Puff Piece

It's been awhile.  I think I suffer from travel hang over after returning from a big trip like the one we had to Alaska. Lots to absorb, pictures to sort & share. Memories to cement in the brain. Then there is work to catch up on. We've been home for six weeks and this is my first post.

It's fall in Northern Michigan. Maybe my favorite season. The colors are just beginning to show up in the trees. The clouds are completely different this time of year compared to the summer. Much more dramatic. The down side is the short days. Found these beauties on my neighborhood walking trail.

                                               So now it's time to get creative in the studio!

Wanted my ATC's for this months swap to honor our recent trip. I had already thought about doing something with a puffin.  At work I spotted an old Audubon Magazine (about 3 years old) on a table at work, it was the perfect inspiration...so I brought it home.

                                                     Simple but very recognizable.  

                            I created stencils for each of the body parts so I could use my Akua Inks.

                    I am in a space at the moment where I seem to be finding inspiration everywhere.
                                                   Hope I can keep that going for awhile!

Back in Kodiak

We had an amazing experience in Uyak Bay with Harry & Brigid of Kodiak Treks. Our trek mates were a sweet special family from Germany. Oliver, Harriet, and Leeloo, their 12 year old daughter. Absolutely delightful people.

Our fabulous weather turned to rain for the two days we were camping. Figures. But modern waterproof clothing is miraculous. Saw many bears from far off, then the last chance on day 3 we came upon a sleeping male in the thick brush who we woke up. Saw him at a distance of about 15 feet through the vegetation. No kidding. 

Back in Kodiak, weather back to gorgeous.  We will hike today and see a small museum dedicated to local heritage. Learned tons from Brigid about the Alutiiq people. 

Tomorrow we fly back to Anchorage to get the RV.  The next phase of vacation will be totally different. Feels like we've been gone forever already. 

Harbor Ride

Off to our bear viewing adventure today. Wish us good fortune. 

Last evening took a harbor ride with an interesting old coot. Just the two of us with him. Very interesting. Puffins, sea otters, Eagles and theses guys.  Looked like the day after a frat party.

Self Serve

Spent two great days with SERVAS hosts Mark & Pat in Anchorage. This is what was in the garage for our consumption at any time. He makes fantastic home brew! They had a pot luck with a bunch of other Anchorage SERVAS members. What an interesting well traveled bunch. 

Now that we have wifi I can post a few pictures and thoughts the next couple days. 

The weather has been amazing. Never thought I'd be in flip flops and no jacket in Alaska. Did a hike up Flat Top just outside town yesterday afternoon. 

We are now on Kodiak Island and predictions are for continued great weather.  We are delighted with our B&B here as well. 

Ready to Travel

In 2 days we head out on a BIG trip. Three weeks in Alaska. The planning began about a year ago and the time to check one off the bucket list has finally arrived.

First up will be a stay with a couple in the SERVAS travel organization who live in Anchorage. I encourage you to check out this great international organization. The link will take you to a TED talk that discusses the idea behind SERVAS at 8:45 into the talk., or you can find them at www.usservas.org. You do home stays for at least two nights in order to get to know your hosts. The main premise is to promote cross cultural understanding.

After that we head to Kodiak Island for a week. We have scheduled a trip to a remote lodge to do bear watching with Kodiak Treks. If you don't hear from me again after August 5th or so...you get the idea.

Saw a great post on the site of a fellow paper artist I met at Interlochen Arts Academy this summer about packing your art supplies.  Find her blog here. Here is her rendition for storing brushes:

Scounged around in my supplies and came up with this:

I used buttons to hold the elastic to the non slip rug "stuff" I had on hand. the film canister tops hold gouache of different colors I can use with my copper plate nibs I'm taking along. The nibs are being kept safe int eh little clear plastic screw top container in the lower right. A glue stick, small scissors and my trusty 8X10 journal of choice I shared a few posts back complete what I'm taking on this adventure.

Windmill in Holland, MI

I have lived in Michigan (almost) my entire life and have seen it from bottom to top of the UP (upper peninsula). I never knew until a few weeks ago that "De Zwaan", a working windmill moved here from Holland, existed. So my husband & I, needing to travel to visit family in Grand Rapids, made a point to visit.Click the picture to see the details of the park where it resides.

The entire structure was brought here from Holland about 40 years ago. The tour was excellent. I even came home with a bag of flour and some dutch Cocoa Powder. The engineering is amazing.

                                                       Notice the shims on the shaft

 The "Dutch Village" is rather touristy, but very nicely done. The gardens are beautiful. The day we went was after their tulip festival was over and a cold overcast day, so there were no crowds.

I plan to add more travel insights in the future as we are taking a big trip to Alaska in August that will spark lots of creativity, observations, journaling, and great photographs.  Nature remains my most constant muse.
Stay tuned.