teacup duck

 

This is our new batch of hatchlings who have been living in my bathtub.

This guy is a Pekin and who looks the most like his daddy, Goose, out of both batches of new babies.

His hatchmates are half Cayuga and half Pekin.  I find it interesting how the color traits of the parents are represented in the babies.  Black feet with orange stripes, black wings with white tips.  I can't wait to see them grow into their adult feathers.  I wonder how they'll change.

That little guy on the right is the same age as the other two but clearly is the runt of the litter.  He got off to a rough start and we didn't expect him to make it but he's perked up and we're hopeful.

We're careful not to call him a runt to his face.  Instead we call him a teacup duck.  It makes him feel trendy.

Have a ducky weekend, all.

good fun at the felting workshop

I taught a felting class last night.  A group of really receptive and fun women sat together and needled wool into bird shapes for a good long time.

It's a cool thing to witness a group of mostly strangers sit, each working on their project, bonding through the shared experience.  Chatting, laughing, learning, occasionally "ouch!"ing.  We snacked on rhubarb curd in graham cracker crusts and discussed ducks in the bathtub and what peculiar creatures cats are.  It was a good night.

And just look how cute their birds turned out.  I love the worm in the mouth.

These are just a few of the fantastic wee birds made last night. 

Thank you, ladies, for the fun night and for allowing me to share the craft with you.  It was good fun.

how much is that ducky in the window?

Peep, peep.

My little fuzzlings are getting so big already.

They're enjoying days out in the yard, safe in the confines of their tractor.  They're getting swimmy time and bug-eating time, and generally enjoying being ducks.

Their parents are not even the least bit interested in them, but it wasn't until Goose had turned white that his mom wanted anything to do with him so we'll see.  That's big Goose on the right, in mid-Quack.

And what is this?  Why yes, three new little lives were added to the brooder box yesterday.

 One little yellow Pekin and two silvery black Pekin/Cayuga crosses.  One of the little guys has yellow wing tips and an orange stripe on each of his black feet.  I'm utterly in love.

More photos to come, as they get their fluff.

Have a  wonderful start to the week, everyone.

traveling vicariously through my art-o-mat stones

It's always so fun to see where my Art-o-mat stones have ended up.  I think this means that my last batch has sold out.  I guess now I need to work on the next one.

and three

Three healthy, happy little ducks have hatched.  We're all smitten and enjoying their peeping and silly antics.  You haven't seen funny until you've seen three duckling swimming in your sink.  Hilarity, I tell ya.

Hello blue eyes.

Notice the guy on the left is sticking his tongue out.  Just like a kid.

Cuddling a duck while still in your pajamas is a great way to start the week.

Happy Monday, all.

two!

Well good morning, sunshine.

Two so far with one more pipping.  Cross your fingers.

*****

I was featured on the Folt Bolt blog today!  If you haven't seen them before, do check them out.  I follow them on facebook where they share some of the most lovely and colorful work.

Have a glorious weekend, all.

you guys!

One is out!

random stuff on a Tuesday

I had a craving this week for something sweet and creamy.  I really wanted ice cream, but alas, we had none.  I did have some rhubarb stalks though and coconut milk.  I infused a simple syrup with the rhubarb (which, holy wow, is that tasty) and added it to a slushie I made with the coconut milk and grated ginger.  Yes.  Oh my yes.  About a gazillion calories, but yes anyway.

I bought this sweet little oil lamp from my friend Haddie the potter and my kids lost the wick so I turned it into a little water reservoir for an acorn.  I keep it on my window ledge at work and when I came back after the weekend I found that my acorn has sprouted teeny tiny leaves.  Happiness.

Betty thinks my patio furniture is her perch.  It is not.  Do you hear me, Betty?  Not.

In a few days I may be a grandma.  Our little Goose may be a daddy soon. Though I never count my chickens ducks before they hatch, two of the eggs in the incubator have pipped as of this morning.  They still have to make it through hatch, but there is a little hope that I might have two ducklings to love soon.  Cross your fingers for us.

