What Is Your Perspective?

This post from November 2010 has been a favorite.  I'd like to share it with you here again.  I've come to the conclusion that our outlook on life can be determined by how we look at a tree - or maybe how we don't look.  Have you stopped to look around at the trees and the changing colors?  Have you taken a moment to notice them?  Because they will only be there for just about that moment.  Soon all the leaves will be on the ground and the beauty will have changed. 

The tree above is outside of my studio, and this is how most people would see it.  But if you look more closely you will see it something like this.

But I am convinced that the only way to truly appreciate a tree, the only way to truly experience it is to see it like a child.  So first one has to lie down under the trees in the grass.  One has to experience the crunch of the already fallen leaves on the grass.  

And then the magical moment is when you turn your face up and look straight up into the tree thus getting the perspective of a child.  I'm convinced that trees truly love children and children love trees. There is a love affair that goes on between them that gets lost somewhere in those teen years.  So I dare you today to go outside and find one tree to look at with the perspective of a child.  It just might change your day.

Wind and Honey Creations
Creative Pencils - Online Drawing Lessons

Wordless Wednesday

Wind and Honey Creations

This Blizzard Didn't Come From The Dairy Queen!

As we have been in the midst of a blizzard at my house this week with temps around 5 degrees and a wind chill of -21, here are some photos from my porch.

A Garden Princess sculpted by my daughter.  She has chosen to embrace the weather by draping herself in snow.

This is the snowdrift against my front door!

Wind and Honey Creations

What Is Your Perspective?

I've come to the conclusion that our outlook on life can be determined by how we look at a tree - or maybe how we don't look.  Have you stopped to look around at the trees and the changing colors?  Have you taken a moment to notice them?  Because they will only be there for just about that moment.  Soon all the leaves will be on the ground and the beauty will have changed. 

The tree above is outside of my studio, and this is how most people would see it.  But if you look more closely you will see it something like this.

But I am convinced that the only way to truly appreciate a tree, the only way to truly experience it is to see it like a child.  So first one has to lie down under the trees in the grass.  One has to experience the crunch of the already fallen leaves on the grass.  

And then the magical moment is when you turn your face up and look straight up into the tree thus getting the perspective of a child.  I'm convinced that trees truly love children and children love trees. There is a love affair that goes on between them that gets lost somewhere in those teen years.  So I dare you today to go outside and find one tree to look at with the perspective of a child.  It just might change your day.

Wind and Honey Creations
Creative Pencils - Online Drawing Lessons

A Moose, a Mountain, and a Garden Fairy

Yesterday hubby and I took a day off for a trip exploring the Wichita Mountains.  I know, I know, I know.  If you are from just about anywhere but here, you would not consider these "hills" to be mountains.  But technically they are.  Maybe just barely, but yes, they are mountains.  

I bring this up because I wanted to show you this wonderful moose.  

This is probably the biggest moose you'll see.  I would guess that he was about 15 feet tall.   I thought he was so fun with his crooked legs and wide antlers.  I have a friend from Canada that makes handmade paper using real moose droppings.  Hmmm.   Her name is LizAnnaOnTheLakes.  You might want to check out the beautiful handmade papers in her shop.  I bet this guy would create shiny metalic papers.  

Here is my entry for this week's Collage Play with Crowabout.   Butterfly Fairy is an original collage created digitally.  It brings summer right into your home.  You may purchase it in my etsy shop in 3.5 x 2.5" ACEO size ready to be framed or displayed creatively.

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.

Childish Dreams

This is my newest mixed media collage art. It is the first in a slightly different direction for me and also the first piece I have created as a direct result of my new venture into art journaling. It is a very personal statement on many levels.

The screen door started as a digital image then was embellished with paint. This quaint screen door actually lives propped between 2 trees just like this in the backyard of some artsy friends of ours. The 2 quotes are Dream the dreams of a child and There lies within each of us the potential to be more. The little girl was painted with acrylic gouache and the rest is probably self explanatory.

Although I started this piece a while back, it fits in with this week's Melange challenge 'gateway'. I hope you enjoy it.

SALE, SALE, SALE

The ETSY street team "Melange" is having a WEEKEND DEAL of 15% off many things in their shops, excluding shipping. Melange is a group of Mixed Media Artists, many of whom have been published. Each shop may also have additional sales of their own. The following is a list of active, Melange members who are participating in the WEEKEND DEAL from August 7th, through the 9th.

After the item is purchased and paid for, a refund will be issued for the total discount via Pay Pal or other methods in which the payment was made. It is currently not possible to make the adjustments at payment time.

Every shop has their own set of policies in place, so please make yourself familiar with each new shop.

In my shop you will want to look at the 'ON SALE' section that will be to the right of your screen. Everything in the 'ON SALE' section will be 15% off of the price you see listed. This is a great opportunity to start your Christmas shopping early.

We hope you enjoy "Melange" as much we do!

WindandHoney.etsy.com
MaureenTillman.etsy.com
twocooltexans.etsy.com
vanessevaDesigns.etsy.com
Vintagesnapsandscrap.etsy.com
FauveBohemian.etsy.com
Collageartgirl.etsy.com

prettylittlependant.etsy.com
Whyte.etsy.com
Artsnark.etsy.com
Studio27.etsy.com
LDPhotography.etsy.com
MidwestieLady.etsy.com
Loudlife.etsy.com
Paperdreamer.etsy.com
Thebagladysart.etsy.com
Mamapainter.etsy.com

And now for your visual pleasure, here are some photos of my garden

.

Monday's Potpourri

And for today's Monday's Potpourri, I'd like to introduce GardenDelightsArts. Heidi is a new friend of mine who rescues and raises swallowtail and monarch butterflies. When they are ready, she then releases them to live and fly in freedom. That truly is a garden delight! Heidi is a photographer and a mixed media artists. She also teaches art classes. And I'm delighted to have just discovered that Heidi has box turtles! If you've read my blog before, you know how I love turtles. Here are some of the earrings Heidi makes in her etsy shop. They look like real butterfly wings. But you will be glad to know that no butterfly has been harmed. These are made through a special process that began with a photograph. You'll want to look at the rest of Heidi's shop. There are many fun things there.

butterfly earrings

Next in today's potpourri is a fish shaped cat bed by natdesigns2003. This is one of the funniest things I've seen. This wide mouth fish serves as a snuggly bed as well as a place for playing hide and seek for you favorite feline. It works kind of like the old fashioned brown paper sack. But oh so much cuter! natdesign also designs and makes clothing for dolls and for people.

fish bed

And finally, these embroidered pin cushions by manitobagifts. The pin cushions are so pretty, they will inspire you to sew. They are actually pretty enough to have sitting around even if you never put a pin or needle into them. They would make lovely gifts. Debra has many other items in her shop that are hand crafted and embellished with her hand embroidery or applique work.

pin cushion

http://www.windandhoneycreations.com

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

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.