The delicate art of paper cutouts

Seeing that I can barely cut in a straight line with scissors, I'm awed by the craftsmanship of these artists.  I love how the intricacy...

Artist Liz Saintsing gives vintage accessories new life

I've been a big fan of Liz Saintsing 's reclaimed vintage accessory line for the past couple of years.  Based in San Francisco, Liz ...

A close-up look at sea life

Yesterday, with extended family in town, we decided to take a trip to the Oregon Coast Aquarium .  The aquarium is located in Newport, Orego...

New Year Read-a-thon

Bookworming in the 21st Century is hosting a New Year Read-a-thon spanning a few days in and around the New Year. When: 5 pm on Thursday, D...

Affordable Art Finds, Week Eight

For the past two months, I've been scouting out fabulous finds on original art priced at $75 or less.  This is the last of the Monday se...

The Christmas Cookie Club by Ann Pearlman

Stars: ***** Summary: Mark your calendar. It's the Christmas Cookie Club! Every year on the first Monday of December, Marnie and her twe...

Crazy for embroidered art

I've always loved embroidered works.  Last month, I checked out a book from the library on how to embroider pillows and other small acc...

New works- "Night Lights" and "November"

For the past couple of weeks, I've been reworking two panel pieces.  Night Lights is a piece that I just completed yesterday, and it wa...

2010 100+ Reading Challenge

J. Kaye of J. Kaye's Book Blog is hosting the 100+ Reading Challenge again. Reading 100 books is NOT a problem for me so I figure why n...

The Turkey's Treat by Marie Sanderlin Metroke

Stars: ** Summary: The Turkey's Treat introduces young Jeff Watson, who has his sight set on the perfect Christmas turkey. But that tur...

The Passion of Christ captured in Michelangelo's Pietá

Pietá , Michelangelo Buonarroti, 1499. Michelangelo's Pietá is one of my favorite sculptures.  Carved from marble, it took Michelangel...

Loving limited-edition scarves by artists

It seems like a natural progression for artists nowadays to move towards product design.  In the last few years, I've loved seeing some ...

Gifts of the Heart by Karen Boes Oman

Stars: ***** Summary: When a terrible storm whisks Grandpa and Grandma off the road on the day before Christmas, it scatters their grandchil...

The art of decorating eggs

There is a scene in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory where Veronica Salt throws a tantrum about wanting her own Golden Geese that lays Gol...

Mrs. Claus Explains It All by Elsbeth Claus

Stars: **** Sourcebooks Jabberwocky (November 2008) Children's Fiction - Picture book Summary: Millions of letters pour into the North ...

Capturing night lights using motion photography

Last night, while we were on the road, I decided to take out my 35mm digital camera and snap a few motion pictures. I played around with dif...

Horrid Henry's Christmas by Francesca Simon

Stars: **** Sourcebooks Jabberwocky (Dec 2009) Children's Fiction Ages 7-12 Summary: Horrid Henry sabotages the Christmas play; tries...