Creative Pastel getting Spring Feelinz

Art of Gerber Daisy:

Step one: Find a picture you like and photocopy it.Then Charcoal on the back and trace over it with a pen to make the lines on to another piece of paper. You can also draw the picture or design you want which I have done on other pictures such as the Poppy and Cherry blossoms I have posted.

 Second: start pasteling with the chosen colours. I used yellow and white first.I did use a tissues to smudge the pastels to make the effects I wanted.

After I finished the outer part of the flower I went to the center.

The centre colours I chose were orange, black and red.

This is the finished pastel picture.I did Spray an art fix on the picture so that the pastel wouldn't get on the glass or smudge

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Then I framed it and put in above our bed and added pllows to make and new spring feeling to our room.

To find our how to do more techniques check out this link:http://painting.about.com/od/pastelpainting/ss/pastels_techs_2.htm

Check out my etsy for pastels on sale.http://www.etsy.com/shop/lauriezdesignz?ref=pr_shop

Creative Inspirationz from Spring

Odelia and I spent part of Spring Break being creative. Here is her painting in the process.

This is the project almost finished. 5x7

These are a few pastels I did. This pastel is of a poppy, inspired from Georgia O 'Keefe. 13x10

These are cherry blossoms made with pastels, inspired from a Cherry Blossom tree in our garden. 6.5x8.5

Spring Findz in the Garden

http://www.canadiangardening.com/what-to-do-now/jobs-in-the-garden-by-season/early-spring-gardening-checklist/a/20654#

Spring is that time to get back in the garden and clean up the beds and find surprises like crocuses blooming bringing joy and colour to the day. I had fun taking these photos using the close up setting.

Creative Sculpturez

This is a polymer clay sculpture of my dog Cooper.

Here is Cooper my cute puppy and inspiration for this sculpture.

After I made the tiny sculpture. I baked it for 20 minutes in the oven and this is how it looked before I painted mini Cooper.

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I learned to make this scultpture from an artist on the Sunshine Coast. Her name is Coralie Swaney. She does amazing sculptures that will blow you away. She makes the costumes and everything. She is an inspiration.She is also a fantastic painter.To check out her work go to her blog or the other link.
http://www.coraliescharacters.blogspot.com/ and http://cargocollective.com/coralieswaney
At the Salmon Festival in Gibsons our family tradition to honour my mom. We have painted Salmon and always enjoyed Coralie's Salmon too.

bob marley - wait in vain (original)

I thought it would be cool to have both versions. I love them both!

Annie Lennox WAITING IN VAIN 46664 Live 3/2005 (5/9)

A Music Findz!
Annie Lennox is one of my favourite female musicians. She does a Bob Marley song, another favourtie musician. "Waiting in Vain" is a great song. Enjoy!

Creative Cooking --Banana Kidney Bean Soup

 Banana Kidney Bean Soup

This recipe is an adaptation of a favourite recipe by James Barber. His is a Black Bean Banana Soup and mine is a Banana Kidney Bean soup with a variety of veggies.

Ingredients include

1 onion, chopped

3 garlic cloves

1 banana chopped

1 tomato chopped

2 potatoes chopped

2 carrots chopped

1/4 a yellow pepper chopped

1/2 a yam chopped

Spices add to your preference (around 1/2 to 1 tsp.)

Cumin
Curry 1/2 tsp.
Masala 1/2 tsp

Red chili pepper flakes

Oregano or Italian spices

Veggie boullion

Kidney beans one can (make sure to drain and wash)

Directions put oil in pot add ingredients in order let them fry. Add water so the veggies don't stick to the bottom. Add spices, beans and then add 8 cups of water plus veggie boullion. Cook until it is ready. 

1. Chopped ingredients

2. Add spices

3.Veggies Cooking

4.Water and beans added. Let is cook until all veggies cooked and tastes great. (Over an hour)

This is a yummy wholesome meal that can be served with a salad and bread or cheese quesidillas.
I also added fresh cilantro in the end to garnish.

Low fat and high in protein.

Enjoy!!!!



Best Findz on the Sunshine Coast

If you come and visit or live on the Sunshine Coast, BC you need to visit Dakota Ridge. Our family has enjoyed this winter wonderland for the past two years. We go Snowshoeing and Cross country skiing. This winter we have had a blast. We have a picnic in the snow or in the warming hut.The kids love to toboggan at the end of our snowshoe adventures. Cooper our puppy has loved playing in the snow too.
dakotaridge.ca/ -

Icicles on a cedar tree.

Odelia and Jamie having fun snowshoeing. Then they headed to their favourite tobaggan hill. It was hard to get them to leave.

Dave and Cooper having fun!

Cooper had a great time exploring the mountain.

Pretty birds on the mountain!