Day Three

Today I chose a Chinaberry carving we have to use as the subject of today's ink sketch.

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 Three   12/13/2011

I now have Day Three completed ... only 72 sketches more to do!  I hope I can, I hope I can, I hope I can ....

Happy Day!
Karen Anne

Brenda Swenson's "75 Day Sketch Challenge" 

The 75 Day Sketch Challenge

After many days of pondering over the wisdom of taking on Brenda Swenson's "75 Day Sketch Challenge"  I finally decided to make the plunge and take it on!  The challenge being to complete one drawing per day for a period of 75 days .... the goal is to build observation and drawing skills.  The drawings are to be done only in ink ... no pencil or erasers allowed! 

No pencil or eraser and putting pen directly to paper was, to say the least, very daunting to me!  On Day One I decided to try my hand at a bowl and pitcher set on the side board that sits in front of our dinning room window.  I can honestly tell you, this rendition does not even come close to the original; I wasn't able to capture the unique design on the pitcher and just went with the flow; the actual subject is much nicer. 

As an additional challenge I also decided to share my attempts here on my blog ... goof ups and all!  This may just prove to be a very humbling challenge ....

Day One  12/11/2011

I am using a 6"x8" spiral drawing pad for this challenge ... the top of this drawing was cut off because I didn't want to remove the page from the book.  I want to keep all the drawings in tack and watch my progress.

Day Two    12/12/2011

My husband has a collection of curious sea shells residing on top of the built in buffet in our dinning room, so I grabbed one of the shells to use as the subject for my Day 2 attempt.    Drawing without a pencil sketch first is still daunting but, after all, this is a challenge journey!

If you would like to read about the challenge and perhaps try it yourself, just pop over to Brenda Swenson's Blog!

Til tomorrow ....

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

Another ACEO Challenge ACEO!

This is good!  Two ACEO's completed!  What better view from your front door window could greet you than a surprise visit from someone you love!

I've titled this little piece "Christmas Time Visitor" .....

Merry Christmas everyone!

Big Hugs,

Karen Anne

PS  If you make ACEO's, why not pop over to The ACEO Challenge  Blog and challenge yourself and enter this month's Challenge of  ".....Out Your Window"!

The ACEO Challenge for December 2011

I think I have been in an artistic slump these past several weeks and, as I was visiting The ACEO Challenge Blog  yesterday, decided the December Challenge was just what I needed to get my creative juices again flowing.  The challenge this month is ".....Out your window"; I looked out my front room window and saw my little Humming Bird friends hovering around the humming bird feeders and decided to begin with them in mind.

Christmas decorations are coming out of their year long storage and had been added to the porch and, together with the humming birds, created a charming view.  So here is the Christmas view from my front room window.....

So now I am off to enter it in the December ACEO Challenge .... and begin work on another little ACEO!

Merry Christmas!

Karen Anne

The "Humming Belles" are holding a Give Away!

As most of you know, I have two Etsy Shops and two blogs ... From our "Humming Belles Etsy Shop" and on our "Humming Belles" blog we are hosting a "Give Away" of one "Humming Belles" starter kit, of the winner's choice!

All you need to do to enter is leave a comment at "Humming Belles" Blog under the"New Boy in the neighborhood and a Give Away!"  ....it's as easy as that!

So pop on over to the "Humming Belles" Blog and post your comment!  On November 15th, 2011 we will put all the names in a hat and drawing the lucky winner.  Maybe it will be you???  Won't know unless you try! 

Once a winning name has been drawn, we will contact that person for their address.

Good luck to all!

Karen Anne

"Twin Horned Toad Lizards"

I have illustrated zentangle inspired salmon, flounder, crawdads, and geckos ... last week my husband asked me to create a zentangle inspired drawing featuring Horned Toad Lizards, when he was a young lad he had one as a pet and he really likes them! Well, I will tell you, this was one of the hardest drawings I have ever done! It took over two days of sketching before I finally came up with a shape that he was happy with and wow, was he ever particular! I am happy to say, we are still married!

So here you go .... Jim's "Twin Horned Toad Lizards"

Happy Day!

Karen Anne

A Surprise Came In The Mail!

Earlier this week I was having an ordinary day, sitting at my table and working on an illustration.  Danny Boy spotted the mailman, which set him off flying across the room and landing on top of the couch perch which affords him a grand view from the front room window, and he let go with his "Mailman Alarm"!  

Jim went out and gathered up the collection, and came back in with the usual amount of "Snail Mail" advertising, catalogs, sales promotions and a letter for me?!  In this day and age it is a rarity to actually receive a personal letter, it's like a surprise gift in the mail!  And it was!  It was addressed to me from my dear friend to the North, MagicLoveCrow!

I carefully opened up the letter which held one of Stacy's adorable Baby Crow cards, snugly enclosed inside where two beautiful ACEO's that she had picked out for us and sent "to make you smile!".   Well, she did just that - made us smile and turned an ordinary day into an extra special day!

Her gift was so special that I just had to share them with all of you (she said it was OK for me to do so)!   I hope these pictures make you smile too!

"Laugh" by MagicLoveCrow

"Just Married" by MagicLoveCrow

Thank you so very much special friend!

