tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-78933024107854418662024-03-07T00:18:03.006-05:00PraterposteCheryl Praterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00950996661525911415noreply@blogger.comBlogger234125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7893302410785441866.post-52503197211093663022009-10-11T18:49:00.008-05:002009-10-11T19:22:13.121-05:00Doktor Pfeffer Makes Something Monsterous<div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOwadHaHfLbu8S7nErzWY3DqHvSxhZKLIbJAL50bmvOKa22XdqXB3vIfPhrNUdDMMtaysjTyWbFojOjSecxhviwMWoEmi9-DnaYON2Rf_PKluRj1yfLmH1XhNr2Ccx1uNjH2K9N6mn-A/s400/IMG_0116.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5391494005473683266" style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px; " /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Deep in the bowels of his hidden bunker, underneath the brick and steel of a nondescript building, Doktor Pfeffer is making something truly monstrous. Until now, his carefully guarded research -- the formula to create life -- was only a theory. Now, the culmination of his life's work is coming together, at long, long last. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmioKxsmFtgk7LoLzfy2zltdrHDlqd8sqUpaneOIqLkqc75O353PjiQYBCAEjW-ZRvDiAUSj8K-XtxcrGi45vKsAFhRfuP7x-HPhgXlgfQqOefNByJyO46RN2Ho9xAiLNp5BOeqLg-rw/s1600-h/IMG_0121.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmioKxsmFtgk7LoLzfy2zltdrHDlqd8sqUpaneOIqLkqc75O353PjiQYBCAEjW-ZRvDiAUSj8K-XtxcrGi45vKsAFhRfuP7x-HPhgXlgfQqOefNByJyO46RN2Ho9xAiLNp5BOeqLg-rw/s400/IMG_0121.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5391494010314863154" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Features emerge.</div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmioKxsmFtgk7LoLzfy2zltdrHDlqd8sqUpaneOIqLkqc75O353PjiQYBCAEjW-ZRvDiAUSj8K-XtxcrGi45vKsAFhRfuP7x-HPhgXlgfQqOefNByJyO46RN2Ho9xAiLNp5BOeqLg-rw/s1600-h/IMG_0121.JPG"></a><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 284px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfG2kMHsMKZ3LUS88CHUKvVc34fWhQUbrkt4tnh3rhh0RXh7WmMGE0uQetX1btDDOj5aU19xGdLjFWBweycy_UzPw-Y496UeS1ymwZv7WyYASl76Hu9W82Y0Tx3EPZjE6Fv0jhVCZZQg/s400/IMG_0122.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5391494019903654962" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Doktor Pfeffer observes his work and decides it's time for a body.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge1PHaFFX9vSTWnGVv1uvDno3TE18NOSISw2QDrcmT3GiJEHkZMInylZpiHABGFFm71CUENFYDo6-cRqX1wK7rf4jacJMjxsr1DPzLgZlVh6Rc5FhZVOZxMiJkk5sgGzT2pdZFQaM0GQ/s1600-h/IMG_0123.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge1PHaFFX9vSTWnGVv1uvDno3TE18NOSISw2QDrcmT3GiJEHkZMInylZpiHABGFFm71CUENFYDo6-cRqX1wK7rf4jacJMjxsr1DPzLgZlVh6Rc5FhZVOZxMiJkk5sgGzT2pdZFQaM0GQ/s400/IMG_0123.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5391497300624050482" style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px; " /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">First he constructs a skeleton.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 301px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg29-UGD40Ox8PCxNPp7hDXVgby0IDkDTT7yLNkIU7qAbPH3FWzyWbN-RQbiTAXQBZj3ld9C1CffZ5BeXQNezWWhluFO4OBPia9QZHfl_Ys1gkfW2B_n9SxziZZtpk2PI5Ujdd0lzbljw/s400/IMG_0128.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5391494027677961570" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Then, through careful grafting, he adds the Sculpey skin. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Ahh, yes, coming together, now to bake this creature and bring him to life...</div>Cheryl Praterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00950996661525911415noreply@blogger.com27tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7893302410785441866.post-75123367570648502162009-09-27T20:14:00.007-05:002009-09-27T20:36:24.164-05:00Beezle in the Boneyard<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvq0gHLVp-DYkHfcS7TTOmrRMv_feWG954ohyphenhyphen6rJm1cMIWY7iADA12zeHGrRf2VA2Cc26kZnFXI_idMbITA_FdS4GM1BlFOKRsDtGLfQp07tThaEwz-FN33W1EhMdLQg1XOLM96OMzkQ/s1600-h/232323232%7Ffp43285%3Enu=3235%3E397%3E-92%3EWSNRCG=323364;5-8--;nu0mrj.jpeg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvq0gHLVp-DYkHfcS7TTOmrRMv_feWG954ohyphenhyphen6rJm1cMIWY7iADA12zeHGrRf2VA2Cc26kZnFXI_idMbITA_FdS4GM1BlFOKRsDtGLfQp07tThaEwz-FN33W1EhMdLQg1XOLM96OMzkQ/s400/232323232%7Ffp43285%3Enu=3235%3E397%3E-92%3EWSNRCG=323364;5-8--;nu0mrj.jpeg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5386320733223061074" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">These are my adorable and much missed nieces: Hollyn & Lexie. Hollyn put in an order for a skelly beezle a few months ago and I promised her she'd have one in time for Halloween. Good thing I gave her a deadline.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDjhSjCmz7Hkq40jbimpzvBHiNFr_tPFhlhOvwqOK_GItmlJn8eERF0vWGScsdiH56vVTRRDuvA3WH3WCsoLIsS9tIB6-0n9ZvvUBdFclEX6TWke1NEkqI95HIMrzsf7MYjbU8yUrkVA/s1600-h/DSC00815.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 318px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDjhSjCmz7Hkq40jbimpzvBHiNFr_tPFhlhOvwqOK_GItmlJn8eERF0vWGScsdiH56vVTRRDuvA3WH3WCsoLIsS9tIB6-0n9ZvvUBdFclEX6TWke1NEkqI95HIMrzsf7MYjbU8yUrkVA/s400/DSC00815.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5386320727144988834" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">This doll is sculpted from polymer clay and paper clay. The head is made from Super Sculpey, the body is paper clay over foil wrapped stryrofoam, the legs are paper clay over wooden dowels. I like this method because I can build a body around an already-baked head and let the body air dry. The paper clay is great, but for the heads where I put most of the detail, there's no substitute for Super Sculpey. The porous bone texture on the skull was achieved by gently pouncing a foam brush into the clay before baking.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieEkthhjIuLXEWP1_kc3NhWBw9U-gP7EO-amMoERJwDiOT-h_gNyHgN4PdVhFqYAeSUlDEaTB1DgP0iqYRuyAF3p1UaRBwqRsqG1gZZoh72NQrKaXew4AXJBswL9Dft3n_sDBFr2sXrA/s1600-h/DSC00814.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 245px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieEkthhjIuLXEWP1_kc3NhWBw9U-gP7EO-amMoERJwDiOT-h_gNyHgN4PdVhFqYAeSUlDEaTB1DgP0iqYRuyAF3p1UaRBwqRsqG1gZZoh72NQrKaXew4AXJBswL9Dft3n_sDBFr2sXrA/s400/DSC00814.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5386320720882323506" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">This piece represents two new techniques: the fabric collar and anklets antiqued with a spray of walnut dye and the use of ground green foam mosses on the base. That mossy stuff is awesome and better yet, I didn't even have to buy it.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I found it in a long forgotten box of Mark's old train stuff in our attic. Jackpot. About three dozen baggies of the stuff in gorgeous landscape colors, course to finely ground. I saw Mark eyeballing those baggies with interest. I have since buried them where only I can find them. In the boneyard.</div>Cheryl Praterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00950996661525911415noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7893302410785441866.post-31494886557591629962009-09-20T11:37:00.002-05:002009-09-20T11:43:46.299-05:00In honor of Talk like a Pirate Day<div style="text-align: left;">As seen in the Fall issue of <a href="http://stampington.com/html/art_doll_quarterly.html">Art Doll Quarterly</a>. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 224px; height: 288px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuWta-DqyZQFWckkjU7fdV0Q1EiMMEu46EMFuCk-F4_VgPc2zGDCXQXggANBc9ZBivJkY5truuOdQg0Z1uGHJWWdGVz-CycHFmK5rC4JwqndSZK5fQzFANNBvRd2oT5d1gbUqdWuR2_g/s400/CVR_ADQ00809__lg.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5383591204670314642" /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">This Pirate is one of six Beezles featured, many thanks to Jenny Doh and Jana Holstein at ADQ.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlcb5Q1fxYQyKnWgC_0ujc_kyAV3umNSxPQQgCj2AWfcX95UiyNw9TgLFG3TNMWXDhD2EdzC81KModZWnO5pVqvtFxen4-FF1o0reG9DucUXvZqQ4m7npCI1a7ZxkZuEiz8pp55n3tbg/s1600-h/DSC00489.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 288px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlcb5Q1fxYQyKnWgC_0ujc_kyAV3umNSxPQQgCj2AWfcX95UiyNw9TgLFG3TNMWXDhD2EdzC81KModZWnO5pVqvtFxen4-FF1o0reG9DucUXvZqQ4m7npCI1a7ZxkZuEiz8pp55n3tbg/s400/DSC00489.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5383590063346291282" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLydX82iPn2_PkUsf9fTLO2rKKuMxKLCNo7GX2pMBQEBnTSdahMCITvQKWF7Y34z8geI7AYwzQUh4hliht_2bH_h0mVH0n3iKOg4oPLBqQ5OvzEgfaP86Pb2sDIbXVSuIhx0A2YVJzxA/s1600-h/DSC00490.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 399px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLydX82iPn2_PkUsf9fTLO2rKKuMxKLCNo7GX2pMBQEBnTSdahMCITvQKWF7Y34z8geI7AYwzQUh4hliht_2bH_h0mVH0n3iKOg4oPLBqQ5OvzEgfaP86Pb2sDIbXVSuIhx0A2YVJzxA/s400/DSC00490.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5383590053917771330" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLydX82iPn2_PkUsf9fTLO2rKKuMxKLCNo7GX2pMBQEBnTSdahMCITvQKWF7Y34z8geI7AYwzQUh4hliht_2bH_h0mVH0n3iKOg4oPLBqQ5OvzEgfaP86Pb2sDIbXVSuIhx0A2YVJzxA/s1600-h/DSC00490.JPG"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; "></span></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH1bcFm5faf7xQ5G7VsGEK5SpXgstrqBKX1lQAbrB1SWngxJJj3JQd0aSV5USutSrAAegh9PPD4VgwEeXTE8XhWRYPe1IggWQBmEdiaMQPXdtUnOWZQiT5ckBU5xkqNws77TTAWLIMwA/s1600-h/DSC00491.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 254px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH1bcFm5faf7xQ5G7VsGEK5SpXgstrqBKX1lQAbrB1SWngxJJj3JQd0aSV5USutSrAAegh9PPD4VgwEeXTE8XhWRYPe1IggWQBmEdiaMQPXdtUnOWZQiT5ckBU5xkqNws77TTAWLIMwA/s400/DSC00491.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5383590047290439826" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-decoration: underline;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-decoration: underline;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-decoration: underline;"><br /></span></div></div>Cheryl Praterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00950996661525911415noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7893302410785441866.post-83291884504376681762009-06-28T19:47:00.006-05:002009-09-20T11:37:39.171-05:00Looooong overdue post: Random Arts<div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Debbi and I had a blast at Random Arts. Debbi taught Good Girls dolls:</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh00FZ52_juLVeDnS8PydkVq-LBFKZ2skFrmRConBXWXXAMW42wAsbJ1KR9RDRSGLDycPyMCtpBVikNKfQbQUQODuLhThYvOd9eSkt-2IfYOxIykQ8R2Uwv6meIopBbqV1LgwLI6pKVqA/s1600-h/DSC00708.