Something Wicked This Way Comes? no just the kids!

I really do love Halloween!

Boo!

Coated pretzel rods for treats!

Getting Ready for Halloween

rows and rows of Wisconsin corn

Halloween is almost here! Yay!

We did a bit of decorating but not too much. I never seem to have the time. We went through a corn maze the other weekend, which was terrific. Believe it or not, I've never been in one. It was so much fun, Mike and I went back the other night for the Haunted Maze walk. An interesting way to spend our 18 year anniversary, but it works for us. *grins*

Right now is crunch time for costumes. Ethan needs his ready for school Wednesday and I'd like to dress up when I volunteer. Emma doesn't need hers until Sunday. Ethan's costume is pretty easy, a scientist. Kind of a Dr Doofenshmirtz from Disney's Phineas and Ferb mixed with the generic view of scientist...ya know white lab coat, black gloves, goggles, etc...


Emma wanted to be a witch again, but in an updated urban style. We're working on a black t-shirt with strips of torn fabrics sewn to make a skirt, over leggings, funky socks and boots. Right now I'm pulling out misc. fabric scraps. Kids don't have school Thursday and Friday, so maybe she can help me sew it all "just right".


My costume is Steampunk inspired. I'm not dressing as anyone specific just the look. Something about Steampunk fascinates me. Partly because it is so varied and eclectic. It can be almost anything! Steampunk can be interpreted as straight Victorian England, British colonies abroad, US east coast, US wild west, Asian, goth, pirate rogue, or something completely fictional.


Looking online can be overwhelming, so much Steampunk eye candy! I was thinking of a "what if Katherine Hepburn was a forward looking Steampunk gal in Victorian times?" Corsets are cool and fun but not really my thing.

I don't want anything to flashy and skimpy, in Wisconsin Halloween can be cold! So I'm thinking of going more safari, adventuring, Tomb Raider type Steampunk.

The spats are awesome but look at these boots!

I want to wear pants but I like the idea of a bustle type skirt over them.

This collar is just beautiful and nice and warm.

Perfect belt to hold my "gear" LOL

This Steampunk Princess Leia is pretty fun if I wanted to go sexy...too bad I'm not that thin anymore! OK I was never actual THAT thin ;-)

I think I'm having more fun searching the web than I will wearing the costume. how in the world will I describe it to rural Wisconsin masses??? Most people I know would know what Steampunk is.

So far for my costume I have a white shirt with a ruffled collar and cuffs I got today at a local thrift store. I also found a brown vest and pinstripe pants. I really wanted to sew a waistcoat out of this great burgundy vintage fabric I have, but I'm running out of time! I have a pair of lace up granny boots but I also found a fab pair of brown Dr Martens for 5$! They fit perfect and I love them!

Maybe the Dr Martens with spats???? Maybe I can make spats from the burgundy fabric? Emma has a pocket watch on a chain with a steam engine on it. It is perfect and honestly, I have no idea where she got it??? I also have a great brown corduroy hat that a friend made me. Her shop on etsy is here. And you can see a similar hat. I'm still thinking and planning...besides isn't this the best part of Halloween, the planning?

Click on any photo to to go the appropriate websites.

Drawing Lab -At the Zoo (kind-of)

So I waited until we finally had a chance to go to the zoo in Madison to continue with the labs in this great book.....but I forgot my sketch stuff when we went to Madison the other weekend! Duh! It was a fabulous day at the zoo too...I even left my camera at home!

So I tore out a few photos from magazines and sketched from those....

My latest article on newsstands now!

Look for this cover.....
and turn to page 112 to find my article. YEAH!!!!!

