Another Santa

I had so much fun creating the first Santa collage I made another.

There is something I find very inspiring in the process of using vintage laces and trims.  Wondering who they belonged to and what they were used for.  Then to give them new life for others to enjoy. Plus I just love to work with fabrics and trims to see what might happen when they are combined.  Sometimes it is magic.  Other times, well, it needs to sit and be worked out a bit.  That is where I am with my Elves.

I found elves are particular and don't play well with others unless they are in charge!

Santa time!

Santa time is getting closer.  I was inspired to today to create a Santa collage.  Ok, I admit, I had dreams of making many of these and sending them out as Christmas cards.  But as usual, here it is Dec 14th and I just made the first one.  Here is the finished card...or is it a quiltie? I'm not sure what to call it?

The photo is one of my handmade Santa Candy Containers that I photoshopped.  

Here is the original photo and then what it looks like after I did some magic.

I took the photo and printed it out on Inkjet cotton to make it look cool.  I figured I had seen others take photos and make them into fabric collages, how hard could it be?  I could whip out 10 of these in an afternoon and send them to special friends.  HA! It is more difficult than it looks.  Or maybe I am just too picky.

It took quite a while to come up with the perfect combination of fabrics and trims.  I will also add a ribbon at the top so the recipient can hang this in their home.  I hope she likes it!

Tomorrow I will try this again using one of my Elves.  

And also do a few more Santas.  They were fun.

Here is the Santa Candy Container I made.  He holds a antique broken doll from Germany which I repaired and a dog I molded from one of the broken German dog figurines. 

Chinese Tea

Creating these 9 RODs for my friends has me thinking alot about China.  It was an amazing experience and I feel the need to start sharing bits and pieces with the world.  Or you 5 people who are reading my blog.

Anyway today I decided to treat myself and have some of the Chinese Tea I purchased while over there.

We were in Xi'an and at one of the stops visited a Tea House.  If I remember correctly it was at the TerraCotta warriors.  

A beautiful Chinese girl ( she looked so young) performed a proper Tea ceremony for us.  I'm a tea drinker and it was wonderful for me.  Of course I knew she was only doing this to sell us teas. 

It was interesting to see how they prepare tea in China.  First she poured the tea thru the leaves to wash them and threw the water away.  Then she poured more water thru the strainer and it was tea.  No steeping for 2 + minutes as I usually do.  We were all given little cups to try the teas.  She used a terracotta pot for a few teas to give them a different flavor, which is what she is holding in the photo.

This morning I got to dream I was in China again.  I got out my special tea and realized I had no idea how to prepare it.  I have been drinking loose leaf for years and know certain teas have to be made certain ways or they are no good.  This was a special tea, a green tea, from a foreign land, how was it made?  It is called Dragon well.  I googled it hoping to find something.  And to my surprise I found it is a popular tea, available right here in my own backyard at Teavana!  ARGH!!  Here I thought I had something rare!  

Anyway, at least I know when my stash is gone, I can buy more.  It is GOOD!

Finished China RODs!!

YES!!  I did it!!  I created 9 RODs in 4 days.  It's a miracle!  It was so much fun.  I hope the recipients will love them as much as I do.

In June I was fortunate enough to travel to China with a group of 11 other people for 2 weeks.  It was an amazing adventure.  I think about China every day.  

Monday Dec 6th we are having a reunion as we have not seen each other since.  I  have made these books as a surprise for my friends, hoping they will use them to store their precious memories and treasures they picked up along the way.

The books are small, 6" x 6".  The outside is a red Chinese brocade with green dragons.  Inside is a print with Chinese characters.  I also added a plastic pocket.

I'm a bit nervous giving these as gifts, as I don't know how they will be received.  

Check out my flickr site for more photos.

Inspiration?

Why is it, for me anyway, inspiration always comes late.  Such as if tomorrow were Christmas, I would have a ton of ideas for gifts to make for family and friends.  Why doesn't this hit say back in July,when I have the time and can really create all this stuff rolling around in my head.

Well, the inspiration bug has hit and bit big time.  The background for my story is, in June I was chosen to travel to China with the most amazing group of people.  It was a gift from my college.  While I was there, being the *collector* that I am,  I came home with 4 plastic bags filled with stuff.  Of course it is all written in Chinese, but I still love it all.

I have been thinking about putting it all into a special book, which is why I joined the ROD group, as it seemed perfect for what I wanted to do.  Only I have to much I really didn't know where to start.

Oh?  The project that has driven me over the edge?  We are having a reunion on Monday, and of course 2 days ago I decided that I wanted, no, needed to make a special ROD type book for each person.  There were 12 of us.  And they have to be done by Monday 3pm.  11 books in 5 days.  I can hear you laughing and shaking your head.

Yesterday I was out, running around trying to get everything together.  I worked late into the night, also trying to figure out what I am doing.  Fingers crossed I will get more accomplished today!  Once I finish a page I will show my progress!