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh00FZ52_juLVeDnS8PydkVq-LBFKZ2skFrmRConBXWXXAMW42wAsbJ1KR9RDRSGLDycPyMCtpBVikNKfQbQUQODuLhThYvOd9eSkt-2IfYOxIykQ8R2Uwv6meIopBbqV1LgwLI6pKVqA/s320/DSC00708.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5352549783879466130" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">We met lots of awesome women:</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi0c0YFHbyown98UcQQfPhOHyWHj71w8fXPjs5ttjg2AS7epvf7_ZNhOUqa4gNpQfvtUIebaQdiyn03BjPJZYW4jcz4PXpKt6B0n5LyoHQ5NAhawnicwmX3dWWP08k5I5jY8aotqtwTg/s1600-h/DSC00711.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi0c0YFHbyown98UcQQfPhOHyWHj71w8fXPjs5ttjg2AS7epvf7_ZNhOUqa4gNpQfvtUIebaQdiyn03BjPJZYW4jcz4PXpKt6B0n5LyoHQ5NAhawnicwmX3dWWP08k5I5jY8aotqtwTg/s320/DSC00711.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5352549781032889810" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEzjJLJau_PrDb5ZolrfGaqj8WV182-alNBqIHxFs9U_6MEKGIuxuVEN5mOVeKrOTbvehiDk-EfR-VzyYG9TyzSI7a4qtNFTymws1ZT2iJP3KUS_G0H2YAImZxtuOARWSGg55AmkDg2w/s1600-h/DSC00705.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEzjJLJau_PrDb5ZolrfGaqj8WV182-alNBqIHxFs9U_6MEKGIuxuVEN5mOVeKrOTbvehiDk-EfR-VzyYG9TyzSI7a4qtNFTymws1ZT2iJP3KUS_G0H2YAImZxtuOARWSGg55AmkDg2w/s320/DSC00705.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5352549482459154370" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeyD8Hvm1DcKka2JbFqOciqqGXGCWfpA_Zk74CoGnxhEyasG8aekuu2lenYCfa9vHUNZ3xF4YrKzJChxi1mxyKu8-cnkU5nuuofECoSqZPkPBo42brNavahreQA86-mIt1lUXBjkD29A/s1600-h/DSC00706.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 304px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeyD8Hvm1DcKka2JbFqOciqqGXGCWfpA_Zk74CoGnxhEyasG8aekuu2lenYCfa9vHUNZ3xF4YrKzJChxi1mxyKu8-cnkU5nuuofECoSqZPkPBo42brNavahreQA86-mIt1lUXBjkD29A/s320/DSC00706.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5352549475754490402" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDNCl_yuy2GDSW3q1EEEaMNIzTvojhMaGqSM5z_JBI_myOdCTpdPLCq2KnJp0LYeUZZaOvH_5KrQurkOwoeD0KIfvEc0TBr7zODWoLO2s4cJENzfxtmu1Gn6PE4-yt-IQvR7_R91L8CQ/s1600-h/Last+Roll+-+21.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDNCl_yuy2GDSW3q1EEEaMNIzTvojhMaGqSM5z_JBI_myOdCTpdPLCq2KnJp0LYeUZZaOvH_5KrQurkOwoeD0KIfvEc0TBr7zODWoLO2s4cJENzfxtmu1Gn6PE4-yt-IQvR7_R91L8CQ/s320/Last+Roll+-+21.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5352549471906118354" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisk5jSYnhfXrYVJUVCoLIfL_x7hWKyqkguugZH38dTSDsfVURCD5hv3gf9icbkblsYx25YJf7dpWq9scHyJmGwxPovQAo_dDfXTBENe0T1edXTNL0krDeHfMOy50yKvuGKFleojZfLJQ/s1600-h/Last+Roll+-+88.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisk5jSYnhfXrYVJUVCoLIfL_x7hWKyqkguugZH38dTSDsfVURCD5hv3gf9icbkblsYx25YJf7dpWq9scHyJmGwxPovQAo_dDfXTBENe0T1edXTNL0krDeHfMOy50yKvuGKFleojZfLJQ/s320/Last+Roll+-+88.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5352549472285885026" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">That's me with Constance Vahoulis.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdBqbkqBKNQ1R403fB4HvdcJ3lFluuJ90vQghx6wAOZH_BJjdsfXEFGSDLNB11kT9TlWhnHIZ3TEUSklSF2ZaDCRwcB0c0tK1_0yVntuKSB_A1RofOskwFtuUJbJbV57N28C9XBS9Apg/s1600-h/DSC00710.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 178px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdBqbkqBKNQ1R403fB4HvdcJ3lFluuJ90vQghx6wAOZH_BJjdsfXEFGSDLNB11kT9TlWhnHIZ3TEUSklSF2ZaDCRwcB0c0tK1_0yVntuKSB_A1RofOskwFtuUJbJbV57N28C9XBS9Apg/s320/DSC00710.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5352549468369406722" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Debbi and Jane with some Good Girls.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_1n7ng7riQ1CB5SZkYrVxSdvV6A6pLNzS3kc-RGk9ycKW-e5YkinUfrVGK2T6Ur64SVShGno7acN6sHWBFC-7bkERV8wkspQarGtv45oVz3AdGuw7ZfkEnSBMyzXqrUV6hFWDK8IpfA/s320/DSC00662.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5352549790123392722" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">This was the yearly bee I give Debbi for her birthday.</div>Cheryl Praterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00950996661525911415noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7893302410785441866.post-29222902799606603202009-06-08T20:55:00.010-05:002009-06-09T08:06:09.572-05:00Royal Skelly Arrives & other news<div><div style="text-align: center;">Look what washed ashore!<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9r-WhpjMI-VOqoDWyttQCVsG7NAXX4K6yzcR-kn9fO7Cm-UM7GOwPBrY784pw6cUulK_QrkkCr-Iwt9dcgXbEJZJQoyyOOlTM2iB6QL-pp58RnCC8bJtGyCMWEp4UcDH2bhh8coY1Zg/s400/skellymermaid1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5345141341615441234" style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" border="0" /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />It's the Queen of Skelly Island, the Under the Sea swap lovely I got from my swap partner Marie Patterson. Ain't she a beaut? Be sure to go to <a href="http://mariepatterson.blogspot.com/">Marie's blog</a> and check out her <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5317933">Etsy shop</a> too. I got an added bonus of one of her darling Spooky Spinners! Marie was a great swap partner and I am so glad that <a href="http://wildatheartart.blogspot.com/">Zan</a> matched us up! Zan, she's like eHarmony for art dollers. The Queen is now displayed in a place of honor on my Halloween shelf. Thanks, Marie!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">And while we're on the subject of wonderful artsy stuff that arrives in my mailbox <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">(if anyone else wants to send me presents, just email me for my physical address)</span> I threatened Debbi and she sent me my very own Good Girl doll. Debbi will be teaching a Good Girl workshop this weekend at <a href="http://randomartsnow.com/">Random Arts</a> I'll be too busy talking and eating Almond Macaroons and getting ready for my workshop to make one this Saturday, so good thing she sent me this one, huh?</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbZBV6NcExftqiwg8La0LEzUYU4PIZGOQkSEG5KG_zpuJ87z7GNxv6OQhZj4YCN099X1Yjn7GlHNsCkkKzVB_vkEM1-GzrkivjhN5PHqOCpXQiBftBOCnk-GxeaZWpUKSgXZoozlh9XQ/s400/DSC00672.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5345141343182422434" style="cursor: pointer; width: 228px; height: 400px;" border="0" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">All the Good Girl Dolls that Debbi makes have a <a href="http://paperdollpost.blogspot.com/2009/05/did-i-mention.html">little blurb under their skirts</a>. Get your mind out of the gutter, it's not what you think. See, it's the bookbinder in Debbi that drives her to it. As she has said: "All good books have words." It only follows that all Good Girls should too.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS-Po12eJW2LjqSjQltd3t6IDXh3ZtNTke8ply2qOLbsxNXWcEjt3VJe7JPe7r6Qgsgny3r_cUncyM3v_4fT_Rm_fRwqZSl2uj5IMiqw6xAmN8aKc1kCN__heRtmnPv0ydwh3ko9Q3lQ/s400/DSC00673.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5345141341779910082" style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 291px;" border="0" /><br /></div></div><div><br /></div><div>And finally, to round out this mish mash post, here are couple little guys I made recently. A departure from my usual. I just went into my studio and started playing with clay and this is what came out. The Mouse Prince is about an inch and a half tall and the Bunny with the banner is about three inches tall. I'm diggin the little ruffled collars. I've seen <a href="http://boneheadstudio.blogspot.com/">Flora</a> do them on her Wumbles with crepe paper and had to outfit a couple of my tinies, too. The mouse's is made from copper wire mesh and the other is wired ribbon.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSD4CkC1gD-QxSzDx7FoM8hG_xswAlhkFHLzdz0Mhs5GbyZ5zQwSvR-JnOfEU9mWGch4p-44Ci3ENsePMsKleEoz9hryReUuuuxob3cQPsygJ-v-3P9Tl8nfAAbaGs93SV6zjeRaRL8w/s1600-h/DSC00653.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSD4CkC1gD-QxSzDx7FoM8hG_xswAlhkFHLzdz0Mhs5GbyZ5zQwSvR-JnOfEU9mWGch4p-44Ci3ENsePMsKleEoz9hryReUuuuxob3cQPsygJ-v-3P9Tl8nfAAbaGs93SV6zjeRaRL8w/s400/DSC00653.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5345141350342925346" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSD4CkC1gD-QxSzDx7FoM8hG_xswAlhkFHLzdz0Mhs5GbyZ5zQwSvR-JnOfEU9mWGch4p-44Ci3ENsePMsKleEoz9hryReUuuuxob3cQPsygJ-v-3P9Tl8nfAAbaGs93SV6zjeRaRL8w/s1600-h/DSC00653.JPG"><br /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYyjKMcBfy3JlhJxDWNzkLQAfd3IJ0GWkMaRRV9VyhXXj3p2JWQJSUFq2ni4j_GYh-uQWWx4p3fLAY3ckUg_ro9hE_seHK7xe7ucjf7MBXeMN-LeVE8Ha0w5wI5ZjNbWuhkyD0bbtl2g/s1600-h/DSC00675.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 325px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYyjKMcBfy3JlhJxDWNzkLQAfd3IJ0GWkMaRRV9VyhXXj3p2JWQJSUFq2ni4j_GYh-uQWWx4p3fLAY3ckUg_ro9hE_seHK7xe7ucjf7MBXeMN-LeVE8Ha0w5wI5ZjNbWuhkyD0bbtl2g/s400/DSC00675.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5345141346282296562" border="0" /></a></div>Cheryl Praterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00950996661525911415noreply@blogger.com22tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7893302410785441866.post-29005505974319678692009-05-27T20:42:00.023-05:002009-05-28T10:45:28.068-05:00Maniacs at Random Arts<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Consider yourselves warned.</span><br /><br /></div><span style="font-size:100%;"></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">June 13th, Saturday<br /></span><a href="http://randomartsnow.com/">Random Arts</a><br />Saluda, NC</span><br /><br />Two mini Mixed Maniac workshops!<br />And a book signing!<br /> And wine while we sign!*<br /><br /></div><div face="georgia">From 10am - noon <a href="http://paperdollpost.blogspot.com/">Debbi Crane</a>, my illustrious co-author, will be leading a larger scale version of the popular project she taught at MIU this year: a "Good Girl" fabric doll. She just sent me one and it is adorable. All materials supplied for just $25! How's that for a stimulus package?<br /></div><div face="georgia"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center; font-family: georgia;"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2p6z9LblsF4izJJGcz3VKnCAFvQdDKQzB4uUA0dVa8jDTBtCfSjvG-8BbVIhJ3UXTE8_g2B4ngo_j0FfvgQfzXmnPULwIsU_ijcQBngqtROaM-1bgP2H0-DHy2Y-fyheDCnb09BYpyg/s400/goodgirlnation.