Learning Something New!

My very first pine needle basket! There are all sorts of decorative stitches that could be done, but I'm just concentrating on sewing this first one up as simply as possible. I collected some darker pine needles. I'm still not too sure if I should collect the needles dried or dry them out myself before soaking them? It's a slow process making a basket! I've put about ten hours into this little bowl shaped basket.

Iguana Go To Mexico

We did see some iguanas, but the pictures weren't very good. We went on a snorkeling excursion that was, I think, the highlight of my trip--I say I think, because the whole trip was so spectacular to me--being in a very different land, the hot days, the people, the colors and the creatures!...


These are the only underwater pictures, since my waterproof camera started to leak. It was difficult for me to manage a camera with mask, snorkel, fins and then swim, so maybe the faulty camera was a good thing, but what we saw was so amazing--we swam under a cave to a small beach surrounded by volcanic cliffs--I was falling over with delight!

A whale!...
A sea turtle!...

Blue footed Boobies!...

The blue footed boobies followed the boat back, flying, dipping and diving into the water around us--being playful! And this was my birthday--what a great time!

Lets Go Back To Mexico!!

I'm using my ceramic skeleton as a segue back to Mexico, where we, my daughter and I saw some memorable sculptures!
(pictures by Michaela)





I can't believe Michaela caught these shots of an entrance to a bar? (that's my guess) --we were driving by at a pretty good speed!

Sand!!


again...Sand!!!





These are bronze seats overlooking the water created by Guadalajara native, Alejandro Colunga

This bronze lady was tucked away inside the back of a building--I don't know the artist


"Lonely Planet" by the Mexican artist, Sergio Bustamente

A great stone archway!

Dusting off an Old Skeleton

This was such a fun and unexpected ceramics project, given by my life drawing instructor, many years ago. We had a skeleton to refer to and with a blob of clay were told to "unearth" a skeleton. Even though I like to draw, it was nice to work in a very different medium. She then had them kiln fired, so the next week we rubbed on oil pastels.
After taking my indoor plant out for some much needed air and rain--hanging beneath and behind the leaves was my dusty and forgotten skeleton.

Adding Some Color

These colors will deepen with the application of oil paints. I first use some color pencils and then acrylics.

Rainbow Around the Sun

Yesterday this rainbow was around the sun foretelling rain. Today, in our dry season, we have rain!