Linda's Magic Workshop - Linda Britt Design

Tansy Back of Pendant After completing Christi Friesen’s polymer class last week, I wanted to make a pendant using some of her techniques.   I also wanted the pendant to be my style (whatever that is!). The face of the girl in my creation was a bead given me by a friend and I knew someday she would call to be part of something.   I picked her up, held her, looked at my mix of clay and started creating.   It was fun to figure out how to place the polymer shapes to make her part of the forest and have personality.   Many years ago, a close friend and I corresponded.   We wrote to each other in our imaginary forest girl’s personalities.   Mine was named ‘Tansy’ and I think Tansy may have infused some of her personality into this pendant.   I just had to share her.

Stitch Boutique I had a great time looking and taking pictures of everything that caught my interest one overcast afternoon while walking in Boston.   Now that I’m home and looking through those pictures, I’m realizing that repetition is a common element in my photos.   The repetition might be boring unless there is a twist – like the dolls with different personality and the wood bookend that fans.   I thought you might enjoy looking at the photos also.   I’d love to know what catches your interest too. Great Museum of Sewing Machines in Clothing Store Merimekko -repetition of color, line, fashion pinky otto store - repetition of bears Society of Arts and Crafts - wood bookends Felted scarves in rose repetition Society of Arts and Crafts Anthropologie - repetition of shape, pattern and color

Inspiration comes from many places.   I spent lots of time looking at buildings on my recent trip to Boston.   I keep a photo file of architectural details that inspire my jewelry designs.   This file is titled ‘Borders and Repetition'       And this one is titled ‘Shapes’.  

Italian Harpsichord This past week Peter and I flew to Boston for the Early Music Festival.   Attending the festival has been on Peter’s bucket list for many years and, of course, I was not going to miss it either. As usual we took lots of photos as we enjoyed the Back Bay area of Boston.      The weather was mostly rainy, overcast with only occasional sun.   I wore my ‘fitbit’ and at the end of 3 days realized I walked an average of 22,200 steps each day!   And yes, most of it was in rain! The Public Garden founded in 1837 was one of our first stops.   There is a lovely ‘lake’ with swan boats that were picturesque and not working that day.   Squirrels chased each other across grass and up trees.   Mother Mallard had her ducklings in tow as they swam.   The Globe Alliums looked like dancers in formation and the roses were in bloom.   But the Dogwoods took center stage with all the trees just filled with blooms.   Even the locals said it was a spectacular year

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I'm experimenting with color and new techniques.   My ‘Wind and Fire’ necklace developed from combining colors I found in an inspiration fabric.   You know, the quarter and half yards of fabric we buy because we love something about the pattern or the colors – inspiration fabric! I also wanted to experiment with the ‘feather’ or bargello pattern and this is what happened! When I make a slab of patterned polymer, I want to use it all.   That means beads, earrings and anything else I can think of.     After I made the rectangles for the flared necklace, I made an 8” roll by wrapping a piece of the slab around the handle of an exacto knife.   It really turned out well.   I just have not decided if I want to saw it into shorter pieces or keep it long.   I might cut it into thirds and string it.   After everything was cut, detailed and fired, I put it all into the tumbler that was lined with sandpaper.   That always makes me nervous but it always comes out smooth.   I s

Our Farmer’s Market opened Saturday and on a whim I bought a bag of squash blossoms.   I’ve lived in the Southwest for 28 years and have never cooked (or eaten) squash blossoms!   Time to correct that!   Tonight I fixed beef burritos and a salad and realized that I better cook my blossoms.   Of course I went to the internet and googled ‘squash blossom’ and up came pictures of squash blossom necklaces – beautiful ones.   Then I forced myself to find some edible squash blossom recipes.   Most were more involved that I wanted.   Squash blossoms are blossoms from zucchini plants that are colorful and delicate.   I found this recipe in a blog, tried it and wow! These are good!   Sometime I’d like to try batter fried blossoms but not til I lose more weight!   The helpful blog:   http://kitchen-parade-veggieventure.blogspot.com/2006/09/simple-baby-pattypan-squash-with.html   with lots of interesting information.   I emailed Alanna Kellogg St Louis, Missouri for permission for highlight

The rocks captured my imagination on our recent trip to Joshua Tree National Park and I thought you might enjoy seeing some of the pictures.   The scale of rocks -boulders to gravel, the repetition of the rock shapes – rounds after rounds or jags upon jags and the shapes that are made by wind, sand and water fascinate me.   Some of these natural images will influence my future jewelry designs.   Some will bring me peace and joy as I look at them.  

Typical landscape at 2500ft Joshua Tree National Monument We just returned from a trip to San Diego by way of Joshua Tree National Park.   Usually we stay in the lower campgrounds but it was hot and we drove to the campgrounds in the higher elevations.   Not many people were touring the park and a few of the campgrounds were closed.   Thirty miles separate the first and last camping sites; we were very happy when we found the higher campground open!   The rocks between the two areas are strikingly different as the pictures show.   Typical rock formations at higher altitude (approx 4000 ft) On our way out of the park we stopped at Cottonwood Springs.   It is a beautiful area with native Fan-Palms that keep the area cool where birds and bees gather.   There is a sandy wash, interesting desert plants and lots of rock! Fan-Tailed Palms at Cottonwood Spring Thank goodness we noticed another couple driving up as we were leaving because our truck would not start!   This is