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340684910873217602" border="0" /><br /></div><div style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: georgia;">From 1pm - 3pm I will be teaching how to sculpt a character of your own making from polymer clay, a la my Beezle in the Box . Yours might be a bat or an elf or a chicken. It's all good and it's all up to you. Again, you only need to bring your creativity and $25. <span style="font-family:georgia;">If you'd like a discount, and who the heck wouldn't, $45 buys you a seat in both classes.</span><br /><br /></div><div><br /><div style="text-align: center; font-family: georgia;"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 294px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM_6W8Xepm_4MbRYpR7XVuLOx6Zvb-d9l03noagf0QzWI3EAY7NZzxdly9qCDuPNJQk4WEeQDURzpJ4575XSvtn9w1JzUHX8k2D_Cu8FTO-vT96ZC14DUQrDEkYwldNOHa2BUwSSy_gg/s400/DSC00374.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340684454843804146" border="0" /><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK8gH-MnP0BuFHqdmiKaIEJzDLiiU80W5lkuvs3tqajxomZY8TZY14CgvOBeO8buhkbzCEdLnA5fjYge12BkKzS_FljSwNN1rgqsSV4dXeqv0hVwp4JzNQwFsse4UXD66DvPljyrZr9Q/s400/DSC00358.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340684913572722738" border="0" /><br /></div><div><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">Debbi and I will both have works for sale available throughout the day, including some of the original works featured in our book, </span><a style="font-family: georgia;" href="http://www.amazon.com/Mixed-Mania-Recipes-Delicious-Creations/dp/1596680849/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1243523831&sr=8-1">Mixed Mania</a><span style="font-family:georgia;">.</span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"><br />Book signing and wining (but no whining) from 3pm - 5pm. What? It's the weekend. Drinking hours don't apply.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">Call <a href="http://randomartnotes.blogspot.com/">Random Jane</a> to register for the workshops: </span></span><span style=";font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-weight: bold;">828-749-1165</span> or email her at <span style="font-weight: bold;">randomarts [at] charter [dot] net</span></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><br /><br />Class space is booking up fast, book signing is open to everyone including paparazzi. Hope to see you there.<br /><br /></span></span>*<span style="font-style: italic;">There may also be some <a href="http://praterposte.blogspot.com/2007/09/mixed-media-macaroons.html">almond macaroons</a> too, as is the tradition.</span><br /></div></div>Cheryl Praterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00950996661525911415noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7893302410785441866.post-40437809421753672462009-05-26T21:21:00.008-05:002009-05-26T21:46:19.378-05:00Peter-Peter Trick-R-Treater<div style="text-align: left;">Cooky is organizing a fundraiser for her library in Massachusetts and asked if I could send a Beezle to be auctioned off for the cause. This is Peter-Peter. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"> (Hey </span><a href="http://boneheadstudio.blogspot.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Flora</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"> - thanks for the collar inspiration!)</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 250px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-qj-3hBEwxL9w5HWy8zTWYOncNFcXwYnU8lBHNJ5MpHOPmO7KQeT0dqyq9UopMbBmnc1WegDkgf0DQmgiLOQyP4HnYlpLX0nceTe86cCub1P8_l1vC5Qb2ZQA1BcboEkuZcmxawe5xw/s400/DSC00619.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340324186973618306" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">He's about 9" tall including the base. Made of polymer clay, paper clay, wire, fabric and wood finished with acrylic paint and chalk pastels. The collar is made from 2' wide wire ribbon.<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV9D1v1m8WnSIOoVAuyuiDTkqWzlNLicAnGfPer0n5WcvTqsRYIEck6XqnIhnpeKugE2Rp6gvfF_kyk2XsGW95dyDn6Sr8NfbrJOhxj1X2rqmTbesSHYYIMc5VnwokThHD7FRwMsqb_g/s400/DSC00614.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340323575138369298" /><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">The little beanie on his head cracks me up because the boys had hand knit caps like that when they were babies, see? </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 293px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWFFxMYiBQ_daTxrx4Epq5QPka3v0JJ68NPN96mRnNEcaTHoVApi6wxEYRfj_tygnrjt9Hdj3P-Y1UUv81JPZUb7U9O3Ebl7tyL_3S5z5l-jjEH1YievfUXhtyDcsMHhTwqseBzN5UlA/s400/n10230792_42394475_381442.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340325635850410530" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left; ">Here were are in Cooky & Larry's back yard a million years ago with Hannah and Katie and Lily. The punkin hats have come full circle. Yes, I still have them, packed away with the <a href="http://praterposte.blogspot.com/2009/02/dinos-may-be-extinct-but-they-never-go.html">dino suits</a>. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div></div>Cheryl Praterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00950996661525911415noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7893302410785441866.post-57058941728646367402009-05-23T17:56:00.002-05:002009-05-23T18:05:12.766-05:00Sea Beezles<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-decoration: underline; color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9CU68UumS9DLDLwCg6puf3ykjgAGKaWNyWdC6EUEBierDm33ak7n6KLNYvCqUW7gHl68myVh1srFCc9ASUlTFr9-JhOm8HMObZ2UK1GF-OnjPxeodxD5O38qWYqq-jIgESk-YqcXfSQ/s400/UNDERTHESEAbanner.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5339157685752861474" style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 241px; " /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Remember this swap organized by <a href="http://wildatheartart.blogspot.com/">Zan Asha</a>? I made two sea creatures and let my swap partner <a href="http://mariepatterson.blogspot.com/">Marie Patterson</a> pick the one she liked more. She picked the pink one. I can't wait to get the piece that Marie made. I'll post pix when I get it.</div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 255px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSYFI-TBhOMv7xK4ivv6pA2sW0Ovs6mt60TXKFuvJdmpp_jVJW6VrQ8ZTLAJsiuEUtHn2Ol3iUVLXZ_20tQ2DC8QbRL74zBr8_rqXZUYoQOgN_BXQXZYo-VnxviuCMBDRr8FZXQto4KQ/s400/DSC00583.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5339157692158680274" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtXGmpnYsCCTEtC30mm2ijYU_wrfPccGb2PDRasWOVkL6mIJedtBpJJ-FfgQU6T-fhN4EJOo8_BMvw1eS2GMFBQEO_v1KmtOnm_hK4qRaKc6PqlVo-fnDefoyCleZK1TtD2UqLY2JpJA/s400/DSC00581.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5339157697916632194" style="cursor: pointer; width: 283px; height: 400px; " /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcDxpw3hbp6fCvU0bmtPhup2_kNN19RCkkRfAeaBNhh9QGRxGnNsP8abb5MetcxF8Edmn1fYnmTnfKlvSnGzGIdzhAYIU2sYXLCcFSwtA7Ef9PgTd8G7tJWI11W25DR_wN9EohC_A4sw/s1600-h/DSC00522.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcDxpw3hbp6fCvU0bmtPhup2_kNN19RCkkRfAeaBNhh9QGRxGnNsP8abb5MetcxF8Edmn1fYnmTnfKlvSnGzGIdzhAYIU2sYXLCcFSwtA7Ef9PgTd8G7tJWI11W25DR_wN9EohC_A4sw/s400/DSC00522.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5339157685766659074" style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 400px; " /></a><br /></div><div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5Z0FrbKk4S4L8R8ik0BrbVGF15l5V7B9msBzLn2frTpyQNRoB4FkELdyzMCgsl6OoxBduAkoUVh9S5EGvg5qIdDtVTwNzdt79JLpDXpr58OBWHEHu-Fa0gMbkAyarPNitIT2dq0xwNw/s1600-h/DSC00523.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5Z0FrbKk4S4L8R8ik0BrbVGF15l5V7B9msBzLn2frTpyQNRoB4FkELdyzMCgsl6OoxBduAkoUVh9S5EGvg5qIdDtVTwNzdt79JLpDXpr58OBWHEHu-Fa0gMbkAyarPNitIT2dq0xwNw/s400/DSC00523.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5339157690137953650" /></a><br /></div><br /><br /></div>Cheryl Praterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00950996661525911415noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7893302410785441866.post-17814012728816310112009-05-10T18:50:00.019-05:002009-05-10T19:43:09.023-05:00Bird Bath<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><br /></span></span><div style="text-align: left;"><p style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; "><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdEAvhfO1dNIqwJsZ7gwjA-odIB2p6dnJOFoe4BQxlVIz9KM81xaV6PXkW74kMs_hp7lLzMcHnujneYg-qHWLtdl5sGPitEA2K65c3OekL8alGDsg2396leP4qtN4TbFWB9xU9yAZd2Q/s400/DSC00534.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334347778419657250" style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 344px; " /></span></span></span></span></span></p><p style="text-align: left;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><br /></span></span></span></p><p style="text-align: left;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; "><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="">The robin that built this nest abandon it Easter weekend after a terrible storm. It was empty so she probably found somewhere more private than next to our driveway. We waited to see if she'd come back but she never did. Mark got it out of the cherry tree for me today. A very nice Mother's Day gift. I put the twin quail eggs in it and put it in our guest bath with my other bird themed goodies.</span></span></span></span></p></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipW2qQxm7NuFv9pWnCGMIZs9uFDi0R60deeXt-v5leQ7ZCP1rY6q1JClACztdXih65dU8m4ktnwf7RDphyBom8tDO_DZO6sSiP8zNdPaxRaiqR5hwBew46ufyN61Zu9Dd4K8H7qQ-A3Q/s400/DSC00556.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334348373730328018" /><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="">I added a mommy bird to keep watch over them. </span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="">Here's a little tour of my bird bath.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEkNn0xXb6cQX2V0qgz9R7E4P3jLiiOewBQpIrpiTv-buvElaojb2FRtYfHMEnRD29_3rARPYoq9-RapEjgHta8XNzYomizyv_FBvhUqI8_zDajXlH_AzoswEh5DNRQr3pi7r9BYEeZg/s1600-h/DSC00543.JPG"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEkNn0xXb6cQX2V0qgz9R7E4P3jLiiOewBQpIrpiTv-buvElaojb2FRtYfHMEnRD29_3rARPYoq9-RapEjgHta8XNzYomizyv_FBvhUqI8_zDajXlH_AzoswEh5DNRQr3pi7r9BYEeZg/s400/DSC00543.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334348359467819970" /></span></span></span></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEkNn0xXb6cQX2V0qgz9R7E4P3jLiiOewBQpIrpiTv-buvElaojb2FRtYfHMEnRD29_3rARPYoq9-RapEjgHta8XNzYomizyv_FBvhUqI8_zDajXlH_AzoswEh5DNRQr3pi7r9BYEeZg/s1600-h/DSC00543.JPG"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><br /></span></span></span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq4yjT57B9ARP2AzGONd_90UNZJ2hm-vCxKQeX5gtJe-EPi-OTIp-CJXqxluZGPsoBspszQJgBNzqcC2CwKqK8KNd7h6AvYIg4iM0y0RU-CYpdJ60afzinZbW8m26_oQkK4-qhl257cQ/s1600-h/DSC00569.JPG"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq4yjT57B9ARP2AzGONd_90UNZJ2hm-vCxKQeX5gtJe-EPi-OTIp-CJXqxluZGPsoBspszQJgBNzqcC2CwKqK8KNd7h6AvYIg4iM0y0RU-CYpdJ60afzinZbW8m26_oQkK4-qhl257cQ/s400/DSC00569.