My Dog is a Cheater

 I always knew my dog was up to something....
                                                     

              I knew that he was a bit sneaky
                                           

                         and resourceful





                 He has an air about him




                            a Je ne sais quoi
                                                      

 But I never imagined he would cheat on us





        I never thought he was a doggy bigamous




                When I found out I was shocked.
                                                   


            How could he???!!!! Say it ain't so Max!





               How did he manage the plane fare?





         Where in the world did he get a passport?





              How did he hail a cab to the airport??



All these questions and more I have asked myself over and over again




          Then I took a look at his other "family"
                                      
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  And I said to myself It's just a matter of time before he gives us the old heave ho.




He's probably got his own butler....lucky dog.

Artsy Fartsy Friday~~The Art of Color Pencils

        When I was in 6th grade we studied Greek Mythology. I was entranced by the stories and the images that filled my mind. I fell in love with  the name Persephone and was convinced that I would grow up and name my daughter that name....I am sure my daughter is grateful that I did not, but I still think it's a cool name.
                                            
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        Anyway, The teacher announced that there would be a class project and we would all collaborate to create our own Greek Mythology book.

           A lucky student would have their work chosen to be the cover.



                 More than anything I wanted my art to be chosen.




                          I painstakingly tried my best to draw a perfect cover.  It was well after my bed time and I was still erasing and drawing erasing and drawing again. My Mother peeked in and said "Joanne, it's getting late; aren't you finished yet?" I pleaded for her to let me stay up a bit longer. I just needed my picture to be perfect. Once my lines were drawn out I carefully used my colored pencils to shade and fill in my artwork.


The next day I happily went to school and I was positive that mine would be the one chosen for the cover.

                I stood on line waiting to turn in my work...

                                   Then I saw my friend "Elizabeth's" entry. 


                                              She used real art paper. Her colors were numerous and her shading was perfection. The togas of the people on her work were flowy and even the tiniest detail looked like a professional had created it.

I looked at my own work and suddenly I wasn't as hopeful.

            I had only four or five colored pencils and my shading was almost non existent. Where I did not see them before, eraser marks were now very very numerous and noticeable.


        My work was not chosen for the cover.


                  
                   When it came time for the big test however, I recieved one of the highest grades in the class.


Now I have a closet full of art supplies and whenever my children have a project due they always go there for some inspiration.

 I admit I have helped them and they might say that I helped a teensy weensy bit too much.

 Ex: My Daughters native American shoe box project. Hers was the only one with a hand crafted polymer clay tee pee and  felt fabric stream and there might have been a camp fire made from colored tissue paper. There was also rumored to be peg people...one with a papoose on her back, but I digress...

             Here is an Artist who can never ever say she has run out of colored pencils. This is an ad for Faber-Castell pencils but the art made from them is Amazing! Please enjoy



                    
                      Uploaded to You Tube by: TROY






                    Here is another video. This time the artist creates an incredible reproduction...you won't believe your eyes! She uses colored pencils to make one of the most realistic drawings I have ever seen! Her name is Lisa and she is the artist behind Lachri Fine Art    enjoy!!!

                    
                    Posted to You Tube by: Lachri Fine Art  
                                                            Artist: Lisa


Have a Colorful Weekend!!!

                       Blessings, Joanne

Artsy Fartsy Friday~~~Birds on The Wires

I was over at Claudia's blog Mockingbird Hill Cottage ( if you haven't checked it out please do...she is wonderful!)

Anyhoo, Today she posted about a flock of black birds that suddenly took over her tree and as quickly as they appeared ...they were gone away on their journey. I commented that whenever that happens in my back yard ...It sort of freaks me out a bit....Then yada yada yada I went  on my weekly search for an art post for today and I found this.....

It seems a Man saw a news paper pic of birds on a set of wires....and to him they looked like notes on a music sheet. The rest my dear bloggy buddies is sweet genius.


Please enjoy Birds on a wire By Jarbas Agnelli


Here is what the artist had to say 

"Reading the newspaper one morning, I saw this picture of birds on the electric wires. I cut out the photo and decided to make a song, using the exact location of the birds as notes. I was just curious to hear what melody the birds were creating.

This work was made over the original photo, un-retouched, published in one of the biggest Brazilian newspapers, "O Estado de São Paulo" on 27/aug/2009, and shot by Paulo Pinto (note: I just erased the birds for effect at the end, but didn't change their positions at all. What would be the point?).

I've made this short video to demonstrate my interpretation of the birds as notes."

Music made with Logic.
Video made with After Effects.

Jarbas Agnelli


                



Doesn't This put you in a springy mood?! Thank You Claudia for the Inspiration!


        Happy Spring!!!
                    Blessings, Joanne

Miracles Do Happen

 OK, my bloggy buddies you are NEVER going to believe this post!!!!


           So if you read my last post you know that I posted about a woman who uses a typewriter to create her art. If you read that post you also know that I wrote about a childhood friend that I so wanted to contact again.
                                

