Leanne Wildermuth : Artist by Nature » Life, Love, and Critters

Life, Love, and Critters – of course!

A Creative Project

August

2006

This requires reader participation! I started this list while I was mowing (read: styling) the front yard this morning. This list – so far – is based on things I find myself doing all the time. Please, feel free to add to it. I’ll add to it, too!

You Know You’re An Artist When…

You don’t just mow the yard, you style the yard by mowing in a pretty pattern, and varying it each time you mow.

You pick a dog based on how cute his portrait is going to be. (this is partially true!)

You are happy to sign your checks, slowly, perfecting the signature, because it is. that. important. That document could be worth millions some day, it can’t be sloppy.

You write a list, and when you cross something off the list, it’s a fancy doodle cross off line, not just a straight line.

You know that no idea is an original idea, but you hope you’re one of the few that follows through and makes it your own.

You have DT’s when you haven’t been creative in the last 12 hours.

You have tools to encourage your creativity in every room in your house. Yes, sculpting gel counts.

You use your sculpting gel very literally. Apply, sculpt for hours, squash it down, rinse it out … repeat.

You don’t just braid your kids hair. You style it into a french braid with twists and put it into a bun of some sort, using as many coordinating ponytail holders as possible.

You own more than one very expensive piece of equipment and don’t let anyone else touch them (or have to sit on your hands if they do).

You get cranky if you can’t complete your creative endeavor, if something has distracted you from it.

You don’t understand why anyone doesn’t “get” that place you go to when you’re there. And feel bad that they’ve never been.

You’re creative in your sleep.

Few people think that what you do is monetarily worth what you’re asking.

You try on several “filters” before you finally decide which one you like.

You’re terrified to show anyone your work, but after you get past being terrified, you spread your feathers like a peacock.

You’re like that every. single. time.

read more in comments…

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Filed under: Hahaha! That's Funny.

Pretty Spoiled Boy

August

2006

We picked up the little gifties that Tucker won, being such a frappin cutiepie and all. WooT did he score! He got a basketful of stuff to chew on, a bagful of even more stuff to chew on, a couple of stuffies to shred, a TOOTHBRUSH! – a shirt, a $30 gift certificate for grooming and a PEN! Because puppies can write! Didn’t you know? And they should definitely write thank you notes, but not until after they brush their teeth!

So, Tuckerhead checked out his stuff, and got all excited. He went right for the shirt! He’s such a smart dog. He liked everything, and wants it all right now. Even the basket, and the paper in the basket. Woof! Nummy Paper! Woof!

So we put the shirt on, and now he looks like the opposite of a pig in a blanket. You know, when the hot dog is sticking out of both ends of the croissant? Well he looks more like a croissant exploded out both ends of a hot dog. Bad analogy? Perhaps. Did I get my visual across though? Maybe this will help.

And this. This is how frappin adorable he is in his new Diva Doggie Wear. OMG, He’s like a ladies man for dogs. If I were a little scottie, or even a maltese, I would totally go after him. I just know I’m gonna have to beat those girlie doggies off with a stick. Okay, a chew toy. Leave my stud alone, girls.

I never thought I’d be one of those people who put clothing on a dog. But look at that picture. Just LOOK at him! Good gravy he’s adorable. Now scroll up, and look at him nekkid. It just seems so wrong, doesn’t it? He looks sweet in his little shirt, even if his fluff does explode out of the seams!

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Filed under: Our Little Wheatie

Thursday Thirteen #38

August

2006

Thirteen Things about Leanne, Thursday, August 17, 2006
My other Thirteens1. 14 days until school starts. Am I excited? Um, yes, I am. Does that make me a bad mom? With hubby on the road so much, I am super-mom all week. I am looking forward to “me time”. I want to paint, and my oils would dry up in the amount of time I’m diverted from the studio over the summer.

2. My little Tuckerhead won a prize! Yes, he did. WHBF agrees that my dog is the best lookin’ dog on the planet. I sent them this photo (not the one below), and they think he’s the cutest dang dog! He won some really neat stuff that I have to go pick up. I’ll tell ya what it is later.

3. I found out this week that there are people I know (in person) who read my blog that I didn’t know read it. You know why I don’t know? Because THEY NEVER COMMENT. Oh yes, these are people who say they care. Yep, I sure can tell. (Catch the sarcasm there?) That is my biggest peeve, if you didn’t already know that. Show up and never say a word. Yes, you know who you are. Knock that crap off – you don’t call, you don’t comment, and you sure as heck don’t stop by when you’re in the area. What do you think that I am, psychic? No, I’m not. What I am is tired of making all the effort to stay connected. It’s a draining thing, thinking that your affection isn’t mutual.

Here’s an example: My biological dad (sperm donor dude) pulled that crap with me, I was always calling him – and I gave up after a few years of calling him. That was over 10 years ago, and has he picked up the phone? Not a once. Yes, my calling him was “wanting something”, apparently. I only called him when I wanted something. You’re right, jerkhead, I wanted to know you cared. I wanted to know how you were doing. I wanted to get to know you. I’ll be sure never to do that again.

