MSED: Bird a Day #132 Love Crows

Third Sketch in the sketchbook project sketchbook

Also I carved a stamp of Max; maximum dog in a minimal package.

It's been a very creative day

MSED: Bird a Day #131 Owl Stamp and Sketch #2

I carved an owl stamped based on this.

I would have liked to get more detail but the block was soft and crumbly. (Note: pink stuff is better than the white stuff) Still, I like how it turned out and I am "geeked"  to do more.

Stamped into my sketchbook

In the process of carving

Test print

I need to burnish the block  to the paper more.

So much fun! and easy to do!

MSED: Bird a Day #130 Christmas Birds

I didn't make these birds they were gifted to me. My Aunt Linda gave me the glass partridge in a pear tree.

 My lovely daughter Sarah, made the crocheted wreath with the cute little bird.

MSED: Bird a Day #129 Penguin Rubber Stamp Final

This was so much FUN! I can't wait to do more. Next time maybe with paint instead of an ink pad, and maybe more detail, we'll see!

These were my test stamps to see where I needed to carve more.

I stamed a little 4"x4" card, an artist trading card and a greeting card.

I added sparkle pen snowflakes to the ATC. I like how his expression changed from the original drawing.

MSED: Bird a Day #128 Penguin Rubber Stamp

I received a Speedball block printing toolkit for Christmas! Yeah! (Thanks Sarah!) So of course my first stamp HAS to be a bird. I will post my results no matter how it turns out. Wish me luck!

MSED: Bird a Day #127 Reinbird/ First Sketch for the Sketchbook

My Dad's birthday was yesterday. Happy birthday Dad!
Every year on his kid's birthday my dad would proclaim that the Birthday Giraffe was here and left us a gift. "Dad, come on! There's no such thing as the Birthday Giraffe!" Even though we were pretty sure there was no such thing, as our friends never talked about it, we loved it!
So, in honor of my dad, who invented the mythical creature that took credit for his and Mom's gifts to us I present the Reinbird. (It makes more sense than flying deer I think.) I love you Dad!

First sketch in the Sketchbook Project sketchbook. Color pencil and pen

MSED: Bird a Day #126 Punch Needle Bird

My very first, and probably last punch needle kit. This was fun and quick but a little fussy for me. Too much threading the needle. But I must say the finished project looks just like the picture on the box right down to the frame, which didn't come with the kit or the hoop or the needle.

MSED: Bird a Day #125 Santa Bird

You think he'll ask for  a BB gun? And yes, the beard is real.

Pen and color pencil

MSED: Bird a Day #124 Little Notebook Bird

Remember my little Red Owl Notebook? Here's a little drawing for it.

Ink pads and black pen. With letter stamps too!

When I inked up the page there was a bird, this was not intentional just a happy accident.
I out lined it in pen. 

MSED: Bird a Day #123 Bird in a Box

Today's prompt: Make something in a box. So I took this tiny gold foil box.

and put a tree inside,

With a bird on top.

I wanted the tree to be taller but it barely fits in as it is. I would like to explore this idea farther though.

On another note, I received my Sketchbook Project sketchbook in the mail today. Now I have blank sketchbook anxiety! I don't know how to start or what to put in it! Yikes!

MSED: Bird a Day #122 A Block of Firds

MSED: Bird a Day #121 Among the Croton

Phew, that one took some time. I think I will try to do some quick sketchy birds in the next few days to see if I can get back on track with the bird a day thing.

Prismacolor color pencil on bristol board

MSED: Bird a Day #120 Cinnamon Ornaments

I'm back with some new birds! This project was way too much fun and it smelled fantastic! I used Martha Stewart's cinnamon dough recipe which is basically ground cinnamon, apple sauce and white glue. I rolled and cut out cute little bird shapes. After they were dry, I just used some craft acrylics that I had on hand and some glitter pens. 

These look better in person and I can officially say that I am not happy with my digital camera any more.  I was so much happier with my camera when I got it than i am now. when I bemoaned that fact to my sister she told me that digital camera's sensors go bad after a while, especially if you take a lot of night time pictures. It seems that in dim light the shutter has to be open for longer periods of time exposing this delicate little wussy sensor to too much exposing? I never knew. For as much money as they cost they should have tougher sensors that last. And that's all I'm going to say about that!

What I Have Been Up To

No good! Ha Ha! seriously though, I have not forgotten my Bird a Day Project I just took a little break from birding and posting. I have a couple projects in the works and I am getting some of my mojo back. We have had our first winter snow and is it ever lovely!

Also, I have just signed up to participate in The Sketchbook Project

Any one can participate. I will be sent an empty sketchbook and when it's full I will send it back and it will be in the Brooklyn Art Library for anyone to look at! Too cool. I will be posting updates here.

MSED: Bird a Day #119 Turkey Trot

I have a wonderful friend I would like to tell you about, Mary Katherine. She isn't making a big Thanksgiving dinner this year. This year she will be running her first 10k in the Chicago North Shore Turkey Trot. Two years ago she never would have thought that she could run let alone run in a 10K! She writes about how she went from couch potato to athlete, with the help of her daughter, Rosie, here - Mary Katherine's Musings. She is an excellent writer and I am a huge fan of her blog. It's very heartfelt and inspiring.

 Also she's not just running for herself, she's running for an excellent charity 

The Wounded Warrior Project. Their mission is to honor and empower wounded warriors. 

