First I made a large Dirty Daisy piece on a blue background, then a small Dirty Daisy on a pink background, so it was only logical that someone would ask for daisies without a “romantic” theme, hence the creation of this Clean Daisies on Red…
The original Dirty Daisies was such a hit, I decided to make a smaller version, this time Pink Dirty Daisies. The biggest reason behind this is that I wanted to see if I could get the same effect in a smaller format. This particular piece…
My mother-in-law loves daisies and we both love Outlander. Her birthday is on January 1st, so it’s always a challenge to time gifts for Christmas and her birthday. I always make her a daisy in some form. I have made her a daisy field, single daisies, daisy photos, etc. This year I wanted to make it extra special and combine two of her favorite things: Outlander and Daisies. And that is the story behind how Dirty Daisies: Outlander Fan Art was created.
I had wanted to use book pages to make some art for a long time. My husband and I were joking around one night about Outlander and his mother and somehow the idea of making daisies from the pages that had the sex scenes of Outlander got stuck in my head. So I ordered in the books (I had lent out my entire set to an ex-friend and they were never returned. Yes I’m talking about you Christen!) and some daisy dies and made the dream a reality.
The resulting artwork was nothing short of stunning, and my mother-in-law agreed. I’ll never forget the call she made to us, and the moment she realized the daisies were made from the Outlander pages – she was so excited she cried. And, I’m a sympathetic crier, so I cried too. It was a fantastic surprise and a cherished memory.
The piece is 8″ x 8″ and is framed in a driftwood gray frame. The daisies are layered on top of each other. The background is made from three different pieces of patterned cardstock.
Own Your Own “Dirty Daisies” (or clean!)
You can order your own dirty daisies by contacting me. I can currently do Outlander and 50 Shades of Gray – but could potentially do any book you want, clean or dirty. I have one small Dirty Daisies piece available on my Etsy shop here.
As an artist, each creation holds a special place in my heart, and my recent quilled paper art piece depicting a floral Letter K monogram is one of my absolute favorites. This artwork marked the first time I experimented with representing the monogram using white…
This dimensional and hyper-realistic quilled bittersweet vine was meticulously crafted using 1/8″ quilling strips. The wreath’s intricate woven design became the perfect canvas for creating lifelike bittersweet berries, spaced out artfully for a stunning effect. What makes this piece extra special is the golden placard…
My 3D quilled sunflower field project marked a departure from my usual commissioned-based work. Each sunflower in the field was meticulously handcrafted, adding a mesmerizing 3D effect that brought the scene to life. With perspective in mind, I carefully arranged the sunflowers, ensuring those at the bottom were larger and more pronounced, while those along the horizon appeared smaller, creating the illusion of depth and distance.
Creating a round artwork was an experiment for me. As an artist who primarily works with square canvases, the round format opened up new possibilities. I wanted this piece to feel like a portal into a sunflower-filled world, and the round canvas allowed for a captivating sense of immersion and depth.
Each sunflower in the field handmade, even to the extent of adding individual petals! All the petals can be moved up or down to either look like the sunflower is open or closed. The base layer of strips and scrolls added depth and dimension, making the sunflowers appear almost lifelike. I aimed to capture the vibrant and joyful essence of sunflowers, infusing the artwork with a sense of warmth and serenity.
I have made many sunflowers over the years, including two very large pieces in 2022. Some of my first attempts at quilling were actually sunflowers, though I have since lost all of the photos of them. Sunflowers are a burst of color in the fall, and a food source for the birds that I enjoy watching at my feeders.
This piece was interesting in that I started creating one sky and then changed my mind and had to rebuild the background to create a different one. The original attempt was to emulate a sky pattern that I see another paper artist use. It was definitely something that needs practice. I decided that I wasn’t happy with how it was coming out as well as the shade of blue I had originally chosen. So, I swapped it out for a cooler, deeper blue and swapped out the edgework contour lines for playful c-coils. To complete the effect, I glued small silk leaves to some of the larger sunflowers. The end effect was stunning.
There’s nothing more fulfilling than creating a piece that is created explicitly for someone you love. I recently had the pleasure of crafting a simple quilled paper daisy on black fiberboard, creating a striking high contrast piece. What made this creation even more special was…
I recently created a quilled tribute to white birch. The awe-inspiring fall splendor that graces Maine each year served as the perfect muse for this piece. Fall is my favorite time of the year, not only for its perfect temperatures and diminished humidity but also…
This design marks the second iteration of this radiant flower, and it holds a poignant story of love and remembrance. Commissioned by a grieving mother, this is a quilled sunflower in memory of her late son. This client also owns one of my fluid acrylic paintings, also in the form of a sunflower. I’m grateful that she adorns her walls with my art.
The large, quilled round sunflower holds a special place in my portfolio as it carries the memories and emotions of a grieving mother. The commission for this artwork came from a woman whose son tragically passed away. For her, the sunflower became a powerful symbol of his spirit and a reminder of his vibrant personality. It was an honor to be entrusted with creating this piece, as I knew how much it meant to her to immortalize her son through art.
This particular sunflower design allowed me to explore and refine my signature streamer technique. The streamer technique is a paper art method that involves creating long, flowing strips of paper, which I found ideal for capturing the sunflower’s intricate petals. The technique allowed me to create a sense of movement and life in the artwork, making the sunflower appear as if it was gently swaying in a warm summer breeze. I first developed this technique on my large Betta fish, then again on my Mini Betta.
My first sunflower design was crafted with a slightly side-view, giving it a unique perspective. However, for this second iteration, I decided to portray the sunflower straight on, resulting in a circular center instead of a marquis shape. This adjustment added a touch of elegance to the design, bringing the focus to the intricate details of the sunflower’s center.
As I worked on this piece, I felt a profound sense of responsibility to honor the memory of the woman’s son. Each quilled petal was infused with love and care, aiming to capture the essence of the sunflower that held such significance for her. As the artwork slowly took shape, I could feel the connection between the artwork and its heartfelt purpose.
I will forever cherish the opportunity to craft this sunflower and create a timeless symbol of love and remembrance. As I continue my quilling journey, I am reminded that every piece I create carries the potential to touch hearts and leave a lasting impact on those who commission and appreciate my art.
Every now and then, an artistic project comes along that challenges an artist to their core while also filling them with immense joy. Such was the case with the recent custom Saturn V Double Monogram I created, combining elements of a Saturn V rocket, the…