a paper snowflake

Happy New Year!

2012-01-22T22:12:00.000-06:00

Sewing the body with glittery edges.

Dancing Dragon

Fireworks!

Loki vs. The Dragon

Happy Chinese New Year!

How to Make a New Year Dragon

2012-01-21T18:27:00.000-06:00

Finish with the white background so the tissue paper color will be bright.

Helpful and creative hands.

We first coated the entire form with a light color so shapes put on top would stand out.

Black ink was the only liquid color that we used.

All of the color was cut out of tissue paper and glued on with the paper mache paste.

This is the back of the head decorated for black water dragon.

Waiting til tomorrow to do finishing ink work when everything is dry.

Ready for color

2012-01-21T12:38:00.000-06:00

Here is the dragon head covered with white office paper. It is completely covered this morning and we are ready for color. To back up we first constructed the head out of recycled boxes of different sizes and taped them together with duct tape. The first layer of paper was brown paper bags, second layer newspaper and the third is the white office paper. Here is the mixture for the paper mache...
In a pan 2 cups of water, 2 tablespoons of corn starch and about 1 teaspoon of salt. Heat on the stove until just boiling and stir until thick. Take off the heat before it gets lumpy. This mixture has worked well for us.

How to make a dragon

2012-01-20T20:56:00.000-06:00

After 6 yards of muslin was dyed here is what happened next. Scales! We used sumi ink which worked well and dried fairly quickly.

New Year Dragon

2012-01-20T12:51:00.000-06:00

We've been invited to a New Year celebration and asked to make a dragon. Here is the beginning of this black water dragon. The first photo is the head and the second the beautifully dyed yellow fabric. We decided to dye some muslin instead of buying a heavier cotton canvas duct and it really turned out well. I can only imagine that this success will inspire more washing machine dyes. It will be a fast and furiously dragoning around here for the rest of the weekend.

Night on the Milky Way Train- Lucy Pulvers Illustrator

2012-01-10T15:02:00.000-06:00

There's a new illustrator in town! With great graphic grasp, Lucy Pulvers has illustrated her dad's translation of Kenji Miyazawa's Night on the Milky Way Train. Her dad is Roger Pulvers. You can order it on iTunes..... Here...

Click to the link to read about this famous Japanese children's fairy tale.

Wave paintings

2011-12-28T20:09:00.000-06:00

Adding some paintings from 2011

2011-12-26T07:11:00.001-06:00

Here is the beginning of some paintings that were done this last year.

From Japan

2011-12-11T20:37:00.000-06:00

Debbie Davidson is a Japanese artist. She has introduced me to etegami, an exchange of artful postcards. I now have some of these beauties here in Minnesota with me. She has printed one of her paintings on a shirt that will benefit Japan. You can read more about it below.

"The image on the tee shows carp windsocks (koinobori) fluttering in the wind. You may remember it from my Earthquake series of Etegami. The Japanese writing can be translated "We're in this Together" or "We're all Connected." Koinobori are associated with the Children's Day holiday in May. Net profit from sales of this t-shirt will go to support the relocation of families who suffered in the 3.11 disaster, particularly families with small children. The tee comes in many sizes, styles, and price-ranges. It can be customized and purchased from this site and will ship directly to you. Consider buying one for yourself or a loved one for Christmas."

Kickstarter for Maria to Nigeria

2011-11-13T11:14:00.000-06:00

Maria has been invited to visit and study with some textile artists in Nigeria. She is a friend from college and has been fabricating beautiful textile collages for several years now with imbedded stories and myths. Please support this wonderful artist. If you aren't familiar with Kickstarter, it is a great program that allows artists to realize their dreams with donations from art lovers everywhere!

Click here.

a new painting

2011-10-04T06:01:00.000-05:00

Ame ni mo Makezu by Kenji Miyazawa

2011-09-22T20:43:00.002-05:00

Ame ni mo Makezu Illustrated Chapbook

I was sent a copy of this poem in March just after Japan's tsunami from a friend who had lived and worked in the same region. I had the thought to illustrate the poem with sumi-e like paintings and try to help in some way.

