Luna Moth Reveal & Blog Hop

Another month, another Art Elements Theme Challenge Reveal! As noted above, Luna Moths were March's theme and chosen by the Blog's team member Jen Cameron.

I only made one item this month but I'm super happy with the outcome, so I turned my attention to a couple of custom orders and some new items to list after a much needed week at the beach. Yes! Two sisters came out from California to help with Mom so we other two sisters could get away. A good book and some jewelry supplies are already in my suitcase.

Luna Moths are actually fascinating creatures and only live for about a week. They have no mouths and their sole purpose after hatching is to mate and lay eggs. But something keeps niggling at me and it is this: When the cocoon falls to the ground in a leaf and then a gardener comes in and cleans up, the poor thing(s) gets killed and/or transferred to another location. So wouldn't it be better NOT to clean up around Luna Moths' host trees until after March?

Back to Luna Moth however. I'm having so much fun making hair slides that I made yet another one for this theme. A life-size Luna on 5-6 oz. veg tan leather for this one, and it's got a good hand .. not too thick, not too thin. You know, Goldilock's golden rule ..

Drawing, transferring & carving the subject matter onto the leather is always a pleasing job; it's like seeing the image you had formed in your mind coming to life!

The blue you see at the bottom tip is painter's tape applied to the back to guard against shrinkage.
The leather must be 'cased' (dampened with sponge) before stamping and carving.

I stamped a flower and leaves on each side of Luna Moth and then used only the very tip of the leaf stamp to decorate around the whole perimeter.

Before any Stain or Sealing

The tips of her wings are also flared up to hide the holes punched for the hair stick.  I chose to interpret a female moth, since March is International Women's Month. See her antennae? They're smaller on a female Luna Moth. A quick read about Luna Moths: https://infinitespider.com/five-facts-about-the-luna-moth/

Then I proceeded to paint several layers of green paint, lightening each successively until I achieved a color that I am absolutely smitten with. A bordeaux-ish color outline and the little 'eyes' on both sets of wings completed the painting session.

Hmm, her Wing Eyes lost a little color with the Leather Balm, in spite of a coat of Acrylic Sealer!
Time for some experimentation ... enquiring minds msust know.

I chose a Mahogany color stain for the leather, hoping it would match and offset at the same time the bordeaux and green in the Luna Moth. And it did both beautifully! This hair stick is Lilac Wood from Kind Soul Sandra at Many Horses Jewelry Supply, a micro business like Chic Chix & Champagne (ours..this blog .. if you're a little lost:) .

A couple coats of Acrylic Sealer and then some Leather Balm to seal the stained leather. Et Voilà!

This is a Blog Hop and many talented artists in the list below have made Eye Candy galore!! Please check them out, you may find a piece perfect for Mother's Day or for yourself ...

Guests:  Tammy  Beth and Evie   Catherine   Colette   Rain   Alysen (this blog)   Rozantia   Sarajo   Karin   Sarah

Divya   Rebecca

Art Elements Team:   Niky   Caroline   Cathy   Jenny   Lesley   Marsha   Lindsay   Claire   Jen