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

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.

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