Tsunami Watcher

I belong to a drawing challenge group on line where we draw, paint, sculpt, knit, photograph, write, something that is around a 'theme' that someone in the group chooses. Two weeks ago we were given the theme 'driftwood' and a number of ideas came to my mind. The most exciting one for me was an image of a fallen totem that had been propped up lovingly by someone. The totem was looking to the sea and the spirit in the totem saw a tsunami coming from Japan. The reflection of what the spirit saw can be seen by the viewer. I'd planned to have everything in the drawing done in pencil and charcoal but have the eye image in color. So I started drafting out the drawing and realized that it would take me two months to draw, not two days. So I abandoned it and went back to my usual tea bag size.

As I lay in bed listening to CBC last evening, the news came on about the earthquake in Haida Gwaii. I listened intently and then went to sleep. Later, when I woke up for a moment I switched on the radio to see what else had happened, if anything. Then I remembered my totem with the tsunami in the eye and thought to myself that the totems in Haido Gwaii would be watching for a tsunami.

Today I remembered my drawing plan again and the idea to post would not let me go so I decided to show you my rough rough planning for a drawing. Here it is:

Here is a close up of the vision in the eye of the totem:

And here is the drawing (lightly drafted):

One day I hope to complete the drawing. Have a nice day, everyone! *smiles* Norma

HALLOWEEN PARTY 2012

The one and only Vanessa of A Fanciful Twist is hosting her annual Halloween Party starting today. This is her 5th year and I am looking forward to the fruitful posts and happy haunting spots that will be featured in this blog hop. To visit the players who have posted especially for this 'hop' just click on to Vanessa's blog where you will be taken to the list of blogs that are highlighted for you already. All you have to do is click to your heart's content. Happy Clicking!!! And...see you at the hop! *smiles* Norma

What would a party be without giveaways. I have made one just for you! It is an acrylic painting on a small (1"X2") canvas of a dolly having herself her own tea party at the edge of the pumpkin patch while she waits for the children to choose the most perfect pumpkin in the patch. All you have to do to get your name into the hat for the draw, is to be brave enough to enter the forest and go peek inside of the house you see there. Look in the window to spot something that you can report seeing. Come back here and leave a comment telling us what you saw inside of the house. I bravely entered and walked slowly and calmly so as not to appear too scared...I peeked in and I think I spotted a tray of candied apples. I have to admit that when I came out again I was walking quite a bit faster than when going in. What did you see?

Moving in a bit closer:

And closer still:

Leave a comment below on this post and I'll draw a winner next Saturday. Here is what you could win:

GHOST

Reminding you all of the drawing challenge with the theme GHOST. Tomorrow and Sunday, the group who are playing along this week, will be posting their contribution. You will want to have a look at the delicious visuals they have to offer. Once again, the 'players' are: Ariane, Sabine, Mano, Susan, Renilde, Kim, Jill, Stefanie, Helen, Nadine

Meanwhile, here is a fun little clip of one of my favourite movies of all time:

See you all tomorrow! *smiles* Norma

WOYWW[177] Bird Beaks and Greeting Cards

My favorite work space is the glass table that is beside my bed. Oh how dangerous this is. I'm into the marathon of bird making for myself and here, birds are drying their beaks. My daughter is into the marathon of making her stock of goods for the fairs and festivals where she sells her fabby things, so I help her out. Here I am taping the backs for images for the Greeting Cards that she makes.

Thanks for dropping in today; to see a bounty of interesting work desks and spaces, drop in to see Julia, where she hosts a weekly gathering to show our work desks. You can see them all there. See you soon, I hope, *smiles* Norma

dc81: Ghost

Ghost of the Night Shift [at B.C. Sugar Refinery]

She looks pretty alive here, as you can see through her but I used tea bag paper as a ground and it is skintoned sort of. I am the host of the drawing challenge for this week and have chosen the theme: GHOST. Everyone is invited to participate and all you have to do to join in is to leave a comment on this post. On Saturday and Sunday of this coming weekend, the 27 & 28th October, just do your own post with GHOST as the theme. You can do whatever you want. Photography, drawing, painting, sculpting, collage, knitting, whatever it is that you do. I will be linking all of the participants' blogs here so your post will be easily accessible.

Ghost of the Night Shift is painted in acrylics on a leaf of used tea bag paper.

Here is a shot of the B.C. Sugar Refinery factory:

It is a landmark on the waterfront dockyards in East Vancouver, and is a stones' throw from where I live. Every time I go downtown, I pass the building. I've been passing it for 40 years and counting.

