Autumn Folk Art Scene

The sheep are grazing quietly while the day is colored by the beauty of Autumn. It's cool out so the fire has been lit in the fireplace to ward off the chill. pumpkins are ready for harvesting, and apples await their journey to the root cellar where they will patiently sit until someone has a craving for a crisp, juicy slice with their lunch. The chickens are gleaning a bit of grain kernels that have been harvested already, and the air is still as mother nature holds her breath in anticipation of the upcoming holidays......


A peaceful scene up for your consideration on ebay

North to Alaska......

I just checked the temperature in North Pole, Alaska and it's "1" degree right now. Brrrrrrrr!!!!!!!!! As I sit here in balmy Utah I'm thinking I don't miss those cold temps! I do miss friends, but not the weather.
But, speaking of Alaska, my latest gourd Santa
was created with all my North woods friends in mind. He sports a nice cap with pine cone and needles, and has a pine cone and needle spray on his coat. Brings back many great memories.
The next Santa was created using clay on a piece of driftwood I picked up at Wallowa Lake, Oregon. My first driftwood piece of the season, he is very tall, at 20" and will add a stately spark to your Santa collection. They are both on ebay right now.

A Santa and Keep

I hope you are enjoying this season so far. Halloween is past and it's time to look forward to the next holidays coming up. Since Santa is my specialty you will be seeing him a lot here. This time I've created a Santa over a gourd, but decided to add a special "Keep" to store him and another ornament or two. Perhaps you could give the two as a gift, already "packaged". I hand painted this paper mache box and each piece comes signed and dated. As always, click on the title above to view this listing on ebay. Thanks for stopping by!

Happy Halloween all you ghosties and goblins!

Are you ready for Halloween? We are! Actually this is a photo of my two oldest children and I that was taken when we lived out on the Aleutian Islands off the coast of Alaska. We were having a church party at the house because the weather on Adak was usually very rainy and windy. We had bobbing for apples, donuts tied to strings suspended from the ceiling (you have to try and eat them off the string without touching them), just to name a couple of fun games. And then before everyone left they went "trick or treating" down our hall and into the kitchen and laundry room. Each family had an adult at the door of a room to give away candy. I had so much fun getting ready for this party! Bryans and Stephanies costumes were put together with finds from the thrift store for about $5 total. I made the hat and wig Bryan is wearing from felt, yarn and a silk flower. We took down all the curtains and put up our makeshift haunted house window coverings made from dyed sheets that were ripped and torn. I love being able to do that sort of thing.
Here's hoping you have a very safe and fun day and night!

A little tingle......

As I was sitting sculpting this morning I felt a brief but delightful tingle of excitement run through me at the thought of the upcoming season. I am not rushing to Christmas by any means as I love Autumn and want to fully enjoy this time of year right up until the day after Thanksgiving. But all the jolly fellows I'm working on along with the cooler mornings are lifting my spirits and getting me thinking of how I will decorate this year. I'm not worried about what I'm getting as there's not much I really want anyway except to see my children and grandchildren. But I love to decorate for the holidays and create a feeling of warmth and love and a sense of giving in the spirit of the great gift that has been given to us. My family looks forward to the lights and cozy decor as well, so.....I'm starting to really get excited!

How about you? What do you look forward to this time of year?

Santa stopped by last night....

and he and I shared a plate of pumpkin oatmeal cookies. Yes, we are both cookie-aholics and so we get together often to support each other in our addiction. If you can't beat em join em.
He's off to visit ebay to see who's home he will be at next. If you want him to stop for a stay at your home, look him up.

He is a hand sculpted piece, with clay and paper mache over a tall gourd. A one of a kind signed original, he will delight all who visit your home for years to come.

Frosty friends

There's a chill in the air, and snow is on it's way soon enough. These handsome fellas have dressed for the occasion with their stocking caps, and warm wraps. The first jolly gentleman has a pocket made of clay that I textured to look like waffle weave fabric. His pocket is filled with antique fruits from Blumchens, cinnamon sticks, pipe cleaner candy canes I twisted my self, and glittered "pinion" branches. He is dusted with vintage mica flakes and sparkly teeny tiny glitter. He is a large fellow, standing 12" tall.