She was my best friend when I was in Middle School...what I didn't tell you all is that we also had the very same birthday. Every year I would think of her, but try as I might I could not locate her in cyber space. 




Friends made when you are young stay in your heart forever.
                              









                                I wrote how creative she was. I wrote about how she loved music and writing.


And we got in trouble together too...usually it was my fault.













                     
I was the Laverne to her Shirley













                                                  
           We imagined what life would be when we got older












                              


and we laughed, boy did we LAUGH!!!
       
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What I didn't write was how much I missed her throughout the years...




                     
            



                                            
As soon as I posted that post to my blog I decided to try one more time to look for her. 



           "Maybe this time." I said to myself






I typed her name


  


                and up popped a picture.






I thought...hmmmm maybe.





 I mean the last time I saw her we were both 13 years old.






    Then another picture popped up of the same woman and in this one she was smiling.


              "Oh my goodness she has L's smile!"

                 Could it be?

                    an e-mail appeared and I took a chance.

                         and with a click It went off to find a woman that could be my long lost friend.





The next day I received an e-mail.


          It






                       was







                                    MY 




  



                  Childhood friend!!!!!!!!!!







I found her I found her!!!! after all this time and all these years I found her!!!!!!


and the best part is that she was so happy to hear from me!


      and guess what?


           she is a writer!


We have spent the last 6 days e-mailing back and forth. We are trying to fill in all those years 


She sent me pictures of herself and I see my friend, I see that angelic 13 year old girl who dreamt big and laughed so much. As I read her e-mails I could almost hear her voice. As I read about her life I struggle not to cry as I read about the loss of her Dad and know exactly what she was feeling because I lost my Dad too.




We both had moms that drove us crazy.




Every night I write a bit more and every morning she sends me her version.

Right now I am up to the part where I get married

We have to fill up 37 years worth of memories and as I write I relive them


and as I write, I wait to read about her life.






Miracles do happen people...Just ask my My Childhood Friend...she'll tell ya!

Artsy Fartsy Friday~~~Typewriter Art~~Keira Rathbone

        When I was in 8th Grade I remember applying to schools in order to be accepted into the Catholic High School of our choice. I was so hoping that my best friend and I would go to the same High school, but her mother wanted  her to go to Business/secretarial school. ...remember those?

                 
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       My "bestest" friend (the only one who understood my wackiness, because she was a beatnik nerd like me) did not want to be a secretary. She wanted to be a artist, singer, writer.....she wanted to soar and her mom wanted to keep her grounded...really grounded. Her Mom and My Mom were alike in this way.

My friend went to Secretarial/Business school and I was accepted to the High School of my choice. 

      She lived in another borough

     There was no Internet or Face book then.

     Phone calls became fewer and less frequent.

     ...and eventually they stopped altogether.

                       Time passes

     I have often wondered whatever happened to my friend....The free spirit, the writer, the Beatnik nerd who could make me go into hysterics with just a look.

                                
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I have looked for her, and have not been able to find her anywhere in cyber world.


I found a video recently...a video of an artist that makes art from typewriting. She uses vintage typewriters and even dresses in the clothing that belongs to the era of when the typewriter was used.


I just love her art! Her name is Keira Rathbone and when I watched the video the first time, I thought of my friend L. I hope wherever my friend is...she is happy. I also hope that sparkle of creativity that always seemed to surround her and her crazy beatnik nature is still there.


Please enjoy this week's art post~~Typewriter Art 
                    
                       Artist: Keira Rathbone 
                       Uploaded to Youtube by: DW (English)

Hope you have an Awesome weekend!

                              Blessings, Joanne

Artsy Fartsy~~~The Art of Sang Sik Hong

Did you ever do this?

                             
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     I don't think I ever did, but the image is so sweet and it always reminds me of old 50's movies where teens actually went on dates and hung out at the soda shop.  The straws (I think) were made of paper ...not plastic....do any of you remember that? 


Recently while I was looking for an interesting subject for an artsy fartsy post...I came across an artist who creates incredible art, amazing art...


Amazed....I was amazed.  

                   How someone took something as ordinary as this...
                                                       
                                                 Straws
                                              
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                            And made this...
                    
                                         Source










     The artist's name is Sang Sik Hong and he takes thousands of ordinary drinking straws and makes masterpieces





                                                          
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                                                    source












                Here is the Artist making some small adjustments
I wonder how many straws were used here!!!!
                     
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Absolutely Incredible!  








                   Have a wonderful weekend everyone! and if you have a sweetie....do this 
                                                                                        
                                                      source

                                       ~~So Romantic~~   




   
                 Blessings, Joanne

This Glorious Winter Season

 Sometimes winter is so beautiful....

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and sweet

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or funny...

(well not to the owner of this car)

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Here's my take on this most glorious winter...

Wha? come on, ya know you were thinking it too!