Experience Washington's Photos

ExperienceWA.com (one of my favorite sites when I am thinking about driving in Washington State) is revamping itself and looks like it is turning to flickr for interesting WA state photos. Fabulous. The SayWA photoblog here has all the information and a list of photos needed. SayWA - Washington State Tourism Photos flickr pool.

Mask

I am helping D make a mask for a photo shoot. Something in this nature with feathers made out of newspapers.

I found some wonderful site celebrating mask of the world, North America, South America, Europe. Mask from Latin America. Guatemalan Masks. Instructions on how to make furry masks.

Dennis Nechvatal’s "Face/Mask", Kristen W. papier mache mask, Claudia Cave dreaming up mask paintings,

Third Grader's West African Paper Masks, Middle School Paper Mache Masks. Fun and bright animal mask.



Mexican Folk Art - Pre-Columbian Culture Paper Mache Masks and Heads. Mask making instructions.

The poster below was my son's class years ago. I saw them and had to shoot them. I recreated each one in illustrator and made 500 cards to sale for school fund-raiser. There is nothing more wonderful than children's art.

The Next Big Thing

The NEXT BIG THING is a super fun annual contest here at fredflare.com where we invite our customers to present their amazing creations for possible sale on our website.

Japanese Style

A beautiful friend, Yumiko started a blog. She visited Washington State as a student and lived with Sherry for a time. She is now an editorial designer in Japan, also as an editor/writer of Hawaiian Hula magazine, called HULA Le'a. Cool, Yumiko.

Hekisui blog, it is beautiful! Rubber stamps at ATELiER HEKISUI.

Studio Hapuna Miwa and Hapuna Net Works.

Polaroid690 by lomo papi in Japan. Polaroid gallery in Japan.

Self-Portrait Tuesday 02.28

Self-Portrait Tuesday has been exploring "All of Me". Too much work lately. Not enough down time, play time, free time, alone time. Always feel like I am searching for the right key to open up my creativity that is locked in my head, screaming to get out. Sucked into the computer screen at work, working at break-neck speed for 8+ hours a day. All of me is feeling really none of me at present.

Pass It On

" I thought you might like to know that I did a bloggers act of random kindness as a result of you!"

I got this in my email today from a friend and I just love it. I collect miniature chairs and a blogger friend liked one of the modern ones I had. I had two of the same. And in searching, I found many in a box that I just did not have room for. So I sent them on to someone I knew would like them. Now she in turn has sent some of her extra collectibles to someone else.

Wind Me Up

When I met my husband he had a box full of wind-up toys. They were great stocking stuffers and we collected many more during the years. When Matt spent time with me in the studio that was his favorite and soon he would tell his friends, and before you know it most of them don't work. But OMG did they have fun with little wind-ups going everywhere. The Great Wind-Up in Seattle is a wonderful source, a must-visit at Christmas. I might have to buy one Knockman Family Toys. I love the old ones. Here they are below - "take me to your leader".

Lori Nix

Accidentally Kansas - you must see the thrilling, titillating, sometimes disturbing, make believe photography by Lori Nix via design*sponge.

Bones & Skulls

I love this - Bones & Skulls flickr pool.

Himself

What Himself does while doing homework.

Illustration Friday - Tea

Illustration Friday this week is "tea". I love hot peppermint tea. I love slightly sweetened ice tea, lots of ice and sprigs of mint. I think I have a couple more cups in me, but this is my first try. Later - am adding 'Camomile Tea' that did many years ago.

Square, Round and Cut Out

Square heads at Cube people, more round and cute wooden dolls, little round people at Fairy tail, wood boring game set and Hanger dolls from cocoa, cutest calendar from Colobockle.

Blogging Iraq

I think we are in big trouble in Iraq. I try not to let these stories get to me. I try to think it will all work out. I wish we had a “command Z” all the way back to invasion of Iraq. I remember the way I felt when that happened, afraid for us, afraid for them, afraid for the world. A world that most of us don’t understand. Religious zealots that have fought against each other for centuries, to the death, blowing themselves up in the name of Allah and the promise of 75 virgins. Trying to explain it all to my son was confusing and embarrassing. We had gone into a country and bomb the shit out of them on the premise of ‘weapons of mass destruction’ when I was sure there were other countries with WMD’s and we were not invading. I do admire our military, taking on this terrible task but I become crazy when I hear interviews where they talking about being there to protect America’s freedom. That war has nothing to do with our freedoms; those wonderful young people are losing their lives – for what? And believe me; I know many of you will not agree with me on this. I debate this with my family in Texas all the time.

