Jeanne Selep's Selep Imaging Blog: March 2021

Sunday, March 21, 2021

Some Bunny's Dreaming

Mosaic bunny and flowers by Jeanne Selep

Mosaic "Some Bunny's Dreaming" Detail

My "Some Bunny's Dreaming" mosaic stepping stone was created in 2020 because a favorite 3D ceramic bunny broke and I wanted to try to reuse the pieces. I ended up using sections of the ceramic bunny to make the rabbit in a circular stepping stone.

Mosaic circle stepping stone Bunny dreaming flowers

Mosaic Bunny Stepping Stone - "Some bunny's Dreaming"

I wanted the rabbit/bunny to appear to be whimsically dreaming of a Klimt-like field of flowers, and I had several plates in particular that I wanted to use.

Mosaic bunny dreaming of flowers stepping stone

Mosaic Bunny Dreaming of Flowers detail

One of the plates I really wanted to use had the Lilies of the Valley on it, which became the grass the rabbit sits on. The other plate had the blue-purple flowers immediately above the rabbit's head, with a very spring-like green foliage and hand-painted with gold. This plate had an Art Deco feel to it.

Mosaic here Flower Field Detail

I also wanted to use hand-painted pink and yellow flowers from some orphaned teacup saucers, and I used various violet patterned china to fill in the rest of the flowers.

Mosaic Bunny Dreaming Detail

Arranging the landscape line in a circle was harder than I thought. As I put the "grass" in the foreground, it was too low at first, and putting the grass behind the bunny caused the arrangement to became less whimsical and more like a landscape.

Mosaic Bunny in Bright Sun.

Different lighting, (for example bright sun) makes the mosaic texture stand out more. Because the stepping stone has three dimensional parts, I placed it in a spot where (hopefully) it won't get stepped on.

Mosaic bunny dreaming flowers stepping stone

Mosaic Stepping Stone

Have a Blessed and Happy Easter!

This Bunny is dreaming of
Easter Candy
and Spring Flowers...

Click on the images to see them enlarged.

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Click here for an Incredible Mosaic Collection!

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I am linking up to these parties:

