Sunday, May 13, 2012

Button Swap Blog Hop - Reveal

First, a very big thank you to Cindy Wimmer of Sweet Bead Studio and the art retreat Art Bliss for hosting this very fun button swap. I haven't collected many buttons over the years (but I've certainly collected a whole lotta' other stuff). This was a lovely way to stretch my creativity. Unfortunately, I could have alternately titled this post "Button Swap Gone Wrong" or "Poppy Gone Wrong".

I sent Cilla two tree of life clay buttons by Christine of beadfreaky on Etsy. I LOVE them! The tree of life has significant meaning for my family as it reminds us of TJ for a good many reasons. I also sent her two mother of pearl hearts that I've had for probably 15 or 20 years? I bought several at a very small bead and button shop that used to be in Freeport. I also drilled several pieces of sea glass to be buttons. Finally, I made a hand-painted stained glass button sealed with Ice Resin. This little culprit is the reason my buttons got in the mail a little bit later than I had hoped as I had to wait for the resin to cure.
 My buttons for Cilla
So, we'll put "Button Swap Gone Wrong" up for consideration first. My partner for the button swap is the lovely Cilla Watkins of Tell Your Girlfriends. Cilla sent me a lovely assortment of buttons - 2 clay floral buttons from Valou Poppy of France, an embossed clay heart button, and a polymer clay button from Jane Perala of Canada. They are all lovely. However, Cilla has yet to receive the buttons I sent to her. (Cilla's buttons did arrive on Friday - YAY!!) Her's came so quickly. I have never mailed internationally before, and I didn't think it would take more than the 6-10 business days (and I thought it would be on the shorter end), but I was intending to mail them out with over three weeks before the reveal. When I went into the stamps.com site to create the postage, it required the phone number of the recipient - I didn't have that. I emailed Cilla and didn't hear back from her (she was on vacation in Mexico the lucky duck). Finally after a week of emailing, I just entered my phone number. That was two weeks ago and she still doesn't have them. Further, I can't see where they are through the stamps.com site, only that they left New Hampshire two weeks ago. I.Am.So.Frustrated. (I'm still not happy with stamps.com). Whenever I've mailed priority through the USPS I can see the actual movement of the package, not through stamps.com. I don't think I'm going to continue to use this service. I am so sorry that you don't have your buttons Cilla. I'm mortified.
 Cillas buttons for me
Now, on to "Poppy Gone Wrong". I intended to make two pieces, a multimedia art piece and a necklace. Well, life always gets in the way and this was a difficult week, so only one piece has been made to date. The other will materialize in the next couple of weeks. I am not an artist, even though my kids have called me that. I am a crafter. I've always wished I was an artist. My sister-in-law Denise is a wonderful artist. I can bluff my way along, but it doesn't come naturally to me. I wish it did. I took decorative painting classes years ago. Anyhoo, when I first laid eyes on the buttons Cilla sent to me, I knew what I wanted to make with the orange poppy button - a piece of art. Kerry Bogert has created some multimedia art pieces over the last few years and I was inspired by the art she created. Mind you, my piece came out nothing like my mind saw it. However, I was relatively happy with it (except the poppy petals are too large - haven't worked with polymer clay in about 16 years) until I decided to darken the edges. Poppy.Gone.Wrong. The bottom and lower right edges are too thick and hard - I should have thinned the paint more so I could rub it in and take some away. It stuck, and stuck good.
Poppies symbolize eternal sleep, consolation and remembrance among other things. As this has been a difficult week with the anniversary of TJ's death and Mother's Day (he passed away on Mother's Day eight years ago), the meanings associated with the poppy were quite fitting. I also found a quote by Sri Sathya Sai Baba, an Indian spiritualist leader, that reminded me of the messages we've always tried to instill in our kids: "Have constructive thoughts, consoling words, compassionate acts." Something I need to remind myself of on occasion as well.

There are lots and lots of creative folks who are sharing their designs today (sorry again, Cilla), grab a cup of coffee or tea and go take a peek - and if you're a mom, Happy Mother's Day to you!


 Kim Roberts and Partner unable to participate at this time.
Pam Ferarri and Stefanie Teufel (will share their reveal on a later date)
Stefanie Teufel and Pam Ferarri (will share their reveal on a later date)

23 comments:

  1. LORI!!! MY BEADS ARRIVED FRIDAY!!!! Yeah!!
    Come on by and see what I made!
    www.tellyourgirlfriends.com

    Thank you so much! They are all amazing and beautiful!!