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334347792633624066" /></span></a></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq4yjT57B9ARP2AzGONd_90UNZJ2hm-vCxKQeX5gtJe-EPi-OTIp-CJXqxluZGPsoBspszQJgBNzqcC2CwKqK8KNd7h6AvYIg4iM0y0RU-CYpdJ60afzinZbW8m26_oQkK4-qhl257cQ/s1600-h/DSC00569.JPG"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><br /></span></span></span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg88utpDaGzqR2orP5z_PYHjustZIUcvDOnEEEv3J1HXm62hF6UqNW3Q86VTrGb_PgkEoZGcOm35q_KzAfbRK0H-rF1tF57qvpYx38fuIpaQGP9cBd2I-IeOlhCgGoc9ifmDG8I9a9uyg/s1600-h/DSC00566.JPG"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 265px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg88utpDaGzqR2orP5z_PYHjustZIUcvDOnEEEv3J1HXm62hF6UqNW3Q86VTrGb_PgkEoZGcOm35q_KzAfbRK0H-rF1tF57qvpYx38fuIpaQGP9cBd2I-IeOlhCgGoc9ifmDG8I9a9uyg/s400/DSC00566.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334347790054100834" /></span></span></span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="">Happy Mother's Day to all you mommy birds everywhere.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVJ3m8tW5-oX0XcoYj6E6YzB7Qgo8fkV94YY0AYQaEql7Fe58v6rk_-XCLRGvaBfqQjH1fA9Mb0YX5PXSRO-EXBgiSPmtA9MjlAs03lU_G9vmlAEKYL8aj7z-T89dSw8FnZO8ZRQo3WA/s1600-h/DSC00565.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVJ3m8tW5-oX0XcoYj6E6YzB7Qgo8fkV94YY0AYQaEql7Fe58v6rk_-XCLRGvaBfqQjH1fA9Mb0YX5PXSRO-EXBgiSPmtA9MjlAs03lU_G9vmlAEKYL8aj7z-T89dSw8FnZO8ZRQo3WA/s400/DSC00565.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334354142573082066" style="cursor: pointer; width: 312px; height: 400px; " /></a></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdEAvhfO1dNIqwJsZ7gwjA-odIB2p6dnJOFoe4BQxlVIz9KM81xaV6PXkW74kMs_hp7lLzMcHnujneYg-qHWLtdl5sGPitEA2K65c3OekL8alGDsg2396leP4qtN4TbFWB9xU9yAZd2Q/s1600-h/DSC00534.JPG"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><br /></span></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdEAvhfO1dNIqwJsZ7gwjA-odIB2p6dnJOFoe4BQxlVIz9KM81xaV6PXkW74kMs_hp7lLzMcHnujneYg-qHWLtdl5sGPitEA2K65c3OekL8alGDsg2396leP4qtN4TbFWB9xU9yAZd2Q/s1600-h/DSC00534.JPG"><br /></a></div>Cheryl Praterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00950996661525911415noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7893302410785441866.post-17201720058204990312009-05-01T10:59:00.006-05:002009-05-01T11:29:01.794-05:00Trumpet has been in a bit of a funk lately. Some of you may know that Trumpet and Miss Maggie of Dear Daisy Cottage have had a bit of a falling out. Maggie's moved on. Maybe you saw the comment Trumpet left<a href="http://deardaisycottage.typepad.com/daisy_cottage/2009/04/puppy-love.html"></a> on <a href="http://deardaisycottage.typepad.com/daisy_cottage/2009/04/puppy-love.html">the post</a><a href="http://deardaisycottage.typepad.com/daisy_cottage/2009/04/puppy-love.html"> that broke his heart</a>.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span id="comment-6a00d8341c590d53ef01156f554a70970c-content"><span id="comment-6a00d8341c590d53ef01156f554a70970c-content"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFgESFVcujaueHByyua5-wsbduH-LM46od-GOdu4FTb1sdns4MF3VnKS-vKJa5kvuz6fNXGQP9uAv9U7KY9Wi8QLEbfahGaUg4YRkEqec7CWUg0JSFef6xpukRswPJNCZsI5FJXAwMAA/s1600-h/maggie+2.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 321px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFgESFVcujaueHByyua5-wsbduH-LM46od-GOdu4FTb1sdns4MF3VnKS-vKJa5kvuz6fNXGQP9uAv9U7KY9Wi8QLEbfahGaUg4YRkEqec7CWUg0JSFef6xpukRswPJNCZsI5FJXAwMAA/s400/maggie+2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5330887280970049010" border="0" /></a></span></span><br /></div><span id="comment-6a00d8341c590d53ef01156f554a70970c-content"><p>Fickleness thy name is Maggie.</p> <p>I thought we had something special. That we understood each other. Sure, these long-dog/long-distance things are seldom smooth, but now I see you have a new hound in your life. Flowers, Maggie? I never knew you like flowers. I thought that the occasional stick and dead chickadee was romantic AND original. But you sold me out<span id="comment-6a00d8341c590d53ef01156f554a70970c-content"></span> for some lousy tulips and some soul full eyes.</p> <p>Well, I hope you two are very happy on your little walk. Really. I'm not bitter. There are other dogs in the park.</p> <p>If you want me I'll be listening to Sade on my iPup or watching The Notebook over and over and NOT THINKING ABOUT YOU. Or your cute little bandanna. Or the way your ears look all fluffy when you're napping.<br /></p><p><span id="comment-6a00d8341c590d53ef01156f554a70970c-content">Posted by: <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" title="http://praterposte.blogspot.com/2008/01/trumpet-ate-bird.html" href="http://praterposte.blogspot.com/2008/01/trumpet-ate-bird.html">Trumpet</a> | <a href="http://deardaisycottage.typepad.com/daisy_cottage/2009/04/puppy-love.html?cid=6a00d8341c590d53ef01156f554a70970c#comment-6a00d8341c590d53ef01156f554a70970c">April 24, 2009 at 10:34 AM</a></span></p><p><span id="comment-6a00d8341c590d53ef01156f554a70970c-content"><a href="http://deardaisycottage.typepad.com/daisy_cottage/2009/04/puppy-love.html?cid=6a00d8341c590d53ef01156f554a70970c#comment-6a00d8341c590d53ef01156f554a70970c"><br /></a></span></p></span>I've been trying<span id="comment-6a00d8341c590d53ef01156f554a70970c-content"></span> to cheer him up, get him "back on the horse" so to speak. I'm thinking of posting this for him on one of the dating sites, maybe PetChemistry.com? Let me know what you think:<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibZOYeQj5dWcePgXwAsCbkCw-bXhMTWB4nlShARn0wuaaeBUap8rNlMcPJqZpOXIV3MbsMnsy_1OVzbaPsvdVzEeDWgrBULAevGYIBsrRhMh3ZUmeXIOLS9XELwk6DhZugiRt8rGdUwA/s1600-h/trumpet+smile.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 194px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibZOYeQj5dWcePgXwAsCbkCw-bXhMTWB4nlShARn0wuaaeBUap8rNlMcPJqZpOXIV3MbsMnsy_1OVzbaPsvdVzEeDWgrBULAevGYIBsrRhMh3ZUmeXIOLS9XELwk6DhZugiRt8rGdUwA/s400/trumpet+smile.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5330886565404151330" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br />Single Black & Tan male seeks female companion who enjoys napping, chewing, and long walks. Chivalry is not dead, I will supply the plastic bag for pick up. I enjoy footwear, dead birds, and rolling in foul-odored, decomposing material. I majored in Liberal Arfs. My<span style="font-weight: bold;"> </span>philosophy on life is that<span style="font-weight: bold;"> e</span>dible is a state of mind.<span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /><br /></span>I'd like to share my perfect, romantic dinner with you. We'd begin with a flip-flop appetizer by candlelight followed by licking the remnants out of a Lean Cuisine tray with a side of Legos. For dessert: I would love to feed you a very collectible and expensive Yu Gi Oh card. We can finish with two clear pink marbles swallowed whole.<br /><br />Sense of humor and aversion to Basset Hounds and tulips a must.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span>Cheryl Praterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00950996661525911415noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7893302410785441866.post-56536763443454503642009-04-13T12:55:00.004-05:002009-04-13T13:12:21.484-05:00peek -a - BOO<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8LAzeg1BPeOjIyMITm8kB19trGgtvoXDv0d5aw0XNHEQJZ0odTeWv9zH3d9J27m7JBC3grerNLJHwIXbBz1OYrlfSEqQIs24wr0gt6bq1GoRwJnoU9hbyAu8-FuSVv3joiqEJFOYeIQ/s1600-h/DSC00352_2.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 152px; height: 152px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8LAzeg1BPeOjIyMITm8kB19trGgtvoXDv0d5aw0XNHEQJZ0odTeWv9zH3d9J27m7JBC3grerNLJHwIXbBz1OYrlfSEqQIs24wr0gt6bq1GoRwJnoU9hbyAu8-FuSVv3joiqEJFOYeIQ/s400/DSC00352_2.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324238442579094930" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I shipped off four boxes today to <a href="http://www.artdollquarterly.com/">Art Doll Quarterly</a>. I can't show all of you what was in the boxes, but I can give you a peek and tell you to be on the look out for some <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5202722">Beezles</a> on your newsstand this August.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaUv5v8d1IksXNmdt0U6daz66FNPsmcy9V4nBxTlvvLuHCdBgo_p2lD7VL0zC0N-fp7jGlxcDwZUgvZY76ym9xafoYSCtFhdLpLyj9SsZMmLusTxmucLuh5E5-COGL8wjK336uzqEsPQ/s1600-h/DSC00273_2.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 213px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaUv5v8d1IksXNmdt0U6daz66FNPsmcy9V4nBxTlvvLuHCdBgo_p2lD7VL0zC0N-fp7jGlxcDwZUgvZY76ym9xafoYSCtFhdLpLyj9SsZMmLusTxmucLuh5E5-COGL8wjK336uzqEsPQ/s400/DSC00273_2.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324238440390411330" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaUv5v8d1IksXNmdt0U6daz66FNPsmcy9V4nBxTlvvLuHCdBgo_p2lD7VL0zC0N-fp7jGlxcDwZUgvZY76ym9xafoYSCtFhdLpLyj9SsZMmLusTxmucLuh5E5-COGL8wjK336uzqEsPQ/s1600-h/DSC00273_2.JPG"><br /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Just in time for Halloween.<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh63Gx6Ev5OBGbc2c-p2HC9GJJQB9bFRAGvYxBoGeKs2JK6SBjY7kT2nqAvg-65o6ADvqYktn4kk_y3Jh0wm__Hci33rXFlbDLwoKmhosdqd1dj7o0K34n9-SL7ZPmlrPz7SmFYH_pnIw/s1600-h/DSC00270_4.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh63Gx6Ev5OBGbc2c-p2HC9GJJQB9bFRAGvYxBoGeKs2JK6SBjY7kT2nqAvg-65o6ADvqYktn4kk_y3Jh0wm__Hci33rXFlbDLwoKmhosdqd1dj7o0K34n9-SL7ZPmlrPz7SmFYH_pnIw/s400/DSC00270_4.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324238438298624834" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh63Gx6Ev5OBGbc2c-p2HC9GJJQB9bFRAGvYxBoGeKs2JK6SBjY7kT2nqAvg-65o6ADvqYktn4kk_y3Jh0wm__Hci33rXFlbDLwoKmhosdqd1dj7o0K34n9-SL7ZPmlrPz7SmFYH_pnIw/s1600-h/DSC00270_4.JPG"><br /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Spoooooooky.</div>Cheryl Praterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00950996661525911415noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7893302410785441866.post-21760198916420412382009-04-12T08:37:00.004-05:002009-04-12T08:44:33.969-05:00Happy Easter<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8aBZoqFXPx6ukiFOPneYLtYz_1Qn2I9noKftDKQCanH511kfBkcHOg9WvUoT5FA6MHLvPl4EFZTqJ8mKkcH1U5MaFpXsRbAdOXsCdUeQbpyMJsAV45x8bY9FGPbxiY6GQsEaMEmb0hA/s1600-h/Tile+04-05-2007+Ransomed.