The Spadefoot Toad

Moving and Changing

2011-08-03T11:13:00.001-07:00

Hi Everyone. It's been such a long time and I want to let you all know that I am so thankful you've stuck around. For the past half year, I have been focusing very hard on getting my new business, Blossom Design Studio, llc. up and running. Because I am focusing my efforts there, I am no longer going to be posting to this blog.

But don't worry! I've got a new blog and it's even better. This time, I will be focusing on landscape design, gardening, plants, graphic design, and other fun design inspiration. I'll be posting more regularly and will be having guest bloggers, interviews, giveaways, and more.

Please come join me over at The Blossom Blog. My latest post is about DIY Planters that are anything but Ordinary. Hope you come say hi!

Up and Coming...Sierra Vista Landscape Designer

2011-03-11T06:28:00.000-08:00

I'm in the process of developing my landscape design and graphic design business. Right now I'm working on my business plan and trying to come up with a business name. Who knew finding the right name could be so hard! I might post back here with some possible names in the hopes that some of you can offer your opinion.

I have a few projects I'm currently working on, like a winery in Sonoita and a high-end residence in Tucson. They are both a great deal of fun and a wonderful learning experience. I can honestly say, I love my job! I'll have to come back with updates and snippets of the design when I get further along. In the future, I'm hoping to get some more clients in my area that would like a well designed, functional yard and have a desire to use native and edible plants or attract wildlife.

Cochise Stronghold -

2011-03-05T11:46:00.001-08:00

One of my most favorite places on earth! Oh how I love thee....

It is astounding to me that Arizona has so many incredible landscapes all in one state. If I didn't know better, I could have mistaken the Stronghold for Africa. Wait, I think I see a giraffe!

Loving That Wildlife!

2010-10-01T08:40:00.000-07:00

I've been writing bi-monthly articles for The New Southwest's Living with Urban Wildlife Series. Here's one from a few months ago. I'm waiting for my scanner to arrive so that I can upload my latest on what else but, THE SPADEFOOT TOAD!

Living With Urban Wildlife

By Kimberly Creagan

Tucson Green Times – July 2010

It’s that time of the year again when the hot summer weather starts to make us all act a little batty. Well, we aren’t the only ones! Tiny winged mammals in the form of, you guessed it, bats, are quite active this time of year. And lucky for us, there are many of these little guys right in town.

Before you go asking yourself, “Did she really just say lucky?” let me explain.

Those bats have gotten a bat rap. They aren’t the blood thirsty disease carriers that folklore so often leads us to believe. The risk of contracting rabies from a bat is actually quite rare; you are more likely to be struck by lightning. In actuality, these little furry guys are amazing creatures that do a lot for us and the Sonoran Desert we call home!

Bats are very important to our desert ecosystem because many are vigorous pollinators (the main source of pollination for the Saguaro cacti) and also help to disperse seeds. Those that aren’t busy pollinating are working hard to keep our insect pests under control. You can thank these furry fellows for reducing the number of mosquitoes (the true blood-suckers) that bite you this summer. The insectivore bats also help to reduce the population of insects that damage crops.

Impressively, bats have been occupying this Earth in nearly the same form for about 50 million years and occupy every continent except for Antarctica. One in four mammals on our planet is a bat. Bats are unique in the mammal world because they are the only to have developed true flight.

Sadly, bats are also one of the most

threatened land mammals in North America, with roughly half of the 45 species listed as threatened or endangered. Habitat loss and pesticide use are among the main threats to these important animals.

Also, public misconception about the danger of these animals often means removal of bats from areas where they have set up residence. Because they live in large groups and most bat mothers give birth to only one pup per year –one act of vandalism can destroy thousands of bats.

If you have a hummingbird feeder you may have already been fortunate enough to catch a glimpse of the two nectar feeding bat species that reside in Tucson. The Lesser Long-nosed bat and the Mexican Long-tongued bat both have long tongues perfect for sipping nectar from tight places. Typically, these species live in mines and caves, but will journey out at night to find food. When they aren’t drinking from Saguaros and Agaves, they may be draining your hummingbird feeder in a feasting frenzy. Typically, you will see them in the late summer and early fall.

Luckily in Tucson we still have many opportunities for viewing bats and summer

is one of the best times

to see them here.

The Mexican Free-tailed bats, which live in colonies of great numbers, are migratory and live in Tucson spring through fall. One large colony lives under the Campbell Ave. bridge at the Rillito River. You can watch thousands of bats take flight around sunset every night as they chase their insect dinner off into the sky. It’s a pretty incredible sight!

Of course, with any wildlife, it’s important to keep your distance for the health of the animal and yourself. If you see a bat crawling on the ground or acting strange, do not touch it as it could be a sign that it is sick. Watch them from a distance, listen to their unique squeaks of echolocation, and be amazed by their incredible ability to maneuver in the dark as they take ownership of the night skies.

From New Orleans

2010-07-13T14:00:00.001-07:00

I fell in love with New Orleans!

Reminiscent of France.
Beneights, Muffalatas, French Onion Soup...oh and Daiquiris!
Balconies with wrought-iron railings and hanging flowers, humid air, green.
Pastel colors, peeling paint, brick, shutters, wonderful textures!

New Orleans prints are available in my shop.

It's that time again!

2010-07-13T13:55:00.000-07:00

image via lazoo.org

The monsoon season is finally here! And guess who makes an appearance when the rains start coming? The Spadefoot Toads! Let's celebrate :)

Sending some love your way

2010-03-08T19:54:00.000-08:00

...but watch out, it's prickly!

Arizona, I love you!

2010-02-07T18:47:00.000-08:00

Well, it has been nearly three months since I have posted here. You've probably forgotten about me and I wouldn't blame you! Life's been busy. It seems like I have more hobbies than ever, but I can't say I'm not having fun. Yesterday I had the chance to go to Cochise Stronghold with some friends. We primarily went there to climb, but I was armed with my camera too. Here are some of my favorite shots from the day. Enjoy!

2009-10-08T14:23:00.000-07:00

Point Reyes National Seashore, California

2009-09-14T19:39:00.001-07:00

I haven't felt like saying much in the way of words lately, but here are some pictures from the incredible day I had yesterday with my mom.

Hello from cold and rainy michigan!

2009-08-26T15:06:00.001-07:00

Hi folks!
Well, it's been a tremendously long time since I've been around. I'm traveling again and am currently in the land of many lakes, Michigan. It seems that I've become a modern day nomad for the time being. All my stuff is in storage and I'm jet-setting about the country until the end of September. Quite frankly, a large part of me wishes I was in Tucson right now, with some stability and my friends. But I'm also taking this time to enjoy my family once more before I begin working.
So, I'll share a few pictures from my trip so far...here's what I've been up to if you are at all interested.

Watching the sunrise:

Contemplating life in the reflections of the lake:

Kayaking:

Sailing:

And taking photos of the frog that lives in my dad's hot tub:

Hope you are all enjoying the remainder of the summer!

I'm back

2009-07-10T22:20:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone. It's been so long and now this blogland seems foreign to me. The break from blogging was much needed. I miss all of you, don't get that wrong, but this past month and a half has been a period of immense change and it has thrown me for a loop. It's been a cycle of big highs and big lows and even some in between. There are many, many changes happening in my life and with them I am coping, learning, growing. I'm also slowly learning to trust in the universe...that everything will be o.k. I've had the strangest feeling lately and I can't completely describe it...like riding on a bike with a blindfold in a hilly, foreign town with no map. But, I suppose that is life!

The trip to California (and Michigan in between) was incredibly fun and healing. It was wonderful to be around family again. A big dose of my mom and dad is exactly what I need when the going gets rough. In Califnornia (with mom) we managed to see so much I still can't even believe it. I went to San Francisco, Santa Cruz, Monterey, Carmel, Lake Tahoe, Sausilito, and Sacramento. We drove up the 1 from Big Sur to Half Moon Bay (so insanely beautiful that I still can't get over it.)

Natural Bridges State Beach near Santa Cruz

Often, when my mom and I have time together, she is still working or at least has her head is in work. She's very successful, dedicated, and her work requires a lot of flexibility. This time, however, things were a little slower for her which allowed her to really relax and enjoy herself...something I haven't seen her able to do in so long. I'm so glad we were able to spend that time together. I think it was important for both of us and it's a time I will cherish forever.

Back in Michigan with my dad, we did a lot of relaxing...something that is always nice at his place. He is fortunate to live on a lake so many of our activities focus around water. My dad is a creative, fun, social person and we always have a great time together. We went sailing one night and it was the most perfect night, a subtle breeze and calm waters just before dusk. On the way back to the dock the wind gently pushed us back home. It was so relaxing that my dad fell asleep while driving our little sunfish.