And, in Stacy's own words, "Keep On Smiling!".

Take care and may your day be happy!

Karen Anne

"Dance Of The Gecko's"

I have had numerous requests to illustrate a gecko design and this past week I finally did just that!  Here is my latest piece of art titled "Dance Of The Gecko's", hope you like it!

You are invited to visit the "Humming Belles"!

If you have the opportunity, pop over to my other blog to see what the "Humming Belles" have been up to!  They would love to have you visit!

Pisces aka Two Salmon - a new zentangle inspired illustration

 "Pisces aka Two Salmon"

I have been having fun creating illustrations using zentangle inspired patterns; in this illustration I had drawn the border first, because my inspiration GPS just wasn't working. As the border was coming to completion I kept thinking of salmon (why salmon? I don't know!) so I went with this theme and the result is the drawing you see in this listing. I like the way it turned out and hope you do as well! The original drawing was done on an 8.5" x 11" sheet of paper, but I have reduced it down to be able to offer it in ACEO format.

Camping Adventures With The "Humming Belles"!

The weather has been wonderful these past several weeks in the great Pacific Northwest, we have finally been blessed with summer!  Since late August we have gotten in some good camping times starting off with White River, then  to Trask River, onto Kilchis River, and ending up at Whalen Island.

On our latest excursion to Kilchis River the "Humming Belles" asked if they could tag along on our adventure.  Of course we were delighted to have their charming company and they happily made themselves all comfy in our mini-motorhome and off we all went!

When we finally arrived at our destination the little darlings took off and began exploring and found some delightful spots just perfect for having some fairy fun!

 

This was a magical little spot they found where two trees roots were intertwined forming a delightful area for the wee ones to climb over, under and discover wonderful hiding niches!

This was an area they chanced upon that was like a miniature forest, made just for the spirits of fun seeking little fairies.

After a day of exploring and new adventures the "Humming Belles" came trooping out of their newly found "Fairy World Forest" filled with tales of new discoveries and hidden little treasures.

Several of them wanted to help me set up my portable art studio and help me along with my latest illustration.  We had caught three cute little crawdads earlier in the day and they thought I should capture them in a drawing before returning them to their river home.

So here we are, starting a new drawing and wondering how it will progress.

We've gotten off to a nice beginning.  We have our images drawn, shaded in just a bit with colored pencils and beginning to add details.  We all agreed that zentangle inspired designs would work well in this illustration.

They drawing is beginning to take shape, the crawdads are completed and the background design and border are needing to be added.

  Here we are about half way finished with the background and border designs; we are pleased with the direction this piece has taken and are looking forward to it completion.

Finally!  The completed illustration!  We like it!

We titled this piece "Kilchis Krawdads"

We all had loads of fun on this expedition and hope you liked our sharing this time with all of you.

Happy day!
Karen Anne and the "Humming Belles"

25% Discount in both Etsy Shops!

I'm currently offering a new 25% discount on your entire purchase (doesn't apply to shipping and handling) in both of my Etsy Shops, just use the code SALE4U in the coupon box of your order form when checking out.....
IrelandBrady Etsy Shop:
www.etsy.com/shop/IrelandBrady?ref=si_shop
HummingBelles Etsy Shop:
www.etsy.com/shop/HummingBelles?ref=si_shop

Happy Day!
Karen Anne

Great times camping result in latest drawing!

This latest drawing is titled "Rosa's Flounder". We were down at the Pacific Coast in a campsite on Whalen Island the past few days and had great weather and a wonderful time. On Monday morning the camp host, Rosa, came by and showed me her catch of the day, a beautiful flounder, which inspired this drawing. The best part, however, was when she offered to filet the fish and give it to us for dinner! Cooked up in butter with pepper, season salt and garlic powder it proved to be the best tasting fish I have ever eaten! I remarked that it tasted a bit like delicate shrimp and Rosa said it was probably because flounder feed on sand shrimp. Guess I'll have to get a fishing license for my next trip to Whalen Island!

"Rosa's Flounder" 

 We spent time in the Trask River Campground in Tillamook County on Friday and Saturday and actually caught three crawdads!  We gave them back to the river the next day because three wasn't enough to cook up, boy were they happy to get back into the river!  Here are a few photos from the Trask River Campsite ....

After two days at Trask River we headed on over to Whalen Island, another Tillamook County Campground, where I set up my portable art studio and began work on "Rosa's Flounder".  Here are some of those photos ...

Another great discovery was an easy way to get hot water for washing dishes!  I took along an old roaster, filled it with water and dish soap, heated it up on the campstove and had hot water for washing!  Yes!  An added benefit is the lid keeps out bugs and pine needles.  Then I use a 5 gallon water dispenser to rinse the dishes, really makes cleaning up a breeze!

And, if you ever want the BEST camp stove that heats up water in a jiffy ... get yourself a Stansport!  It is almost as good as my domesticated restaurant gas stove at home!

We have found another Tillamook County camp ground we want to check out, it is called Kilchis River Campground.  If the weather holds up, maybe we can get over there sometime in early September, who knows, maybe we'll catch some crawdads over there???
Would be nice to catch enough for a small spiced crawdad feast with melted garlic butter!

