Hummingbird Banding

Here is the video I took on Sunday when we went to see the humming birds being banded.  We are bundled up because it was really cold, about 30-32 and was snowing and raining. It was miserable weather but the hummingbirds still came. You can see an article on this process here .  The bands that they use are really small and look like crimp beads used for jewelry making.  After banding and recording information and feeding, they place them on your hand.  Sometimes they stay on your hand a long time other times they don't. You can feel their hearts beating.  It is a pretty cool thing to experience.

Yellowstone Pictures

As some of you know when I went to Yellowstone National Park the other week I left my camera at home.  I was just going to copy my daughters pictures but she has done these amazing posts so I thought I would just give you the links instead.  She posted for 3 days so here are the links individually.  Enjoy.

Yellowstone First Post  General park pics
Yellowstone Second Post Geyser pics
Yellowstone Third Post  Animal pics

I have a group coming for the weekend.  On Sunday we are headed to a farm to see hummingbirds being banded.  It is a pretty cool thing to see. The bands are so small they look like crimp beads that are used in jewelry making. They even put the humming bird in your hand when they are finished with it. Sometimes the bird stays in your hand for a little while and you can feel its hear beating so fast and sometimes they just fly away. It will be fun taking my friends to this event.  Have a great weekend!

New Video On Taking Classes With Me

Gelato Backgrounds

This page was done awhile ago, I used Faber-Castell Gelatos on the girl, the background was done previously. I think it was a colorwash experiment.

I didn't do much art while in Yellowstone but I managed to do lot of initial backgrounds. They are all done with gelatos and I just smeared the colors with my fingers, no water was added.  These too involved a base layer and then adding circles and blending.

The one on the right was playing with lots of different colors and stripes.  The one on the left just blocks of colors.

These two are more of playing with stripes and layering color on top of color. On the left I added black to cool colors and the right purple to warm colors to mix it up a little.

Here I was playing with pinks and red and adding white on top in squares and rectangles and more experiments on adding blending.  I really had fun doing all of these and seeing what this medium can do.

This is how I made a page out of this background. It was for a prompt at my Ning site. The prompt was to use a silhouette on your page. I added stamping to the background, some paper scraps and words and some charcoal.

I think you learn a lot about an art supply by using it over and over again. This is just the beginning of my experiments with this fun new supply.  How about you, do you just try something once or do you really explore a art supplies capabilities in depth?

Wishcasting Wednesday -What do you wish for your health

Jamie asks us today "What do you wish for your health?" I wish to transform it into something I want it to be. I have made many changes in my health recently but I just can't seem to grasp on to a good eating plan that I stick to.  I still grab for the comfort foot, still eat whatever the family eats, still don't plan my meals.  I would like a change of mindset that helps me make those changes that I want to but seem to resist.

To see what other wishers are doing go here

Some notes on the artwork. This is a page I did while camping last week.  The background was spray painted and then it was embellished with markers.  The strip on the right side was some paste paper I made a few years ago. I embellished it with markers to bring out some of the colors.  The words were printed on decorative scrapbook paper.

Snake River Fiber Fair

Here is a little video that I made this weekend. Its a little shaky and I move a little to fast, I hope you don't get dizzy.  It was my first video while walking. I need a little more practice on that but at least you get to see a little of the festival vendor area and why I am talking like I took some helium is beyond me.



Later that day Sarah found out she did not get into graduate school. So we had to do some retail therapy at the festival. There were some great sales so that made it easy. She already made a scarf with one of her purchases.

Yesterday I ended up having to buy another external hard drive. I couldn't upload any pictures or process a video. When you store videos and pictures it take up a lot of space. Since the new drive is 2 terabytes I think it will do for awhile. I didn't even know what a terabyte was till recently. Technology just keeps on growing sometimes its hard to keep up.

