tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-51706904002765307102024-03-14T09:10:50.510-05:00Summerdog StudioDogs, design, and life's little side quests.Ozhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05905696357502122505noreply@blogger.comBlogger57125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5170690400276530710.post-40613115225443933562010-03-19T13:12:00.000-05:002010-03-19T13:12:00.103-05:00Return of the Friday Dogs: Gunner<span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">After almost two straight weeks of rain, spring has come early here. The inch-thick mud dried out in the sun, and the yard outside of my apartment building has once again been made suitable for impromptu canine play sessions — and for dog photography.</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6i2vN-StLgT5rnVsq0aWrMmFvBYv071heA-EKLfP2Y5O317hxe6uc_Cs0rQ36BHngDiuY3K7vIMUmHfew2AopVurL6qjpEd2WdoETDjSEBKDXyO0Y4F3zQkTjEvYPLlgtGayWEgxssIGJ/s1600-h/gunner2.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6i2vN-StLgT5rnVsq0aWrMmFvBYv071heA-EKLfP2Y5O317hxe6uc_Cs0rQ36BHngDiuY3K7vIMUmHfew2AopVurL6qjpEd2WdoETDjSEBKDXyO0Y4F3zQkTjEvYPLlgtGayWEgxssIGJ/s320/gunner2.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5450038567299318914" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">I <span style="font-style: italic;">love</span> the coloring on this guy.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Gunner is 3 years old, with the mindset, attitude, and energy levels of a 5-month-old pup. He and Rufus have been friends for quite some time. They share a love of wildly physical play-fighting and of fetching sticks, though they'll both get growly and protective of a stick that's already in their mouths.</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT7wJPRYkzwHwUSoFvKLmHcefBW9puQ8OQBDOhAYwwaiCTYIVfl16g0yIIiNU4HfxG2WSghUu1hKqDqOV95mTRP13k2gy5Z_DGOMYoBD9dvlE8LuPQrwYW8BLx7nDaO4Yb88dk8B-p7_CJ/s1600-h/gunner-chey1.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT7wJPRYkzwHwUSoFvKLmHcefBW9puQ8OQBDOhAYwwaiCTYIVfl16g0yIIiNU4HfxG2WSghUu1hKqDqOV95mTRP13k2gy5Z_DGOMYoBD9dvlE8LuPQrwYW8BLx7nDaO4Yb88dk8B-p7_CJ/s320/gunner-chey1.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5450038779665270674" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">If you close your eyes as Gunner gallops past you, you'd swear from the intense thudding of his paws that someone was riding a horse nearby. And no, I'm not exaggerating. He's a LOT of dog.<br /><br /></span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5MugIkqmkSmOx8okSek46yodZY5hsggH_w0vXixxAsGegYwxwZK3aZo5Ryz1Dvt4uIK4njcEZMbbU_B-aYqno90hBit2w9xLMDo4iyk8My3PX0Tk1RQtAS5Udgd7YQV8UHl-NuEDiYbUc/s1600-h/gunner1.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5MugIkqmkSmOx8okSek46yodZY5hsggH_w0vXixxAsGegYwxwZK3aZo5Ryz1Dvt4uIK4njcEZMbbU_B-aYqno90hBit2w9xLMDo4iyk8My3PX0Tk1RQtAS5Udgd7YQV8UHl-NuEDiYbUc/s320/gunner1.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5450038921415349538" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">The moment I pulled out my camera, Gunner stopped running in circles and came right toward me to sit down and pose. I love a dog who loves the camera.</span>Ozhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05905696357502122505noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5170690400276530710.post-23384847280782530372010-03-12T12:57:00.009-06:002010-03-12T13:40:44.615-06:00Tutorial: Make your own stencils<span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Right. So, I've been promising a tutorial for a while now. This one provides maximum satisfaction for minimal dificulty.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >Supplies:</span> <span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br />• a stencil-worthy design<br /></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">• clear (or somewhat low-opacity) plastic sheeting</span> <span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br />• cutting board or mat<br /></span> <span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">• x-acto knife<br /></span> <span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">• permanent marker<br /></span> <span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">• ruler (optional)</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Step 1: Make (or find) an awesome design.