kitten attacks

anyone who knows me (or looks at the post below) knows that I love kittens. I used to hate them, when every cat I knew was a jackal from hell. But, I've realized that my whole life I've been a cat lover in the closet.
My parents were very against the idea...but then something magical happened. My mother suddenly asked if I would rather have a kitten now or after school's out. Well, school is out and here's my kitten.

yes, she is the cutest you have ever seen. and yet, she continues to wake me at 5 in the morning by stepping on my face with those white puffy paws and then by gently gnawing my feet. it's wonderful

since we get up so early to play, we nap all day together. and then come the midnight crazies. it's cute, but must stop.

specimens in watercolor

gollybard

Holly (the artist behind gollybard) is an amazing creator. She creates watercolor paintings of nature, insects, birds, and much more. She sells her paintings on Etsy and her work has been used in other sellers jewelry work (for example: this rustic lamb and fence magnetic locket by polarity)

Not only does Holly have great talent but a great heart. With every sell from her Heart collection, she donates $5 to So Others Might Eat, a organization in the City of Washington who helps the poor and homeless.

gollybard was also a featured seller on Etsy! Read interview here.

Visit the gollybard blog (one of my new favorites)

Look through the rest of Holly's art in her shop: www.gollybard.etsy.com

owls

a lovely photo from dsbrennan on Etsy.
and this specimen was found on the Selby.

while searching the bargain basement at the Book House (which is apparently haunted), maggie and I found some charming art books, poetry, and James Joyce. I will have to photograph them and show you. and i should post about my new endeavor (spinning). and i should also study for exams. so much to be done. summer break is coming.... it's coming

ecosystems

Roaming around Barnes and Noble the other day, I came across "Charley Harper: an Illustrated Life," and was instantly smitten. I have always loved Charley Harper (and always believed I would have done better in science class had he illustrated my biology text book) and I do believe that this was the most beautiful coffee table book I have ever seen. And how playful! Children and adults alike might enjoy it! 

I do love  buffalo and other plains critters. 

These collages are some of my favorite images in the book: all these bugs and lizards and platypus swarm together so harmoniously. 

Alas, this book was out of my price-range, so I had to content myself with only a brief look. Charley has something quite interesting to say about art and ecosystems: 

"I regard the picture as an ecosystem in which all the elements are interrelated, interdependent, perfectly balanced, without trimming or unutilized parts; and herein lies the lure of painting; in a world of chaos, the picture is one small rectangle in which the artist can create an ordered universe."

Indeed!