So, I’m sitting on the deck enjoying our beautiful view on a gorgeous afternoon, and one of the irises I’ve been taking macro shots of calls to me. I walk out to the garden to have a look, and what do I find but a bee dozing deep inside it! I ran inside and grabbed my camera and ran back out - luckily he was still snoozing when I got back. He woke up when I took my first shot (so cute, his antennae were draped against the inside of the flower), but wasn’t in any hurry to do the busy-bee thing. He drowsily moved around to get a better look at me (really the lens of my camera, which was right in the flower) and started puttering around inside the flower just as I would in the garden. He patiently let me take 15 pictures! Subsequent attempts to get decent shots of bees doing their thing have not been so successful, so I can only consider this a gift, for which I give thanks every day since! I’ve been concerned about the plight of our pollinators worldwide for some time now. Many pollinating insects are in trouble right now, but the bees are in crisis. Let’s not forget that without these very special creatures, we don’t eat. All life is interdependent, and this situation is big, so don’t squish them! Plant flowers for them instead, and when you thank the Creator for your food, be sure to thank them for the bee that made it possible, too. Technorati Tags: bee, flower, pollinator, bee in flower
If you haven’t checked it out already, you should subscribe to U2.com and check out the video for Magnificent now! Click the picture to go to U2.com and take a peek…
So, after finishing the design in black & white, I couldn’t help myself - I wanted to color it right away! Work was all caught up, so I chained myself to my computer for a few more days and created this full color version of the Renewal mandala in Photoshop.
I showed it to another dear friend of mine soon after it was completed, and she emailed me this sweet note:
“Thank you so so much for the respite in the middle of a busy day with your beautiful art work. It really grabbed me and took hold giving me instant peace and a feeling of inner calm :-) LOVE THAT! Now I have it and can go to it when I start to ramp up…Thank You for your never ending encouragement and lifting up, it is huge.”
Well, with a theme like renewal, I created it in the hope that those who enjoyed coloring it would be encouraged and lifted up… *renewed* …so I was deeply moved to hear this. I thought of you all as I worked on it, and I was spoken to about many things during this process, but I’ll keep those things to myself for now, because I would like hear what you think first.
So, I uploaded it to CafePress and assigned the design to a bunch of products so I could share it in a way that would incorporate the design into things that could become part of the setting of day-to-day life, from coffee mugs to t-shirts. You can find the Renewal CafePress Store HERE
Janet has asked me to embark on a project that will be a bit lengthy, so I’d like your opion: Should I take the time to do a packet of 12 or so mandalas with the theme of the Four Seasons? When completed, this packet of mandala designs would be available for purchase at Janet’s website, http://www.tamlondonhummingbirdarts.comTechnorati Tags: Mandala, art, design, coloring, renewal, Spring
Last month my client (and dear friend) Janet London asked me to design a mandala to replace one of the free download mandalas that has been up at her site for a while. She likes to keep things fresh on her site, and it’s working for her, because she’s gotten so busy with the classes and workshops she teaches in the year since she first launched her website( Feb ‘08) that she’s challenged for time to do her own art, much less things like this. Nevertheless it’s very important to her, so I was honored to accept the challenge. We decided on a particular theme for Spring and I chained myself to my computer for a couple of days of mandala meditation and creation…
The result is the “Renewal” mandala design. We posted it at Janet’s website, Mandala Store, where you will find the free downloads at the bottom of the page. Clicking the download image(s) will give you the option to save or print the .pdf file containing the mandala design. It prints on a regular 8.5 x 11 sheet of paper, and the design is about 8″ across. So break out your favorite art supplies and have fun coloring! Then tell me all about it…and if you like the way yours comes out, why not scan it and email it to me, we’d love to see what you’ve done, and maybe Janet would put in on her site. And thank you, Janet, for presenting me with the opportunity to create this design! It was a revelation… Technorati Tags: Mandala, art, design, coloring, renewal, Spring
