Winter...little visitors

Snow is so beautiful...if you don't have to shovel it, drive in it or otherwise be out in it, but it does let me know who has been visiting my yard. I love to see the little bird feet, kitty paws and other tracks left behind.

 

Eoster - Holiday Doll Ball Swap

 This is the doll I made for the swap. Her name is Eoster, she represents the Celtic goddess of Spring & fertility, which eventually became part of Easter.

 

 

Holiday Ball doll swap

Ah, the Holiday Ball doll swap is complete and it was a success. Look at this cute little guy! I love his face, it's so sweet and his big GREEN eyes!! I 'm a sucker for green eyes.
He is hand sculpted in polymer, painted and adorned with a sparkly star and tall red felt hat - so tall it's almost as big as the elf himself!
Stephanie Cadiou-White is the artist who created this wonderful elf. Her site is Pixies in the House. There you can see her more of her fabulous art - paintings, textile creations and OOAK's.

The sweater update issue

 Well, all that's left to do is add a few snaps!Again the color is too yellow, but hey, you get the idea.

Now, eyes for lamby and Sydd is set!

Sydd sweater update

Here's a pic of the Sydd sweater. I have to take out the cuffs and make the sleeves longer, but that shouldn't take long. Then it's add the buttons and sew up the sleeves -- VOILA, then done!

The colors are a bit off, the green and blue need a more yellow in them, they're like a soft apple green and a teal. Surprisingly the red and yellow are fairly close. I'm still learning how to adjust the lighting on my camera (though no setting seems to be true to the color I see) and then work the color in a photo program.

Knight of Pentacles

Every so often I look at my Tarot cards. Partially I do this to connect with something beyond my egotistic mind, which is ever critical and sometimes down right rude. At other times it is to enjoy the color, design and variety of the artists interpretations (I have several decks). About 7 years ago I participated in an on-line tarot card swap. In the swap I created my version of 'The Star', 'The Tower' and this one, 'The Knight of Pentacles':

I thought the man quite handsome when I put this together - I still do! One of the attributes the knight represents is 'the desire for beauty and aesthetics, musical and artistic abilities' (I tend to take what I want from an interpretation and leave the rest). I loved how the elements of this card came together, sort of obscure in it's references, but the symbolism is there. So, your 'card' for the day is the Knight of Pentacles, go out and fill your desire for beauty, in whatever form it may take.

snow and frost

This is the 3rd morning in a row for frost on the truck windows and 

we had our first snow on Friday night. Winter is yipping at the door!

November 12th, 2010, downtown Lincoln, 7:03 am

 

And they say it 'might' turn to snow...

cool weather means a warm oven!

Ok, so still no pics of Sydd's sweater, but it's half done (and the lamby is in parts waiting to be stuffed and sewn closed).

What can I say, distractions abound, books to read, quilts to design and sew - this makes March seem much closer - and BAKING to do!!! I don't know what it is about Fall that just trips all my nesting instincts, but there it is. I've been day dreaming of baking breads, cakes, cooking soups and casseroles and just making about any warm, soul satisfying meals you can think of.

Since it's just myself I find that many recipes are just too big and breaking down the recipe isn't always an exact 'cut in half' process, especially for baked goods. So, perusing my library I found Small-Batch Baking by Debby Maugans Nakos. Needless to say I now have a copy of my own. OMG! She has some killer recipes in this book (Lemon shortbread squares, drool!) and the small batches are just right size (serves 1-2) which is a life saver because if my mouth likes what it's tasting I will eat it until it's gone...sad but true.  

Now, I don't want you to think I live only on baked goods, I wish, I do try to eat relatively healthy, leaning towards a vegetarian menu more often than not. Another great book for smaller recipes is The Pleasures of Cooking for One by Judith Jones. While I thought some of the recipes a bit exotic for my tastes, it's a truly engaging read and she gives wonderful cooking advise. For example, how to take a pork tenderloin (say 1-2 lbs size) and use it in 3 different meals or 'the 9 lives of a turkey', as one chapter is called. I found this information extremely helpful, because as you know the most inexpensive meat is usually in a 'family' pack.  

If you want some great recipes with unique twists I highly recommend the blog 101 Cookbooks. Heidi Swanson is a food photographer, and cookbook author, and both talents come shining through on her blog. 101 Cookbooks is full of wonderful vegetarian oriented recipes that use ordinary, and some not so ordinary, vegetables and grains in a fresh bold way. You should definitely check it out.

best laid plans

Well, you know I've signed up for creative everyday month and so far I have 30 small gessoed pieces and no real art, but I have faith that I will get to them.