4. On a lighter note, I took this bada$$ photo yesterday afternoon. I know, I know. Birds. Me and my birds. I love my hummies, though. When’s the last time you saw a photograph of one with his landing gear down? That’s what I thought.

5. I have to plug it – just have to.

‘Nuff said. Please, go over and check it out, there’s a lotta good gossip goin’ on!

6. I received word that one of my first photography print orders arrived safely and that my client is uber pleased. Nothing makes me happier than reading those kinds-a e-mails! I’m happy you’re happy, and thank you for letting me make your walls a little brighter. Here’s the print she chose:

7. Did I mention how much I’m dying to paint? I’ve been jonesing for my brushes. Ugh. 14 days.

8. Did I tell you my back went out again? Oy. Well, if you weren’t here for the back-capades last year, here’s the scoop. This was my back nearly a year ago to the date. This year, when Chloe passed away I had another episode where L4 and L5 decided to tell me they hate me again. My doc gave me some really great meds, and beginning in 14 days, I start physical therapy. The funny thing is that I’ve been blowing off the whole therapy thing, and they’ve been like boot camp drill sergeants. Callin me, reminding me that I need it, making me go, calling and telling me when my appointments are, calling the insurance company and setting it all up since I’ve blown it off for a month. It feels kinda good, like they really give a hoot about me and my advanced degenerative disc disease. It’s sweet, really. I wish someone would do that about my nutrition and weight goals.

9. Speaking of weight goals, 14 days ’til restart. I have 25 Pounds2Go yet, standing still from spring when I said “It’s Summer? I don’t need no stinking diet!” I’m so proud of myself that I JUST SAID NO lastnight to the super yummy gooey chocolate cake in the fridge. I also JUST SAID NO to the yummy chocolate fudge swirl ice cream. Whew. One more year of that and I might lose a couple of pounds.

10. I’ve been designing my fool head off this week, diggin into the code. I gave The Shizzle a total makeover, tweaked things at the World of Bloggers Cookbook, upgrading and writing smilies packages for Shelli and got The Smilly Family designed and launched. I also completed that illustration for a design that I’ll be working on and launch in the next few days. Busy busy!

11. In my spare time, I enjoy knitting, scrapbooking, and…. (hahahhaaahahha! I crack myself up!)

12. Girls. School. 14 days. Uniforms this year. Excellent. $142 for both kids. Lovin’ uniforms.

13. The pool is comin’ down this weekend! It’s draining as I type. YAY for getting my yard back and not having to monitor chemicals and skim the bird droppings anymore this year!

Happy Thursday! Thanks for stopping by!

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!
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TECHNORATI TAG: Thursday Thirteen

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Random Photography

August

2006

There’s my little Nutty again, he was posing for me yesterday and I couldn’t resist. Just a sweet little thing, isn’t he?

More random eye candies for you:

An egret that we saw on the way back from the museum last week. I was totally enamored by his reflection in the pond and have several photos of him that are ‘ok’ to me, I just enjoy looking at the composition. It was neat to watch him fishing, too!

This, I loved. Of course, my hummies. She thought she’d be sneaky, and eat on the side that I couldn’t see her on. haha! Chickeymonkey saw this photo and said “How’d she get in there, mommy?”

Our floppy dog, Tucker. (He’s a 16 wk. Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier, for those just meeting him) Yes, he’s sleeping on the vent again. He lays like this all the time. It’s fun to watch him go from standing to this position!

We did go to the Museum yesterday and saw some really beautiful bird photography. I took a few pics of the sections where mine are hanging, I’ll get those pics ready and show you later.

I hope you’re having a good weekend!

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Filed under: Available for Purchase, Our Little Wheatie, Photography Prints, The Great Outdoors, The Photog in Me

Bloggy Gossip Launched

August

2006

Bloggy Gossip is another brainchild of mine that I’ve been working on for quite a while. In my head, mostly. Until last week, when I started finishing up the design and getting the domain all square, getting wordpress all upgraded, installing a boatload of plugins and fun things – and now I’m pushing the boat out into the water and crossing my fingers about the weather! It’s a Gossip Blog, about Bloggers.

MommaK, an expert on Gossip and someone who is always in the know, will be co-authoring with me. She’s the blonde, of course! She’s smart as a whip and always up on the latest celebrations around blogland!

Not to worry, it’s not for icky gossip, it’s just for the good stuff! So, if you have gossip you want to share, please go on over and fill out the little form, and we’ll check out your recommendation. We’ll be blogging daily on several topics, ranging from new bloggers to virtual baby showers, new homes and new blog designs. We’ll cover meme’s and youyou’s and even events and projects that ask for reader participation.

It’s going to take a few days to really get it rolling, but go on over and grab up a button, add it to your feed reader, and tell your friends! It’s going to be a fun place to go to get the good news of the blogosphere!

