MSED: Bird a Day #156 Pin Cushion Bird

Well it has been quite a while since I posted a new bird. It seems the "bird a day" has flown out the window, but I have not completely given up making 365 birds. It might take me four years though. 

I made this pin cushion using a free pattern from the DIY Dish web site. I stuffed it with fiber fill and walnut litter to keep the pins sharp. I originally had two tiger eye beads sewn on for the eyes but I thought they made him look a bit goofy. I much prefer him without eyes.

This little guy is for my friend Karen who, with her husband Dave, so graciously taught me and helped me to sew my first quilt.

  She thought I was crazy to want to sew a queen sized quilt on my first try, but I think she thought I was even crazier with my fabric choices. I love my quilt! Thanks Karen!

What I Did on Summer Vacation

Or What I Did on My Lack of Summer Vacation

I completed my knitted blanket! Hurrah! 

If you would like to know more about this blanket check out my Ravelry page

 My camera broke early this summer and I am torn as what to replace it with. I want better pics than what I was getting with the point and shoot (the one that's shot) but I don't want to spend the money they want for DSL cameras. Does anyone have any advice?

 Meanwhile I'm not totally without a camera. I just don't like the quality of photos I'm getting.

 But I love my blanket!

I have also started a sewn quilt. Pics to follow. But no new birds as of yet.

MSED: Bird a Day #155 Blending In Loudly

Water color and Pen, I love to play with you! 

All my pens are running dry. Time to make a trip to the art supply store.

MSED: Bird a Day #154 Untitled

Here is a piece I did a while back. I really didn't know what to call it maybe "abstract bird" 

 I used a technique I found at Art Is Fun by Thaneeya McArdle. She teaches all kinds of techniques on her site and it's free! So much fun! go check it out.

Water color and water color pencil

MSED: Bird a Day #153 Lunch Time

The grackles have taken over my yard. 

I used to think they were lovely birds when they first appeared, I mean just look at those beautiful iridescent feathers, but now they have called all their aunts and uncles and cousins to come and take part of the buffet of seed that I have laid before them. It didn't take long for them to eat all the food at my feeders and run off the song birds. They have a loud irritating call especially at 5:30 in the morning when they love to wake up and "sing" outside my bedroom window. The babies are starting to arrive and this seems to make them extra voice-y. I wish they would find another place to be. I'm starting to feel like I live in the movie "The Birds".

Here is a puzzle piece I did inspired by the Common Grackle

My Noro Clapotis

or That Bright Shawl Thingy I Knit to Throw Over the Back of My Couch

There has been knitting, lots of knitting. Here is one of the projects  I finished (yeah!) instead of bird-art-making. (I also started a sweater)

Noro is the Yarn I used, it comes from Japan the pattern is French, or at least it has a French name, meaning, to the best of knowledge, lapping up of water or maybe just lapping.

MSED: Bird a Day #152 Little Spring Chick

Well this was going to be "Little Easter Chick" but my timing was a little off. Doesn't he look joyous! I hope everyone had a blessed Easter.

MSED: Bird a Day #151 Blue Sketch

Bird doodle in the sketchbook. I am really liking the one color pencil effect. I might try some more. This one was Prismacolor Ultramarine.

MSED: Bird a Day #150 Untitled

Here's the latest spread for the Sketchbook Project. This sketch worked on me like knitting does. Once the set up was done it was very meditative to fill in all the feathers. Usually I begin to know what the title will be as I am drawing but nothing came to me.

 I used a Prismacolor Dark Umber pencil.

MSED: Bird a Day #149 Sketchbook Cover

I'm not sure I am going to make the April 30th dead line on this sketchbook project as I have hit a creative road block. I have sat down several times in the past month to post this and a few other birds that I have stored up and can't seem to get the gumption up to do very much posting or art. I am posting this by shear force of will hoping that it will "un-stick" me. I've been praying...

Watercolor and pen on watercolor paper, glued to the cover.
Click the image to see it larger.

Liebster Award

Wow! I have been nominated three times for the Liebster Blog award.

First from Linda Wilks Lindyloo Makes 

(sorry Linda, I didn't understand it at first and didn't know what to do).

Then two nominations one right after the other! the first was from 

Yasna at 365 Words. 365 Days. 365 Opportunities. What a beautiful site she has!

Then  Yvonne from 365 Freestyle Zentangles gave me the nod. We share a common love for Zentangles.

Here are the 5 blogs I am nominating for the Liebster Blog award

Mary Katherine's Musings This woman is an amazing writer, mother and friend. Do yourself a favor and head over to her site for some inspirational reading. You'll see what I mean.

Whee Gina's Blog Whee Gina's quirky sence of humor and creativeness make her "Fan a Day Project" blog site a joy to read. Rock on Gina!

GrubbyGrrrl's 365 Days of Cats Kudos to another 365'er! Grubby Grrrrl's cats are so clever and cute. Keep 'em coming GG.

Quirkiecraft Is a fellow Michigander and a fine arts student. Her art is original and inspiring. You should see her knitted barnacles. Yes, I said knitted barnacles, so cool! It seems to me that she should be teaching the classes instead of taking them.

