TAGS IN UKRAINE

I've posted some of these on Facebook (find me as Coleen Franks Ukraine to get the right "me"), but decided to post all here together.  I must admit to like the shabby look.  The leaves were collected from our street in central Ukraine this past autumn.  I love things from nature and when we travel I always have a book so I can slip some leaves or flowers in to dry from distant places.

The papers are from a 1947 Webster's Dictionary we've moved from place to place for eons.  It's a monster and I won't use it up in my lifetime, but the paper is very thin and perfect for applying with glue for mixed-media work.  It's really my preferred choice for a background. Hoping one of my grand kids will like to craft so I can pass it on.  A legacy, huh!

This beautiful fern actually is the only piece that came right from my yard.  The foreign words over my dictionary page say "Jesus Christ" in Russian.  The shabby/dirty looking trim below was died with raspberries over the summer.  And I have so many seed beads I decided one day they'd make a good glitter decoration.  I applied them with Glossy Accents.

A little bit of music paper here too.  Someone sent me this curly doll hair.  Maybe someday I'll make dolls with the kids I work with, but in the meantime I thought it was pretty here.

I believe these little gold things are called micro-balls.  I found them in Germany last year and I can't read German so you probably know better than I what to call them.  Compliments nature nicely.

So that is most of my collection from the fall.  Found this cool yarn right here in Ukraine.   Thanks for stopping by and I love when you leave comments.  Blessings to you all.

"ROCK" GARDEN

This and the following couple pictures were taken before the weather in Ukraine turned so cold.    Now we've had several hard freezes.  I always feel sad as this time of year comes around because I like being outdoors and in the garden.  Now that has come to an end.

Pretty much we've put the garden to rest for the winter.  That includes, besides leaves, cutting back a lot of soft vegetation that would be a mess by spring if I didn't do it now.   Ordinarily we might have chrysanthemums for a while, but the hard freeze took them too.

I will still post some summer pictures that I just didn't get on and they make me feel good to see the beauty of nature when it is so cold outside.

A slight blurr here but you get the idea.  I always watch for heart shape rocks.

A UKRAINE GARDEN WALK IN MAY

 Come walk through my yard with me.  I've been too long away from my blog so here's what happened in the yard in May.  Above was a rare foggy morning in the back yard.

 The rest of these pictures are from the front yard.  In Ukraine houses have fences all around them including across the front.

 Peonies are always so beautiful.  I have white ones and red ones too.

 Iris and evergreens...

 Spiderwort....

 In the Russian language (that's what I speak here) these are called "Little Bells."  I don't know what they would be in English.  Behind are two varieties of hosta.

 The garden is just another art expression for me.  I love the flowers.

 Roses and strawberries.  The strawberries are in several of my flowerbeds.

I think these are called "Sweet Williams."  Thanks for stopping by. Sure appreciate it. 

THE VIEW

This is what it looks like from out my front door looking east in the morning.  I love how the trees cast shadows across the yard.  We live in a pine forest so even though we have lots of trees, we still get sunlight because those trees are so tall.

ROCK PAINTING

Alright, I don't know why I have this fascination with arting on rocks, but I've been doing it lately.  This one sits in a rather out-of-the-way spot in my garden amongst the greenery.  Like a surprise waiting to be discovered. Maybe using rocks has to do with that they are free or that they are more permanent than paper?  I don't know, but I have several smaller rocks (than this) in process on my window sill in the living room.  My dear sweet husband sometimes quips that my art is taking over the whole house.  Hmmm, one giant studio, that's not a bad idea.  Kid's have flown the nest so one bedroom has become my sewing/beading room.  His office (not much being used) is another possibility.  Of course, I'd have to be more sneaky about niggling my way into there.  Maybe I could just take over one bookshelf.  Do you suppose he'd notice?  I mean, what can one say about giving up one little shelf, right? 

FUN WITH STONES

I posted this on my Facebook page because I liked it so much.  I have a whole garden path with stones like this.  Well the big ones anyway.  It is such a cute idea I want to do it in my garden next spring.  These are what I call river rocks.  You can't find them just anywhere, but they are plentiful in the rivers of western Ukraine.  I just like rocks.  Ever since I was a kid I collected rocks and shells.  I collect sea glass while at the Black Sea as well.  Haven't found what I will do with it, but I like it.  I even paint on rocks....flowers, words, squiggles and then I leave them for strangers to find.  I'll post some of those later too.  Have a good week.

CALIFORNIA FLOWERS AND HOSPICE

I am now entering my third week in California where my family lives.  I got an emergency call just one night after returning home from the country of Georgia (south of Russia).  I left the next morning.  My father, who is less than two months short of his 90th year had a brain bleed and they didn't expect he would live.  He rallied, we thought he was going to make it and now he is not.  We thank God for all the years he has had.

He is now enrolled in the hospice program and we have support in his dying process.  Though it is hard to loose a family member, we know that God has "numbered our days" and we trust him for that.  I am grateful that I can be here as a support for my step-mom and my two sisters.  I would greatly appreciate your prayers for them.  These two beautiful flower pictures are actually some I took in 2010 while here in winter.  Just as the flowers, we are each and all here for a "season," so be sure to tell your loved ones what they mean to you.

