Sunday, October 26, 2008

Freaky Friday Challenge... on a USA Sunday

Late again! These days sometimes I feel as if I'd be late for my own funeral.
Oh wait..... I will be!

This week Mallory had chosen "Sculptural Flowers" as the subject for the Freaky Friday Challenge. Check out her wonderful efforts here "Freaky Friday Challenge - on a New Zealand Saturday"

I have to admit that I didn't try very hard this week - it was busy & I just didn't get the chance to torch. However I did get the chance to do one of the things that has been on my wish list since long long after I started lampworking & that was to watch someone else torch!
So believe me peeps - I am not complaining!!! That in itself was a dream come true. I have always suspected that I may just have a couple of 'aha' moments when I finally got to watch someone else - & I did!

Jo & I tried to sneak in a quick torch session on Friday afternoon - but after one bead (Jo made a turtle for my daughter) my propane ran out!! Now if I had had a chance to turn on the torch the day before - I would have known this earlier & could have refilled my gas bottle. As it was it had to wait until after dinner to get refilled. So it was late Friday night here before I got to torch....and all I wanted to do was try some of the things that Jo had shown me!
I did manage to squeeze in a couple of (not very successful) semi sculpted flowers first though..

First on the list was my 'attempt' at my favorite poppy, the Oriental "Perry's White" (yum!) - well the real thing is yum anyway. What was I thinking trying to make a flower that in reality has translucent white blowzy petals - it just didn't work. Much like a flower out of water - my petals dropped!

Poopy Poppy!

Next something a bit easier - although I must admit that I had no idea what flower it was going to be ...until just now when I went to name the photo ;o)

Nasty Nasturtium

I knew there was a good reason I don't do flowers - I love them in the natural, but am happy to leave perfection to God & Mother Nature.

Now it was my turn to choose & announce this weeks challenge.....

This week the Freaky Friday Challenge is "Mixed Media Totems"

A wee while ago I came across Esty Member Julie Christie's fabulous Totems - a series of beads stacked vertically on a base of either antlers or driftwood etc. I fell in love with them!

When I was at the beach with Jo I found a nice piece of driftwood & upon seeing it the first thing Jo said was "that'd make a great base for a glass sculpture"....the next challenge was born!
So the guidelines for this challenge are:
1/ Something from nature as a base - driftwood, a gnarly piece of natural wood, an interesting rock etc
2/ At least 5 Glass beads to work in with the theme of the base
3/ Keep proportions & visual balance in mind

Boy - I'm making this tough on myself!


My Piece of Driftwood

Anyone else keen to join us on this one?

5 comments:

ShellyD said...

Hmmm, I'm tempted. Very tempted!!
Not promising anything but going to try. Howz that!

Hugs

rosebud101 said...

I'm home! For whatever reason, my blog roll didn't show this post! I don't think your flowers are bad at all. I love the poppy! All right, now that I know the rules, I have to find my piece of nature. At least there's no snow on the ground. Tomorrow, I start on my sculpture from nature!

angelinabeadalina said...

What a gorgeous piece of driftwood for your mixed media piece, Deb! Can't wait to see your and Mallory's sculptures! I liked your Nasty Nasturtium best of the flowers...great colors and I liked the grooves in the petals.

Welcome To Wilmoth Farms said...

I cant wait to see what you do next with the driftwood as inspiration! I personally love the flowers,it amazes me the things you guys create out of glass! I'm sooo jealous! Apparently we are kindred souls, I love all things great and small too! Yes even snakes! I love the nature photos above this post!

Maggie said...

I love both the driftwood and the challenge. Not sure if I can get it together this week though. I have so much nature around me at the moment. Maybe. Just maybe.

I do want to start jumping in on the challenges though.