Wallpaper
Winter
Winter Storm Chickadee
We've had such a long snap of cold weather here lately - it's quite the topic of conversation with school closings and traffic warnings. On cold and grey winter days like today I like to close my eyes and think of spring, and remember the feeling of warm sun on my face.
I have to remind myself to enjoy each of our seasons and I am lucky to have four distinct seasons here in the north. Winter can be beautiful - snow that glitters in the sun, winter sun that casts gorgeous purple shadows, and snow-covered evergreens that add color to our landscape.
Luckily, the abnormally cold weather hasn't stopped the birds from flocking to our feeders. I am joining Texture Tuesday with another bird image (my favorite subject!!). I used two layers of Kim Klassen's Uncle Clarence texture.
Four[/caption] I hope that you are having a fabulous week!
Be Wonderfully Odd!
I try to steal a few minutes each day to notice the beauty in my everyday - the quiet beauty that is always around us.
Some bead love today -
I have to admit that I love beads - pearls, crystals, wood - but my favorite beads are seed beads. They so tiny, but they are also very versatile.
Today I found myself staring at this band of seed beads that I stitched many years ago. The pattern isn't my own - but when I saw the pattern I knew that I needed to make it - how could I resist creating a copy of the Mona Lisa out of seed beads!
The pattern was originally intended to be a bracelet, but I fashioned a mini wall hanging out of it - and it has been hanging on my bulletin board ever since.
In certain angles the band looks like a mess of beads and the pattern is not apparent; but when band is shifted her eyes, nose, and mouth can be clearly seen. Her pale skin and neutral background were stitched with matte finished beads, while glossy beads were used for her hair and pink highlights - and they sparkle when the sunlight pours in from the window. It's hard to believe that there are more than 3,000 beads in this piece (it's only 1 inch wide by 6.5 inches long).
I have to thank the pattern maker, who ever he or she is, for creating something so beautiful from the simple seed bead.
I hope that you take a moment today to enjoy the beauty in your life.
Be Wonderfully Odd!
Mr. Squirrel
While snapping photos of birds yesterday, I watched a pair of squirrels romp around the yard - "playing" in the snow and racing up and down the trees. They finally settled on to branches next to the feeder.
I love how they stop and freeze - trying to look like park of the tree - when they hear a suspisious sound.
Like this one peeking out from behind the branch.
Textured with three layers of Kim Klassen's "Storm" texture [/caption] 
During this little photo session I started to develop a headache - I knew that I needed to take some aspirin to stop it from spreading - but I didn't want to stop snapping pictures.
I lifted my camera to take pictures of the second squirrel who was sitting on a higher branch . . .
when he did a peculiar thing - he straightened up and then set his forehead down on the tree branch . . .
and sat like this for several minutes.
I wonder, do squirrels get headaches too?
I hope that you are having a great day!
Be Wonderfully Odd!
I try to steal a few minutes each day to notice the beauty in my everyday - the quiet beauty that is always around us.
This afternoon, as I started to pull together ingredients for soup, I was delighted by the colors and textures that I found on my cutting board.
Three point composition - an assignment in Kim Klassen's Beyond Beyond course[/caption] Look at the bright green color and lacy texture of these fresh herbs.
The variety of shapes, colors and smooth textures in this pile of dried beans.
Compared to the rough, dry skin of an onion.
and the imperfect skin of the brown potato and bright orange carrot.
Beauty in the everyday.
In this weeks Beyond Beyond class, Kim give us tips and tricks for making photoshop brushes (like the one above).
Here is a group of arrows and boarder brushes that I make today - while my soup simmered on the stove :)
I hope that you take a moment today to enjoy the beauty in your life.
Be Wonderfully Odd!
Winter Chickadee
Sun Kissed Chickadee
Fluffy Chickadee 
Desktop wallpaper - January 2014
