BUTTERFLIES.....THE BOTANIC GARDENS....FT.WORTH, TX

Sunday afternoon was spent with friends going for lunch and a trip to the Botanic Gardens here in my city, beautiful Ft. Worth, Texas. The Conservatory was filled with beautiful butterflies from all over the world, not to mention amazing ferns (my fav), tropicals, and exotic plants.  Here are some of the amazing butterflies I captured with my camera.

Giant Owl

Doris Longwing

Sara Longwing

TIGER LONGWING

THIS IS ONE OF THE PRETTIEST BUT I COULD NOT IDENTIFY IT

YELLOW EDGED GIANT OWL

PAPER KITE

SARA LONGWING

TIGER LONGWING

SWALLOWTAIL

SWALLOWTAIL

YELLOW EDGED GIANT OWL

ZEBRA LONGWING

BLUE MORPHO

More finds from my Saturday at the Funky Finds Spring Fling.  These are art nouveau hands/parts that were used in lamps and figures of ladies that were usually reclining or in beautiful poses.  I bought 11 hands to add to some very unique reliquaries I am planning to make.  They are really small, but the right size for what I intend to use them for.  

Today was a very fun day.  I started the day at my fav coffee place.  Won't mention any name.  I then proceeded to the Will Rogers/Amon Carter Jr. exhibits venue here in Ft. Worth. Gritted my teeth as I paid $8 to park, but that's okay.  They have made the grounds very beautiful and added new parking, buildings and landscaping.  Anyway, the 6th Annual Funky Finds Spring Fling was well under way.  It is an outstanding venue that features talented artists and craftsmen. I never miss it. I have featured just a few of the findings I purchased under my heading of Finds at the top of the page. Check it out! Right next door was the Cattle Barn flea market. Awesome. I went across the street to the Antiques and Collectibles Show (previously Dolly Johnson). This was an amazing array of beautiful sterling silver, jewelry, textiles, art, primitives, mid-century, furniture, and many great oddities.  A blast!  Ended the afternoon of fun with Chic Fil....A.  Yep! Great day of fun.  

                       PAN OF THE GARDEN

While looking out at the garden filled with icy white, I was thinking of a mythical character that could actually bring warm, sunny, weather back to the garden. So, I decided to create a little whimsical something. I found a little carved wooden piece off of an old mirror frame that just so happened to be Pan.  I started adding little bits and pieces from my stash in the studio.  I added French wire bouillon, a few very old dried flowers, a hinge off of an old Victorian photo album, hand made paper, and a 1930's perfume vial that says Violet on it.  I stuck a few old dried stems in it.  Voila...... Pan of the Garden.