Day Eight!

Well, I wasn't sure I'd get Day Eight completed with the Family Christmas Party and all!  So I started it before the get together and put on the finishing touches once we got back home.  The party was great, 40 members showed up, enjoyed all the good food and had grand fun with the gift exchange game!

Today I picked out another Chinaberry Parasite Wood Carving.  This is one of a fish, I like these carvings, they intrigue me how the carver leaves so much of the natural part of the growth and works the subject into the shape of the piece.  They are each unique and individual because each piece of parasite wood is one of a kind.

FYI:  Chinaberry parasite wood carvings come from a parasitic plant, a mushroom-like growth that imbeds itself into the bark of a Chinaberry tree and gets its nourishment from the tree's sap.  These parasite growths are so hard and dense that they don't decay when the tree is dead and rots away, leaving these parasite growths to be picked up and carved into beautiful objects by talented artists.

"Day Eight Ink Sketch"

If you like to know more about the challenge, just click on this link Brenda Swenson's 75 Day Sketch Challenge.

Happy Day!

Karen Anne

My Third and Final ACEO Challenge ACEO

Outside of our kitchen garden window we have an arborvitae that stands at the east end of the window.  We also have a family of squirrels that nest in the tall blue spruce in our front yard.  The squirrels gather and bury nuts all over our yard, later they will dig up their little treasures and many a time I have been working in the kitchen and a motion will capture my attention outside of the window, I look up and I'll see a little squirrel happily munching on a tender nut morsel. 

This happened again today and inspired my third and final entry in The ACEO Challenge which I have titled "Garden Window Visitor"....

Happy Day all!

Karen Anne

"Stand Up To Cancer Rose"

I just learned that someone special and very dear to my heart has been diagnosed with breast cancer.   I know what it is like to be given that diagnosis.  I wanted to do something, prayer is foremost, but I felt a need to pick up my pen and create something meaningful.  The result is this zentangle that I have titled "Stand Up To Cancer Rose".

I originally designed this drawing in Zentangle format size of 3.5" x 3.5" but wanted it to be available in the ACEO format size of 2.5" x 3.5" as well.  So I digitally altered it in PhotoShop.  Following are both versions....

Zentangle Tile size 3.5" x 3.5"

 

ACEO size 2.5" x 3.5" 

Continually praying for a cure so that no more victims need suffer from this disease.

Karen Anne

Roses For Norway Movement

I recently learned of the world wide "Roses For Norway" movement and was very touched by this article I read, http://flowersbyterica.blogspot.com/2011/08/92-of-my-reasons-i-blog4peace-roses-for.html.

As a result, I am sending over three original rose illustrations as my contribution to the bouquet of "Roses For Norway".

"Roses For Norway", in my heart and in my prayers.
You are invited to participate.

Karen Anne

"Discount Coupon for Blog Followers"

As a small thank you to all of my blog followers, for the entire month of April I am offering a discount of 30% on all items in My Etsy Shop.  If you would like to make use of this discount, use the code MYBLOG30 on your order form when you are checking out.  The discount will be automatically applied to your purchase.  The discount will not apply to shipping and handling.

May you celebrate a joyous Easter Season!

Karen Anne