Thanks for dropping in today. I hope to see you again soon, *smiles* Norma

The Players: Ariane, Sabine, Mano, Susan, Renilde, Kim, Jill, Stefanie, Helen, Nadine

Acorn leaf origami little book [dc 80]

LEAVES is the theme of this drawing challenge. I made an acorn leaf shaped little book in the origami style. Here it is open, with its' companion, a sprig of wool felted acorns:

There is a saying that anything worth doing is worth doing well but I just don't have the proper time right now. I'd love to explore this lazily, experimenting with collage and drawing and layering with tea bag paper, and mixed media and overall, coated with some lovely wax, but I am in full on bird making mode right now, for the Christmas season. Maybe in the new year, I'll revisit this book idea. Here it is closed (no time to give myself a manicure either, sorry):

Viewed from up close you can see how quickly I pulled this together (rough cut edges, etc.) but as I make it a habit not to 'explain' my art ever, I won't dwell on this. It is made fast, fast, fast. My daughter has been making felted acorns lately, so I borrowed a sprig of two caps and made a companion for the little book.

Our lovely host this week is Sabine and if you want to view a wonderful variety of responses to this theme, she has links to the players for this challenge. Thanks for dropping by today, and we'll see you soon I hope, *smiles* Norma

I posted early this week, as next weekend [Saturday, October 27 and Sunday, October 28] I will be the host and will do a separate post for that, probably on Monday so you can all sign up there. The theme will be: GHOST.

P.S. Hand written inside the acorn book contains this poem: OCTOBER October turned my maple's leaves to gold; The most are gone now; here and there one lingers. Soon these will slip from out the twig's weak hold, Like coins between a dying miser's fingers. ~~Thomas Bailey Aldrich

P.P.S. I know, the poem is about a maple but I'm letting it stand in for the Acorn. Ciao!

Driftwood Offering [dc79]

The theme this week, for the drawing challenge is DRIFTWOOD. The title of my piece is "Driftwood Offering" which is a chunk of driftwood, done in a kind of abstract collage style. I used onion skin paper dyed lightly with walnut ink and mod-podged onto a leaf of used tea bag paper. As I consider this an offering to whatever gods may be listening, I typed the message: "And thus may I and all beings in space receive blessings" and I hope that this will be so. Here's my finished piece:

The materials used are: tea bag paper, onion skin paper from an old beautiful bible which I use for art, walnut ink, typewritten words, and mod podge:

The first bit of onion skin paper is soaking in ink:

The first bit is laid down:

The second bit is laid down and the third put into the ink bath:

The third bit laid in, and the last small bit soaking:

And that is all there is to it! The words on the onion skin paper are from a German Bible in old German, and the quote is from a new book about how to meditate. It is one of the things that are said in the Buddhist temple. I kind of like to mix up my religions in my art. Thank you to Mano for choosing such a great theme for us. Have a visit to her blog to see the players for this challenge. You will see a variety of wonderful art creations. Everyone is welcome to join in the challenges, and if you are interested, visit Ariane who keeps things going. Bless us all and I hope to see you again soon, *smiles* Norma

Mysterious Carnivale giveaway winner is...

Incipient Wings, chosen by random.org out of the group who left a comment on the post. All of your comments make me feel rich and happy and I thank you for your generosity. I have only the one bird to give away, so there is only the one person receiving it. It will be you, Marfi.

See everyone again soon, I hope, *smiles* Norma

Tulle, tulle, tulle...[WOYWW175]

Need I say more? I buy it by the bags full. People get married...decorate their celebration spot...scrunch the yards and yards and yards of tulle into bags and donate them to the thrift shop. I buy the bags for $1.49 and $2.99 or thereabouts. People also stuff their entire wedding veil (these are always white) into bags as well. I buy those as I cannot resist. Here is what I make with the materials:

Birds, birds and more birds. These are the beginning of my seasonal 'batch' (stores order them at this time of year.) I am particularly in love with this little beauty. A yellow bird with black beak and who will have sparkly black legs/feet. He is a special bird that I am making as a birthday gift for a friend that I met on line:

This darling is the sole bird left over from last year's season. All of the rest have flown away to live with folk. I always keep the one bird to just remind myself of what they really look like. So that when I begin the marathon, I don't have to strain the brain about questions constructional:

The wee thing has not yet been banded. All of my birds get a banding on one of their legs. Every bird I have ever made has got its' own number. Really, I put a number on just as I am making it. That way, each one is an individual. I am up to in the 80s. The number is pasted onto heavy cardboard and given the 'Tim Holtz' treatment, and is hung on the ankle area with a little ring.

To see more lucious work areas, visit Julia where she will link you to well over a hundred folk who show what they are up to today. It's eye candy galore, and a ton of fun.

Thanks for popping in today. See you soon I hope. *smiles* Norma

THE SHOW MUST GO ON...

Attention! Attention! It is nice to see you all here ladies and gentleman, boys and girls. The attendant has taken all of your silver tickets, and as you have all been seated I see, we will get on with the show!

I see that we have some guests from out of town. Welcome!