</span></span> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6O8ZF0Rstk-rZYDOe0gx8n2F-AMidArH5BfAPXdfRtQESzUaOse593RESklPb7pIwWc2aKjIJXY0OolzckMRwous-zPbQuUtZ8QGSNxTSifwsST4OtP8zuyNQ7buvj9ZZWDrIEnkyFlX8/s1600-h/stenciltut1.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6O8ZF0Rstk-rZYDOe0gx8n2F-AMidArH5BfAPXdfRtQESzUaOse593RESklPb7pIwWc2aKjIJXY0OolzckMRwous-zPbQuUtZ8QGSNxTSifwsST4OtP8zuyNQ7buvj9ZZWDrIEnkyFlX8/s200/stenciltut1.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5447824088145663618" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Keep in mind the basic tenets of stencil-making — balance of positive and negative space, avoiding design elements that are so narrow or fussy the paint won't be able to get through, and being careful not to cut away so much that the physical structure of the stencil itself is compromised.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">I'm going with a super-simple sunshine, because I'm tired of gloomy wintertime. You can see how sloppy the initial sketch is, but that doesn't matter much, as long as it's easy to tell what my final outlines are going to be.</span><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Step 2: Trace the design onto the plastic.</span> </span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXeLHbij6bLlrhO7WoUGHINv_98DAzXd3584C96_5m5IKDsn9a3y7F1J467NfNd3gr2_wzzV766JSIh2oAJU6TEP16v4RpJ7eRwdF1Qse3SkEXaXicHoFL9na7AnKTyVomK2SnClVjCCHr/s1600-h/stenciltut2.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 157px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXeLHbij6bLlrhO7WoUGHINv_98DAzXd3584C96_5m5IKDsn9a3y7F1J467NfNd3gr2_wzzV766JSIh2oAJU6TEP16v4RpJ7eRwdF1Qse3SkEXaXicHoFL9na7AnKTyVomK2SnClVjCCHr/s200/stenciltut2.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5447825380720050946" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">This is the plastic that I make all my stencils from. It's as clear as the transparencies they used to use on overhead projectors in school, but it's quite a bit thicker, so it'll be sturdy. I got this 25-sheet pack for about $4 at Michael's.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Usually I'll scotch-tape the plastic down onto my sketchbook to hold it steady while I trace it. Sometimes, though, I use a digital design I made on the computer, so I hold the sheet up against my monitor and (<span style="font-style: italic;">very carefully</span>) trace it straight off of there.</span> <span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /><br /><br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5wNTFhJj0jMvNRXcfBWZyQUYi7Pq90wcND1lx2Xpic1cuElIajT07Q_vpkcum1pvcR5ybpCcNbHKb6dzeE6cZIZaWj578IsvOgviLDwtk0UYPEV-36ZRFuQYrcRftpNhq00g_W6nHNpeM/s1600-h/stenciltut3.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 146px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5wNTFhJj0jMvNRXcfBWZyQUYi7Pq90wcND1lx2Xpic1cuElIajT07Q_vpkcum1pvcR5ybpCcNbHKb6dzeE6cZIZaWj578IsvOgviLDwtk0UYPEV-36ZRFuQYrcRftpNhq00g_W6nHNpeM/s200/stenciltut3.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5447829653949861714" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEXlusNnzAJQZoBAFqcsj_UXtFqnUvws6hyPW4UNR17v8bMYuKcEUMmYbENWqpt_S-U3idfsWl9VML9MWv7yZVkPL_hMXZL6QtznCcmgl2ST6kKhBx_MtcPY0nzbJ-hhJp8tren7ZZtRDC/s1600-h/stenciltut4.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 152px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEXlusNnzAJQZoBAFqcsj_UXtFqnUvws6hyPW4UNR17v8bMYuKcEUMmYbENWqpt_S-U3idfsWl9VML9MWv7yZVkPL_hMXZL6QtznCcmgl2ST6kKhBx_MtcPY0nzbJ-hhJp8tren7ZZtRDC/s200/stenciltut4.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5447830703400419074" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">I usually also take the time to fully color in the bits I'm going to be cutting away; you'd be surprised how easy it is to accidentally cut out the wrong piece and ruin the whole thing. Plus, the sweet coloring sensation is very therapeutic for one's inner child.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Step 3: Cut it out!</span> </span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM6JMq5RVRB9OajUUDvYJ1UlZaCtxOeTrAC2zMsLU6eeZZoxlnkX32peK11FY8vmpPjBKg8B6N8RLSjWb8gKCslP85G7yJBL3lQ-DSGPFlW17XyTnQLmo8yyxzjrk2m6ZqT1JGM7oORyV9/s1600-h/stenciltut5.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM6JMq5RVRB9OajUUDvYJ1UlZaCtxOeTrAC2zMsLU6eeZZoxlnkX32peK11FY8vmpPjBKg8B6N8RLSjWb8gKCslP85G7yJBL3lQ-DSGPFlW17XyTnQLmo8yyxzjrk2m6ZqT1JGM7oORyV9/s200/stenciltut5.