My friends Shirley and Cyndi lent me this to use for a couple weeks. Its a motorized carder and it is what you use to prepare a fleece for spinning. So I have been carding up a storm and still have tons to do so there is not much art being done around here. In looking for some things I keep finding more wool to do. Yikes! Then I end organizing areas of my house. I still haven't found what I am looking for which is sort of annoying. If I look at the bright side I have a clean closet and my basement storage area looks great.

Back from Yellowstone and Hanna's Giveaway

I just got back from Yellowstone this afternoon and of course I am busy catching up on a thousand things. It is amazing how many emails you can get in five days. I wanted to do a quick post to let you know about the giveaway over at Hanna's blog. Its a spot in my Bodacious Backgrounds class.  Hanna has written a lovely post so head on over and you can read her wonderful words and also enter the contest too. Here is the link iHanna's Blog  I have had some lovely bloggers give away classes on their blogs for me and I really do appreciate it, thanks Hanna and Violette.

If you have never been to Hanna's blog you are in for a real treat.  She is from Sweden, hosted the International postcard swap and has a wonderful creativity blog just full of inspiration.

The Snake River Fiber Festival is tomorrow. I have friends from all over who come to it and some even stay with me.  Its a two day event with classes in spinning, knitting, weaving and felting and of course vendors.  So my focus for the weekend will not be on art but on spinning, weaving, knitting etc. Its all creativity, just a different form this time.  The festival is always a lot of fun. Stay tuned for pictures of a different kind of event.  

Would you believe I went to Yellowstone without my camera.  Hubby and daughter brought theirs so I'll be stealing some of their pictures to show you sometime next week.  

On the Road Again

I am headed to Yellowstone National Park for the week.  I'll be in touch with the Internet because my Bodacious Backgrounds class started today but I probably won't be blogging.

There is still time to sign up for the class, you can check it out here

Well Behaved Women

I participated in this ATC swap over at Milliande's network for women, the subject of the swap was Well behaved women rarely make history. I was so late getting mine done that I forgot to take pictures. My cards all had Liz Taylor on them. I love doing swaps, you get to try new things and then also get to meet new people and of course receive art too. What a deal.

This one imortalizes an old movie star Clara Bow. Created by Laura Damer

This one was done by Patricia Gonzales

This one was done by Liz Monaghan the swap leader.

I got a another postcard, this one is from Italy, and it was made by Barbara I love the papers she used in the background. I thought I had gotten all my cards but I guess I was wrong. There is another postcard swap happening its called Liberate Your Art and you can find more information here

A day of butt uglies

Once again I found myself deep into a big depression the last two days, and had quite a time trying to get out of it. It was so cold yesterday I had to drag out a wool sweater to keep warm. The cold dreary weather did not help my mood.  So I turned to art and tried to work my way through it.

I had not painted a face in a long time. Why I thought to do so when I was depressed was beyond me. All I could think is this face is butt ugly. I am amazed that I didn't scratch her out. Maybe she'll be a reminder that its ok to do bad art. That you can use this kind of art to work through things going on in your life. When I look at her I see the horrid nose, the too small chin, the plain background. Maybe though I should see her as a gift since she helped me work through a difficult time. I would like to think that I poured out all my negativity on the page and now I no longer hold it anymore. So perhaps that is a good thing after all.

On this page I had a background already but something I tried went way wrong. So I covered it up with scrapbook paper. I cut the butterfly and dragonfly out of another paper and attached them. Next I highlighted some areas with charcoal. I stenciled the swallow on in the right corner. I hadn't realized I was stenciling over the dragonfly till I was finished. Oops oh well. I added the image and all those greens seemed calming to me. I like the whispering girls, not sure what secret she is sharing, it adds to the mystery some.

After doing these pages, I got out of the house and went to the library.  Change of scenery often helps. With my laptop in tow I worked on my e-book.  The progress I made on it was great.  Perhaps the art really did help.