Strange Place I found Cindy on Redbubble and instantly became a fan of her work. I love her imaginary creatures and strange birds.

The Three Rules of Liebster:

1. Choose FIVE UP AND COMING blogs with less than 200 followers to pass the award onto.

2. Show a BIG THANKS to the blogger who gave the award to you by linking back to them.

3. Post the AWARD on your blog. List the bloggers you are giving the award to with links to their site.

MSED: Bird a Day #148 Framed Bird Sketch

Another pencil sketch for the sketchbook project. I just cleaned off my work area and reorganized my supplies and I'm ready to create again!

MSED: Bird a Day #147 The Age Old Question

Okay, maybe not as mysterious as the question of which came first, the chicken or the egg, but still, feathers are a pretty cool phenomenon.

MSED: Bird a Day #146 Penguin Puzzle Piece

Still stamping away!

MSED: Bird a Day #145 Stamped Puzzle Piece

I actually did this piece before I did "so much to say". 

It gave me the idea.

MSED: Bird a Day #144 So Much to Say-Notebook Page

This piece got it's name after I spent a pretty lengthy time talking to my good friend Mary Katherine (check out her blog, she's an awesome writer). We once drove from Michigan to New York without having one break in the conversation. And did the same thing on the way back. It happens every time we get together. I love you MK!

Hand carved stamp with acrylic paint and pen

MSED: Bird a Day #143 Carved Stamp

Again, rubber stamp carving is so much fun! My original drawing is in the lower right side of the page. After I carved the stamp I tested it with an ink pad. The upper left bird is colored with color pencil and the bottom left bird is acrylic paint. The rubber block is so thick that I will be able to use the other side to carve too. It's called Moo Carve and I got it at Hobby Lobby for $1.99 I liked this block a lot. It was comparable to the pink Speedy Carve that I have used before. I am hooked.

MSED: Bird a Day #142 Yellow Chick Revisited

A chance to use my brand new Micron sepia pen. It went dry while drawing this little bird :(
Wish I still had the receipt.

MSED: Bird a Day #141 Yellow Chick, Red Hat

Don't feel too sorry for this sad little chick. Someone cared enough about him to knit him a cute red hat.

Another sketch for the book, pen and color pencil

MSED: Bird a Day #140 Growing a Home

And sketch #4 in the sketchbook. Another sweet pair of birds in love. It must be getting closer to Valentine's Day, or maybe I've been eating too much sugar.

Tree update

Men at work

Bob up a tree.

Reassessing the situation.

Naaw, that didn't look dangerous at all!

Hard at work

The whole tree didn't make it down. Something about not wanting to crush the garage, I'm ok with that.

MSED: Bird a Day #139 Love Stare

or is it lust you just can;t tell with some birds.

Today my Husband and his friend Bob, are cutting down a dead pine in our back yard before it falls on something important, like our house. I'm really going to miss it. It has been dead for a while but the chickadees and the woodpeckers still love to hang out there. Good bye old friend.

MSED: Bird a Day #138 Red Treasures

Here is another project that took awhile. I got the idea from this blog, Quirkiecraft.  I call it junk drawer art, she calls it "A canvas full of crap" LOL. She gives you a complete tutorial if you would like to try one for yourself.
I heard long ago that crows like to collect trinkets and shiny things to attract a mate. Most of this stuff comes from my husbands pocket after a day of work and over the years I have kept it, mostly because some of it looked important and I have a hard time throwing anything away.

MSED: Bird a Day #137 Yellow Bird

Today I cleaned out the refrigerator, made navy bean and ham soup, knit a bit on The Lucy sweater and made this little puzzle piece.

All in all a very good Saturday

MSED: Bird a Day #136 Sun Rise Rooster

In honor of today's glorious weather (including the sunrise) I give you Sun Rise Rooster

50 degrees and sunny, can't beat that with a stick!

MSED: Bird a Day #135 Peep Hole Owl

I give you, another puzzle piece.

It has been unseasonably warm these past couple of days and tomorrow it is supposed to reach the mid 40's It makes me long for spring even though I know winter just started and spring won't finally arrive until June or July ha ha.

MSED: Bird a Day #134 Green Nest

Here's today's puzzle piece.

I found a cool new pen. It's called Ink Joy by Paper Mate. I got a pack of 18 (10 different colors) for $3 at Target. They write liquid-y smooth and have a fine point (package said med point). Feels like somewhere in between a ball point and a roller ball.

At home in their jar.

Keep your caps on kids, it's cold outside.

And just writing with a pen with the word "joy" on it, well, it gives me joy.

Here are all the colors.

MSED: Bird a Day #133 The Ways of the Heart

Today was a perfect day to be at home to cook and craft and watch old movies. I did all three.

I am altering a puzzle for my next art project. Here is the first piece. There are 24 in all. The original puzzle came from the dollar store; it was Winnie the Pooh so this must be Owl.

Altered puzzle piece, acrylic paint, clip art, and pen