Small Beauty

Along the path in the woods I come across a dangling wonder. A silkworm spinning under the evening sun.

Treats in the Yard

I just found this photo of me at my grandparent's house. My grandmother took this picture back in October of 1992 after we picked pears from the tree in the back yard! I just had to post it! I was only eight years old here. I can still distinctly smell and taste those delicious pears, which I haven't tasted in commercially sold pears since. Maybe one day I'll have my own pear tree just like Nonna's where I can watch them grow and bee pollinated by insects!

Nonna's Bluebird

In flight, I spread my dreams from my heart to my wings
they catch the wind and dance about
near clouds, above the seas
they might form a rainbow
or a fiery cry
from a brand new baby.
They might give another bird strength
it needs to fly.
My dreams, my simple freedoms
They are me, I am them.
Just the breeze and my wings...
finally.

*photo and poem for my beautiful grandmother Helen, who passed recently. May she always inspire me to be the best woman I can be

Wild Roses and Soap Bottles

I found some brilliant magenta wild roses today on a drive to see the prairies. I placed them in an old Dr. Bronner's soap bottle as I had no vase. They sat in the car after having been picked with dust blowing up all around them and the sun blasting down...but they were hearty and took it well. A little wilted for now, but I'm sure they'll firm up now with the fresh water from the spring.

The roses only enhance the text circling the label...from Emmanuel Bronner to ALL...

"All-One our soul, self-discipline the key to love, uniting All-One above!"

And don't they enhance the grasses! Here they are in their home sweet home. I just had to stop for a picture...and to cut just a few. There were plenty more, but I didn't want to take too many.

No More Bootie Attempts!

I finally tackled the difficulty of knitting socks! I made these soft knitted booties for my sister Eva as a Christmas gift in '09. Wow, the pattern was quite intense as it is filled with cable stitches, but I think it was well worth it since Eva loves to lounge around in them over in France. La dee da!!
I can't wait to find more patterns I'm interested in. Hopefully I'll be able to figure out how to decipher the hieroglyphics that come along with knitting projects. It's always a challenge! My mom bought me some delicious silk/bamboo blended yarn recently, which I might try for socks. I think that would be too luxurious! That reminds me ... I need to get knitting! Perfect time to do so, with the recent heavy snowfall - I might need to borrow Eva's booties!

Adel Leaves A Hero Behind

Adel saw the kids chatting on the nearby hill, and clumsily loosened grip on her childhood companion. He fell to the ground with a thump, as she skipped off hastily in the direction of her peers to hear of the latest gossip.

This latest drawing is for Illustration Friday's new topic, "Clumsy". We've all been there! As for Adel, her clumsiness had some intentional undertones ...

Bremman and His Bewilderment

This week's Illustration Friday topic is "Wilderness". Bremman the Bear has wandered far from his cozy cottage into a seemingly endless forest. It's completely wild, and he is beginning to wonder if it's normal to feel heart racing fear and childlike curiosity at the same time ... just as he is starting to wander too far, a strange bird calls down to him telling him it's best to return home.

Teacup Teddy Giveaway

Meet little Ulla ... completely handsewn and only 3.75 inches tall!


Illustrator and teddy bear artist Louisa Bauer is having a teddy bear giveaway on her sweet blog Mouse Tales. Just click HERE to post a comment on her blog to be added to the drawing! It's so easy! And don't worry, if you don't win the bear, you may just win 2 free prints from her Etsy shop, or last but not least ... you could win a bag of goodies!

Belle is confined only ten minutes more!

Belle the bear is confined in her chair
She is not free until the plate is clean!
Poor Belle, Poor Belle
What shall she do?
It looks like she must eat up her food!

This week's Illustration Friday topic is "Confined". I thought about being a child again, and all the ways they are confined in order to achieve a level of safety and security. Cribs, car seats, even diapers ... Poor Belle wishes she could eat at the big table with the rest of the family. Only in time ...

Sunday Snack Nap

Ahhh...Sunday. A time to be with the cabinets full of wonderful snacks. Snack Nap is an illustration I made while considering snacks and their needs. Snack's need to have time to relax so I pay tribute to all they do for us in this drawing.

Illustration Friday - A Time for Renewal

Illustration Friday's topic this week is "Renewal". A most appropriate time to reflect on this past year, and renew our bodies and minds to start fresh in the new one. My drawing is for Peace and the renewal of the spirit of compassion within us all.

Dean at Dusk

I went to spend some time with James Dean tonight. Seemed a good thing to do, nearing Thanksgiving...and assuming he won't be sitting around a table to enjoy a giant turkey and stuffing. I brought some delicious rotini pasta to leave on his grave. I'm sure he'll enjoy. Oops! I forgot to leave a fork!

Illustration Friday - Blurry Vision

Last weeks topic for Illustration Friday was "Blur". Here is my quick drawing for that subject! For this shy lady bear, everything is blurry!

Wizard and Anthony

Susan Sanford, artist extraordinaire, has posted a new challenge on her blog ArtSpark Theatre. Anthony, a sketch character of hers, is seen gazing out of a white box. The challenge is to fill the box with an image, to represent something outside ... like a giant hawk stealing the town Mayor, or a horrifically violent volcano erupting and then finish the caption - "Anthony was amazed when he looked out the window and observed ..."

I have posted my drawing here, with the caption "Anthony was amazed when he looked out the window and observed a wizard pointing in the direction of the nearby forest." Anthony and the walls were drawn by Susan. I drew the wizard standing outside. Thanks for the fun challenge Susan!

And here is Jeremy's interpretation of what Anthony sees out the window! I think this one is pretty clever. What? A bearded twin!

Illustration Friday - Judith the Bear

This week's word for Illustration Friday is "Pattern". Judith is wearing a dress made just for her, featuring a pattern that she just loves!