Melange Wednesday Challenge

The theme this week for the Melange Wednesday Challenge is Dance. I have found myself drawn to the theme of dance for many years in my collage work. I have used it several times and still have uncompleted dance ideas in my head. I've chosen to submit 2 of my previously completed collage pieces. These original artworks both live in my house. I decided I wanted to keep them. So many people have requested these pieces that I offer prints and cards of them.
The phrase Dance with a Cat originated with my daughter. When she was a teenager and dealing with all the "stuff" that teenagers deal with, she would often scoop up her 17 lb Siamese kitty Fasa aka Mufasa, drape him over her shoulder like a baby, close her eyes and slowly begin to dance. Her theory was 'When life gets you down, dance with the cat.' The tabby cat was created with paper and colored pencil. The girl and her horn were created with pen and ink and watercolor. The background was done in acrylic paint. The music box still actually plays.

The second collage Dare to Be Free was created out of the idea that when one dances, one feels truly free. The feet and slippers are painted on vintage book pages. The roses are vintage cards, and the calla lillies are porcelain. The vintage library card is authentic.

Thanks for looking.
Elizabeth

And The Winner Is..........

Well, its almost midnight on Thursday and time to announce a winner for the Name Your Baby Contest.  Baby turtle can hardly wait to have a name and stop being called Baby turtle.  You all came up with very creative names.  As each one came in I would think, Oh, I bet that will be the one.  It has been a much more difficult decision that I expected.

But in the end, there can only be one winner.  So after thinking through each name thoroughly I've made a decision.  

So now, the envelope please..........

Drum roll.............................................................................................................................................

The winning name is Miss Mae after Mae West.  It is fitting that her name be that of a floozy since her daddy was Captain Jack, after all.

Miss Mae was submitted by Pey of peylu.etsy.com and folkartvision.etsy.com.  Pey is from Canada, an active member of EFA/artist helping animals, and a very creative artist. Congratulations Pey!  Convo me with your mailing address and I will get your card in the mail. :)

Here are some of my favorite examples of Pey's work.

Thank you to all who participated.  I hope it was fun for you.

Elizabeth

More baby information

For more information about the baby turtle, see both of the previous posts on May 9.  They are titled Baby Pictures and Babies are Blooming in the Garden.

Its a Name Your Baby Contest!

Finally, I have pictures of the baby turtle's face.  She wasn't terribly cooperative.  And either she's not very photogenic or I'm not a very good photographer cuz it took a million tries to get these not so amazing pictures. - probably both!  

There is one thing I learned while taking the pictures.  At one point she stuck her little head all the way out.  Of course this was not when I had the camera in my hand.  But anyway, it enabled me to see that she has tiny orange speckles all over her face.  That means I was wrong.  She is not Claudette's baby.  Rather the mother of this baby would have to be Cleopatra.  Her babies always have her distinctive orange speckles.  Here is a pictures of Cleopatra.  

I did take one where you could see Baby's cute little tail.

As someone else has noted, this baby simply must have a name since she is now known by the whole world.  So, I've decided to have a Name Your Baby Contest.  So here is what you will need to know.  I always name my turtles after either a movie star or a character in a movie.  I really like old movies.  (And if you are young like my daughter, old movies doesn't mean the 80's.  I mean really old.)  Turtles live such simple and plain lives digging in the dirt and eating worms, it just seems fun to give them glamorous names.

I will choose the name that delights me the most.  I promise to be fair and not choose based on the person that submits the name.  If you knew how seriously I take my pet's names, you would know this is not a problem.  It took a week and 30 tried names before choosing Kenya for my most recent rescued cat.

The author of the baby turtle name that I choose will receive a 4 1/4" x 5 1/2" notecard with a printed version of my Dance with a Cat collage and matching envelope.  (The green is just the background for the picture)

To enter the contest I just ask three things of you.

1.  comment here with your name idea

2.  sign up to follow my blog

3.  take the time to read my previous blog post about my friend and at least look at her drawing.  Then leave a comment there so I know you have done that.