View from the boat on the lake at my dad's

Family is a wonderful gift and I feel so fortunate to have one as great as my own. I'm not sure how much I will be on here...I'm still trying to regain my energy and enthusiasm. But when I do, I'd love to share some of my experiences with you. And if you'd like, you can take a look at my flickr stream to see some of the pictures from my trip. Have a wonderful weekend everyone!

California here I come!

2009-06-03T09:25:00.000-07:00

Hi all. Just wanted to let you know that I am leaving today for some traveling and am not sure how often I will get to post. First, I'm off to San Jose and San Francisco to visit mi mum. Then it's off to Michigan to visit mi dad. Then, back to San Fran again. All in all I think I will be gone for about a month. This is a much needed vacation and I will be sure to post some pictures when I can. Cheerio!

What is evil?

2009-05-31T18:12:00.001-07:00

I don't consider myself a religious person, but I do think I am spiritual. I try to be very open minded about a greater existence because I think that we have such limited comprehension of our universe and beyond. This video gave me chills; I have to say I never really thought of it that way but it makes so much sense. Good ole' Albert.

Note: I don't endorse this organization or the teaching of any specific religion in schools.

Break from the heat

2009-05-29T16:35:00.000-07:00

I can't believe it! This is my 150th post. Since I forgot to celebrate my 100th post, maybe this deserves some kind of celebration? So, how about a cheers to all of you who stop by and share my life with me! You rock.

It's been getting progressively hot here, but not as bad as it usually is this time of year. It seems that the weather patterns have shifted a little bit and we are experiencing clouds and rain in May. Very unusual but welcomed by us humans. I do wonder how a change like this will effect the rest of the desert. As I am sitting here typing, it seems as though we may get a few showers shortly. I'm not complaining...I love it!

Yesterday was pretty hot, however, and to escape the heat some friends and I drove up to Mount Lemmon. It's pretty amazing that you can go from desert to a place like this is 45 min. Here...see what I mean.

Doesn't look like a desert, does it? This amazing fern forest was such a treat for us desert dwellers. And for those of you from Tucson, this is located on the Butterfly Trail on Mount Lemmon. It's a steep hike, but well worth it.

The New Mexican Locust were gorgeous.
This waterfall is one destination on the hike...such a peaceful spot to take a break.

These caterpillars were all over the trail...probably why it's called Butterfly Trail. I wonder what kind they are?And these tent caterpillars were on another trail higher up. I know they can be pretty destructive in some areas (they were in Michigan), but I didn't see too many of them so hopefully they won't do damage. I just think it's so cool how they make this cocoon....like a big caterpillar orgy. :P

Tucson Urban Wildlife

2009-05-14T11:11:00.000-07:00

My website for Tucson urban wildlife is up and running! If you would like to check it out, the web address is www.tucsonurbanwildlife.com. Thank you all for your kind words about finishing my thesis. That adventure is over, but I am looking forward to many more in the future.

Bats and more bats

2009-05-14T11:01:00.000-07:00

A few days ago I took my camera to the Campbell Avenue bridge, where the bats hang out. I wanted to see if I could get something other than a blur (i.e. my old camera) to show up. It was fun to experiment with the settings and I think I learned some things about shooting in low light. There were some other photographers there too, and I learned that a different lens would help me tremendously. Nonetheless, I snapped a few good shots. Here is one of the stream of bats flying from the bridge to get their dinner...moths, moths, moths (and maybe some mosquitoes)!

An amazing dinner

2009-05-12T16:32:00.000-07:00

A few friends and I won an award in a student work competition at our school. The prize: a gourmet dinner from one of our professors. It's a tradition that he offers this award every year for the best digital project, ours, a website created for a presentation to the Biosphere 2. Last Friday we went to his house for dinner, and all I can say is it was AMAZING. Aside from the food being incredible and gorgeously presented, the night time temperature was a beautiful 75 degrees and the ambiance was just perfect. Here are a few pictures from the night that I took with me new camera.

Happy Mother's Day

2009-05-10T08:29:00.000-07:00

create :: love :: laugh

2009-05-07T21:36:00.000-07:00

I may be crazy, but I have decided to start another blog as a place to share my artwork, as well as other visual work that I find inspiring. I've decided to do this for a few reasons, but mainly because I like the way art looks with a white background and I didn't want to change my style here. So, to those of you who were worried that I might not post art here anymore; don't worry...I still will. This other blog is going to be solely dedicated to art and design (including landscape architecture), instead of the menagerie you find here. I'll periodically post things I have been working on and additions to my shops. I'll also try to post works by other people when I can.

If you'd like to visit, the addie is: http://createlovelaugh.blogspot.com.

A gift

2009-05-06T12:11:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I received my graduation present from my parents. It's an EXTREMELY generous gift...a new Canon Rebel XSi. And, oh, how much fun I have been having since last night. It's a good thing I finished my thesis, or I wouldn't get anything done!
There are so many different functions on this camera that I haven't even begin to figure out...I've got a lot of learning to do. Thanks mom and dad. I love you!

I'm longing for the woods

2009-05-01T13:21:00.000-07:00

I'm longing for the woods
an ache so deep
it feels like my soul is being
ripped out by the open sky
and the only thing
that can hold me
to this earth
is the towering embrace of the forest trees
sheltering me with their sun-dappled blankets
and wise whispers

Give a little hope today

2009-04-29T10:12:00.000-07:00

According to Heifer:

• Right now, more than 500 million people are living in "absolute poverty" and more than 15 million children die of hunger every year.

• World Health Organization estimates that one-third of the population is underfed and another third is starving.

• Even in the United States, 46 percent of African-American children and 49 percent of Latino children are considered chronically hungry.

Hunger is something I've never experienced, thankfully, and that makes it hard to sit here and say this is what we should do...I definitely don't have the answers, but it seems doing nothing is not a good solution either.

I realize that the solutions to this problem are extremely complicated. There is an over abundance of food in this world, yet millions (maybe even billions) of people are still starving. The world has changed so much over the past century, even the past 20 years, so that now it's nearly impossible to subsistence farm. People the world over have lost their land to development and large commercial farms. They have been forced to move to cities and slums to find work because they can no longer make a living growing food.

O.K., so this is supposed to be a post about hope, right? So, what can you do today?

• Post about world hunger on April 29.

• Visit Heifer International to learn more about Pass On The Gift.

• Make a small donation or take some other action to end world hunger.

• Join this event and add a badge to your blog before April 29.

• I recently watched the Future of Food again online, and while it makes the problem seem overwhelming, it's a good eye-opener. You can watch the entire video at Hulu by clicking on the link above.

• Support community and small scale agriculture. This, I think, is one of the most important solutions. First of all, this has the direct potential to help feed people in communities that cannot always afford to buy their own food. When people learn to grow food themselves, they are learning a life skill that can help to move them away from hunger and create a community of support. Second, even if you don't grow the food yourself, by supporting a local CSA or family farm, you are giving your money back to the community, and back to families, rather than large scale agriculture and bio-tech companies that do not always have human health at the top of their list. For more information, check out Laurel's post here. It's really a worthy read. Also, you also might want to read about Farmer Frank - it's a happy story :)

Mystery solved

2009-04-28T14:56:00.000-07:00

The renegade mystery plant is a Tomatillo! The little bag shaped fruit it started to form tipped me off, and sure enough, this picture looks just like my garden variety.

Picture by Kathryn found here

Kittens are cute

2009-04-27T21:45:00.000-07:00

I've been feeling a bit of a creative drain lately. Maybe this whole thesis thing just sucked the life out of me...while I recoup, I'll post some pictures of cute little kittens to make you smile. Who doesn't like kittens, right? I mean, I can understand if you don't like cats (me, I'm allergic) but everyone loves kittens.

These little guys showed up on N's doorstep a few weeks ago, after some stray mama (unknown at the time) cats made themselves at home in his yard. Anyone want to adopt?

Winner!

2009-04-22T23:02:00.000-07:00

By means of the random number generator I chose a winner for the give-away

....drum rolllllllll.....

ShrimpSaladCircus is the lucky winner of the little turtle who can...congratulations!
If you get a chance, pop on over to Lindsay's and Marion's blog to see the great red vinyl "couch-beast" they stumbled upon at the local thrift...or scroll down to see the cute kittens.

If you didn't win, don't worry...I have a feeling there will be more to come soon :)

Happy Earth Day...hope you were able to do some good celebrating...I'm off to bed now after a long and wonderful day...