First Day of School

I hate September 1st! I love having the kids home all summer and First Day of School is a sad day for me. But hopefully they are having a good time with their new teachers, new classes etc..
How do I spend First Day? I had breakfast with a friend whose son started kindergarten...boy do I remember that day! Hard to say good-bye and see them go, but at the same time it is terrific for the child.
I also got to shave my cat, yes I had to shave my cat! My kitty, Oscar is sick and cannot walk right now. He may get over this or not, but in the mean time I want him to be comfortable. Since he cannot do his business in the litter box, I shaved his fur and put a diaper on him. He was actually fairly cooperative. Now he is resting on the back of the couch, looking out the window. Poor guy is just over a year old and has a heart problem that causes blood clots. A clot is why he cannot walk. We're hoping the meds will break up the clot and give him more time.
Now I'm off to make and can spaghetti sauce....yummy!

Swap- bot swap

I stopped joining swap-bot swaps last year after a few disappointing swaps. I decided to jump in again and I'm glad I did. I'm not yet finished with my partners puppy but I already received my goodies in the mail!

Two needle felted duckies. Sue did a really great job on Scooter and Fern, even Fern's head poof! I had to give them a place of honor, right under my favorite painting and next to my favorite teddy.

Please visit this fabulous artist blog. Her art dolls are awesome! She said my duckies are her first time needle felting...wow!

Green Lake Fine Art Fair

As you can see we weren't really busy.
It did pick up later but I still had a disappointing weekend.
Getting stung on the finger (my whole hand ended up swollen) didn't help! ugh!
What a beautiful day.

Emma really enjoyed spending the day by the water.

Duckies!

A couple mini mixed media houses I've been playing with.

This was my last scheduled sale of the year. Now I'm going to concentrate on
other venues and projects.

Drawing Lab -sketch your pet

Young Guinea Hens- Confucius and Pearl

I meant to post more about this book but I actually lost my copy along with my sketchbook! Ugh!

But I found the book and some of my sketches....now remember that I am not very skilled at drawing. Beacuse of this I often avoid doing more that quick sketches. My sketches are just for me to remember an idea. This more though inspired me to draw more and ya know what? I am and the kids see me drawing and then they start drawing. Cool huh

This lab was to sketch your pet. Quick loose sketches, no erasers.
My drawings are pretty bad but the point is to keep drawing regardless and I'm bound to get better :-)

Parakeet- Echo

Dogs- Lucky and Penny

Guinea Pigs-Patch and Bandit

Mama Dot *with edit

Mama Dot-I wonder how many feathers she plucked out to feather her nest???
Looks cozy

Our sweet duckie Dot has been sitting on a clutch of eggs. She's only been on them for 10 days out of 28 days total. Dot made her nest in an old dog house full of hay we have in the duck pen. So far so good.

Odd thing happened this morning, she wasn't the only one in the dog house. Another female duck was in there too. Rook got up and ran out with the other ducks. she left behind a small next of six eggs in front of Dot's nest. I have no idea where the six eggs came from, they weren't there yesterday!

I checked back later and Dot was alone in the house and the eggs and Rooks nest were gone. The only thing I can figure out is that Dot loaned out some of her eggs for Rook to sit on and when Rook left, Dot took them back. Does that make sense????

This is Rook

I really don't understand duckie behavior. Either way, we should end up with a bunch of ducklings in a few weeks. it will be tough on the kids, but we'll have to sell off most of them.

*I caught a photo just this evening of Rook again on some eggs.
She stood up and hiss at me and I saw the eggs under her :-)

*If you look carefully at the above photo, you can see all the mosquitoes!
This is why we cannot go outside much this summer.

I know I haven't post anything artistic in awhile. I've been too busy or forgetful to take pics, but I will soon!

Summer Road Trip Part 7

We left the North Rim Campground and it took all day to get to Moab, Ut. It was hot, but dry so now I understand what people meant by that. We left the restaurant in Moab at 7pm and it was 104 degrees but it didn't feel like it at all! If you are in Moab, got to Lin Ottinger's Rock Shop. We found some really great souvenirs.

Some areas were like this........... on and on...........

Both Utah and Arizona are so beautiful!

And this is what the kids are doing.....
I think that after a while, "oh kids look out the window" is not of interest to them.