Hurricane Katrina

It's been almost a year since my project wrapped up last December.  I recently went to a friend's wedding in New Orleans and found an a really unique snow globe that I had to share.  It's a bit edgy, but I like that.  The store I stumbled upon was Artist's Market, which has some really great stuff.

Here are some other photos from my trip if you would like to check them out.  

Straw: 247/365

Drained: 224/365

The kids have been battling the Adenovirus the past few weeks.  Some kids we know have gotten over it in three days, but our pediatrician has been seeing some kids experience a second dose of it, even after the the symptoms have disappeared for a few days.  Lucky us:)  The good news is that both kids have endured both phases and seem to be on the mend as of yesterday.   

This is what my bedside table looks like when I'm burned-out.  I drained a glass of red wine as I put away baskets of laundry. I also watched some Lifetime Television and am brave enough to tell you.  Today is going to be better, so is this week.  I can feel it.  When my kids feel better, I feel better.  

Preciousness caught on film.

Tines: 214/365

Fire Globe: 174/365

Celebrating the Skull Exhibit behind Gallery Five with Party Libation Front (LPF).  For more photos from the night click here.

Multnomah Falls: 101/365

Multnomah Falls

Moss Galore

Misha's Marvelous Mad Hatter March Mix-Up!

Please read here to see how Misha from Trees Please compiled many 365 artist's templates and turned them an incredible illustrated fairy tale!  "Daily Dose" indeed.  I'll have what she's having. 

Tara's Mix-it-up Snow Globe Madness!

Look what Tara from Sun A Day did with my March Mix- it-up Madness photograph.  I love it! I got word that the prints I ordered are in, so stay tuned this week for my own collaboration with Tara and a sun! Hope you all had a great weekend!

Crime Scene:74/365

The photos you are about to witness may be considered disturbing, though I assure you no models or snow globes were harmed in the making of this shoot.

Click here for the full effect.

 Heather from 365 Days of Me graciously posed for an idea I dreamt up a few nights ago.  Initially, I thought just the chalk outline would be enough, but it was just better all around to have Heather in the actual image.  We also decided the shoot wasn't complete without a little ketchup and smeared make-up.  

 This is the second day I have used my driveway as the setting.  It's now adorned with a pink chalk outline of a woman's body and a snow globe.  My next door neighbor will also have a reminder of what he witnessed as he innocently let his dog out.

Gobble Globe: 65/365

Today I went to Crump Park/ Meadow Farm and enjoyed some solitude with the animals.  Here are some highlights, but if you'd like to see more, here are some more shots of my solo hiking adventure.

Abiyoyo Globe: 56/365

Today I used my kids' rainbow engraving art.  I'm not much of a drawer unless I copy something.  I picked one of our favorite books, Abiyoyo, and drew the image here on page 5, illustrated by Michael Hays.  To hear this South African Lullaby and Folk Story, told and sung by the great Pete Seeger, you can check it out here.

Rain Walk: 55/365

We HAD to get out of the house today, even if it was raining.  If I heard my four year old was bored one more time I was going to lose it! When he heard the plan to go to Robious Landing Park, he said, "lame," but once he got to use his new Christmas umbrella and splash around, he approved.

A foggy day on the James River:

Bird Watching Globe 54/365

Yes, I'm an 80 year old women trapped in a 35 year old body.  I used to think bird watching was lame, now I really enjoy it, though I'm still learning my birds.  Here is my deck set-up, in hopes of capturing a bird eating of the plate.  I sprinkled seed down the deck steps in hopes of luring them from my backyard of preserved wetlands.

I played the game Sorry with the kids and waited.  A bird came after ten minutes.  Here it is! Can you identify it?  It looks almost like a black capped chickadee but with less white on his body.

My husband came home from work and saw us like this, hoping we could get another close-up.  It didn't happen, even after an hour but it was fun watching and waiting!

Barbie Skywalker: 51/365

When I was falling asleep last night, I started thinking of the other things that are "broken" in my home.  I have quite a Barbie collection from my childhood, that I have never been able to part with.  Most of them are from the 80's and some are decapitated.  The main reason I can't part with them, is how much fun I had playing Barbies with my aunt.  This post is for my sweet Esther, one of my biggest fans, fellow collector and enthusiast.

Recently, my father-in-law brought over my husband's old Star Wars figures, and my son was finally able to meet the headless Luke his dad had been telling him about.  So I decided to make today's photo about broken goodness. My kids had fun helping me gather broken toys while thinking about Syd from Toy Story who recreates far-out playthings.

This photo was the one that made the cut. I experimented with my external flash giving Luke's head transplant some Hollywood side lighting.  Even with cracks, missing body parts, and other flaws, we can  still be loved and make a strong impression.  

