Friday Smiles meets other art today

 

I fear this is catch-up day.  I have so many things I need to share before the end of the month.

  This is my entry for Friday Face-Off.  It is polymer clay, my medium of choice.  It's one I made when I wrote a tutorial on polymer clay.  I'll try to have a new one next Friday.  Nicole/DVArtist hosts and provides a link list.

Next, I'm sharing a journal page for Art Journal Journey.  Matilde of Craftowanie is our host this month and her theme is Birds.   

I've become fascinated with collage fodder.  It's where I use bits and pieces I find that go together.  They may be meaningless or they may carry a message.  Regardless, the journal page I am sharing contains birds along with other collage fodder.  Here are the detail shots.

My collage fodder is backed with 110 lb cardstock.  The observant viewer will note the sheet music left over from last month's AJJ challenge.  The birds came from a book my friend Ericka gave me for my bEARTHday.  I fussy cut each bird and don't relish cutting wings, or even that tail, like that again anytime soon.  Note my use of two types of washi tape, both with birds on wires.  I also fussy cut the green plant from a painted book page.  I used the grosgrain ribbon on another project and was not about to throw the band away that held it in place.  A restaurant receipt and three stickers became collage fodder, too.  Because I needed a bit of fodder, I cut the bottom of a note pad since it was green.  I colored a book page and added it to the mix.  I sewed everything in place using two different variegated threads.  No glue was used to make this collage fodder journal page.

 

Thank you beyond belief for taking time to check out this journal page.   Please also join me at Art Journal Journey, where the theme this month is Birds.

Last Friday I promised the ladies at Friday Smiles which is hosted by Annie (at A Stitch in Time), that I would update them and you on the status of what I laughingly call my back patio.

I tried to remember where I stood before.  I'm a bit off, but this is what the patio looks like now. 

I've already used the chiminea, so I know it is seasoned and will hold up another year.

I'm glad I decided to leave the plastic storage rack in place.  It now holds those buckets that were so ugly on my patio.  I can't do too much more because the rains have taken over.  In fact, we are under a flood watch until noon today.  That means this is all the update on the back yard I have this week.

That's it for my catch-up.  Now for a few funnies.

 

Bleubeard found the last one funny.

Thanks for visiting and spending a bit of time with Bleubeard and me this Friday.  Now PLEASE visit Annie and don't forget to start your weekend with a smile. 

One final question?  Will anyone be making ICADs this year?  I think it will be my 10th year.

Pursue Your Passion for Rain's Thursday Art Date

 

Today I want to share another journal page for Art Journal Journey.  Matilde of Craftowanie is our host this month and her theme is Birds.  Rain has opened up Thursday Art Date, or TAD so we no longer need to use her prompts unless we choose to.  I thought this would be the perfect time to share another journal page.

It's obvious I named this Pursue Your Passion.  From the sky to the lake, these birds are pursuing their own form of passion.  I have provided some close-ups so you can better see the birds and the background.

Please don't ask what kind of birds these are.  The only one I know is the white swan.  These all came from a gifted book (thanks Erika) I received and from which I fussy cut the birds.  Since it's TAD, maybe David will know.

A couple of weeks ago, I was looking for the receipt to my hot water heater, in case I needed it when I returned the heater.  I have a designated "junk drawer" in my kitchen where I throw receipts I think I might need at a later time, or receipts for meals I have purchased.  It obviously wasn't there (it was stapled to the warranty), but I found a plethora of old receipts dating back to as early as 2002.  Although I threw most of the old receipts away, I saved a few of the more interesting and colorful ones.  I thought they made a different and interesting background.

Thank you beyond belief for taking time to visit today.   Please also join me at Rain's TAD and Art Journal Journey, where the theme this month is Birds.

 

Before I forget, will anyone be making ICADs this year?  I think it will be my 10th year. 

 

Food Wednesday and a bird flies free

 It's time to join Kathy's Food Wednesday, where we share anything food related.  But first,

I want to begin with this journal page I created for Art Journal Journey.  Matilde of Craftowanie is our host this month and you probably know by now her theme is Birds.  When I first saw this image I found on a card, I thought of the mother bird giving advice to her babies.   I have included some detail shots for your perusal. 

  

 

 

I started this page using both handmade shimmering mists and purchased mists on 110 lb cardstock.  Once dry, I fussy cut the birds from a get well card and affixed it to the page.  I computer generated the words, then ran them over a brown dye inkpad. 

Thanks ever so much for joining Bleubeard and me today.   We also hope to see you at Art Journal Journey with a bird inspired journal page.

 

Now let's head to Food Wednesday.

 

Last Friday I showed my herbs.  BTW, I also plugged Food Wednesday, so I hope a few of the ladies from Friday Smiles will join us, too.  One of the questions comments I received was apparently in the UK, they think of cilantro as coriander.  However, here in the states, coriander is the seed and the leafy plant is called cilantro.  

 

Of course, if you were here two weeks ago, you got ideas about how to use and store cilantro.  However, if you have a gluttony of seeds, which you will if you allow the cilantro to go to seed, you can always grind the seeds in a coffee or regular grinder.  You can use the seeds as a spice or an herb.  It is best to not grind the seeds until you want to use them.  They retain their flavor better this way.

People who typically don't like the leaves, seem to enjoy the seeds.  They are fruity and sweet.  They are usually found in curries and other Indian dishes.  They are ground and used in the spice trade in India and other eastern countries.

