HodgePodge by Amanda

Do you see what I see?

Yesterday was opening day for the Lincoln Children's Zoo.  Thankfully the weather decided to cooperate.  It was a gorgeous spring day here in NE.  Staff at the zoo were busy during the off season... a few new exhibits, new animals, and a few new projects are well are there way.

The peacocks must be ready for spring and a little something-something.  They were all about strutting their stuff. 

The indoor exhibit features lemurs, meekats, seahorses, mole rats, bats, and yes my DH's fav... snakes.  They all seemed to be awake during our visit.  Check out this one...

I would love to share a picture of my baby's first pony ride, but the oldest decided he needed someone to walk with him too.  Go figure.  Poor Cam, he didn't want to hold on to the saddle.  Poor mommy, my shoes kept finding the messiest places on the path.  It's a miracle that Cam didn't fall off while I was dodging piles and puddles YUCK!!!

We made our way around and one of our favorite things is to feed the animals.  There are goats, llamas, donkeys, and camels.  I have video of the camel eating, I just have to figure out how to get it uploaded to share with you.  I do have a picture of a camel smiling though...  Okay so the flies were really bugging him, but...

The next photo takes a bit of imagination.  I have a tendency to see faces in the strangest places.  Anyone else see faces in everyday objects?  Check it out for yourself...

kind of looks like a troll creature.  What do you think?

It was really a nice day.  The boys were wiped.  I look forward to many more adventures at the zoo this summer. 

In other news, I started a new little project.  I took up knitting again.  There was this skein of yarn calling my name, begging to be made into a scarf.  I looked up directions on the internet.  YIKES!  Apparently the third times really the charm and I am off to a great start.  I will share pics when finished. 

Speaking of pics... I was taking photos the other day with my digital point and shoot that I love, when I lost hold of it and dropped it... AGAIN!  I thought I really had done it this time, and well it still takes pictures, but they don't seem to be a nice as they were before.  The zoo pics are after the drop.  So, any advice out there on looking for a new point and shoot.  Believe me I would love to purchase a digital 35mm, but that really isn't in the budget.  I currently have a Sony Cybershot 7.2 mega pixels.  Features that I am looking for:  small, quick focus and shoot (I hate missing that one shot because the camera is still focusing, or resetting for the next shot), and well, I guess that is it.  Please let me know about what camera you love, or would love to have. 

April showers bring...

more


and some just waiting to bloom...

The above were made by the incredibly talented ladies from the MadDollmakers the other night.  I taught my posie class during our meeting.  The first flower was made by Kathy.  She combined multiple layers and techniques to create her flower.  The second was made by Judy.  She is so stinkin talented, and denies it all the time!!!!!  I am in awe of her talents as a mixed media artist.  She once took apart a family grandfather clock and remade it into a mixed media doll.  Words do not describe how incredible the piece looked once it was finished.  The techniques taught the other night were out of her comfort zone which was wonderful.  I loved to see her experiment with supplies that were new.  I hope I inspired her to push the limits on her work and try new things.
The last picture shows the pieces of Cindi's flower.  She was still hard at work when we started to pack up.  She is the current President of our creative little group.  For class the other night, she graciously donated some of her handmade/painted fabric papers.  I don't think she ever sleeps.  Just look at her use of color---LOVE IT!

All the members enjoyed playing with new materials.  I know for me it is very hard to pay money for supplies that I have never used before, especially if I can't try it in the store.  It's a bit easier to buy them when I see a project that explains its use, but still a tiny bit painful to part with the cash.  Creative days like this allow each person to bring something that they have already played with and share how it works with others.  I brought some of the water soluable pastels.  Only one other person had used them before.  The others had heard about it, but had never tried it.  By the end of the night, everyone had asked where they could get a set. 

So get your friends together and make it a creative night.  Add some good food, good music, and adult beverages and bring on the latest art supplies and materials>  Well what are you waiting for?  Go on and get creative!!!!