Yipee!

2009-04-20T22:11:00.000-07:00

I did it!

I presented my master's report today and it feels so good to be done. I didn't get as nervous as I thought I would while presenting and it was actually exciting to show all the work that went into it. As soon as I put the final edits on the website and get it hosted online I will share the link with you.

...After a very restless night last night I am about to sleep like a baby. Goodnight everyone!

The spirit of the wolf

2009-04-16T15:33:00.000-07:00

I'm an animal lover, there's no doubt about that. But I feel a special connection with wolves. Perhaps it's their mysteriousness, or cunningness, or maybe it's their resemblance to domestic dogs. The PBS Film, "The Wolf that Changed America", certainly strengthened my reverence for them, as did one of my all time movies, Dances With Wolves.

So when I received an e-mail yesterday from Defender's of Wildlife that said gray wolves in the Rockies, especially Idaho, are in danger it made me very sad. According to them,

Idaho’s Department of Fish and Game has announced that they will target the Buffalo Ridge pack -- and 25 more packs -- for extermination once U.S. Interior Secretary Ken Salazar’s decision to eliminate life-saving federal protections goes into effect on May 4th.

First of all, I just can't understand how we can still, with all of the knowledge that we have in our midst, still think we have the right to exterminate any species, regardless of what they have done. I really thought we were past the phase in human history where we believe it's o.k. to slaughter wild animals at the drop of a hat. (Wait, what am I thinking, wasn't it just last month that we kept hearing about governor Palin's aerial gunning campaign of the Alaskan wolf?) This exact thinking is what now puts the Mexican Gray wolf on the verge of extinction, and quite certainly will do the same for the Rocky Mountain gray wolves once again.

Fortunately, Defenders of wildlife, is running a campaign to stop this madness by taking legal action and helping ranchers to find alternatives to wolf killing. They are asking for donations to help their efforts, and since I don't have much money to donate, I devised another plan...

I've created a mixed-media painting that is for sale in my Etsy shop. This painting is done on a chip board card with found objects (like the leather strings from old shoes), acrylic, paper, pencil, and marker. I'm selling it for $35 in my shop (shipping included), of which $30 (my profit) will be donated to the Campaign to Save America's Wolves.
...and it was inspired by this poem:

The spirit of the Wolf resides in my heart
Mostly peacefully, yet ever wild
Running in time to the blowing wind
Dancing in the clouds that drift in the Heavens.

The spirit of the Wolf resides in my soul
Longing to hear the song of the Great One
Striving to be that which I am in my natural state
Succeeding only because of the Love that the Universe grants me.

Theme from Dances with Wolves

My first GIVE-AWAY!

2009-04-15T12:23:00.000-07:00

Need some encouragement? I'm giving away a 5x7 print of my little turtle who can...he's been knocked over, but he gets right back up again. This is a digital version of the sketch I did a while back for Illustration Friday. Here's how to enter - leave a comment with your name, some way to reach you, and tell us something that is abundant in your life that you are thankful for. You have until April 22 to enter, and I will notify the winner (drawn randomly) on that day. Good luck!

Happy Day of Abundace

2009-04-15T12:03:00.000-07:00

Jess, the blogger of abundance, at Pecannoot just posted a link to this project that Jo Dunning started. Today, April 15th, is the day the Abundance Breakthrough Project goes into full swing. In honor of this day, I am going to post a give-away here in a few minutes (something I've been wanting to do for a while). I also plan on trying to reflect today on abundance, epecially abundance of time, which is something I struggle with lately. If you would like to join in the project, here are a few suggestions from Jo's site about what you can do. You may also want to jump over to her site and sign up.

1. On April 15, 2009, around noon in your local time zone, pause for a moment and imagine your life filled with spectacular, joyful Abundance. Feel how joyful and exciting life is with so much Abundance to share and enjoy.

2. Imagine what you would like to have more abundantly in your life, then give a little of that away to someone else. Give it freely, knowing there is more than enough to go around and it is easy to get as much as you want.

3. Go to a favorite non profit website and make a donation to their cause. Feel the Abundance of having enough to give some away.

4. Take a few cans of food to your local food bank and feel grateful for the Abundance of food you have in your life.

5. Go through your clothes closet and other possessions and give the extras to a local shelter. It is a great feeling to have so much that you have extra to share.

6. Smile at a stranger or assist someone, even in a very small way, like holding a door open for them, or letting them into the lane of traffic. Notice how good you feel offering even a small act of kindness.

7. Be aware of the many ways in your life you are already abundant and feel grateful.

8. Celebrate your Abundance as it arrives in both large and small amounts. Every act of appreciation creates even more joyful Abundance for you.

9. Learn more about The Five Laws of Abundance posted on this website under the Gold Coin button.

10. Know you are deeply loved and take the chance to believe all of this is truly possible.

The joy of a carrot

2009-04-14T16:10:00.000-07:00

This is a very special carrot...it's the only one I have ever been able to grow in Arizona. Actually, I thinks it's a first in general. Don't be fooled by its small size, it packs a flavorful punch that was oh, so tasty.

Everybody needs more love...

2009-04-08T14:08:00.001-07:00

I just read the most meaningful post by Stefani over at Blue Yonder. I'm really at a loss for words right now (not uncommon) but you must stop over and read it for yourself. There is nothing I could say that would be nearly as beautiful.

Here's a little piece of the whole story for starters:

"Well I was THIS close to losing it all together and laying on the horn. I mean seriously, the light was green, my baby was about to explode and there he was just taking in the scenery! But then I had the oddest thought - that bald headed man was once some mother's bald headed baby....

...Every now and again I see his shiny head and it reminds me... we are all someone's child. Under all the hair, we are all bald. Each one of us is just trying to make our way. Each one of us falters sometimes. Each one of us needs a little grace"

photo by Amelia PS

A special day!

2009-04-06T18:28:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone...hope you all had a great Monday. I've been meaning to post a little something about this incredible blog that Jess Gonacha created called Pecannoot for quite some time now. Like many things lately, it has gotten pushed back, but today came the extra oomph...today Jess featured one of my pieces at her blog!!!

If you haven't been to Pecannoot, GO, hurry. You will fall in love instantly. Jess is one of the most kind-hearted and inspiring people I have come across in this virtual world. She radiates happiness and her blog is all about abundance. She's also an amazingly talented artist.

I start each and every weekday by visiting her because it is garunteed to be an instant pick-me-up. And it's opened my eyes to so many talented people out there...in fact, it's where I was introduced to Julia Da Rocha.

So, today she featured my digital illustration and I couldn't be more thrilled. I can't think of a greater honor than to have my art on her blog. Today is a special day :)

Have a Happy Weekend!

2009-04-04T21:35:00.000-07:00

Alley Flowers

2009-04-03T22:23:00.000-07:00

Spring is full blown in Tucson.
With spring comes high winds
dust
allergies
and lots of glorious flowers!

I went wandering in the alleys the other day and brought back a few to share with you!

How does your garden grow?

2009-03-28T14:05:00.000-07:00

Remember those little seedlings I shared with you a while back. Well, they have grown quite a bit. No peas yet, but I have had quite a few heads of lettuce, some bok choy, and lots of cilantro. Not bad for such a small space.

The funny thing is there are a bunch of things popping up that I didn't plant. There must have been seeds in the compost. I've got renegade tomatoes, squash, and I think this is an okra? Does anyone know for sure?
Have a great weekend!

Will you join me tomorrow?

2009-03-27T12:33:00.001-07:00

Oh, Happy Day :)

2009-03-26T21:55:00.000-07:00

Oh, Happy Day, Oh Happy day...I literally started singing that song the other day when I checked the mail and found this beautiful present from Julia da Rocha.
Seriously, look how gorgeous these are and how talented she is. What's even more fabulous is that she hardly even knows me and was generous enough to send me such a wonderful present. She even wrote a little something on there especially for me. Such a nice touch.

She is truly sharing love with the world, as her blog name, ShareWorldLove, implies. It's comforting to know there are people like her in this world. People who genuinely want to make it a more loving place to live. I'll think you'll love her blog, so hop on by and say hi.

Guess what else? She is a talented graphic designer and is starting a webpage called Poz-art that I know you will love. Here's what it's all about:

Poz-Art was created to bring forward our passion for art and passion for life. We are surrounded by things that inspire us but sometimes fail to notice them. So we decided to capture some of our surroundings and illustrate them differently for you to see. With so much to come, from prints, books, and artwork we are excited to share with you our point of view.

Doesn't that sounds great? Right now you can find some wonderful eye-candy and desktop backgrounds. It seems as though there will be many more things to come too.

