Do you know about Pinterest? It’s my new obsession.
Okay… thats a bit strong, but I am loving having a place to tag images found while surfing the internets. I can “pin” images from artists that I love, which creates these nifty boards of images. Like bookmarks, only image based. Also things that inspire me. Patterns. Shapes. Historical greyhound photos. Dreams for my studio space.
Really cool. Very addictive. If only they had an iPad app… I’d be in serious trouble.
I live in a town that bans residents from owning specific dog breeds. Whatever my feelings about this recently reviewed ordinance, I ran across some neat children’s picture books about the subject of dogs and safety that will be of interest to others.
May I Pet Your Dog? The How-To Guide for Kids Meeting Dogs (and Dogs Meeting Kids) by Stephanie Calmenson is a story about a dachshund named Harry. The illustrations are cute, but more importantly, very clear. Nice story about respect for animals.
Don’t Lick The Dog – Making Friends with Dogs by Wendy Wahman is a rhyming story with bold illustrations. The story is simple but effective. Not as in-depth as the previous title, but a great gift book that is fun, yet informative.
Not Afraid of Dogs by Susanna Pitzer is not an etiquette book but a story about courage and friendship. The story begins with a boy who is “not afraid of dogs, just doesn’t like them.” He has to confront his fear when his aunt’s dog comes to stay. The illustrations are beautiful.
I bought all three for our public library. If you have suggestions about more good children’s picture books about pets, I’ve love to hear them!
How does she do it? I mean… walk her Greyhound with the big, round tuft of fur around the hem of her skirt?
No wonder the Greyhound looks so happy!
(from http://www.loc.gov/pictures/resource/npcc.13418/)
You know when your dog is doing something inappropriate, but instead of correcting him, you laugh?
No? Just me then? Okay…
I’ll attribute it to the blizzard conditions and being cooped up in the house. Or that sometimes he’s so darn cute.
Thank you to everyone who commented on the blog and on the studio page on facebook! I added the number of blog comments (50!) to the facebook comments (21!) for a total of 71 comments. Each of the comments was given a number – blog posts are 1-50, then facebook 51-71. Then I went to random.org to generate a number. And the winner is….
#20 Paula Knight! Email your address to me and I’ll get this smoke fired mask sculpture on its way!
Paula’s answer was Ireland (along with a lot of others!) and that was my answer too. Go figure.
This has been Hard North Dakota Winter #3. Cold again. Snow in the forecast. Ugh. I try to live in the moment, take each day as it comes, and not be too concerned with the weather. Plus, Yay Light! It is not dark at 4:00 PM!
Still, come the end of February the cabin fever hits. Real Cabin Fever. The kind that can only be cured by traveling 500 miles or more from my point of residence.
Not that this little town is a bad place to live. It is rather unvarying. Willie Nelson describes the culture in his hometown of Abbott, Texas as having “two kinds of culture – agriculture and yogurt” – Bowman is kind of like that.
Not a terrible thing. Here’s Main street in 1910ish(?). Sigh… there used the be a Bakery. Alas, no more. The only bread available comes in on a truck. And what *are* the piles in the front of the building?
Here is our town circa 2009 taken from the top of one of the buttes. And we are in one of the parts of North Dakota that isn’t so flat…
If I’m stuck here for a bit, let my artwork go somewhere else. So a giveaway. How about this smoke-fired mask:
This is a large whippet/small greyhound sized mask hand built by me. Smoke fired with all sort of goodies like copper wire, plants from my backyard, cheap dog food, etc – that with the fire gives it a funky mottled surface. Totally one of a kind. Has a copper wire hanger if you’d like to hang it on a wall.
To enter the giveaway, answer the following question in the comments section of this blog post or in the comments or comment on this post on my studio’s page on facebook.
“If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would it be and why?”
Please, one entry per person. No entries after 9:00 pm Pacific Time Monday, February 21. Winner will be chosen at random. I’ll announce the winner on Tuesday morning.
Thank you to everyone who commented on the blog and on the studio page on facebook! I added the number of blog comments (64!) to the facebook comments (23!) for a total of 87 comments. Each of the comments was given a number – blog posts are 1-64, then facebook 65-87. Then I went to random.org to generate a number. And the winner is….
#30 Ann Sparks! Email your address to me and I’ll get this large Trio tile on its way!
And just because that lunar eclipse was so darn cool last night… let’s pull to more numbers out of the hat:
#53 Joyce Jackson! And #74 Christine Maglione Cavella! - Email your address to me and I’ll get a 4×4″ Leaping Greyhound tile to you both!
Because you guys so darn awesome with all your positive and helpful comments about my work. 1191 Fans on the Facebook! How cool!
Because even though the sun set at 4:07pm this afternoon, the rest of the day was bright and sunny and beautiful….
Because the Greyhounds slurped up their green tripe with smiles on their faces (almost!) and even though the stuff is so smelly and gross, I was happy to feed it because it makes them so happy….
A little giveaway.
One of my 6″ x 9″ Greyhound trio tiles in antique parchment glaze. Add it to your Greyhound art collection. Use it as a trivet in the kitchen. Hang it on the wall or grout and frame it.
To enter the giveaway, answer the following question in the comments section of this blog post or in the comments or comment on this post on my studio’s page on facebook.
What’s your favorite time of year and why?
Please, one entry per person. No entries after 9:00 pm Pacific Time Monday, December 20. Winner will be chosen at random. I’ll announce the winner on Tuesday morning.
“There is a vitality, a life force, a quickening that is translated through you into action, and there is only one of you in all time, this expression is unique, and if you block it, it will never exist through any other medium; and be lost. The world will not have it. It is not your business to determine how good it is, not how it compares with other expression. It is your business to keep it yours clearly and directly, to keep the channel open. You do not even have to believe in yourself or your work. You have to keep open and aware directly to the urges that motivate you. Keep the channel open. No artist is pleased. There is no satisfaction whatever at any time. There is a queer, divine dissatisfaction, a blessed unrest that keeps us marching and makes us more alive than the others.” – Martha Graham
No arguing with Martha. Spot-on.
Thank you to everyone who commented on the blog and on the studio page on facebook! I added the number of blog comments (24!) to the facebook comments (13!) for a total of 37 comments. Each of the comments was given a number – blog posts are 1-24, then facebook 25-37. Then I went to random.org to generate a number. And the winner is….
#25 - Carla J Myers! Email your address to me and I’ll get the tile on its way!
The trip to California is planned. Two dogs and a Mom and a bit of art work in a Honda Element – google maps says 1,555 miles. Wahoo!
So I make a list of things to pack. I know what I need to set up the artwork. But traveling with dogs… that is where I begin to feel concern. I want to be prepared. So I have been shopping. I hate buying stuff that I will not use.
These crates look awesome!? Two would fit so perfectly in the back of the Element. But would wire be better? They would rattle, I would think…
So time for a give away! Here is your question:
“What is your favorite item you have purchased for your dog(s)?”
One 6.5 x 8.5 inch oval “Eat, Sleep, Run” tile to the winner.
To enter the contest, answer the following question in the comments section of this blog post or comment on this post on my studio’s page on facebook.
Please, one entry per person. No entries after 9:00 pm Pacific Time Sunday, July 25. Winner will be chosen at random. I’ll announce the winner on Monday morning. Have a great weekend!
, Just Kids
, Steve Jobs
, The Information: A History, a Theory, a Flood
and The Help Deluxe Edition
.