Create with Joy: Inspire me 479 Sun-Mon (m Entry 60 of 168.)
My Random: Anything Goes 278 (Entry 9 of 61.)
Ducks n a Row: Happiness is Homemade Sun a (Entry 63 of 154.)
Life and Linda: Dishing it Digging it 89 Sun 3p (l Entry 66 of 146.)
3 little buttons: Dream Team Linky Sun 6am (Entry 15 of 21.)
April Harris: Hearth and Soul Sun a (Entry 63 of 176.)
Franca: Keep Calm and Carry On (Entry 17)
Texas Tanya: Link Party a (Entry 25 of 53.)
Love my little cottage: Cottage Mon 94 a (Entry x of 90x.)
Good Random Fun: Good Fun Mon 4a (m Entry 17 of 45.)
BNOTP: Metamorphis Monday 6a (s Entry x)
Anitaojeda: Inspire Me Mon 4p (s Entry 24 of 42.)
Uncommon Slice: Inspire Me 129 Mon 2-4p (m Entry 3 of 90.)
* Stroll Life: Inspire Me Mon 583 3p (l Entry 14 of 123.)
Common Ground: All About Home 84 Mon 6p (l Entry 6 of 134.)
Loulougirls: Fabulous-party 364 Mon 2p (l Entry 5 of 135.)
Mersad photography: Through my Lens (Entry ??)
Marilyns treats: Over the Moon 269 (Entry 164 of 196.)
Image-in-ing: Weekly link up (Entry )
Karins Kottage: Centerpiece Wed (Entry 16 of 111.)
House on Silverado: Sun on Silverado 33 (Entry 68)
Across the Blvd: Beautifully Made 155 Tue 8a (Entry 5 of 53.)
Lindas lunacy: Making-a-home 207 Tue 9a (m Entry 5 of 53.)
Faeries and Fauna: Waste not Wed 198 (l Entry x)
Stonecottageadventures: Tue with a twist 413 (l Entry 19)
Lets Add Sprinkles: Keep in Touch 192 Tue 4p (m Entry 1 of 59.)
Poinsettiadr: Classy Flamingos 95 Tue (l Entry )
Thistlekeylane: Tuesday Turn About 92 5p (s Entry 37 of 75.)
Also My Wee Abode: Tuesday Turn About 92(s Entry 37 of 75.)
LeCultivateur: Wonderful Wed (m Entry 104r of 204r.)
Gingersnap crafts:Wow me 497 Tue 7p (Entry 2x)
Girlish Whims: Whims 503 Tues 8:50p (Entry 1 of 92.)
Applestreetcottage: Party-in-your-pjs 351 (Entry 3 of 115.)
Flusterbuster: Creative Muster 429 Wed (l Entry x)
Zucchini sisters: Celebrate story 266 Wed 11a (last 2-15)
My Thrift Store Addiction: Vintage Charm 277 Wed (m Entry 30 of 69.)
Grandmas house: Grandmas house 236 Wed 4p (m Entry 49 of 86.)
French Ethereal: Share Your Style 297 Wed 6p (Entry 12 of 67.)
Imparting grace: Grace at home (Entry last 3-11)
Artsy mama: Artsy party 337 Th 7a (Entry 32 of 133.)
My Slices of Life: Hearts+Home Handmade Th 6a (Entry 57 of 119.)
Pieced Pastimes.gr: Saturday Sparks 415 Th 8a (L Entry 88)
Eclectic Red Barn: Thurs Favorite Things Th 7a (Entry 49)
Also KatherinesCorner: Th 7a (Entry 49)
Also Follow the yellow brick: Th 7a (Entry 49)
Life beyond Kitchen: Creatively Crafty 268 Th 4p (Entry 21)
Pennys Passion: Favorites Thur 9p (Entry 8)
My Bijoulifeonline: Traffic Jam 275 Thur 9p (Entry 17)
Kathleen: Bloggers Pit Stop 263 Th 8p (L Entry 10)
Answer is choco: BFF Open House Th 9p (Entry 16)
Create Joy: Friendship Fri 475 Th 9p (Entry 16)
Two Chicks and a Mom: Funtastic Thur 8p (i Entry ??)
Modern on Monticello: Home matters 324 Thur 10p (s Entry 2)
My Hubbard home: Fri with Friends 15 (Entry 15x)
Its a small town life: Thankful Th 24 (Entry 14 of 20.)
Natalie: Coffee Share Fri (Entry 19)
Coastal Bohemian: Funtastic 325 Thur 8p (i Entry 1)
Shelbeeontheedge: On the edge 215 (Entry 88)
The Painted Hinge: Farmhouse Fri 197 (L Entry 9)
Ohmyheartsiegirl: Wonderful Wed (Entry 109***)
Cottagemarket: A morning cup of Joe (L Entry 15)
Shabby art boutique: Create-grow-gather 462 (L Entry x)
Busy Being Jennifer: Fri Favorites 125 (m Entry 8 of gone.)
Funkyjunkinteriors: DIY Salvaged Fri 570 (Entry 4 of 37.) I was featured here!
** Eye Love Knots: Snicker Doodle Sat 378 5pm (m Entry 10 of 173.)
Pams Party: Dare to share 461 (m Entry 6 of 83.)
The house on Silverado: Sun on Silverado 30 (Entry )
Ducks n a Row: Happiness is Homemade Sun a (Entry )
Life and Linda: Dishing it Digging it Sun 3p (l Entry )
3 little buttons: Dream Team Linky Sun 6am (Entry )
April Harris: Hearth and Soul Sun 10p (Entry )

432051

Thursday, March 11, 2021

St. Patrick's Day Hutch

St. Patrick's Day Hutch Arrangement

Happy St. Patrick's Day! I don't remember ever arranging my Hutch for St. Patrick's Day, but this year I decided to try, and here is the result. Apparently (but also not exactly surprisingly) I do have enough green dishes to make it work.