Check out her flickr page too for many more goodies.

And don't forget to share world love :)

Happiness is a choice - part dos

2009-03-24T23:06:00.000-07:00

I learned a new trick in Illustrator so I remade this graphic the other day and I am much more pleased with the results. It seemed fitting to post today since I am in the final countdown for my master's project and I just got summonsed for jury duty tomorrow. I will be happy, I will be happy, I will, I will....

Well, you may not hear from me for a little while...although I have quite a few things to share with you...hope to be back really soon!

***I still haven't quite figured out how to get the right colors...they look great on my screen and then when I upload them they are either neon or dullsville. Maybe this deserves another shot when I have more time.

Happiness is a choice

2009-03-19T22:11:00.000-07:00

I truly believe this. There are people with nothing that are incredibly happy and people with everything that are miserable. I choose happiness...do you?

Feel free to use this image how ever you want...I made it for you :)

A few things I am thankful for...

2009-03-18T21:21:00.001-07:00

The sweet smell of orange blossoms that fills the air in Tucson this time of year. This must be what heaven smells like.
Laundry machines - I can't imagine how rough it must have been to do all your laundry by hand.
Creative people.
Kind people.
Love.
Mountains that turn pink at sunset.
Basil and rosemary.
Strawberries and musk melon.
The amusing Gambel quail in my backyard.
Sunshine and bright red flowers.

What do you want to do for the rest of your life?

2009-03-16T18:22:00.000-07:00

Graduation day is quickly approaching and what better time to contemplate my career. Well, the lovely Jamie at Paint Til You Faint tagged me quite a while ago on this meme...the question - what are your top 7 dream jobs?

To answer this, let me first explain. My ideal life is to not work something I consider a "job" and certainly not one thing for the rest of my life. I know, that's the dream of many and somewhat cliche. However, I feel like the direction I am heading in will be somewhat open. I might still work for a particular office, but am hopeful that it will be a place that dabbles in a variety of pursuits. I'm also the type of person that can't often sit still...I guess there is a lot of creative energy pent up inside me. Overall, I see myself as a designer, and that will take hold in a variety of forms.

Even still, there are some specific titles I have often dreamed about...

1. Landscape architect - For all the faults of the "working world" I still feel like this is such an amazing profession. For someone who gets bored doing the same thing over and over again, this field offers so much versatility. In what other profession can you design public spaces, work in urban design, envision the landscape, use a palette of plants, be a champion for the environment, draw and render, and create? You can work in as detailed a space as someone's backyard or create a plan for an entire region of the country. I have one friend who just graduated and moved to Colorado to work for the forest service as the NEPA ski team coordinator. Yes, she actually gets to ski all day for her job.

2. Bed and Breakfast Owner - This is something I can quite possibly see myself doing someday (when I've saved up a huge sum of money.) I want to have a rustic modern bed and breakfast in a town like Prescott, Arizona. I'll have an awesome kitchen to make delicious food that I grow in my garden. And most definitely an art and landscape studio and gallery space.

3. Professional artist and illustrator- not sure I could ever make a living at this, but will definitely pursue art my entire life regardless. It makes me happy :)

4. Graphic designer - the only drawback to this job would be sitting at a computer all day...at least with Landscape architecture you can take some breaks from the computer.

5. Vegetarian food critic - I like to eat! (But I eat terribly slow so I might have to work long hours ;-P )

6. Master Gardener - I love plants and being outside. I'm wondering if people can make a living at this, but if you can, I think it would be fabulous.

7. Marine biologist - the kind that gets to spend all day at the ocean's edge.

What about you? I'm not going to tag anyone, but I would love to hear what your dream jobs are!

Spring flowers

2009-03-13T21:44:00.000-07:00

Hope your weekend is full of brightness!

In love with a chicken.

2009-03-09T22:06:00.000-07:00

Yep, I'm in love with a chicken (sorry N). That particular type of chicken is the one that laid the eggs I got at the farmer's market. Thanks to Zephyr, the mystery is solved. The hen is most likely a Araucanas/Americanas, and she is as gorgeous as her eggs. Look, look!

He's a dandy, too.

And who can resist these little ones?

They don't call them the Easter egg chickens for nothing.

Images from: http://backyardchickens.yuku.com/topic/10815/t/Are-we-Araucanas-Americanas-or-just-Easter-Eggers.html

Green Eggs and No Ham

2009-03-07T10:01:00.001-08:00

I went to the farmer's market yesterday and I just had to share with you my wonderful find...beautiful eggs! The amazing part is that some of them are a subtle mint green color....so gorgeous. It's been a small dream of mine to one day have chickens, so I must find out what type of hen laid these beauties.

Tagged

2009-03-03T22:46:00.000-08:00

It's late, I'm tired...bleary eyed from working on my webpage. But, I think I have enough energy for this quick little game that Jackie at Smoothpebble tagged me on. After all, it's been quite a few days now and she was nice enough to think of me. I like fun little things like this, it has just been hard to get around to anything lately.

So here's the scoop. I have to post the sixth picture in the sixth folder on my computer. Then I must tag six others to play along. (I'll do this part, but don't feel obligated).

O.k. Ready?

Well, sorry if it disappoints...it is rather unexciting.

I took this picture last year after doing yard work as remembrance of my hard day's labor. Now that I look at it, it's really not so impressive, but at the time it felt like so much brush. I spent hours pruning roses, weeding, and trimming the remains of winter's touch on the plants. It's too bad that the pile couldn't have stayed there for a while because it would have made great compost and some mighty fine lizard habitat in the meantime.

Well, here's a picture from the same bunch that you might find a little more appealing. The result of hard work:

So that's it! Who do I tag?

Jamie at Paint til' you Faint (Who is probably still waiting for me to get to the last meme that she tagged me on...I will do it, I've already got the list in my head)
Warren at Touch the Wind (He always has wonderful photos from around Tucson to share)
Lucy at box elder (such a great photographer she is)
Rachel at Cornflower Blue Studio (I'm in love with her art)
Lorianne at Hoarded Ordinaries (always great commentary to accompany her wonderful photos)
Granny J at Walking Prescott (fun and fabulous)

2009-02-26T21:42:00.000-08:00

This is paragraph describes too well one of my worst nightmares, especially as I look for a job upon graduation. It's amazing how hard it is to find a truly nice working environment. I just want operable windows, is that too much to ask?

"Now everything seems to have changed. The things I do (by myself or with my companions) seem to have changed and the way they are done also seems to have changed because, goodbye bright blue Planet, goodbye melodious seasons, goodbye stones, dust, leaves, ponds, and dragon flies, goodbye boiling-hot days, dead dogs by the roadside, shadows in the wood like prehistoric dragons, goodbye Planet, by now I feel as if I do the things I do sitting in a bunker of damp artificial light and conditioned air, sitting at this white laminate table, sitting in this silver plastic chair, captain of a spaceship traveling at thousands of miles an hour, squashed against this seat — immobile in the sky."

If you would like to read all of this wonderful story, please visit Design Observer to read the writing by Ettore Sottsass.

I found this over at the Wish Jar. One of my favorite blogs done by Keri Smith, one of the most creative people I have come across. She's an inspiration.

In Your Opinion

2009-02-23T20:17:00.000-08:00

Hi all!
I'd like to get some of your feedback and know what type of posts you enjoy the most when you read my blog, so I've put a survey at the bottom of the blog. I've been feeling like I don't always have a direction for this blog, and maybe that's o.k. But I would like to know what you like reading/seeing the most so that I can keep you stopping by. Your opinion means a lot to me. Also, feel free to comment here if there is anything I missed or if you have other feedback. I'd love it all, positive or negative. Thanks a bunch!
x Kim

Simple Pleasures

2009-02-20T18:25:00.000-08:00

Today was one of those days.
The good kind,
where the sun warms your skin and
there is a perfect breeze in the air.
When you ride your bike to the farmers' market
to buy a weeks worth of produce
that only costs $21
all of it grown in Arizona
by hardworking hands in the earth
and love
lots of love.
That is the kind of day I had today.

if: instinct

2009-02-20T12:24:00.000-08:00

He was only acting on instinct...

This is a silly things I was messing around with in photoshop a while ago...
Check out the illustration friday web site for some fun work from a lot of different artists.

Can you say yum?

2009-02-18T14:55:00.000-08:00

Motivator: Laurel at SimpleSpoonful, with her flair for food and her "Darn Good Hummus" recipe.

Insider knowledge: Native Seeds lady at the farmers market, offering up her knowledge about the nutritious benefits native tepary beans.