Kenji Miyazawa's 'Strong int he Rain' is one of Japan's old and loved poems. Kindly, translator Roger Pulvers has permitte me to publish my 28 sumi-e style painting/illistrations along with his translation of this poem.

All profits from the sales of the booklet will go to Ashinaga, an organization that provides healing programs for children who have lost parents due to disaster with a current focus of building a new Rainbow House in the Tohoku region.

This book has 14 pages with 28 original sumi-e style illustrations. The craft card cover is letterpress and measures 11" x 4.25". The inner pages are printed on beautiful had pulled paper with a deckle edge. Each book is numbered and signed with my hanko and signature. The book was ready for publication in May and sold out in less that 4 weeks! Per Roger Pulver's suggestion a second printing has been completed.

So happy to offer a second edition of 100 *Here*.

You can see all of the images for the book *Here*.

Admiring Advent 12/25

2010-12-25T00:01:00.003-06:00

A Blessed and Merry Christmas from me and.................*click* to see a Christmas colorful
wish from Michael Waite!

Admiring Advent 12/24

2010-12-24T00:01:00.007-06:00

Received a card from Anna and Kristina which says........

Enjoy
bright copper kettles & warm woolen mitens

Don't enjoy
when the dog bites & whiskerless kittens

Just trying to stay awake allll night longggggggzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
*click* to see Signe's drawing

Admiring Advent 12/23

2010-12-23T00:01:00.006-06:00

Marek age 5 (Roman's little brother) drew this eye collosal Santa superhero collage of North Pole wondaland! Christmas seen through the eyes of kids is really the way to go! Love it and *click*

Admiring Advent 12/22

2010-12-22T00:01:00.004-06:00

Roman age 7 drew this Santa and I don't think I will ever want another round fluffy Santa again. If Santa were a Superhero he ought to take a hint from Roman's "Cyber Santa" regalia!

Admiring Advent 12/21

2010-12-21T00:01:00.005-06:00

Rachel Peterson sent this photo from Norway. "How about this one taken on the most beautiful day of the summer on Tromsø island. Nice to look at this in the dead of winter!" *click*

Admiring Advent 12/20

2010-12-20T00:01:00.006-06:00

Soren's (my son) photograph will appear when you *click*. It's frozen and crystally! We have been filling balloons with water and setting them in the snow to freeze which turns them into ice lanterns.

Admiring Advent 12/19

2010-12-19T00:01:00.003-06:00

*Drum roll* for Denese Sander's studio dreaming. See more of her work here.

Admiring Advent 12/18

2010-12-18T00:01:00.002-06:00

*Click* to see what Jane Cameron has drawn for today!

Admiring Advent 12/17

2010-12-17T00:01:00.003-06:00

The 17 scooter is flying by. Jump on and *click* to see Gwendolyn Waite's winter photo.

Admiring Advent 12/16

2010-12-16T00:01:00.005-06:00

To view Virginia Peterson's painting *click* the rabbit above. This is my very talented mother-in-law.

Admiring Advent 12/15

2010-12-15T00:01:00.005-06:00

*Click* above and you will find a beautiful and festive Christmas decoration from Sanne van Winden. She said it is for making the house cozy and warm and Christmastime is to be with family and friends.

Admiring Advent 12/14

2010-12-14T00:01:00.008-06:00

Are you wondering what is up for today? Remember Laurie's mosaic bird on the 9th day? Well it looks like there is a whole lot of talent in that family. *Click* above to see her son's wonderful art, Arthur Christopherson.

Admiring Advent 12/13

2010-12-13T00:01:00.007-06:00

Happy Lucia Day! When you *click* you will view Mary Zeran's painting. She chose Lucia Day because she had an amazing year living in Stockholm. We have been completely snowed in this weekend and have missed all the Lucia concerts that our daughter was supposed to be singing in. Instead our Lucia built snow forts in the backyard.