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5447832187856570210" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br />This is the time-consuming part — especially if you're like me and haven't changed the blade on your X-acto in about three years.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Even if your knife is as sharp as the Vorpal Sword, getting through that plastic can blister your fingers. Here are some tips to make it less painful:</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">• Cut it one half at a time. Score the plastic on the front side, then flip the stencil over and score it again on the back. At this point your blade should readily slice all the way through. This way is easier than trying to force the knife all the way through on the first go, which is bad for your knife, bad for your fingerpads, and bad for your stencil since it increases the chances of accidentally tearing the plastic.</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span> <span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> </span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCiUAUK06elAxER9aik2ZkHwA_VB9v74Mpynr1qFVdmV80U8mBNSIsx76xVztBoJhudcZlsBt8h_qdNf_thVeLe4rrOZWKfJtGKabogGQgxNiOMGAf2sm1kQD-KnojmY-aicmR6cjV9P8m/s1600-h/stenciltut6.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCiUAUK06elAxER9aik2ZkHwA_VB9v74Mpynr1qFVdmV80U8mBNSIsx76xVztBoJhudcZlsBt8h_qdNf_thVeLe4rrOZWKfJtGKabogGQgxNiOMGAf2sm1kQD-KnojmY-aicmR6cjV9P8m/s200/stenciltut6.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5447833122144524690" border="0" /></a><div style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> <span style="font-size:85%;"><br />Front side cut; ready to cut back side. ---></span> </span><br /></div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /><br />• Cut the smaller shapes out first. Every piece you cut out weakens the stencil overall and increases the risk of tearing the plastic; take care of the tiny, fussy shapes first, while they still have the full support of the unbroken sheet.</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">• Use a ruler for straight lines. This may seem like a no-brainer, but it makes enough of a difference that I feel it's important to mention.</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">• If you have some really big bits to cut out, you can use scissors. They're a lot faster, but they also make it much easier to stretch, warp, or rip the plastic. Use scissors with narrow blades, like those designed for cutting hair, if possible. I also strongly suggest making a pilot hole with a knife before you use scissors.</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">• Be careful and<span style="font-style: italic;"> go slowly</span>.</span> <span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Step 4: Finishing</span> </span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOTn8lKv4Jgrs3ubO_UAkVS53cDmLJlTO5eSgv1j0T4VHeUUIt4AtOfkN_TKcVsxyCYq6uHJwCwpv44eVkWNU5lUgwMbk8eCSkqoGd8u1CEQ4k7MYfirq84wlayfmH5o2RzP6IlNU56s_6/s1600-h/stenciltut7.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 144px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOTn8lKv4Jgrs3ubO_UAkVS53cDmLJlTO5eSgv1j0T4VHeUUIt4AtOfkN_TKcVsxyCYq6uHJwCwpv44eVkWNU5lUgwMbk8eCSkqoGd8u1CEQ4k7MYfirq84wlayfmH5o2RzP6IlNU56s_6/s200/stenciltut7.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5447833781326259842" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br />Trim the margins of your stencil if desired. Remember that it's a good idea to leave a little more extra plastic around the edges than seems necessary. This helps prevent spillover paint from getting on your substrate (the thing you're stenciling) where you don't want it.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">As you can see in this picture and the one previous, the plastic tends to warp around the edges of the cuts, from the friction of the knife. I STRONGLY recommend flattening your new stencil out before using it — I usually just lay my Webster's on top of it for 15 minutes to an hour, which seems to work just fine.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >Extra Tips<br /></span> <span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">• Use spraypaint <span style="font-style: italic;">outside</span>.