Happy camping!
Karen Anne

Some new One Dollar ACEO's.....

"Kickin' Back At White River"

 

"Zentangle On Blue" 

 

"Undersea Panel Number Three" 

"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

The "Humming Belles" Had A Magical Day!

Hi Everbody!

Wow!  The "Humming Belles" had an wonderful day at the August 6th "Hip Happening" Arts and Crafts Show!

I awoke Saturday morning with a sense of foreboding and did not feel at all like setting up our displays for the day, I wasn't sure it was worth the effort.  A feeling of gloom seemed to foreshadow the day but, never one to give up, I made sure "Danny Boy" was all set up with treat balls hidden for him to find throughout his day and off we set with the "Humming Belles".

We arrived at the hall and set up our tables and arranged our displays, one table for the "Ireland Brady Etsy Shop" and one for the "Humming Belles" Etsy Shop.  We had the background pictures framed and stood the little belles in front of their scenes complete with matching outfits and props.  A gentle breeze blew through the hall and their little wings fluttered and they looked like they were ready to take flight in happy delight!

We had settled back in our chairs as customers began strolling in, seeking out new discoveries and one of a kind treasures.  Forty-five vendors were scattered throughout the inside of the hall and outside along the front and down the side.  Beautiful creations and ideas over flowed the tables welcoming patrons to come and explore.

We noticed in unison that something a bit unusual was occurring; as people walked into the hall and looked around, to get their bearings before beginning their explorations, many would stop in mid hall, look over at the "Humming Belles" and slowly walk over as if magically drawn to the little fairies on the tabletop with their gently fluttering wings.  We sat back and watched as they slowly scanned over the display and would finally look up and begin asking questions with sweet smiles of  past remembrances shinning on their faces.

Some would relate tales of their first paper dolls, others would share stories of family members and friends who loved paper dolls, many just marveled at how our little "Humming Belles" were beyond what one expects.   The "Humming Belles" were in their glory  and had a hard time trying to just sit still and smile.  Inside they were bubbling with excitement, people loved them!  They were giddy with delight!

People were pleased with the concept of being able to choose their own favorite scenes, outfits, and wings; plus the fact that this is a collection that will be ongoing and ongrowing.  They favored being able to color the pages, completing what I had started, and thereby making each set of wings, each outfit, and each scene personalized.

We listened as people spoke up and let us know what they felt we should also have to offer.  Many were disappointed that we did not have illustrated short stories about "Humming Belles" adventures for each doll; BUT the biggest item we are missing are Boy Fairies!  Well, this is an ever growing collection so I guess over the next few months you'll be finding stories and boy fairies joining in on the fun!  We may just have to change the name to the "Humming Belles and Beaus", what do you think?!

As the day grew to an end, we realized it had been a wonderfully magical day and the gloom of the morning had been sent fleeing by the sunshine of loving acceptance and charming new friends!  Eight "Humming Belles" and many coloring pages of scenes, wings and outfits have been taken to new homes were they will share their lives and adventures with new families and friends!  One "Humming Belles" Starter Kit will even be flying overseas to a young girl in Croatia!  Imagine that!

The "Humming Belles" have taken flight!


PS   I had meant to bring along my camera to take pictures of the displays and the many new friends we met yesterday but it sat, fully charged, on the seat of the old oak hall stand next to our front door.  Other than that, it was indeed a grand day!


May you always have
Love to Share,
Health to Spare,
And Friends who Care!

Karen Anne aka IrelandBrady aka HummingBelles
MY FIRST ETSY SHOP:
http://www.etsy.com/shop/IrelandBrady?ref=si_shop
MY SECOND ETSY SHOP:
http://www.etsy.com/shop/HummingBelles?ref=si_shop
MY BLOG  - "IrelandBrady - Musings To Ponder":
http://irelandbrady.blogspot.com/
My "Humming Belles" Blog:
http://hummingbelles.blogspot.com/

The "Humming Belles" will be presented to Portland Society!

Hi!  This coming Saturday the "Humming Belles" will be attending their first Art & Craft Event and they wanted to be sure to invite you to come on over if you are in the area!  So consider this your personal invitation!

This is a big Sellwood/Westmoreland Passport Day Neighborhood Event, in Portland, Oregon, that they are delighted to be able to participate in this year! 

If you can make it, we'd love to see you!  Our tables will be located at the "Hip Happening" inside the Masonic Hall .... plus the Mason's are putting on one terrific BBQ that is super yummy!

Happy Day!

"No Name Zentangle Design"

I haven't done any art work in the past two weeks and really felt the need to create a new piece. I didn't have any particular subject in mind but I realized I had to create something. What better to fill that creative urgency than to sit down and mellow out with a zentangle design! I have titled this piece "No Name Zentangle" because I wasn't thinking of anything in particular but it made me feel good and regenerated my "Inspiration GPS".

This piece is now available in 8.5" x 11" and in the ACEO format size of 2.5"x3.5" in my Etsy Shop.

"No Name Zentangle"

 

Wishing you a day filled with creativity and inspiration!