I was given a wonderful pack of assorted Dresden Trim, as well as an entire sheet of fish. I spent a pleasant few hours sorting through the scrap, snipping and arranging the bits and pieces. Things got interesting when I started combining parts of one with another. Above is the beginning of an illustration for 2018.
I cut the wings from a bird in flight (a swift? a swallow?) and this happened. I felt an instant sense of recognition, like I had met a new old friend.
I made the ladder longer, and glued the pieces together.
The back is reinforced with toothpicks and cardstock circles cut to the wheel dimensions, stacked and glued together, then glued to the outer rim.
Because I’m not a stamped gold foil kind of girl, I spray painted her matte black. Please say hello to my new avatar.
She shows up strikingly against many backgrounds.
I gifted her shoes made of black eyelets and tacky wax. She stands freely, observant, curious and full of questions.
However… sometimes it’s hard being 2.5D in a complex 3D world. You can lose touch with essential parts of yourself.
We believe it’s good to have your head in the clouds, and your feet on the ground.
And have your heart wide open… but sheltered by something good.
(These particular Dresden trim pieces came from Castle in the Air, but I have since found three other good online sources: Rose Mille; Dresden Paper Crafts; and Walter Kunze.)
nancyland.com 
I find your new creature fascinating! Well done 👍
Fascinated is a good feeling; thanks, Joyce!
Hello, New Avatar.
It is delightful, and reminds me of Maddie’s R.
I have had some Dresden foil trim in my stash for years. It’s always seemed to fragile to be serviceable. Your reinforcement makes me ponder reevaluation of its usefulness. I should put it out where I can see it, I tend to forget supplies in boxes.
Hah, yeah, no name yet. Ava is cute, but too obvious? NA sounds negative. N is already taken. Maybe Wheelie, in keeping with the naming style around here? Wings?
Very glad she evokes delight (and Maddie’s R)
Highly recommend bringing out the Dresdens. It took me a fun while of playing around to sense the possibilities.
My intention is to make a salvaged wrought iron railing using the fish. But there are so many other motifs! The Kunze site (who also sells on Amazon) has PDFs of the complete line. I favor the stars and halos :) Share what you do!
Love your new avatar! What fun.
Thank you, Megan! Dresden trim really is fun to play with, especially in surface pattern design.
Oh she’s sweet. Don’t let Scarlett get her.
Haha, Shelia. Scarlett is far more interested in hunting these days, and finding the warmest place to nap. (Fortunately for me, less so for mice.)
excellent!
hugs
So glad you like her, Claude!
She’s lovely — and the way creative minds work is fascinating for us, the less gifted.
Thank you, but oh no no no! In my experience there is no “less gifted”. What you, Azteclady — may I call you C’lady? — observe, distill and write about is no less creative than anything I do. *And* you are brave enough to share it with others, risking vulnerability. This is important, and wonderful.
Also, glad to be of fascination :)
(yes, absolutely)
and…thank you!
Here’s wishing us all a bright, healthy and joyful 2018!
I love Wheelie! Well done, Nancy. I especially love the last photo in the group for some reason. ha ha I checked out some of the Dresden sites you mentioned and got lost in the innumerable avenues it took my imagination ~ you know how easy it is to get sidetracked. Can you imagine what I could do with some of that trim on gift packages? OMG…be still my heart. I can’t wait to see the fish railing you have in mind…