I battled with color blending and it took me forever to get the face right. I hope the next flat squirrel is a little easier!
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Nov 30, 2009
Squirrel coaster - update
OK, this was not the easiest coaster I've ever created. I must have issues with 'rat-like' creatures, I remember it took me a few weeks to finally work out the design of "Hammy the Hamster".
I battled with color blending and it took me forever to get the face right. I hope the next flat squirrel is a little easier!
I battled with color blending and it took me forever to get the face right. I hope the next flat squirrel is a little easier!
Nov 29, 2009
A New Coaster Request
It seems like I've been making these flat critter coasters forever. I've flattened everything you can imagine -
from bears
to zombies 
.
I got a request the other day to do a new coaster and I was shocked to realize I'd never flattened this critter before. Can you guess what it might be?
Shocking isn't it? Of all of the critters we all would most like to flatten, the squirrel has to be at the top of the list. Finally I get my chance at revenge for all of those empty bird feeders. This is going to be serious fun I think...
from bears
to zombies 
.I got a request the other day to do a new coaster and I was shocked to realize I'd never flattened this critter before. Can you guess what it might be?
Shocking isn't it? Of all of the critters we all would most like to flatten, the squirrel has to be at the top of the list. Finally I get my chance at revenge for all of those empty bird feeders. This is going to be serious fun I think...
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Nov 24, 2009
The 2009 Gingerbread Collection
I said I wouldn't do it again this year... but I feel obligated to set the record straight.
It's just my way of giving something back to the Gingerbread community. We see them as cute, tasty treats for the Holidays but they have real lives. Families, pets, careers. Here's to you Gingerbread...
It's just my way of giving something back to the Gingerbread community. We see them as cute, tasty treats for the Holidays but they have real lives. Families, pets, careers. Here's to you Gingerbread...
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Nov 22, 2009
Christmas is coming...
And the new gingerbread ornaments are here! Here's a sneak preview of some of the ornaments coming to my ETSY and ArtFire shops this week:
Dog & Cat Gingerbread Ornaments
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Nov 21, 2009
Panda-Monium
It's Saturday afternoon. I need to make a bear coaster. Someone really wants a black bear coaster.
I had made a few cow coasters already that day and I was ready to change gears but as I sat there looking at my left over white and black clay and idea struck me. Lots of black and white clay, ready to go, and I've never made a PANDA BEAR coaster!
I pulled out my panda bear sketches from this summer and got busy...
Introducing "Panda-monium", my first panda coaster!
I had made a few cow coasters already that day and I was ready to change gears but as I sat there looking at my left over white and black clay and idea struck me. Lots of black and white clay, ready to go, and I've never made a PANDA BEAR coaster!
I pulled out my panda bear sketches from this summer and got busy...
Introducing "Panda-monium", my first panda coaster!
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Nov 19, 2009
A Doggie from Scratch
That sounds funny. As if I'm about to bake a canine using nothing but a little flour and eggs.
What I really meant to say was that I managed to photograph a painting, in stages, from start to finish. I usually get on a roll and forget to capture the process but this time I remembered and I thought it would be fun to share!
What I really meant to say was that I managed to photograph a painting, in stages, from start to finish. I usually get on a roll and forget to capture the process but this time I remembered and I thought it would be fun to share!
The sketch and the background are completed first
Next come the shadows and darker areas
The eyes, nose, and mouth are added
Different shades of white are then layered on to create the fur
Finishing touches are added - darker eyes, more wispy hair, and a little white pearl in a few places to make it pop.
This is a commission piece for a friend; it is supposed to be her Westie puppy "Clementine".
I hope she likes it - Cross your fingers...
I hope she likes it - Cross your fingers...
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Nov 18, 2009
A BAD Cold
It's JUST a cold. That's what the doctor said. Ha Ha! A cold is not JUST anything, It's everything! Sniffling, sneezing, itchy eyes, runny nose, couching, and all around feeling of poopiness. I know I'm not the only person suffering from this particular affliction today so I dug up this poem to make me (and you) feel a little better...
This cold is too much for my shortsleeve.
Go get me a Kleenex--and fast.
I sniffle and wheeze
And I'm ready to sneeze
And I don't know how long I can last....
Atchoo--it's to wet for a kleenex,
So bring me handkerchief, quick.
It's--atchoo--no joke,
Now the handkerchief's soaked.
Hey, a dish towel just might do the trick.
Atchoo--it's too much for bath towel.
There never has been such a cold.
I'll be better off
With that big tablecloth,
No--bring me the flag off the pole.
Atchoo--bring the clothes from the closet,
Atchaa--get the sheets from the bed,
The drapes off the window,
The rugs off the floor
To soak up this cold in my head.
Atchoo-- hurry down to the circus
And ask if they'll lend you the tent.
You say they said yes?
Here it comes--Lord be blessed--
Here it is--Ah-kachoooo--there it went.
-Shel Silverstein
Go get me a Kleenex--and fast.
I sniffle and wheeze
And I'm ready to sneeze
And I don't know how long I can last....
Atchoo--it's to wet for a kleenex,
So bring me handkerchief, quick.
It's--atchoo--no joke,
Now the handkerchief's soaked.
Hey, a dish towel just might do the trick.
Atchoo--it's too much for bath towel.
There never has been such a cold.
I'll be better off
With that big tablecloth,
No--bring me the flag off the pole.