And others who have come from a long way!

Please feel free to leave your hats on, we have some flying bats in an aerial performance and (ahem) they have not had as much practice as they would have liked.

There is seating for all. Everyone is welcome here.

Our opening act is 'wolfie' who can sing an entire Beijing street opera in one breath.

Then we have 'tigs' who is a happy sort. I forget what he was going to do folks. Some sort of balancing act. Let's see what he does.

Pinkie will be in the parade at some point...and he's joining the" Prince" outside later where they will be giving rides.

Owl will be doing some sort of balancing act on a twig involving strings of some sort.

Sprite and his friend have practiced another balancing act.

Samuel will be doing a contortion act. He's an expert at squeezing through small places.

Flora was going to do a high wire ballet but her face got eaten by mice. She is very sad not to be a part of this extravaganza.

Firebird will shoot balls of flame into the air.

Dawn and her companion will do a storytelling fest over at one of the smaller tents.

These gals will tell your fortune at the fortunetelling tent.

Kitty will give and demonstrate dancing lessons.

Another fortune teller.

And another fortune teller.

Sweetie will be handing out free candy.

Jack will be leading the clowns in a scary very scary act.

There is tea cup readings as well in the tea, coffee, and whiskey tent.

The bird woman is in the tent of curiosities.

And lastly, folks, we have the "Prince" who will be giving elephant rides outside later...

We hope you have enjoyed your visit. Remember, if you wish to be entered into the draw to win the bird that is the giveaway for this blog hop event, just leave a comment below on this post. Here is the bird.

Thank you for dropping by today. The original circus turned to shambles, what with threatened law suits, and actors getting lost on the way and everything; I thought that it was a complete bust. But word got out, and a lot of old friends came to the rescue so that the show could go on. Hope to see you again soon, *smiles* Norma

Thank you to Marfi and Anna for putting together this fantastical event! It's a lot of hard work which we all appreciate. Thanks you two!!

To see more posts from those participating click on the silver ticket below:

Click here for a link to the players!

Mysterious Carnivale

Ladies and gentleman may I have your attention please. It seems, due to unforseen circumstances that our show must be delayed for a day. You can use your silver ticket above, to gain entry to the grounds if you choose. We have set up tents and you can rest there while you wait. All of the food and drinks and refreshments (eye of bat and ear of oh what was it...frog I think...or maybe it was newt.) Anyway, everything is FREE and you can wander around wherever you want. The actual show won't begin until tomorrow though, so if you want you can just come back then. We have had such bad luck (too many broken mirrors to tell you about here) this year. Part of our acts got waylaid along the roadside, and some of the acts have outright quit, or are threatening to...the Mistress of Ceremonies is insisting to change her contract to read "Queen of Ceremonies" so we have to see our lawyers...and so it goes. A real hullabaloo. So we're going to try to put together a ragtag bunch of performers for you and our show is very much smaller than we had hoped. But we will get the show on the road so to speak tomorrow.

So, if you stay, remember, everything is FREE, and if you choose to go back home, I do hope you will come back to see what we have to offer.

There is a black bird which will be a giveaway and a name will be chosen from the comments section next Saturday. Please feel free to leave a comment at any time to be sure you are IN for the drawing. The bird will be shown later on, along with whatever acts we've managed to cobble together. And so with that we bid you adieu for this evening, and may you all have the magic stardust in your eyes. Good night from the fairyyellowbugqueen and her helpers. We do hope to see you soon, *hugs* Norma

Drawing Challenge [78] Birthday

Birthday Bird

Our theme this week for the drawing challenge is 'birthday' which was chosen by our talented and generous and wonderful host this week, Stefanie!! Because it really is her birthday today, and because I have just started the rush to make the bevy of birds I make to sell during the Christmas Season (store orders), I decided to make a small gift of a bird for Stefanie for her birthday. This black bird will not be the birthday gift (I actually put this together as a giveaway for a blog hop I am doing later) and I'm showing it just so you can see what a bird looks like. Stefanie will be getting blue, or yellow, or red, or pink, or whatever the muse dictates. I know that Stefanie will like it no matter what.

The message on this black bird says "be willing to know what you know." and for a black bird at Halloween time this is very helpful. There's a lot of ghouls out there!! Bwaaaaaaahaaaaaaa!!

This bird is a part of the drawing challenge and really, the only thing I can think of to allow it to qualify, is that it was designed by me in the first place. Even though I have been making these for years. At least they are new to this drawing group. So, fellow artists, I hope you like my bird. And Stefanie, I hope you will like your birthday bird when you get it. (I have to make it first, HA!!) To see more creative offerings with this theme pop over to Stefanie's blog which is highlighted above, and you will be taken to the players for this week. I know you will enjoy this! Hope to see you again soon, *smiles* Norma