<br /></span> <span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">• If, like me, you roll on your paint with a roller brush, thin layers of paint work much better than thick ones, which can seep under the stencil and botch up your nice crisp lines.</span> <span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> • Always wash a stencil after using it. Paint buildup can flake off when you least want it to and ruin your latest project.</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">• Store stencils flat. I keep mine in a folder, but laying them flat on a shelf will work just as well.</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">• Take care when storing stencils (or taking them out of storage) that they don't snag on each other. Ripping a stencil isn't fun, and simultaneously ripping two or more SUCKS.<br />• Don't stencil something that isn't yours unless you get the owner's permission. ;)<br /></span>Ozhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05905696357502122505noreply@blogger.com27tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5170690400276530710.post-30324214537923889862010-03-07T17:38:00.000-06:002010-03-07T17:38:00.300-06:00Pushing paint<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguA1YPwDDPuWkdC0MiJi5ZbBTkHNMF4rDWALVN9MmAe2J1bQ-6FfeQOclUmI7BmDZBFjiSbxkklSNy6fWLGoceg7K0hl3C3eLkp_claVKNabMjm2ES5_zv3FPIksIpUAO1i2ba5NeR6XOQ/s1600-h/practicecorgi.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 218px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguA1YPwDDPuWkdC0MiJi5ZbBTkHNMF4rDWALVN9MmAe2J1bQ-6FfeQOclUmI7BmDZBFjiSbxkklSNy6fWLGoceg7K0hl3C3eLkp_claVKNabMjm2ES5_zv3FPIksIpUAO1i2ba5NeR6XOQ/s320/practicecorgi.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5445298371161002002" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">I've been playing around with paint for the past couple of weeks. Obviously I've still got a long way to go when it comes to traditional materials, but the tactile experience of using actual brushes instead of digital brushes is just so delicious. I've been seriously spoiled by the "Undo" button. You can't Ctrl+Z your way out of a bad brush stroke.</span>Ozhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05905696357502122505noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5170690400276530710.post-50081624653851692312010-03-05T17:34:00.002-06:002010-03-05T17:40:16.658-06:00Free simple desktop wallpaper<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg17jOG0qq7NeUJ70Hc8tbbBG0Ha4kbZSFUTEzG7Jka7r1TxSG2qRi_bGgCmgI-1HhG237fetLWSRz7bXdtVs9QzLLkMx7aYzZXed6VXekKq13nsB7M5fjIObZiyM2FPDazaorK18UhkPGy/s1600-h/wateringcan.png"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg17jOG0qq7NeUJ70Hc8tbbBG0Ha4kbZSFUTEzG7Jka7r1TxSG2qRi_bGgCmgI-1HhG237fetLWSRz7bXdtVs9QzLLkMx7aYzZXed6VXekKq13nsB7M5fjIObZiyM2FPDazaorK18UhkPGy/s320/wateringcan.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5445297479133391058" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">click to download (2560 x 1600)</span></span><br /></div><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">I paid a visit to the unspeakably awesome <a href="http://www.simpledesktops.com/">Simple Desktops</a> and got inspired. You should check them out. (Found via <a href="http://howaboutorange.blogspot.com/">How About Orange</a>.)</span>Ozhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05905696357502122505noreply@blogger.com29tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5170690400276530710.post-40656327069316621962010-02-19T14:31:00.001-06:002010-02-19T14:31:00.532-06:00Friday dogs: Jude<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXchdV47XmuBGy1413H1vYAWDWx3i_2vean9CEkV9pdBU9LlGmyDbNukLyZynEQwfl79Ok4z_U-Gc7ju8TPfIi0U0wmHBs91KPfAcES1wlk_FbFugYgXoZiY4le00T0mrw63T7l6ItOKCr/s1600-h/judesplit-web.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXchdV47XmuBGy1413H1vYAWDWx3i_2vean9CEkV9pdBU9LlGmyDbNukLyZynEQwfl79Ok4z_U-Gc7ju8TPfIi0U0wmHBs91KPfAcES1wlk_FbFugYgXoZiY4le00T0mrw63T7l6ItOKCr/s320/judesplit-web.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5437828526536335922" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">Jude is a husky/yellow lab. He's built like a moose (with brains to match), has very thick pillowy fur, and is in desperate need of a bath most of the time. He's also an unrepentant sweetheart. </span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc97fP3CBJOWQ9Uc0Pjw7fNFuQNi4Nftomn0JTcZqhz6T0kJXWucPDb3z7vuNehXh76G1f53nDw1OS7NvESqAGx7socO5jCEHCMCyH5n743PrpeV_SjGvC_RjUcULjoJC26jeTJUNKYNhy/s1600-h/judesepia-web.