Going through the photos of today I just see death and carnage in Iraq the last couple of days. Reading MSNBC's Blogging Iraq about another journalist - Atwar Bahjat, and her camera crew were killed doing their job. Seeing her bloody, lifeless body. WHY? The golden dome in Iraq, one of Iraq's holiest shrines was blown up, and then Sunni mosques were blown up by Shiite militia. The Iranian president is blaming US for the dome bombing. And Iraq is becoming more dangerous in an all-out civil war. Angry, young, hopeless, men will keep this unrest going, probably forever, just as it always has been. This is not our war. But as D and I were telling our son the other night when he suggested we just pack up and leave – we can’t just leave. We can not go into a country, dismantled the government, blow it to smithereens, and leave them to fend for themselves. And that is the catch right now. What to do. I do a lot of nail-biting.

Spring Into Cleaning

I love to (spring) clean. Armed with Q-tips and tooth picks I go to town. I take sofas apart, pillows get beaten in the great outdoors, stay in the sun and fresh air awhile. Get the ladder out and clean entry window, scrape out the cobwebs. Wash down blinds. Wipe off baseboards. Clean out refrigerator and kitchen drawers. I take fans apart to clean the blades. Okay, I do the things all the time because I am one of those OCD cleaners.

If you are thinking spring cleaning, here is a good idea. St. Jude’s Ranch for Children, the idea was conceived for turning the previous year’s Christmas Cards into "new" cards for the coming season. (I just signed up for a Mile Walk for St. Jude's). Family Digest gives some step-by-step about spring cleaning. A long list of recovery tips.

The five basics for nontoxic cleaning and a couple of recipes. I need this - declutter strategies and other cut the clutter advice. Get organized catalog. Cleaning with Baking Soda.

This is always the big thorn in my harddrive - organize your digital pictures.

Word Cloud

Snap shirts organizes words commonly used on your blog in a word cloud - and will sell you a t-shirt showing the same via grace filled moments.

Book It!

Woo Hoo. Book me in right now for the tiny version.

Have Dog Will Travel

Toni Anzenberger and his dog "Pecorino" see the world and documenting in a whimsical way. Too bad I couldn't take Pica on a photographing vacation, but they would not allows back into many countries after his visit.

Seattle Blogs

I hope to make it to The Seattle Weblogger Meetup Group, Tuesday, March 7, 2006, 7:00pm. You want to meet me over there, fellow Seattle-area bloggers? I know many of you but I want a make a list of local bloggers, so neighbor - leave me a message. ;)

Lillian Cometh

My former and dear friend Kelly is having a baby any minute! Come on Lillian, we are all waiting on you!

Quick Baby Shower Invitation

Quickie baby shower invitation. I did this my my best buddy last night. Shown here without the type.

Self-Portrait Tuesday 02.21

Self-Portrait Tuesday. I don't like to comb my hair and usually don't until I am forced to leave the house.



And I turn 50 this year. I found these yesterday and I am going to hang them on the wall as a celebration of the fact.

Flowers From My Mom

Had a very busy work weekend. Can't wait for the Olympics to be done! Today, relax and clean up from my busy work schedule. But first I think I am going antiquing. D needs an old trumpet and since he has taken the kids snowboarding, thought I would help him out. My mom bought Valentine flowers and I wanted to document them before they are gone.

Beautiful Sunday - Pressed Petals

A new Flickr group - Beautiful Sunday created by Joleen. My beautiful Sunday object being pressed hydrangea petals.



And another fun and interesting group is Corners of My Home. Lots of corners to peek into. It feels like walking down a dark neighborhood street and looking into a warm, inviting window of someone's home. This is the cabinet corner of my kitchen. And more of my corners here and here.

Photo Friday - Baby

How could I not dig up some precious memories and a photo of my not-so-little-one-anymore- for Photo Friday! Here he is when he was. For much larger image. (Don't forget new parents - it all goes very very quickly.)

Julie Morstad

Julie Morstad's work is astounding. I need some if I can afford it!

Valentine's Day Treats

Illustration Friday - Song (In Their Hearts)

Illustration Friday challenge is Song. I think birds have the sweetest songs. I resurrected this little bird from many moons ago created in Adobe Illustrator and changed his bird feathers. Click to see large Flickr version.



