Hydrangeas W.I.P., a butterfly chaser and a magical bee
Annie
I knew it was silly to say out loud that I was hoping for a few quieter weeks! Doh!
So I have not finished my hydrangea picture but I have made some strides into it. It’s sitting on my table at the “messy middle” stage and you’d be forgiven for thinking a colourful whirlwind had passed through for there is not an inch of floor or desk to be seen due to it all being covered in fluff and fibres and fabrics!
Next job is to clear down so I can see the wood for the trees then work on the contrast in the picture and bring some clarity to some of the shapes so it can be read more easily.
I decided not to stick to only hydrangeas, although they will be a main feature, but also to add a hanging fern and some smaller flowers etc to make a display of pot plants and cut flowers in vases. There isn’t enough room in the layout for everything I want to do, so I may need to make another one!
Here are a few W.I.P. photos. I’m away for a few days, and forgot to measure it, but my guess is about 80cm x 60cm ish (32” x 24” ish).
Lyn
“The Butterfly Chaser” – a picture made using scrap felt.
I cut a paper pattern of a bird in flight and a butterfly then cut the pieces from some lightweight scrap felt.
I made a base from four layers of white merino wool fibres then made it into soft pre-felt. I then placed the scrap felt pieces on top.
I covered it all with net then wetted and soaped it. Using a small sponge I gave the scrap felt some gentle persuasion to sink into the white base a little. After some careful agitation I turned the whole thing over and replaced the bubble-wrap that was underneath with another piece of net. I worked the felt, between two pieces of net, from the reverse side until the felt was done.
Then I added an outline and detail with needle felting.
Inspiration for a picture can come from the strangest places.
Annie bought me a desk calendar for 2026 that has a different word and explanation of it on each day. I keep it by my pc and look forward to tearing off a page to reveal a new word. Apparently ‘Dumbledore’ isn’t just the name of a fictional wizard – it’s also an old word for ‘bumblebee’.
My imagination went into overdrive. Can a bumblebee wear a wizard’s hat and cloak? Would he have a wand? Would a bumblebee visit the plants in Hogwarts? Yes, because the flower of the ‘Mandrake’ plant attracts bees. Harry Potter fans might know the plant from the herbology classes in ‘The Philosopher’s Stone’.
I gathered up bits of fabric and some iron-on double-sided fabric adhesive. A bit of cutting, cussing and sticking and I ended up with this whimsical picture.
What’s the most unusual source of inspiration that you have found?
2 thoughts on “Hydrangeas W.I.P., a butterfly chaser and a magical bee”
It wasn’t difficult to tell that the first part of the post was Annie’s – what an explosion of colour – Annie’s work always makes me happy & smiley. I’m looking forward to seeing more of these hydrangeas.
Your bird and the butterfly are equally joyful Lyn, though I hope that the bird doesn’t catch the butterfly! That piece of prefelt is so beautiful I’m surprised that you had the strength to cut pieces out of it.
Dumbledore does sound bumblebeeish. Though how he manages to fly in hat and cloak I’m not sure. Apparently aerodynamically bumblebees aren’t capable of flight, even uncloaked! Perhaps there is a bit of wizard about them after all – a wave of the wand and he’s off. I hope he finds some pollen and nectar in the mandrake flower.
Ann
Thank you Ann. If you could see Annie’s workspace you would know that ‘explosion of colour’ is a good description – wool and fabric everywhere but she somehow makes sense of it all and her pictures are beautiful.
I was precious about that piece of pre-felt and found it difficult to use – only a little bit left now – and I can’t remember how I made it – I should have taken process photos.
Don’t worry, I saw the butterfly dodge out of the way just as the bird’s beak snapped shut 🙂
When you watch a bumblebee fly he looks so heavy that you do wonder how he does it. He must be magical after all.