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8aBZoqFXPx6ukiFOPneYLtYz_1Qn2I9noKftDKQCanH511kfBkcHOg9WvUoT5FA6MHLvPl4EFZTqJ8mKkcH1U5MaFpXsRbAdOXsCdUeQbpyMJsAV45x8bY9FGPbxiY6GQsEaMEmb0hA/s400/Tile+04-05-2007+Ransomed.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5323799178783188674" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">He paid our debt to set us free.</div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5F_iDCR-l_ybONSZmfr2DOtjZAGvIf9b-xEiuwJ8l297WBwRLlDQNFhe-_JE-VkRszxHVEQ5JoLGBlktmoFGJAJj_wy0xFNPBZLxFO5CX5z5QKeHqV8oDurczmbxapLYNmLSzPnLZhA/s1600-h/Tile+04-04-2007+Easter.jpg"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "></span></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5F_iDCR-l_ybONSZmfr2DOtjZAGvIf9b-xEiuwJ8l297WBwRLlDQNFhe-_JE-VkRszxHVEQ5JoLGBlktmoFGJAJj_wy0xFNPBZLxFO5CX5z5QKeHqV8oDurczmbxapLYNmLSzPnLZhA/s1600-h/Tile+04-04-2007+Easter.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5F_iDCR-l_ybONSZmfr2DOtjZAGvIf9b-xEiuwJ8l297WBwRLlDQNFhe-_JE-VkRszxHVEQ5JoLGBlktmoFGJAJj_wy0xFNPBZLxFO5CX5z5QKeHqV8oDurczmbxapLYNmLSzPnLZhA/s400/Tile+04-04-2007+Easter.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5323799180677316498" /></a><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">And the dead are no longer dead.</div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Happy Easter! Christos Anesti!*</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">For pix of some of my favorite Easter goodies, click <a href="http://praterposte.blogspot.com/2007/04/easter-vignettes.html">here</a>.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">*(a week early to the Eastern Orthodox contingent)</div></div>Cheryl Praterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00950996661525911415noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7893302410785441866.post-36396919566995951422009-04-10T14:29:00.009-05:002009-04-10T15:19:15.928-05:00Age of Aquarius<div style="text-align: left;">(singing to self) "<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">This is the dawning of the age of the Under the Sea Swap hosted by Zan Asha at <a href="http://wildatheartart.blogspot.com/">Wild at Heart Art</a>, the Under the Sea Swap hosted by Zan Asha......" </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Oh. Hi. Um. Didn't see you standing there. So. Have you heard about the Under the Sea Swap Zan Asha is hosting? What? You don't know Zan? Why, she's a new art dolling friend of mine with a super cool name. Sounds like she might be part anime or something, maybe related to <a href="http://www.math.nyu.edu/%7Ecampbelm/quizzes/meepquiz/ash.jpg">this guy</a>?</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Anyway. You can click on the badge below for all the details but basically, here's all you need to know: if you like art dolls and swaps, sign up at Zan's site before May 8th, ok? I've already jumped in. Yep. I'm swimming in my first swap ever. <a href="http://paperdollpost.blogspot.com">Debbi</a> is off the deep end too. Come on in -- the water's fine!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://wildatheartart.blogspot.com/2009/04/under-sea-swap.html"><br /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "><a href="http://wildatheartart.blogspot.com/2009/04/under-sea-swap.html"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 241px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiZZE-sZN5Bo5tYhe-1l7D7IFDrQyPdmJh1r4LXbMBJEAixxKNOPCCKA-zun3b_9dwj2K04E6oSGQ-7sFRCtMLwFhb9TbcZhg5qOCJZVRFHpBOet3EjcnamyrhL9AIR3PL4_B6yUmvMg/s400/UNDERTHESEAbanner.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5323147945814125970" /></a></span><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Here's a sample of Zan's work, it's an adorable Sea Kitten. Not to be confused with <a href="http://www.peta.org/sea_kittens/">these</a>. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 218px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCFErO4l-ieFlaDXgoNQH8wnsZOUKt2l1M3Gu9OJF5M0XYz80VU6XPwB0xxs6SfFy4htbaT-nW-6sSjUGkilnuEsXrNcPAcI-ai4ulHapSG6x8Rm31uCO3xwWTH9pmIrh5XBKP1Qn5_Q/s400/kittenfish2.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5323147950568468514" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">You can get you some of Zan's cute creatures at her Etsy shop <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=6569538">here.</a> And remember: you should always wait at least 45 minutes after eating before signing up for any water-related art swap.</div>Cheryl Praterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00950996661525911415noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7893302410785441866.post-37631017787338139242009-04-08T19:21:00.009-05:002009-04-09T09:11:28.451-05:00UPS = Unexpected Package Surprise!<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI9o-s-zY7YStyfQ40TL_k2heN8uxnCr1zwIW-TheJQo2u67l7xhGhbrAhkXdspHRk7-IyH3sZzSOh_QhsH4HK6Hi9UiMCMNkyFOMdE0jibIKSyslAmySVmIxSk_RcuwjRzyIQQKcZcw/s1600-h/DSC00473.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI9o-s-zY7YStyfQ40TL_k2heN8uxnCr1zwIW-TheJQo2u67l7xhGhbrAhkXdspHRk7-IyH3sZzSOh_QhsH4HK6Hi9UiMCMNkyFOMdE0jibIKSyslAmySVmIxSk_RcuwjRzyIQQKcZcw/s400/DSC00473.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5322480877620223970" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br />I gotta tell ya. The only thing better than meeting cool & talented people on the interweb is meeting cool & talented people on the interweb who are gracious and generous and prone to shipping gifts! See that little guy eye-ballin ya in the picture above? He's just arrived at his new home - a place of honor on my studio wall. <div><br /></div><div>This creation is courtesy of the <a href="http://www.kristenbeasondesigns.com/artist/info.html">proprietrix</a> of <a href="http://kristenbeasondesigns.blogspot.com/">Kristen Beason Designs</a>. Did you note the custom printed ribbon? The professional and elegantly designed business card? Well, that's just the wrapping. Wait, there's more....(you following me camera guy?)<div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw1rmcTRS2P1_HolwPebWlaiErlQvyXvgOPhXfYtI-CZl9A4f4yD2nPNHUrUHy2VoEUzW6Xpu7uUYNBrfBULOoGlKAJSDZfSjH4MIxDB8Jz4cNJyHxRo8GodzA4IZDW5JbfjZ89_165Q/s400/DSC00478.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5322480871130107570" border="0" /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">TA-DA!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">The bunny is mounted in an 8 x 8 shadow box and is even more wonderful in person than he looks hare, um, here. I can hardly stand it: the eyebrow that arches and then ticks up and down. The heart shaped nose and twitchy little whiskers. The watch face on his little cottontail. All that AND the clock on his belly is right twice a day!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfjP22s7dht9zYE942APx-jngdmL-fwPAOE39_QV80KcIL2EX8TcEOJLu8AkQ5dGVjw0uaNqp1i2-AC3K42unUxKh0s2o7Q-ySARmYeKVzmbB15WhMiAOwCtlucVRKzRRG4KzK972TNA/s400/DSC00477.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5322480875785115154" border="0" /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">This one is mine, but you can get some of KBD's Sunday Best just in time for Easter <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5341221">here</a>.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Thanks, Kristen. He will be treasured.</div><div style="text-align: center;">And Mom always said extortion would never pay off. </div><div style="text-align: center;">hmph.</div></div>Cheryl Praterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00950996661525911415noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7893302410785441866.post-47209024451918977462009-04-07T17:13:00.003-05:002009-04-07T17:28:19.769-05:00And the winner is.....<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrfIfRot7h6domhqbzS2kH7YnkMtpQbNyutoca6mm_m3RbRO-5hWT16ryY2opSKNHVOa9Qa6MNVuSOI11-0lbnEWPsQChDZaRwkg41a-JYZ4yXj4FeYFCva3sLbe3M-4H50VcaDES_zg/s1600-h/DSC00374.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 294px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrfIfRot7h6domhqbzS2kH7YnkMtpQbNyutoca6mm_m3RbRO-5hWT16ryY2opSKNHVOa9Qa6MNVuSOI11-0lbnEWPsQChDZaRwkg41a-JYZ4yXj4FeYFCva3sLbe3M-4H50VcaDES_zg/s400/DSC00374.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5322078491285643778" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Flora Thompson at <a href="http://boneheadstudio.blogspot.com/">Bone Head Studios</a>! <br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Thanks to everyone for following my blog.</div></div>Cheryl Praterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00950996661525911415noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7893302410785441866.post-57662304618934736172009-04-03T18:52:00.009-05:002009-04-03T20:05:19.024-05:00<div style="text-align: center;"> <img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 219px; height: 181px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo7kKUo8FZ_HTPGeSjZtWV0UL701rHcS1BcLwRn31-KU5yO3DIJ6Q34stjVxTApD3AZLfYbJXJefmMyVt6JN8S8Z4r-VqVAR-s2ZTBlDY0ayRe02kZoSxjzSk25jIWcXt92ql0npdN0w/s400/newblogaward.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5320619050267961218" /><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>I received this lover-ly award from my new cyba-sistah, <a href="http://kristenbeasondesigns.blogspot.com/">Kristen Beason</a>. I found Kristen through another blog that I had found through yet another. I then cyber-stalked her until she <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">finally</span> replied to my comments and emails and FB pokes - I guess friending me was cheaper than getting the attorney to file the restraining order.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 319px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb88acRc4PTKkY-WqTslaWHu94yIJ6eAML7ORO72lrrpE7wueN8C1QB0WeWEx_HwjaH7Qz9qMewKrhoCEEUBxNgfPoVQkBhnq1MvHCaHG8DoHh3SiRgw4NqBzcSeZbqynutaCF1Sda1Q/s320/tricksntreats.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5320630753501826962" /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Kristen Beason Designs 2009 - March STJ Piece</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div>For those of you who don't know Kristen, you will soon. Kristen is an active member of the <a href="http://suzanneurbandesigns.typepad.com/aha/">American Holiday Artists,</a> <a href="http://www.ehagart.blogspot.com/">EHAG</a> and <a href="http://www.spookytimejingles.com/">Spooky Time Jingles</a>. It seems as though these doll and holiday folks are <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">all</span> very talented and unnaturally nice. They willingly share their tricks and treats, providing lots of eye-candy for we blog cruisers knocking on their doors, looking for something sweet. I have added several of them to my link-o-rama and added even more to my Google reader.