For Your Inspiration: Hummingbirds at the Sonoran Desert Museum

 

I love this little guy. Purple and green - my favorite wardrobe combination too!

 If you are lucky enough to visit Tucson, 

I highly recommend a day spent at the

Sonoran Desert Museum.

For Your Inspiration: Sabino Canyon, Tucson Arizona

Sabino Canyon

Take a quick look at the link bar on the top for a Shoe Painting Tutorial

 Tucson, Arizona

Photos by Lyric Kinard

The Sketchbook Challenge: prepping a book

I'm excited about the Sketchbook Challenge. I've always used my sketchbooks as a learning tool and a reference library. If it doesn't go down onto a page of my ubiquitous little black sketchbook - the idea most often disappears somewhere out in the ether. These little black books will never go away.

But this is a challenge right? I don't expect to create a masterpiece - but I've been in love with Melanie Testa's visual journals since the first time I saw them that I'm inspired to take a step in that direction this year. I'm going to play. I'm going to experiment. I'm going to strive for beauty. Take a look at the first step I'm taking.

So.

Join me. Join us!

Go over to the Sketchbook Challenge blog and "follow" it.

Sign in to the Flickr group.

You could win FAAAABULOUS PRIZES!

(If you've seen the muppet named Rizzo the Rat say that - say it in his voice!)

You won't believe all the exciting goodies that our sponsors are offering for the giveaways.

Sue Bleiweiss Podcast at the Voodoo Cafe

RICË FREEMAN-ZACHERY

over at the blog

Voodoo Cafe

has posted a fantastic 

interview with Sue Bleiwiess

about the Sketchbook Challenge.

Take a quick break and go listen.

Then come join in the fun at THE SKETCHBOOK CHALLENGE!!!

I'm making plans. 

I've got my books - and pencils - and pens - and paints - and glue - and collage materials

and you get the picture.

Anything goes.

Everyone is invited.

ALL levels are encouraged.

In other words 

I WANT YOU THERE!

For Your Inspiration: Snowflakes

Falcifer on Flickr

Melisande on Flickr

Origamiancy on Flickr

Cewil on Flickr

For Your Inspiration: Winter Scenes

TudX on Flickr

Infinity Rain on Flickr

Lalofont on Flickr

ANNOUNCEMENT OF “ONE” FUNDRAISER

I try to keep my business goals very simple.

One thing I know I want to do - is to make the world a better place.

by Felix on Flickr

Simple right?

While I can't end war (I dreamed about trying last night) I can do small things.

"...by small and simple things are great things brought to pass." -the Book of Mormon

I can use the talents I've been blessed with (and worked hard to develop) 
to do some good in the world.

Here is ONE way I can make a difference.

One Cause, One Wednesday, One Hundred Collages

One Cause – The Fight Against Cancer

One Wednesday – February 16, 2011

One Hundred Collages

artists

Natalya Aikens

Pamela Allen

Laura Ann Beehler

Liz Berg

Pokey Bolton

Laura Cater-Woods

Jette Clover

Jane Davila

Jamie Fingal

Gloria Hansen

Leslie Tucker Jenison

Lyric Kinard

Jeanelle McCall

Linda Teddlie Minton

Karen Stiehl Osborn

BJ Parady

Judy Perez

Cynthia St. Charles

Virginia A. Spiegel

The goal – Raise $8,000 for the American Cancer Society in just one day.

More details and a preview of artwork here:

http://www.virginiaspiegel.com/ONEFundraiserPreview.html

Fiberart For A Cause has already donated over $205,000 to the American

Cancer Society through the generosity of fiber artists and their patrons:

http://www.virginiaspiegel.com/NewFiles/ACSFundraiser.html