Canning Pickles

My other major activity this week:

 A week ago we were given over 30 cucumbers from a friend. Who can eat that many cucumbers?? After giving away several, decided to make sweet pickles with the rest. I hadn't made pickles since before the kids were born! (almost 30 years ago!). Called Mom and found out which recipe I needed for the sweet pickles I grew up on (and helped Mom and Grandma can). They had to soak in brine for 6 days prior to being ready to season and can. Today was the 6th day. Then it was one to boiling them in alum, then boiling in ginger, then boiling in syrup mixture of vinegar, spices, and sugar. Finally,ready to can! 

Boiling pickles in alum. Then drained and boiled again in
 ginger.  Drained again and boiled in vinegar syrup. 

Finally, canned the pickles in a water bath.

Nine jars of sweet pickles.

I'm exhausted!!  I know chickens (previous post) and making pickles don't have anything to do with art or quilting. But when you spend this much time making something, you want to share it with everyone!!!

By the way, anyone need a jar of pickles?

Green Eggs and Ham

Rhode Island Red 3 yr old chicken

We have had chickens for the past dozen years. It's been great fun watching them - they do make interesting pets. I love the fresh eggs. We are allowed to have 4 chickens in our home in the suburbs. We started with one Rhode Island Red about a dozen years ago. She was so much fun, we decided to raise some more when she got old. We bought 3 chicks (a Rhode Island Red, a White Leghorn, and a black/white Barred Rock). Unfortunately, we lost both the leghorn and the barred rock within the first 6 months. The Rhode Island Red doesn't realize she's a chicken. She thinks she's either a person or a dog. She pecks at the kitchen window when she's hungry. If the back door is left open, she'll just come in and start pecking for food. She follows you and  talks to you whenever you are out back doing anything. 

Americauna chicks at about 6 months old.

We decided to try raising chicks again and bought 3 Americauna chicks about 7 months ago. They are a bit different than the other chicks we've had. They have a barking sound when they want more food. They get so excited about any little thing and will jump into the air or go sprinting around their hen house. They make me laugh. 

Americauna chicks at about 6 months old.

They start laying between 6 and 8 months of age. We found the first egg a couple days ago and then yesterday two of them laid eggs. One last chicken to start! We weren't sure what color their eggs would be, as they can lay green, blue, or brown eggs. So far, the two that have started laying eggs have green eggs.

Green eggs from the Americauna chicks and brown eggs from the Rhode Island Red.

My husband's artwork - the first green egg with green veggies.

Green eggs and ham for breakfast!! Ymmm.

Box Birthday Card

I went to a card-making party at a friend's house last night. It was fun and I brought home a beautiful birthday card that pop-ups into a box.

Years ago, when Craftmart was still here in the valley of Phoenix, Arizona, my daughter and I belonged to a card club. We would get together every month to make a beautiful hand-made card. Even though we made the same cards, my daughter's and my cards would always look so different. At that time, I would usually do the card basically as instructed with a few variations, while she would think outside the box and create something wonderful and fun! Family and friends were always excited to see the new cards and would anxiously hope they were going to get one hand-delivered or receive one in the mail. When Craftmart closed some 7-8 years ago, we quit making cards. She graduated and moved out. It wasn't fun to get everything out and make a hand-made card by myself. It just was too much effort. Plus, I didn't have the fancy die-cut machines - I never needed one; since in card club, we could use all the machines, dies, stamps, etc. that Craftmart owned. 

A good friend started a card-making club at her house a couple years ago. Unfortunately, it always fell on a night I had another commitment. I no longer have that commitment, so have been able to attend the card-making parties at her house this month and last month! (I forgot to post last month's card we made for Valentine's Day - since I no longer have the card and didn't photograph it, I can't post it either! Oops! Will try not to repeat that mistake!)

All that bit of history, to bring me to last night's box card! 

Front of closed box card.  My embellishments stick out the sides a bit, so I will need a
larger envelope than the one that was supposed to go with the card. I can live with that!

Front view of open box card. We were given a choice for a birthday card or an Easter card. I obviously chose the birthday card. Others made the Easter card, with a bunny and Easter sentiments, rather than the cake and birthday sentiments. Both cards had the flowers, leaves, grass, and butterfly embellishments.

Top view of the card so the various layers inside the "box" can be seen. It was fun to make. I added layered birds and flowers to the box sides, too. The butterfly bounces on a long, clear tab.

This is a beautiful card, and can be made with a variety of papers and embellishments, or in different sizes. You could make a card like this for every occasion. (I might just do that, too!)  Glad we were given instructions, though, as I would never remember how to make it otherwise - especially with the mistakes I kept making.

