| av·a·tar |
(plural av·a·tars)
| 2. | embodiment of something: somebody who embodies an idea or concept |
The other day I just wanted to paint, just paint, no book pages, no collage, no mess, just paint. (I am shocked too) I figured "Bee Spotting" is bee-coming so much fun, it needed it's own avatar. I think this will do, my little honey spotted itself!
I did this on a fun chunky 6x6" canvas and plan to use it for some surprises in the future.
... to the winner of the quilt give away at Old Red Barn Company. Boo hoo, it was not me. Visit the web log anyway. It is a real trip! While there, you absolutely, positively must read Your weekly moment with Sven, it is a total gas!
...to post this quick because more thunder and lightening is on its way!
A cute little 4x4 with more of the fun vintage Toy Maker book pages for the background. Sealed in beeswax.
Where to bee-gin?
Immediately in my last Bee Spotting post, Laurel Englehardt posted "For the Bee Lovers" bee for me. It is important for me to include at least one actual photo each week, and this handsome worker is truly bee-loved.
Soon after the amazing m. heart emailed me information on a brilliant project named The Urban Forest Project that took place in NYC.
"Last fall The Urban Forest Project, an unprecedented outdoor exhibition, took root in New York City. One hundred eighty-five of some of the world’s most celebrated designers and artists employed the idea or form of the tree to make a powerful visual statement on banners that were displayed throughout Times Square."
There she spotted this
By Amabel Caba and Carrie Brunk
"The theme "Create a Buzz" stemmed from the comparison of bees and beehives to people in New York City. People in urban environments are constantly on the move, creating an energy that allows the city to thrive and grow, similar to the way bees are constantly working together to maintain their hive."
Thanks again m.
~*~Patty from Magpie's Nest is having fun with her bee's and teaching us other languages as she buzzes along. She has shared this from her * Bee * Biene * Abeille * Abeja * Pszczola * post. An added note from myself here, “bee” in Czech is včelička!
I love all her bee affirmations around the border
While scoping out the quilt give away at Old Red Barn Company, I found a great post by Dana on making your own bees wax.
Then there is Leah! Leah at Creative Every Day that is. Tempting me with bee jewelry all the time, hmmm wonder what her jewelry box looks like. Now that would be a fun topic. First Leah sent me this super cool necklace from Polarity at Etsy. It is a magnetic locket. She also has another Etsy shop named "Uncorked" where you will find some fun cork jewelry.
Leah also spotted this necklace at luxedeluxe on Etsy
I spotted this "Enough" IF post from Monica at Pickadoo Design .I love the colors in this, so pretty!
Pattie Mosca, From the Inside Out who is such an inspiration sent me this yin/yang affirmation of which you can read about on one of her other blogs named Artfully Yours. She thought of me due to her 2nd to the last line.
"For in the yin and yang of life...
there is no apparent reason for the bee to fly and yet he does!"
Lastly one more glimpse of what came in the mail yesterday! My "Las Abejas de Miel" print from Lisa Riva's Etsy shop, appropriately named Lisa's Etsy shop or check her out at Flying Colors. It is really bee-utiful, I love it!
I think that wraps it up, Thank you to all who I spotted either by myself or with my wonderful worker bee's. Hey, we really can't do it alone and have as much fun as we can as a swarm! Seriously how many times can you think of when the word "bee" could be replaced with the word "artist".
Please share those bees by placing a comment here there, everywhere or by emailing me directly.
...Vern Mercado from Vernscartoons saw my "Enough" art from Illustration Friday . He asked if I had heard of "Beach Blanket Babylon" a San Francisco theater show that had great hats like mine. Hmmm, I checked it out and was floored when I saw these hats! Please go and visit the hat gallery. Thanks again Vern...I think...maybe now my hat is not "enough". Back to the drawing paper!
A bit of synchronicity this week with Inspire Me Thursday and the theme of "polka dots". Yesterday my daughter's friend Grace was having her 5th birthday party and the invitation said to wear your favorite polka dots. My friend Sandy, Gracie's mom, is getting more creative by the minute and a few short years ago she said she could not draw a straight line with a ruler. That still may be the case but she sure can throw a creative polka dot party!
I had to make something for Grace, I usually do in addition to a more memorable purchased gift. "G" is for polka dot, did you know that. Ok, it is for Grace and this is the little initial I whipped up only hours before the party. It has a "sparkle" top coat on it, all 5 years girls can never have too much sparkle!
Here are some glimpses of the party. Grace, can you identify where all the polka dots came from?
I do beelieve Sandy has a knack now for creative party throwing. When we arrived the girls found paint and their initial on a table to decorate with none other than...polka dots.
Busy Bees swarming to a flower, yikes. Are you seeing spots yet?
Finally to sweet Gracie, May all your birthday wishes come true! Happy Birthday Honey!
I have always wanted my very own penguin, now I have one. "Spike" is my new pet. (can you beelieve they did not have a bee, the nerve)
When you visit be sure to feed him, he will be hangin' out on the left. Thanks!
This week's theme challenge for Illustration Friday is "Enough". So I decided to actually illustrate my version of "enough". However, when is "enough"...enough?
Where I live it is summer but it is not "really" summer until the track opens at Saratoga. The official race season begins this Wednesday. The foo-foos ,fa-fa-las, and the Mowreys all migrate to Saratoga like they might have back in the Victorian days. There is a tradition of donning your most unique hat, the "Hats Off To Saratoga Festival" will be held next weekend so I decided to design my hat.
Do you think it is ENOUGH?
Can you guess what the "bee in MY bonnet is??? Seriously, when is there ever such thing as "ENOUGH" shopping.
"Bee in my Bonnet" is an inspiration I finally drew based on a convo I had with soul-bee, Bee who is freezing down under in Australia right now. Hey Bee, how cold is it there? We could use some cool thoughts up here where it hit 95F today! Look forward for a weather report, even if it is a bit of a "late fog". hee hee
A visual ditty and lesson from our "looking for treasures" outing yesterday.
The sun
The island
The kids (pirates)
The moms
The approach
The search
Not a pirate parrot
Definitely not a bee!
The Lesson:
We went to look for material treasures and did not find any.
We found beautiful unexpected treasures.
Next time we will not go to "look"...
...We will go to "FIND THE BOOTY"...ARGH!
...would probably melt today! The forecast says a high of 87 so I need to post quick. Headed out to a secret private island today for some pirate treasure hunting. This stems from our find on July 4th. My friend Deb and I are taking our kids for some digging, except Deb just had her nails done so I will assist with the dirty work. So 2 moms, 2 kids, 1boat, 1 island and tons of sun today, whew!
This piece is just a little 4x4 I created that was inspired by a vintage toy-maker booklet I found, actually it does tie in a bit to what I said above because to me a great old book is the sort of item I treasure.
It is coated in bee's wax!
