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In This Issue
ANNOUNCING … CHARLOTTE’s CHARITY
DRIVE: Those of you who know
me, know of my deep love and admiration for animals. In every issue, we feature several
prints. A donation of $2 from each
featured print will be made to our featured charity that month. Thanks from the bottom of my heart for
supporting the care and appreciation of animals everywhere.
Ellie's Story
Ellie joined the League's Sponsor Program in 2003. Ellie came into the League's care as a puppy suffering from a devastating neurological disease. When Ellie walks she often stumbles and loses her footing. Her poor petite body shakes with uncontrollable tremors. It was a sight that motivated the League's staff to work patiently with Ellie and provide the intensive care that she requires. North Shore Animal League America remains committed to working with Ellie to improve her quality of life. Won't you become a Sponsor today and see how your monthly donations can make a difference in the life of a worthy and innocent darling like Ellie?
To see the full
story, visit their website: http://www.nsalamerica.org/
North Shore
Animal League America (NSAL) is the largest no-kill animal rescue and adoption
organization in the world. The main adoption facility is located in Port
Washington, New York but mobile units allow them to travel the country rescuing
animals from various different situations. Since 1944, The League's mission has
been saving the lives of pets through adoption, rescue, spay/neuter and
advocacy initiatives. Every year, NSAL reaches across the country to
rescue, nurture, and adopt nearly 20,000 pets into happy and loving homes. To
date, The League has placed close to one million puppies, kittens, cats and
dogs into carefully screened homes. One of the first animal rescue agencies on
the ground in the aftermath of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, The League
rescued more than 1400 pets from the region.
NSAL continues to work toward making
the world a safer, friendlier, healthier place for animals in need. Their programs
demonstrate the value of the human-animal bond and they are dedicated to making
an important difference in the lives of animals everywhere.
June is adopt a cat month. We
have four wonderful cats in our family, all rescue cats. They fit our lifestyle purrrrfectly. Each has a
delightfully different personality. Their antics are amusing and they are
very affectionate. Though I love dogs equally well and would love to have one,
my husband and I travel frequently and I feel it is not fair to board a
dog so often. Cats on the other hand can be left for two to three days as
long as there is ample access to water and food. Ours are indoor cats and our
grandson comes over every other day to refresh their food, water and
litter boxes when we are out of town.
Spring is baby animal season
for most species. This time of year, shelters are usually overcrowded with
kittens and puppies that people have discarded for one reason or another. They
deserve a chance at life. If you are thinking about a pet, cats
are less demanding than dogs (in terms of time and space
requirements). I believe animals know when they have been rescued and
given a second chance at life and reward us gratefully with loving
companionship. I encourage you to find a purrrrfect friend and enjoy the love they give.
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"He is your friend, your partner, your defender, your dog. You are his life, his love, his leader. He will be yours, faithful and true, to the last beat of his heart. You owe it to him to be worthy of such devotion."
Unknown
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For the last six years I have taught arts and crafts each summer at a two week theater camp here in Birmingham. Located in a lovely local park under the trees, the fresh air always energizes the kids. This year I had two groups with 17 very enthusiastic children in each. I got one group right after lunch and the other near the end of the day when a quiet art activity was a welcome respite from all the dancing and performing.
 Since many of the kids come year after year, I have to continually come up with new theater related projects. Masks are always a favorite things to make. This year we made toucan masks. Each one was as unique and creative as the child who made it. Incredible choruses of giggles filled the air as they donned their masks and paraded around camp flapping their arms and squawking loudly. You can read more about this on my blog on the Cathartic Designs website.
The lesson on facial expressions was another big hit. They took turns making faces to express various moods, and we played a game where the group would try to guess which emotion each participant was trying to convey. Again the giggles came and shook them right out of their seats. Then we transferred these expressions to paper, concentrating on eyebrows, eyes and mouths to communicate feelings as they would do on stage but without using words. They went way beyond the obvious happy/sad/mad faces and came up with some really creative expressions like doubtful, introspective, scheming, hopeful and on and on. Such playfulness!
Every year I am amazed and inspired by the creativity these boys and girls bring to the (art) table. They wrote and illustrated their own original short plays then designed the set and the costumes. The merry miscellany wowed me. The younger group is only second and third graders. Their pluck and eagerness totally inspires me. What more could I ask of a summer art program?