Atchoo--bring the clothes from the closet,
Atchaa--get the sheets from the bed,
The drapes off the window,
The rugs off the floor
To soak up this cold in my head.
Atchoo-- hurry down to the circus
And ask if they'll lend you the tent.
You say they said yes?
Here it comes--Lord be blessed--
Here it is--Ah-kachoooo--there it went.
-Shel Silverstein
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Nov 15, 2009
Back to Business
I took a lot of time off this summer and fall, exploring other forms of art and really learning a lot. I've improved my drawing and painting skills and even managed to get into a few gallery shows!
I haven't given up painting and drawing and will continue to work on a few planned (and commissioned) projects, but lately the polymer clay has been calling my name... I really wanted to pull out some of the sketches I did this summer and create a new and improved flat cow coaster.
Here's the old design -
Cute, yes? But I felt sure I could do better.
I started as I always do - making a big batch of funny eyes...
So, what do you think? Still a fully functional coaster, just a little bit funnier!
I haven't given up painting and drawing and will continue to work on a few planned (and commissioned) projects, but lately the polymer clay has been calling my name... I really wanted to pull out some of the sketches I did this summer and create a new and improved flat cow coaster.
Here's the old design -
Cute, yes? But I felt sure I could do better.
I started as I always do - making a big batch of funny eyes...
So, what do you think? Still a fully functional coaster, just a little bit funnier!
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Nov 5, 2009
We Do Windows!
Out and about this week - traveling and visiting friends and family. I'm at Mom and Dad's for a few days and while out with Mom shopping on Wednesday, we talked about their need to replace the windows in their house.
25 years old with single pane windows that badly need to be re-glazed - it was time to do something. A few phone calls to window companies had been a bit discouraging. $19,000 for 13 replacement windows sounded like a little bit too much.
We stopped by Home Depot and talked to the window expert and he told us how to measure for a replacement window. We went back to the house, took off the molding, wrote down our numbers and went back to the store. A hour later we returned to the house with two new replacement windows, a roll of insulation, some caulking and finishing nails. All for about $350...
Here's the whole process in photos - About 5 hours, start to finish!
Removing molding from the second window
All molding off
Old window out and cleanup
New window in and molding reattached
New window from the inside
New window from the outside
Old Windows... anyone want to build a greenhouse?
25 years old with single pane windows that badly need to be re-glazed - it was time to do something. A few phone calls to window companies had been a bit discouraging. $19,000 for 13 replacement windows sounded like a little bit too much.
We stopped by Home Depot and talked to the window expert and he told us how to measure for a replacement window. We went back to the house, took off the molding, wrote down our numbers and went back to the store. A hour later we returned to the house with two new replacement windows, a roll of insulation, some caulking and finishing nails. All for about $350...
Here's the whole process in photos - About 5 hours, start to finish!
Removing molding from the second window
All molding off
Old window out and cleanup
New window in and molding reattached
New window from the inside
New window from the outside
Old Windows... anyone want to build a greenhouse?Share this post: |
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Nov 1, 2009
A Spooktacular Halloween!
I'm not a photographer, but I played one this weekend...
Charles and I volunteered to setup and run a photo booth to benefit Friends of Topsail Park here in Florida. It was a big fund raising event Friday and Saturday night with a Scary trail, a Trick-or-Treat trail, and a Fantasy Land game area where kids could win lots of prizes. Our photo booth was setup to the side of the game area and boy were we busy!
This is the background we started out with:
Pretty cool, right? It's just a large tarp painted to look like a dungeon. It looked great in our garage but we forgot to imagine what might happen if the wind were blowing...
We got there Friday morning to setup for our first photo shoot Friday night and things quickly turned ugly.
The wind would gust and the tarp would fly up like a kite. When we secured the tarp at the bottom, the entire canopy would threaten to fly apart. We were in serious trouble...
We started looking for something to use as a background in place of the tarp and found some hand-me-down decorations that nobody else had claimed. Two hours later we had this instead of the dungeon wall:
Friday night was incredibly busy and we took tons of pictures. Saturday night we had more competition but the turnout was still pretty good. Everyone who had their pictures taken can now go to this web site to download or order prints. I hope they had as much fun as we did!
~ The Photographers ~
Charles and I volunteered to setup and run a photo booth to benefit Friends of Topsail Park here in Florida. It was a big fund raising event Friday and Saturday night with a Scary trail, a Trick-or-Treat trail, and a Fantasy Land game area where kids could win lots of prizes. Our photo booth was setup to the side of the game area and boy were we busy!
This is the background we started out with:
Pretty cool, right? It's just a large tarp painted to look like a dungeon. It looked great in our garage but we forgot to imagine what might happen if the wind were blowing...
We got there Friday morning to setup for our first photo shoot Friday night and things quickly turned ugly.
The wind would gust and the tarp would fly up like a kite. When we secured the tarp at the bottom, the entire canopy would threaten to fly apart. We were in serious trouble...
We started looking for something to use as a background in place of the tarp and found some hand-me-down decorations that nobody else had claimed. Two hours later we had this instead of the dungeon wall:
Friday night was incredibly busy and we took tons of pictures. Saturday night we had more competition but the turnout was still pretty good. Everyone who had their pictures taken can now go to this web site to download or order prints. I hope they had as much fun as we did!
~ The Photographers ~Happy Halloween!
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