Best Birthday EVER!

I'd like to introduce you to Jaxson Harley Babcock born at 4:06 pm on 2/8/2012 at 8lbs 4oz.

Isn't he the most handsome?

Sketchbook Project 2012

 I solemnly swear, if I do this project again next year that I will not wait until 2 1/2 weeks before the deadline to dig out said sketchbook from beneath piles of paperwork to start working on it like I did this year.
Now that I've put it down on paper. so to speak, I'm hoping I can stick with it. That's so stressful.
I'm also going to lay a little of the blame squarely on my dear Mothers' shoulders as she constantly tells me, "Well honey, you are good under pressure". I rise right up to that challenge like a champ, hehe.

 All that being said I really rather enjoyed this particular sketchbook and the ensuing "sketches".

 I revisited some of my favorite characters.

 And thought that dear sweet Ralphie really needed to view the world in color.

 Found lots of new visitors to my crazy little world.

 I started this sketchbook with the idea it would be like a family photo album and really liked the idea of using thos little photo mounting corners.

 And old tape holding down some of the photos.

 More new characters stopped by.

 Bottom left corner is Kevin, modeled after a cp-worker I was sitting across from at work one day while I was sketching. I think he's rather excited to have been included.

 I have tons of little papers with ideas of sketched to include.

 Excited to think of new paintings in the works. I love how these sketchbooks make me think outside the box.

 Last year I made myself crazy trying to do paintings. I love the simple sketches this time.

 Tea with Ralphie.

 Just keep swimming...

 A friend said he liked the pig in the top hat because he looked very sly.

 Couldn't shake the family portraits.

 Fly away with me.

 I love the little guy with the balloon. He makes me happy, even with his morose expression.

My barcode, for easier checkout purposes.

Are you going to any of the showings to see the traveling Sketchbook Library?

An Amazing New Movie

I love the look and feel of this amazing new movie featuring several of my most favorite actors, most notable Bruce Willis.

It's been more or less 2 months since my last albeit sparse post. I have lots of news to share and artwork galore. Especially some new artwork going the way of the Sketchbook Project 2012. That is IF I can get the darn thing finished before the January 31st deadline...Wish me luck!

Happy Little Christmas Trees

I've been busily creating loads and loads of new creations but hauling them down to the First Friday location here in Vegas almost as soon as the paint has dried and finding those folks who fall in love with them and take them home before the day is out precludes getting too many good snapshots of them before they go off to their new homes...sigh.

To make things even worse is the fact my poor ole computer finally gave up the ghost and died.

I did manage to get myself a shiny new laptop but for me there has been a bit of a learning curve.

These little holiday trees were finished late last night while I watched a marathon showing of the Lord of the Rings trilogy.
I had almost forgotten how in love I am with Eomar aka Karl Urban.

Such a handsome handsome man.

Am currently slaving away, errr, I mean working to get stuff together for the next First Friday which is less than a week away now. Totally considering making it my last for awhile, it sure takes a lot out of a person.

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Anyone else sign up for the Sketchbook project again?

Can you come over and help me get started?

A Trip To Mt Charleston

The boy came over for a visit and we decided that a quick trip up to Mt Charleston was in order so I grabbed my camera and off we went.

 Imagine my surprise when this huge flock? of quail went running across the road. There were more than 15 of them and all this same size. I'm guessing these are almost ready to leave the nest babies as I couldn't tell anyone one of them apart. All but five made it across the road when we drove up making these guys stay long enough for me to get this shot of them.

 I know this flower is a weed of sorts and a sticker bush to boot but isn't it gorgeous?

We were trying to figure out what kind of trees these are. I don't believe they are birch but I'm not really sure. Aspen? Quaking Oak? Yes, I'm totally guessing.

A quick shot right up the trunk of one of them. Notice the carvings? People have been carving their names and dates into the trunks of these trees for years.

Ninja Easter Eggs

These "Happy" little Ninja Easter Eggs were intended for a particular Birthday guy but the Ninjas aren't been quite sure their Ninja abilities would be best served in such an endeavor.

Poised and ready for action.

Ready to take you on!

Foster Failure

Yes, it's been forever and a day since I've been here and I completely apologize.

Stellas' sweet puppies kept me very very busy. There is Beatrice, Wyler, Abigail and Hudson.

(I unfortunately don't have any of little Beatrice or Wyler at this age.)
Hudson

Abigail

They've all found great homes since, including Stella. Both Wyler and Abigail found a great new home together. What a fantastic experience it was for the two of them as they were involved with a great organization wherein shelter dogs were auctioned off to wonderful dog lovers and I was so thrilled to have been involved with it.

Wyler

Abigail

Egg and his chicks

Sweet Stella and Beatrice both found wonderful homes and little Hudson won my heart and stayed with me.

Isn't he adorable?



Almost as soon as as my kids were out of the house and on to their new lives I was asked to foster yet another litter of needy puppies.

I was told this litter was a litter of Chihuahuas.

Imagine my surprise when I went to pick them up.

Charlie

George

Isabelle

There were six puppies in this litter and were apparently dumped at the shelter as soon as they could eat on their own at about 4 1/2 weeks old. Six of the most adorable puppies in the world and six of the most diverse dog types to ever come about in one litter, I swear.

Little Hannah and Ophelia both quickly found homes through the shelter just an hour after being put up for adoption.


And just because he's the most awesome dog in the world for putting up with all these small dogs invading his space, my Cooper.

These kids may have had a Chihuahua relative far back in their lineage but really...

The most fantastic thing about this litter is that I not only got to meet so many of my neighbors because of them but a couple of said neighbors decided they wanted to adopt the puppies.

Sweet Riley now lives with Linda and Mike right around the block and my George, (now Thor) lives with Kerry and Gary right around the corner.

Little Charlie and adorable little Isabelle decided to stay with me and to see them with my Hudson together is just wonderful!

We walk (almost) every night with the rest of the neighborhood dogs and we enjoy it so much.

Does all this leave any time for artwork? Hardly.

Both Isabelle and Charlie, now almost 5 months old, want to be picked up and held constantly.

This isn't very conducive to creating artwork but I'm slowly getting it together.

Yes, I'm a foster failure...