"Mia Familia"

 My Family Tree

 

I first want to say my family tree project was inspired by a picture
I had seen on Pinterest. Megan Petros' blog, No Dime Design,
had done her own remake of a family tree from
Wallverbs Family Tree. It's a great blog, you need to check it out!

Anyways, thank you Megan Petros!

This is the beginning of my design. I used that cling on vinyl you can buy at
any craft store. I first measured my space on my wall and what I had to work with.
Then I started cutting out strips of the vinyl and placing them on
an open space on the floor. (so no, this is not my wall, it's just an area rug.
thank goodness, right? That would be pretty busy wallpaper!!!)

these are the stages of the tree

Tree stump with the root of it being Family!!!

My second inspirer was famous quiller, Yulia Brodskaya
She does the most 'awesome' artwork with quilling that I have ever seen!!!
Her webpage is a "must see". You're mouth will drop open when you see
what beautiful art, paper can create!!
Anyway, I knew I wanted to include quilling in my family tree. (Yulia's work actually
brought my passion of quilling, back into my life. Yeah, thank you, Yulia!!!)
I did one practice one on paper before I made this one on canvas.
I really didn't have a pattern of any sort, I most of the time, just create
as I go!

All four placards, had different designs but 

same technique and colors

 I, then, knew I wanted to create a collage of pictures, blended with canvases of quillings. So I created name placards of the generation that is no longer with us. Which would be mine, and my husband's grandparents. His grandparents I never got to meet, and I believe he only met them once when he was little. He only met one of my grandmothers before she past away. (I also figured it's kind of a nice way to honor them)

 As you can see, I moved things around quite a bit, until I was really happy with it.
In this one, the only quilling I had done was the tree stump. (I even ended up
moving some of the lines of the tree. And since I used the vinyl cling on, I was
able to do that easily with out leaving a sticky goo on my walls.)

This was the start of this canvas.

The next quilling canvas I wanted to do would have the word
'Love' on it. (because that is what makes a family grow)

I actually thought of leaving the heart the way it was up above. It kind of had little abstract look to it. But I didn't. I kind of created the letters on my own.

This is my own design. And I was so happy and pleased with it when I was done, I made one, similar for my sister!I used my 'Serendipity' style to fill in the heart. (S shape coils) Down in the corner I tried the white puffy paint with paint over it to give an embossed technique. (not too sure I like it so I didn't do it on the other corners)

 Next, I wanted to add our family initials to show my husband's side
and my side of our families.

This project didn't really cost me much either. Most of my frames were
from the .99cent store. The colors I chose for my quilling pieces are the
colors I have throughout my home. (not so much turquoise as that vintage aqua color)
If you notice, in the center is a carved piece of art, of the Blessed Virgin Mary
with the Infant Jesus. (I wished it was 'The Holy Family', but I received
this as a gift and figured since it was carved out of wood, it would be
perfect there. I really wish it had St. Joseph there too)
 I believe that in my family, we should always try to have
God as the center and focus of our family!
(because that is what feeds our family)

I had actually, almost, finished this project about 5 months ago, but was waiting on
two pictures, to make it complete.

The base of the tree is the stump and word 'family', then I have our grandparents wedding pictures with their name placards, then the next level is our parents wedding pictures, then our wedding picture and at the very top are the pictures of our three children. (their pics are when they were at the ages of 2)

This is the completed project!!!
I know, there is a picture missing. Well, both my husband's grandparents
came here from Italy, and no one here has been able to trace
his dad's parents heritage. So with that, no one has a picture
of their wedding day or any other picture of just the two of them together.
(I always have that 'want to know' everything I can find about our family's history. And back then
 immigrants had a much harder time coming here to America. My dad's parents were second generation here from Italy and my mother's parents were first generation from Slovakia. Alot of great history!!) Anyway, I still have hope that I will find a picture to put in that
last frame!

I had so much inspiration to do this family tree wall, I hope that
 'it' may touch your
inspiration!!

:0)

Polish Pottery Eggs

I actually painted these for my mom, this last Christmas.

It was fun! But now that I have given

Polish Pottery designs a try on canvas, using quilling,

I am really having fun! The many different

inspired designs are all unique in their own way. 

And all very beautiful!

I'm trying to figure out what design  I want to quill for her 

next time.

(My kids just started school, so I haven't had as much time
to create. So my next few posts might be
projects from the past that I will resurrect and share with you!)
I do hope you enjoy them, even so!!
 Blasts from the past!

:0)

In Memory, Aurora CO

IN MEMORY

John Larimer: 27-year-old in the U.S. Navy

Jessica Ghawi: Recently survived Toronto mall shooting, 24-years-old

Micayla Medek: 23-year old

Jon Blunk: 26-year-old killed shielding girlfriend, Jansen Young

Alex Teves: 24-year-old who recently earned master's degree

Alexander "AJ" Boik: 18-year-old recently graduated high school
Gordon Cowden: 51-year-old father of two
Rebecca Wingo: 32-year-old
Matt McQuinn: 27-year-old shot and killed while shielding his girlfriend, Samantha Yowler
Veronica Moser-Sullivan: Six-year-old whose mother Ashley Moser is in critical condition
Jesse Childress: 29-year-old taff sergeant with Buckley Air Force Base (Pic unavailable)
Little Unborn Baby to Ashley Moser

Sometimes,.....we can't understand the things of this world! (I know I can't)

And nothing, and I mean nothing, except for the Love of God, 

can we keep our hope and strength!

