Wildlife around our house

Some photos of recent visitors to our house:

I love dragonflies although I don't know the difference between them and damselflies.

Unfortunately this rabbit seems quite unafraid of humans and I got quite close before s/he moseyed away.

I was quite surprised to see this creature (ground hog?) when I went to investigate what was driving our cats crazy.

This photo was taken just before the "babies" were big enough to leave the nest. Once they were gone, the nest was removed and the pillar and front porch were power washed. We may have to resort to putting up nails or barbs on top of the pillars as this was the 3rd nest since we moved in this year.

Artistamps or Faux Postage

These are the scanned images of my first batch of artistamps (faux postage). I used inks, rubberstamps, paper punches, and markers. The "62" stamps also have some glimmer mist sprayed on them. I recently learned of artistamps and since I love all things associated with letter writing, mail art, or postage stamps; I had to make some.

The Three Muses Challenge this week is mail art so I will be adding a link to this blog entry on their site: http://thethreemuseschallenge.blogspot.com/

Wistful Water

Just a quick, short entry. I want to blog more often so I am trying different ways to do so. This is a photo at one of the Ohio State Parks I went to with a girlfriend a couple years ago. We went in the fall so the trees are brown or losing leaves. I miss being near large bodies of water.

Making Homemade Paper

One day this week I used my new 8.5" x 11" pour handmold to make recycled paper. I made about 12 sheets in 4-5 hours. You can left click on any photo to view a larger image.

The box of shredded bills, ads, recipts, etc.

My papermaking supplies set up (taking over the eating area):

The pulp (recycled paper plus party napkins for colors beyond grey and I also added some mica flakes which don't show in the photos) in the handmold:

The wet pulp formed on the screen and the wooden mold removed:

The paper after the initial removal of water (several sponge-fulls):

The completely dried paper (after hours between couch sheets and under heavy weight):
[the photo shows a lighter hue than it actually is]

I also played around with additives to make the paper more interesting.

Using dried flowers:

Gold dust (hard to photograph):

The tan (left) has scrubbed corn husks and cotton pulp added. The red in the middle has some flower petals. The blue on the end has some sparkle fibers (hard to photograph).

The purple on the right has iridescent flakes (hard to photograph).

"The doors we open and close each day decide the lives we live."

[Quote by Flora Whittemore]

I've always been partial to woodwork and wooden items. While in Peru, I saw several wooden doors that really caught my eye.

Some were more intricately carved than others.

When I decided to participate in an ATC / LTC* swap with a theme of doors, I chose to replicate one I had seen in Peru for my LTC. I hand carved the rubberstamp and colored the paper to appear more "wood-like" before stamping the image.

ATC = Artist Trading Card: 2.5"x3.5" piece of art (any medium) traded among artists

*LTC = Letterboxing Trading Card: same as ATC plus the criteria of an image of a hand carved stamp must appear on the card.

Check out http://www.atlasquest.com/ for more information on LTC's and letterboxing.

Facelift

I have given my blog a facelift. Changed the format and colors. I wanted a change. I am not versed in web design or html or any of that blog enhancing stuff. So currently, I am just using what is already out there and available. A bit boring but oh well. I may change things around now and then. I am the type that would move the furniture configuration around in my apartment once or twice a year. Not really able to do that in a house - plus I have a lot more furniture now.

Where's The Funny? debut improv performance

On Friday my improv troupe WTF? (Where's The Funny?) had its debut performance at the Wild Goose Creative in Columbus, Ohio. A special thanks to the troupe See You Thursday for letting us perform after their show! I was pleasantly surprised at the size of the audience since most the people I know couldn't make it that night. The show went well, we got some laughs, and I had fun.

Our next performance is in the new troupe showcase at Thirsty Ear on 3rd Avenue in Grandview on Tuesday at 8:00pm. Come out for FREE improv and see three more troupes after we perform: Parlor Tricks, Shimmy Shake, and Fake Bacon.

Check out our website at http://wtfimprov.com/home