The second snowman is the same height, and carries a feather tree from Blumchens, as well as the fruit and leaf embellisments on his hat. He has also been dusted with vintage mica flakes and sparkly glitter. You can click on their photos to find them up for purchase or auction.

SSHHHHHHH.......don't tell Martha but....

I took one of her recipes and fixed it. Here's the deal, I save recipes from magazines in hopes of trying them out someday so I'm trying to see which ones are keepers and which aren't. With high gas prices, and higher grocery costs I'm also trying to use what I have on hand. So here's my version of Martha's Savory Fall Stew from her Original Classics cookbook, and how I fixed some problems I found. I list my ingredients and if different I put her original ingredients in parenthesis.

SAVORY FALL STEW MY WAY
2 T. olive oil 12 oz. hot italian sausage, cut into small chunks
1 med. onion, peeled and chopped ( 12 cipollini or pearl onions, peeled)
1 14.5 oz. can stewed tomatoes (1 1/2 c. canned crushed tomatoes)
5 c. water + 5 tsp chicken bullion (3 c. homemade chicken stock or low sodium canned broth) I found that 3 cups of broth would not give enough liquid for stew
1 handful combined fresh rosemary, thyme, oregano, Or 2 t. dried italian herbs
1 - 1 1/2 lb. butternut squash peeled, seeded and cubed ( 2 1/2 lb butternut squash - too much!)
3 carrots cut into 1/2" pieces
1 medium size zucchini, cubed (3 parsnips, cut into 2" sticks, 1 fennel bulb, halved, cored, cut into 1/4" slices)
2 c. beet greens, chopped (12 brussel sprouts, trimmed, cut in half)
1 1/2 cups macaroni or shell noodles ....my addition for hubby
Salt and pepper to taste

Heat oil in a large soup pot over medium heat. Cook sausage, stirring until it breaks into small pieces and is not longer pink. Remove sausage with slotted spoon, and set aside.
Pour off all but 1 T of fat and discard. Raise heat to medium high, and add the onion; cook stirring, until golden, about 8 minutes. Add tomatoes, broth and herbs, simmer over medium heat until the liquid starts to thicken, about 20 minutes. Add everything else but the beet greens and noodles, cover and simmer until tender, about 10 minutes. Add beet greens and noodles and turn down to medium low. Simmer until noodles are done. Season to taste and serve hot.
Martha claims this will only serve 4 done her way, but this really makes a large pot of soup for about 8 people even without the changes I made due to the amount of squash called for in the original recipe. It's delicious either way I'm sure, serve with home made buttermilk bisquits or cornbread. My husband loves it!

Mother Earth's Folly

From time to time I like to sit and ponder on Autumn and this came to me one cool Fall day in North Pole.

Mother Earth's Folly

As Mother Earth sits waiting....
does she ponder what she's done?
For though summer's greenery once clothed her,
she's finding she now has none.

Mother Earth was tricked you see,
by Autumn's promise of beauty resplendent.
Plying with robes of gold and crimson,
on Earth's vainglory was Autumn dependent.

Only Autumn knew the truth,
of how quickly would her wares.....
fade, fall away and be gone,
leaving Earth cold and stripped bare.

Soon will come Old Man Winter,
with his blankets of soft pure white.
Out of kindness he will clothe her....
having had pity on Mother Earth's plight.

But for now she sits awaiting....
Earth's bareness for all to see.
A lesson there's no mistaking,
of the folly of vanity.

Sheryl Parsons

Taking a break from sculpting....

Sometimes we need to shake things up a bit, and I don't want to lose my painting rhythm, so I took a break last week to do this painting for a competition. It is based on the Book of Mormon scripture Alma 12:15 and is symbolic of the opportunity the Savior gave us to repent and be with him and Heavenly Father some day through his Atonement. This is a 36" by 24" inch acrylic painting, the largest I've ever attempted. I hope it gives you something to think about and look forward to.