I will make a choice on Thursday May 21.  

I look forward to lots of creative and fun name ideas.

Elizabeth

Butterflies of Hope

I have a friend who is in a horrific family crises.  It is of a very personal nature.  And I do not feel it is my place to share the details of her story.  My friend's name is Sarah.   Several months ago as a distraction, I sent her a book called Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain.  She began to do the exercises in the book and then sent me her first drawing.  It was done in pen and ink - a bit daring for one's first drawing I'd say.  In this drawing she expresses her faith in the midst of her circumstances.  I think the drawing is beautiful and creative.

As an effort to help her financially with the situation she is currently in, I have printed her design on some blank notecards.  They are for sale in my etsy shop in a variety of colors.  I did contact etsy admin. and got permission to do so.  All profits from the sale of these cards will go to Sarah.

Please take the time to look.  

Thank you, Elizabeth

The Lion King!

The Lion King is the most incredible experience of creativity I have ever had.  Actually this wasn't my first time to see it.  My daughter was in NYC for a semester on a scholarship/apprentice 2 years ago.  I went up to visit her and we got to see The Lion King on Broadway.  It was such a captivating experience.  I left determined that my husband and son must experience it also.  Yesterday we all 4 went to the off-broadway production.  It was wonderful!  If you have not had the chance to see it, you simply must.  It is worth the money and whatever driving you would have to do to get there.  I agree with a friend of mine who when asked what she thought could only close her eyes, shake her head, and hold her hands out.  It just leaves me speechless.

Baby pictures

Per many requests, here are baby pictures.  She is with Mama, Claudette Colbert for size reference.  Claudette is about the size of a grapefruit that is flattened on one side.  Baby would not come out for the pictures - sorry.  And Claudette was determined to leave.  So I had to be quick.

We are contemplating creating a turtle nursery in the flowerbed outside of the fence.  So she hasn't gone to the country yet.  At the house we used to live at, we had a turtle nursery and they lived in it until they were as big as biscuits, which was usually their 3rd summer.  Until they are that big they are tasty morsels for large birds.   The nursery was not moveable when we came here.  And Captain Jack, our male decided to skip town.  I guess his name fit.  So we didn't think there would be more babies.   But sometimes the eggs can stay viable for a couple of seasons before they hatch. So.....

Anyway, its too late in the day for any face pics today.  They are already starting to snuggle in for the night.  Baby is staying in a hotel called The Clay Flower Pot on the Front Porch temporarily.  I won't be here tomorrow cuz  I'M GOING TO SEE THE LION KING PLAY!!!!!!    Excuse  me.   I'm terribly excited.

Anyway, the point is, I will try to get some pictures of baby's face Monday.  I usually don't name the babies cause then I get too attached.  They have no handicaps so I like to let them go in the country when they are bigger.  So she will just have to be "Baby".

Elizabeth

Babies are blooming in the Garden

Spring is officially here.  The rains have come and the perennials have risen from their winter sleep.  And Saturday mornings are begun with the buzz of weed eaters in the background.  How I wish someone would design a silent weed eater!  But on a more positive note, yesterday when I was pulling weeds (silently, by hand) from my flower garden, I found a tiny baby box turtle.  She was about the size of a silver dollar and sooo cute!  And yes, she is a she.  Yes, you can tell.  If anyone really wants to know how, you can contact me and I will tell you.

I am sure this tiny garden dweller is the offspring of one of my backyard family members.  Today I will take her out to the country far from busy city streets where she can live a long and happy turtle life.  She could simply live in my backyard with her mama and 2 aunts.  However, although I've taught Lydia that turtles are not balls with legs, I'm not sure this cookie with legs might not be beyond her limits of self control. 

Speaking of garden blooms, I've found the cutest shop on ETSY - WarmandFuzzyBaby.   In her love of a handcrafted life, Hilda has designed these precious baby caps.   They will keep your little one's head warm while expressing the hope of new life.  I can hardly wait for a friend to have a baby so I can buy one.  Just look at these little rose buds.