Turtle Season

It is indeed turtle season. I looked out the cabin door Saturday morning and saw a visitor coming up the lane.

This fella wasn't too happy to have me staring at him and taking pictures but he was a good sport.
Over on the grass was another turtle too. They were a good size, about ten inches long at least.

Once I left them alone they took off together in the grass.

Later in the afternoon this turtle was on the lane way, laying eggs! Funny, a number of people and children walked right by and barely glanced at the turtle. I am glad no one bothered it. Once the eggs were laid the turtle covered everything up and headed back into the water. Lots of work.

Warm Days Cool Nights

I woke up this morning to find the outdoors all foggy. It was still cool out too!

Everything was covered in dew.
There were spider webs everywhere! Okay, I expect the little guys are always busy weaving their webs but today was special as you could actually see them, in the most amazing places. I took over fifty pictures! I wont bore you with all of them. However, a few need to be shared.
Like little fairy curtains, covered in tiny glass beads.
Amazing.

I've Got Pictures!

Finally, things seem to be ticking along at a much better speed. Here is the front and back of the altered bra template from the latest Creative Underground swap.
If you have ever wished to participate in a swap this a great group of ladies. And the gals at the Underground always pull everything together in such a wonderful way. I have enjoyed the challenges and fun return of the group efforts throughout the year. You can check out their web site on the link above too.

Party Time

This is my contribution to the latest Creative Underground swap. I love the paper challenges the most.
After the past week I have had, I think I would enjoy a little party, for one, just me, being quiet and creative in my own way, on my own time. Sigh.

Another Swap Completed

The latest Underground swap is for another charm bracelet. This time I filled old bottle caps with watch parts and glass beads and filled them with 3D Crystal Lacquer from Sakura. Fun.

A Little Art

These are my tags for the latest Creative Underground swap. I knew what I wanted to do but it was a little tricky finding the time. However, I had a whole 90 minutes yesterday afternoon to myself. Amazing what you can accomplish when left alone. Satisfying too.

Final Swap of the Year

At the Creative Underground there is always a big swap to end off the year. This will be my third. I had to fill a bunch of glass jars with predetermined creative fodder and decorate the lids. I really wasn't sure what to do with the lids but by the time I finished filling the jars, I knew exactly what I was planning.

They sure look bright and fresh in comparison to the cold day outside. Off they go to the post office tomorrow.

Latest Swap Submission

Above is the original postcard for the current Creative Underground swap. I needed to create a postcard that my "muse" would have sent me. Exotic places were mentioned but I'm afraid the cottage is about as exotic as I aspire to. It is my special place where the"magic" happens and the soul is rejuvenated. Behind it are the twenty copies I need to send off for the swap.

My Swap Contribution

For the latest Creative Underground Swap I needed to alter some coasters. Funny how I had recently picked up a batch of coasters at a yard sale! When I got them home I chastised myself for the purchase, wondering if I would ever make use of them. Well, half are gone now. I loved how they looked all stacked up, waiting for shipping.
This is what I did with them. If you have been wondering about joining in on a swap, you should give it a try. I love the challenge and surprise at the end when the finished product arrives in the mail, with everyone's creative take on the guidelines.

Chime Swap/ Foreign Lands Journal

This is the result of all the Mavens' work at the chime swap! They never cease to amaze.
The journal I had to work on this month is on "Foreign Lands." I'm afraid I've never been anywhere too exotic, beyond British Columbia, Nova Scotia, Florida and points in between. It was my old postcards that inspired this spread. I wanted it to "feel" like an old scrapbook from someone well-traveled.

Flipping Over Florentine, Another Swap

This is my submission for the latest Creative Underground swap. It is titled, "Flipping Over Florentine" and I have no idea what the end result is going to be. This piece is the required 1.25x2.5 inches. It's going to be very interesting! I hear the chimes from the last swap are done and soon to head this way. There's been some good buzz about that!

Doors of Discovery Swap

This is what met me at the mail today. Wow! The wonderful facade is just the beginning too. All the doors are tucked behind the grand front "door" and each one is a treat to behold. A whole lot of work and care went into this! Thanks to everyone who participated.

