Day Four: Zentangle Bird

Today's bird is a zentangle (TM) design. Art of this type, which is really an inspired kind of doodling, has probably been around forever, but it has been given its name and structure by Rick Roberts and Maria Thomas, a designer and a calligrapher. You can read about Zentangles, see more, and get started yourself at http://www.zentangle.com/.

This design is done with a .01 Pigma marker on a special piece of handmade paper called a Tile, that I got in my Zentangle kit. The shading is done with a 2B pencil.

Pretty!

Day Three: Little Red Bird Needle Case

I decided to work in embroidery today, still drawing inspiration from the wonderful "Little Birds" book. This time I have Artist Lisa Fell to thank: http://www.lazymay.com/.

I had a million interruptions all day long, so never really got totally into the project without the phone ringing, someone at the door, or someone needing something from me (including the dogs)! So here it is 6PM, and I'm finally adding my post for the day.

Hopefully, I'll get to work in a little more peace tomorrow.

At first I was going to just make a decorative object, but then I got the idea of making something useful, since I'm going to be doing a lot of sewing this year.

I worked on some lovely pink linen that I've had for ages, with perle cotton and embroidery floss, then I lined the case with a cotton calico, and made two 'pages' with felt, to hold the needles.

I'm happy with it.

Here's the book I'm working from for now. Lots of great ideas!

Stork: Day Two of 365 Bird Project

Here I am, ready to upload my second bird.

I couldn't wait to get started this morning, I didn't even eat breakfast first, but went right to work. You can see that my studio is a real mess. One of these days, I'll stop and get everything unpacked and put away, but that's not going to be today.

This Stork is from a pattern by Artist Amy Adams, http://www.lucykatecrafts.etsy.com/, and again, its from the book entitled Little Birds, compiled by Susanne Woods. Eventually, I will have made all 26 birds and will have to branch out on my own, (pardon the pun), but for now, it's good to have some designs to work from.

Already I feel the perfectionism kicking in, the "it's not good enough" voice in my head, but thankfully, for once, I'm choosing not to listen to it and am forging ahead. The need to finish the piece in one day is helping a lot; also, it's not an assignment for a client, for heaven's sake! I'm finally, after 15 years of working on assignment to a client's specs, doing something for FUN. No expectations, no revisions or redos, just this blog to keep me honest.

Oh, I just looked at my very first post, several months ago, and it's a drawing I did of a cottage I wished I lived in. Well, guess what? On December 21, 2010, I actually moved into my very own real cottage! I still can't believe it! How cute is this? And I live here!

I've named it Crabapple Cottage, because there are two crabapple trees in the front.

I feel like I am living in a dream!

I have a REAL studio, not just a corner of my living room or bedroom. Two huge windows facing north, to give me clear, perfect white light all day long. I am so happy to be living here, and I am so excited about my new 365 Project. I want to make my next bird right now, but I'll wait til tomorrow.

Well, what do you know? I did it! Here is my Day One Bird. He was inspired by a bird designed by Artist Laura Clempson, at www.cupcakesforclara.com, that appeared in the book "Little Birds" http://www.amazon.com/Little-Birds-Handmade-Projects-

Hmm. Not sure if that link will get you there.

Anyway, you can look it up for yourself at Amazon.

2011 My New Project

I've just bought Noah Scalin's fabulous book: 365: A Daily Creativity Journal: Make Something Every Day and Change Your Life.
You can check out his own blog: www.MakeSomething365.com and see what he's up to. Basically, he challenges the reader to pick a theme and then create a piece every day for 365 days. It can be art, craft, photography, writing, poetry, even singing or acting, anything at all. Since I am a visual artist, I have picked the theme BIRD, and I am going to make some kind of bird every day this year!
I hope I can figure out how to upload my photos, because I've already made my first Bird.