Front Yard Wildlife...what's next?

I really, really understand the importance of our entire eco system.

I hate snakes.

As I looked out my home office/studio window I watched two snakes hunt. In that white pipe lives brand new baby bunnies. I watched the bunnies freak out...differently then they normally freak out. As I watched them, and while I've only seen one other snake in the yard a couple of years ago, I thought "snake." As soon as I thought it I saw IT. The first thing I wanted to see was the tail, since I needed to make sure it wasn't a rattle snake. I also grabbed my camera, had to quickly attach the zoom lens and began snapping pictures. I saw that it didn't have a rattle, but I couldn't identify the snake. I was almost hyperventilating as I took the pictures and was terribly worried about the bunnies. I moved to two other rooms at the front of my house to follow IT. Once it disappeared around a corner of my house and towards our garage I called hubby to let him know that a snake was lurking.

Then I off loaded the pictures to my computer. Once I had the pictures I began searching for what type of snake it was. I came to the conclusion it was a gopher snake. But I wasn't absolutely sure. So I uploaded the pictures to my flickr account. I twittered the link and the person who answered me was a fellow etsyian whose husband is a biologist. He identified it as a Bull snake, which is also a Gopher snake. A constrictor that can unhinge its jaw so it can eat "big" things.

Now in terms of our eco system, this is a "good" snake. It helps rid the world of rodents. We live in the country, next to a orange orchard and cotton field...there are a lot of mice and gophers. I just wish the snake would eat those rather than the bunnies. Although there is a huge population of bunnies....but they are so much cuter then the other animals.

I think there were two of them. I watched another cross the yard and slither into my automatic hose reel. I will never touch that again. I can barely walk out my front door to my mail box.

Did I happen to mention that I hate snakes?

The Girl Indie Blog Feature

What an exciting honor to be featured on this wonderful blog!





This blog features some awesome artists and designers. It's written by nine wonderful women who take the time out of their day to write about and feature "chick owned businesses." Go take a peek!

We Must Be On Time

The gaslights flicker and create a shadow that allows me to recede from view. I step back and feel the cold, damp walls and shiver. Someone is drawing closer and I realize that it was only the echoing in the tunnels that made it sound like whispers. I can make out vague words, “…further…lock…12th…mad hatter…” They are close to where I stand and I’m hoping they will continue past and not turn in this direction. They stop and I hear the woman’s voice, “wait.” Seconds pass as I once again hold my breath. “There’s someone here,” she says. Her voice is familiar. The librarian. Her companion says, “Stella, not now, we must be on time.” I do not recognize the gentleman’s voice.

They continue on and the sounds of their steps recede. I emerge from my place in the shadows. I will follow, but I look down and see something lying on the ground. As I reach to pick the item up I hear a loud creaking, then something heavy being lifted and slammed. I stand quietly for a moment. I now hold in my hands a tiny, leather journal. The edges are worn. It’s no bigger then the palm of my hand. The lighting is poor, but I can feel lettering or perhaps an imprint. I open it carefully and see writing and other notations. Is that a date? I will examine this more closely later. I place this with the rest of my discoveries.

I step tentatively. I feel nervous; anticipation is building, for I do not know what is ahead. Something has always stopped me from venturing this far into the tunnels. Fear and rumors. As I walk along I examine the walls for any trace of clues. I see an illustration of three gears. As I take the next step my foot hits something hard. I step up and I hear a latch lift, a creaking sound and what sounds like a door opening. Standing there for a moment, listening, I feel something brush past me and faintly I hear, “hurry, we must be on time.”

Artist Series -- Lady Lina

I would like to introduce you to Katarina from Dubrovnik, Croatia. I met Katarina when she used some of my cuffs in her treasuries. During that time we exchanged emails discussing our crafts. Katrarina is such a lovely person and I have enjoyed making her acquantance and wanted to share her love of crafts and art with you. Katarina has two Etsy shops, Lady Lina and PerfectCut. I love both and her work is perfection defined!

1.When did you become interested in crafting and did you choose it, or did it choose you?

Handcrafting has always held an important place in my family. My grandmother was a couturier (seamstress), and she taught me how to sew. I remember my mother being fascinated by different fabrics and magnitude of their colors, lace, wool, while she was also intrigued by nails, pliers, screwdrivers... So there was constant handmaking going on in my house, knitting, crocheting, coloring, fixing... I feel that in such a home atmosphere it would have been difficult not to adopt handcrafting as another personal challenge.

2. You get to spend one weekend each with three historical figures, an artist, a writer and one of your choice. Who are they and what will you talk about or do?

The artist would have to be Chopin. His music absolutely fascinates me. I feel it would be a gathering of two soul mates.

The writer would be Milan Kundera. His books have played a significant part in my maturing. I would love to be able to sit now, as a mature person, and have a conversation with the old shrewd. This question has inspired me to revisit some of his books!

The great scientist and visionary Nikola Tesla enabled today's ways of communication with his ingenious inventions. Many of his ideas have not been implemented yet. It would be very interesting to hear from such a grand mind what the future holds! I believe he would also like visiting his native land.

3. How has the popularity of the Internet affected your work?

Internet has opened so many doors in my life, into the world. I met a vast array of great and talented people, and have acquired many new friends. An abundance of opportunities have presented themselves to me, and I have been able to learn many new crafts and much more.

4. Have you discovered any new technique to creating your work that you can share? How do you come up with your ideas?

I recently discovered a method of cutting through wood and plexiglas with a laser cutter.
A completely new technology to me, that I am slowly adopting. My husband uses the laser cutter in his work, and I simply have to try everything that is new!




5. If I walked into your crafting area this moment what would you show me first? What would you want to hide?

Since my work area is mainly my living room, the first thing you would see would be the table cloth on the living room table, embroidered by my husband's grandma. The pattern of it is specific to Dubrovnik region. I think you would find it very interesting! Needlepoint/embroidery is an area I want to perfect; therefore I always keep this table cloth in my sight.
And I would not hide anything. Most of working areas are a creative mess, aren't they?

6. Describe something that comes up in your work because of a life experience?

My husband is an advertisement and billboard designer. He mostly works with Plexiglas. Until recently, to me Plexiglas was just another plastic material. Then I discovered that this material is a rather interesting medium that can turn into an unusual piece of jewelery. So now, besides fabric, wool and thread, Plexiglas is my new obsession!

7. Describe what you do or who you are in a haiku

Embroidered dreams
become shaped fabric of colors
singing an adorned tale

8. Is there anything else that you would like to share?

I would like to thank you for including me in your blog; among all these wonderful artists...I am grateful for your support and for the opportunity to share my humble work with the world.