Marvelously Messy

Tuesday, July 6, 2010

Periwinkle Patience

The world was filled with a fragrance of fir-balsam and the faintest flavor of seaweed from the ledges, bare and brown at low tide in the harbor. It was so still and so early that the village was but half awake. I could hear no voices save those of the birds, small and great,- the constant song of the sparrows, the clink of a yellow-hammer over in the woods, and the far conversation of some deliberate crows.

~ Sarah Orne Jewett
The Country of the Pointed Firs

There is something all together different about living on the coast of Maine, if only for a week. Time is gauged by the tides. The sea, the shoreline and all it's mysteries beckon. Crabs hidden in the seaweed, sea glass sparkling in the sand, stones rubbed round and smooth, wild roses, high bush blueberries, lobster feasts, and clothes sun drying on the line. And, through it all I feel the tug of the tide on my heart.... I always find such great opportunity for emotional healing in the sounds of the waves.

We kept a keen eye out for animals. One harp seal in particular used a rock near our cottage at low tide to stake it's claim and take a well needed break from seal responsibilities.

Lobstering is serious business in Maine. We watched the boats come in all day long and pull the traps, choose the catch to keep, throw the old bait to the hungry sea gulls, add new bait and drop the trap again. Old men and young, women too. Boats with names like the Redeemed or the Available.

We did a lot of collecting. Rocks, shells, sea glass, and favorite memories.

What child wouldn't want to explore on this beach?? What adult wouldn't, for that matter??

Suddenly, as we looked, a gleam of golden sunshine struck the outer islands, and one of them shone out clear in the light, and revealed itself in a compelling way to our eyes.
~The Country of the Pointed Firs

One could learn a lot about patience from a periwinkle.

Sea Glass Craft

After a week long vacation in a charming little cottage on the coast of Maine I had collected enough sea glass to do quite a few crafts. Here is the first one I've come up with. :-) My brain is still contemplating the possibilities available to me.

To do this craft you need:

2 Embroidery hoops (same size)

paint

strong thread

sea glass

Duco Cement Glue**

Wood Glue

**After a week of this sea glass hoop being placed on display a couple of pieces of glass fell off the strings. It may have had to do with the fact that it was placed over my kitchen sink and it was humid....but, I thought it would be good to tell you. I used the Duco Cement because it was the least harmful out of all the glass glues I could find at the store. Quite a few of the options were really volatile, and with my Munchkin around I wanted to use the least aggressive choice available to me. So, you might do better with another glass glue, or you could just try placing it in a less humid environment. I am content with the way it came out....I reapplied the glue to the fallen pieces and I have not had any problems with it. But, if you are going to be placing this around any small children or animals I want you to be aware that the glass pieces could possibly fall off and become a choking hazard. See what I mean about having OCD?? Yikes. I'll stop rambling now. :-)

There are probably many different ways to put this project together, but the way I did it went like this:

~Cut thread to fit embroidery hoop in different spots. I didn't measure to make the distance even, this has all been done with the finess of my eye. :-) Don't look too closely.

~When you've placed the thread in the spots you'd like glue one end of each thread with wood glue and let it dry.

~ Now, line the rest of the edge of the hoop with wood glue and place the opposite ends of the threads in the places you'd like them to go. Pull them tight and let the glue set but not completely dry.....you can add glue to the rest of the outer edge and lay the other hoop on top of the first one (matching up the metal tightening screws). Let that piece dry.

~Paint the hoops and try to stay away from the strings.

~Now you're ready to glue the sea glass using the duco cement. I laid the hoop down on a table n placed something underneath the strings that made it so that the string laid loosely on the object. Then, I slid the sea glass under the strings and placed a dot where the string touched the glass. I let it dry (5-10 minutes) then added another dot to make the bond strong. Fill up all the strings with sea glass.....I added a piece of pottery in the center that I found on the beach as well. Giev the whole thing time to dry and then find a place to put your work. I recommend a window or somewhere that the light can truly catch it.
If you would like to read more about my lovely vacation, click HERE !!!!

Here are the parties I have linked up to, visit them and be inspired!!!!

Nifty Thrifty Tuesdays

Thrifty Thursday

Join us Saturdays at tatertotsandjello.com for the weekend wrap up party!

Thursday, July 1, 2010

Benchy-goodness and a Beautiful Blogger

Thanks to my In-Laws, we now have a piece of lawn furniture!! Up until now my guests have had to be content to sit at our picnic table or on the lawn. I'm an on the lawn, butt with the beetles, kind-o-girl....but I have been wishing recently that I could make my company a *little* more comfy. This piece does the trick with some serious style. Take a look at this bench:

Isn't she gorgeous??!! This is an old park bench from about 1875. When we got her she needed a lot of work but, hey, that's what spray paint is for. I would have used a metal bristle brush on her but I was concerned about lead paint AND....she was in really great shape for her age. I gave her two coats of primer and two coats of glossy satin finish spray paint. I am in LURVE.

Speaking of style, I have just been awarded the Beautiful Blogger award from Robin at the T-Shirt Diaries. Cool beans, huh? Thanks Robin!!