Boopie Burple Anchor Hocking Forest Green glassware

Anchor Hocking Burple Forest Green Glassware

I started with some forest green glassware that I consider ubiquitous. Made by Anchor Hocking and called the unlikely name Burple, they seem to be in nearly every antique store, older estate sale, and are often in resale shops too. I love the deep green glow this glassware has.

Patterned Majolica Plate and Egg and Bluebirds

Patterned Majolica Plate, Irish Dresden Egg, and Bluebirds

I have stories about many of the dishes I've found - stories I remember as I am assembling the hutch. For example, five of the green Majolica plates were souvenirs from France - found in a tiny resale shop stumbled upon while waiting for a train back to Paris somewhere in a small town somewhat near a French (palace) "Chateau". The dishes bring a flood of memories.

Majolica from France

The shell plates below remind me of the retiring antique dealer (over 80 years old) who gave me an incredible deal on some plates I had admired for years.

French Limoge Hand-painted Shell plates

Will he return to the antique show after this pandemic? Perhaps I'll never see him again, but these dishes will remind me of him - and also his wife who was no longer able to attend the antique shows in the last couple of years.

French Limoge Hand-painted Shell plate

Occasionally I have a "where in the heck did I get this" moment as I find something I forgot I owned. ($5 bag sales are a fun end of an estate sale tool in Wisconsin - Other thrifters - do they have them in your part of the world?)

Tumbler Love

I also included my green tumblers. I don't know why I like tumblers so much, but I do!

Meissen plate from Germany

I found the Meissen plate above at an estate sale in 2020. (I wore my mask.) I didn't own any Meissen plates, so I bought it as a sort of retail therapy. It gets the center position, even though I recognize it's kind of over the top.

St Patricks china hutch in Welsh Dresser cabinet

Saint Patrick's Day Hutch Detail

I've been enjoying the St. Patrick's day decor I've noticed on many blogs. I hope you enjoy my contribution.

Happy Saint Patrick's Day!

St. Patrick's Day Hutch

Click on the images to see them enlarged.

If you enjoyed this post you might also like:

My Collection of all Hutch Posts!

I am linking up to these parties:

