365 Project: Day 1

Sam and Suz   Copyright 2012 PolkadotMagpie

What is a 365 project? It's a daily theme project for a year.  I will be posting a photo a day on this blog.  I am not the first to do one, nor the last.  I have had the idea to do a skeleton project for a long time. My husband gave me a life size medical model which I had asked for this year for my birthday.   "Samantha" came to be.  I call her Sam.  Why a skeleton?

Skeletons have always fascinated me.  We all have one.  It's the infrastructure that holds us together.  As a kid I would stand in the Field Museum, and Museum of Science and Industry in front of their skeletons. In school when we were supposed to be making Halloween pumpkin decor, I tried to make skeletons, much to my parents and teachers dismay.  As an adult I took a medical illustration course that was of a semester of bones.  That's when I fell in love. 

Sam promises to be the best traveled skeleton you know.  She's already been to Denver.  I wasn't prepared to observe the TSA watch her go through their monitors, and failed to get a photo. Many photos will be taken with my phone, on the fly.   Some will be posed.  She has New York and Italy on her travel agenda before the end of 2012. I have to thank my husband, kids, and friends for their support and love of this project and me.

I have a shot list started.  I guess working in the movies made it's mark on me.  If you or your business would like to have a photo with Sam contact me at: polkadotmagpie@gmail.com. 
Sam's fan page: SAM 365 Skeleton  on Facebook.

Here we go! Thanks for reading.
xo
Suz

Each day is a gift, open now.

Winter Villa for the Ducks

The Winter Villa, as Bob calls it, is ready.  Here are the quacking 6 staring at the new "thing" in their pen.  We now know that 4 are girls, and 2 are boys.  The 2 black Cayugas are Drakes.  Lots of duck eggs were found in the straw when Bob assembled the villa.

Matilda is the Gray Swedish, Daisy the White Pekin, Afro is the Black Crested, the 2 drakes are Cayuga, one named Amigo,  and the black in front we are not sure if she is a Black Runner or Cayuga. The males have a little curly tail feather.  The females quack, the males sort of grunt.  They are a talkative flock.  They continue to bring us constant entertainment, and joy.

Thanks for reading.
Each day is a gift, open now.
xo
Suz

My Movember

Rawr! Animal print 'staches.

Why are mustaches growing in my shop?  Movember is just around the corner.  I have made mustache jewelry and key chains out of very unusual materials.  In 2010 and 2011 I made them for the MoSistas up in Quebec.  This year I decided to donate directly to the American Cancer Society in Dennis Hopper's name.  Plus they are fun to make!

 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Movember

Suz and Dennis on the set of Crash

It's been over 2 years since the icon, who I proudly call friend succumbed to prostate cancer.  I worked with him on the TV show "Crash". He always made me laugh, and would sing and dance for me.  His way of "loosening up", and easing the stress of movie making.  During this time his cancer returned, and watching him suffer broke my heart.  He was also a fabulous artist. He and I would talk about modern art every day we worked together. I would save the NYTimes Arts section and we would hoot over the auction prices of artists who were his contemporaries.  He encouraged me to leave my job in the movies after looking through my flat file of fine art prints.  I promised him, I would return to making things.  And so my Etsy shops were born.

A little soft shoe I caught on film. xo Bunny

So men, please  remember to get screened. It's so simple.  Ladies, wear your mustaches to remind them.

2011 Canada Movember Mustaches

Thanks for reading!  Each day is a gift, open now.
xo,
Suz

Sam Is Here !!

"Sam"

Those of you who know me well, know I have loved skulls and skeletons my whole life. I am fascinated by the forms that different bones take as shapes.  Everyone has one.  A common denominator that unites us all. 

For my birthday I asked for a life size medical model skeleton...female.  Bob went shopping at his favorite store: Ebay, and found me one.  She arrived yesterday. Her name is Samantha. I will call her "Sam."  She's beautiful, articulating, and my exact height.  She came from American Science and Surplus, a long time family favorite. I didn't know she came from there until she arrived.  So serendipitous.

I will use her as my muse for a 365 project that starts on November 1st, The Day of the Dead. 

Thanks for reading.
Each day is a gift, open now.
xo,
Suz

Enslaved by Ducks

This is a title to a book someone gave Bob.  I am finished with my big canning for the season.
Phew...now into the shop because November is just around the corner!  Some of the extras I have in my shop for sale.  I am NOT in the food biz.

Chutney trio offered in my shop

Daisy the white pekin holds court for her drakes.

I am starting a new 365 project for the year.  So excited to share.  Kicks off November 1, 2012 for Day of the Dead.
Thanks for reading.  xo
Suz

Summer's End

Tallulah takes a swim on a 100 degree day

Update to all of you who have emailed me through my Etsy shops.  All is well, busier than busy.
I am moving my blog, but I have not had the time.  Chickens, travel, ducks, garden, canning, kids moving, college graduation parties, and house guests have kept me going non stop.  It's all been wonderful.   If I were taking the time to blog, someone, or something would have suffered. A few photos...and I am sizing them down so Google doesn't charge me for posting. 

In early June Bob and I were asked if we would rehome 2 baby ducks.  Aughh! We would have to build a coyote proof enclosure. We did, and a very long story short we now have 6 (yes six) ducks ranging from 3-7 months old.  Below is "Afro" a crested black who also swims in the pool with us. Of course we have a special needs duck! Afro has difficulty walking. But he swims beautifully.  All of the ducks swim in the pool with us.  As well as several hot chickens.  We upped the chlorine and pool pump runs all the time.  If you have never swum, swam, what does one say?  Swimming with the ducks is so fun I can't even stand it.  They dive to the bottom and clear the pool of leaves, between our legs.   They can actually stand on water.  Flap their wings, spraying us and each other.  We limit pool time to 1/2 hour (they have their own kiddie pool) a few times a week.  The last duck was a first place Swedish Gray from the 4H show at our county fair, "Matilda." 

"Afro" a crested black glides gracefully in the water.

The garden....oh the garden.  It's been an exceptional year.  Partly due to weather, and partly due to 3rd season of raised beds that have matured, compost rich. This year I don't have a broken foot, and have had total watch.  I have been pickling, canning and freezing the harvest.  Eggs, and produce purchased by those who have no time, or black thumbs have made it revenue neutral.  My goal.  I am toying with a hoop house and growing all year.  But traveling as much as we do to Bob's shows...who would watch/water.   Bob and I continue to make ceramic pieces together, my glazes getting better all the time. 

Heirloom Italian tomatoes on a Bob and Suz made plate.

My green chilis and peaches BBQ sauce, and green chili pickles.

Thanks for reading.  Still amazed that you do.
xo,
Suz

Albuquerque Coop Tour

We will be on the Albuquerque Coop Tour June 9 10-2pm.