</div><div><div><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 314px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGPlfPbNnibTUbruzSaMW4bbUwZhW-77FXNj4HXrqKSdddKgAxoKse-rYwt6Bex9i8rpt0FiKoKtQ6W7jd-B0jizGd6jWmTOMOXbWCaPeo6QJ_nZnjnpM6hOoIHx4hbSM6_EEm87CyXg/s320/easter.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5320630748632410690" /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; font-style: italic; ">Kristen Beason Designs 2009 - March STJ piece</span></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">If you are like me and love chasing links down virtual rabbit holes and finding yourself in new wonderful worlds - do what I did: when I went to Kristen's blog to collect my award, I followed the link to the blogger that gave the award to her. I saw who he nominated and who nominated him and as a result found several more wonderful blogs I wouldn't have found otherwise. It's way more productive than taking yet another stupid quiz on FB to determine what type of salad dressing you are. (Yes, I'm Green Goddess, duh.)</div><div><br /></div><div>AND, while I'm giving out unsolicited advice on how you spend your surf time, if you haven't done so, I encourage you to subscribe/follow blogs you enjoy and build your own custom, virtual, on demand magazine. I have so many that I follow now, I can take a five minute break, go into my reader, and get lost in the creations and musings of my artsy pals. </div><div><br /></div><div>This award is to be paid forward to 7 more blogs, I have chosen ones that are either new to me or my link-o-rama. Do yourself a favor and go visit these bloggers:</div><div><ol><li><a href="http://boneheadstudio.blogspot.com/">Bone Head Studios</a></li><li><a href="http://fishstikks.blogspot.com/">Fishstikks</a></li><li><a href="http://theholidayqueen.blogspot.com/">Holiday Queen</a></li><li><a href="http://chickenlipsfolkart.blogspot.com/">Chicken Lips</a></li><li><a href="http://crescenthilldesigns.blogspot.com/">Crescent Hill Designs</a></li><li><a href="http://dubuhdudesigns.typepad.com/">Christine Alvarado</a></li><li><a href="http://sweetbfolkart.blogspot.com/">Sweet B Folkart</a></li></ol><div>In honor of these Halloween-enamored and/or doll-making friends, here is a skelly Beezle who's a little of both. Enjoy your blog tour!</div><div><br /></div></div><div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(201, 64, 147); line-height: 20px; font-size:13px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-size:48px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd4DiISCZcA5UUz5rEpySSaQEHdpENR7AsZt5a2yN9dQauB1jaV-PMKJwRY7mj7gNK1KYP7yeFmNtQz8MciVlKDS7UecpMlyj34fDuboZYnRCm444sgv0qDgMR35InvLr9BaDyGOhOlw/s400/DSC00468.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5320619061855205746" /></span></span></div></span></span></span></div></div>Cheryl Praterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00950996661525911415noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7893302410785441866.post-63890413865970218252009-03-31T20:40:00.006-05:002009-03-31T21:01:47.824-05:00Bee BalmI felt like the Bumble Beezle needed something, she looked incomplete. Or as <a href="http://www.paperdollpost.blogspot.com/">Debbi</a> would say "unresolved." She needed a little oomph. Some addition that would build her narrative and give her context. That idea took root and bloomed. <div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); text-decoration: underline;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 357px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsZGqjHLFSZq9d_TyQR7tgTMcpC9Dc1PztEwltP9Inckh01CjG_bD0va666qLuiFUy7I0FSEZcapkogfZJxA1N9x0eT5QTYVVHmLO4hTuWsG3-FY9pw811dPwVeT8Z2DN1_hjXimiLjw/s400/DSC00461.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5319532550299413586" /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">The grass tuft, stem, and flower center are made from polymer clay, the petals from a silk flower. I inked the petals up a bit. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 379px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNNtn4Q82bDxvaoAWm1bAqMQ7Dt9sdIgOXAAUaIZLAd2ylLTXjnjlD8Jt_TjhS58xLsJzKcy0DWsGfIslL3szFPlPVxQaZ_aiEv2D0egfRH3pWy2sZmL3eR8Cp-plocvDCJbnMvod2hg/s400/DSC00464.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5319532553591159570" /></div>Cheryl Praterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00950996661525911415noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7893302410785441866.post-29797113284778491952009-03-29T12:47:00.011-05:002009-03-29T13:15:46.207-05:00Bulletin Bored? Try this.<div style="text-align: left;">The bulletin board over my studio desk was so beat up and fugly, I was sick of looking at it. I almost threw it in the yard sale pile. But then I thought:<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"> hmm, I have some of that wonderful </span><a href="http://tulapink.com/?page_id=2"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Tula Pink</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"> charm pack left and some decoupage medium</span>. A couple hours later here's what it looked like. No way it's going in the yard sale now.<br /></div><div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 268px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjEvDlIrezMDpdwa2dVYUZ69PwrTILXPXyy_ogNAdhAKu618_Y5jTSIuSzVKwbIE7z5Q1zLBhQD9X6pVPmcGbLpCtIWmdenvkdEEQfLLGUSyR1Edhq-PCCl6ITqLNZQBjNqRo_SplP_A/s400/DSC00448.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5318668133563644930" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdGLNxf_-zDjtKK-a_jSzQ7d6bmELgts76esNEmUHYW1Wyub8mZNa4Y44dDNL4wTlT8I512fo-_gyqJNL0irhkjNuhB_52-_W9oje4lb3YirUJBdI2oxVSSwgbtPIpdCPnsZ6py-swRw/s400/DSC00447.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5318668140483985026" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBS39j9m-VRT8QmzHmzSNxvoPuxnLm3wyylPD0BpW6e1Bue5dDL3Wt_mulzMLBSBB3bHgYOcFh0JS-54VEFrXyGC3IG-l-47zOFXkwa4OXdDTRroeAEYz2L6yqWrlrsxZZqtlgULFIZQ/s400/DSC00442.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5318668156309589778" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 281px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBjdvlviGQd9IaKVM3qpqgZOGMGCXuzrTs7a_uO7iq846UCFuU_eDkKU0epK4Wz4wa1x2pMl4xihR8tBOo6Ly-RHZRrZf-fabcjfq4Thow7YKySRfT9GWO2gIpI3NyRoMdOtdLwnnPqQ/s400/DSC00443.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5318668151255110258" /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">And here are a two sculpts I'm working on, now re-energized by my colorful inspiration board:</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 244px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_hOzNY_mNS5UG_-V6LdM0GxSFtN9UQZjYGB9LSY8wDc7fMoKAdNvvLNhtPGZz2hr5zanMxQakDCJ_jZzQzaEKPDIzfNrKOotBjLpza0pFgeU12gGYmAtzUmvXEEmMaqXcbIQwFKA5TQ/s400/DSC00429.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5318669972124002418" /><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">This is my first attempt at sculpting something humanish. Her head is Sculpey, the up-do is paperclay painted with watercolor. Still working out the body. So far its a Diet Coke bottle, one of those miniature glass ones that are so cute.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 294px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4WeDE3hAmlbncdLe4ckNquEeUsnHlkZk87C-v5VMwkbrRPR2PwdKWY5k5PS9IMVmTjL_PtjV6M5fopI7ei93J3kLdKBmTpJg1zewkdgXG8s39s4L1nvUnWN1WJRg8rZ1hCUImybISgA/s400/DSC00427.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5318669977798460914" /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">This is a Sculpey Bumble Beezle. I used very high speed film to capture her in flight. Thinking about adding a flower for her to hover over. Gonna let it sit a while and ferment first. This was the first piece where I used wire armature for the legs-- that's how I got the bend in them. I think more flying Beezles are in my future.</div>Cheryl Praterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00950996661525911415noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7893302410785441866.post-78824264306358766342009-03-27T20:32:00.014-05:002009-03-27T21:23:38.027-05:00Pop Goes the Beezle Give AwayI know, I fall off the grid. Go dark. Wander off the reservation and don't blog for weeks then twice in one night. Some call me inconsistent and unreliable, I prefer spontaneous and unpredictable! <div><br /></div><div>I've been spending all my available time toiling away in the studio cranking out bunches of Beezles. I have the cracked cuticles to prove it and everything. Here's a sneak peak at some stuff I've been working on....<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk-m8SqqQh9eYqfgBW5hv4BR4PTFaxLB7ND8fLS9QGBjIb3wgvaHXeFpkRDnFpVfOWxg6-RGYtRS21k5Y1-rokfmAGBsPggRLLQOvpUdxg6LnpYqL9gRUvlL_oG-J4HftXGKTZ2pkl7g/s1600-h/DSC00311.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 298px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk-m8SqqQh9eYqfgBW5hv4BR4PTFaxLB7ND8fLS9QGBjIb3wgvaHXeFpkRDnFpVfOWxg6-RGYtRS21k5Y1-rokfmAGBsPggRLLQOvpUdxg6LnpYqL9gRUvlL_oG-J4HftXGKTZ2pkl7g/s400/DSC00311.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5318046917095600642" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">An unbaked head in progress.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2VB1lt99QRnGWm02a617UWmf5KhMHhVkpceqRYrKM6HPhYa_eX9giXKzkmGfLAulZUJSigVW0ESZPA1d-E8HszIeXXGjsrFeqKxeFIQtzHrQ5KBxUbt1bO1J1Ff5kVpMWE43mP86ZrQ/s1600-h/DSC00294_2.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 322px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2VB1lt99QRnGWm02a617UWmf5KhMHhVkpceqRYrKM6HPhYa_eX9giXKzkmGfLAulZUJSigVW0ESZPA1d-E8HszIeXXGjsrFeqKxeFIQtzHrQ5KBxUbt1bO1J1Ff5kVpMWE43mP86ZrQ/s400/DSC00294_2.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5318046918380667122" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">A baked head being fitted for atennae.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNxske_nh5LIVwj06z03Ebb3Sp-ux-xIm7hGbD1bS3dzwfX75i8ofHoicI98JI-a4EHITG7AshTroYS8tnWACSolPOfowDxi3dBjcbvpAyLaj6AI-C6X6wE4tFYP7W8xPP9PVqlZ4d7w/s400/DSC00254.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5318046922273518610" /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2VB1lt99QRnGWm02a617UWmf5KhMHhVkpceqRYrKM6HPhYa_eX9giXKzkmGfLAulZUJSigVW0ESZPA1d-E8HszIeXXGjsrFeqKxeFIQtzHrQ5KBxUbt1bO1J1Ff5kVpMWE43mP86ZrQ/s1600-h/DSC00294_2.JPG"><br /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Some thimble-sized goody buckets to fill with teeny-weeny candy. