Handmade Heart Art: With summer flowers from my garden. Original Photography.
Rice Papers.
Encasing nature's gifts.
Miniature Pansies settle amidst.
Hydrangeas and Snapdragons. All dressed in white.
Wishing you a new year filled with love and peace, joy and abundance.
~Ally.
A creative who is learning to trust the mystery of what will be.
A spirit that is willing to fly into new creative realms and share the journey.
~Ally.
Developing an Eco Product.
This year I was very excited to learn about the Homesteaders Co-op in @homesteaderscoop's Introductory Article: Supporting a Steem Community Economy: Intention, values and ethics in our products.
The Homesteaders Co-op is a collective group of steemit artisans that accept SBD for their handmade, sustainable, environmentally friendly products, services and handicrafts. ~@homesteaderscoop
We care about living and working sustainably, peacefully, with intention and with respect for mother earth, the environment and fellow man. We care about strong community values and making a difference together. ~@homesteaderscoop
I've been making small 'nests' for a few years now, with the idea of them being an eco product that can be used as an ornament, or a pot plant container, or a container to hold personal treatures in.
Originally my 'nests' were made from naturally shredded paperbark and embellished with other natural materials collected from the forest floor of our nearby bushland area. These nests were fine to give as gifts to friends, but I doubt our Australian Customs would allow them to travel through Australia Post.
This year I've been working with paper mache: Embedding seeds and lichens, leaves and flowers into layers of different Japanese rice papers. Eventually I'll make my own paper from natural materials including recycled hemp and kombucha scobys and I'm also planning on painting very simple tribal/minimalist/abstract designs on some of them.
I first shared this concept at: Ephemeral Art. Eco-friendly Products. Steem Accepting Store.
I love the idea of being able to sell handmade products for STEEM/SBD and being part of the Homesteaders Co-op and so I've been developing this particular product range that I'm calling Heart Art with the view to apply.
A simple Heart.
This Heart is quite small: Measuring 130 width by 120 in length and 70 mms in height. I'll describe more fully how it was made ~ Sometime in the new year now.
The term Homesteader is used somewhat loosely. The modern use of the word typically refers to someone that is trying to live sustainably. This can be achieved through a variety of ways such as growing one’s own food, living self sufficiently and creating tools, clothes or products from home-grown, local or otherwise sustainable resources.
~What is a Homesteader
The underneath side of the Heart.
While historically homesteading was a lifestyle governed by necessity in order to survive, modern homesteading is often fueled by ethics and passion for living a sustainable lifestyle in contrast to a modern world filled with waste of natural resources, pollution and other problems. In most cases homesteading doesn’t pay very well and so you can be sure many homesteaders are committed to their lifestyle based on their values.
~What is a Homesteader
Assemblage. Photography: ©Alison Lee Cousland.
SONY Mark2 A7: 35 mm.
Posted from Earth ♥︎ Sand ♥︎ Water ♥︎ Ice with SteemPress : http://www.allyinspirit.info/2018/12/31/handmade-heart-art-with-summer-flowers-from-my-garden-original-photography/
The heart basket is just lovely, you are so talented woman! I anticipate many beautiful creations coming from you this year. So excited for you. Happy New Year Ally. ♥♥♥
Thanks so much Wanda.
I went to the Art Gallery of New South Wales yesterday ~ Not a fan of airconditioning usually, but it was lovely to be out of the heat for a few hours. Spent most of my time, not in the contemporary section, but in the Australian indigenous section, marvelling at the burial poles on display there.
Have had a feeling for making some of my own 'poles' and obelisques for eons ~ Having made these small baskets with embedded papers, I have a feeling the 'poles' will be calling to be made soon.
