These are ready for leaves, stems and “planting instructions” — two large, two medium and two small Sunflowers made of vintage cork, pine cone scales and acorns. They will be finished with antique lamp parts and iron bars or metal poles for garden stakes. Refind Creations – designed by me, inspired by creation – the art of nature.
©Belindabotzong2018
Doing my art is part of my vacation plan. These have been so popular lately I sold out at the art market! That was amazing! We are going to refill the milk can when we return with my new sunflowers. They are partial to shade and prefer to be out of the rain but they are sturdy enough to be outside. Like many of your real plants they need to be brought in by first frost!!
My space at Whatcom Art Market will be completely redesigned next week so come check it out! Clearance prices on candles and succulents as I transition to a new focus on flowers and seasonal themes. Fall will bring many Refind projects in leaves, rust and roses, and Art Inspired by Nature.
©Belindabotzong2018
Rainstorms in September are still colored in shades of summer. Black Eyed Susan and a few sunflower petals illuminated by that sunny-rainy mix as autumn approaches illuminates my heart as well
©Belindabotzong2018
Where do the colors go
When petals fade away
Leaving tones of brown and gray
Do the hues of blue drip down into the ground
Following fractals to the ocean to create brilliant waterways filled with shades from turquoise to topaz to slate
Or do the blues paint themselves across the sky on bright brilliant days and the yellows fill the sun with its splendor then melt into the sea at the end of the day?
Do the purples and pinks mix and swirl with the yellows and reds
To pour themselves into the sunset or the sunrise in delightful new displays
Where do the colors go?
I save the colors in bowls and pails to create a palette of nature’s beauty to be Refind
©Belindabotzong2018
Close your eyes
Feel the cool breeze waft over the bay
Feel the setting sun upon your tear stained cheeks
Ponder the joy, sorrow, bittersweet and victorious life you have
Listen to the calls of she gulls and he gulls as they dip and soar
Smell the briny air as it freshens your spirit
Open your blurry eyes filled with tears of renewal, strength and refreshment
See the sunset reflecting in the bay, the stormy clouds on the horizon alight with glorious fire and see the gentle slope of Lummi and Orcas Islands
Ponder, pray, praise, visualize.
©Belindabotzong2018
Today on facebook I was happily surprised to find out that my idea for scanning in found objects is not original! I have been scanning in rocks, sea glass, and lately a multitude of dried, pressed, or fresh flowers rather than taking photos because the effect of scanning is so incredibly detailed and beautiful, unique, and amazing!
Here are a few of my latest creations which will be used in some way in my upcoming creations for the Whatcom Art Market space. I am also happy to report that ALL 6 of my Sunflowers have now sold, along with a few candles, succulents, and postcards. Thank you to all of those who were kind enough to shop and buy some of my creations! It makes my heart very happy that you found something that hopefully brings you joy. My favorite customer today was my mother-in-law, who would not take them from me, but insisted on buying a candle and some post cards to support my success. Ah, so sweet!
Enjoy a few of these latest creations and let me know what you think!
©Belindabotzong2018
Trial number two
Pretty sure this is only a summer outdoor activity.. very messy and in need of air drying so it’s good I got this wild hair in July rather than December!
This time I skipped the newspaper and brown paper bags that got me to a near cardboard material last time. Not that it can’t be used for something in the future but I still have visions of soft white pretty paper…
So I bought reams of printer paper from someone on Facebook for two bucks. And a shredder from amazon.. and I sat outside last week shredding five pages at a time … the limit of the shredder.., and made a big bag of it!
During this week I also dried some raspberry vines and lots of flowers and crushed them
My first couple batches were a little iffy but by the end I think I came out with some fairly nice pieces.. still not soft like I imagine.. but I think the white and streaks of yellow from the dried leaves can be part of a bigger collage I have in my head.
Papermaking has proved to be exceedingly messy and harder than I imagined but it’s satisfying so next time I’m going for cotton!
©Belindabotzong2018
Ever get an idea that consumes your brain
Watch YouTube videos of perfectly coiffed people doing exactly what you want to do
Read blog after article taking notes on the how’s and how nots
Find a flea market selling just the right stuff — antique window screens!
Goodwill bargains for tissue paper and miscellaneous
Refusing to believe that I could whip this creation up in my own kitchen and remain perfectly coiffed
I set up shop in the back yard on the hottest day of the year
I find a blender in the linen closet- a remnant if my sons bachelor pad and buy it from him for $20 so I don’t mess up my smoothie making ninja!
Got a bag of newspaper and a tub for water, following the directions I whip up my first batch.. scoop it onto the screen .. sop it up with an old towel and try to remove it from the screen, scraping carefully and failing ..
.. gray thin crumbly like an old paper towel ..
sweat pouring down my back down my forehead and down my legs.
This did not happen to YouTube babe in her coordinated outfit and fresh lipstick.
Into the house to spray on sunscreen and revive. I go online and review the steps. Go out to whip up another batch. Still too thin.
I head to the dollar store for more towels and sponges, newsprint stained hands, pony tail askew and bangs plastered to my forehead.
I whip up another batch. Only the blender doesn’t make a peep. No groaning. No moaning. It quit! Sorry ninja you’re on the job!
The sun rises higher in the sky. The sweat beads pour off the tip of my nose. My screen breaks as I pull the first batch. I plop the gob of goo into the dollar store bathmats that pass for hand towels. Not too shabby but difficult to remove. Must need more sludge. Ninja goes to work while I chug lemonade. My son keeps peering through the sliding glass door with concern for his mother’s sanity. I press on and pour dried flower petals into the sludge. Now we’re getting somewhere! The color of the paper concerns me as looking too much like egg cartons– but I’m committed now and this is a learning batch.
My arms are covered in sludge drying like a mud mask. I am drenched and so hot but I’m not giving up til I’m done. My rose colored glasses obviously need a prescription adjustment.
I keep thinking of biblical times and how someone made paper from papyrus! Last night I watched a long YouTube video about a man in Scotland who makes paper from flax.. that he grows from seed himself! Linen paper!
My husband stops by to comment– “cool! Looks like egg carton paper”
Grrr
So I learned — I want to do it again but only use white papers on a very mild day and plenty of actual towels. Dollar store bath mats make funny patterns.
I dumped the sludge bucket on the lawn much to my husbands dismay.. I’m thinking it might actually be the best piece of paper I made all day!!
©Belindabotzong2018
A bowl full of summer
Petals and blossoms
In colors galore
Celebrating creation
Nature’s Confetti
©Belindabotzong2018
Hold the moment
Something precious
Past memories
Future hopes
Something blue
Held by the bride
Refind
Before
©Belindabotzong2018