The goods: 1 lb bag of native blue speckled tepary beans. Small, creamy brown and tan with a hint of blue.

Inspiration: Mangochild's dedication to all things local.

Final Results: Delicious tepary bean hummus!

Sorry, if I give you the recipe I will have to kill you. No, actually I know the ingredients, but I have no clue how much of each I put in here. So, if you would like to try this out on your own, here's an estimate. Also, Laurel has worked quite hard to perfect her recipe, so paying her a visit would probably be a very good bet!

Ingredients:
-Native Tepary Beans (1.5 cups cooked?)
-1 clove garlic, pressed
-2 TBS Tahini
-1 Tsp Cumin
-Juice from 1/2 of a lemon
-A small amount of milk or water to get to the right consistency.

Blend together in a blender or preferably a food processor.

Eat. Enjoy. Yum.

This just in...

2009-02-17T12:54:00.000-08:00

Good news just in....I received this e-mail from ASLA (American Society of Landscape Architects).

President Obama Signs Economic Stimulus Bill

Thunderbird Trail - Tucson

2009-02-17T11:07:00.000-08:00

N and I really had the urge to hike the other day, but we've been a little bored with our choices lately. Not that Sabino Canyon and Mount Lemon aren't incredible, they are! It's just that we've been there so many times that we wanted to try something new. Enter Thunderbird Trail at the foothills of the Tucson Mountain Range. This trail was great! Not only was it only about a ten minute drive from my place, it has some of the most lush vegetation I have seen in this area. The 4 mile round trip hike was not difficult, but also gave us a decent workout since you are either decending on the way in or ascending on the way out. To make it even more interesting, there are several abandoned mines along the trail.

I don't know if this mine is seeped in some tragic past, if it was the cloudy day, or the sadness to see such a huge saguaro come to it's end, but N and I both got a very eery feeling around the mine. We both remarked that it felt like a grave yard. I'm curious to know if something happened here in the past.

Regardless of the somber mood, these spines were facinating to see up close.

It seems that Warren at Touch the Wind started something. I found myself searching the entire hike for a saguaro arm that is eeking out into the world. Ah ha! Mission complete!

Treasury

2009-02-16T16:14:00.000-08:00

Hi all~ Just poppin' by quickly to say Artish at Etsy has been kind enough to feature my All Smiles Cards in her treasury at Etsy. Her theme, "Salmon Pike." Thanks, Artish!

What's been keeping me...

2009-02-11T21:49:00.000-08:00

I've been a busy bee, or a busy butterfly. As part of my thesis, I'm creating a website for a self-guided urban wildlife tour in downtown Tucson. I've been spending all of today creating the first page for my website...it's a slow but hopefully rewarding process...I just finished making this butterfly---the two-tailed swallowtail (our state butterfly).**

And earlier today I made this cute little quail...I think the quail is my favorite bird...they are so fun to watch and listen to.
So, it feels good to be making some progress. There is still a loooong way to go, but it has to get done by April 10th...yikes! Hopefully I'll have a complete web page to share with you all in a few months. Does anyone have any fun interpretive ideas for Arizona native wildlife? :)

**I realized the butterfly's blue spots are missing...he's just not the same without them. I'll have to get on that.

What's Up?

2009-02-09T21:08:00.000-08:00

This saguaro has personality.

Chihuly Glass at the Desert Botanical Gardens

2009-02-09T10:44:00.000-08:00

I visited N this weekend up in Phoenix and he took me on a date to the Chihuly Glass Exhibit at the Desert Botanical Gardens. The fluid qualities and bright colors of the glass offered a stunning contrast to the subtle, structural forms of the desert. Here are a few of my favorite pictures from the event.

You can see more of my Chihuly Pictures at my Flickr Account.

So much...

2009-02-05T20:42:00.000-08:00

There's so much I've been wanting to say. So much to tell you.
But my head is spinning
with thoughts of urban wildlife
and calculations
and diagrams
and websites
and methods
and analysis
and results
there just isn't enough left in me right now
to give enough here.
I'm sorry.
I really wanted to.
Maybe soon?

Sharing a song with the Mockingbird

2009-01-31T15:42:00.001-08:00

I've been missing in action for a few days now. It's gotten even more busy around here. That's a good thing as long as I can stay sane.

I started a graduate assistant position for a landscape planning class last week, which will help me greatly with my finances for the semester. It's a wonderful deal, but at first I was a bit stressed knowing that I also have to finish my thesis.

I've also just opened my very own Etsy shop, which I am very excited about. It's taking some time to get it all set up, and so far I only have a few things listed. But, I plan on listing more things like some artwork whenever I can squeeze in some time.
A few weeks ago I planted a tiny garden, and the seeds are starting to sprout with our beautiful sunny days we have been lucky to have.

Peas Pleeeaaase...

My garden will be nothing like Maya's Farm in Phoenix where I went last weekend with my mom and N. Maya's is part of the Farm at South Mountain, where we LOVE, LOVE, LOVE to eat breakfast at the Morning Glory Cafe. If you live in Phoenix and haven't been, or make a trip there, all three of their restaurants are incredible. They use fresh, local ingredients, many of which are grown on the farm. It's such a beautiful setting and after breakfast you can roam around the gardens and savor the sun.

My dream garden is Maya's Farm...

Today has been a nice day. I spent some time cleaning house and getting rid of things I don't use anymore.

And there is a little mockingbird that lives in my yard who has been singing to me all day. His tune is so sweet to listen to, and he knows about every melody in the book.

if: climbing

2009-01-26T20:46:00.000-08:00

Not so much "climbing" as "climbed."
Watercolor and ink.
Illustration Friday

2009-01-24T20:16:00.000-08:00

The sky.
It has that way
of breathing light into the world
with its embracing blanket,
so that
one peek
and you can't help
but stare.

if: pale

2009-01-21T21:43:00.000-08:00

So, I didn't get to the post about our protests today, but if you would like to read from the local media outlets, there are links offered by SallyGradStudent. Instead, I would like to share my Illustration Friday entry for this week's topic, pale. It's much less thought provoking and more light-hearted. I just don't have it in me tonight to delve into the realms of how important education is...hopefully soon.

On The Pulse Of Morning

2009-01-20T21:25:00.000-08:00

I was going to write a little something here this evening summing up how I felt, but I realized, that my words would not do it justice. So I leave you with this poem by Maya Angelou (and inspired by Zephyr's post). She expresses it beautifully. Although it was originally spoken at Bill Clinton's inauguration, I think it is perhaps more fitting now than ever:

A Rock, A River, A Tree
Hosts to species long since departed,
Mark the mastodon.
The dinosaur, who left dry tokens
Of their sojourn here
On our planet floor,
Any broad alarm of their of their hastening doom
Is lost in the gloom of dust and ages.
But today, the Rock cries out to us, clearly, forcefully,
Come, you may stand upon my
Back and face your distant destiny,
But seek no haven in my shadow.
I will give you no hiding place down here.
You, created only a little lower than
The angels, have crouched too long in
The bruising darkness,
Have lain too long
Face down in ignorance.
Your mouths spelling words
Armed for slaughter.
The rock cries out today, you may stand on me,
But do not hide your face.
Across the wall of the world,
A river sings a beautiful song,
Come rest here by my side.
Each of you a bordered country,
Delicate and strangely made proud,
Yet thrusting perpetually under siege.
Your armed struggles for profit
Have left collars of waste upon
My shore, currents of debris upon my breast.
Yet, today I call you to my riverside,
If you will study war no more.
Come, clad in peace and I will sing the songs
The Creator gave to me when I
And the tree and stone were one.
Before cynicism was a bloody sear across your brow
And when you yet knew you still knew nothing.
The river sings and sings on.
There is a true yearning to respond to
The singing river and the wise rock.
So say the Asian, the Hispanic, the Jew,
The African and Native American, the Sioux,
The Catholic, the Muslim, the French, the Greek,
The Irish, the Rabbi, the Priest, the Sheikh,
The Gay, the Straight, the Preacher,
The privileged, the homeless, the teacher.
They hear. They all hear
The speaking of the tree.
Today, the first and last of every tree
Speaks to humankind. Come to me, here beside the river.
Plant yourself beside me, here beside the river.
Each of you, descendant of some passed on
Traveller, has been paid for.
You, who gave me my first name,
You Pawnee, Apache and Seneca,
You Cherokee Nation, who rested with me,
Then forced on bloody feet,
Left me to the employment of other seekers--
Desperate for gain, starving for gold.
You, the Turk, the Swede, the German, the Scot...
You the Ashanti, the Yoruba, the Kru,
Bought, sold, stolen, arriving on a nightmare
Praying for a dream.
Here, root yourselves beside me.
I am the tree planted by the river,
Which will not be moved.
I, the rock, I the river, I the tree
I am yours--your passages have been paid.
Lift up your faces, you have a piercing need
For this bright morning dawning for you.
History, despite its wrenching pain,
Cannot be unlived, and if faced with courage,
Need not be lived again.
Lift up your eyes upon
The day breaking for you.
Give birth again
To the dream.
Women, children, men,
Take it into the palms of your hands.
Mold it into the shape of your most
Private need. Sculpt it into
The image of your most public self.
Lift up your hearts.
Each new hour holds new chances
For new beginnings.
Do not be wedded forever
To fear, yoked eternally
To brutishness.
The horizon leans forward,
Offering you space to place new steps of change.
Here, on the pulse of this fine day
You may have the courage
To look up and out upon me,
The rock, the river, the tree, your country.
No less to Midas than the mendicant.
No less to you now than the mastodon then.
Here on the pulse of this new day
You may have the grace to look up and out
And into your sister's eyes,
Into your brother's face, your country
And say simply
Very simply
With hope
Good morning.