Admiring Advent 12/12

2010-12-12T00:01:00.006-06:00

*Click* to celebrate the twelfth! Anna says "Kip Kip Hooray! By the way, a good photo for the 24 hour snowstorm here in Minnesota. Great photo from Kristi, Anna and Kip.

Admiring Advent 12/11

2010-12-11T00:01:00.014-06:00

*Click* the image above to see Tim Nyberg's guy soaring without a care through space.

I have the immense joy of being human, a member of a race in which God himself became incarnate. As if the sorrows and stupidities of the human condition could overwhelm me, now that I realize what we all are. If only Everybody could realize this! But it cannot be explained. There is no way of telling people that they are all walking around Shining like the Sun!
Thomas Merton

Admiring Advent 12/10

2010-12-10T00:01:00.006-06:00

Jordan Rauscher at The Tiny Blackbird has a treetop wonder when you *click* the above image.

Admiring Advent 12/9

2010-12-09T00:01:00.005-06:00

When you *click* the above image you will take flight with Laurie Christopherson's amazing mosaic!

Admiring Advent 12/8

2010-12-08T00:01:00.006-06:00

When you *click* the above image you will see ELK's photograph!
In her words she describes how much children love music........

they laugh . they wiggle . they dance . they smile . they hug . they teach
they sing . they wave . they twirl . they shout . they cry . they hop
they know joy . movement . melody . love
ELK

Admiring Advent 12/7

2010-12-07T00:01:00.005-06:00

Go ahead and *click* the above image for Christmas cheer with Beth Ebright Ramsey's pottery!

Admiring Advent 12/6

2010-12-06T00:01:00.007-06:00

When you *click* you will see a lovely surprise from rachel awes all i did was listen

Admiring Advent 12/5

2010-12-05T00:01:00.007-06:00

When you *click* the image above you will see Lisa Erickson's painting.

Admiring Advent 12/4

2010-12-04T00:01:00.006-06:00

When you *click* the image above you will see Cathy Zielske's photo.

Admiring Advent 12/3

2010-12-03T00:01:00.003-06:00

*Click* on the image above and you will see Signe's art, age 11!

Admiring Advent 12/2

2010-12-02T00:23:00.007-06:00

I was so happy to be a part of Brave Girls that I think inspiration took hold and Admiring Advent was my idea that just spilled out.

We have the tradition of advent calenders with chocolate in them. They are nothing too splashy, but really what's not intriguing and anticipating about any kind of advent calenders anyways. While there was comment that the chocolate piece was small and maybe it would be ok to have tomorrows chocolate also I had to relay that it is also wonderful just to have a beautiful small image inside the numbered window. So here is what that led to....

I will post each day a number for advent and it can be clicked and opened. Yeah, that light in darkness season is here, candles, songs, trees and also all the ordinary things to be thankful for.

a little bird told me

2010-12-01T06:43:00.007-06:00

a little bird told me...... daily reminders from Brave Girls Club used my painting today!

Read what they have to say, soo perfect for this busy holiday season and speaks right to the heart.

2010-11-24T16:15:00.003-06:00

Three generations have helped with these little one inch Dala horses. My dad, my daughter and myself. It has been so much fun to have my dad cut the shape out and see them come to life with the special painting powers of Signe.
They are now added with love to our etsy site.

Our Little Etsy Shop is Open!

2010-11-14T08:31:00.004-06:00

My daughter has been painting necklaces to fund her choir tour to Sweden. It's always fun to see someone so excited about a new venture. Beautiful designs just keep popping right out onto the dining room table where we work!

Ambitiousness

2010-03-15T22:51:00.004-05:00

Love the beginning of these leg warmers. Knit completely by the heart and soul of my daughter. I am not to help with this project. Ambition is bubbling up and will warm those little legs right up.

