along with its attached paper clip is a bookmark that can be removed!  A lot of work and love went into this!  Thanks, Ginny Lee!

photos by me © 2012 all rights reserved

Treasury Round Up

I've been featured in some lovely treasuries lately!  Many thanks to the treasury makers!  
(All treasuries and items within the treasuries are clickable.)

Nicole of Knit Nicole Knit featured my snowman T shirt in 
Grape Jelly.

Nicole knits lovely Items such as this blue infinity scarf.  She also makes very pretty earrings.








Judy of JN Originals  featured my pink silk scrunchie in her treasury 
Pink and Blue Just for You.

Judy makes lovely knitted and felted items such as this pretty blue bowl.  In her shop you'll find head warmers, flower brooches, needlebook covers






Judy also featured my tie dye washcloths in another treasury entitled 
Chasing the Rainbow.

Judy has a shop called Mister PenQuin where she sells her wonderful handmade journals, cards, and clipboards such as this mini brag book.










Gayle of Home Style Market featured my moss green and soft turquoise silk scrunchie in her treasury 
My Favorite Color.

Gayle makes beautiful pillows such as this one.










Jewelry by Annemieke featured my margarita hand dyed silk scarf in her treasury 
Margarita Green.

Jewelry by Annemieke sells lovely earrings, bracelets, and necklaces such as this blue Picasso jasper with Tibetan silver and hand linked Romanov chain bracelet.








Sinéad of Irish Viking Designs included my tie dyed wash cloths in her treasury 
colors colours everywhere.

Sinéad's shop is filled with her photography and original art  such as this fine art print "festive."  She sells cards as well.  

Sarah of Magnolia Surprise featured my red silk scrunchie in her treasury

My Love is like a Red, Red Rose.

Sarah has wonderful crocheted items in her shop such as this cute set of play heart cookies.

Linda of lindab142 included my red silk scrunchie in her treasury 

Valentine's Day Gifts.

Linda makes lovely secular and Jewish jewelry, beaded wire kippot, magnets, beaded bookmarks, and accessories.  These heart earrings are lovely!









Janet of Honey From the Bee included my pastel tie dyed washcloths in her treasury 
Valentine's Gifts for Me.

Janet sells lovely handmade jewelry, inspired by her passion for nature, travel, and the creative life.  This shabby chic vintage button bracelet is very pretty!

Sarmite of Sasa's Handcrafts created this lovely treasury  
Red.  

Sarmite's shop is filled with beautiful knitted baby booties, blankets, cardigans, and sets.  I love this sweet hand knitted booties and bonnet set with crocheted flowers and edging.

I'm linking my Treasury Round Up with Rose's blog Random Creative.   Come see more treasuries here and link up your own treasury posts!  Rose will leave the linky up through this Saturday.

photos by each individual artist © 2011-2012  all rights reserved!

Blogging Business Artisans

Late last year, I participated in the creation of a new team on etsy--Blogging Business Artisans.  We are a creative group of artists, focused on business, and having fun along the way.  I introduced you to the charter members HERE and a few more members HERE.  Now, meet 3 more members!

Jamie is the proprietress of For Love of Cupcakes.

Jamie's SHOP is filled with hairbows and clips, rosaries, artwork, and more!

Check out Jamie's BLOG to learn more about her life with her sweet little baby. 
Visit on Mondays and link up with her Make Yourself Monday Blog Hop!
Check out this book review.

Kathy is a fine artist. 

Her SHOP features watercolor paintings, pen and ink, drawings, mixed media, and prints.  I love her ACEOs!

This print, Your Best Friend is one of my favorites!

Many of her works feature the animals she loves, especially horses.  Here's what she says about her art:

"I have loved art as long as I have loved horses. Now I love to share paintings of my horses and paintings of some of the other critters that have wandered through my life. My artwork is inspired by the beauty of God’s creation and by memories from my past."

In her BLOG she shares about her life with her fun sense of humor.  Here's a current POST about her life in the country.  HERE  she share progress on drawing some VERY special furry ones!


Janet, of Honey From the Bee,

has a SHOP filled with jewelry "inspired by my passion for nature, travel, and the creative life."

In her BLOG, Janet speaks of inspiration, travel, nature, and her creative life.  Learn a little bit more about Janet on her POST Six Word Memoir.  Meet Daisy and Moose in this POST, Let Sleeping Dogs Lie.




I look forward to sharing more members with you!

"The focus of Blogging Business Artisans (BBA) is to promote our etsy shops, blogs, and one another with fun activities and via various social media. We will have monthly artistic challenges, treasuries, and giveaways. The BBA is planning fun social activities such as Secret Santa, link parties, and a blog hop."

LINKS:
team on etsy
BLOG where we post introductions to our members, their art, and interests.  You will also find a list of our members and their contact information.  Informative business articles are posted here as well.  Additionally, there are links to our upcoming team challenges.
facebook
twitter  
my POST on BBA charter members

MORE  members
FABULOUS multi item GIVEAWAY 

CONTEST DEADLINE:

February 21, 2012 at 11am central

CONTEST ELIGIBILITY:

Contest open worldwide

© all photos and images are the property of the above individual artists.  all rights reserved

Fabulous Giveaway!

