New Wooden Bust

My newest wood bust arrived yesterday. This one is more realistic (and shinier) than my taste has been running to. Something about the way the hair was carved, the thick neck and the hunched-looking shoulders just endeared him to me. He feels like a cartoon character, but I can't put my finger on the style... maybe a little Kliban.

Red Raspberry Reprieve

Red Raspberries, originally uploaded by Lynn_EL/UnaOdd.

Around ten years ago I was very involved in trading garden plants at plant swaps. I acquired some red raspberry starts and plopped them in the corner of my vegetable garden. For a year or two they grew a little and gave a few berries. They were well behaved and I had high hopes.

Over the coming years the raspberries launched a full assault. They sent up shoots everywhere and wherever a branch touched the ground it rooted and sent up a new plant. The other downfall was the berries. There never seemed to be a great amount and when they did appear they coincided with the appearance of the Japanese beetles who quickly covered the berries.

Early this spring I told my husband I was planning on ripping them all out of the garden since they took up too much room and underwhelmed with their fruit. Well they must have been listening - this year I have a bumper crop and the kids have been picking and eating until full! I pulled some out that were going far beyond boundaries and have made an allowance.... they can stay, but will be held to their corner. At least for a few more years. :^)

Sweet Little Color Break - Bracelet Detail

Bracelet Detail, originally uploaded by Lynn_EL/UnaOdd.

A new cuff bracelet I made last week. It isn't really this red, actually a rather bold, bright orange. The lighting gave it a red cast. I liked the pattern and texture on this piece and while photographing it for listing on Etsy I just kept coming in closer... and closer.

Makes me happy!

"Turtle in the Road!"

That was what I yelled as I drove my children to the bus stop for their last day of school.

I flashed back to a very sad, hot summer day a long time ago, when I jumped out of my car in a vain attempt to save a turtle stuck in the road. I was standing on the side of the road waiting for one last car to pass before I could run out to grab the turtle..... well - that last car.... I cried for quite a long time.

This turtle was not going to be left in the road! I stopped and scooped up the turtle who immediately pulled in his (gender verified by herp loving friend) head and hissed. I set him down on the passenger-side floor mat and he immediately started crawling around. The children were so excited and wanted to know what we were going to do with him. At first I said I would take him home and let him go in our garden, but then I remembered the lawn-cutting crew who managed to run over a rabbit last year and I thought not.

A local park, Monocacy Park, has a nature area - perfect! After the children got on the bus I took him home for some photos.

The children had a half-day for the last day so after they came home we all went to the park where we let him go. He happily ambled off into the woody underbrush as we said our goodbyes and wished him well.

Shattered

One thing that I always take along when I do shows is a sketchbook. Those stretches between customers are a great time for reflection and exploration. The latest show I'm in has been a very fertile ground for sketching - a little thin on customers, but in a very creative setting. There are a number of new ideas I'm looking to explore in the near future.

Having done some faceting in the past, I began to explore the idea of a shattered faceted piece. This ring is the first prototype and while there are things I like about it, it doesn't quite capture the effect I wanted. The lines are a little thicker than I would like and the division of space a little too regular.