Also including this collage I have done in a "Bird" series of greeting cards that are being printed. Originally created for my friend Ruth as a thank you card for her.

ATC's Received

"My button Valentine" - Vesna Radivojenic; "My Scrappy Valentine"- Amy Proff Lyons; "My Blue Valentine" - Elizabeth Meredith; "Fish, a way to a man's heart" - Michelle Freeman;"My Secret Valentine" - Mimi Kirchner. They are all beautiful! Thank you!

A Little Too Serious

A little too serious about music and not serious enough about homework.

Wearing Your Singleness

Celebrate your singleness by wearing a ring that tells the world you are single. I know someone at work that could use on of these, J.R.?

Useful Templates

Been cleaning out my email again. I love being able to store my links here versas in a million emails to myself in three accounts. Lots of useful templates from jersgirl. Backgrounds and more fun templates from frans new beginnings. And I don't know about you, but I am always needing blank calendars to keep up with my crazy life.

Mirror, Mirror On The Wall

Mirror, mirror on the wall, whose the most creative flickr user of us all?

Penelope's Best Advice

Penelope is pulling together a Best Advice visual list. Take a look, submit some of good advice that you have gotten. In my usual fashion, I made more than one. This was advice I gave to myself after realizing I had spent too much of my life depressed and not treating each day as a gift.

Death By Chocolate

Want to kill your lover with sweetness? Death By Chocolate, Chocolate Lover's Chocolate Mousse Pie from Very Best Baking (lots of good stuff here). Chris Gargone's Chocolate Chews. I love Flourless Chocolate Cake (my friend Katie makes the best). And don't forget about these Triple Chocolate Raspberry Brownies I posted awhile ago.

And this is another Chocolate Death sent to me from Katie forwarded to me - says: Not very glam ingredients...but this is goooooood.

DEATH BY CHOCOLATE

1 (19.8 oz.) family size fudge brownie mix
1/4 - 1/2 cup Kahlua or coffee liqueur*
3 (3.5 oz.) boxes Jello chocolate mousse
8 (1.2 - 1.4 oz size) Heath or Skor candy bars
1 (12 oz.) container whipped topping

Bake brownies according to package directions; cool. Punch holes in brownies with fork; pour Kahlua over brownies and set aside. Make Jello mousse according to package directions (I used skim milk -- as if that would make much difference!). Break candy bars into small pieces in food processor or by tapping them with a hammer (right in the wrapper). Crumble half of the soaked brownies and place in the bottom of a glass ttifle dish. Cover with half of the mousse, layer with half of the candy and then add half of the whipped topping. Repeat layers with the remaining ingredients. Enjoy!!

*Instead of the alcohol, you may substitute a mixture of 1 teaspoon sugar and 4 tablespoons of left-over black coffee.

Happy Valentine's Day

Eat Up The Color On Kimono China

Some colors and combinations can be gleefully slurped up and eaten with a spoon; the textures, stitching and little patches are the dessert to be savored after. That is how I feel about these kimono’s found on sri threads via Karin Style Blog. This is how my mind works Kimono color/textures/patterns = China! Plates of patterns and colors, bread plate, saucer, teacup, all in these delicious colors! I wish I were a ceramist! Or at least had enough time/money to develop these idea that take a dive in my brain and swim around. Sheets from this inspiration, all different textures, colors, oh, it gives me a chill! And this would make up all the colors of my bedroom! It was just a year ago I was writing about the same thing, know your kimono - driven by the divineness of Sashiko! Asian Art by Kyoko has the most wonderful Indigo Japanese Patched Jacket.

Illustration Friday - Simple (syrup)

Illustration Friday this is week was simply Simple. Mom makes simple syrup all the time and that is the first thing that came to my (simple) mind.

Jonah Goes To Westminster

My dear friend, Elana is showing her dog at Westminster (I just had to show the Chihuahua), leaving this weekend! Good luck, Jonah! I will be watching for you on streaming video. That is Jonah below.

Chiyogami

Chiyogami Monday is about creating and sharing chiyogami patterns via Khya designs. Cool flickr set here. Non dairy Diary has easy patterns with photoshop. Trying to create some pattern papers with some little images I had stored away. It was a little more difficult than I thought it would be.

Things That Make Me Smile!