Stones.  I miss working on stones.  My work life and my home life have been pretty busy and my hands are yearning for their own work.  I'm hoping to put some of these stones in them this weekend.

What's up with you?

squish

A change of pace.  Needing desperately to unwind after a long day, I decided to grab some of the clay I had dug from the yard and slaked long ago.  I rolled and squished and played until I made some forms that have been in my head for a while.  I envision some little woolly worlds in these and I'm hopeful they'll make it through the firing process.

Have a wonderful weekend, everyone!

I hope you get some play time in too.

upcoming workshop - needle felted birds

Needle-Felted Bird Workshop

June 26th 6-8:30pm

Suite 114 at the Franklin Arts Center

Brainerd, MN

Join me for an evening of needle-felting in the historic Franklin Arts Center.

You'll learn how to use wool and specially barbed needles to make a sweet little bird that stands on wire legs.

Cost is $20 and covers all of the instruction, tools, and materials you'll need to make your own little tweet.  You'll keep your felting mat and needles, and extra supplies and wool will be available for purchase from the instructor after the class.

Good conversation, coffee, and snacks are complimentary.  Join in the fun!

Register two ways.

send me an email (lilfishstudios@gmail.com) and pay the night of the class

or

pay for your registration now through my online shop

Thanks!  Hope to see you there!

three little birds

Three little birds...perched by my doorstep...

Preparing some work samples for my next needle-felting class.  So cute I want to make a whole flock.

More info to come.

just dandy

Holy buckets, what a busy couple of weeks.  Work has been swamped, I taught a felting class (which was so much fun and came with blackberry basil jam!!), I visited the Walker Art Center to see the Edward Hopper exhibit, I sang communally at an event with Tefsa Wondemagegnehu, and I picked dandies until my hands turned yellow.

I decided to infuse some good quality white wine vinegar with dandelions so I can eventually make a dandelion vinaigrette.  It's steeping away in the dark recesses of my pantry.  I can't wait to try it.

I also made dandelion "honey" which is a thick syrup that tastes deceptively like honey.  So good on ice cream, especially when you eat it while sitting in the grass where the kids can't find you.

With all of this I've had very little time to create.  My goal this weekend is to make a little time for just that.  

Have a wonderful weekend, all.

Tiny Toadstool class May 24th

I'll be teaching a needle-felting workshop on Saturday May 24th from 1:00 to 3:00 in the Franklin Arts Center in Brainerd, MN.

This class will cover the basics of sculpting and you'll go home with an adorable mushroom terrarium of your own, including wood base and glass dome.

I'd love it any of you would be able to join in.  If you're interested, email the Resident Artists Gallery at fac.residentartistsgallery@gmail.com for information and sign up.

Hope to see you there!

'bobs here for a visit

Two wide-eyed little 'bobs from beyond the woods arrived yesterday.  Sent to me by their creator, Kit Lane, to spend time under my sewing needles.  I think word must have gotten out, hence their startled expressions.

I'm not sure when I'll get to these little two but I'll try not to make it too long.  I'd hate to torture them with the anticipation. (that's always the worst, isn't it?  the waiting?)

Some of their brothers have gone before them.  You can see them here and here.

In unrelated news, the Tuesday farmer's market opened yesterday in the parking lot where I work.  It was pretty darn chilly out there and I admired the growers' pluck for sticking it out.  I did my part and bought a block of mushroom spawn for growing wine cap mushrooms, some big beautiful basil plants, a jar of raspberry jalapeno jam, and a block of locally made goat gouda.  Mmmmm and mmm.  Tuesdays are a day to look forward to.

Have a great day, everyone. 

shadow stones in the shop

Some of those stones I talked about last week have found their way into my shop.  Each with a shadow of a leaf imprinted upon it.  Stitched with the very same thread that bound the leaf and stone together during the long winter.  Coupled now in a different way.

Each is a worn grey, turned so by an afterdip of iron to highlight the color the tannins left behind.

When held in the right light you can see those permanent leaf shadows upon them.   Reminders of the seasonal change.

In my shop now as a set of three because I couldn't bear to split them up.