Melissa Valeriote: AHAO Alice in Halloweenland Challenge on ebay

Mother's Dream Artworks & Collectibles: Mother's Dream Artworks & Collectibles: AHAO Alice in Halloweenland Challenge on ebay

Mother's Dream Artworks & Collectibles: AHAO Alice in Halloweenland Challenge on ebay

Mother's Dream Artworks & Collectibles: AHAO Alice in Halloweenland Challenge on ebay

AHAO Alice in Halloweenland Challenge on ebay

It's time for all the lovely ghosties and goblins to come out; even Alice is lost in Halloweenland right now. The Cheshire Cat, has dressed in his best costume, and waits for Alice to coming tripping down the path....

AHAO is the premier ornament artisan group on ebay. We are having the most fun challenge titled "Alice in Halloweenland" and so far we have some very fun pieces up for your consideration. So if you are looking for some unique and fabulous pieces to add to your Halloween collection, stop by ebay today.

Oh, and this wicked looking face gazing at you is up for your consideration as well. Click on the title of this post for a look at all we have......

Happy Jack

Happy Jack is really looking forward to Halloween this year. He's already creeped my hubby out so he knows that he will have a ton of fun! I have to hide him until he gets a new home....lol. Find this happy creepy fella by clicking on ETSY .

"FOOD" For thought......

Cooking is a wonderfully creative way to express warmth and love. I've collected a few cookbooks over the years and this recipe comes from PUEBLO INDIAN COOKBOOK, compiled and edited by Phyllis Hughes. As with most recipes I find that I like, I tweak it a bit to suit my families tastes. I hope you take the time to try this as it is delicious!

PUMPKIN SOUP

2 T. butter or olive oil
2 tomatoes, chopped
1 bell pepper, chopped
1 sm. onion, chopped
1 tsp. dried mint, or 2 tsp. fresh, minced
1/2 tsp. each sugar and nutmeg
2 cups cooked peeled pumpkin or butternut squash
2 c. chicken or lamb broth
1 Tbsp. flour 1/2 c. light cream or canned milk
1/4 c. shelled, roasted pinon nuts or pine nuts
1/2 lb. italian sausage, cooked, crumbled and drained (this is my addition as my family likes meat, but the recipe is great without it)

Melt fat in kettle, add tomatoe, green pepper, onion, seasonings and saute 5 minutes. Add pumpkin, broth and meat if using. Stir until blended and simmer 20 minutes. Mix flour and cream or canned milk to a smooth paste, stir into soup. Salt to taste, heat to boiling and simmer 3 minutes. Serve hot, with toasted pinon nuts or pine nuts sprinkled over. Servings 4-6.

Now I'm off to tackle a mountain of ornaments for an order....have a great day!

Punkin Chunkin? Who woulda thought?????

The History of Punkin Chunkin

Depending on what legend you are listening to, the beginning of Punkin Chunkin varies. This is the one believed to be the closest to the truth. Only the men present in the Blacksmith’s Shop really know the true beginning.

It began in 1986 as a group of men sat in a local blacksmith shop arguing over who could throw an anvil farthest. Someone heard some local college students were throwing pumpkins by hand to raise funds for their school. The group embellished that event. Anvils turned to pumpkins and Punkin' Chunkin' was born.

In November of that year, Bill Thompson, Trey Melson, John Ellsworth and the Burton brothers, Chuck & Darryl, met on Thompson’s farm, outside Milton, Delaware, with their inventions. Ellsworth’s chunker was a combination of ropes, tubes and pulleys, while Melson and Thompson’s chunker was various garage doors springs connected to a car frame. The Burtons machine was a wooden pole mounted on a trailer, powered by auto springs. One of the spectators, Larry McLaughlin, maintenance supervisor in a local town, was seen hanging from one of the poles that day and local punkin chunkin rumors were that he was caught up in the action and was attempting to throw a pumpkin by hand. He tossed it 50 feet. By the end of the day, Thompson and Melson were the victors with a throw of 128’ 2”.