My Bijou Life: Traffic Jam Weekend 273 (m Entry 14 of 90.)
Two chicks and a Mom: Funtastic Fri 323 Th (Entry 15 of 126.)
Kathleen: Bloggers Pit Stop 261 Th 8p (L Entry 10 of 92.)
Its a Small Town Life: Thankful Thu (i Entry 15 of 22.)
Answer is choco: Bff open house (Entry 23 of 87.)
The Painted Hinge: Farmhouse Fri 195 a (L Entry 35 of 81.)
Pennys Passion: Thinking out Loud Th (m Entry 27 of 33.)
Ohmyheartsiegirl: Wonderful Wed 250 (s Entry 136 of 164.)
Cottage Market: A morning cup of Joe 6a (L Entry 25 of 93.)
Shabby art boutique: Create-grow-gather 461 6a (L Entry 13x of 118x.)
Chic on a shoestring: Flaunt it Fri 491 6a (s Entry 9 of 56.)
Modern on Monticello: Home matters 322 Th 9p (s Entry 1 of 73.)
Busy Being Jennifer: Fri Favorites 123 (m Entry 4 of 68.)
Our mini family: Our mini party 321 (s Entry x of 62x.)
Create with Joy: Inspire Me Mon 478 (Entry 7 of 158.)
** Eye Love Knots: Snicker Doodle 376 Sat 5pm (m Entry 41 of 153.)
Pams Party: Dare to Share 459 Sat (m Entry 10 of 89.)
The house on Silverado: Sun on Silverado 30 (Entry 29 of 84.)
Life and Linda: Dishing it Digging it 88 Sun 3p (l Entry 44 of 114.)
April Harris: Hearth and Soul Sun 10p (Entry 52 of 165.)
Love my little cottage: Cottage 94 Mon (Entry x of 90x.)
Good Random Fun: Good Fun Mon 4a (m Entry 26 of 48.)
BNOTP: Metamorphis Monday 6a (s Entry x of 51x.)
Anitaojeda: Inspire Me Mon 4p (s Entry 20 of 34.)
Uncommon Slice: Inspire Me 128 Mon 2-4p (m Entry 2 of 71.)
* Stroll Life: Inspire Me Mon 582 3p (l Entry 6 of 118.)
Common Ground: All About Home 83 Mon 6p (l Entry 41 of 123.) I was featured here!
Loulougirls: Fabulous-party 363 Mon 7p (l Entry 5 of 112.)
Texas Tanya: Hello Monday (Entry 40 of 53.)
Mersad photography: Through my Lens (Entry 19 of 26.)
Our World Tues: Our World (Entry 51r of 58r.)
Across the Blvd: Beautifully Made 154 Tue 8a (Entry 16 of 72.)
Lindas lunacy: Making-a-home 206 Tue 9a (m Entry 3 of 50.)
My world Thru My Lens: My Corner Wed (Entry 30r of 72r.)
Jesh studio: All Seasons Tues (Entry 24 of 26.)
Poinsettiadr: Classy Flamingos 145 Tue (l Entry 8 of 38.)
Thistlekeylane: Tuesday Turn About 91 5p (s Entry 22 of 166.)
Also My Wee Abode: Tuesday Turn About 91 (s Entry 22 of 166.)
My Random: Anything Goes 277 (s Entry 54 of 63.)
LeCultivateur: Wonderful Wed (m Entry 57r of 179r.)
Pretty DIY Home: Waste not Wed 246 (l Entry 17x of 76x.)
Stonecottageadventures: Tue with Twist 412 (l Entry 30 of 51.)
Lets Add Sprinkles: Keep in Touch 191 Tue 4p (m Entry 1 of 58.)
Gingersnap crafts:Wow me 496 Tue 7p (Entry 17x of 116x.)
Girlish Whims: Whims 502 Tues 8:50p (Entry 6 of 85.)
Applestreetcottage: Party in your PJ's 350 (Entry 14 of 102.)
Flusterbuster: Creative Muster 428 Tu (l Entry 4x of 126x.)
Grandmas house: Grandmas house 235 Wed 11a (m Entry 44 of 84.)
French Ethereal: Share Your Style Wed 6p (Entry 1 of 55.)
Artsy mama: Artsy party 336 Th 7a (Entry 13 of 108.)
My Slices of Life: Hearts+Home Handmade Th 6a (Entry 16 of 107.)
Pieced Pastimes.gr: Saturday Sparks Th 8a (L Entry )
Eclectic Red Barn: Thurs Favorite Things Th 7a (Entry 64 of 217.)
Also KatherinesCorner: Th 7a (Entry 64 of 217.)
Also Follow the yellow brick: Th 7a (Entry 64 of 217.)
My Thrift Addiction: Vintage Charm 276 Wed a (m Entry 34 of 67.)
Life beyond Kitchen: Creatively Crafty 267 Th 4p (Entry 3 of 69.)

430729

Sunday, March 7, 2021

Spring Mini Album

Page of Spring Mini-Album

I am in the process of making a mini album for displaying and storing sets of tags I have made. Today I am sharing two spreads I finished from the Spring Mini Album I am creating.

Spring mini album spread 1 by Jeanne Selep

Spring Mini Album Spread 1: View 1 without tags

I designed the two page spread above to display and store three spring tags. This kind of album could also be used to store vintage postcards.

Spring mini album spread 1 with tags by Jeanne Selep

Spring Mini Album Spread 1: View 2 with three Spring Tags

The spring green and pink color combo is one of my favorite color combinations. There are pockets sewn on the paper with translucent fabric, so you can see the bottoms of the tags peaking through the fabric.

Spring mini album spread 2 by Jeanne Selep

Spring Mini Album Spread 2: View without tags

The second two page spread (above) also displays three spring tags. This spread started with the same background papers, but used a different color scheme and style. I love the using a mini-album like this to experiment with materials, color schemes and styles.

