Jim Henson

Okay, so I'll admit it. I'm twenty-two as of writing this and I adore the Muppets. I grew up watching the later seasons of the Muppet show and classics like Muppets in Space and Muppet Christmas Carol like any other child of the 60's to 90's.

Though I have to make another confession, there's just something about watching these guys. If I were to watch actors or cartoons performing the same slapstick and puns (except maybe the Three Stooges) I'd probably think it was terrible. There's just something about a pig throwing around other felt and wire puppets in a rampage.

 With the new release of the new muppet movie, it seems the world is just now learning just what a creative genius Jim Henson was. He was a man that just made you want to go 'wow', who inspired countless others to dream and gave generations of children something that the mostly garbage programs we see on most kid networks today could never hope to achieve.

I had never seen Jim Henson's sketches and notes until this year until I came across other blogs and sites, but when I did I poured over every detail. Henson created a world anyone could immerse themselves in, be it the Dark Crystal or Seasame Street.

While I would absolutely love to be able to go to an exhibit, alas, I'm, a poor college student. However, there's hope for all of you out there. In California there will be The Lovers, the Dreamers, and Me - A Jim Henson Tribute Exhibition.

Guest Artist

Today and Tuesday I sat in on lecture over traditional Chinese painting by Li Zhiqiang. It was very interesting to see the concepts behind each style of work. The paintings were also beautiful and wish I had been free to sit in on his demonstration. It was his first time in the U.S. I believe and didn't speak the language, but more than made up for the language barrier by his viewpoints and such.

Mini bio:

Zhiqiang Li, Professor, dean of College of New Medium Art, Tianjin Academy of Fine Arts, China. Professor Li is a well-known Chinese modern painter, and he is also a professor of art. He has been explored his ink painting with some of his folk art principles and expertise. He had two one-man shows in China National Art Museum in Beijing during past seven years and it is the only honor for the artist from the city; He had more than fifteen international shows and exhibits in past fifteen years; He has been the director of Chinese Yangliuqing Folk Art Studio for more than ten years; He published few his books and theses in China.


You can follow his blog here: LINK

Poetry Feature

So last year and the year before I've been featured in the Cut-Thru Review that is a collection of art and writings from my community. They finally put up the website and I thought I'd share my poetry that's up here.

little info about the site:
The 2010 edition features an impressive collection of words and images that captures the spirit and scope of contemporary Appalachian literary arts.

Commissions!

Want a personalized piece of art? Look no further! For the first time I've decided to ask for commissions.

I'm in need of money for school ( $2400)and am hoping that I can get something from my art.

examples of my work:

I can do anything from sketches to full on digital drawings like you see here. Anything will be a great help and if you can't afford a commission it would be a great help if you could pass this post along.

Find prices HERE and if you have any questions, please contact me on etsy!

Minor Tips

Okay so before my next tutorial I thought I'd post a few things for those wanting to learn to cook various things. Some of these tips can be used across a wide spectrum of dishes. All of these I found out on my own, so I hope it works for you!

• Take about a teaspoon (eventually you'll be able to just scoop out this much with your hand like me) of flour and sprinkle over any kind of pan your baking things with. This works best with pizza, cakes, etc. This will ensure nothing ever sticks.
• When cooking any type of pasta add a teaspoon or two of cooking oil to the water. It adds taste and keeps your noodles from sticking to your pot and together.
• When baking dishes ( mac & cheese, lasanga, etc) always coat your pain with aluminum foil, its keeps everything relatively clean and keeps food from sticking to your pans.
• Run water over freshly cut onions and peppers to get rid of the majority of the smell and to keep you from crying.
• Want meat to cook quicker on the stove top? Cover with a glass lid. Takes half the time and locks in flavor.

Easter Eggs!

So I've spent the last few hours making eggs. Started out with boiling eggs and realised I didn't have dye or vinegar. Luckily I never clean my car out so after some digging around in my trunk I found an egg kit and looking in one of the cabinets I found what looks like a bottle of vinegar made in the 70's. I should have taken a picture of that. 

And while I don't post often, I thought it'd be fun to post of few tidbits on easter eggs. :) Taken from wiki:
~*~*~
The egg is a pagan symbol of the rebirth of the Earth in celebrations of spring and was adopted by early Christians as a symbol of the resurrection of Jesus.

There are good grounds for the association between hares (later termed Easter bunnies) and eggs, through folklore confusion between hares' forms (where they raise their young) and plovers' nests.^[3] The mention of eggs left for children in connection with the Germanic goddess Ostara in the supposed Old High German lullaby is considered a literary forgery.