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  2. Lori!
    I just had to send you the first post quickly then I read your post and looked at what you made. It is beautiful. It isn't gone bad at all!I think you did a fantastic job.
    So, Sorry to hear about T.J.
    Cilla

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  3. Your art is beautiful! I really like the words you added to the design. The buttons that you sent Cilla are gorgeous, glad to see they arrived!

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  4. Love the poppy - such a happy flower, and a happy piece! Great for Mother's Day!

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  5. The poppy is gorgeous! What an amazing gift you gave - God give you some peace - one of my friends lost a daughter in a car accident and she was able to save 11 people....your son will not be forgotten. XOXO

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  6. Your art piece turned out beautifully and is so meaningful. God's blessings to you and your family.

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  7. I totally love your compassion and caring. This is such a beautiful piece, and I pray it will be a blessing to you always. I'm so sorry about the mail mixup, and will look forward to seeing what she makes when they do arrive.

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  8. Lori, you have been through so much throughout this time - I feel for you. And by reading the update, I am so happy that Cilla's buttons arrived! That's fantastic....such a trial you went through to get them where they needed to go. Thank you for your persistence in getting them mailed out.
    I disagree with you - you are far more than a crafter, but an artist yourself. Your mixed media Poppy piece is really beautiful. The scale of the flower, the poignant words, even the border that you so amazingly coordinated with the colors. I am sorry about this difficult Anniversary - on Mother's Day. Sending you a great big hug as you remember TJ. Thank you for participating in the Button Swap.

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  9. Lori this piece is awesome. I didn't realize that Poppies had the significance you talked about...so sweet. Again, my heart goes out to you...

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  10. The POPPIES! Oh wow but these are amazing!

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  11. Lori, oh what a beautiful piece you've created here! I *love* poppies - they're one of my favorite flowers...

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  12. Lori, I love the poppy button! What a great idea to incoporate it into this mixed media project. Very beautiful indeed! Enjoy the day! Erin

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  14. Oops. My typos has been horrible today as I am hopping around. Let's try again,

    Lori - I would not think for a moment that this is not a "Perfect Poppy". It's a beautiful multimedia piece. I too am sorry that mother's Day is a challenging day for you. It is wonderful you can create and express your feelings through your art.

    Tracy

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  15. No one creates perfect. Your poppy is a lovely as any poppy blooming around us now. Your poppy is amazing just like the gift TJ gave with his life. Blessings to all of you.

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  16. Your poppy is beautiful and the message, perfect!!
    TJ sounds like he was an amazing young man ~ hugs!
    Christine

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  17. I don't know what you're talking about this piece of art having 'gone wrong'. I think it's pretty darn amazing. I know for sure it's not some thing I would have thought of or even attempted. You are a brave lady to have taken on this project. I think it turned out fabulously!!

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  18. I think it turned out wonderful. I love the poppy you made as the backdrop for that wonderful button. What a great piece.

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  19. Poppies are my favorite flowers, and I was unaware of the significance of them...so very sorry about this week and the painful memories associated with it..but you are an artist....I love the way it turned out!

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  20. Great work. Sorry for your loss, but your loss was our gain. The piece you made was a work of art! Keep up the great work!

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  21. I think it turned out beautiful! Your polymer poppy is just lovely and works so well with the button.

    I'm sorry for your loss, and that it makes Mother's Day a bit painful for you. Hopefully you have some wonderful memories of TJ to cherish.

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  22. First of all, I want to say that I am sorry for your loss. It is always hard to lose someone so close to us, and we never forget the day we found out-- what kind of a day it was, where we were, how we felt. If it's a "normal" day, that is hard enough, because you'll always remember the day with a tinge of sadness. However, to lose someone on such a "big" day, like a holiday, especially one that is supposed to be a celebration like Mothers' Day, is even harder to deal with because the day becomes associated with that sad moment. I know from experience that things don't get better, so much as they become less painful... but I hope that the latter happens sooner rather than later <3

    Regarding your work, I think the poppy is absolutely lovely-- and it's a perfect match for the button that you used :) Thank you for sharing with all of us on the swap/challenge/hop!

    *~* Julia *~* http://beautifullywhimsical.blogspot.com *~*

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Thanks so much for visiting my blog and leaving a comment! I certainly appreciate your kind words!