I haven't been totally slack though, I'm knitting Sydd a sweater for

winter and a knitted 8" lamby, by Barbara Prime (FuzzyMitten.com), with green knitted overalls which I have to say are just ADORABLE! (knitting pics soon) So, in that sense I have been creative everyday, just not the way I thought I would. Also, I broke down and mulched/mowed all the leaves in my yard, removed several more boxes of stuff - to become other peoples stuff - and have just been trying overall to get my sh*t together and be a semi-responsible adult, which is very challenging for me.

In the meantime, I hope everyone is enjoying the beautiful fall weather! More soon....

Art Every Day Month Starts TODAY!

Creative Every Day is one of my favorite blogs. Leah Piken Kolidas is insiteful and inspirational in her creative life and shares that energy through her blog and emails. Check out her site Creative Every Day and give the November challenge a go, what have you got to lose?

Time flows too quickly

Wow, I can't believe it's been almost 5 months since I've posted anything!

Life has been full of adventures. In August I got to spend an amazing week with my sister (http://oddimagination.blogspot.com/). We spent a couple days taking photos around town - a textile show, wall murals, architecture and at the cemetery pictures of angels, mausoleums and other beautiful objects.

We also spent a lot of time talking, plotting art projects and giving positive creative energy to each other. There is NEVER enough time to talk & plot with my sister!!

In August I also adopted a new kitty. Mesa is still missed but I have to admit that Jasper Winston has many of her qualities in a rambunctious male form. He was about 4-5 months old when he was found and I took him home shortly after that. He is going to be a BIG boy, he is now approx. 7+ months, 10 lbs(!), FULL of energy and the terror of Teasel's life - though she has kicked his butt a lot lately, he may start the mayhem but she finishes it!

You can't really tell from the photo, but he's got an inch or two on Teasel.
His coordination however is still in the development stage.

Since August it's been yard work, house work (a lot of re-arranging of furniture and downsizing 'stuff') and work work. Hopefully, with the beautiful fall weather and winter hibernation around the corner, things will slow down and I'll be able to resume my ponderings in this blog.

Over the summer I completed my rain barrel commission, much to the joy of the new owners.

 

Finally, for the Fall/Winter season,

  I'm starting on some new figures for a swap in December

  and a staff art show in April. I also hope to be part of a staff quilt show in March...we'll see how the winter goes for that.

the art of 'maleness'

There are so many figures I want to create that are male in their nature and appearance...and yet, the poor things tend to either come out as women or men masquerading as women. I just can't seem to get the proper edge to the face. Don't get me wrong, I know there are men who have gentle feminine faces, but I guess I'm trying for the stereotypical man. Anyway, with all that said here is yet another attempt at a 'man'. I sort of feel he is Asian in personality and can see him wearing saffron robes, it could be because of the bald head. Currently I am calling him Ping. As you know nothing is certain until the figure is done, so all is subject to change without notice.

(Please excuse my wobbly photo skills, it's hard to hold a head and photograph it at the same time)

The color in the bottom photos are closer to true, but still a little too red for his skin. These were taken in the same light and at the same time of day, but on different parts of the painting and with different light settings, I think I used 'auto' on the bottom photos and 'daylight' on the top.

Spring - Where is my sunshine?

So far this spring has been wet and fairly sunless, which for me is sort of depressing. I'm still waiting for my sunshine and 70's+ weather. I have to admit though that everything is very green and lush and my lilacs have never been fuller or more fragrant!

In the meantime, I've been trying something new and totally adventurous for me. I've been taking some wonderful tele-classes from Laura Hollick of Soul Art Studio. 

Below is the cover I made for Laura's 8 week 'Create Yourself' phone class. It was a very exciting and insightful class for me. There was a lot to take in and I'm still digesting what I learned. The great thing about the class (besides being able to attend class in the comfort of your own home!) is that Laura records the tele-class in an mp3 format and sends you the link to the recording, a full overview of the course and assignment by the next day! So not only do you get to take the class the first time,  you have access to this information to go over as many times as you like, each time expanding your previous insights!!

 

  

Front Cover - acrylic paint and sharpie

 

Back Cover - colored pencil and sharpie

I'm currently taking the '21 day Creative Cleanse' (my 'mothers day's  present from my sister - WOOHOO!). I will post my new journal cover as soon as it's completed.

Rain Barrel

I haven't been writing lately, but I have been painting. I painted this rain barrel for a fund raiser. It is currently on display at a local card shop and will be auctioned April 17th to raise funds for scholarships for childrens nature camp. It's called 'Mesa in the Garden'.

Mesa Augustina 8/2/93 thru 1/2/2010

Miss Mesa passed away on Saturday, Jan 2 at the age of 16 yrs, 4 months. She will be missed.