Teena Flanner

Babies, lilacs, life!

My life has been rich and bountiful, joyful and like any life well or otherwise lived, has had sadness. My mom died in March and we all memorialized Elnora Marjorie in Colorado.  My son-in-law, Joe , drove his very pregnant wife Katie, 2 year old Jack, sister-in-law Susannah and me ( his mother-in-law, yikes!) across many, many hours of black ice in Iowa. I thought it was a wonderful tribute to a grandma who has not recognized any of us for years , for all of her grandchildren and great grandchildren to assemble as family. My son Chris chose to drive  instead of  fly, from Nevada , so we could all meet his "newish" 12 year old german shepard Miranda. Color group photo is "us" in Colorado at one of our favorite, corny,  fun places.

On April 9 our newest and still sleepiest ,little person arrived, Abbey Jane. A doll of course!

My shops have been patient because at this stage of my life and career, I shut down my studio for long periods to enjoy and experience life. After my long ago divorce in 1991, I did nothing but work and take care of my children , as their sole support. Now I work when I wish, plant and garden, travel a little bit, get up in the morning and walk my dogs or today, pick huge fresh bunches of lilacs, tulips, iris, some transplanted from my home in Virginia. What I am trying to say is that during the long, cold days of winter I may work all night, when my grandbabies are busy I put in long hours . I love my papier mache and will probably never stop creating new and old pieces.

My largest order for this month came from a lovely shop in Stone Harbor, New Jersey, Christina's of Stone Harbor. It was great fun, all mermaids and patriotic children and fun, summery stuff. Christine's in Mountain Brook Alabama ordered some lovely wedding pieces, the flower basket from my book and the beach children.

so now some photos to accompany the words above!!!!

This season is so beautiful that I can hardly stand it....

Babies and tree skirts and valentines

Anyone who reads my blog, and I have discovered there are many more readers than I realized, knows I am lacking (seriously lacking) in the technical department. My motto is always just begin and it will "come to you" as you go! Not as quickly as I would like, but all other things here are peachy! My daughter Katie and her husband Joe are having a little girl in April.

I find that not only do many of my papier mache pieces remind collectors of me and my face, but now anything I do has a touch of pink. Artists so often resemble their work and how their life is proceeding shows right through. I made valentines today and photographed a sweet pink snowbaby on 2 feet of pure white snow (in my bare feet ,but I was very quick!) and the snow looks baby blue without any editing and the Valentine looks like a baby girl birth announcement!

                              

My new valentine, I love a good old fashioned February14!

an heirloom quality Christmas tree skirt of wool for a new little somebody...such fun to design,along with images of my stork, I used many of my baby cards received by my mother, antique glass Christmas beads and a felted wool that I felted even more and dyed the palest pink.                                                                                              youngest of 3, Susannah, with my oldest and only grandbaby Jack! We went to the zoo last week and had a freezy, frosty, foggy good time! My daughter Katie who is Jack's mom, Jack and Sus meandering through the zoo parking lot.