Being a Business Goddess

Its always so interesting that the Universe brings into your life just what you are looking for. Last Wednesday the prompt for Wishcasting was "What do you wish to know." I had found myself wondering what I was doing wrong and then right and then wondered what was next. Then I found the Business Goddess Ecourse just released by Goddess Leonie.  To say that this is just what I have been looking for is an understatement.  This course is freaking awesome.  If you don't know anything about Leonie click on the link above or the picture in my sidebar and go discover who she is. One amazing women who has created this awesome community.

Now her business course which I have already told you is awesome sells for a mere 79.00 but if you join her network for 20 more dollars or 99.00 not only do you get  the business course but you get all of her courses, meditations, everything she has done.  It is an amazing deal.  She even does payment plans if you can't afford it all in one step. How perfect.

Now you may ask what is so awesome about the business course. To put it simply she explains how she went from a hobby to a very successful business. You want to increase your followers she tells you how, write an ebook, she tells you how, find a coach, run an affiliate program, start a newsletter and so on. She gives you all the details and links to great sources to help you on your way. I particularly liked the section on avoiding burnout. For me The most valuable section is on marketing and she gives you great ideas. Contrary to popular belief if you build it people don't necessarily come. You do need to learn all about marketing and Leonie makes it fun and easy. I can not recommend it highly enough. I've also listened to some of her meditations, used the yearly planner and the de-cluttering course and they were all really amazing too. Check her out if you are searching for something to spark your creativity, run business or just have some change in your life.

Happy Mothers Day

I hope that you are all having a Happy Mothers Day. Its a rainy gloomy day here today.

Here's my sketch from this morning. I have been nursing a bad stomach for two days now, so this will be short. I think she is a little melancholy. I think next time I'll play a little with making the words a little different. I like the way they curve on the right shoulder. I could see making a pattern of the way I write might make the design interesting.

Go on over to Sophia's blog to see what other sketchers have done.

Getting back on the horse

I created this this page earlier this week when I was feeling a bit frustrated, fortunately it was a temporary thing. I have climbed back on the horse as they say.   I have learned not to stay down for too long.  It is like I need to have these moments of frustration so that the solutions can then present themselves.  I had an awakening of sorts after this last one. I am not totally sure of what I am doing right, but I now know what I am going to do next which is a great feeling.

This page was done with some Faber-Castell Gelatos for the background.  I added the birds and then stenciled in the misshapen circles and outlined them with gel pens and markers to give dimension. A few more doodles and I call it done.

I  started this little doodle weeks ago but could never decide if it was finished or not. Maybe it still isn't but I am calling it done for now. Do you have trouble deciding when a piece is finished?

I had gotten a few of these big brush markers by Faber-Castell and started playing with them on this doodle. It seems that no matter how many markers you have there are always other colors you wish you had. I bought 12 but that never seems to be enough colors for me.  I have been enjoying these full page doodles  I am not sure if I will cut them up for other pages and just leave them as is.  They might make fascinating postcards just as they are.

Have a great Mothers Day Weekend!

The Fairies are here

Spring is here finally, so on the many errands I went on today I ended up at a garden center.

I was first drawn to this lovely lady and she just had to come home with me. The garden is bare but soon she'll have flowers all around her.

Then I saw this young boy and he was certain that he wanted to come home with me too.  I bought some new plants too. So this will be short so I can go get my hands in dirt.  I hope spring has made its way back to you too.

Wishcasting Wednesday What do you wish to know?

What do you wish to know? As I read some of the other participants I marvel how so many others have these lofty goals and mine always seem so personal.  Perhaps its the idea of think globally and act locally. Perhaps I can't think of the big picture of the world until my own little world is settled I am not sure if any of that makes sense.

Today Jamie asks us today "What do you wish to know?

Having said all that, now what is it I wish to know. I wish to know what I am doing wrong. I had a crisis in confidence last night.  That old demon of comparing what you are doing to what someone else is doing and always feeling like you come up in the lack department.

