Feb 25, 2011

Illustration Friday "Swarm"



Okay, so it isn't a swarm illustration, per se, but a bee having thought the girl's dress a field of flowers...oops and this is what I think of when I hear the word swarm. Keeping bees I've seen swarms. They're actually very facinating and when all together like that, bees are an engine. Last May I had a fellow beekeeper come and collect a swarm from the neighbor's yard. It was at least 18" long and a foot wide. The beekeeper said it was one of the largest swarms he'd ever seen. Since we didn't have the equipment, he collected it, and passed it on to another fellow beekeeping hobbyist. I love bees and for the most part can stand quite close with no harm. Last summer I was in their direct path and got stung near the bridge of my nose. Needless to say, I didn't react well to the sting and didn't see very well from that part of my face! But bees are absolutely magical! And swarms too!

Feb 13, 2011

Happy Valentine's Day!

I really enjoyed giving the valentine spirit this year. I remember fondly (sarcasm) a few Valentine's Days which ended up being the whole week before working as a florist. 18 hour days on my feet and sitting once to go to the bathroom. I exaggerate not! The further I've gotten from those valentine days I've returned to the spirit. I made cupcakes and decorated them, practicing my roses over and over again. I sent hand-written cards with long diatribes in them. Something we don't do often enough-writing letters. I made sweet bags for my co-workers and gave my kids valentine chocolates. We as a family did the fondue thing and watched a favorite family program with pizza tonight. All in all a good weekend. Seems like tomorrow will be anti climatic. 

This is a picture of a card I've designed for my husband. I design these characters and just beginning to get them into cards and creating silly buttons and sculpting them in 3D doll form. I call them my chicklits. Happy Valentine's Day!