How To Make A Small Birdnest...

I bought these very cute ceramic eggs...

and I needed a little nest to put them in to keep them safe...

I searched many a tree trying to find a used nest, but to no avail.

So I decided to make one.

I collected some moss, dried grass, coconut fibre and a few feathers.

First I moulded a small bowl out of airdry clay.

This is to give the nest a bit of weight, 

and also helps with the structure.

Put some coconut fibre into the clay bowl.

Then wove some around the outside.

Add some grass, moss and feathers...

Weave the stick out bits into the mix to help hold it together,

I wanted this nest to sit on top of this silver milk jug...

So I kept manipulating the grass and fibre until I was happy with the shape,

 and it sat nicely in the jug.  

Then added  the eggs...

  These darlings are from Myfawny Pughs Studio.
Find out more Here...

Isn't the aqua colour simply gorgeous?

This DIY faux bird nest completed my Easter sideboard display...

Silverware, nests, eggs candles and rabbits...

I'm loving my Easter Vignette!

#easter #eastervignette #easterideas

Irresistible Easter Rabbit Cookies...

Easter Rabbit Cookies for the young...and not so young!
(Actually it was a case of - do not leave me alone in the house with the cookies!!)

This cookie is almost like a melting moment...

Irresistible!

I made these with my little helper Quinn...

and it was so very hard 

to wait for blog photographs to be taken

before he could eat one!

Fun to make and irresistibly delicious.

Serve with Mini Easter Eggs.

Just the thing to bake this Easter.

Click HERE the Vanilla Butter Cookie recipe.

#easter #eastercookies #easterbaking

A SIMPLE Easter With Feathers Decor Idea...

If you are anything like me -

LIFE IS BUSY!

I just don't have time for elaborate and complicated Celebration decor displays.

So I whipped up a super easy one for the coffee table using paper feathers for Easter.

You will need:

A feather template

Pretty papers in colours of your choice.

Scissors and pencil.

An Easter rabbit ornament.

A large white platter...

and some Easter eggs.

A table runner in complimentary colours.

And a small potted flower plant -

(I used a white gerbera in a white ceramic pot).

Gerbera's are a favourite of mine!

Cut out the feather templates.

Place on the pretty paper and trace around them using a pencil.

Cut the feathers out.

Make as many feathers as your heart desires.

Use the edge of a ruler to place a fold as shown.
Then:

Place the runner on the coffee table.

Centre the large platter.

Place the Rabbit ornament on the plate.

Place the paper feathers around it with the Easter eggs.

Add the potted plant.

And you have an easy Easter Vignette.

Pretty...

Cute...

And so easy to create.

 Copy & Paste the template to your computer to print.

#eastercraft #easterfeathers #easterdecor #easter

IMAGO MUNDI - Benetton World Art Project.

This piece is on it's way to Treviso , Italy where it will be put forward to be collated into 

the IMAGO MUNDI - Benetton World Art Project.

So proud for the opportunity to be representing New Zealand art.

'Contemplating Flight #2'

Acrylics

 #proud artist moment!

Shanti-Rose - the particularly interesting cat!

Have you ever heard the quote

 'Behind every great artist is a particularly interesting cat' ?

(This is one of mine - I have been blessed with two particularly interesting cats!)

Meet Shanti-Rose.

A pure breed Red Burmese with an ongoing weight issue.

(She has a food bowl in every house in the street I'm sure!)

I have tried for YEARS to capture on film her greatest and most amazing trick...
she just won't do it if she thinks you are watching her,

but last night I succeeded.

This is Shanti-Rose's moment of fame.

Enjoy.

:) 

Handcrafted Air Dry Clay Leaf Bowls...

Air dry clay is a fantastic medium to craft with.

Leaf shaped bowls are a favourite of mine, 

so let me show you how easy it is to make them.

You will need:

Air dry clay.  (I used Das brand in white.)

A rolling pin

Newspaper to protect your work surface

Bowls in different sizes.

Scissors and a small paring knife.

And some leaves .

Roll the clay out to a 5 to 10mm thickness.

I made mine 5mm as I wanted that thin fragility.

Place your leaf on top of the clay and press it with the pin.

Cut out the resulting leaf image on the clay with your small knife.

Carefully pick up the leaf and place in a bowl.

Bend the leaf edges as desired.

Bend the stem into a coil for added interest.

Set aside.

Leaf bowl number two is a different shape.

Use the same technique as the first bowl...

Roll out the clay (I have done this leaf 10mm in thickness),

Press in the leaf and cut out.

Tidy the edges if you want perfection.

Place into a small bowl.

Set aside to dry.

My leaf bowls were left for two weeks to dry.

(Hey, life is busy!)

But air dry clay dries much quicker than this, 

so you don't have to wait that long until you paint them.

Choose your spray paint colours...

I used gold for the large leaf and a mint glitter paint for the small leaf.

I love the way the paint makes the leaf veining pop!

Leave to dry.

Place in your home decor...

The large gold leaf is perfect for the mantel!

And the little mint green leaf blends into the vintage pottery collection.

A contrast of smooth vintage and handcrafted rustic in green blue hues.

And a perfect ring holder too!

#clay #craft #leafcrafts #diy