Godwits

Sketching some godwits. What an interesting name!

One type of godwit is the bar-tailed and they say it's a very special bird, the only one known to fly more than 7000 miles non-stop! Although it can sleep by shutting down one side of its brain at a time. Very handy!

When it summers in Alaska, it eats enough to double its weight and then awaits a good storm system to give it a boost for the the long journey  over the Pacific to New Zealand. Even cyclones are welcome!

Now I know that the name comes from Old English with god meaning good and wit meaning creature. A good creature!



And a Happy New Year!

Merry Christmas Merry Christmas Merry Christmas

The Louvre

When we were in France in September, we had the opportunity to visit the Louvre in Paris. Can't miss the most famous museum in the world! Since it was a rainy day when we arrived in France, we decided that it would be a good place to start. Unfortunately our drowsy heads prevented us from staying to see more than a small part of this fabulous place. I know we missed all sorts of wonderful works! Certainly one could spend a lifetime exploring all the Louvre has to offer!
Anyway, I loved the ceiling and walls in this room. The other shows the museum from a window in the same room. ( I think!)

Rosette Wafers

I've never tried making wafers with some old irons that I have but it seems as good a time as any since it's Christmas and they are a traditional Christmas cookie. (of Scandinavia at least!) This little brochure of pictures and directions doesn't easily hide the age of my irons! But do they still work, I ask myself.

Here are the two irons that I have to try.
Hmm....I wonder, could they be useful for printmaking in some way???

After dipping the hot oily iron in the batter for 10 seconds, it cooks in the hot oil.
This is the fun part!
My first attempts were disasters as the wafer wouldn't release from the irons but with a little help from the internet, all went well.  The batter needs to be cold and the oil temp about 365 degrees F.

The wafer releasing from the iron after a minute of two.
It seemed like magic!

The final result!

I had my doubts but it worked!

A Scherenschnitt - Title Unknown!

Hansel and Gretel??

It looks like it could be a good story!

I'm not sure who in my family made it but it intrigues me with all its detail. Now these types of works take patience!

Doesn't it look like it could be a linocut?

Le Moulin de Trebes - France!

When we were cruising the Canal du Midi in France recently (ah, those were the days), we spent much time in Trebes, which is along the canal. This restaurant is right next to the locks there so it's a good location to sit and watch the action! This placemat depicts a scene a little livelier than I saw but I  like it. Sorry, it didn't travel very well in my bag! It made me sorry that I didn't bring along some watercolors!

Of course, click on to enlarge!