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc97fP3CBJOWQ9Uc0Pjw7fNFuQNi4Nftomn0JTcZqhz6T0kJXWucPDb3z7vuNehXh76G1f53nDw1OS7NvESqAGx7socO5jCEHCMCyH5n743PrpeV_SjGvC_RjUcULjoJC26jeTJUNKYNhy/s320/judesepia-web.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5437828456894888738" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">Jude has two mommies, both of whom are good friends of mine. He likes quiet dinners and long walks on the beach.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">He's only 2 weeks older than Rufus, and they grew up together. They're desperately in love, but are doomed to remain apart — partly because they now live in different states, and partly because they're both neutered.</span>Ozhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05905696357502122505noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5170690400276530710.post-71265738811304948222010-02-18T14:42:00.000-06:002010-02-18T14:42:00.338-06:00Husky howl<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyMPkialQwgW42MQFBPt6Ssoqi-5mN4nIr8kz7HEEYUlTU9snvXNMdRtA3fWBfcfA93OaosvcmwO-I_CbVQ01kl8JgQGHmA1ETJC6GkWITvfOx2TeO-bQsHWqphfHE0xhXCULpaselspDf/s1600-h/judehowl-web.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyMPkialQwgW42MQFBPt6Ssoqi-5mN4nIr8kz7HEEYUlTU9snvXNMdRtA3fWBfcfA93OaosvcmwO-I_CbVQ01kl8JgQGHmA1ETJC6GkWITvfOx2TeO-bQsHWqphfHE0xhXCULpaselspDf/s320/judehowl-web.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5438944644955183890" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">He's only half husky, but he's still got that tendency to vocalize just for the sake of vocalizing.</span>Ozhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05905696357502122505noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5170690400276530710.post-86961199536548960962010-02-16T14:37:00.000-06:002010-02-16T14:42:02.584-06:00Shoulder cat<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhmAGwZxqpaIBJ9DV-ITT7gllrQtYJWDgEkSB9fc9Ipqa4NX0U6vamgntSTHRykXgo4AvxavbssMeLPUhkGXml8o41Os_0DdktB3dMhyRKZtBFarirOqxpX1AgP5AcgebozU2FZyT2xflY/s1600-h/shouldercat-web.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhmAGwZxqpaIBJ9DV-ITT7gllrQtYJWDgEkSB9fc9Ipqa4NX0U6vamgntSTHRykXgo4AvxavbssMeLPUhkGXml8o41Os_0DdktB3dMhyRKZtBFarirOqxpX1AgP5AcgebozU2FZyT2xflY/s320/shouldercat-web.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5438944128444506642" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">His name is Finn, and he's extremely clingy.</span>Ozhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05905696357502122505noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5170690400276530710.post-30215517288270249902010-02-12T12:29:00.002-06:002010-02-12T12:33:55.170-06:00Sign of the Bull<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSxygy1mOsdlscb3zhOHYyhKR6-_FVXiCwOCwOszlTKFyFHTqhEhn26kGa2YIGsOfHp6_MQnTAqESySAdh8rnfWnO8xtZgg_hZMHoxlAWDSGhgnaqH6mO982xaHtsuggkcb2l_mC87c0AY/s1600-h/signofthebull.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSxygy1mOsdlscb3zhOHYyhKR6-_FVXiCwOCwOszlTKFyFHTqhEhn26kGa2YIGsOfHp6_MQnTAqESySAdh8rnfWnO8xtZgg_hZMHoxlAWDSGhgnaqH6mO982xaHtsuggkcb2l_mC87c0AY/s320/signofthebull.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5437426113536006754" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">I did this one in about an hour. All I knew was that I was feeling very, very RED (a rare color in my usual palette) and impressionistic. I think the masculine bovine just came from my association between the color red and bulls — and no, not because of the matador and his iconic red flag, but because of the Red Bull that features in the book/film The Last Unicorn.<br /><br />I'm also a Taurus, and my Chinese zodiac sign is the Ox. So it's appropriate.<br /><br />I'm out of town this weekend; expect photos upon my return.</span>Ozhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05905696357502122505noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5170690400276530710.post-27228881572946132902010-02-02T14:47:00.000-06:002010-02-02T14:47:00.253-06:00Happy Groundhog Day!<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBJ_1do516E-m9ia4u-PIbmeP5K1UpJWr91xY-gnHA4DObTUdrtr-ncGhSv-cGcVBwu2S3170GsvNHVYgFfz6V8KA7V-qeQomwPDC2It1D0soc6qrc-fahWoZvj6-d7Nsowc7FacDDQHKM/s1600-h/SDBgroundhawg.