Three teams competed that first year, where only a handful of onlookers watched. But since then, the event evolved from human chunkin' into oversized slingshots, venerated catapults and air cannons with names such as Bad to the Bone, The Terminator, Mellow Yellow, Poor & Hungry and The Aludium Q36 Pumpkin Modulator (named after a weapon used by Marvin the Martian, the pint-sized, high-strung alien from the Warner Brothers cartoon).

Last year, thousands and thousands of teams competed across the continent. Several corporations are entering teams and competing against other companies. The growing popularity of Punkin' Chunkin' has spilled into schools around the world. Many teams from local High Schools and colleges compete as part of their physics and science projects. Even families, Scout Troops, and Youth Organizations are now vying for the coveted first place spot and bragging rights.

Gee, I would have never thought about this!

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow.......

Okay, I know it's a bit early for snow, especially since the leaves are just now starting to turn here, but this frosty fella couldn't wait to be introduced. He's all buttoned up and snuggly in his fur ruff and cap, and is patiently waiting the first sign of snow. He reminds me of fun times in North Pole, Alaska when we would go out cross country skiing, or out to find wood and then come home to a cup of hot cider or cocoa. This cheerful guy can be found on ebay by clicking on the title of this post. Thanks for stopping by and stay tuned for exciting changes on AHAO.

A special gift....

Okay, here I am putting up Christmas before Thanksgiving is here, but you know, getting a jump on the season so you can actually take time to enjoy it is never a bad idea. These adorable creations are hand sculpted ornaments with an added twist. They are also small gift boxes that will hold a special surprise for your cherished someone. They are perfect for a special ring, or other small piece of jewelry. The bear will hang on the tree as well, so he is a perfect collectible ornament for the bear lover. See these by going to my website. Just click on the title of this post, and whalaaa!

Did you see snow lately?

I've heard that it's snowing out there somewhere and .....oh look! Santa has a light dusting on his robe! This handsome fella was created over a tall gourd using paperclay. I hand shaped and designed each snowflake and he has been hand painted. He is dusted with a bit of reindeer magic dust, so he sparkles. This Santa is 14" tall and can be found on ebay .

BWAAA-HAAA-HAAAA........

Go on..... stick your hand in the bowl for some candy.....I dare you........

He he....... Angus is ready, along with his little friend, to surprise you on Halloween night.....so stop on by and grab a hand full of candy..... if you dare..... happy trick or treating...... you can find Angus on ebay right now by clicking on the title to this post. A big thanks goes out to  Linda of Gourdqueen originals who got me into sculpting on gourds. She has been a big influence in what I create and invited me to be a part of AHQU. AHQU is a group of Halloween artists on ebay and they are quite a talented gathering of folks. 

Well....off to Facebook to see who's lurking around....

Labor Day Road Trip Art

Off to Oregon we were, to see how the house was coming and get the place squared away for winter. With the price of gas my husband is trying to beat the system by slowing down to 60 mph, which really does save us money. So it takes us 12 hours to get where we need to go. It gives me plenty of time to work on my designs for sculpting and to get a pencil drawing done. So here is the result. Can't you just taste the mellow sweet juiciness of the apples and the tart sweetness of the plums? Ahhhh, I love this time of year! Now off to put into reality the designs I came up with........

My! What big eyes you have.....

 .......and those teeth! Isn't he the cutest little jack o' lantern? Halloween creating is a new venture for me and it's been so much fun. This little fella was inspired by a vintage candy holder. I created him using paper clay on an egg shaped gourd so that his eyes and teeth would stand out. I added a star at his base to incorporate the star icon that is our shape of choice this year with AHAO. I also added a hat to dress him up a bit and gave him a bit of shiny black garland as a neck wrap. He's up for grabs right now on ETSY. Thanks to Suzanne, our tireless leader of AHAO I now have my own shop started on ETSY and am excited about the possibilities. 

