On My Worktable Today

Kate, Micah, & our duck Gretchen

My daughter has a gift for color.   She has done unusual things with color her whole life.   When she was 7 she used to wear 2 pairs of socks - every day.   If she had on an outfit that was red and black, she would wear a pair of red socks and a pair of black socks.  On one foot, she wore the red sock under the black sock with the red one turned up and the black one folded down.  On the other foot, she would do the opposite. 


I wish I had a photograph to show you.  But in those pre digital days, we didn't take as many photos as we do today.   You'll have to imagine it.  She made this look up herself.   And the funny thing was that after a while all the other little girls started doing it too.  The mothers would tell me they wouldn't wear their socks any other way now.  I was never sure if they were ok with it or if they were frustrated with me for letting Kate do it.

As she grew older she would see colors in objects that I didn't really see.  We had an old, old, think older than that, door from a family home that had been torn down.   As I looked at the door, I saw a dirty yellow door. Kate saw yellow and white and green and even purple in it.  And when she painted anything, those colors would come out and it was beautiful.   She painted some images from the old house.   Here is a photo of the house and one of the paintings.   See the difference?   It isn't that she imagines the colors.  She sees them!

I have often longed for that gift.   But, alas, it is not in my head.  But recently I have been determined to grow in that area.  I cannot create the gift Kate has, but perhaps I can foster the skill.  So, with that in mind, I've been piddling with art in unusual colors.  I have just finished this elephant.   Ellie is tiny - 2.5 x 3.5. Artist Trading Card size.  She was done during a collection of moments when I was caught in a lobby or in the car with nothing to do but wait.   Ellie was created with Derwent Inktense, Prismacolor, & Derwent Sketching pencils on Strathmore mixed media paper.  Working in unusual colors was a challenge for me and definitely stretched my thinking processes.  But I enjoyed it and I am pleased with her.

 

 
Wind and Honey Creations
Creative Pencils - Online Drawing Lessons

Pumpkin, Pumpkin, Whose Got the Pumpkin?

In my last post I bemoaned the late summer temperatures that were keeping the feeling of Autumn at bay.  Since I wrote that post the temperatures have dropped about 30 degrees and we've had nice soft cool rains.  The leaves are beginning to change and the days are quite pleasant.  The cats are enjoying time in the open windows of my studio.

I'm reminded of the hay rides we used to go on as kids.  With these moments and moods in mind I've created two new ACEO (Art Cards) in an Autumn theme.  An ACEO (Art Card) is always 3.5" x 2.5".  It can be made with just about any material you'd like.  I've seen them made in clay, quilted fabric, canvas, paper, and stained glass.  Both of these original cards were created digitally and then hand embellished with a variety of types of colored pencils - oil, wax, and watercolor.  And then they were finished off with a touch of India Ink.  They may both be found in my Etsy shop.  The actual cards do not have a watermark on them.

And now, just for fun, I'd like to share a recipe with you.  This is perfect for a cool Autumn breakfast or a raining afternoon snack.  Here is my own original Creamy Pumpkin Spread recipe.  For my vegan friends, a non dairy cream cheese substitute will work just fine with this.

Creamy Pumpkin Spread

8 ounces of Neufchatel cheese

1/2 Cup pumpkin 

(I used fresh that I had previously cooked.  But canned would work fine.)

4 Tablespoons Agave nectar

1 teaspoon Cinnamon

1/8 teaspoon of each (Ginger, allspice, cloves)

1 teaspoon Vanilla

This creamy spread is wonderful on hot English Muffins or Bagels. I've been wondering how yummy it might be on pancakes!  Ha!  I'll have to try that!

Enjoy!

        

Wind and Honey Creations

Panne Kucken

My husband's grandmother and her 3 sister's were Dutch.  When my husband was very little, they would all sit around and talk about the kids in Dutch.  He said they never knew what was being said but every now and then, they would hear their name.  Sounds unsettling to me.