I love this new etsy team to which I belong!  Just look at this wonderful team giveaway happening in February!  Our inspiration is the "month of love."  We want to share with you, so come on over and enter.  Winner takes all!

This is my contribution ↓

a luxurious hand dyed silk velvet zipper pouch in vibrant red, lined with quilted silk.  Two hand crocheted (made by my friend Ginny Lee) flowers and a shell-pink button are sewn onto the front.  (5" x 3 ¼")


This giveaway is open world wide!  Enter now!
February's Giveaway -- Team Wide Love Event !
You have till February 21, 2012 at 11am central, but you don't want to wait!

photos by me and the individual shop owners © 2012   all rights reserved

Tennessee Woman Suffrage Memorial

Yesterday, I showed some scenes from a trip to Knoxville, Tennessee.  I posted a photo of the Tennessee Woman Suffrage Memorial, stating that it needed its own post.

 Elizabeth Avery Merriwether, Lizzie Crozier French, and Anne Dallas Dudley

These women were active in the Tennessee Suffrage Movement.

Elizabeth Avery Merriwether (1864-1916)

■  held the first Tennessee public meeting in1876 to discuss women's rights

■  delegate to the National Suffrage Convention in 1879

published her own newspaper, The Tablet 

■  inspired by the news of Susan B. Anthony's attempted 1872 vote, Elizabeth Avery Merriwether dared to vote in the 1876 Presidential election and reported:

"...when I tested the matter I was allowed to cast my ballot.  Whether it was counted I cannot say.  But counting my ballot was not important; what was important was to focus public attention to the monstrous injustice of including educated women with felons and lunatics as persons denied the right of suffrage."

Lizzie Crozier French (1851-1926)

■  President, Tennesse Equal Suffrage Association

■  Founder, Knoxville Equal Suffrage Association

■  In response to the argument that women should not vote because they could not serve in the army:

"Bullets and ballots are not companions; but ballots in the hands of people are supposed to be a substitute for bullets in the hands of hired agents...Thanks be to God that in giving woman the crown of motherhood he made her the giver not the taker of life.  Woman has no greater claim to the rights of the ballot than that she is the producer not a destroyer of life."

Anne  Dallas Dudley (1876-1955)

■  President, Tennesse Equal Suffrage Association

■  First President, National Equal Suffrage League

■  prominent statewide leader

■  in her words:

"We have a vision, a vision of a time when a woman's home will be the whole wide world, her children all those whose feet are bare, and her sisters all who need a helping hand:  a vision of a new knighthood, a new chivalry, when men will fight not only for women but for the rights of women."

LINKS: 
Elizabeth Avery Merriwether  bio
Lizzie Crozier French  bio
Anne Dallas Dudley  bio
The Nineteenth Amendment and the War of the Roses article August 18, 1920
Harriet Stanton Blatch (1856-1940)  bio and bio
Abigail Scott Dunaway (1834-1915)  bio
document to Congress from The American Woman Suffrage Association (original)

history Women's Rights Conventions from Women's Rights  National Historical Park  

information Women's Rights National Historical Park, Seneca Falls, New York

This post was shared on Suffrage Buffs of America on facebook! 

photos by me © 2010 all rights reserved

the heart of Knoxville

On the way to visit my daughter in Asheville, North Carolina, my hubby and I (and sometimes our son) will often stop in downtown Knoxville for a meal.  This is such a wonderful spot with Krutch Park and Market Square.  Charles Krutch Park is an acre of natural scenery featuring a pond, a stream, and temporary artworks.  Market Square, which began in 1854 as a marketplace for farmers, features restaurants, shops, and bubbling fountains.

Come along with me and see a few of the sites!

Enter Krutch Park...

A stream runs through this verdant oasis in the middle of a city.

The Storyteller by Mike Roig

8' x 3' x 2'  painted steel  $8,000

Mother and Child by Gordon Chandler

8.5' x 5' x 4.5' welded, painted steel

looking through Trinity by Douglas Gruizenga 7' x 7' x 3' aluminum

Now cross the street to Market Square...

Tennessee Woman Suffrage Memorial

(This deserves a post all to itself!  more information HERE)

We like to eat at "the Tomato Head" which is farther down on the left.

Market Square is on the National Register of Historic Places.  Farmers still gather to sell their products. The Square currently hosts many events including concerts, political rallies (like suffrage in the past), and open air ice skating in Winter.  It is a gathering place for families, artists, street musicians, and activists.  

 

a little alleyway retreat between buildings

bell from the old Market House (note police on bicycles)

time to leave the Square and head back through the park


I hope you've enjoyed this little Summer trip to the heart of Knoxville! 

LINKS:

► detailed POST on Tennessee Woman Suffrage Memorial (The women of the USA have so much to be thankful for in these brave women of past generations!)
!!! The above post got shared on Suffrage Buffs of America on facebook!
► MAP  City of Knoxville, map of Krutch Park and Market Square
► interactive MAP of the area
► the Tomato Head   
► Mike Roig
► Gordon Chandler
► Douglas Gruizenga website with a picture of the full "Trinity"       bio    

I've completed my homework assignment this week!  Therefore, I'm linking up HERE with the rest of Ms Jenny's class.  This week we studied the letter "K."


photos by me © 2010 all rights reserved