I plan to give this one to my dear, wonderful sister for her birthday next month! (No peeking,sis! Act surprised when you receive it in the mail!)

Create Mixed Media's Zen Doodles: Oodles of Doodles Challenge

I wanted to get my entries into Create Mixed Media's Zen Doodles challenge at least a day early! I made it! I entered 9 Zentangle tiles today.

These are the tiles I entered. Now it's an anxious game of "wait and see" - "wait" while they decide which entries get accepted and "see" if any of mine are accepted for publication in the book.  

Similar to what I  created in week 1 of the 365 Days of Art Challenge. Made
a few small variations in it to fit the 3 1/2" x 3 1/2" tile. (See post dated Jan 7, 2014)

Almost identical to earlier design. I decided to do the bubbles in blue in,
instead of pencil so they would show up better. (See post dated July 2, 2013)

See scallop in post dated July 2 2013.

See fish in post dated Oct 4, 2013.

Made some variations to the design I did earlier. The earlier Zentangle divided the string
with arcs, creating an illusion of a circular pattern. This time, I drew overlapping circles
for the string. I changed a couple of the tangles as well. (See post dated June 12, 2013.)

I combined the calavera from week 9 of the art challenge (see post dated Mar 6, 2014) 
with the flowers around the calavera from week 8 (see post dated Feb 27, 2014). 

I also entered the three tiles that I posted yesterday for Week 10 of the 365 Days of Art challenge. You can see them here.

It was a challenge to re-do them at almost half the scale of the original size, but it was worth it on the chance that some of the them will be accepted for publication in F&W Media's new book: Zen Doodles: Oodles of Doodles.

Happy Doodling!

Week 10 of 365 Days of Art Challenge: Zentangles

The 10th week of 365 Days of Art Challenge!! Where is the time going!! Hard to believe it's the middle of March already! I'm still sketching! This week, I drew Zentangles for Create Mixed Media's call for entries for the Zen Doodles: Oodles of Doodles challenge. I thought the deadline was March 7, but turned out it is this Friday, Mar 14. Thank goodness, as it gave me more time to work on my entries.

I do most of my doodling in a 6" x 6" notebook. I had a few that I wanted to submit for the challenge, so I needed to re-draw them onto tiles, as the challenge is only accepting work done on the 3 1/2" x 3 1/2" tiles created for Zentangles - no Zentangle-inspired art (ZIA's) this time.

This is a new Zentangle I created for this challenge.

3 1/2" x 3 1/2" Zentangle on mixed-media illustration paper. Sakura 
black pens in sizes 0.005, 0.01, and 0.03 and pencil. 

I created a tangle pattern I call Woven Bridges, as it reminded me of bridges going over and under each other, like weaving.  I found later that it could be considered a variation on W2 (which can be seen here for step out on how to draw it.  My step-out is below, followed by the monotangle Zentangle I created from this design.

Woven Bridges Step Out.  (Can be considered a variation of W2). 

3 1/2" x 3 1/2" Zentangle on mixed-media illustration paper. Sakura black
pens in sizes 0.005, 0.01, and 0.03. Prismacolor 0.005 pen in sepia.

I wanted to try doodling on black paper. I cut my own circular tiles. I had a hard time finding a white pen, pencil, marker, etc. that would make a sharp mark in a bright white. I tried gel pens, white paint pens, corrector-fluid pens, colored pencils, etc. I finally found my white pen I use for marking fabric to make the best white mark on the black paper. This is the only tile that came out with decent lines.

3 1/2" diameter Zendala on black illustration paper. Fine white
pen by Clover and Prismacolor French white colored pencil.

I enjoy doodling and creating Zentangle-Inspired Art. I find it very relaxing, fun, and helpful to keep my hands and fingers working, instead of being stiff with arthritis.

Keep sketching!

Week 9 of 365 Days of Art Challenge: Dia de los Muertos continued

I've continued to work on calaveras. (skulls) for the mixed-media Skull Challenge for Dia de los Muertos sponsored by Cloth, Paper, Scissors this week. (You can check out my blog from last week for more information.)

I googled Dia de los Muertos images for inspiration. I found a couple skull shapes that intrigued me and a couple of faces that were interesting. Unfortunately I only got a couple sketches finished of what I wanted to try. 

6" x 6" Three-quarters profile in Sakura black pen (0.1 micron) and pencil. I had some trouble with the neck vertebrae, clavicles, sternum, and ribs, but wanted to add these to make her more skeletal.