The four sisters - Ella, Nina, Lola, and Ada made lots of great Dutch food for family dinners.  It was rich and it was fattening.  But it was also tasty.  One of our own family favorites is Panne Kucken.  It is kind of like a cross between a quiche and a pancake and a custard.  And now that you are thoroughly confused, here's the recipe.  Most people prefer it served with maple syrup.  But I like it with powdered sugar.  If you notice, it already has quite enough butter.  There is no need to add it to your toppings.  It is also good served with warm peaches!

PANNE KUCKEN

3 eggs

¼ stick butter

¾ C whole wheat or spelt flour

¾ C milk

¾ t honey

1 ½ t vanilla

Melt ¼ stick butter in cast iron skillet.

Beat 3 eggs and add to flour, milk, honey, and vanilla.

Pour in hot skillet and butter.

Bake at 425 degrees for about 20 min.

ENJOY!

Wind and Honey Creations
Creative Pencils - Online Drawing Lessons

Remembering

This weekend is the Memorial Day holiday in the US.  It is when we remember those that have served our country to keep us free, and especially those that have given everything to keep us free.  My brother and sister's father was one of those people.  He never came home from the Korean war and their lives were never the same.  They had their freedom but they didn't have their daddy.  

I want to take this opportunity to thank those of you that have given of yourselves to serve our country.

One World One Heart

I have chosen to take part in One World One Heart this year.  It is an international blogging event and give away intended to bring bloggers together and make new connections.  The means to accomplish this is the fun of a give away.  As a participant I have chosen the above ACEO card for my give away.  This 2.5" x 3.5" aceo card is a giclee print of a portion of an original collage that I created for a friend.  The aceo card is then embellished with vintage lace and a touch of green bling making it unique.  The card is also backed with mat board for stability so you can display it on a tiny easel.

The drawing will take place on February 15 at 10:00 p.m. Central Time.  The theme this year for One World One Heart is Magic Carpet Ride.  The woman in the card has her hat on and is dressed and ready to go.  To participate comment here and tell me where you think she is going and why.  Use your imagination and let's have fun.  Make it interesting.  Be sure and give me a link or email where I can contact you should you be the winner.  I will place all the names in my heart shaped tin bowl, mix them up, and draw the winner's name.

Have fun!

Melange Challenge

The challenge word this week for the Melange Team is Illuminating. I have chosen this Butterfly ACEO on stretched canvas. It is an abstract pondering the garden view of the butterfly. It may be found in my Etsy shop.

We have been covered with snow for a week at my house. It is unusual for snow to remain more than a couple of days here. So illuminating garden views are a refreshing sight.

Mini Traveling Art Kit

I've always had an interest in compact objects with the potential to hold your entire life in one small package. Even when I was very young I was intrigued with the Dr. Suess character representing the letter spazz in the book On Beyond Zebra. I was into deep literature as a child. The man in the illustration for the letter spaz carried his entire worldly possessions - unbrella, alarm clock, needle and thread, etc. on the curly hooks of the horns of his lanky camel like creature. (I wanted to post a picture here but thought I would probably be breaking copyright law.)

I'm not a terribly impatient person. Well, my husband would probably tell you otherwise. But actually, I can wait if I have something to do in the meantime. With that in mind and with Dr. Seuss as an inspiration, I have created for myself a little mini portfolio. I came up with this idea at about 3:00 a.m. one night. That is when my best ideas come. I will use this hand embellished case to pack art card blanks that can be stored in my purse. Then when I find myself in waiting mode in a doctor's office or before a meeting, I can whip out my art card and use that moment for creativity. The back of the mini portfolio is smooth and automatically becomes a perfect drawing board for my art card. I also have a small vintage children's watercolor tin that holds my basic pencils, erasers, etc. I'm so motivated by my little Suessian style portfolio for art cards, that I'm planning one for journaling supplies and one for collage work. I'll let you know when they are done. I'm sure you can hardly wait!

And then here are some pictures of my studio helpers and inspiration coaches. As you can see, they have a very tough

job.