Mini fingers make mini treats

2010-03-08T19:01:00.004-06:00

We love Sculpey! We usually have a tangled goulash of colors in a shoebox. It is always a treat to go out and get a new supply of pristine colors. We have always loved this clay. It is a totally different consistency than play doh. You can really get great detail and it bakes hard in the oven. The trickiest part of the kids creations has always been transporting them onto a baking pan and not letting my big adult fingers squish any wings or arms or ice cream swirls. I think our buffet has displayed hundreds of animals, fantastical creatures, foods and vehicles over their childhood. Try it, you'll like it.

2010-03-05T22:57:00.003-06:00

Yeah! I finally had my question answered about digitally coloring. Jessica Gonacha-Swift wrote a tutorial which you can check out here. She is an amazing artist and pattern designer. Thanks Jess!!!!

Altered book

2010-03-04T05:30:00.003-06:00

The kids and I bought old books and decided to alter them. They are making some great pages. This book is mine.

March snow

2010-03-03T04:25:00.001-06:00

Good warm packing snow is Minnesota's way of welcoming in spring.

Plushie

2010-03-01T06:40:00.002-06:00

little creature made by my gal, love all the details!

New camera to catch all those little faces

2010-02-26T14:19:00.004-06:00

I have waited a long time for this camera. Now I can take pics of all the little wonders created around here. Yeah, so much to capture! and in focus! Just a little dish that I requested and I love how it turned out.

My son the photographer

2010-02-22T05:46:00.004-06:00

I have some great news! My son's photography site is now up. You can see his magical eye for seeing the world HERE!!!!

Happy Valentine's Day

2010-02-15T07:04:00.001-06:00

by Sig

2010-02-09T18:02:00.008-06:00

Lisa

Sig

We're looking up the word accumulate tonight for vocabulary tonight. A good word to understand. I think there is a certain unawareness in this form of a gathering. Loving the way these mandala layers accumulate color to color and ring to ring.

Akinosuke

2010-02-02T17:00:00.001-06:00

photo by Richard Welnowski

My illustrations were used on narration cards to tell the story as a projected small puppet performance was viewed on a large screen. There was beautiful original music played by a 5 piece ensemble.

Lafcadio Hearn's strange tale of a brief sleep that yields a dream lasting two dozen years was performed in miniature and accompanied by new music.

Little Tokoyo presenters:

Ryan Jesperson, Composer

Maria Cretys and Spencer Musser, Artists

Story of Akinosuke illustrated

2010-01-26T06:34:00.004-06:00

This is an illustration for the story of Akinosuke. I will post more.

Bountiful Blessings to Haiti

2010-01-20T05:29:00.003-06:00

Monday Monday ........... Cupcakes

2010-01-18T06:51:00.008-06:00

Wonderful time spent bonding with my daughter this weekend making these cupcakes. Love choosing colors with her. Soo thankful. Bright colors and love sent out to my uncle today.

Angel patiently waiting for Spring

2010-01-15T15:04:00.002-06:00

A wish for Friday

2010-01-08T11:25:00.004-06:00

Sig :: Birthday Card

2010-01-07T05:30:00.000-06:00

There is so much art flourishing in this house from the smallest member of the family that I have decided with her permission to make a weekly post of all this goodness that we oogle over. She is so generous with it, giving it to friends and family that her young chi is sparkling and angelic. Sooo thankful. This is Sig's post. She hasn't come up with a weekly post name yet but whatever she decides that is what I'll call it.

Mushroom Palace

2009-12-29T16:53:00.004-06:00

My daughter made this wonderful drawing. So imaginative!

2009-12-16T05:53:00.001-06:00

the start of my daughter's first commission

2009-12-11T07:20:00.002-06:00

Monday Monday

2009-11-30T07:27:00.001-06:00

Happy Thanksgiving

2009-11-26T01:53:00.002-06:00

I am thankful to learn that Nana and Grandpa have Caller Idea.......

and extra thankful for the my child that interprets the world with such a pure and joyful view.

Enter

2009-11-24T06:06:00.001-06:00

feather barrette and duct tape rose

2009-11-19T06:00:00.002-06:00

These were made by my daughter. I am thinking I need to start posting weekly on her proliferating.