If you would like to help my good friend Mary in her efforts to support and help our wounded vets, go to her fundraising page and give from the heart.

While the rest of us our stuffing our faces on Thanksgiving Day, Mary Katherine will be making a difference in the world because, that's what she does!

Correction: I have just found out that MK IS making a Thanksgiving feast! I am in awe.

MSED: Bird a Day #118 Happy Birthday Mom!

My mom's birthday is tomorrow and she and my dad will be returning home from a trip they took to celebrate 50 years of marriage. I am so happy for them! This card and a pair of home knit birthday socks will be waiting for her when she comes home. Love ya ma!

I made this just for you! It's got glitter!

MSED: Bird a Day #117 Thinking of You

I have a good friend who received some bad news recently. I made her this card. I hope it cheers her up.

MSED: Bird a Day #116 - Guest Artist, Sarah

My daughter Sarah, had to draw some signs for work the other day. I think she thinks it cheating but, she gave me permission to use this one for my post. 

My Make Something Every Day project - My rules.

Now if I could just get her to bring home some of that pie...

Isn't that just the cutest little blue bird?!

MSED: Bird a Day #115 Tollhouse Duck

He lived a very short life. Rest in peace little buddy.

MSED: Bird a Day #114 Little Red Owl

The prompt I used today was to work with only red. I cheated a little and used black also, but that's how I roll. My mom and dad went to a wellness center open house and brought me back this cute little notebook. I gessoed over the logo and used red acrylic paint for the back ground. Now I have a cute mini art journal to fill!

Acrylic paint and Sakura Glossy 3-D Glaze pens

MSED: Bird a Day #113 Ink Owl

Owl doodle

Ink and pencil on paper

MSED: Bird a Day #112 Ugly Chicken Sez

This was an attempt to draw a quick little drawing but I am finding that I do nothing quick.

Prismacolor color pencils and pen on bristol board

Ugly Chicken ain't having none of that! You'll have to catch her first. She may be ugly but she is fast.

MSED: Bird a Day #111 Fall Bird

I finished my painting. So tired of looking at it. That's how I knew I was done (he he he).

Acrylics on canvas board

MSED: Bird a Day #110 Jim Crow

The summer that I was nine or maybe ten, our family stayed at Gram and Grampa's House. We spent a lot of summer time there. My dad was in the Navy and we lived out-of-state most of the time and Gram and Gramp had an Olympic sized pool so when summer time came, off to Michigan we would travel to be pampered and spoiled and loved. But that particular summer was even more special to me. A crow kept coming to visit us around the pool and as time went on he became bolder and bolder stealing anything shiny or bright that he could fly away with, bits of tin foil, a toy car. 

Now I was a kid that would play with a garter snake or a leopard frog all day long and Oh Joy! if I found a field mouse! I just had to make that crow mine! I didn't try to capture it because it was a wild creature and it needed to be free (read: the grown ups didn't want to deal with a pet crow!) By the end of the summer Jim and I were best buddies (in my mind). I would run outside first thing in the morning, still in my PJ's, to greet MY bird and more often than not he was there! One of his favorite things to do was to sit on my head and peck me. And Yes, it hurt but I knew he didn't mean to peck that hard, he loved me as much as I loved him, after all.

Me and Jim on the deck. My Grampa took these pics and he had this really cool camera.
When the pics were developed there was one large square print and three small ones that ran
down the side of the large one. These are the small ones 1.5 inches square.

Just For Fun

I seem to have gotten myself into a rut of no birds the past couple of days, but not to worry I haven't given up, just needed a break. My sister just sent me to this sight: Draw a Stickman I think she was trying to give me a nudge Ha ha. Give it a try, it will brighten your day. Thanks for the encouragement Minnie!

MSED: Bird a Day #109 The Dirty Bird or Dust Birdie

Today I am prompted to play in the dirt. I didn't even have to go outside to do so, I am ashamed to say. I think he looks rather like an ostrich, maybe a turkey. Oh yuk!

This is less than a weeks worth of floor dirt. (Pretty gross, I know.)

Max always has to get in on the action when I sweep.

MSED: Bird a Day #108 Flying Geese

Here's a quick little doodle based on this tangle called Flying Geese (scroll down for directions).

I think is looks rather Christmas-y to me. I am also working on a bigger project, a real painting. Well see how it goes. I wish I had better acrylics...

Pen and gel pen on paper.

MSED: Bird a Day #107 CD Cover

My daughter Sarah, left one of her music CDs at my house the other day. It had no cover. Poor naked CD. She already has the music on her ipod I'm sure, and doesn't really need the CD but I just had to cover the poor thing up before it got scratched. I used this video to create it. (turn down the sound, it's strictly a visual demo and the sound track is somewhat annoying)

Sarah! Come home any time and get your CD! xo

Watercolor paper, watercolor, pen, and gel pen

MSED: Bird a Day #106 Happy Halloween

I just can't leave that scribbler alone!

scribbler!

MSED: Bird a Day #105 Bird Feeder

I've had this project book marked in my to-do file for so long I forgot about it. Today it all came together like that! I just love when that happens.

2 liter bottle, wooden spoons, small eye screw, string

My new winter feeding station

I didn't take long before my first curious visitor arrived; less than 15 minutes!

Checkin' things out.

Digging In

In my opinion...

...there's nothing cuter than a chickadee