My daughter and I saw some of the most delightful art at a gallery recently.  That of Patti Bradley.  What caught my attention was the use of nature’s supplies in so many of her mixed media presentations, from small postcard size to larger wall hangings.
 Patti also utilizes the colors of nature with browns, bronzes, beige, cream and white with some green.  Her work is calming and relaxing, yet, to me, eye-catching.  Most of those on display used bird images, then found items in nature…leaves, sticks, pebbles and more.
This artist doesn’t have a web site, but if you see her name on …read more

In keeping with the Theme of the Week – Nature, in my Blisstree Parenting posts, I thought it would be fun to come up with at least 13 quilt patterns with names relating to nature.  I know there are many more, but here are 13 I selected from among the traditional patterns.
You may work in nature related themes in your fabric art.  Share with us something you’ve done in this area, whether it’s an original pattern or a traditional one.

Butterfly Quilt
Dresden Flowers
Blazing Star
English Flower Garden
Grandmother’s Flower Garden
Honey Bee
Maple Leaf
Ocean Wave
Palm Leaf
Spider Web
Strawberry
Sunbeam
Wild Goose Chase

What else can you think of?

Nature and the out-of-doors comprise our theme this week.  What can you and your youngsters do this week that’s related to nature (learning about it, preserving it and enjoying it)?

Take walks around your neighborhood and find natural objects you can learn about.
Pick up trash as you take your walks…you’re helping keep your environment green and clean.
Collect objects you can use for nature crafts…stones, shells, fallen leaves, acorns, unusual sticks, and more.
Listen to the birds and try to identify them by sound and sight.  Keep a list and add to it.  Mother taught me to take time to listen to the …read more

“Come see,” our grandson called from the screen door.  “I found a snake outside.” He was so excited that we couldn’t disappoint him.  So four adults rushed to the side yard of the house.
A garter snake slithered through the greenery and among the stones.  “He’s so long,” Alex said.  He didn’t want to pick up the snake, but watched until it disappeared.
He has the same fascination with salamanders and will pick them up.  He and his cousins spend a vast amount of time looking for these under stones in the area around our house.  The turn over stones and …read more

With springtime come outdoor activities in the northern United where I live.  In other parts of the country, it’s already warm, even hot, so you’ve been enjoying the out-of-doors for some time.  In other countries and the Southern Hemisphere, your activities with your children may vary, but you still might find something of interest in the suggestions below.
States,
 Encourage youngsters to go outdoors if there are safe areas around your home.  If not, see about taking them to a park , a nearby hiking area or national forest.
 Take walks around the neighborhood.  See how everything around you is changing with the …read more

When I began painting classes and had assignments to paint foliage in the scenery around me, looking at it in different lights, I realized there were many shades of green.  These also changed with sun and shadow, time of day and season.
If you’re involved in any crafts that include the green of nature, you’ll find it fascinating to study the different shades.

trees
bushes
grass
flower leaves
fields of grain
pastures & meadows
swamps & marshes

Sometimes your green variations will be very realiztic and follow nature’s course.  For other occasions, you might be more dramatic.  Much depends on the effect you want to achieve and the medium …read more

In the last post we saw the amazing Wilkinson Residence by Robert Harvey Oshatz. We also looked at some of his design approach. Now we’re going to see such a cool house, you’ll adore it 100% guaranteed.
The Fennell Residence is a floating house in Portland, Oregon, that was designed beautifully to match the floating aspect. Curved glue lam beams, huge glass facade and curved lines are perfectly suited to life on the water. When I first saw this, I had no idea it was even a floating home it was a neat surprise. What I did notice were the tear …read more

If you haven’t seen the work of Robert Harvey Oshatz, then you’re in for a huge treat, because he’s our only guest here at Offbeat today. He’s that cool. He gets the whole day. Although really he’s so cool he should get the month. But I digress.
Oshatz has designed many an amazing structure in my home state – Oregon and in other areas as well, as far reaching as Japan. His work is a mix of commercial, residential, religious, and more. What I love is how his work is entirely unique yet somehow manages to fit into the landscape so …read more