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBJ_1do516E-m9ia4u-PIbmeP5K1UpJWr91xY-gnHA4DObTUdrtr-ncGhSv-cGcVBwu2S3170GsvNHVYgFfz6V8KA7V-qeQomwPDC2It1D0soc6qrc-fahWoZvj6-d7Nsowc7FacDDQHKM/s320/SDBgroundhawg.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5432637417320136914" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">Click for full size.</span><br /></span></div><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">Happy Groundhog Day, ya'll! Though if you want to know the truth, the famous rodent's forecast has less to do with whether or not he sees his shadow, and more to do with whether or not the coffee is ready.</span></span>Ozhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05905696357502122505noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5170690400276530710.post-91399976972150555872010-01-30T14:37:00.002-06:002010-01-30T14:46:53.792-06:00Creative process<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwgdzAw5p91_TZW9e_1egJaAglLrZjGqdmvTUV4iYRbulPofDpX43MXlZvGV5l3B0yfyNGBcMGVJSL9gzK8_qwHRJrfx_FzvL-KExKiIvXe_ZpqEk07gWTHQ-5Qg1J8TuOOBb5ilzO-TVd/s1600-h/SDBFeb1.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwgdzAw5p91_TZW9e_1egJaAglLrZjGqdmvTUV4iYRbulPofDpX43MXlZvGV5l3B0yfyNGBcMGVJSL9gzK8_qwHRJrfx_FzvL-KExKiIvXe_ZpqEk07gWTHQ-5Qg1J8TuOOBb5ilzO-TVd/s320/SDBFeb1.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5432634891555984402" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">Recently I dropped a couple of bucks to pick up a pack of translucent plastic sheets and I've been a busy little bee ever since: yes, I have officially discovered the thoroughly enjoyable art of stenciling! My fingertips are developing all-new calluses from cutting out the stencils with a knife, I've added some new paint stains to no less than three shirts, and I'm starting to run low on paint — life doesn't get much better than this.</span><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;"> There may even be a tutorial on the way...<br /><br />Look forward to seeing some spiffy new stenciled designs that will soon be gracing the journals/sketchbooks in my Etsy store.<br /><br />In the meantime, you should check out the <a href="http://www.stencilrevolution.com/">Stencil Revolution</a> boards for some of the most astonishing stencil talent I've ever seen on the web — and for pure inspiration, go drool over the legendary <a href="http://www.banksy.co.uk/">Banksy</a>.<br /></span>Ozhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05905696357502122505noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5170690400276530710.post-77334941875135348692010-01-29T15:55:00.003-06:002010-01-29T16:14:05.195-06:00Friday Dogs: Nose<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBorGjoysbGUtaUEczfrqekriuS1MP7-iggB2Utls1YITzrkiHRllA2ZWI8TUR-wleSlq-T-xiVk5YPupOrCdjgvGfPYBpUJKRtznsWjRC_P6RAp68kGnIiZjCnhy_eCKwRQUBcBU6COmd/s1600-h/NOSEweb.JPG"><br /><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 229px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBorGjoysbGUtaUEczfrqekriuS1MP7-iggB2Utls1YITzrkiHRllA2ZWI8TUR-wleSlq-T-xiVk5YPupOrCdjgvGfPYBpUJKRtznsWjRC_P6RAp68kGnIiZjCnhy_eCKwRQUBcBU6COmd/s320/NOSEweb.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5432284294374376466" /></a><br /><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">I</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">'</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">v</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">e</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">r</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">e</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">a</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">l</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">l</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">y</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">b</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">e</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">e</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">n</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">h</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">a</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">v</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">i</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">n</