I will leave you with a pic of my best creations to date...

Spring show with snow!

Yep, ya know ya live in Nebraska when it starts to snow in April.  The forecast calls for near 60 temps tomorrow.  Go figure!

Thank you to all the brave shoppers who slipped off those shoes to shop this morning.  The house looked beautiful, and in just 45 min, the place was beginning to look bare!  Here are a few photos before...

a close up of my flowers...

My friend stitched up some great purses and funky dolls..

I loved this little guy so much... look at his toes!  Now it's time to gear up for Christmas in July.  Mark those calendars----July 12th!

Well, I am off to find out what my oldest is currently doing.  It's just a little too quiet right now.  I am trying to finish up our taxes *#!@#))%**!  Someone at HandR Block is going to get an earful soon, if it doesn't go through this time.  Oh well, think happy thoughts!!!!

Signing off from a blustery, snowy Nebraska.  Have a great weekend all!

Getting those creative juices flowing...

I am sitting in my studio, sewing machine on, listening to iTunes, and I can't seem to stay away from the keyboard.  I was checking email, yet again today, and I realized that I had let my domain name expire.  Nothing too big, but I thought I really should renew it.

Ha!  When I did a search on it, I was surprised to find that it was already taken!!!   What?  I am so confused.  So I googled what was once my web address only to find that it doesn't exist in cyberspace.  I wasn't surprised to see another HodgePodge, what did surprise me was the fact that it was by another Amanda.  Who would have thought that 2 creative people named Amanda would choose HodgePodge to describe their work.  She is a scrapbook artist, and I am well... a creative person who loves to make things out of other things. 

Currently, I am making some spring themed items for the show on Saturday.  Yes that would be this Saturday.  Hopefully the creative spirit will find me today and I will start creating like mad.

I am off to check one more thing, (I swear only 1 more thing!) and then I am back to the sewing machine! 

As promised!

It's funny how I used to take pictures all the time.  Lately, it seems to be an after thought.  Like, "Oh, I wish I had my camera!" or "Oh man, that was too cute, can ya do it again?" 

Well, I finally downloaded the latest batch which includes photos from the class I taught, Easter, and a few other moments.  So here is a picture of the artwork that was creating during the creative day at Carrie's...

Each of us created an artwork that day using prompts from a hat.  Thank you Artsymama for sharing that on your blog a while back.  I have used this technique 2 times now, and one day I hope to use it in my classroom.  Each piece created that day was so different.  It was amazing to see how each of us interpreted the prompts given. 

Here are a few photos from Fiber Frenzy...

these ladies are working on their transfer petals. 

this is a picture of a "finished" posie.  All in all, it was a really fun day.  While I was loaded my car, 2 women stopped to ask me if I was an Art teacher.  "Yes, I am!"  They laughed and said, "We thought so, when you said put your 'listening ears on'..."  HUH!  I said what?  I so don't remember saying that.  In my years of teaching experience, my best lessons are ones where I can't remember the details.  I just have that feeling that it all went well.  It's the lessons that don't go well, that I can play in head over and over again.  So, I am going with the first option, that the lesson, er class went really well.  OKAY so getting only 2 hours of sleep the night before didn't help.

It's been a busy week already, and it is just going to keep going and going.  Plenty of work lined up throughout the month, and yes it is that time of year.  Get those slip on shoes ready ladies, Plum Pickens Spring Show is coming up.  Time to brighten up your home, office, friends space, whatever.  We have been busy creating pieces to welcome spring!  And don't forget the Spring Cleaning sale, it only happens once a year. 

Well, I had better get to creating!  Lots of ideas, and so little time or energy.  I had the pleasure of substitute teaching in the infant room at my sons' daycare.  The owner has come back after having twins!!!  They are sooo cute!  I got my baby fix today!  Todays April fools joke was fake poop left on the changing table!  and on that note... hope you had a good one today!  Happy creating!