6" x 6" Calevera in Sakura black pen (0.1 micron and 0.8 micron) and pencil. I used a variety of tangle patterns, including ennies, copada,mooka, paisleys, and florz. I like skull shape for this one and had fun with it.

I enjoyed the sketching more this week. I think I was able to relax better while sketching. I started another skull shape, but ran out of time for this blog to add it here. I did sketch another lady skeleton in profile, but was not happy at all with how she was turning out, so did not complete her. I think I'm well on my way for deciding what kind of skull I will do for the challenge. Now I can start experimenting with mixed-media methods.

Also, I will submit this design to F&W Media for their new book, Zen Doodle Oodles of Doodles call for entries. Need to hurry on that one, as the deadline is tomorrow!

Enjoy your week! Happy sketching!

Book Club: Mixed-Media Self-Portraits by Cate Coulacos Prato

Deb Prewitt of Blue Twig Studios started a book club in Jan. It meets at her shop on the 4^th Friday of the month, followed by an online discussion with those of us that do not live close enough to go to her shop in Colorado.

Mixed-Media Self-Portraits
by Cate Caulacos Prato.

For February, we started reading Mixed-Media Self-Portraits:Inspiration and Techniques by Cate Caulacos Prato. 

Some of the questions addressed are:  Make a self-portrait? Scrutinize myself? Re-create all my flaws in paint, collage, or fabric? Does the self-portrait have to be me?  Do I have to show my face? My body? Can I reveal myself in some way other than a physical representation? Children do this easily with innocence and pride. They are eager to show us their drawings with smiling faces, or red, angry faces, or fat bodies or thin bodies. They draw what they feel so honestly and without embarrassment. Why is it so hard for us (me)?

Many famous artists drew self-portraits. The ones we’re probably most familiar with are Vincent Van Gogh, Frida Kahlo, and Rembrandt Van Rijn.  

            Berthe Morisot said “It is important to express oneself…

     provided the feelings are real and taken from your own experience.” 

            Henry David Thoreau said “I should not talk so much about myself if there    

          were anybody else whom I knew so well.”

Self-portraits tell a story. They tell who we are at that moment in time,  what past experiences have shaped us into who we are now, and/or who we would like to become, etc. They can be whimsical; serious; therapeutic.

The main thing I took away from this first chapter is to learn to be myself – accept who I am, where I am, and just be creative – just paint/draw/write/journal…..  Recapture that joy of drawing we had as children. Just do it!

Last year, my quilt guild (the Prickly Piecers) did a self-portrait challenge. Approximately 40% of the members participated. One member did a triangular shaped profile with leaves and flowers to for eyes, nose, and mouth and an abundance of flora for her hair. She had been a landscape artist in a previous life and is now an art quilter, so she combined the two. Another did a whimsical green witch – she is 80 years old and figured at her age, she could do what she wanted. A few members took a photo of themselves and used the posterize filter with 4-5 values in Photoshop to create a portrait in fabric. One even won a Judge's Choice Award at a quilt show with his! Another member did several story blocks with each block telling of a milestone in her life, such as birth, childhood, marriage, motherhood, career, and retirement, and now artist. Another member created a map with all the places she has lived in her life that have made her who she is today and added brooches and pins that had meaning from each place she lived.  Another person created a very dark quilt, representing a dark tunnel, to a door in the center that opened to light.  A dragon led a wagon with a book in it along a path through the tunnel heading to the door. She is the dragon (as she loves dragons) and has been in a very dark place the last couple years of her life, but sees the light at the end of the tunnel. The book contained memories of her life that have kept her sane through the dark tunnel. This quilt was the most touching of the quilts.

I painted a wholecloth quilt using a photo from when I was in my 30s (as I feel that age mentally, but I'm actually in my 50's ...physically, some days it's closer to 90ish! LOL!). I drew Zentangles in my multi-colored hair (actually black with a few well-earned gray strands) to stand for my creativity and artistry. I painted a small dragon in the air above my head, as I love dragons and think of them as benevolent, wise creatures. I added a necklace with a dragon pendant, too.  (You can see the whole process on my blog here.)

"Me, Myself, and I" - 16" x 20" whole cloth painted quilt
designed and quilted by Lynnita Knoch

It was hard to get started, but once I did, I enjoyed it immensely. Everyone who participated in the challenge had fun creating their self-portrait. They all said the hard part was getting started. The other hard part was sharing it in front of everyone.

I think doing a self-portrait is definitely worth the time and effort to do. I will continue to create self-portraits (now that I have done one and the earth didn’t stop or fall apart!) periodically to show where I’m at in my life at the time. 

Go make a self-portrait!!