I may not have mentioned before that upon our return to the States from Australia, Joel was called upon to help shoot a reggae festival in Bermuda, where he met and got to hang out with (as well as videotape) the Original Wailers of Bob Marley fame. It was a lot of work and a lot of fun, and he came back deeply inspired, so once we got to Oregon and settled in, he began to write. The song he’s just finished is actually the second, the first is still in the works, and we’re sure you will enjoy it! Vocals and lyric by Joel, with Thomas in deep collaboration on the music and engineering. There are two versions available, a CD quality monster 65 Mb file and a more manageable 5 Mb mp3, both available at: Revelation Cafe Music Room We hope you enjoy it and would love your feedback….Technorati Tags: Joel West, Revelation Cafe, music, reggae, original, streets of Babylon, Wailers
One of our long-time and best-loved hobbies is gold mining, and from time to time we offer some of our nuggets for auction at ebay. Now is one of those times! Our eBay widget will display the lots we have posted now. If you know someone who might be interested in placing a bid, please feel free to send them a link to my blog and they can click to the auctions from the widget. We may have some opal auctions coming up, so check in again…
Well, now that we’re back from Australia, we’ve decided to sell my beloved car, a 1985 Mercedes Benz 380SL. A real head-turner and a reliable, sweet drive, it’s a truly beautiful car in original condition. The color is Mercedes Black Pearl, hence its name. My mom, who left it to me in September ‘07, loved this car and maintained it faithfully. Here’s the link to my photo gallery: Mercedes Benz 380SL. 1985 was the last year, and the best, of the 380SL models. Previous models had a single timing chain which required an expensive replacement with a dual chain even when purchased new, but the ‘85 came from the factory with the dual chain. This car will be a bonafide classic this time next year, but sadly I won’t be able to hang on to it til then, so it’s a great opportunity for someone looking for a great running car with loads of class or perhaps a collector. If you know someone who might be interested, why not send them a link to this blog?
I was just looking at them myself, and I have to say that today’s Astronomy Picture of the Day (of Saturn backlit by the Sun) is absolutely stunning! You really should have a look and see for yourself. Also, this week’s edition of EarthWeek has lots of interesting and informative entries, including photos and footage of rare animals. The story about the Italian sheepdogs being sucessfully used to protect the Fairy Penguins of Southern Australia, which had been reduced to a population of 10 individuals, is amazing.
Just a quick post of a couple of pictures from the sequence of storms that snowed us in at our friend’s for 10 days…in a cabin with no internet or tv! Out came the cards and the music software in the computer was brought into service for a new song (not yet complete) by Joel. No dread here! Life is good…the Valley is beautiful, we have lots of firewood and a good woodstove! Talk to you all soon when there’s more time…Having a nice cup of Mocha at the Goodbean, where they make the best in the world!
Hummingbird Arts - Janet’s gorgeous pressed flower mandalas - a must-see! For those living in Oregon’s Rogue Valley, please check out her workshop and class schedule - new classes have been added that begin early in ‘09!
Jannie Ledard Glass Art - Updated 10/23/08: Elegant and colorful glass pendants - great Christmas gifts in $25 -45 range…Gorgeous stained glass mandalas for unique home decor.
Jennifer Winters Photography - An accomplished portrait photographer - her stunning work is worth the trip to her site!
Revelation Cafe - Overview gallery with links to detail galleries of my paintings inspired by the Book of Revelations
Revelation Cafe Gallery Store - Newly updated with links to our CafePress shops…t-shirts, coffee mugs and all kinds of stuff designed with my art.
Robert Greygrass - Native American storyteller and artist with words, Robert has travelled around the world with his one man shows “Walking on Turtle Island” and “Ghostlands of an Urban NDN”
So, after finishing the design in black & white, I couldn’t help myself - I wanted to color it right away! Work was all caught up, so I chained myself to my computer for a few more days and created this full color version of the Renewal mandala in Photoshop.
Last month my client (and dear friend) Janet London asked me to design a mandala to replace one of the free download mandalas that has been up at her site for a while. She likes to keep things fresh on her site, and it’s working for her, because she’s gotten so busy with the classes and workshops she teaches in the year since she first launched her website( Feb ‘08) that she’s challenged for time to do her own art, much less things like this. Nevertheless it’s very important to her, so I was honored to accept the challenge. We decided on a particular theme for Spring and I chained myself to my computer for a couple of days of mandala meditation and creation…