Already I know that 2019 is going to be such a deeply creative year. I have the feeling that all the 'work' we did last year ~ Knowing the time wasn't quite right for the full fruition of our 'dreams' ~ Can be built upon now and doorways will open miraculously. I hope 2019 will see all your 'dreams' coming true @sunscape ♥︎♥︎⚖️♥︎♥︎
You are always so sweet, I am envious of you sitting and admiring the indigenous items. I love the ancients, they had such a beautiful connection with the Earth and the Divine. I am excited that you found a reconnection with the poles. I can't wait to see where this takes you. :-)
Will have to go to the gallery again and photograph some of the details of these burial poles. But thought you might like to see this capture. The image doesn't do them justice. The tallest would be well over two metres in height. Tutini (Pukumani grave posts)
Oh my, they are beautiful, to say the least. They really tend to draw you into them, as if to touch the ancient wisdom. I was really drawn to the 3rd from the left-forefront. It was whispering words of wisdom from the heart center to me. So cool. thank you for taking the time to share them with me, it was truly special.
Oh, how pretty!
So they're biodegradable with seeds in them? Plantable pots? I'm excited to see the "how it's made" post :)
Thanks so much Nate. So pleased you like it.
The original concept with the paperbark nests ~ Used as hanging baskets for ferns ~ Was that they could be planted in the earth if they became too big. Eliminating one more plastic or wire product.
You could plant seeds in them, although I've never tried. Except, I just remembered my first 'hanging pot' was made from the inner roll of a toilet paper roll. It was covered in bark and twigs and it had a newly sprouted lily in it. I'd harvested the seed too.
These lilies grow to be rather large and take about 7 years to flower. Gave it to a friend who within a few months had to plant it in her garden. ♥︎♥︎⚖️♥︎♥︎
Oh cool! That's a great idea to eliminate another waste stream, very well done! Ithought I had read that you put seeds into the paper mache layers. Must have imagined reading that bit ;)
Oh no you didn't imagine it.
Although, the seeds I embed into the paper are different to ones you might wish to plant. I like to use some of our Australian native grasses and seeds like these. Making these smaller pieces are part of the process. ♥︎♥︎⚖️♥︎♥︎
Ohh, I see! Decorative pretty seeds!! Are those sycamore tree seeds? They look like the ones here that spin and flutter like helicopters when they fall.
I didn't know the name of the tree these seeds hang down from Nate. And YES. They ARE sycamore tree seeds. They're also called helicopter seeds. I love them as they are like wings. ♥︎♥︎⚖️♥︎♥︎
When I was a kid we loved throwing them up in the air and watching them flutter back down.
Your heart art is absolutely gorgeous! I am shocked by your talent, in a good way :) I am very much looking forward to seeing your upcoming store on Homesteaders Co-op! In the meantime seeing the pictures in your posts will suffice :)
You may be interested to know that as of this weekend our vendors can also accept USD via paypal in the Co-op. As of now we don't take any cut. We'll be making announcements about this later this week.
Thanks so much @sagescrub.
Hopefully it won't be too much longer before I'll have enough products for a store on the Homesteaders Co-op. I'll start with a range of these little heart baskets and then I have a few other 'things' in mind for other ranges. All 'things' that have been in my 'underworld' forming for many years, that I feel can now emerge. It's almost as if they needed the right place to go to, before I could even make them.
It's wonderful that vendors can now accept USD using Paypal as well as Steem/SBD. It will make purchasing from the Co-op viable for more people and at the same time it will introduce them to Steemit.
It's truly a wonderful service you are giving @sagescrub and I'm so looking forward to joining you all. ♥︎♥︎⚖️♥︎♥︎
Wonderful @allyinspirit! I love that description of "All 'things' that have been in my 'underworld' forming for many years, that I feel can now emerge." It is so beautiful to hear that is happening for you. :) I am glad you'll be sharing the result of your passions and hard work with us all :) Looking forward to it!
The last major artwork I did was 7 years ago now @sagescrub. Haven't even spoken about it yet at Steemit. Before that, it was 5 years.
I continue making 'things' in between, but then there comes a time when all the diffferent 'things' ALL come together. It feels absolutely miraculous ~ And I'm recognizing the feeling again. So I feel this year is going to be amazing and that being part of the Co-op will have a significant influence on whatever emerges. Not sure in what way but that's the fun of it all ~ The unknowing and seeing it unfold. ♥︎♥︎⚖️♥︎♥︎
This is just so great :) I am so glad you are inspired to create!