UKRAINE GARDEN DELIGHT

Already we have had several freezes in Ukraine so the flowers have been gone now for a bit, but I wanted to show you this pretty little corner of my garden because in the cold and bitterness of winter it is a delight for the soul to see something lovely.  Therefore as winter goes on I shall occasionally post some beautiful little tidbit from the summer display.  Like my art, the garden is one of my areas of pleasure.  It really is simply another expression of art using the medium of the garden.

When we moved to this home 15 years ago the yard was nothing more than a wild forest.  It was chest high in  "maleena" (wild raspberries)  and an abundant crop of "krapeeva" (stinging nettle).  I never had a plan to necessarily do the whole yard, but little by little, year after year I would plant more and it just grew.  Many of the sweet people of Ukraine gave me things from their gardens to get a start.  From that time I've transplanted and added.  This tiny teapot above has been in the garden since we moved here.  Winter after winter it survives through the season and moves from one spot to another.  As you can see here I do have a few little figurines in the garden that some have given me, but you can rest assured there are no elves or gnomes lurking around in the tall plantings.  Both of these pictures are shots of my rock garden.  It started out as a small clay hill in one corner of the yard in which I knew not a lot would grow so rock garden seemed like the thing to do.  Hope you like this little peek into my garden.

"Birds of a Feather" Mixed-Media Tutorial

On Facebook someone asked me how I did these.  She liked seeing through the image to the text or music below.  It really is not difficult so I shall summarize enough that you could repeat it.  This one has a Russian music sheet. And you'll need napkin images of your choice.  As you can see I like birds and these were from my napkin collection.

I started with a card stock base to give a bit more strength, though I have done these on heavy paper as well.  You could also gesso your paper to add strength, but I don't often do that.  Some of it I stamped before I did anything around the edges and some stamping I did after adhering my text and images.  It really is your choice.  This one has a Russian language phone book page in the background.

After stamping you are ready to adhere your background layer.  You can also paint and do other decor around your edges.  This background text is a Russian language phone book page again.  I like using foreign text.  Rather gives an air of mystery. Use Elmer's Glue (PVA) diluted at least 50% or ModPodge.  You want it pretty watery.  Living in Ukraine where I can't easily buy many materials I mostly use the white glue.  It works well and it's cheap.

Paint the surface of the cardstock where you will lay your background paper or paint the back of the image.  I lay the text down, paint the glue on top of it and immediately take it to my heat gun (hair dryer also works) to dry as fast as I can to prevent too much buckling in the lower card stock.  When that is dry I repeat the process for the napkin (all layers removed except top image).  I do not paint the back of the napkin.  Only the surface upon which I will lay it.  It is too delicate.  Once down I paint on top of it, but here you must be very careful not to overwork it as napkin fibers break down quickly and it could start tearing so watch closely as you work.  Then go immediately again to the heat gun and dry.  When you are all done you can press it in a book to help flatten, but I usually don't mind a bit of buckling as I think that adds to the character of the piece.    I also do these in my art journal.  See previous post of Oct. 11 or go here http://vintageterrace2.blogspot.com/2012/10/projects-using-tissuenapkins-for.html.  In addition, the post just below shows a suitcase I altered using napkins.  Give it a whirl.  These are fun and there are so many beautiful napkin images.

Bees in the Garden

The lowly little crocus is come and gone from the garden already, but what a splendor it has for the short time it shines. And notice the bee all covered in pollen. How he joys in the season and uses the pollen to make that wonderful nectar of honey we enjoy so much. Click to enlarge for incredible detail. It's just amazing to see how everything is connected. Without the bees to pollinate so many things our existence on this planet would be far different, if we had existence at all. As you observe, it does become evident that there is an intricate interdependency of all creation. And a Creator who made it and ties it all together. I "stand amazed."

GARDEN

A touch of natures beauty from my garden. These were taken over 2 weeks ago, but I've been slow to get things posted. I really love spring time and watching things as they come up.

ART VS. GARDENING

Last week tulips bravely shot up despite the snow and weather. I had a feeling they might be growing right under the snow and I was right as it rapidly melted back with the sudden onslaught of warm days. Spring is always my favorite time of year, like new beginnings of so many things. It is a time to feel refreshed and encouraged after a long winter of cold, snow and ice. So often I feel trapped in the house as it is so severe outside, but the one advantage is there is no garden distraction from my art. In summer I feel the pull of both and I enjoy both. What is included in my art is what I do with children and ladies in creating things. I enjoy it all and feel blessed that I've been given this ministry.

Take a walk with me in my garden. This was shot in September. Now we've had many hard frosts so mostly the leaves are all on the ground. Nights are below freezing, days are in the 40's, sometimes close to 50(F) degrees, but that won't last long.






Sharing with you a heart I found in the garden. It was the inside of a fading rose and I thought it was so beautiful. I often notice as the roses start to fade and they lose their strength and their vibrancy, there still remains a beauty that catches the eye. I think that is how it should be in the Christian life. As we age, as we lose our youthful strength and energy, we have not the beauty we once had. Nonetheless,there should still remain a beauty from below the surface that catches people, that draws them to the Author of all beauty....a peace and a gentleness that shows we know Him and we are close to Him. I hope as I age, I will exhibit the beauty of the rose that shows others the love of our Creator. To Him be the glory.

FIRST SIGNS OF FALL