Welcome! My website is GardenDelightsArts. I’m Heidi, a photographer lucky enough to be married to a wonderful, gifted naturalist, George, who has the most amazing green thumb and a vast knowledge about animals and plants. So whereas I used to have to search for things to photograph, I’m now surrounded by a menagerie of animals, including turtles, hummingbirds, butterflies, squirrels, and much more … and a wonderland of orchids, roses, native plants, trees, and much more — just begging to be depicted in pictures.
I’m a self-taught photographer and artist, dedicated to creating original and unique artwork with innovative techniques. I use my nature photographs and the designs I create from them in my handmade mixed media arts and crafts pieces. I print directly on fabric and unusual surfaces such as lutradur, metal, and wood, and in using transfer techniques to get images onto any surface that won’t fit through a printer. Interested in going beyond creating art that hangs on the wall in a frame, I design fabric for textiles and home decor, and love to think of new ways, both utilitarian and fun, to use my images.
I have a zazzle gallery where you can see how my images and designs look on a variety of fun and useful products, including t-shirts and mugs, and sneakers (!) and ties. I show some of my handmade work in my Artfire and Etsy shops.
George, along with his talent for making plants and animals thrive, is a fantastic actor. This is his website.
- All images and content on this blog are copyrighted. Please do not copy or download any of my images without express permission.
Hi Heidi,
I noticed you had visited my blog (www.cindydyer.wordpress.com), so I came to check out yours! Beautiful work for sale of yours on Zazzle, by the way. I just love, love, love the print on the Keds shoes! I’ll also check out your main site and look at your artwork. Thanks for stopping by!
Cindy
Hi,
according to my google analytics, your site has brought 95 hits to my etsy store in the last month. I am not sure how or why, but I wanted to thank you! you have great talent and I love the fabrics you created using spoonflower!
Cheers!
Melissa Moze
You do beautiful work, Heidi!
Hi Heidi,
I read your blog about using TAP paper on wooden boxes. I have been attempting to use TAP paper on a painted wooden surface but found that even at a lower heat setting the iron melted the paint. I was wondering if you had that same problem and if not what kind of paint you used on your wooden surfaces.
Thanks,
Pat
Hi Pat, I just did a TAP transfer to a painted box a couple of days ago for the first time. It didn’t work out perfectly – I had painted the box with a relatively thin layer of gold acrylic paint, and the image didn’t look great on the painted surface — but the iron didn’t melt the paint. I used the cotton setting and ironed quickly, and that worked okay. If you’re not already on it, I’d recommend joining the yahoo group that Lesley Riley started (she invented TAP). This is her response to someone’s similar question: “To do a TAP transfer on wood, it should be unfinished wood or wood with a water-based stain (fluid acrylics or acrylic inks). Painted or sealed wood will react to the heat of the iron and bubble.” The yahoo group is http://groups.yahoo.com/group/inkjet_transfers/ I hope that helps! Heidi
Heidi,
We are a supplier to schools and colleges here in the UK and I would like to use your image of the butterfly with Digital Grounds as an example to students of what can be achieved digitally by transfer. The image will be acredited to you and will not be used for resale and only in a mailing to our schools that we are planning for March.
PS I personally think your work is brilliant and inspired me to look further into printing with Lutradur.
Kind regards.
Rodney Bates
Rodney,
So nice to hear your kind words! I sent you an email directly in response.
Best,
Heidi
Hi Heidi!! my name is Heidi also! I was wondering if you could please look at my website!:) thank you!! I am an artist and I love meeting other people who share the same ideas!! you do awesome work!!!!i would really like to put some of my work on fabric.. so i will definitely check out your workshops!
So glad to meet you, Heidi. Your photography is wonderful, I love it!