FINALLY got around to sorting through the Friends "Watched" List (the whole "Friends" thing is so personal, I prefer to call it the "Watch List"), and evened things up a bit. I DID NOT CUT ANYBODY WHO HAS ME FRIENDED! (if so, you need make no action at this time :D) - I'm just announcing this in case I messed up and un-watched someone by accident. This is NOT an "I'm gonna cut people so comment here now!" post - You don't have to do anything. :)

So, carry on! Happy Friday! :D

Hi everyone! Hope you're all well! I have many things to post, but I'm short on time, so there will be more tomorrow. I meant to post this a while back...

You know how cross-stitch-pattern makers sometimes contact artists and ask to use their art for patterns (I know that's happened to a number of you)? Well, I usually say yes, and in this one case, the lady sent me an actual pattern made from my Lion, King of Diamonds piece. The pattern was really complicated (calling for 99 different thread colors!) so I knew I would probably never do it, but I thanked her and saved it anyway. Well, now, my mother in law is a prize-winning Counted Cross-Stitcher (she has won many ribbons and Best In Shows for her pieces), and she actually wanted to try stitching it. When we were out to visit recently (more on that in another post), she surprised me with her work in progress. I was floored! It really was a lot of work to get as far as she has already - and it's counted cross stitch, not printed on the fabric (!!!), and I thought I'd share some WIP's of it.

They are not the best photos - I took them in a hurry with my iPhone - but you get the idea. I'll be sure to get better photos of it all when she is finished.

        
The diamonds are in metallic thread, even, and when you see it in person, it looks beautiful; and I'm not talking about the "my art" part of it, I'm talking about her handiwork and attention to detail. She really is amazing (thanks so much, Sue)!

I hope you liked seeing this, and I promise - more soon!

Hi guys! All of you know by now that rabbits are very dear to my heart, so I hope you don't mind that I'm posting this. The ever-helpful and caring thaily has taken in yet another abandoned (as in, "dumped in the city street") rabbit, and she is now looking for a good home for him, as she already has a buck and doe. If you live in the Netherlands and could possibly help her out, or if you'd just like to help and see some cute bunny photos and an ADORABLE video (you rabbit-people will love it!), please check out her (also very informative) journal entry here, or you can click on the photo to go there. Thanks so much for reading, and if you can help, even better!

Click for full image

Merry Christmas, Joyous Yule, Happy Holidays, Season's Greetings, and Happy New Year!
This is an unashamedly, unabashedly anatomically incorrect card; of COURSE lions, rabbits, and songbirds don't really look like that! And certainly you'd never find them all together peacefully in real life; however, my theme for this year's card was "my favorite things" (including fluffy-maned lions, birds, knotwork and bunnies), so I chose to do it in my favorite-to-do "not-quite-real" style, and I'm allowed to have my fantasies, right? :D It's a variation on my actual printed card, which had a different border and was printed on parchment-patterned cardstock. Original pencil drawing is HERE.

I hope your holidays are wonderful! I didn't have time to send out many cards this year, but if you sent me one, you got one from me. I tried to do that, at least!

EDIT!: I feel so bad about not being better with getting cards out - in fact, I was so behind I finished the drawing Wednesday, printed them Thursday, and mailed them today! Still, If you'd like a card and don't mind it being late, email me your address - if you feel comfortable doing that - at synnabarinfo(at)aol.com with "CARD" in the subject line, and I'll send you one!

I hope to have a chance to finish off some art projects over the next few days - and read and sleep late, too. :) Best of all - not getting up at 5AM! Yay!

There's been so much gorgeous art for the WIld Cats of the World Card Deck posted already; still, I wanted to hold off on mine until they were available for presale (NOW THEY ARE! Check the link). Sooooo... here are my two leopards. The left is a more muscular, male tawny leopard (from Africa, with a Masai-type shield) and a sleeker female melanistic leopard (from India, with a temple-like sculpture piece). Yes, there's sort of a yin-yang thing going on. There are many wonderful stylized pieces in the deck, and many fantastic realistic ones; mine fall somewhere in between.

  

I know black & white / graphite pieces aren't usually as interesting to many, but since I feel my graphite pieces are better before I color them (or for those who are curious), here are the two pre-Photoshop:

  

...just cleaning up some LJ things. I didn't "unfriend" anyone who has "friended" me - I'm NOT "cutting anyone" - (man, I wish it was called a "watched" list instead of "friend's list" - that sounds so personal), but if I accidentally took you off, let me know. :)

Just wanted to pop on and mention that haikujaguar (AKA M. C. A. Hogarth) has a Three Kings Sale going on now! If you've a bit of holiday money you're looking to spend, she's got some fantastic art, prints and specials on sale now! There's auctions for original art, too! A number of prints are selling out already, though, so please take a look!

And once again, if you're selling something, feel free to post here!