Day of the Dead Exhibit

If you are in the Twin Cities area, you've got to check out the Day of the Dead post card exhibit at Open Book in downtown Minneapolis.  It is running through November 6th, 2011, so you have a little bit of time to go and see it.  If you are not in town, I've included a number of photos from my visit to the show today.  Both my mom and I entered post cards.  It was so fun to see them hanging among all of the other wonderful works of art.  We were blown away by the great work of all of the participants.  

So, I am wondering.  Do you celebrate or have any rituals around your loved ones passing on to the next life?  Have you ever been to Mexico to see a Day of the Dead celebration?  There are some great books out with fabulous photographs.  One of the books that was in the Minnesota for Book Arts Shop was The Days of the Dead:  Mexico's Festival of Communion with the Departed.

Homemade Gift Wrap

So ya know when your printer is giving you trouble and you have to print those test pages to check on the ink?  I have turned some of those papers into gift wrap.  I used watercolor paint and stencils on the paper.  I taped two pieces of 8.5 x 11 papers together with yellow transparent tape.  And voila!  My best friend's birthday gift is all wrapped up!  Note:  not all types of people will appreciate this type of wrapping paper, but all of your cool, arty friends will!

RaNdOm InSpIrAtIoNs

I was playing around with my iphone apps again.  I found Popbooth, which is a fun photobooth app.  It was FREE through iTunes.  I am pretty sure there is a version for the Android as well.  I just can't get enough of colorful things! 

Speaking of colorful, I created my Totem Animal for Mira Reisberg's Hero's Art Journey online class.  I really wanted my animal to be a woodpecker or a swan, but I just can't get away from my love for turtles.  If you click the totem animal link above, you can find out what your totem animal is, too, by asking yourself a few simple questions.

Salamander City (In the Woods)

I was at a local state park this past weekend with my husband.  We went out for a walk in the woods shortly after a five hour rain had stopped.  Guess what we saw a lot of?  SALAMANDERS!  These little creatures are so cute!  Luckily my husband has had plenty of experience with these amphibians, so he didn't hesitate to pick them up for some photo shoots.
If you are interested in learning more about salamanders, go here.