This post is dedicated to the families that lost a loved one,

in the incomprehensible shooting, in Aurora Colorado.

I found out about this when I turned on my computer, on MSN.

Right away I became sooooo emotionally immersed, in respects to the

families who lost a loved one. My heartfelt prayers, go out to all of you!

I, also, continue to pray for those who were fortunate to get away, but now, have that

unforgettable memory of what happened that night.

May the Love of God give you all healing and

peace in your hearts, minds and beings.

In memory, I was moved to give something, which is really, nothing,

to all of you and the city of Aurora Colorado.

Aurora Co. Municipal Center, city hall.

This is the Colorado state flower. The 'Lavender Columbine'.

 

Everything on this piece is a symbol in some way to the morning of 7-20-12.

The ribbon, hearts and the Colorado state flag,.............represents love and strength.

Columbine flower,...........is in remembrance

Lavender background,.........showing my deepest sympathy

59 yellow hearts in the center,..........for those who were injured

12 tear drops (in white and black).............black for those whose lives were taken, and the

                                                     ..............white for the mere innocence of them being there

One large tear drop...............for the tears that are shed for the grieving families and friends

One tiny tear drop..............for the little life of unborn baby to Ashley Moser (who I, dreadfully,                                                       heard  about later)

Sometimes our inspiration comes from things like pain and saddness.

I'm saddened that's what came to be!

 May God Bless and Be With You All!

Pope Benedict XVI said, he was praying for all “as a pledge of consolation and strength” for God.

I also want to pray for the parents of the young man that took these lives. I can't imagine

their confusion and state of mind. I can't believe they ever thought they were raising their child to do something like this!( I always pray for the evil to have a change of heart, because then,.....

 evil would not exist!)

Share and Tell Part:II Embossing

Embossing

This is one of those parts of paper crafting that I love so much.

Embossing brings paper to life! 

Above is a picture of a placemat. It has a bit of cushion to it. It is perfect

for embossing. (another lil' tidbit), I also have a measuring tape, taped to the edge of my table.

It's so convenient when measuring, cutting, and marking quilling papers.
Or anything in use at your table!

Leaves cut from a punch tool

Embossing on a piece of placemat! Look how those

 leaves come to life!

Here the leaves are added to a quilled piece. 

 This is what is sooooooo fun with paper! You can do soooooooooo

many things with it. And create 'til there's no tomorrow!!!

Here's the finished project!

I am so ready for Fall!!
I feel that the colors in fall, are MY colors.
They just make me feel my best!!!

But here in Southern CA, it's not one of our truest seasons. 

Many other states can really brag about the colors they get!
But I'll take what we get!
Come on Autumn bring on your COLORS!!!

:0)

Share and Tell Part I: Glues

Thought I'd share and tell, some of my
techniques that I use. They might be helpful to you too.
I know you can go on any blog, about quilling, and learn so
many different techniques. Some you may use and others you
try and may not like. But that's the beauty of sharing info because you grab
what works for you! I hope that this will be helpful.

GLUE

The little bottle with the metal nozzle I bought when doing my Faberge' egg art. I will get info on where to purchase them and share that with you! (the info is buried somewhere in my craft room) The Martha Stewart gel adhesive
I'm just trying. It has a sponge applicator. I'm not totally sure I like it yet.

 The Sobo glue is in the little bottle. I use that instead of using a toothpick and glob of glue when gluing coils. Just a tiny amount comes out. It's perfect!

This glob of glue is Elmers glue.

See how thin the upper part of the glue is, on the lid? It's almost transparent. That's how you want it.

Now for gluing small things, I put a glob of Elmers glue on a plastic lid, and
rotate the lid until the glob turns into a real thin, wider glob of glue. I then tap my
quilled piece into it. (because the glue is sooooo shallow, it only gets on the very
edges of the paper.) After doing that often enough, you'll know how much you need
for each project. It usually stays wet enough to finish a project. And sometimes
it works better once it's been sitting a little. It gets a little tackier.
I used this technique on all of my "Francesca crosses" with all of the open
"S" shapes. If you have all your shapes made, it just helps
gluing and placing them, go much smoother. If
you feel like you have too much glue on a quilling, tap it on a piece of
paper to remove some, before actually placing it where you want it. (until you get the hang of it)
It's amazing how far a little dab of glue will go.
And then the fun part, once the glue has dried on the lid you can
peel it right off. Get ready for your next project.

If you have any gluing ideas that you'd like to share please feel free to post them, or
connecting links.
It's your time to
"SHARE AND TELL"

:0)