As an added note, I get to stay home and watch my adorable grandson so that will give me more time to work on my creations. I'm so happy about that, and can't wait to get going...so I'd better go for now. Have a wonderful day!

Alice in Halloweenland Challenge for AHAO on ebay

 TRICK OR TREAT JINGLE BOO SANTA. Who would have thought that Santa would go trick or treating, but why not as he does have a sweet tooth! The elves "belled" Santa so they didn't lose him in the night....lol... so he is ready to see what sort of treats he can find. Oh...look! He's already found some candy corn so he's off to a good start. Happy trick or treating Santa! 

This jolly Santa was created as a prize for our "Alice in Halloweenland" challenge coming up this Fall for AHAO, the one and only premier ornament group on ebay. If you do a search for AHAO on ebay you will find the best in hand created ornaments and shelf sitters. Our artisans are juried into the group and we strive to have the most inventive and imaginative creators with us. I have to tell you that my association with these wonderful folks has helped me tremendously in improving my skills as an artist. The sharing and caring shows up in the type of work you'll find from our group. We hail from all over the USA as well as Canada to bring together a diverse gathering of talent. So if you're looking for a bit of eye candy, stop on by ebay and search AHAO. Oh, and if you are wondering what AHAO stands for, it's American Holiday Artists Ornaments. Creations to be enjoyed year round. Hope to see you around........

There's a new Santa in town....

Well actually there are several new Santas in town..... I had a group of friends in Oregon that wanted to make Santa ornaments for their family members for Christmas so these are what they came up with. I'm so proud of how they did and they are just tickled. Here's a photo of their pre-painted pieces:

The creator of this ornament also created a much bigger Santa which is shown below:

I also have a photo of a grandmother and her 2 granddaughters: 

All three of them did great, but I was especially impressed with the girls. They were so particular about the work they did, and their ornaments turned out fabulously!

All in all it was a very fun adventure, and because we took 3 days to complete these pieces I got help from some of the ladies with painting my house so it was a win win for all! I'm so grateful that I'm a part of AHAO as I was able to teach myself through the resources shared by others in our wonderful ornament group on ebay.

Here's some pieces I sold recently as well:

Here's the 3 I like best.

I will be posting some photos of Halloween creations I've created so check back soon.

A tribute to Ginger........

Okay....this is very hard for me as I look at Ginger's photo and know she is no longer here on earth. Yes I know that she is in a better place with family that have gone on before, but we still miss her and mourn her tragedy. In June her ex husband brutally murdered her and then shot himself. He is still alive........

Why am I sharing this you wonder. Well, I've neglected my blog because of her death because I haven't been able to wrap my mind around a way to honor her memory. Ginger was a very interesting woman, not afraid to try new things. She worked on the Alaska pipeline driving truck, she and her first husband built a gorgeous log home, with stained glass windows that she created at a shop she owned in Fairbanks. She adopted 3 children from Columbia and did her best to raise them. She became a well known real estate agent when she moved to California after her divorce. Everything she tried she made good money at. But unfortunately, like so many women, she fell for a man who was not only abusive, he cheated on her, solicited prostitutes and then threatened to kill her when she had had enough. Well he followed through on his threat and so we are without Ginger here. 

Domestic violence is an ugly part of many peoples lives we need to put a stop to it once and for all.  Don't take it for granted that an abuse victim has the strength to get out. Having lived through listening to mom get beaten night after night I wondered why she put up with it, until I was married and my ex hit me. There is a devastating feeling when the one person who is supposed to love and protect you, hits you and blames you for their anger. It can totally strip you of your ability to think and act rationally. So if you know someone who is in an abusive situation, contact the authorities and the local women's shelter and get educated on how to help. This sort of thing should never happen, but it does. Educate yourself and then your youth about what to avoid in relationships and how to tell if someone is a potential abuser. Be pro-active in helping promote healthy relationships, and one thing to think about, teach your sons and daughters to respect themselves enough to wait for marriage before physical intimacy. Teach your daughters and sons to always have a plan when dating, and a set time to be home. Help them stay out of trouble and avoid those who won't and don't show respect for them. 