I know its stupid and silly and serves no one but it is something I do have to deal with. Its not that I envy this person or that I wish them bad luck or anything.  Its more that I see them having a piece of the pie so to speak and wonder when do I get mine.  So what is it that I am doing wrong or is it my focus that needs to be changed. After thinking about this for a bit, I realize my wish is not to know what I am doing wrong but perhaps what is it that I am doing right.  I like the idea of keeping the focus on the positive.  If I know what I am doing right, then my thinking is, if I just do more of that I will be on the right track.

So my wish for today is to know what I am doing right,  to be able to build on it and move forward into my dreams.

To see what other wishcasters are doing go here

Bodacious Backgrounds Giveaway

Head on over to Violette's blog for a chance at winning a spot in my class Bodacious Backgrounds. She will pick a winner on Friday so go and enter your name today. The class Bodacious Backgrounds begins on May 16.  Its going to be a blast so I hope to see some of you there. There may be another giveaway or two in the works so stay tuned.

Dave's Breakfast Cereal and a Bottle

I am doing a thing called the Daily Health Challenge and today was about eating nuts.  I mentioned I have been eating a home made cereal and lots of people wanted the recipe.  Since its long I decided to add it here.  My husband Dave came up with the recipe. The goal was a cereal with lots of fiber and not much sugar.

4 parts Oak flakes
4 parts Wheat flakes
4 parts Rye flakes
1/2 parts Sunflower seeds
1 part Walnut pieces
1 part Pecan pieces
1 part Almond pieces
1 to 1.5 parts dried Cranberries

If you need to sweeten in add 2 parts store bought granola or a 1/3 part sugar/sweetener

If you use a Tablespoon for the part above you will have one serving.

We toast the oat, wheat and rye flakes @ 350 for 20 min. It is not required but seems to add flavor.
We mix the toasted grain together and then add the other ingredients. We just mix up a bowl daily but you could make a bulk package easily.

When you first start this you might find it pretty bland. I use the recipe as above but Dave omits the granola and adds date sugar.  I sometimes add a banana for flavor.

This cereal really gives you lots of fiber and you may find you feel better by eating it.  Enjoy.

Oh here is a little zentangle I did last night. Funny how I didn't notice it was crooked until I took a picture of it. Ok perhaps this bottle was made by a beginning potter.  I think I will think of it that way.

Reflections and some journal pages

Its hard to go about my day without thinking about last nights events. Two things online stood out for me. One on Facebook from Marianne Williamson. "I hope Bin Laden's death brings a sense of justice to those who lost loved ones on 9/11, and I'm grateful to those in our military etc. who worked so hard to find him. I hope whatever destructive influence he still had is now ended. That being said, however, the celebrations outside the White House seem naive to me. Tonight is a night for sober and mature reflection, not glee." ~Marianne Williamson

The other on twitter "I've never wished a man dead, but I have read some obituaries with great pleasure." - Mark Twain. This is how I felt when I heard the news; not really happy that someone had died but on the other the man had caused a lot of death and destruction. So perhaps his ending will be a beginning for a more peaceful and understanding world.

The little break I took was mainly because I had a lot of work and loose ends to tie up for my classes and a newsletter to write and blogging on top of it all seemed too much. It was a good move on my part as I needed the space. I managed to get the work done, do a little reading and some weaving too.

I did not do that much art but a here are a few pages in my journal. I started with the tape at the top and then just added papers and image.  Very simple but pleasing to play with.

This one started with the K tape on the bottom and then I just played with papers.  I embellished the crown with brush markers.

This page started with scraps of embossed wallpaper which I painted and stamped over.  Then I added other papers and the image. The image was the only thing I could really write on, so I did.

Today I think that Spring finally arrived. I drove around with the sun roof opened and the windows down. With the wind whipping through my hair it felt wonderful.  Ahh  Spring at last...