Accidents Happen: 50/365

While grocery shopping tonight, pricing some OJ, I stepped back to make my decision and noticed a Valentine snow globe randomly sitting on an étagère of cans behind me.  PERFECT! It was all cute with hearts floating all up in it.  I thought about trying to find the holiday section and look for more, but being crunched for time, I took the universe's gift home.


My two year old loves to help me unload groceries.  She saw the globe and was smitten.  "Don't take pictures of this!  This one is mine!"  I surrendered knowing that once she was in bed, I'd get my chance to photograph it.  I heard her walking in our hallway, up some steps, and SMASH.  My initial emotion was disappointment, but then I had been wanting to see what a globe would look like broken.  I just thought I'd get to do it myself under the right lighting conditions and background, preferably a black one.


My husband got our daughter busy with something while I tried to make the most of the situation.  The lightning was horrible, so after she was happily engaged, he brought over his Droid to help light the scene in between stirring pasta on the stove.  He's a good man, I'm proud to call him my Valentine. And as an added bonus, whenever you come to our home, you will be greeted by little hearts and glitter peeking through our floorboards.  


I've lost two globes in two days, but it doesn't feel like a loss.  Have you ever owned something for a very short time and in losing it, you gained more?  

Starter Home Snow Globe: 47/365

Madonna Dersch (The Happy Homemaker) had the brilliant idea for fellow 365ers to collaborate on the lovely ink on repurposed chipboard she made on day 12 of her project.  Here is what some of the fellow "neighbors" came up with.  After getting the print made this week on watercolor paper, I handcolored it and then got a small wallet size of the lovely starter home to insert in the snow globe found in a local craft store.  This is the end result:

Snow Globe for Skull Quilt: 45/365

I really want to learn how to sew and am really inspired by those who know how to do it.  I do alright stitching by hand, but me and a sewing machine bobbin really butt heads.  When I heard that Abby Davis was looking for skull quilt blocks for a good cause, I thought this was a nice chance to try sewing again and continue to do more crafts that push me out of my comfort zone.

All you need is a a skull and a 12" by 12" fabric square (mine was graciously cut by my friend Shannon), and decorative materials that won't melt when ironed.  The blocks will be turned into a quilt which will be auctioned off.   Proceeds will benefit the victims of domestic violence through Becky's Fund.  As seen with my block, complete beginners like me,  as well as skilled seamstresses can come together and make a difference.

Mail your block to:

Skull-A-Day

PO Box 73236

Richmond, VA 23235

Please include your name, current location (state, country, providence, city, etc.), and a good email address.  You will get email notification once it has been received.  Shipping costs can't be reimbursed but all the more reason to work with your friends and mail them together.  You all have until Saturday, May 28, 2011 to send in the blocks.

For more information see here.

Here is how mine came out. So she looks like a clown zombie, it was fun to make.  

Imperfect: 44/365

This weekend we were given an old Raggedy Andy.  Since my son has dust mite allergies, I washed him.  In retrospect, I should have put the doll in a pillow case but you know what they say about hindsight.  I also had a snow globe shipped from the UK yesterday from a purchase on Etsy.  I appreciated the fact that they shipped the globe in a repurposed Cadbury box, but there wasn't much in the way of protecting it.

Here is a picture of an age appropriate, bald Andy, his guts, empty legs, and the bottom of my broken globe.  Imperfect, but not useless.

365 Homage: 43/365

I have so appreciated the support and snow globe donations from family and friends.  This post is for you, too!  Many of you have started your own 365 photo projects on FB, this is also to you! Thanks for all your FB comments and "likes." I hope you will all continue your creative journeys finding more presence in your every day life.  I am enjoying building connections with all of you.

The following is a photo of a play-doh sculpture glazed in glue, featuring many of my fellow bloggers' 365 subjects, that support me almost daily.  I hope I am a source of support for you, too.

Trees Please, Grow 365 (leaves), Skull (skull-a-day), Year of the Written Word, The Happy Homemaker, 365 Days of Me (eyes and lips), Creative Fusion (card with a "t" for tarot), Ralph The Glass Fish, and A Rabbit a Day

 Are you needing some support with your project? Please let me know.  I am happy to cheerlead. Here is another great project featuring Swiper.  Making things, makes happier people.  There is no such thing as too many projects.  What medium do you think I should work with next?

Balliceaux Baller: 42/365

When entertaining kids at a fine dining establishment, sometimes you've got to sit back and take a break before returning to a game of tic-tac-toe, cards and drawing roller coasters featuring monsters and lots of ghostes.  Here is our buddy, Nick, at Balliceaux supporting his wife's new exhibit featuring some of these photos along with the work of Anne Savedge which will be displayed until 2/16/11.