Beelieve

Small tokens, big appreciation

These 3 little Scrabble tile necklaces were created as gifts for a friend to give as teacher appreciation gifts.  They will go to Pre-K teachers as a small token of gratitude for all they do to start such young children out on their education journey.  The colors are of course much more vibrant than my computer scanning skills.  Words I chose are meant for those around, including the children to ask what it means and what it may mean to them. 

"Wish and see" - What child or adult does not have wishes?  large or small if we believe in it, our wishes will come true.  The person who wears this will do so knowing she is inspiring to minds young and old.

"Listen with care"-  The message the wearer of this is sending is that listening is the foundation of all learning.  To teach young and old to listen, pay attention, and even when there are no sounds at all there may be a message coming to them.

"Follow my Leader" -  Based on "follow the leader", a simple child's game.  There is a heart on this one, and the wearer does what she does because she lets her heart lead her.  I hope she inspires others to do the same, especially when shaping the minds of our children.

All of these are brought to you today by the letter "A", and intentionally created on the letter "A".  I have done so because if we were to grade the teachers of minds this young, the 3 they are intended for would get straight A's

VENUS...drawing

mixed media monday-pens & pencils

Whew, is it hot in here or is it just me?  the goddess asks.

Did you ever really wonder who created one of the most popular statues, Venus de Milo?  

Move forward a few hundred years and discover the truth.  Venus has re-invented herself.  To really get the total effect you might want to go left to my playlist and find "Glory Box" by Portishead or "Venus" by Bananarama.  (they are both near the bottom, click any song then scroll down to find it baby).

This all just happened while searching for pencils to create this week's theme with.  I found a treasured box my grandpa gave me decades ago.  Box obsessed, I saved it and used the pencils sparingly.  Venus needed to be free to create herself, so I let her.

I scanned and printed the box image on canvas meant for the printer.  This will not get boring, trust me.

Next I used this great picture of me my husband took as he was nagging me to put my pencil down!

 

HA

It is actually an image from Artchix that I used.  The pencil is from the box, I scanned, cropped, pasted.  The two collided like pieces of a puzzle.  Next it took shape on an old, odd spool? I had been saving for a special project.

Then I did break one of the old pencils, actually I bit it in half.  Do I still have your attention?  Good...it gets better. 

The flowers and embellishments are all from shavings of this pencil.  As I was gently lying them where I wanted, there was this sudden, delicious aroma of cedar.  The wood...dark, the scent... unforgettable. Now go mis-bee-have* for a while.  Quit reading. Bee the goddess you are or grab the goddess you are with.

*Bee-have is a word that I am using today in honor of Leah @ Creative Every Day

Worry-Illustration Friday for 5/23

Let it Slide

 

This will be my first time submitting to Illustration Friday .  I had been hoping to do one soon and  now was great but they listed the challenge topic as "worry".  Ok, this was about to become a worry for me since I don't "do worry".  That is it, I DO NOT "DO WORRY".  To those who know me, have you heard this before?  "I am just tossing that one out there and letting it figure itself out."   Since  I had so much fun with the IMT this week of whimsy, the rest of it just came to mind instantly.  Lauren asked me why "she" is throwing the cute toy out.  (Some how Lauren believes this little girl is her)  I told her it was the "worry wart" trying to take over her imagination and "the little girl in the picture" needed to get rid of it so she could be happy.  Yeah, explain worry to a 5 year old with no worries, when you do not even want her to know that worry exists.

Happy Birthday Mom

Today is my mom's birthday, bet ya thought I would be saying "Happy Bee-day".  Guess I just did.  Actually Happy Bird-day mom.

This is your card, which you do not have yet because I can not figure out that holiday weekends throw off the postal delivery every year.  So thought you could have it this way today and soon at home.

Now for the good stuff...

Mom, there are several things I remember you saying, repeatedly, growing up.  One being "Since you are not decorative, go be creative"  Maybe you were really saying, get out of my hair.  Or maybe you did not want to have to dust us if we sat too long doing nothing.  In any case, it worked.  Here I am and "you started it!!!!!!!!"