 

The seeds can be roasted or heated to enhance their flavor.  When roasted, they are often eaten as a snack.

In Germany, the ground seeds are often added to sausage.  In Russia, they are occasionally used when making rye bread.  They are even used in making Belgium beers.  

You can also eat the roots, but from what I have read, the roots are more intense than the leaves.  I don't think I'll be trying the roots any time soon, since it took me forever to like coriander or cilantro in any form.

Genetics have been shown to account for those who don't like either cilantro or coriander.  I have no idea if my grandparents (who raised me from birth) ever experienced tasting cilantro or coriander.  I had never heard of it until I was in California and a friend/work colleague introduced me to cilantro in a Mexican restaurant. 

 

Be sure to meet me at Kathy's for Food Wednesday.  Once again, Bleubeard slept through it all.  Not sure if he would like cilantro or coriander, either!

 

 

T Stands For bEARTHday With Scott

 

Today I am sharing a post from a place Scott and I went to two weeks ago.

I'm taking you to Pho Cao.  I suggested this place when Scott asked where I wanted to go for my bEARTHday lunch.  I was here once before with Scott and this will be my second time.

I was able to get photos without anyone in the photo.  The area behind the grey screen is where you pay your bill.  Needless to say, I didn't have to pay.

Directly behind my chair was this Wichita, KS flag.  Those of you who drop by for Monday Murals are well aware of the Wichita flag, which I seek out in many murals in my city.  The blue and white center is known as a hogan, which is an American Indian symbol that represents a permanent home, or in this case, Wichita.  This flag was painted on wood planks.  Our skyline is below the flag.  The sign below reads "Help yourself," and refers to the sauces that will add to the flavor of the meal.  You can see them in the previous photo.

Here is the menu.  Scott ordered spring rolls for appetizers.  He chose Pho with steak for his meal and I ordered Chicken pho.  We both got the large bowls.

This is my photo of the other side, but I didn't get the beverages.

Luckily I found this on the internet which shows the Vietnamese coffee I ordered.

The spring rolls arrived, as did my coffee, which was made at the table.  These were the prettiest spring rolls I have ever seen.

It was fascinating watching the coffee being created from the pot that sat at the top of the glass.

Scott finished his spring rolls and I made a mess

inserting mine in the peanut sauce.

Next came the wonderful Pho.

It was then time to add the bean sprouts and fresh basil, seen on the plate behind my coffee, which was still "brewing."

Scott was enjoying his thin pieces of steak.  We both got extra bean sprouts since we like them so much. If I was asked to write a review, I would give it excellent marks for the incredible service and the fabulous food.  My only negative mark would be there wasn't a vegetarian Pho.

Now it's time to share your own drink inspired post this week.  It can be gifts you received, photos, a place you visited, movies, postcards, mail art, junk mail, catalogs, books, sketches, mixed media, drawings, paintings, handmade cards, tags, scrapbooking, or other art that is digital, hybrid, or traditional, a favorite mug, cup and saucer, teapot, coffee pot, or even a wine glass. Regardless, please join us by linking below.  Bleubeard and I will gladly visit, as will other T participants.  Please link only your T post and not your blog in general.  Bleubeard would like to remind you that old photos are acceptable because they may be taken any time, not just on Tuesday and not just this year.

Don't forget to dig up a post for your Second look on the 2nd.  It's any post you have shared in the past. I didn't want to wait till next week to remind you.  Now you have ample time to look for an old post.

Next week we will talk napkins/ATC swap for our ninth anniversary in July.  

 

UPDATE: The creamy mix that comes out and settles into the bottom of the coffee is very sweet and has cinnamon in it.

 

Black and white

 

Matilde of Craftowanie is our host this month at Art Journal Journey.  By now you may know her theme is Birds. I'm joining her with my monochromatic journal page.

For lack of a better term, I'm calling this latest bird inspired entry Black and White.  I have a few detail shots I will share before I explain how I created it. 

After some careful checking on the internet, I believe this is a Western Grebe carrying its baby on its back. 

The only difference I found between this image and the ones I found on the internet, the internet Western Grebes have red eyes.

 

I started this entry on 110 lb. cardstock using various paint brushes dipped in black watercolor paint.  The more water I added, the lighter the watercolor got until it was grey.  I then attempted splatters, something at which I've never been good.  I think these are the best splatters I have ever created.

Once the page was completely dry, I added a leftover bit of vintage sheet music.  Over that, I added the image of the bird I found in an art book.  

 

I was given a container of black and white buttons and was anxious to use a few of them.  Attaching the buttons was easy.  Aligning the holes inside the buttons was much harder, since I didn't have tweezers to help.   I used E-6000 to affix the buttons, and I noticed after they dried, a few of the buttons shifted slightly.

The final button was affixed to two white petals to complete the flower. 

Bleubeard and I are truly delighted you dropped by today and hope to see you at Art Journal Journey where the theme this month is Birds.

 

If you were here on Friday, you saw I promised to update you on the state of my   

remodel of my "patio," as I so laughingly call it.

It's a woman's prerogative to change her mind, right?

I decided to leave the plastic shelving on the north side of the house and move all those buckets there.   I'm so glad I did.  I like this little stand here and it fits in this spot perfectly, too.

Thankfully, it was cool yesterday morning, so I took advantage of the fact and started a fire in my chiminea.

Looks like I need to clean this area around the chiminea, too.  Still, I like how this is starting to look.

Thanks for sticking around to see this update.