So this is what we stand for.

2009-01-17T14:22:00.000-08:00

I'm feeling rather disheartened at the moment. News came on Friday that the Arizona legislator wants to reduce state funding for higher education by 16% in their plans to help alleviate some of their debt. That would amount to a 25% reduction in funding available for the U of A. Let me repeat that...1/4 of the funding for the U of A will be stripped away. A very discouraged president Shelton made an emergency speech to the university yesterday after learning the news.

Why am I so disheartened? Well, not only will our school have to make some very drastic decisions like cutting programs out completely, but this also has some deeper overtones. It sends a very strong message about what our values are in this country. With these new cuts, prisons will be receiving more funding than education in our state. That, my friends, is very sad. In addition, the state will be cutting funding for books and other educational supplies from k-12 and eliminating daycare programs. I think you can probably guess my opinion on that.

As worded by president Shelton, "These figures are so extreme that they would absolutely cripple higher education in our state. At the very time that our state needs to stimulate the economy, the Legislature is talking about absolutely devastating cuts to the most powerful economic engine in our state....Crippling cuts will also severely compromise our state's future, so much so it may never recover. Our legislators must realize the long-term consequences that are not easily reversible, such as lost business, work force and related revenues. To not acknowledge this is not only poor public policy, it's irresponsible and unconscionable."

In reaction to this, students are staging a protest on campus Tuesday to help garner media attention and show the legislature that this is a bad mistake. Anyone who feels compelled to attend is welcome:

Campus Wide Protest Against Higher Education Cuts

When: Tuesday, January 20 between 12:00 pm to 1:00 pm
Where: The UA Mall in front of the Memorial Student Union

Bring your posters expressing your opinions, wear black shirts to signify the death of higher education and bring as many of your friends as you can. The greater the numbers, the stronger our message. Members of the media have been invited to attend, so show the Arizona Legislature that the student voice is stronger than ever!

What if Climate Change is Not an Energy Problem?

2009-01-15T12:05:00.000-08:00

I just got finished reading a thought provoking article at Worldchanging.com about climate change. The author makes a very valid argument that climate change needs to be addressed in a more holistic manner (which we would probably all agree on). He states that "contrary to conventional wisdom, climate change is not actually primarily an energy problem, and by thinking of it as an energy problem, we risk making huge mistakes in the coming years." Instead, he goes on to discuss how smarter growth and changing our habits are the key issues at hand.

It's always nice to read about solutions (especially ones with a broader scope) rather than more doom and gloom, although I wonder if it's too late for the massive changes we would need at that scale. Well, even if it is too late, I'd rather see us try with every ounce we have in us than continue this stalemate existence it feels like we are in.

Its worth a read, so if you feel like it, pop on by:

http://www.worldchanging.com/archives/009253.html

i.f. contained

2009-01-14T17:04:00.000-08:00

Scientists believe that more than 5 million square miles of the Pacific Ocean is now a form of plastic soup, in which plastic has accumulated to span almost from China to California. As the plastic in ocean ages, it breaks down into smaller and smaller particles but never disappears. Roughly 6 times more plastic than plankton can be found in areas of our oceans, where seabirds and other animals that feed on plankton cannot distinguish the difference. Then, plastic enters the food chain or fills up the stomachs of these birds until they starve to death.

This week's Illustration Friday word "contained" reminded me of plastic because it is one of the most common materials we use to contain things, from water to vegetables to, well, just about anything.

But does our reliance on this versatile material come at a larger price? And if so, how can we save ourselves from plastic when it touches everything in our lives?

Graffiti

2009-01-11T18:02:00.000-08:00

Rachel at Cornflower Blue did a quick post on graffiti as art and it made me think about some graffiti I saw in Bisbee last year. I like graffiti that has a meaningful message like this:
If you can't read it it says:

"When the rivers
all run dry
The oceans go bare
and die
You can kill the forest
to build your castles in the sky
But can you eat money?"

Unfortunately, when I went back to Bisbee this year, the piece has been covered over with some gang tagging...the kind of graffiti I despise.

Then today on a walk downtown, I happened upon this stencil art:

I'm not sure whether it has a deeper meaning, but it did make me smile :)

if: resolve

2009-01-07T21:32:00.000-08:00

This week's Illustration Friday theme is resolve. I thought it was a good time to do a quick little drawin', and I wasn't particularly feeling like working on my thesis anymore tonight (this procrastination has to end; it's also uncharacteristic of me).

So, like the turtle has resolved to do whatever it takes, I must also...full thesis ahead! If you don't hear from me for a while, don't worry too much, I am probably just cranking away.

Side note: I may decide at some point that I need a break and add a little digital color to this...we'll see how it goes.

2009-01-06T19:31:00.000-08:00

The ice wanted stillness, but the water underneath had a different agenda.

Cookbook Giveaway at SimpleSpoonful.com

2009-01-04T18:02:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year everyone! My friend Laurel at SimpleSpoonful.com is starting the new year on a fresh note by giving away some vegetarian cookbooks. The giveaways are a great addition to any kitchen...Moosewood selections and others. To enter the giveaway, Laurel is asking you to write a poem about a vegetable....but hurry, the deadline is midnight tonight Pacific time.

We are hoping a rap counts as a poem because this is our entry:

DJ Kimmus (featuring beetNick)

Yo, DJ
don’t kick da beet!!

da pppptttt-pppptttt tssssst
da pppptttt-pppptttt tssssst

here’s a little rap,
with a succulent beat,
about a tasty root
so earthy sweet!!

This little beet
is a double treat
greens on top,
and underneath
a juicy feat!!
Saute their greens,
and cook the meat.

red or gold
Yo,
behold!!
boiled… broiled…
this beet ain’t
SPOILED!!

Slice it
Dice it
throw it in a
Soup
suckin down some borscht
while ya sit on yur
STOOP!!

red and ROUND,
my hands stained
PINK
No matter yo
‘cuz this beet
STANKS!!

Yo, Check da beet…
da ppppttt-ppppttt tsssst
da ppppttt-ppppttt tsssst

More winter wonders

2008-12-27T08:45:00.000-08:00

Warm wishes to all of you!

2008-12-24T07:00:00.001-08:00

Winter Wonderland

2008-12-23T08:40:00.000-08:00

It's been a short while, but I'm back. I've traveled home for the holidays and have been spending time with the family, making trips between Ohio and Michigan. It is so snowy and lovely here right now and boy do I have pictures!

Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore

This past weekend I traveled up to Leland, Michigan with my dad and brother. We rented a cabin in the woods near downtown Leland, went skiing, and enjoyed the massive amounts of snow. It snowed constantly from the time we arrived to the time we left...in fact I believe it's still snowing. Everyone was talking about how they haven't seen snow like that since 1978. It's going to be a great year for winter sports up there if this keeps up. And it was sooo gorgeous.

Leland

Leland was the home of my grandmother, and it's the one place that has been constant throughout my life. For this reason, it feels more like home to me than any other place. Through my families moves, my going off to college, and my move to Arizona, Leland has remained my place of memories and family friends. Even as we returned this time, 6 years after my last visit, it feels mostly the same. It's a small town, and there are people that live there who have known me since I was a mystery inside my mom's belly

At just about every place, my dad runs into someone he knows. In fact, we went into the Leland bookstore and happened upon a book about Fred Petroskey, a famous Leelanau painter and my grandmother's dear friend. We opened the book, and there upon the page is a painting of my grandmother, as well as the painting of my grandfather and I that sits in my father's living room.