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Now, I'd like you to meet Nikolai: a Vampire-Beezle-in-the-Box. He vants to come live with you. He's actually not at all dangerous, despite his <a href="http://www.movieforum.com/features/festivals/tiff01/images/nosferatu/nosferatu.jpg">Nosferatu</a> fangs. His collar and sleeves are cut from real leather. His head and hands are made from paper clay. I stamped his fabric body with the signature Beezle x.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 294px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjO2ZOKMJe0k1WSvPYyJub6S0REjw4tCKh1aYONL3yCq5zOH9_gNi9kTFDsjCTYboOZqzOYmUM1BzAv46yb2Fv5jIMqWyn5sjt-k1dyXfeCm84lX7UJv4kXGV6rwU6tKbmwucj3C45zQ/s400/DSC00374.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5318046921312856546" /><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Nikolai likes long flights after dark, sleeping in till after sundown, and type A positive women. Turn offs are wooden stakes, garlic breath and daylight. Think you might be a match? Well here's your chance to find out.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div>I'm going to give him away to one lucky follower. </div><div><br /></div><div>Here's the deal - if you are already follow my blog, you are automatically entered in the contest. If you're not a subscriber and would like a chance at winning Nikolai, then for <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBdDo5nr4J8USFT2o8Q-sKDe4MgK5_GfguCYXa-WsM3ohX1RQNL7pTL0S6pqF_icW-FDTScrPMbgspHikJSbqK_BexJJcVe4P-RoLDwvuQUGN73n8sRkfFk572JhmuEeHUx0RzfCrR6A/s1600/DSC00143.JPG">Beezle Pete's sake</a>: subscribe! Just join in the right hand margin under "Mixed Maniacs" or add <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">www.praterposte.blogspot.com</span> to your blog reader. I always love your comments, but to enter the drawing you have to follow, ok? Cyber-stalk me. Here's more <a href="http://help.blogger.com/bin/answer.py?hl=en&answer=104226">info on following</a> if you need it.</div><div><br /></div><div>In a week or six (kidding, kidding, just a little blog humor there, ha ha, it won't be six weeks, five maybe, but six?) I will chose a winner at random. </div><div><br /></div><div>The first time I did something like this was in honor of my 100th post and I shipped the blog candy all the way to <a href="http://praterposte.blogspot.com/2007/07/norway-no-way.html">Norway</a>. For my 200th I gave away a copy of <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Mixed-Mania-Recipes-Delicious-Creations/dp/1596680849/?tag=widgetsamazon-20">Mixed Mania</a>. However, considering the infrequency with which I've been posting I may not hit 300 before I'm too old and arthritic to type, so might as well give something away while I can still point and click.</div><div><br /></div><div>Good luck and thanks for stopping by! Promise to fill you in on the mystery Beezles soon. I know, a real cliff hanger, try to cope. </div></div>Cheryl Praterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00950996661525911415noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7893302410785441866.post-88320304034134159662009-03-27T17:02:00.014-05:002009-03-27T19:49:50.186-05:00Greeks Bearing Feta. And Fabric.<div>My mom, Barbara, aka World's Greatest Cook and honorary Greek, won a recipe contest! We are so proud of her, but to those of us who have dined at her table, this is no big surprise. My mom can look into a near empty fridge and whip up something fabulous. It was hardly fair for the other mere-mortals who competed. <br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Having mastered many Italian and Greek Delights, Mom even took some Cordon Bleu classes back in the day. While other kids were eating sloppy joes and mac n cheese and fish sticks - the Karounos kids were dining on homemade Chicken Kiev. In the 70s ok? You couldn't drive over to the warehouse club and get them frozen back then. That is unless you were driving Michael J. Fox's Delorean and time traveled forward a couple decades to Costco. But then you would have had to have known about a movie that hadn't been made yet and it all gets very Mobius Strip-y and circular and self-reflexive and none of that has <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">anything</span> to do with Chicken Kiev. Look. The point is Mom was ahead of her time cuisine-wise and we ate <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">really</span> well, ok?</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLYt8uzy98Sa25kc6ly300o7VOB2B4HeOeBiZVMK2YoHzZH00MSlzSCojKmh0XPFhpO5_bDx4Ea4gikPyL5SD2e4ybeQCDmRLNdcImKIFyC8jvxIpHfXr-SmZnN2qtcuOLmoQBk5WyOw/s400/photo.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5317992319583059298" /><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><div style="text-align: left;">Anyway, (try to focus here, will you people?) there were over 100 entries -- the winner is pictured above and looking cute as a button in her red capri pants, wearing the <a href="http://praterposte.blogspot.com/2008/05/planning-visit-in-4-steps-by-nana-popou.html">glasses we gave her for Mother's Day.</a> She was awarded a gift certificate AND..................wait for it.......her Athenian Pasta recipe added to the menu!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 227px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnVj52i8wB2mTxYf3cnNdLCmyUHB5sK6Dxh419SBAYUouWeZkdEbVBYgLMS1MUmUTX3yUkTJtGSPydbLXJKp3zUxXol_wR8sECIwBmjhLvFpsQnVXr4BqnRzS8UZHS6vyCS000w9xVmg/s400/att56d99.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5317992321628389458" /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">The chef added shrimp to Mom's recipe, but for those of you looking for a great vegetarian dish, especially during Lent, here's her original formula for Athenian Pasta.</div><span><span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">1 lb. angel hair pasta (prepare in pot as directed on package)<br /><br />Use a large frying pan to prepare the following ingredients:<br /><br />1 Pkg (10 oz) ready to use (cut and clean) fresh spinach<br /><br />1 lge can of petite diced tomatoes incl. liquid<br /><br />1/2 cup crumbled Feta cheese<br /><br />2 tbsp. grated Romano cheese<br /><br />1/4 cup pitted Calamata olives (for that unique touch)<br /><br />2 small cloves of crushed garlic<br /><br />salt, pepper and basil, olive oil<br /><br />Sauté garlic in olive oil, add pkg. of fresh spinach and cook until limp (drain some of the liquid from frying pan)<br /><br />Add diced tomatoes to pan and stir to mix<br /><br />Lightly salt to taste, pepper, sprinkle basil and grated cheese over mixture<br /><br />Cook down (about 15 minutes), then add Feta cheese, Romano cheese & quartered (pitted) Calamata olives<br /><br />Stir, leaving feta not completely melted<br /><br />Add mixture to cooked pasta and blend<br /><br />Serve with more feta and Romano sprinkled over pasta and spinach mixture</span></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><span>Ok, now that your tummies are full, how about a feast for the eyes? Something to satisfy your creative hunger? And this second course is still in keeping with the Greek theme - some hot <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meze">mezes</a>, if you will. Heck, this is like <a href="http://orthoticcontessa.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/11/saganakiL.jpg">saganaki</a> hot, only without the cheese. Or the singed hair.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><span>Vintage Cate, or YiaYia Katina (did I translate that correctly?), that nice Greek girl over at <a href="http://vintagecate.typepad.com/a_charmed_life/">A Charmed Life</a> (also Features Editor at Cloth Paper Scissors and author Mixed Media Self-Portraits and a whole bunch of other impressive stuff) is giving away some delicious fabrics. And you thought we only gave wooden horses. </span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><span>Just follow the <a href="http://vintagecate.typepad.com/">link</a> and comment. It's a win-win: you get a chance at the yummy fabrics and I won't be in deep ca ca. Make sure you tell her I sent you or it won't count and she'll think up some way to (ahem) repay me. </span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Kali orexi!</div><div><span><span> </span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 252px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiROzkCajEu5FRSSUTIctbFFmFpE3wMxXNBxOfhzcI8KR3tE9r-Y4xb6IO_q-NU8Cw1ivZALdXYtzKC1jkzKcheZ7FQYAdCf5kFkaOkUybPuQKNker19S5roChMHyzWgoa9FK_neKMN9w/s400/6a00d835167d4d53ef01156f570110970b-320wi.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5317997930196572706" /></div></div>Cheryl Praterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00950996661525911415noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7893302410785441866.post-77940642883628466402009-03-09T19:00:00.003-05:002009-03-09T19:04:55.150-05:00Beezle Adoption Center Now Open!<div style="text-align: center;"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYkOI7QLyBweKj76N8G_-p9dY1mlRiUWxs6aBls33I1Ot4Mh6i3v25fzivbsvoZNT8YYZeUEnrS47kPVyA7Wi2QLo_HtWLJclkiVm_dFIOYahbCJAN632C_PCpiBBQwczosu2xK6VAjw/s200/DSC00146.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5311342610336537698" /><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 102px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6vx6vKcWvju3ssmQJYOZshRK5WtWjcDUUfghLeqZRd-55rula4yCCuMedjisZSBKPUS7lhkAjREKfymOiF52e1X9TgxEUryCbO6RK0IlfTzWq0Iv6fAPoGFfo9M5w8TI9DsJG9iNVfQ/s200/DSC00167.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5311342610489774130" /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGBaF_9_BERntREShizuGqs4ySaisgrkeSkPnurycM8Y-JAQqI8XN9eCqG5xp-dcyjeLESlNuUsYPF0vYXWLpgRbrzn77uSYbJoAYAFSI1tEtPQqXrvWeqUpWgKVIu-yR4h95-SfG-7g/s1600-h/DSC00240.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGBaF_9_BERntREShizuGqs4ySaisgrkeSkPnurycM8Y-JAQqI8XN9eCqG5xp-dcyjeLESlNuUsYPF0vYXWLpgRbrzn77uSYbJoAYAFSI1tEtPQqXrvWeqUpWgKVIu-yR4h95-SfG-7g/s200/DSC00240.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5311342615318308482" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Etsy shop has Beezles. </div><div style="text-align: center;">You can click on the little Etsy badge in the right margin.</div><div style="text-align: center;">What? Stop looking at me like that. They'll go to a good home.