Reflection on growing up creatively:

I remember big boxes of fabric to play with.  To create with.  My sister and I were cursed  blessed with matching homemade clothing.  Especially for special occasions.  My mom's art talent lies in the needle and thread.  She has gone from matching outfits to amazing quilts. She could also knit up a sweater with "Snoopy" on the back in no time.  Knitting she did everywhere, in the car, in waiting rooms, anywhere in everywhere.  Probably because she could not fit her sewing machine in her knitting bag.  There were countless hand made bunny slippers hopping through our house as well.   We did endless craft projects, made all our own Halloween costumes, and if it was our birthday the cake was the art-piece of the day! She guided us and provided endless supplies which  prevented us from every being too decorative....unless of course we were wearing our latest creation!  Would anyone want a good recipe for mushed berry dye, I made some unintentionally in the back yard.  Think I could remember it if you want, it is really good and does not wash out of anything, especially hand made clothing.

Today's small hand, tomorrow's hero

Happy Memorial Day

This wonderful work of art came home from Pre-K the other day.   It made me think, a lot.  Lauren, only 5, does not even have any concept of what we are observing this weekend, yet she holds America in her small hand.  Memorial day has become a day of rememberance for any of those who have left us, but more importantly it is a day to remember those who fought for our freedom.  Those hands were once this small, someone's child...now a hero.  We need to stop carrying on about what is going on in the world today, and appreciate what we do have.  Those we remember today had it a lot tougher, I imagine.  There is one difference.  There was pride by them for their our country... and now by us, for them.  So, should we think about this small hand for a moment, are you raising your own with a sense of pride and respect?  After all they are tomorrow's hero's!

To all those who have died fighting, and those still with us...  We Salute YOU!

Beecause I said so!!!

For all the moms out there, enjoy!

.... for those (and you know, that I know, that you know, who you are) 1.To hear this well go left to my music and hit the little button that looks like ll to turn off the playlist

2.then press the big triangle button in the middle of the tv looking thingy above.

Whimsy-Inspire Me Thursday 5/22/08

Dream Big

I think most artists out there have been whimsical at some point or another.  I have several items I could post for whimsy, this week's dose of inspiration on IMT, but chose to do a new one based on a sketch in my sketch book of a bird looking at an airplane and dreaming.   The above is a scan since it was evening and I could not get a great photo, either color was off or there was that "flash shine" due to the top coat.  The colors are very vibrant and fresh!   I really should have taken more time to use an old scanner that is so much nicer than the "deal" one we got with our new computer last August. 

Here is a glimpse of the fun border I added.  Have done this on several children's pieces, much more interesting. 

Enjoy and remember, you won't "Bee" it if you do not...

   

DREAM BIG

Forget-Me-Not

The pieces are put together, the words are harder to put together.  Many people look at art and think, that is cool, that is beautiful, or my 2 year old can draw better than that.  Then there is the viewer that wants to see inside the soul of the artist to experience the whole concept of the piece, these viewers are rare.  So, trapped inside the body, this artist is having a hard time with words.  Bear with me, I would like to communicate to all viewers.  The forget-me-not is made with a map of the world, the world asked for a guardian angel and what she found was something that was already here.  Something that was already a part of her.  She found those simple everyday heroes, she-roes, "bee-roes", that care.  Those who do "random acts of kindness" without thinking.

The world found those who fuel her heart with their heart.  To some... the world, the earth, the planet may be made of all that scientific mumbo jumbo...but there is more.  It is energy, fuel that powers her.  Energy breeds more energy, keeping the light lit.

Think about it.  Think about your day yesterday and what you did that you think you could have done in a way to make things a bit kinder.  Something small that, if you chose may have left your "Forget-me-not" blossom on someone else.  Yesterday is over, no need to think anymore about it.  Today is a new day.  Make your choices wisely in how you act, think, and bee-lieve.  This will fuel the light in the center of the world, who is silently screaming...."Forget-Me-not"

I will also be sharing this post with Mixed Media Monday who recently used "maps" for the inspiration challenge".

Are you checking?

...for my current inspiration piece.  Well if you are, you have been feeling my vibes of completion from the other day.  It really turned out as I had hope.  Are your ready to see it??  Actually this is kind of fun... I think I will make you wait a bit longer. 

Here are a few more visuals to toss around.

enjoy.

K!

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