For anyone on the dating scene, really check out the person you are dating and if they've been married before, make sure you know the truth about why they are divorced. A lot of pain and suffering can be avoided this way. As for Ginger, my way to honor her will be to work with the local high schools to educate the youth on how to stay out of abusive relationships. I want to see if laws can be changed to better protect victims. If you are in an abusive relationship, please get help. As a former child of a woman who was brutally beaten time and time again, don't put your children through that. Get far far away and get help to get your abuser put behind bars.I've posted a link to go to to find out more about what to look for and how to get help.  May the Lord bless you with the strength you need to do the right thing.............

Walking Away From the World

You may be wondering what these images have to do with my thoughts today, or maybe not....lol...but hopefully I can tie this all in.

My struggle to juggle all the responsibilities I've taken on has continued, and I find myself missing opportunities to reach out to my children and other family members, because I've filled my life with too many things. From city council to all the artistic groups I belong to on ebay, plus having a buyer for my ornaments in Houston, and my new calling as Young Women president at church, oh, and the job, I have so little time to even think these days, that I'm getting worn out. I was lamenting my plight to my husband last night to which his response was to just listen. I fell asleep thinking and stressing about all this and praying that the Lord would help me know what I should walk away from.

This morning as my husband was eating his breakfast I noticed an article in the LDS church news that he was reading by Sheri Dew titled "Influence for Good" - 'Lord's Secret weapon'....'Let us be the generation of women that finally walks away from the world'. She talks about the five principles about influence we need to understand, Quote" First, we all have more influence than we think; second, righteous influence is a spiritual gift; third, having influence is not about elevating self but about lifting others; fourth, it isn't possible NOT to have influence; and fifth, women of God have influence that has no limit and no end." close quote. So as I go throughout my day today, and figure out how to best re-organize my life to be in keeping with what the Lord would want from me I will remember these five principles.

One other very important point she brought up that caught my eye and I want to share, and I will shorten this for today is that we should conciously ask ourselves in everyday situations, "Why has the Lord brought me here today?" and then look for ways to build up people and the kingdom of God. It means asking the Lord what He needs me to do rather than feverishly working down my list of To-Do's that may or may not have lasting significance.

So as I go through my day today, these will be my guiding principles and thoughts. I hope by sharing this you too, can find some good in what she said. We as women are here to build a better world and I know that by following certain principles we can have a lasting influence for change.... have a great day.....

He Is Risen!

He is risen! He is risen!

Tell it out with joyful voice.

He has burst his three day prison;

Let the whole wide world rejoice.

Death is conquered, man is free.

Christ has won the victory.

Come with high and holy hymning;

Chant our Lord's triumphant lay.

Not one dark-some cloud is dimming...

Yonder glorious morning ray,

Breaking o'er the purple east,

Symbol of our Easter feast.

He is risen! He is risen!

He hath opened heaven's gate.

We are free from sin's dark prison,

Risen to a holier state.

And a brighter Easter beam

On our longing eyes shall stream.

Mark 16:6-7: Mosiah 16:7-9

A special Easter wish for all of you this season. Let us remember the one who made it possible for us to return home to our Father in Heaven some day. This is a time to rejoice and know that we are all loved by the Savior and our Heavenly Father. The Savior sacrificed his life for us, that we, if we choose to follow his commandments, can have eternal life. So as we prepare to celebrate Easter, please find a way to share the true gift of this season.