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 At an art show a customer from Wisconsin came up to me and asked if I had any paintings of badgers the official state animal of Wisconsin. I hadn't really thought of doing a badger but I filed the idea in the back of my mind.
As synchronicity would have it, a few days later I was babysitting my grandson and the story he wanted me to read to him was The Wind in the Willows. One of the central figures in the book is a badger with human characteristics.
This got me thinking about badgers. I knew badgers have sort of a bad rap but I wasn't clear why. So I did some research and found that they are related to wolverines which are considered to be cantankerous and vicious. Badgers not so much, still they are associated with some of the wolverine's less attractive attributes.
While planning this piece, I was doing a lot of paintings of children together with impossibly large animals to show how children are naturally at ease with animals. Though I know a loud noise or sudden movement from an animal can startle a child, most kids get over quickly unless the parents teach them to be fearful. The children in my paintings are always comfortable and at peace.
Since I love to substitute "sound-alike-words" in titles and phrases, when Star Spangled Banner occurred to me, I immediately translated banner into badger, My quest was to depict the badger as an animal so docile and accommodating that he would offer to forgo his nocturnal foraging to be the bed for a young child. I spangled him with our starry flag and lots of celebratory fireworks and the little girl sleeps undisturbed safely guarded by her new friend.
Use coupon code starbadger upon check out to save $10.00!
(Only valid when purchasing two prints.)
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 Sitting at lunch one day I overheard some ladies at the next table lamenting short lunch hours. One lady said something about always eating lunch on the fly. Well, there was my next painting. Sometimes a cool idea just falls in my lap when I least expect it. Who but kids would have a picnic on a fly? An adult would think that was gross, but for children it would be a great adventure. Completely unconcerned about the shape and size of their host, this little boy and girl are on a magic carpet ride. I guess I am a kid at heart because I could totally be up there with them. Flying through the air is a recurrent theme in my paintings of children and I suppose that is because as a fan of hot air ballooning, parasailing and hang gliding, I know the feeling of being at one with the wind. Awesome!
Use coupon code starbadger upon check out to save $10.00!
(Only valid when purchasing two prints.)
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I just love making people smile. My hope is that my art catches people off guard, and makes them laugh in unexpected, silly ways. Much of my art includes animals, and I think by portraying their beauty and devotion in playful ways, it will bring awareness to the need for all of us to take loving care of all the animals in our beautiful world.
Each month, I will answer a question in the hope that it will encourage you, the reader, to expand your awareness of your own artistic nature. Just play and have fun, like you did when you were a child! I will also reveal the story behind my art. For each featured piece, you will learn how the idea came to me, and see the fun I had creating each piece. And I will offer my suggestions for the perfect place in your home or workplace for that piece of art.
I want to encourage you to have fun, and feel free to be playful in life. I truly believe, when we feel happy, we can reach out and share that happiness with each other and with animals. Good things will naturally happen when happy people open their hearts.
Release your inner child and enjoy summer to the max-
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Picnic Quesadillas Receipe
This is so simple because it uses all packaged ingredients that are ready to go. All you do is put it together, 2 minutes max. It is healthy, versatile and keeps well unrefrigerated for several hours. It is easy to adjust amounts of ingredients according to how many of these you need .
-Packaged corn tortillas
-Packaged shredded carrots
-Packaged shredded cheese, any kind you like
-Jar of dill pickle relish (substitute salsa or sliced olives, if preferred)
Start with one tortilla. Then layer ingredients on top. Cheese first, carrots second, then relish and then another layer of cheese. Finally top with another tortilla.
Press together and put in slow oven, about 300 degrees for 6 to 8 minutes or just until cheese is melted, this holds the sandwich together. Watch closely, so it doesn't get dried out or burned on the edges. (I usually cover the tortillas with foil to keep them from drying out.) If the cheese isn't melted put them back in the oven for another couple of minutes. If you use the large size tortillas, you can cut them into wedges after they are cooked.
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Perfect for summer! This whimsical apron is great for the chef in your life, or for yourself! Great conversation piece if throwing a backyard bbq. Get your "Lunch On The Fly Apron" today!
Artwork on apron!
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July is National Picnic Month, a great time to celebrate the outdoors. Hot dogs, hamburgers, corn-on-the-cob and gooey Smores are still ever-popular on the American picnic table (or blanket.) Whether your picnic is a backyard view of the fireworks on July 4th, or part of a road trip or camping adventure, be sure to follow the USDA guidelines for packing and handling food safely.
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