If this does not make you smile, nothing will! Donald Metzner on flickr has the most amazing wildlife photography. Here he has captured a Western Meadowlark and has even added his song! Thank you, Donald, that made my day complete.

And speaking of of wild and wonderful photography, it looks like another one of my flickr faves, Matthew, has a blog. Don't forget to check out Chubby Hubby and his great food links.

And this will make you cry and smile. Please let them keep her forever. And then there is Lazy Bones! And if you have not visited Dogs in my Bed, you really should.

Dried Flowers Hidden

I found these in my sketchbook today.

Hearing The Sea In "Sea"ramics

Handle with care - Solos: New Design from Israel.

Found these breathtaking ceramics via Camilla. I can hear the sea from here!

Thursday Art Walk (2)

Drawings and paintings of Rachell Sumpter

Moving boxes, every home I have ever lived in by Jes Cannon.

Nik Daun's Doodles

Justin Wood's coldplay

Fun and pixelated by Craig D. Adams

Portraits by Daniel Adel

Oksana Badrak

Eye popping flash and art by Karen Ingram

Pop surreal and low brow art of Scott Scheidly at Flouderart.

A to S

This is delightful little flash thingie from Mercedes-Benz - A to S

New (To Me) iMac

Found a used iMac. One of the computers here is really old, needs replacing and I am afraid it will crap out any minute. Instead of the G5 with Cinema Display screen that I lust after, have opted for a used iMac for now as a back-up and second computer.

ZoLo In Another Corner

I really love the flickr's Corners of My Home pool. We have these ZoLo wooden pieces in a basket that kids and adults play with all the time. I think about it now, they have been there for 15 years! I was going to buy David more a couple of years ago but I could not find them made in wood, only plastic. It looks like they are making more out of wood now, hhhmmmm, next Christmas?!

I Love This!

Horizontal cupboards, vertical cupboards and boxes - so fun by XT acessórios (more fun furniture on her site) found via Friederike - isn't this a wonderful display of her Symbolons.

Today - Sun!

Drove to the airport and look what we saw! Mt. Rainier with a wispy little cloud hanging on the very tippy top. Forget talking on your cell phone while driving, let's talk about shooting while driving.



Missed the mountain but got this wonderful ray of sun.



And then we caught the sun going down behind the Olympic Mountains!

Self-Portrait Tuesday 02.07

Okay, I said I would not show more warts than I all ready have in my previous self-portraits, but I found this charming photo of me sleeping at the campsite. And he married me anyway!

Paper Picados And Garlands

Jenny was asking where to buy those garlands. A friend sent me the paper garlands from Texas. I asked for them for Christmas. I found a few sources for them online. My picados are not paper. I bought those in San Antonio many years ago, in plastic.

These paper garlands are my favorite, very affordable and look so fun hanging. Paper flower tissue garland.



Lee Carter has paper picados, ones with skeletons and all kinds of fun stuff!

Artist that makes Papel Picados. A fun Day of the Dead teacher packet! This is brilliant! Quilts inspired by picados by Leslie Gabriëlse. Exposure to Mexican culture folkart from Thinking Heart.

Plus this wonderfully designed site, that offers Mexican paper picados and 3D Paper garlands. But the site is worth several click throughs! I love this English handmade wire chandelier.

Nikon's Small World

Ruth send me this link to Nikon's Small World Gallery. I love the calendar. 2005 Competition Winners: First Place, Stereomicroscopy with epi-ring illumination, American lobster larvae, Living diatoms and lots of wonderful images in their gallery. They are having a 2006 competition.

Blogger, We Have A Problem

I have had several problems the last three or so days. First, everytime I posted, saved as draft or published - I could see it had saved but when I went to my blog, the entry or saved entry had disappeared. This happened at several locations, so I know it was not a computer glitch. I sent a inquiry message but have not heard back. So we will see it this one publishes or not. DID ANYONE ELSE HAVE THIS PROBLEM?

Then, with the wind storm, we lost power and provider service. I also lost my external drive (LaCie) connection and can't seem to get that to load up again. Of course, ALL of my work resides on that drive.

Amidst the computer crisis we managed to have some fun. Mom cooked fajitas, cornbread, chili, guacamole, lots of good food for a Super Bowl combo Birthday party. I decorated the ceiling with wonderful Mexican paper garlands that friends send me from San Antonio.

Illustration Friday - (first) Chair

Illustration Friday challenge is chair. I love small chairs of all kinds and have a collection of them.

I Say Tomato