</div>Cheryl Praterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00950996661525911415noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7893302410785441866.post-7255058728093100362009-02-27T18:28:00.014-05:002009-02-27T19:41:27.522-05:00Dinos may be extinct, but they never go out of styleMy mother-in-law, Carol, made a quilt for her dear friend Betty's grand-baby. All of her friends at <a href="http://www.myquiltshoppe.com/">My Quilt Shoppe</a> in Hendersonville loved the carnivorous quilt. In fact, they are going feature it on their website. But I scooped them and posted it here first. (I am married to her only son and the mother of her grandchickens so technically I have that right.) <div><br /></div><div>The quilt, that I saw in various states of doneness, turned out fantastic. Grandma Carol sure is a whiz on that Bernina. And look at the colors from the wonderful Moda Fabrics!<div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI2TA6OKe_kZlFCWM-8lcFQGyyctkZBigA15bmsWMOmvkcpJbtz1jAqoysYyODnRsJLDUs-pK4Pac3aN1y9Ytq6H2s-9ILmAhZcUpxZgIZpD26x_P7SmvDAzbH_5NfBo52mJrOIZiTaA/s400/dino+2.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5307625026395762866" /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Here it is on the clothesline at her cabin in the mountains of North Carolina.<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx284Kp0EyCd09oZZDczrAzl2j-akp_neWJxCSilINpZIRdE4FvZrtNe5w9LQEdipeKyK5jLlDBRx5AJrbNOAkSZ-Iln6BDcJ_gGaAB4WrBiivDqhjH3Sh1iXX4RlPLrSLadZt-Yw9IA/s400/dino.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5307625022982081650" /><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Hard to tell from the pictures, but the teeth really jump out at ya. (What is it with Praters and teeth?)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div>Carol has sewn so many wonderful things for the boys over the years, their first snowsuits that made them look like white quilted starfish, duvet covers for their nursery, she even made Christening gowns with little Scandinavian sailor hats for them from the train of my wedding dress. But the most beloved of all handmade things would have to be the boys' dinosaur Halloween costumes when they were three years old.</div><div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTOFv6WxmX6ucVnS8yzoqiOWkayiDVrciT713mKp8wOdxeJZTqPMQ6Mk65el1ELPMkQ-FUTenmmEIZO_jG7Rf_YTq1L3CWzW0mX6NkIGAcXRusSUu8cBow49sgHFLLEjhAZDF9kQynJQ/s1600-h/cr2.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 126px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTOFv6WxmX6ucVnS8yzoqiOWkayiDVrciT713mKp8wOdxeJZTqPMQ6Mk65el1ELPMkQ-FUTenmmEIZO_jG7Rf_YTq1L3CWzW0mX6NkIGAcXRusSUu8cBow49sgHFLLEjhAZDF9kQynJQ/s200/cr2.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5307625707316197602" /></a><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 132px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIWbxysV8wrtOKt-EV0eHInCCJ2KvJyJlYBA5d1li9xw2xVsPYWpjMZMbAc3HxLQAMxOB7PKJT4AAE5UBsy_Qwy05J8fL7j9ec-ecTrO8QYx2DRGTXUy-OErZ32SH6gcTNm2_uXxBapw/s200/cr3.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5307625706458424514" /><br /></div></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6o-UTNycEc_0AWr6UxYonroev1KJICbtLmowc6K0BsoHcqPY4fqc4GG1hLZtPpOwMLwkmtZI4BoiAXADqktmfkPylnCCu2vqYhCC4ideYI10EaB8pV8CrmzfQYl7fV00dEzlw2F8z_w/s1600-h/carnivore+roar.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 94px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6o-UTNycEc_0AWr6UxYonroev1KJICbtLmowc6K0BsoHcqPY4fqc4GG1hLZtPpOwMLwkmtZI4BoiAXADqktmfkPylnCCu2vqYhCC4ideYI10EaB8pV8CrmzfQYl7fV00dEzlw2F8z_w/s200/carnivore+roar.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5307625701396104690" /></a><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 104px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSTMOMTYkswdnDnOyVVUqd0vIlHnxnUi0vzEyZ-KuJYnp4kxIS2JPNhxWDShpjaLNYeHdr5aRZtYf3eUlnFIvcfXDhsCcwHdjnHHgi-QlKFObULDqgd1XDqHQTBiEDaN_eJbuh51yIVw/s200/cr4.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5307625711537216610" /></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 174px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZj4gaQXlaxddYFq0spEhgPS3bck5Au4pxTGc-EM8_gcPBL4dn64itJV5wUlgHBkW0yuRslDVlndQaK10mRBBUZEQLDsB47KIhyphenhyphenefwiYNBL9y9RCJN7rTOGCeRXYeCuqH1x5H25fpMYw/s200/cr3_2.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5307625698855861138" /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">The above photos are scanned from my scrapbook. I hand-tinted the photos using oils and Qtips. Real high-tech. The tails were stuffed. Connor, who was dino-obsessed, wore it for years, until he couldn't fit into it anymore. Yes I still have the dino suits in a bin upstairs, no I won't ever get rid of them.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 376px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnaJfbchO8_cNvO0rH1Vrse_j0BDBdZzDAEkAWk3Yb2TkAf-aMSsmqtH0Kispz3KSRGcXCFjEEt3YrAIPigeL8zjLDAmic9GDMqdPivoZG_MpOyFXTZqbFwbrEUDrMDccn97NLoR7kow/s400/crx_2.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5307625222405276098" /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Here we are in front of our house in Homewood with Nana.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 255px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_6VQSWYOP0cqWJXUkOGXOry00Ek8XhN-2Ng7rDDMPztktQhCg-OYPHsdArkos1dpOj3aY_ZxpYbMOmI4J5VsIep0Pnwr3P88MP2-qmgXFp7v6r1wRVZPzTyoe9DjGHI_jRT-bmW-tSA/s400/crx.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5307625219610862562" /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Reesie with our dear Winona in the background.</div></div></div></div></div>Cheryl Praterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00950996661525911415noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7893302410785441866.post-14441804713523144082009-02-21T18:31:00.002-05:002009-02-21T18:38:51.612-05:00Jonah's Beezle<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW7K-ggnT7PJHAfk3_lV2PfS1G1pJFiYSirqM-tb_4UPlDnS4q7MpYGQZ9VDvM4xU0PHcTEM_pC6H5CsdXN8qmlP3xUB1GhweYNvgU93yN2zg74ChyphenhyphenJCiFeLEXRUj-FBXZDEsyDIyL5Q/s1600-h/DSC00217.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 219px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW7K-ggnT7PJHAfk3_lV2PfS1G1pJFiYSirqM-tb_4UPlDnS4q7MpYGQZ9VDvM4xU0PHcTEM_pC6H5CsdXN8qmlP3xUB1GhweYNvgU93yN2zg74ChyphenhyphenJCiFeLEXRUj-FBXZDEsyDIyL5Q/s400/DSC00217.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5305397458680767106" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">This blue Beezle is for Jonah, who is scheduled to be born into this world sometime in April. </div><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 178px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgOOhsZArn7nDCdGkqK9AAYgcS3FBJK4_sUfdrWgawyHmPP1P1F9h8SGAfylX1vIXa_bqMSsz_SAiQtm9LVSgY1z3lYlSybKwE85DsVUo2Ku5cCA9tW4Pp1rxXwMnfhjcPnAN_4nKnSw/s200/IMG_0111.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5305399064659194738" /></div>Cheryl Praterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00950996661525911415noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7893302410785441866.post-73622566733067165962009-02-19T17:55:00.006-05:002009-02-27T19:42:00.835-05:00Tiffany Blue & Zombies Too<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNga0xO3PW8wHe-LF3xPDldd6FOVPLgO0u4_H8emaBGy9Dg7CjBC4Lkl-T06vAqrmDbRIIFlv7sUn-DxU70-TcSpm_n9m1Zp10yUQrInDvmC_ZuO_IqHrTxxTF0QBjt8pasqyopeNHug/s1600-h/DSC00199.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 268px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNga0xO3PW8wHe-LF3xPDldd6FOVPLgO0u4_H8emaBGy9Dg7CjBC4Lkl-T06vAqrmDbRIIFlv7sUn-DxU70-TcSpm_n9m1Zp10yUQrInDvmC_ZuO_IqHrTxxTF0QBjt8pasqyopeNHug/s400/DSC00199.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5304646109142582834" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I wish I had taken a picture of Tiffany (above) next to <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUfjR19Q7CQYNF7cDZcbrBdXxOrPorIbI3Gshi3yPJamNfARQ-aGguvqsTpL_8FaA7J1sEI8mPUOHZE9snS8oEZ_0GQWHJzF5MAR8-7EBjs2nLjpBe7iTIrmcXHsQhodZH6BfpOlFZAQ/s1600-h/DSC00139.JPG">Giselle</a> for scale, but Tiffany is at her new home now so it's too late. I'll just have to live with that regret and you will have to live with my whining about it. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">You would have seen, had I the foresight, patience, and photographic talent, that Tiffany is actually less than half the size of her Beezles ancestors. She stands about 4.5" tall while the others are 11 to 15" each once mounted.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I thought, in my giddy Sculpey-stupor, that somehow smaller would be quicker and easier and more fun. Uh-doy. But did turn out really cute.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">The other big diff is that instead of being mounted on a block she's standing on a mound of clay. Kinda like it.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Here's what I don't like: The new American Idol format. Excruciating. Why oh why did they have to mess with the formula? Anyone?</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">And finally, here's something that I'm not sure if I'll love or hate, but it's one of two extremes seeing as it's the long awaited union of my two great loves: Austen and Sci Fi.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.chroniclebooks.com/index/main,book-info/store,books/products_id,7847/title,Pride-and-Prejudice-and-Zombies/">Darcy vs The Undead</a>. </div><div style="text-align: center;">Really.</div>Cheryl Praterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00950996661525911415noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7893302410785441866.post-26813979917547374302009-02-01T15:06:00.000-05:002009-02-01T15:08:57.034-05:00Breeding Beezles<div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0onIjA6NdnuqiyKZ6zIht55UqrHeZDy1BKyc2CU9i3nIUBVWRKdvJJv7urGe4KhpuyHMZQYMRv6Lq3tn5Ta0W6KfhDrWpHTDG2LGnbcom4_b3_VNP_YjdLRxTryg5EYqTJ_qgyyCS4A/s1600-h/DSC00170.JPG"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "></span></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0onIjA6NdnuqiyKZ6zIht55UqrHeZDy1BKyc2CU9i3nIUBVWRKdvJJv7urGe4KhpuyHMZQYMRv6Lq3tn5Ta0W6KfhDrWpHTDG2LGnbcom4_b3_VNP_YjdLRxTryg5EYqTJ_qgyyCS4A/s1600-h/DSC00170.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 395px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0onIjA6NdnuqiyKZ6zIht55UqrHeZDy1BKyc2CU9i3nIUBVWRKdvJJv7urGe4KhpuyHMZQYMRv6Lq3tn5Ta0W6KfhDrWpHTDG2LGnbcom4_b3_VNP_YjdLRxTryg5EYqTJ_qgyyCS4A/s400/DSC00170.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5297923305566082226" /></a><br /></div>Cheryl Praterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00950996661525911415noreply@blogger.com3