It was wonderful to return to this place that is so entrenched with memories from my childhood, to see familiar faces and places, and to enjoy the winter wonderland with my dad and brother.

Again, I wish I had a better camera, because my pictures don't come close to doing justice for the beauty of the area...but I will share anyway. Happy Holidays!Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore

Fishtown, Leland

Suttons Bay, Michigan

Indiana Woods, Leland

Lake Michigan Shore, Leland

Barn in the Woods

The Narrows, The Village of Lake Leelanau

Art as Gifts

2008-12-15T14:34:00.000-08:00

Just a quick note to say that Wednesday, the 17th is the last day to order art prints at ImageKind.com with ground shipping. If you are still searching for a gift for someone this Christmas, they may enjoy a piece of art. There are thousands of beautiful works to choose from, and of course, my gallery is there as well (shameless plug). Really, though, there are so many talented artists out there and this site has a plethora of them. Even if you don't have a gift to buy, it is a fun place to visit for inspiration or eye candy.

i.f. rambunctious

2008-12-15T11:10:00.000-08:00

Kim was feeling rather rambunctious that afternoon. It was her dream to fly that kite through the air, and she was going to do it one way or another ;)

Pen and ink with digital color

it's that time of year

2008-12-09T17:48:00.001-08:00

For me, the holiday season brings an internal shift that feels comforting and whole. Perhaps it's the excitement of getting to see family and loved ones that I only see a few times a year; maybe it's the cooler weather accompanied by hot cocoa and sweet baked goods; it could be the holiday music with it's familiar tune; or the general spirit of giving. Yes, it's probably all these things combined.

I understand that for many, the holidays can be a time of contention, with endless shopping lists, to do's, necessary engagements, etc. etc. But, while not always possible for everyone, this is why I have made it a point to keep this time of year simple.

Some may perceive my lack of Christmas decorations as Scrooge-like...my neglect to buy a tree blasphemy. And the passionate shoppers may not understand how I can avoid going to a mall at all this Christmas season.

But those aren't the things that bring me joy.

I find peace in sitting by the fire at my dad's house and reading a good book, or making cookies with my cousins and aunts (a family tradition...which ultimately involves hysterical laughter at some rather riské creations). I'm looking forward to the puffy white of the midwest winters, that gift of snow which graces the trees and smooths the lake for cross country skiing. There's something soothing about the slow and steady accumulation of small gifts that include mostly hand-made, local products from the farmer's market becuase while I buy my gifts, I know that money will make another's Christmas a little brighter. And I take pleasure in tiny creations, like these Christmas cards that may have flaws, but are made with care.
I'll admit, it's easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle of the season. But each year I become better at finding calm in the present (moment not gift), being focused on family more than things, and being at peace with what I have accomplished this year- great or small.

i.f. similar

2008-12-08T17:56:00.000-08:00

It's been a great deal of fun to take time these past few weeks to illustrate something for illustration friday. There's a sort of soothing or meditative quality to creating and the suggestion of the word each week helps to inspire me to set time aside for this act. Thanks i.f. and all of you talented designers, illustrators, artists out there for the inspiration too. If you haven't checked out the i.f. website, you might want to...there is so much eye candy here.

i should be in bed

2008-12-04T23:22:00.000-08:00

...but instead i'm posting this picture montage from my adventure with a fancy camera...

Yay!

2008-12-04T21:27:00.000-08:00

Excitement! My penguin peice was chosen for the children's art gift guide on Imagekind.com and it's the 4th one on there. It doesn't necessarily mean I will sell any prints, but it sure feels good :) I made this on a whim and it has always been one of my favorites. Sorry to gloat...

Way too much fun...

2008-12-03T11:53:00.001-08:00

I rented a Canon Rebel from my school to test it out and I am having way too much fun! I should be working on other things, but I can't help myself...I just want to take pictures. It didn't come with a manual, so I'm not sure what all the fancy settings are but it's quite exciting to have a real lens with manual focus. When I get a job, I think this will be one of the first things I save for...(beside paying off my loads of student loans and maybe getting a car that runs more often than not.) One can dream....

i.f. balloon

2008-12-01T21:14:00.000-08:00

This is my second attempt at creating a piece for Illustration Friday. I've been in experimentation mode, messing around in Photoshop and Illustrator...although, I almost always draw by hand first and then scan it in.

I'm thinking about starting another blog for my art and illustrations...I just don't like the green background with my art...but a third blog? That scares me...annnnnddd I need to think of a name...that is VERY important...

...do I name it after my own name "Kimberly Creagan: Illustrations and Artwork" or come up with something completely different. I was thinking "Timid Tadpole" but don't know if that's just too whimsical...any opinions?

2008-11-30T20:18:00.000-08:00

Hi everyone...
I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving full of delicious food, family, and friends.

My mom came in town to visit and it was nice to have her here. We spent Thanksgiving Day at a friend's house along with roughly 30 other people...many friends from school and a few others that I met that night.

It was an outdoor event as you can imagine it would have to be with that many people. Unfortunately, that lovely rain that we had been anticipating for so long decided to make it's appearance on that same day. It was fortunate that my friend NM had the foresight to ask me to help her throw some tarps over the ramada. Well, we didn't exactly just "throw" them over. It was more like careful tiptoeing 10 feet in the air on a wooden structure half rotted by the sun as we nailed the tarps down. No injuries, though, and a good adventure. NM also did a fabulous job decorating the place on a very small budget. It was really special...the picture does not do it justice...

On Friday, we went for a hike at Sabino Canyon. The sky was cloudy off and on, which made for amazing light on the mountains. I love that kind of day in the desert.

The strangest thing was that this contorted saguaro was in bloom...I have never heard of a Saguaro blooming in November. Perhaps it was confused?

At that point we had pushed my mom's soar foot a bit too far, so we may our way for supper. Fortunately, her foot seemed to feel a little better after a good bit of Mexican food at El Charro, a gorgeous sunset, and some sleep. The perfect ending to her trip...

another opinion

2008-11-29T13:15:00.000-08:00

hello all:

i'm in need of a second opinion. if you remember what my blog looked like before, do you like the white background better or the sage colored green that was there previously? i am being indecisive....

thanks!
kim

it's raining!

2008-11-26T15:41:00.000-08:00

after a very long dry spell, the desert is greeted with rain! i love the sound.

2008-11-26T15:28:00.000-08:00

thinking the sky would open and the light would shine down
i ventured outside
around the neighborhood
with my camera
hoping to catch the sun's last touch of the day
on a brick wall or delicate flower
inside the curious workings of the alley
but the weather had other plans
the clouds collided
and the masterpiece was formed above

i.f. opinion

2008-11-25T18:45:00.001-08:00

Illustration Friday Entry

**this was my first attempt at illustrating something for Illustration Friday of which the current topic was "opinion." Supposedly, what I can up with conjures images of Lion King with some strange ostrich character involved...confusion? I honestly didn't even think about Lion King...I just knew I wanted to do something with an ostrich whos head was buried...the warthog and merkeet happen to live in the grasslands of Africa and I needed two other animals. Maybe it was something subliminal because I was just singing "Hakuna Matata" the other day...do you think Disney will sue? (Unlikely because they have much better illustrations).

A La Bisbee

2008-11-24T14:41:00.000-08:00

My Mom, N, and I made a trip down to Bisbee, Arizona this weekend. Mom had never been there, so I thought we would show her a quirky and charming bit of Arizona.
Going to Bisbee is like stepping into another realm, or visiting another country. I don't really know any other place quite like it on earth....that's probably why I love it so much! In the past, I have dreamed about moving there and opening an art gallery/B&B, but upon further reflection, I think I would feel a little isolated. The town is pretty much in the middle of nowhere. Tucson is the closest city...Douglas leaves a lot to be desired...I don't think I'd feel the urge to venture to Tombstone very often...
Well, visiting serves its purpose for now...I can giddily wander through art galleries, eat at the most fabulous Cafe Cornucopia, and admire the many delapidated buildings and shacks that hold the rich textures of time.

Do you notice all three animals in this picture? Yes, that is a mouse on top of the cat. I couldn't get my camera ready in time when they were walking down the street...it was quite the site.

