Day 16: Time Flies

I can't believe it's already New Year's Eve. Time seems to be flying!
I created this butterfly sculpture using an old watch that stopped and a strand of beads that reminded me of champagne bubbles. I also used pages from my 2010 calendar for the wings.
I want to take this opportunity to say that I appreciate all of you and your warm encouragement for me and this project. Sixteen down, three hundred and forty nine to go!
I hope that 2011 will be everything you wish it to be, and more!

Day 15: Butterfleyes

Sorry this image isn't very large or bright. I used pencils to color it and they don't show up as well on the scanner.
Now that I am really getting into this project, I'm seeing butterflies everywhere! This morning when I put yogurt on my oatmeal, it was even shaped like a butterfly! (I wish I'd gotten a picture!) So today's butterfly is in celebration of my eyes and all of the inspiration they bring me each day of my life! The eyes in this piece were created from a handmade stamp that I carved from an eraser.
PS: If you have any butterfly ideas for me, please feel free to share!

Day 14: Pipecleaner Protegy

When I was in 2nd grade I won my first art award for my pipecleaner prowess. It's good to see that I still got it!

Day 13: Butterfly Melody

It's been raining hard all day here, and it's bone-chillingly cold. I didn't feel like spending a lot of time on a butterfly today, so I threw this one together in less than 5 minutes. (I made it to remind me that I need to change the strings on my guitar!) The wings are made from a book of violin music printed in the late 1800's.

Day 12: Tie dye Butterfly

Today's butterfly took me about a week to complete, and I am thrilled with the way it turned out! I made it from an old ripped tie dyed t-shirt that I never got around to fixing. The pattern of the tie dye was a flower, but when I looked closely, I saw a butterfly emerging! (Don't you just love it when that happens?)

Day 11: The Present

So, did you get what you wanted for Christmas?
I was thinking of gifts that don't cost money, and how they are usually the best gifts of all, and this quote came to mind: "Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery. Today is a gift, that's why it's called "the present."
I feel abundantly blessed today, and I hope you do too!
Enjoy the present to the fullest I say!

Day 10: White Christmas Dream

Snow is very rare here on the Northern California coast. So instead of snow for Christmas, we got rain. Oh well! I had fun anyway making this quirky little snowman butterfly.

Day 9: Sugarplum Fairy

This one is pretty small. I made it out of "Shrinkydinks." (fun stuff to play with!)

Day 8 : Bilobabug

This butterfly was inspired by the beautiful golden ginko biloba leaves I found while I was out walking.

Day 7: Doodlebug

I made today's butterfly while I was just messing around doodling, so I call her "doodlebug."

Day 6: Beaderfly

Today's butterfly was made from wire and beads, so I call it "beaderfly."

Day 5: La Luna

Tonight was the full moon, a total lunar eclipse and Winter Solstice! This event will not happen again in our lifetimes! I stayed up to see it, but it's raining here. I heard the moon would be orange, so I made this one orange. I have always loved Mexican tin art, so I tried my hand at it tonight. I used old tin baking pans. I love the way this mobile turned out and feel inspired to do more with tin.

Day 4: Party Boy Butterfly!

Today's butterfly was created for my friend Rob who lives in Ireland! Since Rob is Irish, I used Celtic wrapping paper that I bought at a Highland festival many years ago. (I have such good memories of that day, so I only use the wrapping paper for very special projects! Rob definitely qualifies as a special project and a special person!) Since Rob is very into fashion and plaid, I gave him a second set of wings made from metallic plaid Christmas wrapping.
When I looked at him and asked if he was done, he said "Girlfriend, I desperately need bling and sequins!" So I gave him a jeweled crown and sequined wings. Satisfied, he said that he was ready for his close-up! So I give you: Party Boy Butterfly!
PS: Rob is an awesome photographer! Check out his blog here: http://joycomet.blogspot.com/

Pudderfly

One of my favorite things is my kittie's belly. Today's butterfly is in honor of my cat and his cute belly. His name is Otis, and he was named after Otis Redding. But I call him Kiddywiddywoodles.
Since he's a puddy-tat, I called this one "Pudderfly."
After I made it, I showed it to him and he sniffed it and looked at me with a very wise expression on his face...I do love him so!

Day 2: Holly Jolly

When I was walking in the redwood forest yesterday for my birthday, I picked some holly and used it to make this festive holiday butterfly for today's post.

Day One: Happy Birthday to Me!

My birthday was wonderful! I began the day with a walk in the forest. When I got to my car, there was a friendly couple there. When I told them it was my birthday, the woman bestowed upon me the most beautiful birthday blessing! The maintenance man walked up and asked her what the speech was all about, and she said "It's her birthday!" Then he said "It's my birthday too! And not only is it my birthday, but I'm 64!" Then he sang "When I'm 64" by the Beatles. The day went on from there filled with so many little miracles and gifts, and lots of love and cake and candles. The butterfly I made for my birthday is created from birthday wrapping paper, streamers from a party popper, and candles from my birthday cake that I made actual wishes upon!
Here's a video from Yellow Submarine: When I'm 64:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h3chFhCP5mQ

Metamorphosis

It is the eve of my 46th birthday, and tomorrow begins My Butterfly Year. I will spend the next year creating a butterfly each day for The Butterfly Project:
(Read more about it here)
Meanwhile, enjoy this poem I found in my computer files:









Butterflies are free






Today I helped
A butterfly to freedom
And it thanked me
With wings like
Downy feathers
And small
Psychedelic eyes
Of black and gold
Fern antennae
And curled tongue smile.

~Written by me in 1994