Sushi Candy with Gwendolyn Waite

2009-11-16T18:00:00.001-06:00

Yummy idea for a birthday party. Candy sushi. Rice Krispie bars rolled out thin in waxed paper on the porch on a cool November Minnesota evening. (Her son wanted an evening party. Too funny, and well you can guess that kid is pretty clever.) Gwen had all the official trays and grass and chop sticks. They turned out great and taste good too.

I have to tell you about the mom Gwen. She is a wonderful photographer and takes pictures of kids and babies and newborns. Here is her site.......

Gwendolyn Waite Photography

all i did was listen ... rachel awes

2009-11-13T08:42:00.000-06:00

go visit rachel's blog and see her fab new artwork here!

Once Upon A Time

2009-11-05T00:40:00.000-06:00

First this little drawing was on the table and then this blue looped top charmer appeared. I don't know the story. Sometimes they just write themselves.

for my son

2009-11-04T06:12:00.005-06:00

New Mittens from an Old Sweater

2009-11-03T05:30:00.000-06:00

Old sweaters that have been accidently washed and sent off to Good Will are the perfect felted weight for new mittens.

Happy Halloween

2009-10-30T00:30:00.000-05:00

This is the inside of your stomach, a diorama on the perils of eating food that isn't good for you. Looks like they are also eating the notes that are passed in class and pixie sticks whole.

Molly Young

2009-10-29T06:00:00.005-05:00

magicmolly.tumblr.com

SERIOUSLY you will have to check out Magic Molly. I guarantee it.

Stripes

2009-10-02T08:33:00.004-05:00

Getting ready for the annual hike into Pirates Cove... a stream that winds through woods and tall stone walls of moss and beauty mouthing into Lake Superior. Have a great weekend. Thank goodness for the rain. We needed it this fall so the trees can winter well.

She and Me

2009-09-30T02:05:00.006-05:00

Looks like we both love color..... but then who doesn't. Here are some pairings of our work. The top is my daughters (age 9) and the bottom is mine (age, uh I forgot). I remember hearing about watching kids make art. Do they choose the crayon closest to them or do they look out at the crayons on the table and make specific choices. Even in very early drawings I started noticing her color choices and they were consistently lovely. Yep, love my kids for so many other reasons than just good color choices.

Monday Monday .......

2009-09-27T23:08:00.005-05:00

Farmers market

2009-09-25T04:00:00.000-05:00

Happy Harvest... the earth's bounty is just toomuchery!!

freezer paper stenciling wild things

2009-09-24T06:00:00.000-05:00

It's pretty exciting that the movie is almost here. So much so that we thought we would make some stencils just to bide the time. They are easy to make so here's how.

GATHER some freezer paper, not waxed, an iron, piece of flat cardboard, acrylic paint, brush, pencil, something to stencil onto and an image
hold up the image to a window with a sheet of freezer paper on top and TRACE the image
CUT it out with the exacto
PROTECT your garment by placing a thin piece of cardboard inside so paint won't bleed through
IRON the stencil onto the surface of whatever you are stenciling using a lower temp shiny side down
PAINT your image! Let it partially dry and pull off the stencil.

I think he needs some Terrible Yellow Eyes........

First piece of jewelry beyond The Macaroni Necklaces

2009-09-23T06:00:00.002-05:00

I really loved the Children's House macaroni necklaces that taught finger muscle dexterity. Strung on yarn in red, blue and green food color dyed rigatoni. I wore the necklaces proud and now they are safely snuggled in a top drawer. But this, this wonder is really something to blogbrag about. The morning after visiting the Renn Fest I heard pounding and came down to hear Drew and the girl stripping copper wire and hammering it flat around a circular pipe. Put those two together and voila anything can be done before brunch.

new pens for school

2009-09-22T06:00:00.002-05:00

These Bee-A-U-Tee-Full pens curtesy of my nine year old. Zowzer! She whipped them up the other day over a couple generic ones. I wish I had a better camera because they are very full of texture and wonderful accents of glitter. Of course the linen they are on is from a wonderful weaver Anna Smits. It is a classic weave of linen with silver accents. If I can find some pictures of Anna and Signe together and some other of Anna's weavings I will post them. She taught at the U of M for I think about 40 years and had the most beautiful garden of dahlias, so sweet and always had a little gift of some sort for Signe when I went to visit.

