Signs of spring.....

About two years ago I took a cutting of a friend's ground orchid...and it is finally blooming for the first time!  The picture above shows the entire plant, and the close up shows the elegant little flower.  Each flower is only about 3/4 of an inch in diameter!

Click on the picture to see them full sized.

I don't know the name of these, but they have a succulent looking leaf, and their bright flowers are so cheerful!

Today was a gorgeous beach day.  Unfortunately, I had uploaded pictures to my computer last night and failed to put the memory card back into my good camera, so this was taken with my phone....and heavily  adjusted on IPhoto!   

Next weekend we'll head back to the beach with the good camera - there were two baby (only a few days old) osprey in a nest right next to the sidewalk and quite low.  I spent a lot of time watching mom feed them.  I also noticed the mockingbirds chasing other birds around - obviously protecting their nests, which they do with a fierceness that is frightening.  They will fly right at you if you get too close!  If I'm lucky, the three pelicans perched on the "No wake" sign will be there for church services again.....as will the red heron (rare to see), the snowy egrets, and the fishing osprey.  

Image transfer fun!

I've been playing again....and love image transfers, although they don't always work out.  I suppose I could research and find out how different papers respond to the technique, but experimentation always teaches me more.

A combination of printed paper, antique (late 1800s) title page from a German Hymnal, image, satin ribbon, beaded ribbon trim, and vintage ribbon banner.  Inks, gesso, and matte medium, and Modge Podge also used.

Here are the winners!

Using the random number generator, these are the winners of my One World One Heart Offerings:

Micki wins the pendant, http://thedote.blogspot.com, Rian wins the market bag, http://freubel-art.blogspot.com/, and jblanton wins the stocking, http://mynotsohurriedlife.blogspot.com/!

Congratulations!  I'll be in touch with each of you soon!  I had a blast visiting blogs, but didn't get anywhere near finished with the  list, so I will save it and work on it as I have time.  Catch you later!

Here's the OWOH post!

If you're looking for my OWOH offer, click this link!  http://misspproductions.blogspot.com/2011/01/one-world-one-heart-2011.html

Valentine and new inchies!

Of course, I am putting up last Monday's inchie with tomorrows.....I hope it's better late than never!

"Electrifying" was the topic for this inchie.  

I remembered a funny stamp I had, which made

me think of an espresso buzz, so I stamped it 

very simply, highlighted the eyes, and added

gold to the edges.

Fishy is tomorrow's topic.  My background is 

painted with Lumiere paints, and this little guy

looks like he's guilty of something, doesn't he?

Very fishy.......

And this is a collage I made using a video tutorial by Christy Tomlinson.  

I love how it turned out, and decided to make a 5 X 8 Valentine's card for my hubby.  Doing a smaller version (smaller than the suggested canvas version) was a good way to get started, and to find out what I really needed to have on-hand for the next attempt.

This involved collage, painting, texturing, doodling, rub-ons, and stamping.  I don't consider myself a doodler, but I am happy with this!


Thanks for stopping by!

Last weekend....

Last weekend I was in Boston, experiencing deep snow and a wonderful opera (starring my daughter) at The Boston Conservatory.  It was a lovely, relaxing time, and I came back to hurry-hurry, rush-rush at work - catching up is always that way, isn't it?  Finally, I uploaded pictures to share today.

Click on any picture to enlarge it.      Drinks on the patio, anyone?

Shovel
This!


No, thanks!

But isn't it lovely on a sunny Sunday morning?

This little beauty was enjoying the snow.....because the nice people in the blue house were feeding him!

I was lucky enough to spot my favorite bird, the hawk (I believe this is  a red-tail hawk) taking twigs to its nest!  Next thing you know, there's another flying to the nest to warn its mate of my loitering, after which they flew off to another tree to distract me.

After this picture, be sure to click on the two of these guys in flight - I am amazed that I caught them, and if you don't look carefully (and at the original image) you might miss them!

Isn't this cool?
So aero-
dynamic!



And of course, pictures of the reason I went to Boston in the first place......

Stephanie as Hansel at curtain call!

What a beautiful, spiritual opera this was - with funny parts, sad parts, and a bit of scary parts, too - and so much singing for Hansel and Gretel!  Jackie has been at the Conservatory the entire time Stephanie has - 5 years now - so watching the two of them together was quite special.

Thanks for sharing my trip!

Art lovers' inspiration!

Wow, you MUST check Suze's blog post out for inspiration.....Christy, I'm talking to you!  I'm in snowy Boston for Stephanie's Hansel and Gretel performance tonight, and very excited about it!  So nice to relax and peruse blogs all morning in my pjs!  Now, hit this link!  http://suzeweinberg.typepad.com/suzeblogz/2011/02/cowabunga.html