First morning at home



Lauren Antonia Flood

Can't resist, she is so adorable, LOL.

Wasting this beautiful day on computers!

It seems like it was yesterday that I was the go-to computer person, but I must have looked away cause it's way past me now.  I thought I'd get up to speed again by just continuing to work on it, but not sure that will ever happen.  I've been working for two days already and don't think it's working correctly.  I consolidated all three websites with my host, which is good -- but I'm having problems sorting things out.  I've contacted support twice already so hate to do it again :)  Guess I'll just keep plugging along.

Beautiful Sunday Afternoon

It looks like the rains are over for awhile, but now the 90 degree temperature is going to bring more humidity than we've had in a long time.  But, how the lawn and plants love it.  Weeds too though, must be global warming but the chickweed is worse than I've ever seen it and threatening to take over the back yard.

A happier note :) The newest addition to our family, on her way home.

Lauren Antonia Flood.  The down side is I'm here in MO and she lives in NY.  Not sure she is excited about the drive home :)

We may need an ark soon!

Rain last night and woke to rain again this morning.  The people in Joplin haven't had a full dry day since the tornado hit.  So many helping out over there, amazing what is needed.  Even though the big charities are there, things like flip-flops, flashlights (no electricity) ropes and needed right now....I'm sending money to a friend there who is involved in helping prepare and deliver hot meals to the families & workers.  Little things we don't think about, like massage therapists being needed to give the workers some relief.  The quilt guilds lost their homes and their stash of quilts for the needy, just when they're needed so are asking for supplies to quickly get more completed.  They need everything, including boxes, it's almost impossible to imagine what you would need if you lost everything but the clothes you were wearing.

A time we should surely be counting our blessings.

Win a Gift Card to Barnes & Noble!

Have you read Facial Reconstruction for Artists?  

If so, post a review on Amazon.com, and let me know, to be entered into a drawing for a gift card to Barnes & Noble.  To add your name to the drawing a second time, “Like” my FB author page,http://www.facebook.com/pages/Facial-Reconstruction-for-Artists/112920052128287 and my WindSongBooks page, http://www.facebook.com/pages/WindSongBooks/163562197026258 

Just let me know when you make your posts.

drawing@windsongart.com

Already posted?  That still counts, just let me know.

First great-grandchild

This adorable little girl is my first great-grandchild, just a couple hours old.  Lauren Antonia Flood, born yesterday May 25th.  The only down side is they live in New York so I won't get to see her as often as I did her Daddy when he was a baby.  She is perfect though a little small, surprising everyone by arriving a few weeks early.  We're so thankful she she is OK and the two of them are now a family :)

New Rose-Lavendar Potpourri

I save my rose petals and lavendar flowers for potpourri each year.  The jar on the right is a new one, made from last years flowers - the bowl on the left is a Rose/Herbal scent.  I love to put sachets of this in the linen and clothes closets.

Joplin tornado

Over 100 confirmed dead so far and many more still missing.  They said the tornado was encased in a wall of rain so it wasn't seen on radar.  The people only had about 5 minutes to seek shelter.  EF4 tornado, lots of devastation.  The HS was in the midst of graduation when it hit.  Was 1/2 mile wide and 6 miles long, very big tornado.  People working over there says it looks like the

89 Confirmed Dead in Tornado-Ravaged Joplin MO

89 Confirmed Dead in Tornado-Ravaged Joplin MO

Flea Market Gardening

Check out this blog if you like gardening, some great ideas.  http://fleamarketgardening.com/  They are also on facebook.

Flea Market Gardening

This is a great blog if you're interested in gardening.  She's running a contest now for a free copy of the premier magazine. 

The roses are blooming!

These warm spring rains are causing everything to grow faster.  One day there was a bud, the next day a rose, and yesterday we picked three gorgeous red roses - such fragrance!  The Mr. Lincoln is my favorite as the petals are deep, dark, red and look and feel like velvet.  They are the most fragrant of the ones we have.

Inquiring minds want to know.

I posted a few questions on my author facebook page.  http://www.facebook.com/#!/profile.php?id=100001974958330.  I'm going to post them here also and if you have a few minutes I'd appreciate your feedback.  Thanks so much for your help.
 
A question for friends and customers, or anyone interested in sculpting and/or related subjects.

I have several projects in the works and would like to hear your ideas. Do you prefer an actual book, similar to Facial Reconstruction for Artists, where you follow along with the material? Do you prefer on-line classes, even if they are a little more expensive? Or, would you prefer Tutorials that are available for purchase on-line on an ongoing basis?

Are you interested only in Sculpting and/or Facial Reconstruction? Would you also like to see some tutorials on other types of art? ie, Fabric Arts, Sketching, China Painting -- Other?

You can answer here or send me an e-mail if you prefer and would like to share ideas. Thanks for your help!!

Website Woes

Working with websites is one of those things that unless I use it often, I tend to forget it.  When I was one of the individuals involved in the Federal Program to bring technology to the rural areas of the state, I learned just about everything there was to know about working with website and computers.  I'll qualify that by adding -- what was being used at that time, 1996.  For a number of years I stayed current till I got so busy I hired it done.  When I decided to take over the website again, I found the world of technology had passed me by.  I took a couple of summer classes at the university but it doesn't seem to stick :)  I think maybe I'm going to need some help afterall to get it back into shape.

Shabby Lane Shops Magazine

This is a picture of the current edition and a few of the lovely gifts that were included with my subscription.  I love this magazine, had to hunt at Barnes and Noble so finally decided to subscribe.  It's so relaxing, takes me to a more peaceful place :)  No commercial, just a happy customer.

Rainy Days

Here are a few images of some of the little projects I've been working on in my spare time.  Something to keep my hands busy.



One of the hankies from a recent estate sale, I love this embroidery in all four corners, easy to work with.



More hankies from the estate

I love this stamp and was experimenting with different ways to use it.

Made a little "postcard box" with it.

A few antique spoons waiting to be used.  I gave away all my finished ones at Christmas. 

I love to wrap gifts, this is a new way to tie a bow.

The top of the bow.  I use any box available to practice new ideas.

I love this, so simple and easy.  This is a silk leaf but wouldn't it look nice with a real fall leaf?

Another idea, I tried to glue the stones on but they were a little heavy.

A sample of papercrete with rosemary sprig.  Papercrete is a cross between paper mache and hypertufa.  Made with concrete so it's very durable but also lightweight.  I've been making planters for the garden but when I get another batch mixed up I want to try some garden sculptures.

Learning How to post images

Someday I'm going to learn how to do this correctly :)  Believe it or not, I'm working on learning the ins and outs of how to handle blogs and facebook. You can also see these on my facebook page  http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100001974958330&sk=photos#!/

Female hands preparing for mold

Another view

Eggpecially for You molds

Process:  Clay Master>Waste Mold>Plaster Plug> Refined mold

Can't seem to load the entire set at once.

These are not in order, but I did add some captions to help. 



Second pour on hand



Plaster head

Preparing to make the first pour

Stone plug for this lifesize arm mold

Checking the pour against the mold

Ready for the second pour

Removing the mold in pieces

Ready for the second pour

Touching up the stone master for my Eggspecially for You line

Finally got some mold photos posted.

These are some images taken from our '94 mold video so some are not very clear.  They are also on facebook http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.131596390249525.31326.100001974958330#!/

I'm working on a short tutorial and hope to post it soon.

Already May?

I cannot believe it has been over a month since I've written here!  Surely there are post demons hiding them.  The 23rd was my first book signing and it went great.  Was so much fun to talk to people, explain what I do and sell some books :)  I put some pictures on facebook, but I'll add a few here also.