The Sketchbook Challenge: Urban Sketching

The theme over at the Sketchbook Challenge this month is Urban Sketching.

I love nothing more than urban sketching. Cities enthrall me.

Hidden corners invite exploration and the wonderful energy of being in a place where people converge is something I thrive on.

Unfortunately this theme came right as my passel of kids came home from school for the summer. We've been into our lovely little city (Raleigh is definitely worth a visit!) but the most I had time to do was catch a kids hand before he ran out into the street. We passed by lovely old churches and engaging alleyways. But we were on the move with no time for me to sit and sketch.

So instead of urban sketches from me you get a little dose of life in sub-urbia.

A visit to the doctors office.

No excuses - there is always SOMETHING to draw!

At an outdoor concert - gotta be quick before people realize you are sketching them.

It's not a precious book - it's my "paper brain."

I let the little ones borrow it when they ask.

So. Don't let any excuses hold you back. Just do it.

SKETCH!

Work In Progress: Flutter - a sneak peak

I'm working a bit on a very exciting project...

thought I'd give you a sneak peak....

I'm just bursting to tell you about it but you'll have to wait...

I'm teaching one of my favorite classes Saturday, June 23rd 10am-5pm at 
Thimble Pleasures
a lovely shop nearby in Chapel Hill, NC 

ABSTRACT-A-LICIOUS

A day of wonderful fun - playtime!

We'll spend time working through very easy and concrete design exercises.

We play with different methods of creating your own unique abstract designs.

By the end of the day you will have a sweet little art quilt.

we don't worry about making masterpieces.
We simply play with design. 

PLAY being the operative word!

Join me! You can sign up here.
I'll also be teaching this class on October 30th at the International Quilt Festival in Houston, Texas. 

Still Drawing Faces

I'm still drawing faces - but most often in my sketchbook rather than on 3x5 index cards.

 some come from imagination and some from the people around me

 above and below are from imagination

these three are people I know

 and miracle of miracles...

I can look at them and recognize who they are

Work In Progress: Boro Skirt

A few more stitches here and there.




You can see all the posts about it here.
http://lyrickinard.blogspot.com/search?q=boro

from here - to there - so far....

The Kindness Chronicles

"Those who bring sunshine into the lives of others, cannot keep it from themselves."

James M. Barrie

What have you done to make the world a kinder place this month?

I kind of have a hard time thinking of things sometimes.

Maybe it's the littlest things like keeping my cool when my children are misbehaving. Or letting a car pull in front of you or waving pedestrians by while you wait.

It doesn't have to involve planning or work.

I suggested a potluck dinner with neighbors who didn't travel over Memorial Day weekend and made a few calls. We all enjoyed a very pleasant evening together.

I gave a friend a hug.

When I cook something that freezes well I triple the batch. One for us later but one (packed in disposable containers) always goes to someone else who could use it.

I'll give you my current favorite freezable recipe below.

I really want to do this...

Beth Wheeler is doing a little project called "Joy Jam".

She's made hearts to pass out with encouraging words on them.

She'll give a handful to someone and ask them to keep one and pass out others.

You can read about it here 

The word is spreading:

http://fountainvalley.patch.com/blog_posts/the-kindness-chronicles-1

White Chicken Chili

1 lb dry white beans (or 4 cans if you don't have time to crock it)

6c chicken broth (or water and bullion)

1 tbsps cumin

2 or 3 large chicken breasts (cooked if not crocking)

3 med onions, chopped

garlic - lots of it!

(crock it on low most of the day)

add

2 cans green chili peppers

1/2 lb shredded pepper jack cheese

lots of cilantro and sour creme to garnish

Work in Progress: Call and Response

It's been quiet here for a good reason. I've had deadlines one after the other. Again - it seems to be the only way I actually get any work done but the pressure can be a killer.

One of the pieces I've been working on, and I consider it still to be a work in progress:

Call and Response

By Lyric Kinard and poet Maura High

There are still finishing touches to work on - and I'm still working on that background. I think it needs a little more integration - Maura pointed out that there was an awful lot of white space. She is right. I have a couple of weeks before it will hang. More on that later.