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">g</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">t</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">r</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">o</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">u</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">b</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">l</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">e</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">k</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">e</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">e</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">p</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">i</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">n</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">g</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">u</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">p</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">w</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">i</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">t</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">h</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">p</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">o</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">s</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">t</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">s</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">l</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">a</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">t</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">e</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">l</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">y</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">-</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">s</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">o</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">r</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">r</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">y</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">T</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">h</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">e</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">r</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">e</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">'</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">s</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">n</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">o</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">i</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">n</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">t</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">e</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">r</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">n</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">e</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">t</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">a</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">t home and that makes things tough sometimes.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"> I present today, for your consideration, a nose. While some say that the cognitive functioning of a canine is located in the brain, in truth it is located precisely here.</span></div>Ozhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05905696357502122505noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5170690400276530710.post-71593736935430882642010-01-17T13:02:00.002-06:002010-01-17T13:05:08.316-06:00Put the fun between your legs.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdy96MpOzxKRtF4cDe8dgN53MwrNqOAT8ffIItDFVuQ7xTXJ2VG5T0eBQSk2cAW2ardUrM-zYtOrcLGfuFZ-9vC9Fd_YWxKLq3hV01ptH-GdGa9t7B3IDRPCTNseLVuR0KhDmR9UiLqMEU/s1600-h/betweenyourlegs.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 235px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdy96MpOzxKRtF4cDe8dgN53MwrNqOAT8ffIItDFVuQ7xTXJ2VG5T0eBQSk2cAW2ardUrM-zYtOrcLGfuFZ-9vC9Fd_YWxKLq3hV01ptH-GdGa9t7B3IDRPCTNseLVuR0KhDmR9UiLqMEU/s320/betweenyourlegs.