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Filed under: Custom Illustrations, Graphics, Blog Designs, Hahaha! That's Funny.

My Birds On Exhibit

August

2006

I finally had my camera in hand when the Mr. stopped by this morning, perched his little ruby self down on my feeder and warned me not to come any closer. I zoomed in on him from my kitchen.

Yesterday morning was nerve-wracking for me. I was just a mess, my heart was racing, sweaty palms, I couldn’t hold a pen without shaking. Why?

A few weeks ago, my hubby picked up the paper. He left one page folded over on my desk, the headline “Putnam looks for bird photos for new contest”. As you can imagine, that caught my eye! So I read the article, and immediately knew which photos I wanted to submit. There are four categories – birds of prey, water/game birds, backyard birds and pet birds. Here were my selections:

(all of these are available as prints, click them for their print info.)

I matted them, filled out the paperwork, and dropped them off yesterday. They’ll go up on Friday, and be exhibited through November 19th at the Putnam Museum as a part of the Celebration of Birds exhibit.

Take flight as A Celebration of Birds soars into the Putnam Museum’s exhibit galleries! This impressive museum experience combines the stunning artwork of Birds In Art from the Leigh Yawkey Woodson Art Museum with unique specimens and artifacts from the Putnam collections. It’s the perfect synthesis of art, conservation and science!

I’m nervous because there are prizes and awards involved. There are judges, both public and and a panel representing the fields of art, photography and conservation. The criteria: “Accurate or expressive depiction of the subject species; photographic skill; and general appeal”.

Other than getting juried into the MidCoast Fine Arts Organization (I don’t know when, if ever, they update the website, I’m still not listed.), I don’t know when I’ve been this nervous – putting my stuff out there for public criticism and/or acceptance. It’s a very personal thing to have on display for people to judge and give you either a thumbs-up or thumbs-down. My work has never been on exhibit before, either. My MCFA exhibit isn’t scheduled until Spring 2006.

So. They have my prints, they look quite lovely matted and we’ll be seeing them among the competition this weekend. I’ll take photos of them on exhibit, because this is a first for me, and I’m nervous and excited now just to see them on the walls. The general public will get to vote on their favorites, too, so if you’re in the area, please stop over at the Putnam Museum and cast your “People’s Choice” vote between August 11th – 24th!

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Filed under: Chit Chat, Home n' Hearth, Photography Prints, The Photog in Me

I’m An Artist

August

2006

QuizFarm.com

You scored as Artist. You are an Artist Empath, one who creates their own reality and infuses the realities of others with your energy & emotions. You are poetic and sensitive. You turn your feelings into creations and share them with the world. Everything you touch turns to song and is freed by the color of your eyes. Your spirit dances with the winds and paints delight in the evening sky. (from the “Book of Storms” by Jad Alexander at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Empaths/)

QuizFarm.com

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Reci-Please!

August

2006

If you haven’t heard, Phoenix has started up this endeavor of creating a World of Bloggers Cookbook. It’s actually pretty cool, and I have a few recipes I need to add to the growing collection.

So. There’s a button, you can use it. You can also click it and go right on over to the cookbook, which I kinda spiffed up for the cause. (The template was a free premade, I just made a few more page templates, revised the code a bit, made a header and a cute little button – it’s a cute design!)

There’s that dang link again. Well have you clicked it? Did you go? Did you submit a recipe? There’s a form right there (under “submit a recipe”), so please do. I’m sure you have something stashed away in your brain that is uber nummy, yes? And are you a blogger? Yes? No? No matter. Go. Share your homecooked goodies.

There, one more time for good measure, just in case you hadn’t clicked it yet. Go, submit a recipe. It will be fun, and you will get ideas for dinner tonight. Don’t forget to save that button (or hotlink it, really, that’d be okay too) and link it back to the cookbook. Not only would you be encouraging others to submit recipes, you’d also be giving yourself a quick link to go back and use it as a resource. See? It’s all good!

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Filed under: Chit Chat

Tucker Tidbits Vol. 2

August

2006

Have vent, will follow!Tucker is making huge progress! Yay for puppy training!

I am kennel training him, and he can hold his potty for 2 hours at a time now, he also sleeps through the night. He’s more like clockwork than I expected for a 15 week old. He’s even beginning to learn commands now. He sits, lays down (with some prompting), obeys “let’s go” for the most part, and I’m working with him now on “no biting” and “stop”.

He loves to bathe, he does not sit still for a furcut, and he’s teething like the dickens! (He only chews on his toys, so far!) He’s been doing great about NOT jumping – we taught him that right off the bat, however when I pat on my thigh, he will come up to me for me to pick him up and hold him like a baby. He follows me from room to room, flopping down on the nearest vent.

In short, he’s still frappin’ adorable. I don’t think he can help it!

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Filed under: Home n' Hearth, Our Little Wheatie