Life Story

Day 128
Challenge:
Write a 10 word autobiography.

Call me Ishsnail.
From an egg, underground.

Shell all around.

: )    Thank you, Herman Melville.

Tall Tale

Day 138
Challenge:
Be inspired by a fictional character.

Gus, the Green Snail

You've heard of Paul Bunyan.

You've heard of Babe the Blue Ox.

Meet Paul's snail!

: )

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Book:  The Bunyans   Author: Audrey Wood  Illustrator: David Shannon 

I imagine when we wake up some early summer mornings and find the neighborhood yards sparkling with dew, and again some late fall mornings when frost clings to every stone and twig, that it's Gus we have to thank, and his amazing slime work!

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Tis the Season!

Day 122
Challenge:
Make a working musical instrument.

Snail Bell Shaker

as in . . .  Snail Bells Ring, are you listening 

In the lane, snow is glistening

A beautiful sight

We're happy tonight

Walking in a winter wonderland.

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Season's Greetings!

Thrift Shop Find

Day 106
Challenge:
Use something from a thrift shop.

Snail and Turkey Costume

Snail in Turkey Costume

Convincing!

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The bottom 

of the ceramic snail 

notes the name of the

 glaze artist as 

Alleen.

The other

turkeys in the rafter

are the early handiwork of 

our two sons!

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Happy Thanksgiving 

to One and All

Last Look

Decayed Snail
Tuesday Evening 11/13/12

That's All Folks!

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Would wood work once more?

Wood Snail

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Decomposed

Day 139
Challenge:
Document it decomposing.

Snail Tattoo

Saturday Evening

11-10-12

I am inspired by one of the artist speakers at the annual AEM Conference, Phil Hansen!

He is the author of the book, "Tattoo A Banana: And Other Ways to Turn Anything and Everything into Art."  

I was really interested in his year-long series "Goodbye Art". He destroyed each work of art he created during that time. It was difficult at first, he shared, but had a big impact on his ability to be creative and to take risks. The process became his focus.

Learn more at his Website:

www.philinthecircle.com

Decaying Snail

Monday Afternoon

11-12-12

[The fruit itself was featured as Sunday morning brunch

with Peanut Butter on Toast.]

I'll try to get one more photo

in the next day or two.

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Chipped

Day 118

Challenge:

Use wood. Any kind.

Wood Chip Snail

This pile of sawdust remained in the yard after our trees were trimmed.

(Detail via my phone's art app!)

Story

Day 134
Challenge:
Reinterpret your favorite childhood story.


The Little Snail That Could

Things were looking tough for the train.
It was loaded with all the good things that make the circus a dream come true for one and all who are drawn by the big top.
The only thing that stood between the train and those dreams was a mountain.

It was steep.
It was rugged.
It was impossible.

After three whole-hearted attempts at reaching the summit, 
and REALLY NEARLY doing so,
the big iron engine at the front of the train just shook his head and puffed,
"Can't be done.  Can't be done."

Sadness fell on the circus family as dark as the engine's billowing smoke trailing the length of the cars.
All fell still.
The last coal embers in the fire box dimmed  . . .  then went out.
Silence took over the very air with its void and nil and never.
The show would not go on.

There was nothing to do.
There was nothing to say.
Nothing.

Until an elephant
heard a lion who
heard a pony who
heard a monkey
who heard a rabbit
who heard a snail say,
"I think I can. I think I can!"

Well I don't need to tell you what happened
for we all know what a powerful thing it is to believe in yourself, as indeed the snail believed!
And sometimes (and this was one of those times) a little help is enough help.

Together the big iron engine and the gentle little snail took that train up and over the mountain and into the valley.
Townspeople lined the tracks to greet and cheer the circus family! Parents and children and grandchildren and puppies and even the mayor.

"On with the show!", they shouted.

And a grand show it was! The finest show the big top had ever known.


(sweet dreams!)

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Family Portrait

From Pony Tails

Thank you, Audrey!

You are a creative 1st Grader.

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Vintage

Cootie Proboscis 

Snails

Note: You can click on the photo to see it enlarged.

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You had to shake a 5 on the dice to get a proboscis (mouth),

but only if you already had a body and head!

The copyright is 1949, by Schaper Mfg. Co., Inc., Minneapolis 22, Minn.

They also made

Stadium Checkers!

'Loved that game even more.

Musical Inspiration Continued

Treble Clef Snails

I nearly overlooked this 

spiral in my world!

I was drawing a treble clef for some music I was

writing down and that's when I realized it.

I think my arm felt the motion of it at the same time my eye saw it happening.

It seems there are many combinations of doors leading to understanding, 

unique to each of us! 

I think moving a pencil must be one of mine.

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FYI:  There's a lot to know about a treble clef! I couldn't remember what it was called so when I looked it up I learned a lot about why it looks the way it looks! 

And YES, there is a YouTube video that explains that!!

(Another door to understanding could be music!)

Ode To The Treble Clef -  MusicK8.com

http://m.youtube.com/#/watch?v=0XnG675l84U&desktop_uri=%2Fwatch%3Fv%3D0XnG675l84U

(I don't think this is an active link. You may have to cut and paste . . .

or color and stamp and glitter and fold!!!)

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Spooky Spirals

Hair Snails

Eye Snails

Fun Holiday!!!

Best Candy: A Butterfinger Bar (Thanks, E.T.)

Most Fun: Popping Popcorn with Ben

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