ckocher  what have you started?  You were the one who encouraged me to try a blog... now I am blogging & using facebook all over the place (I think I have 4 blogs & twitter & FB now!!).  I spend way to much time on this - and your the one who gets the blame (or credit).  Your very right I am having a good time... but sheesh!!

Well I made it through another session.  This one was very cool since the artist drew directly on me for the design.  He had done stencils for the main figures and then yesterday he filled in the space between by hand - then did the outline tattoo for the in between stuff - clouds, sun ray, rocks and the dragons tail mostly.  My sister was there and took photos of the process for me.



This is what it looked like after I took the wrap off - a little blurred by extra ink in a few spots.

Under the cut... ( More photos & stuff )

Well Monday I got started on the second half of my back piece.  I had wanted to do one side first to see how I felt about it all - and I guess I feel pretty good since I am now continuing the work across my back.  The line work is done for the figures only - the part that he stenciled.  Next time he will draw the rocks and clouds free hand and begin that outline.  Then shading and color.  Should take about another 10 hours I would think.  I really like how the composition works together.  The new characters represent my kids - the dragon is the eldest and the dancer is the younger.

I am pleased with the progress so far - here is what it looks like now:

FAWM is February Album Writing Month.  This was my first try at FAWM and it was tons of fun.  I really had not written a song before and it has been years since I played music... but I jumped in with both feet and completed 22 songs!!  I got some really supportive comments - and I guess I am ready for non FAWM folks to hear some of my stuff - if your interested.  Here it is...  I did improve quite a bit as the month went on - the first few are quite shakey.  Not bad for a non-musician I think.

I did a little TV spot last night - live on the local news to promote green building and my upcoming class on straw bale construction and eco friendly construction. 



Here is a link to the spot.  It will be available for a little while.

Been doing some crafts in the cold winter months - its snowing pretty good so I did some kanzashi - a Japanese flower making thing to use as hair ornaments for myself and my girls when we dress in kimono... which we were going to do today and head out for a sushi diner - but thanks to snow that is canceled... oh well I guess I will make sushi at home tonight. 

I have also been hand sewing some kimono shaped quilting blocks.  Here is a photo of the blocks so far (the one on the left is in construction) as well as the kanzashi flowers... my first attempt - really fun - pretty tricky.



And here is a detail of the two better kanzashi.  Do you recognize the fabric ninomit_arol ?  I also sewed a barbie kimono with the fabric to match the flowers (from ninomit_arol -- thanks!)

I welcomed 2009 with a finished tattoo.  Yea.

With my artist Kaz at Brooklyn Adorned

  

Now I shall plan for the other side of my back piece... perhaps in a year.

I went out in kimono tonight - nice sushi diner at Kampai.
Here is my holiday photo.



I wish you all a lovely holiday!

I have very odd kids - but in a good way.

This morning my eldest ran downstairs before 7am to meditate with me.
Pretty weird for an 8 year old - but so cool.  I am filled with glee.

Well I am back from NYC for part three - done on my tattoo.   It was supposed to be the last sitting - but Kaz (Kazuhisa Matsumoto) wanted one more. After the tattoo appointment I had a chance to visit my siste (and her man)and crash at her place.  Nice to avoid hotel prices in the city.  We had a great diner at a very busy Italian restaurant and great conversation.  I was really tired from the day so it was nice to have a relaxing evening.  The next day I did some shopping then headed home on the bus (sitting oddly to one side).  My back is a bit sore today - but not as much as when I had the shading done.

I thought I would share the results of part two. Here is the photo of the completed black and gray shading.



I don't have pictures of part three - but here is the artist Kaz  and me after the session.



Work done at the Brooklyn Adorned shop.

My newest orchid... here it is - the full size Dendrobium Monoliforme Var. Shiraaya (from Japan).  It will have small white flowers.



It is from J& L Orchids.
I got it at the local Orchid society meeting over the weekend. 
There was a fantastic presentation on Miniature Orchids - I was smitten!

Ok - I love Orchids... you can not like orchids, people always fall in love and get a bit obsessed with orchids.

Mostly I like Oncidium, Dendrobium and lately Vanda type - but at a recent meeting of our local orchid society I was seduced by the Pahiopedilum (lady's slipper).  I just could not resist the sherbert colored beauty (last photo).  It has more flowers coming.

Here are some successes this year.

July  - Dendrobium.   


August - Oncidium.
   

November - Pahiopedilum


I have another Oncidium "in spike" (sending up a flower stalk).  Should be blooming in December... Yea.

Just got back from NYC - part two of my (half) back piece is done - the shading in b & w - mostly rock forms. 
Yes it hurts - but it is looking really great.

Photo of Kaz working on my piece:

www.nyadorned.com/home.htm

Ok - so this past weekend I went "Brain Tanning" 
(no not opening your skull and sitting under a sun lamp) - it is tanning a hide by using the brains of the animal...

( Cut for messy stuff you may not want to see... )

It was a beautiful weekend - we went out to a place called 'Wolf Crest' a large and lovely property owned by a friend who also teaches us wilderness skills.  We showed my parents, my sister & her man around the place.  Walked in the wonderfully colored woods and had an awesome day.  Since my sister is now living in NYC it was a real treat for them to be in "Nature".

My parents are visiting from Canada - and will be going home in a few days - so it was really nice for me to have a relaxed (non-working) day out with them.  They were treated to a few cool demonstrations including primitive fire making (with a bow drill) as well as herb tea (picked fresh - two kinds: mint & spice bush).  We visited our shelter - an emergency sleeping shelter for one that we made in the summer (and my husband actually slept in one night).  As always the girls had a great time - they are very comfortable at 'Wolf Crest' and play run all over.

The weather was so fantastic - the best day of fall (and I love fall)!



My sister (left) and her man - looking back & me - with Dad behind.

picture meme


1.  Take a picture of yourself right now.
2.  Don't change your clothes, don't fix your hair... just take a picture.
3.  Post that picture with NO editing (except resizing if they are HUGE).
4.  Post these instructions with your picture.



Morning, in my office (at home).  Reading email & surfing.

Sometimes I feel so sad.

Ok - here it is:

The story:  The emergence of Amaterasu O-kami (the Japanese sun goddess) from the cave.  It is a great story - look it up.  Some of you may know why this may be significant to me.

The artwork by Kaz (Kazuhisa Matsumoto of New York Adorned), and the completed out-line work (4 Sept.2008):

   - -

Thoughts?  Remember - this is a work in progress, I have two more sessions.

Oh yea - did I mention that I took a flint-knapping workshop (as in making stone tools)...
So in case of apocalypse - we are ready, come on over  (friends only please). 

It has been a week focused on tattoos... first I went with kandinart72  to get her first tattoo - a lovely spiral galaxy on her arm.  Very cool.  Then it was my turn.  I got the outline done (the first of three sessions) on a partial back piece.  The art by Kaz (Kazuhisa Matsumoto of New York Adorned) is stunning.  It was an excellent (and productive) trip to the city and visiting my sister and her man was a bonus.  I will post the progress pictures as soon as I get some nice photos.