Valentine Ribbon Wreaths

Heart - Ribbon Wreaths

A recent 'heart-inspired' crafting project was a joint effort with a dear friend. 

I had created a ribbon-fabric wreath once before. It was so time consuming, 

I realized it would be much more enjoyable to share that time with a friend.

 We begin with several trips to Hobby Lobby and Michaels Craft store.  

Then we cut fabric swatches (about 200 pieces) into 1.5" by 10" pieces. 

Next, we cut up a few hundred ribbon pieces ~ same size. We tied them to 

a wreath ~ mine was a 12" wire, heart shape wreath ... 

my friend's was a 12" round. 

I added vintage fabric mixed with new cotton fabric as well as stiff ribbon. 

I think overall the ribbon wreath will hold up longer.  Once you buy these supplies and spend the time it takes to complete this project, you then know 'why' these wreaths sell for large sums in retail shops. :-) Happy crafting.

Valentine Art - Crafting with Vintage Buttons and Sears Catalog Pages

For a long time, an idea of creating art utilizing vintage buttons has danced in my head. Especially since I inherited several boxes of beautiful buttons from my Mother, Grandmother, Great Grandmother and three Great Aunts. Even though I began my career as a fashion illustrator, I really don't enjoy sewing. I do not own a sewing machine! Which is quite interesting, since most all the women in my family are talented seamstresses. As a child, I watched my Mother and Grandmother stitch everything from dresses to drapes. I was always fascinated by the illustrations on the the dress patterns, which perhaps inspired me to study fashion design in college. Nevertheless, my muse has compelled me to make something special with these buttons even if i did not add them to clothing.

A few weeks ago, I finally made time to create 'collages' using these heirloom buttons. I felt as if I needed 'down time' , to "just be", instead of the serious 'left brain' projects I have been working on since the beginning of 2012. (I am also a mental health advocate and have been very busy with state wide advocacy projects.)

As I began to work on my art collages I thought, "if only these buttons could talk and tell me stories about who wore them, where they lived and the clothing items they belong to." 

I'm certain my Mother never threw anything away, and believe that many of my button collections were passed for generations through family members.  In my memories, I can still see my Mother taking apart an old dress or shirt, that was perhaps handed down from my Great-Great Grandmother's family. She would discard the buttons in a large Mason jar, then storing the used fabric away to perhaps recycle for a future quilt project.  I actually own a quilt that is made from old dresses and fabrics from my ancestors from early 1900s. I found the quilt squares in my Mother's closet about 15 years ago and asked one of my favorite Aunts to quilt them together, using my favorite color ~ purple.

Vintage Button Collage by GG Burns

For Collage #1, I used vintage pages from an old Sears and Roebuck catalog for the background. I found this catalog years ago at an antique show. The pages are so fragile, the only thing I have thought to do with them is to glue them to boxes, canvas or functional art coasters.

This catalog does not have a date on it, but I discovered one page that mentioned how long Sears had been in business, (1886). The article stated: "Covering a short period of about 12 years...." which helped me determined that the catalog was most likely published in 1898. I know if was before 1897, because color was added to their catalogs that year and mine does not have color.

I begin my project by thinking of a design inspired by Valentines Day. I sketched two heart shapes inside each other in the middle of a 16" x 20" canvas. Then I glued torn pieces from the catalog around the hearts using gel medium by Golden. 

To add some interest to the old yellowed pages, I diluted red acrylic paint with water and speared on the edges with my fingers. Sorry, I forget to take a pic of this process. I also added the vintage scrabble tiles in the center of the heart.

While the background dried, I started creating collage #2.  

Small Button Collage by GG Burns

On a 12"x12" canvas, I also sketched 2 hearts in the center.

For the background on this smaller collage, I glued pink tissue paper that had a hand made look. I learned that the buttons needed a background color on my first collage, so I painted the heart with red and pink acrylic paint before gluing on the vintage red and pink buttons.

At least now, I have two unique art collages to admire my vintage buttons ~  instead of them taking up space in a box on a shelf.

Coldwater Creek "Meet the Artist" Exhibit

On November 18th, I was honored to be invited to collaborate with Coldwater Creek for a "Meet the Artist" day.  

The location was Fayette Mall in Lexington ~ the largest shopping mall under one roof in Kentucky.

The store managers Donna, Tracy and Joey were all gracious host, pampering me with first rate accommodations. Being around retail for the day, brought back many fond memories. When I first graduated from college, I worked for a large department store as a fashion illustrator. Fashion will always be my first love.

As an added bonus, Coldwater Creek promoted my art before and during the exhibit. This proved to be an excellent venue to exhibit my original designs and latest holiday "functional art" gifts. Plus, it gave me a great opportunity to meet new customers.

After strolling through the nearby department stores, it is easy to see why so many women enjoy shopping at Coldwater Creek.

Coldwater Creek's beautiful merchandise last forever and colors from past seasons always coordinate with their newest fashions. 

