Janet from Honey from the Bee asked a couple of us back in July if we'd be up for a challenge to create with a wooden wheel. I'm always up for a challenge, but I admit when I saw the wheel I was more than a little stumped. I had originally thought I might create something nautical like a ships' wheel, but I just could not get my mind around how to create that as a necklace.
So on to plan B. It did just look like a wagon wheel to me, and I wanted to leave it that way. So off to the art store with my daughters who helped me pick out a few things like a shadow box, tiny hay bales and a cute little watering can to use as a planter.Anne, my apprentice, was right by my side as I started to play around with the shadow box. She painted each individual board on the barn (aka Popsicle sticks), and helped me out with craft paper for the field. There was much gluing to bring this to life! She also picked out the miniature weather vane.
Once everything was dry we stained the shadow box (note to self; stain it before you start assembling). I had to re-paint much of it due to the wood stain seeping into everything.
When it was finally done we headed out to the yard to find a Japanese Maple seedling to plant in our little watering can. I have absolutely no idea how to tend to Bonsai, but that didn't stop us. I had in mind that we would be gifting this to a friend Melinda Orr, who said the moment she saw it that it looked just like her barn. I knew that, LOL. The little tree did not make the first round. We had to grab a second by the time we were off to Bead Fest where we were meeting up with Melinda. Anne was so excited to gift this to her and immediately started showing her all the tiny features. I'm hoping that Melinda has a knack for Bonsai. Although I have a yard full of spare seedlings just in case.
Please check out all the other artist's creations: Janet (our host), Christine, Bobbie, Therese, Sally and Hope
Oh! That adorable, Cynthia! LOVE all the details, expecially the painted sunflowers! What a special gift :)
ReplyDeleteDid Anne paint that backdrop?!? She is such a strong artist! The details are fantastic in this little box ~ all the items and the dimension and the colors ~ what a great piece! Melinda must have loved receiving this :-) Has she kept the bonsai alive?
ReplyDeleteWhat a fun project! All those little pieces are so cute and work so well together. I love the tiny Japanese Maple in the watering can!
ReplyDeleteHi Cynthia,
ReplyDeleteI love the shadow box idea! The barn is so awesome and making a cart out of the wheel with tiny hay bales too cute. I love that your daughter Anne was so excited to help you with the project and just as excited to gift it to Melinda.
Therese
Oh, how adorable! I had a feeling that not everyone would make their wheel into jewelry and would surprise us with something beyond that. You definitely surprised me! What a cute little barn, stained perfectly. I love all the little touches you added: the sunflowers, weather vane, etc. Such a wonderfully personal and hand-crafted gift. No wonder Melinda was showing it off!!
ReplyDeleteLooks wonderful, Cynthia! I just love miniatures (think I secretly wanted a dollhouse as a child LOL).
ReplyDeleteYou and Anne did a great job! Love the addition of the Japanese maple!
ReplyDeleteI bet this was a lot of fun to put together with your daughter. I have a real fondness for red barns. Makes me smile that Melinda got this as a gift. There's a bonzai person here and I just love seeing the different trees and the maples are the prettiest. I hope Melinda is able to make a go of it. There's a challenge in itself. Thank you so much for making a mixed media piece rather than jewelry so we could see something different!
ReplyDeleteWhat a delight, Cynthia! A visual feast with all those lovely layers to ponder and created with such obvious devotion and detail. Lots of tenacity and patience on display, as well!
ReplyDeleteThis is super adorable! Clever, clever. I think you did a wonderful job! :-)
ReplyDeleteThis is absolutely adorable! I love what you did with your wheel.
ReplyDeleteYou guys seem to come up with the most interesting challenges! I just love this shadow box - how sweet of you to gift it to Melinda! I saw on FB that she still has her green thumb! :)
ReplyDeleteOh my, the barn bonsai shadowbox in fantastic! So very creative, the popsicle stick barn, the little shovel propped up against the barn and the little Japanese maple. Such a beautiful gift for Melinda! I know she will take good care of tree #2 ;)
ReplyDeleteGorgeous....I love how much you and your "assistant" put into it and the details. Excellent work!
ReplyDeleteThis must be the loveliest thing I've ever seen - and such a special gift for Melinda! I'd love to see her Bonsai :) A very creative way to use the wheel, love that you've involved your daughters in the project.
ReplyDeleteThis is the cutest!!! I love that you thought outside the box and went with a shadow box for the wagon wheel. It must have been fun to do with your girls too. The details are so sweet!
ReplyDeleteThis is so cute! I love this so much! How creative!!! Thank you for the e-mail about the crows ;o) Much appreciated ;o) Thank you for thinking of me ;o) Sorry I'm late coming around to blog land! Hugs ;o)
ReplyDeleteHi Cynthia, your shadow box is adorable.
ReplyDeleteThought I had already commented, wow - how wonderful! Love this so much!
ReplyDelete