Entrance to the Secret Garden?

It certainly looks like it could be the entrance to the Secret Garden,

doesn't it?  Cascading Purple Hyacinth Bean, hanging over our

eight foot (young) red maple tree!  During the past two weeks

it has just taken off... drawing both butterflies and hummingbirds!

Perspective... these large beans are about 3.5 inches in length.

Ah, the wonder of it all...   Daryle

Raw Umber... works its magic!

For me, the application of raw umber as a base coat

always seems to breathe "life" into a doll.

I designed some wooden wings, to which I applied

scrapbooking papers; with a vintage flair.

The wings will actually be attached to the upper

body with a wooden dowel that will "pierce" the fabric

along the back of the doll, running from wing-to-wing.

This guy will carry a bunting pennant that I made using

heavy tag board, script from a 1915 German Science Reader,

 metal eyelets and then three hammered copper letters that spell: "joy"

Here's a detail of one of the triangles:

Fun eh?

No... now the really fun part starts:

Applying the top coat to his head, hands and feet... then 

working on his body; ideas are spilling over in my silly head!

Thanks for taking a peek.

Hmmm... there may be some "big news" on the horizon!  

Blessings, Daryle

Bare Feet, Bowler Hats, Buttons and Blush!

Well... all-in-all, it's been a productive day!

Becoming...

I would have to say, I love the whole process of "becoming!"

This guy seems to be on the fast track as his personality 

emerges with each new application of paper clay, to his head.

(I love the flattened, rusty bottle cap applied to the heart)

The wooden stand has set the color scheme in motion

with yellow ochre, verdi green and terra cotta clay.

(click on the pic for a larger view)

Now to the hands and feet... Ugh!

Folk Art... Refining My Roots!

After months of "I just can't..."

I sat down recently at my work-table and realized I can!

And the dry-spell... creative cat-nap slump... seems to be lifted.

In an attempt to "refine my (folk art) roots" I have started

working on a new angel:  wood, fabric, and paper clay...

three of my favorite mediums!  Stay tuned... (wink!) Daryle 

Praying... or Preying?

I have always loved these guys! Growing up in Wisconsin  

we were more prone to find the well camouflaged Walking Stick

than the menacing Praying Mantis! I'm thinking this one is young; 

given the vibrant color and the fact that it's just barely 

the length of my index finger.  About four years ago we 

had a high population count; perhaps this too will be a good year!

The Cicada Cycle...

Early this a.m. (pre-dawn) a young Cicada emerged

from its nymph stage body... to its adult splendor!

It all played out on one of our resurrection lilies,

which just appeared this week.

After pouring my cup of coffee and snapping these

photos... some of our neighborhood ruffians (grey squirrels)

showed up on the scene... and one of them snatched

this poor Cicada right off the petal of the lily...

Munch, munch, munch...  and cicada saga came to an end!