Tuesday 28 February 2017

The blue flower

Hi Everybody!

It's been another cold and dismal day here, but it's not
stopping the spring flowers blooming, so 
that's good.

For Simon Monday challenge, based on a book, I have
a mixed media tag. The first layer was made with scraps of 
old book pages and letters, and a strip of corrugated
card. I gave it a coat of diluted gesso before going on to the next
layer,  for which I used pieces of paper napkins.
The butterfly was also cut from a napkin, 
pasted on card and fussy cut. I added stardust
Stickles to the wings, and antennas
made from gold wire and tiny, blue glass beads.
I added some glass leaves as embellishment.








The blue flowers always remind me of a poem
by  Josef von Eichendorff, a German writer
of the 19th Century, who wrote
'Die blaue Blume' - the blue flower:

Ich suche die blaue Blume,
Ich suche und finde sie nie,
Mir träumt, dass in der Blume
Mein gutes Glück mir blüh.

Ich wandre mit meiner Harfe
Durch Länder, Städt und Au'n,
Ob nirgends in der Runde
Die blaue Blume zu schaun.

Ich wandre schon seit lange,
Hab lang gehofft, vertraut,
Doch ach, noch nirgends hab ich
Die blaue Blum geschaut

 Roughly translated it means:

I search for the blue flower,
I search and cannot find it,
I dreamed that my luck
Will bloom with the flower.

I wander with my harp
Through countries, towns and meadows,
Always hoping to glimpse 
The blue flower.

I've been wandering  a long time,
And have hoped and believed,
But alas, I was not able
To see the flower anywhere.

My sister Cynthia brought me a card with this poem 
when I was a little girl, and it was the
first German I learned.

Today I am sharing some of the presents I received in the past
weeks, and would like to say 'thanks' again to all of
the senders.

The book came from Sandra, who is a talented and proficient 
author, and is really good, it's well worth a read!
(As are her other books, too)


The purse is also from Sandra:


These bottles are tiny, about 1" high, and were part of a huge
parcel of goodies sent by Gill, and all made with so
much loving care. I have shown some of the other pieces, and will
be showing more as I use them. She also sent a CD with digital images,
as she is a designer at Daisy Trail:



The gorgeous card is also from Gill.


These 2 cards were from Sandy, and accompanied a huge
pile of gorgeous paper napkins which I have been
using lately, and some water-colour cards:



Thanks Ladies!

Have a great day you all, take care,
and thanks a lot for coming by.

32 comments:

  1. Flowers, butterflies and an air of Spring in the air here, it feels so fragrant and beautiful. I especially love your tag which feels full of the promise of Spring just round the corner now!

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  2. Wow so much beautiful art today. That butterfly is gorgeous.

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  3. Love the tag with the blue flowers, and the sad little poem. You are the Queen of tags, that's for sure. You got nice things from your friends, enjoy! Love the sound of that book! The kids are still sick, but getting a bit better. Hugs, Sarah

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  4. WOW...stunning posts again and again!!! How do you manage it Valerie???
    But I am certainly grateful for all of this beauty and your art is always gorgeous!!!
    Loved the poem, too! I read poetry everyday because I love it so much~

    Great Big Hugs!!!

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  5. Wow I love this tag Valerie! Cornflowers are one of my favourite flowers and well worth searching for! Love the goodies you have received too! Hugs, Chrisx

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  6. Your tag is beautiful Valerie, I love how the layer of gesso makes it look, and the blues and purples of the flowers are so clean and delicate. You've received some lovely pressies too xx

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  7. Beautiful blue flower tag, and what wonderful presssies! I do follow Sandra Cox too.

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  8. I just love the artwork with the amazing cornflowers and other blues as well..it has so many great ideas

    Wonderful gifts you have received and you are using them so well

    Cold here with frost but better than snow or rain

    Love Chrissie xx

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  9. Professional and detailed tag - well done and amazing gifts, Susi

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  10. Ach ist das Tag schön. Ich liebe Kornblumen und ihr so besonderes, leuchtendes Blau sehr. Die kleinen Perlenzweige passen dazu perfekt. Ein Traum!
    Deine lieben Geschenke sind auch Alle so wunderschön gemacht und ein Buch ist für dich Bücherwurm genau richtig. Freut mich für dich.
    Liebe Grüße
    Sabine

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  11. Its a beautiful tag Valerie, love the vibrant blue flowers and the butterfly.
    You received some lovely gifts, I think you will be enjoying using them.
    Yvonne xx

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  12. Oh how I love your tag, the glass leaves are brilliant. What sweet gifts you have been given as well, I love seeing how you use so many elements...

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  13. beautiful spring tag and thanks for sharing the poem! What fabulous gifts from good friends too!

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  14. Wow, love the mixed media tag, looks fabulous.

    So nice to see the gifts you have been given, and I enjoyed reading the poem.

    Hope your week is going well

    All the best Jan

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  15. Your cornflower tag is out of this world. I heard years ago that blue was the hardest color to find in nature, so the poem reminded me of that. You put SO much into your tags. This one is out of this world because of so many mixed media elements.

    I'm so glad Sandra sent the book and purse. How thoughtful of her. She's a real sweetie. Of course, Gill's gifts just keep on coming, don't they? These tiny bottles filled with embellishments are out of this world. And Sandy's cards are wonderful. You definitely can't have too many napkins. And trust me, you deserve every good thing you receive.

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  16. What lovely things you have! And your tag is marvelous. I think the blues are a very good palette mix for you. Or maybe just for me! Very nice!

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  17. Lovley goodies received and your tag is just beautiful, love the blue...xx[aNNie]

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  18. Cornflowers are my absolute favorite flower. The blue color is stunning. Thank you for reminding me of their beauty at this time.

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  19. Very pretty! Love blue flowers

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  20. Love the tag :) I do love blue flowers a whole bunch...they always make me smile. It's wet and about 20 degrees colder today. So a good day to stay in and get something done around here. Of course I'll have to shut down this computer in order for anything to get done :)

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    1. I know all about things like that - why is it so hard to shut down the computer?!

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  21. Your tag is gorgeous Valerie -- that color blue is so beautiful!!!
    sandy xx

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  22. Gorgeous tag today Valerie and great gifts. You are one blessed and lucky lady for certain. Hugs-Erika

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  23. gorgeous tag- I love those vibrant blue flowers on it!! What really super art and gifts you have received too. And I LOVE the sweet bird triptych at the end! despite your weather, this post sings Spring!

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  24. OMGosh!! That tag is incredible! I do believe it is now one of my very favorites!! Those cornflowers are just stunning and your layers,perfectly layered and topped so cleverly with the beading and butterfly! Did I say I love this tag? heeheee

    What fabulous gifts you have received, I am sure you will make great art with all of these goodies!
    hugs

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  25. Such vibrant blues in this wonderful tag! Beautiful and fantabulous. Those glass leaves are stunning and add the perfect finishing touch. Awesome sauce poem as well. Hugz ~Niki

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  26. A truly stunning and artful tag! I always called those blue flowers Bachelor's Buttons...A very lovely poem too. Happy T Day quite late!

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  27. A truly stunning and artful tag! I always called those blue flowers Bachelor's Buttons...A very lovely poem too. Happy T Day quite late!

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  28. I am grateful for you and your art!! Truly amazing! I love all the special mail you got! What great gifts! Big Hugs! Love the poem!!

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  29. wow...a stunning tag...those cornflowers are so pretty...thank you so much for sharing with us at Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge....kath xxx

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