Monday Monday

2009-09-21T06:00:00.004-05:00

2009-09-17T23:23:00.001-05:00

drawings by me and her

2009-09-17T07:19:00.003-05:00

Here are a couple looks for the day...... and a link to a song here.

MN Rennaissance

2009-09-16T05:45:00.005-05:00

Canning

2009-09-15T06:00:00.004-05:00

Since it is my birthday week I thought I could indulge myself with some childhood memories. Well, first of all, these are the tomatoes that were canned and the salsa that was made out of that very friendly basket of tomatoes. So much about the tomatoes but really, this is the first year in 12 that we have lived here that I have successfully been able to grow tomatoes. I guess they need really great light something that this yard never really had so Yeah for the red jars.

Ok, here is the memory. When I was about 8 -11 we used to live in Ohio and we had a large garden on the farm of a farmer from church. We would drive out to the country several times in the summer and well, really I would go swimming with my brothers while my parents tended to the garden. It was close to a creek and there were vines that we would swing off into the water. I loved this about going to the garden. I don't really have any memories of helping harvest or plant or weed but the cool water and the Swiss Family Robinson adventures with my brothers swinging, swimming, finding rocks and climbing up the slippery muddy bank are really clear. It was the end of the summer that all the canning took place. It was my job to watch the younger daughter of a friend while she and my mom would can tomatoes, make pizza sauce (the best to this day that I have every had), pickle cucumbers into Bread and Butters and Dills and Sweets in large ceramic crocks that sat aside in the kitchen for weeks. Just a memory.

Get Well Soon

2009-09-12T07:35:00.003-05:00

A secret message to my rellies who are not at their best. You know who you are D.E. and A. S.

Here's hoping all our well wishing will pull up a healthy prize. We love you.

First week of school

2009-09-11T06:31:00.004-05:00

The first week of school is at its end today and all is well. Thanks to all the teachers who have helped to make it a great start. Loving these decorated notebooks by my girl. We were instructed to buy "Plain" but how inspiring is that to a young artist (it's like getting a new canvas) she just had to imbed her wonderfulness onto them. So ready to be filled with tons of new information!!!!!!!!!!

Brule WI State Park

2009-09-09T06:00:00.008-05:00

There's a lot of beauty on the Brule River. These are from the state forrest. We camped near a fish hatchery and learned about its simple and wonderful operation. I am thinking that it might be the very same forrest, river and great lake where the Wild Things live.........

Our garden meets the Newspaper bin planter

2009-09-04T06:00:00.004-05:00

cherry toms coming fast, so good eaten right out of the garden, yum

A couple views of the garden taken tonight, already I am planning next years garden.

Blade Diary

Loving this! What a great idea. Have a good Labor Day weekend.

camping

2009-08-26T06:00:00.002-05:00

Late summer days just grilling hot dogs over the fire : ) I made this little patio for the fire bowl. We can just mow right over it and don't have to move the bowl every time. (Well, haven't tried mowing yet, here's hoping it is level.)

fish eye

2009-08-22T05:28:00.001-05:00

Happy Weekend

Hot August Daze Suitcase

2009-08-20T23:00:00.001-05:00

Here is another project that we have worked on this week. I have had some time home with the kids which has been really great. Summer is wiggling away, so nice to have some days just lazing and gluing shtuff. We got an old suitcase and some children's books from Good Will and spray painted the outside of the suitcase. We covered the handles and locks with masking tape before we began. It is best if the suitcase has a smooth hard surface. Then we cut out the pictures and decoupaged them onto the outside. I am thinking that we will have to seal the images on it when we finish. It worked well for my daughter to do the gluing and I did the placement. I also used a hard brayer for smooth down the glued images.

