will you be my valentine

another note before i head out for the night - valentine's.  another art form i do really love because they make the receiver feel loved and isn't that all we want in life from our loved ones, friends and family?  to be loved... yes i know there's other things too but this is what i want to focus on.

my valentine cards are of various sizes and complexities.  sometimes a small card says it all to a friend and to others, a card of many layers and colors and kind words are what hits the spot for them.  they all are made with love, intention and great care.  hand cut hearts, found words from poets of the past, doilies, gems or buttons.  all have a place saying, "Be My Valentine."  i will be working on these this weekend for those lucky loved ones in my life that i want to know they are loved and cared for.    a little more love to come again...

the cup runneth over

yet another one of my favorite things to do is pottery!  it's been about 13yrs since i took my last class - holy moly!  can someone please slow time down a little here because i can't keep up!  any hoo - i'm back on the throwing wheel as of last week and i LOVE LOVE LOVE it!! i really missed it and i don't know what took me so long to get back into it but as many folks say about many things they love - it's good to be back.  so - i have attached a snap shot of what i produced last time around.  this time - i am aiming for wider horizons, brighter colors and more variety.  and yes you can order yours today and hopefully i will get it to before christmas!  

why do i love making pottery?  well, i am gratified by physical work on any level generally speaking, but i am fully gratified when my physical efforts are put towards creating shapes, objects, molding forms, building etc.  throwing clay on the wheel takes great focus otherwise the blob in front of you spinning away will eventually fly away off the wheel.  it took me until class was almost over before it really all came back.  the zone. the pace. the feel of the clay.  shaping. pushing. pulling. compressing.  and again.  it's a trance that you fall into and it's wonderful. it's also an art form that dates back to such early early days of man and making such simple vessels to carry food, water and objects in.  that's also what i like, the simplicity of it all.  it's clay.  period.  with or without glaze it still functions as the vessel you designed it be.  in the words of someone i admire greatly, "It's a good thing!".  i'll be back at tomorrow night and i simply can't wait! 

sparklies please

well as promised i will move onto the other gems i have in to share with you and these in fact are gems literally!  this is a sampling of the jewelry i have made and bestowed on dear friends.  they are made with all gemstones, pearls and glass beads - jade, citrine, aqua marine, coral, wood, lava, amethyst, lapis etc.   it's a newer arena for me that i am quite fond of.  i do stringing and wiring and all lengths.  they are a time taker but the end is well worth it and to see the delight on the face who will get to wear it makes me light up as well!  i do actually use the beads as "ribbon" on a gift - lucky the receiver on that one!  enjoy - marlo.

felt and flowers

couldn't head out of town tomorrow without throwing this evening's wrapping efforts for my very dear friend's birthday up for you all to see.  wrapped in felt & hand-dyed yarn with cut flowers and gems! enjoy and then i will move on to the other delights that i make:)  ...maybe

bows are key

well, what is it about wrapping that is so exciting to me?  it's the whole process of creating a piece of art so-to-speak.  it's the emotion of the recipient that brings joy to me.  it's the challenge of taking time to make something that is beautiful, colorful, thoughtful and full of inspiration.  i enjoy gathering all kinds of materials that can be considered gift wrapping and toppers or ornaments.  i look through many resources to find inspiration of color themes, textures, designs, structures, objects and patterns.  i never consider anything too hard to do.  however, i do consider what i am willing to invest time in making and what is not worth it.   everything in life provides me inspiration - some is much greater than others and i know that to be true for any artist.  so here are some other works of art.  

ornaments & cut outs

buttons & punches

rubber stamping galore

pre cut shapes of any kind

reduce reuse recycle from another gift

maxmize space

even small can be customized

 creativity is given to all ages on their gifts

a taste of christmas wrapping

here's the first recent annual project - christmas wrapped gifts! 

i LOVE christmas and the season of celebration!  i have generally always made the gifts for others we give which include an array of cookies.  i take great care in making the hangtags, the container they go in and the finished wrapping.  even if they are receiving a gift i purchased, the wrapping for it has the same care.  i LOVE wrapping gifts - so if you need some done, send them my way!!

bottle of wine wrapped in felt with bells

burlap wrapped bags of cookies with hand cut painted flower topping, bells and ornaments

hand strung beaded "ribbon" with punch out snowflakes

hand made cookie box tags - punch out trees and all!

welcome to the-paper-bunnies

welcome to the-paper-bunnies!  
i am very excited to start sharing all of my creative endeavors as well as the things in life that inspire me each day!  everything from gift wrapping to food to music to flowers and so much more!  i hope that you enjoy what i see and create as they are my passions that i continue to explore and bring to others.

be well and here's to creativity! 
cheers!
marlo

LAUNCH JAN. 5, 2013