~*~*~

Anyways I wanted to wish everyone a Happy Easter! Hope you're eggs turn out colorful and you get some gifts from the Easter Bunny. :P

Green Hornet

So I watched Green Hornet on monday and I have to say it was fun. A small bit of the humor felt out of
place, but I thought it gave the movie a bit of charm. It's always fun to see just how entertaining a diconstruction of a trope can be compared to when it's done seriously.

Only thing is I wish the theme song had played more. So I've decided to post the whole theme here. (Yes, I know it's from the Kill Bill soundtrack, but I love that movie too so think of it as a two for one deal. lol)

The little spitfire dragon and the chubby fox

So here's one of my few basis concepts for a new line I wold like to make, granted this semester goes well and my etsy store starts doing better.

This little guy is a baby dragon, breathing a small bit of flame. Is't he cute?

This lineart is for a line a cut woodland/fantasy creatures I have drawn and want to use for some acrylic jewlry, stickers, bookmarks, etc.

So far I have this cute little dragon, who I'll post colored later on ( or you can check out at my DeviantArt), a curly haired blue pony, and a chubby little fox. Would love to do an owl and a few other fantasy creatures and I'm always open for suggestions.

Now I just need a large following who thinks these are as cute as I do. :)

Ghost Adventures-Bobby Mackey's

Looks like the new Ghost Adventures season is going to be a good one. :) I'm excited that the guys are going to places in Kentucky too.

Costume

Got my costume in a couple of days ago. :) I'll be going as little red riding hood for the party I'm throwing this year. I might post pictures if I can find the time then.

5 Absurd (But Mind Blowing) Pop Culture Conspiracy Theories

Another cracked.com article I wanted to share. You can check it out here!

Woes...

*skip please if you don't want to listen to my frustration*

I'm beginning to really reconsider teaching as a career option. The classes I'm taking now for it are going to be the death of me and have sucked any fun and love out of what I had thought I would finally go into. It also doesn't help that one of the teacher's is so ridiculously difficult that I believe she's either sadistic or insane or a little bit of both. Not to mention I've been on the verge of tears for a few hours now because of the stress.
*sigh*
Like really why should I write thirty book reviews when you're only going to grade 10 of them and the books have to be from a narrow list of titles you came up with or from our book? It isn't as if we can't tell the difference, or you can't tell us, between fantasy and historical fiction. Why should I go 2 hours out of my way to do observations? Do you think we won't do it in the first place, that we're all that incompetent?

On my way to work...

Random pictures on my way to work. It was around 9:30 or so in the morning. Had my sister's camera and thought I might as well. lol

Pumpkin Carving

Another pumpkin I made a couple of years ago. It was my first attempt at pumpkin carving and I think it turned out great. :) It's based off a character design by CLAMP.

Kittens!

Here's the two biggest laying in a bag of stuffed animals that went later into the building out front.

The other three, who are all oddly colored. Must come from their mother. lol The gray calico is dad's, the other calico is mine ( along with the two in the other picture), and my sister called dibs on the black/white kitten. I need to try to think of names for them. ^^

Last day of Festival

Went to the festival today to get some food. Wasn't much, but I guess everyone's preparing for Jenny Wiley Festival in about two weeks.

Festival

Festival is down the street today and tomorrow, will have to go and get some funnel cake before they start packing up. Looks like there's not many stands, but it should be interesting. We definitely take pictures tomorrow. :)

Anyone else excited about this movie? I grew up on stories of the triple crown and horses like Secretariat from my dad. They're the only sporting events I really get into. I even went to the Lexington Horse park for my sixteenth birthday and got to see Secretariat and other famous race horses racing silks.

Here's Secretariat's famous Belmont race.

Kentucky Highland Folk Festival

Going to be working not far away from the festival this year. Should be a lot of fun and it's always a bonus when I get to eat really unhealthy food that only comes around maybe four times a year. I'll try and post pictures this weekend if I can remember to get a hold of my sister's camera.

Bit of info:
The 46th Kentucky Highland Folk Festival featuring live music, arts, crafts, food and more. The festival will open to the schools on Friday, September 18 at 9:30 and will run until 2:00 p.m. It will then be open to the public from 2 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Saturday the festival will be open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. There will be live entertainment, crafts, games, and good food. There will be a National Youth Storytelling Showcase, Pig Roast, Cornhole Tournament, Entertainment on the Outdoor Stage, Sledgehammer Competition.

Happy Birthday to you~

*HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU, HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU~!*

My friend Lyric turned 18 today. She's finally a legal adult, now she gets to vote, and whatever else 18 year olds do now a days. Makes me not feel as old, though there's only three years diference between us. <3

Anyways, well wishes and lots of love to the birthday girl~! Hopefully your box of gifts will arrive soon. :)