just when you thought you knew all the lyrics

2009-08-14T06:00:00.001-05:00

Gazing Bowling Ball

2009-08-12T06:00:00.001-05:00

I have to say that I am not a huge fan of gazing balls but we couldn't deny the magic that placed this new one in our lives. See, we live on a very, very steep hill, the kind of hill that marathon runners train on so when this bowling ball completely stopped and sat on our front steps we had to presume that it did all in its power to deny inertia and take heed to our welcome mat. It sat in the garden for months until one little 5 year old friend came to visit and was lost glittering and gluing in fairy heaven in the studio for hours. It wasn't long after that that the glitter spell overtook me and I pulled the ball out from the Wild Ginger and inside to the studio workbench. Forever more it will be our gazing ball sparkling light and gracing all greens that gather around.

Really if it were my choice I would rather have the reflection of water in my garden. Reflecting pools are one of the most beautiful and poetic mirrors. Here is the Taj Mahal in twice its beauty.

Monday Monday

2009-08-10T06:00:00.003-05:00

Chuck Love

2009-08-05T07:04:00.004-05:00

There's more behind the story on this painting than meets the eye. This image has travelled all over the world. One woman (my aunt) who has painted all her life painted this image of her son (my cousin) and was awarded best of show out of hundreds of paintings. Now this has been on city streets and sides of buildings all over the world. Chuck Love is a musician and has been performing literally all over the globe. You can listen to his music here. He got his musical talent from his dad (my uncle) (can you tell I love this family and are so proud of them all). But you can see that he got a double wammy with a mom as an artist and a dad a musician. There will be more about them in the future but for today, wishing them well and Spreading the Love!

2009-08-04T05:30:00.001-05:00

I have been working on some new ideas with words and images. The summer is bubblin' away here. Thinking August is percolating month and come September there will be more time to complete some of these themes. The kids are coming home from camps with more friends and we're running running. We are planning a little online store and are so excited about this. At this point it's a lot of little details beading together but we'll keep you posted.

Green

2009-07-29T06:00:00.005-05:00

The garden is full of greens. We are eating kale and mustard greens, green beans, pea pods, hot peppers, onions tomatoes, basil, peppermint and there are a few radishes left. It made me think that all we really need is a big bag of rice and beans and we could live all summer with just this little abundant backyard garden. So nice to see my daughter picking supper back there and checking to see what has bloomed or sprouted. We had the first sunflower which was picked for a friend and the second one is on its way to bloom. The garden is 4 - 4' x 4' raised beds. It is divided into square feet thus making it a square foot garden. My biggest question is whether to plant mustard greens next year. I have a bumper crop and so good for you but will have to google some more recipes. So far I have fried it in olive oil and a little garlic and once it is quite dark green you sprinkle a little apple cider vinegar over it which curiously takes some of the bitterness out.

2009-07-25T03:49:00.003-05:00

crayon rocks

when I see these

makes me want to sing this

Additional Drawings 1

2009-07-22T06:00:00.007-05:00

I threw these drawings in the garden to snap them. Speaking of the garden, we found green beans there last night, what a surprise. We have been looking at the tops of the bush beans and the flowers are beautiful. They look like little babies or cradles, will have to draw them..... but we checked underneath after we saw one small bean on top and there were huge beans which we picked and put in a yummy Thai coconut chicken soup with lemongrass which we also got from the garden. Score! Yummmmmm.

Have a High Stick Friday

2009-07-17T09:00:00.003-05:00

sweater

I believe you are out there Kenora bound. Pulling in the walleyes, jumpin' off the dock, ditchin' all the end tables and cousin festing all day long. Happy Summer Holiday's to you. May you have time to draw, time to chat, time to lay in the hammock and have a wonderful weekend.

Dedication to Jane of Kenora, wish I was there

New!!!!

2009-07-16T06:00:00.001-05:00

Sabrina Ward Harrison

2009-07-09T03:10:00.004-05:00

True Living Project here......................