Coldwater Creek's displays and friendly customer service make shopping an enjoyable experience. I hope to be invited back one day to showcase my latest artwork. Thanks again, Tracy for inviting me and creating such a wonderful venue for GG's Functional Art!

Hummingbird Delight with Sunflowers by GG Burns

 

Hummingbird shows us how to re-visit the past for the purpose of 

releasing it instead of being caught in a permanently backward flight 

pattern. It also helps us to see that if we step aside we may see our 

life differently. Hummingbird teaches us to transcend time, to recognize 

that what has happened in the past and what might happen in the 

future is not nearly as important as what we are experiencing now. 

It teaches us to hover in the moment, to appreciate its sweetness.  

- Constance Barrett Sohodski

Original art 12" x 12", acrylic and alcohol inks on ceramic tile 

Purchase this print here (canvas or framed) 

http://gg-burns.pixels.com/featured/hummingbird-delight-with-sunflowers-gg-burns.html

How Sweet It Is ... SweetGum Leaf Art by GG

Autumn generates a sense of excitement for many artist. The bounteous combination of leaves turning from gold, to orange, to red and then to brown ... is like a palette of paints just waiting to be brushed on a canvas. 

Stanley Horowitz expressed it best, Winter is an etching, spring a watercolor, summer an oil painting and autumn a mosaic of them all.

Adding these dried leaves, "especially Sweet Gum Leaves", to my work has been a favorite form of art for many years. Their colors inspire me ... they motivate me to create as I discover new ways to capture them before they have vanished under a blanket of snow.

As a child, I glued them to greeting cards or attempted to reproduce them in clay. Later as a digital designer, I photographed them and edited hundreds of layers and patterns while adding them to my marketing materials.

Now, I add them to my "functional art" coasters and trivets and seal them in 4-5 coats of resin. Prices range $40 as set of coaster or $25-$40 for larger trivet sizes.

They will remain the way they tumbled to the earth, for many years to come ... long after I'm gone. It's my small way of preserving nature and saying thanks to "Mother Nature" for allowing me to enjoy these small gifts ... as I make it through the journey of life.

Autumn is a second spring when every leaf is a flower.  ~ Albert Camus

Adding resin to my coasters and trivets is how I preserve nature as well as making my art a functional object.

Painting a Dance with Magical Humming Birds

Lately, I've had several request for humming bird art. Several times, I have attempted to paint these lovely creatures using watercolors, but I'm not satisfied with the outcome as I am when I mix alcohol inks and Lumiere Metallic inks on ceramic tiles. Painting these tiny birds "in flight" is a true labor of love. The first 3 of these images are 6"x6" and can be used as a trivet, candle holder or as an art object ~ to brighten up a room in your home or office. The last 2 images are 4"x4", and can be used for coasters. All are topped in a durable coat of resin and backed with matching felt.

Purchase prints here:
http://gg-burns.artistwebsites.com/featured/its-ruby-humming-bird-design-gg-burns.html

A flash of harmless lightning, A mist of rainbow dyes, The burnished sunbeams brightening From flower to flower he flies. Quote by - John Banister Tabb

Purchase prints or framed art here: 

http://gg-burns.artistwebsites.com/featured/hummer-delight-gg-burns.html

Other re-prints of humming bird art by gg can be purchased here:

Quick as a humming bird is my love, Dipping into the hearts of flowers She darts so eagerly, swiftly, sweetly Dipping into the flowers of my heart. Quote by - James Oppenheim

These images can be purchased on canvas or as framed prints here:

Affordable custom gifts by GG last a lifetime!

Someone asked recently if I designed custom coasters and trivets or other custom paintings? The answer is YES and I have for years! I have created dozens of custom "functional Art" coasters and trivets for weddings, graduation, baptism, baby shower gifts. Other favorites include granny's favorite pics ... pets galore ... cats, dogs, horses, wedding dresses, bridesmaid gifts ... you name it. These are just a few. Contact me for more info through my Facebook pages:FACEBOOK PAGE: https://www.facebook.com/ggs.art

FACEBOOK ART PAGE:https://www.facebook.com/gg.burns.artist/

I can work from high res photos, just send them through email. The prices range from $15 each for the 4.5" coasters to $20 - $30 each, for the 6" trivets. A set of 4 coasters, (4.5" size) with similar photos can be ordered for $50/set.  Hand -painted pets or people, (not photo collage mixed with brightly color inks) range from $40 each to $120, depending on size of trivet or canvas, etc.

All have hand-painted abstract backgrounds, words or favorite quotes can be added and they are finished with several coasts of durable poly resin. Additional charges will be added if Photoshop editing is needed. Felt is added to the back to help reduce scratches to furniture as well as protects from breakage if dropped. Shipping does not apply to these prices.

Custom illustrations or paintings start at $40-$95 depending on size, medium, etc.