Linda's Magic Workshop - Linda Britt Design

Kofa National Wildlife Refuge Arizona has some of the most beautiful places that are pretty easy to get to.  We’ve found that taking side roads rather than interstates let us stop and really look at the plants, birds, and animals as well as the wonderful mountain ranges!  These pictures are from a recent trip to Southern Arizona.  I’m always amazed at the color, texture and detail in nature.  Enjoy! Blue-gray Gnatcatcher Broad-billed Hummingbird California Poppies Creasote in bloom Huachuca Mountains Mallow Palo Verde in bloom Prickly Poppies Roadrunner Thistle buds - the bloom is yellow

Michelle's Finished Book The phone rang and my neighbor (who does the most amazing book binding) told me the  case for the book was ready!  I went right over to pick it up just in time to share it on this post.  This is the labor of love I am giving to one of my best friends who helped pick and press the flowers on our trip to Ecuador in 2008.  I'll gift it to her in April as a remembrance of our experiences. I made the book and my neighbor made the chemise ('shirt' for the book) and the beautifully constructed box.  The spine is leather and I was privileged to watch the gold foil being placed for the text.  My neighbor walked me through the steps as we selected the materials so I would understand the process. The chemise is solid wine colored fabric and makes a slip cover for the book How the chemise works The book A protected page in the book

Seedpods are a secret love of mine.  I collect them and many different kinds line my window sill.  I love to make them out of metal clay This bronze seedpod started out with bronze clay wrapped around a wax shape that was covered in saran wrap.   After the clay dried, I pulled out the wax through a hole I made for the bale.  The center seeds are thin steel circles that were placed over the bronze layer.  I painted veins on the sides and back with bronze slip (thinned bronze clay), sanded and let the piece dry.  The bronze clay was fired in activated charcoal in a 2 stage process and I always hold my breath when I remove a fired piece from the kiln several hours later.  Did the clay sinter (did it fuse into metal?)  or will I need to fire it again?  This time the clay did sinter except for one steel circle which got lost in the charcoal. After polishing my seedpod, I reviewed my choices.  I could leave the hole open or I could make another circle to fill the