Chime Swap

These are my pieces made for the Creative Underground's Chime Swap. Each person's submission will be hung and the wondrous purveyors of the Creative Underground will work their magic and assemble everything to create a wonderful chime to be enjoyed by all who participated. I look forward to the results of this challenge. Naturally I will post the results when they arrived.

Altered Chess Set

Being a spell distant from the Creative Underground in Colorado, I am often one of the last people to receive their swaps. I got lucky this time and lo and behold, it arrived yesterday. What can I say? Okay, first I will apologise for the lousy picture, but it was sitting nicely on the kitchen table and I didn't want to move it. At first I set it up as though we would actually play chess but then you wouldn't be able to see all the pieces. Everyone did an amazing job at interpreting their chosen chess piece. They are all so different! I'm looking forward to seeing what comes back from the "door" project I posted a while ago. Click on the picture to get a close-up view of everything. You really need a close-up of each piece to get the best impression of it all.

Another Creative Undrground Swap

This month we had to make a door that looks like a door and on the flip side, create a small piece of work that "looks forward into the new year." This is what I did. I have no lofty goals but to get through each day and look after my family and make a little time to stretch my artistic wings.

Thriftings

Today was a day of checking out the local second-hand stores looking for items that would inspire me in Catherine Moore's Toy Theatre challenge. Today it was "Thrifty Thursday" at the Goodwill store in Brockville so my little finds were half off. Even better. I found the tassels, lovely knife box from England, a bone china wooden shoe with flowers in it, a funky foam crown, and the rosary, along with an 1894 reader, not shown. The sparkley thing is actually a Christmas ornament but it reminded me of a grand chandelier. Hmm, do you think Marie Antoinette would have approved?The bag in the front holds 281 glazier points. It seems they are hard to find around here so when I finally found them, I took the whole drawer to the cash and had them count them. I have plans to make a lot of art this year and don't want to have to search again for awhile.

The star book is the result of the last swap of last year from the Creative Underground. Now that was a happy surprise in the mail today!

Aaron's art and My Altered Chess Pieces

This Aaron's 8'x8' drawing pretty much finished, except for some little finishing touches. I think it turned out great for his first effort at this scale. My husband wants to put it up in his workshop when Aaron's done with it. That's really the only place it would fit!
For the Creative Underground's blowout end of year swap we each chose a chess man to alter. I'm the White Bishop. For the longest time I was drawing a blank but with all the holiday activity I figured I would make him into a tiny winter character. I also have to alter the square he stands on and then make copies. I'm curious to see what everyone else does. I'm feeling a little uncertain about my efforts this time. I found it tricky as they really aren't very big, and that limits what can be done. Their little beards are made from mohair and I used mica flaked gel medium to create snow at their feet.

"Art Angel"

For the Creative Underground's October swap, the final one for this year, we had to create an angel of some sort and then reduce it to just a little larger than ATC size, and submit copies. This is my "Art" angel. The poor little soul can't find his paintbrush and is all geared up to create. I embellished him with a jewel and some mica paint on the wings before sending them off. Now I must get to work on the altered chess swap.

Palatial Pagoda Swap

Today was a long day full of activity and the best part was the mail! My Palatial Pagoda Swap arrived! Here it is. Each participant decorated their matchboxes on the front and inside and added a little handmade trinket relating to what a Princess might like or own. As always, those folks at the Creative Underground assembled everything in a truly delightful way! It was fun opening each matchbox drawer to see what wonders it held, just like those advent calendars of our youth. However, I got to open all the drawers at once! The little box at the top has an adorable little charm of a slipper on a cushion and inside is a wee book with a list of all the participants.

I also received the latest copy of Somerset Studio along with the book, "Mixed Media Collage". I've not had too much time to do more than quickly flip the reading material, but as always there is much to inspire and glean from the work of others.

Gems of Gratitude

Here is my contribution to the latest Creative Underground swap. It's called "Gems of Gratitude" and it's all about what makes us happy, those little daily moments or things in or lives that enrich us, etc. I said friendship( my friends have been a real lifeline since we moved almost two years ago) and living in the country is endlessly refreshing( listening to the birds, the wind through the trees etc.) That's what I've tried to represent in my little 'gems'. I look forward to seeing what they do with all our submissions again. They never cease to surprise and delight!