Spring mini album spread 2 with tags by Jeanne Selep

Spring Mini Album Spread 2: View with tags

This project has been fun - a flurry of laying out and choosing papers, fabrics, laces and needlework. The mess has flooded the 1st floor, especially the dining room table that we eat on. The layouts are small but took me a large amount of time, spread out over multiple days.

1+ days: I found and picked papers, lace and fabric bits. (I don't rush picking paper, I look through stacks of paper I might never look at again, and couldn't possibly ever all use.)

1 day: I cut papers to size and assembled into a "signature". Then I collapsed exhausted because I actually had to make decisions.
(A signature is group of printed sheets that are folded and stitched together.)

1 day: I painted vintage music and other vintage papers with acrylic paint.

1 day: I experimented with coloring lace.

1 day: I made the hearts.

1 day: I reinforced the hearts so the paper doesn't crumble.

1 day: I stamped the pink ribbon and green paper (and a bunch of other stuff.)

1 day: I assembled layout 1.

1 day: I assembled layout 2.

As you might have guessed, I am not very efficient at the process. But I love the creativity involved and taking my time thinking about what I want to do next.

Heart and Lace detail

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The story - Why did I create my album?

I enjoy making sets of tags to display seasonally in a framed display I have. (See this post here). In theory I change the tags displayed as the seasons change. Practice is more problematic.

My Original Spring Tag Collection

Since I made my 1st set of tags in 2015, I have lost tags and sets of tags multiple times. I have issues keeping them together and finding them again. I've taken them down, put them in a plastic bag and lost the bag. I have worried the tags got tossed. Tags get bent. I take a tag out for some reason and the tags get separated.

In the meanwhile, Scrapbooking has been evolving, expanding, morphing and merging to include creating Art Journals, Altered books and Book Binding, Collages, Junk Journals (reusing ephemera and found materials), and more. Magazines and videos have been enticing me to try these techniques, and so I came up with the idea of storing the tags in a beautiful hand-created mini-albums or books, and this post is showing the start of that project.

(If this post is getting too long, skip the rest below - It is just tips for crafters.)

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Tips:

I'm not a tutorial wizard, there are many talented tutorial people on the internet, but I have tips I'm sharing that I want to remember for myself as well.

Tip 1: Vintage papers are fragile and crumbly, so I used the PH Neutral PVA glue I like to glue the heart (or other) shapes to index cards which I then cut out. A better order would be to glue the paper to the index card and then cut them out. (Sometimes I learn from doing it wrong!)

Tip 1 and 2: Reinforce vintage paper

Tip 2: I put a coat of Liquitex Matte Varnish over the top of the painted cutout shapes.
These two steps make the most fragile papers fairly strong. The varnish in particular makes the paper almost waterproof. It leaves a bit of a texture (which I like) and using Varnish works best over water-proof paints or inks. Test on a sample piece if you are not sure if your paints or inks are waterproof. Many / most aren't waterproof (The pink color on the hearts above weren't waterproof, so the color smeared.)
The darker heart on the far right above isn't backed yet, and it wants to curl up. It is basically unusable without reinforcement.

Hearts in process and in use - The extras will make other projects go faster

Tip 3: I make bunches of shapes I like on the same day, (cutout; glue down to paper; paint/stamp/embellish; optionally varnish). This can increase options and productivity on other days.

Tip 4: I work on multiple projects at the same time - I also created other signatures (one for Autumn and one for Travel) at the same time. It keeps me engaged when I hit a drying spell (pun intended) or when I just want to use a different material, etc. This works for me but might not work for everyone.

Album pages with vintage Easter postcards

Tip 5: What size? I decided on sheets 11 inches wide x 8 inches high folded in half and sewn into signatures. 11 inches lets me use 8.5x11 inch paper folded in half and cut down. Also, many resale shop hard covered books would easily contain the signatures if I decide to bind them together. If creating a mini-album to display vintage postcards, I would recommend a wider size.