Morning inspiration

2008-11-21T07:21:00.001-08:00

When I despair, I remember that all through history the ways of truth and love have always won. There have been tyrants, and murderers, and for a time they can seem invincible, but in the end they always fall. Think of it--always.
~Mahatma Gandhi

For lack of words

2008-11-19T16:25:00.000-08:00

2008-11-18T19:40:00.000-08:00

Beet soup and other good stuff

2008-11-16T21:10:00.000-08:00

Believe it or not, it even feels like fall in Arizona. It may still be 80 degrees during the day, but the tree in my front yard is turning red and there is the comforting scent of smoke in the air. The change of seasons has left a yearning in my stomach for good, wholesome fall foods. The other night, I tried out this recipe for Beet Soup from Epicurious.com and I think it was delíche.

Beet Soup

1 large red onion, chopped
1 1/2 tablespoons vegetable oil
5 medium beets (2 pounds without greens), peeled and cut into 1-inch pieces
1 red apple such as Gala or Braeburn, peeled and cut into 1-inch pieces**
2 garlic cloves, minced
4 cups chicken or vegetable broth
4 to 5 cups water
2 tablespoons cider vinegar
1 tablespoon packed light brown sugar

Cook onion in oil in a 5-quart heavy saucepan over moderate heat, stirring occasionally, until softened. Add beets and apple and cook, stirring occasionally, 5 minutes. Add garlic and cook, stirring, 30 seconds.

Add broth and 4 cups water, then simmer, uncovered, until beets are tender, about 40 minutes. Stir in vinegar and brown sugar.

Purée soup in 3 batches in a blender until very smooth, at least 1 minute per batch (use caution when blending hot liquids), transferring to a large bowl. Return soup to pan, then season with salt and pepper and reheat. If soup is too thick, add enough water to thin to desired consistency.

Serve soup in squash bowls.

Now, the recipe called for roasting and acorn squash and using it as a bowl for the soup. Good idea, right? Well, I guess I got a little carried away with the knife and didn't quite cut it right...I ended up with a big hole in the bottom...

...therefore, my soup went in a ceramic bowl and the acorn squash went on top. Voila! It all goes to the same place, right? I do like the idea of eating your bowl though...***

**Because I didn't have any apples I left that out...It may have been too sweet with the apples for my liking, but maybe I'll try it next time.

**I'm getting a bit perturbed with blogger at the moment because I can't seem to control the italics...is anyone else having this problem? Grrr....

On another note, Angelina at Dustpan Alley just posted a beautiful reminder about life that I hope you will take a chance to read.

An interesting way to say "I love you"

2008-11-15T13:44:00.000-08:00

I happened upon this on my bike ride home yesterday. Somebody has a lot of patience...

Leg Warmers

2008-11-13T19:01:00.000-08:00

It's that time of year that makes me feel all cozy inside. I want to curl up with a good book and sit by the fireplace. Well, I don't have a fireplace, so instead, I put on my leg warmers...not quite the same feeling, but cozy nonetheless.

All Souls Procession

2008-11-11T21:41:00.000-08:00

The lightening crashed and flashed in the background, feeding the ghostly mood of Tucson's All Souls Procession on Sunday night. In a remarkably serendipitous way, it began with the start of the parade, and the last big bolt struck in the distance as the end of the parade passed. At the finale, the skies opened, and the incredible act began.

I have never been to another community event so surreal, powerful, and somewhat spiritual as this. It gives me such hope that gatherings like this can take place in an informal way, for free...unpretentious and unconventional...a real sense of community...a deep connection that brings us all together...loss...yet a celebration of life.
There were few police...no problems that I know of...thousands of people...and anyone can participate. Paint your face, don a hat, grab a drum, and join in the celebration. This is why I love Tucson.

Due to the fact that I have an old camera, poor battery life, and it was very dark, my pictures did not turn out very well. I've posted a few, but if you would like to see more, take a look at this blog.

Flam Chen really outdid themselves this year. The crowd was simply amazed!

Yes, those are actually people being lifted hundreds of feet in the air by a crane...acrobats and fire...spinning above the ground...can you imagine?

Here are a few pictures from last year as well...they turned out a little better.

Tis the Season for Goodwill

2008-11-11T16:48:00.000-08:00

I hate shopping, but there is something about going to a thrift shop that really appeals to me. It must be the sense of adventure that arises from searching through all of the tacky or useless stuff to find one small treasure. Yes, I think it is the thrill of the catch. And it's rewarding in more ways then one...it's better for your pocket book and better for the environment.

This week N and I stopped at one particular Goodwill store for the first time and I had really good luck. Take a look at these finds:

N bought me this complete dinnerware set for $25...the whole kit-n-caboodle: 8 dinner plates, 8 dessert plates, 6 bowls, 8 mugs, 1 creamer, 1 serving plate, 1 serving dish...it's a 1978 studio kiln set from Japan

3 small glass containers

a clay vessel from Thailand

1 piggy bank

2 pairs of shoes and a vintage tie

numerous other things including a cast iron skillet, copper plated skillet, glass casserole dish, 2 pairs of jeans, 2 skirts....

.....and a partridge in a pear tree......

2008-11-07T10:43:00.000-08:00

Fall
colors
the air
crisp and light
leaves cover the ground
the changing season brings comfort

***thanks to Lucy for the inspiration to write this FIB, a poem based on the Fibonacci sequence.

Thank you, America!

2008-11-04T23:05:00.000-08:00

What an incredible night. I am going to go to bed with wonderful dreams of what our country can become. If any president can work toward making those dreams come true, it is Barack Obama. If any people can work toward a better nation, it is the American people.

Thank you for choosing a president that will unite this great nation and move us forward with hope!

http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk

http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk

Pic from Huffington Post

Pic from Huffington Post

Happy Voting Day. Don't forget to vote!

2008-11-04T13:43:00.000-08:00

artwork by Shepard Fairey

A rose is a rose is a rose

2008-10-30T09:49:00.001-07:00

Well, maybe not every rose is made equal. Some roses, given the right upbringing, may be nothing but sweetness. Who doesn't love the soft velvety petals and that delicate scent. But what if your rose comes with a lot more than you bargained for? What am I talking about you ask? You'll understand when you read this excerpt from "The World Without Us" by Alan Weisman below:

"A flower, like a human, is two-thirds water. The amount of water a typical floral exporter therefore ships to Europe each year equals the annual needs of a town of 20,000 people. During droughts, flower factories with production quotas stick siphons into Lake Naivasha [Kenya], a papyrus-lined, freshwater bird and hippo sanctuary just downstream from the Aberdares. Along with water, they suck up entire generations of fish eggs. What trickles back whiffs of the chemical trade-off that keeps the bloom on a rose flawless all the way to Paris.

Lake Naivasha, however, doesn't look quite so alluring. Phosphates and nitrates leached from flower greenhouses have spread mats of oxygen-choking water hyacinth across its surface. As the lake level drops, water hyacinth--a South American perennial that invaded Africa as a potted plant--crawls ashore, beating back the papyrus. The rotting tissues of hippo carcasses reveal the secret to perfect bouquets: DDT and, 40 times more toxic, Dieldrin--pesticides banned in countries whose markets have made Kenya the world's number one rose exporter. Long after humans and even animals or roses go, Dieldren, and ingeniously stable, manufactured molecule, may still be around."

So, please, don't buy me roses. (I know you were all going to ;p )

My Talented Friends

2008-10-28T21:36:00.001-07:00

I just wanted to share with you a few of my talented friends. I'm lucky to have so many, but those that are clever enough to have some form of online material get to be especially celebrated today.

My dear, creative, witty, and exceedingly charming friend Laurel, who also happens to be a smashing good vegetarian cook, has started a website called Simple Spoonfuls. In her words this site will "Demystify Healthy Eating One Delicious Dish at a Time." I've yet had time to make any of these recipes, but just looking at them makes my mouth water. She also posts a great deal of information about food in general. Bon Appetite!
An artist friend from highschool put together this website, The Obama Experiment, to support who else but Obama. I especially love the Hopeful Hearts Club art.

Two friends that graduated from the Landscape Architecture program before me have websites created in conjunction with their master's thesis. Heidi has put together a Lizard Walk and Hampton created a self guided bird tour called "There's a Hole in my Habitat."
Michele created the Cholcolate Pizza Stiletto Love blog for "inspiration in style, food, decor and love!" With a name like that it's got to be good, and it is.
Tif Bullard is a very talented performer. Back in high school, I was fortunate to be in a production of Oliver! with her. Now she's getting her MFA and performing her own shows in Chicago. Here's her blog and her website.
And finally is the hilarious and handsome James Michael Bobby. This guy has made me laugh since I have known him. He has the ability to make the whole room pee their pants in laughter. He's been in a few small films and I hope he does more. Check out his site.

I hope you enjoy the talent and creativity of my friends. Let me know what you think.

*It was late last night when I posted this...sorry for all the typos...I've tried to fix them.