Of Bunnies and Babies and things

Bunnies and babies....what do they have in common? They're sweet, soft, cuddly, and loveable! Around here we have have all sorts of new life popping up! From hand sculpted bunnies and other Easter creations, to daffodils, herbs and baby animals. This is a wonderful time of year. A time to greet new life, a time to start fresh, a time to get out and enjoy the warmer weather....well at least some days :-). I am starting to pop our bedroom window open a tad so we can have fresh, cool air at night. I certainly sleep better and the room smells so nice in the morning.At work we can tell Spring is almost here as the students are getting antsy, and if there's sunshine they quickly shed their coats as soon as they hit the playground. There's lots of tag games, and soccer, and basketball and they run, run, run as if they've been cooped up for years. It's fun to watch them as they exercise their imagination.Up above you see a sneak preview of my newest sculpting creation. He will be up for bidding on ebay starting on Monday the 1oth of March so check him out please. You also see my one and only grandson, who loves to be in front of the camera. When I saw these ears at the store I couldn't resist and doesn't he look absolutely adorable? He's crawling and terrorizing the house now but I'm so glad he's here! And yes, he is a very happy baby most of the time.Hope you are having a wonderful weekend, and come back soon.....

Priorities and Art

David O. McKay once said that no success can compensate for failure in the home. I was reminded of that as I read a post on a discussion by a young mom who was lamenting the lack of time she had to work on her crafts because her 3 year old got into everything when she wasn't looking. She has elderly family members living with her that are invalid, she has young children, and a working husband.
As I ponder her situation I think back to my children and their toddler days and am so glad I was home with them when they were young. Do I regret not spending a lot of time with my art back then? No way! I had opportunities to share my talents by creating illustrations for programs and Cantatas we performed at church. I created a logo for a famous dog musher, and did other such illustrations that I never got recongnized for in a big way. Does that matter? I had great fun taking old jeans and turning them into the most adorable overalls for my son. I loved making all sorts of clothes, toys and household items such as curtains and so on, knowing that we saved so much by my doing that. It was great fun to go shopping at thrift stores and find like new clothes at really great prices. I loved raising a garden, and the chats my youngest daughter and I had as we chopped veggies for canning. Of course my children thought I was torturing them when they had to go weed, but now they appreciate the fresh food we had.
Now, when we get together for turkey dinner, the children can share their experiences with our "free range" chickens and turkeys. Like the time a state trooper friend came over to rescue me, a soon to be single mom. He brought his young son to help get our 30 chickens ready for the freezer, so while he chopped heads and gutted, and I peeled and cleaned (no way was I going to pluck!), the kids ran through the woods with a butterfly net capturing the runaway hens. Or the time we looked out the window to see a friend who had rode over on his bike, surrounded by chickens there to greet him, or the time a girlfriend and I took off jogging only to turn around and see a flock of chickens following us down the driveway.
Our lives should be intertwined with the people we know and love, as they are the only thing we will have with us in the eternities. No public recognition, no fame or fortune will follow us as we move into the next life, but how we loved, and who we loved, will be our shining glory. So as I take each day, and the little challenges that come, like a half a bottle of detergent spilling on the carpet, oh yes, that just happened and I'm letting towel soak it up....lol... I take a step back and remember that time is what you make of it, and if I don't get to make that wonderful painting, or start on that sculpt I've been trying to get to, it can wait until tomorrow. And if tomorrow brings a sick friend, or broken heart that needs cheering my way, well, that is my creative muse for the day.

Calling all AHAO STARS Valentine Challenge

Just a quick note before I dash off to work to tell you about our AHAO Star Valentine Challenge. We have so many talented creators in our group, with such a diverse approach to creativity that we wanted to give a challenge that perhaps would catch a spark in all our artisans creative fire. So rather than be too specific we are challenging all who want to, to come up with a Valentines ornament that has a star somewhere in the design. There are those who can do cross-over pieces with such flare, that though say, they mostly do Halloween creations, they know how to tie that into say Christmas or Easter and so on, so it will be fun to see what happens. To see all the niffty and just way too cool art from our group just go to ebay and search AHAO. All the challenge pieces are due to be posted on the 3rd of Feb so stop on by.

My First Large Gourd Santa

I finally took the leap and sculpted my first large gourd Santa. When I found this gourd at a yard sale last summer I immediately started thinking blue, and snowflakes. So while all was quiet after Christmas I sat down and went to town. Each snowflake was handcrafted except for the handpainted ones. I really had fun making this fellow and I hope you enjoy him too.