I love the flowers and the heart basket. Very pretty!
Thanks so much @nat-expressions.
I'll probably start with two different products for the store on the Homesteaders Co-op and add other related ranges as I go.
It's such an exciting project that @sagescrub has designed, especially if it encourages more people to live a more natural lifestyle, as well as supporting the people who are already 'living on the land' ~ Including Urban homesteaders. ♥︎♥︎⚖️♥︎♥︎
I am going to check out the store. Sounds interesting! Thank you for sharing about it.
Pleasure. The Co-op is attracting some wonderful vendors @nat-expressions. I hope you have the chance to look at some of the stores there.
I'm still working on getting a range together of different paper artworks ~ At the moment I'm starting to make some 'Magic Wands.' ♥︎♥︎⚖️♥︎♥︎
I have looked at a few of the stores...and plan to look at more. I would love to see the Magic Wands that you are making.
That is a great heart that is filled with beautiful flowers! It's amazing that you can make craft like this, Ally. You have a great and artistic soul :D.
Thanks so much @scrawly.
I've made a few more 'heart baskets' since this one but this is still my favourite. Will have to wait till Autumn to get some of the red Japanese maple leaves again.
Hoping to have enough products by the end of this week to be able to set up my own store with the Homesteaders Co-op.
After the baskets: Magic Wands: So anyone who has one, can simply wave it in a circle: 12 times clockwise and then 12 times anticlockwise: And then say the special magic words. The magic words will be on a small card when the person receives their wand. ♥︎♥︎⚖️♥︎♥︎
Exquisite, innovative, and oh, so beautiful. I do hope you do really well with these gorgeous items and will sell heaps @allyinspirit
Thanks so very much Trudee. I really enjoy making these 'heart baskets.' Never quite know how they'll turn out ~ The process seems to be different every time.
At the moment I'm using a ceramic heart shaped pot that a friend gave to me, as the mold ~ I use organic coconut oil as my releasing agent rather than a toxic commercial one. I also make my own paste from either organic rice or tapioca flour. So it's all a little experimental still ~ So that every time I'm able to ease a little basket out of the mold, I'm SO very very happy. ♥︎♥︎⚖️♥︎♥︎
That sounds like a lot of fun Ally and must be very rewarding as they are so unique.
They become like my 'babies' ~ Sometimes quite hard to give up for adoption. At the same time, I love giving them to people that I sense will love them as much as I do. ♥︎♥︎⚖️♥︎♥︎
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Wow, this is so beautiful. The photographs are flawless and will give you a peaceful vibe. Thanks for making up my day! :D
I'm really pleased you like it @hiddenblade.
Unlike commercial studios photographing products, I photograph my work in natural light ~ I like the shadows, soft or sharp, according to the day. ♥︎♥︎⚖️♥︎♥︎
How beautiful. Love those baskets! Cant wait to see what you get ready.for the coop.
Interested.to see what you will do with the Scoby! I've seen people make a kind of leather out of them?
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Thanks so much @riverflows. I love that the Co-op is international. Because it would be 'hit or miss' for some of the products to pass through our Oz customs, it will be wonderful to have a collective of Aussie store holders too.
I haven't seen any actual fabric or leather made from SCOBYs ~ Was told about it being possible and so looked around to see what's already out there. I gather the making process is pretty much like making paper ~ And then you can have different degrees of fineness.
I don't want to make wearables, but this image gives an idea of the versatility of Kombucha fabric.
Lovely to connect with you again. You must be feeling wonderful after your retreat. ♥︎♥︎⚖️♥︎♥︎
This is so beautiful and well arranged and well photoraphed, @allyinspirit ! What a wonderful handmade floral heart <3 I love it !!!
Thanks so much @veryspider. I'm going to be setting up my own online store with the Homesteaders Co-op just as soon as I've made enough saleable items.
I've made more than 20 nests/plant containers over the past few years, but have given them all away as gifts. Now the challenge is to make some and not give them away. ♥︎♥︎⚖️♥︎♥︎