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5427786247102613618" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">A little design I did for the hell of it. I tried to think of a more original phrase to put at the bottom, but in the end, it was 3-something in the morning and I just wanted to go to bed.<br /><br />Please do not claim, alter, distribute, etc. Click for full size.<br /></span>Ozhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05905696357502122505noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5170690400276530710.post-14965280843992718482010-01-15T03:47:00.001-06:002010-01-15T03:47:00.409-06:00Friday dogs: Scoops<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuJ-Oo2sunBhXedwl6z3pBPygd7uROSPvH0IKGe5QUkSn5g8dos4axc5iyhP_kt7vXilYipJGBqDNiLHHjyYqFooDLDQMf12fAuKv5G-zx_ZZiE-UvyUBbOt_vGhPGFt2DVNP2UsYQ06yN/s1600-h/scoops.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuJ-Oo2sunBhXedwl6z3pBPygd7uROSPvH0IKGe5QUkSn5g8dos4axc5iyhP_kt7vXilYipJGBqDNiLHHjyYqFooDLDQMf12fAuKv5G-zx_ZZiE-UvyUBbOt_vGhPGFt2DVNP2UsYQ06yN/s320/scoops.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5425602438125523266" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Scoops (also called Snookums, Scooper Dooper, and Poop Scoop) is a bichon frise, owned and very much doted on by my former coworker <a href="http://karenhollish.com/">Karen Hollish</a>. She named him Scoops as a cutesy homage to her career in journalism — as in, "What's the scoop?"</span>Ozhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05905696357502122505noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5170690400276530710.post-140777960809436022010-01-14T16:17:00.002-06:002010-01-14T16:20:59.299-06:00'Avatar' pwns<span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">I had some fun with photo manipulation after seeing <a href="http://www.geekologie.com/2010/01/photoshop_how_to_turn_yourself.php">this video</a>. This is me, as a resident of Pandora, a Na'vi:</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgabltRpC11Q_5Mg0qiQ3yKmqJXe5lBNHIy0XF8zKNmt3gOBCfBl9hmX0SEOtwClXeCrYjTqVAIuo8Sbwpoidm0-eN2dcUwgj1wtjMjjPxCqC1NZZ3F4fFvLimh4hYEBqGTPJB4kotXlyms/s1600-h/Jan+12.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 304px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgabltRpC11Q_5Mg0qiQ3yKmqJXe5lBNHIy0XF8zKNmt3gOBCfBl9hmX0SEOtwClXeCrYjTqVAIuo8Sbwpoidm0-eN2dcUwgj1wtjMjjPxCqC1NZZ3F4fFvLimh4hYEBqGTPJB4kotXlyms/s320/Jan+12.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5426723495671774082" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">It was surprisingly easy to do, and only took about an hour and a half, most of which I spent fiddling around with layer settings and opacity. Of course, I also didn't go into as much detail as the guy did in the video, such as re-texturing the skin and whatnot. And my face is extraordinarily un-Na'vi-like. Still, I think it's a pretty good effect overall.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">As for the film behind the species: I thoroughly enjoyed Avatar and have to recommend it, and not just because it's visually amazing. Yes, it's very predictable (especially if you've read Frank Herbert's Dune — the storyline is practically identical), but just because you see the events coming from a mile away doesn't mean that you don't care about the characters they happen to. I cried more than once while I was watching it.</span>Ozhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05905696357502122505noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5170690400276530710.post-46506109694486522342010-01-14T15:37:00.000-06:002010-01-14T15:37:00.265-06:00Miraculous<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEietTcHfOQJ4cib-uZJ2r3ZauBKM0zT9WnpoXJfj5dM6pnbXVI5DeIhLZXIXz3buAqMcYRss3wdZxj3_wcamAs1rx3r5f6naZbf8skS7m7oY-KJET3c_6S3Gj5rZLT3hvxhY4QPdFl51Etu/s1600-h/miraculous-web.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 196px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEietTcHfOQJ4cib-uZJ2r3ZauBKM0zT9WnpoXJfj5dM6pnbXVI5DeIhLZXIXz3buAqMcYRss3wdZxj3_wcamAs1rx3r5f6naZbf8skS7m7oY-KJET3c_6S3Gj5rZLT3hvxhY4QPdFl51Etu/s320/miraculous-web.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5425600609289668050" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">Click for full size.</span></span><br /></div><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">I did most of this picture back in 2007, when I had a psychiatrist who was absolutely pill-happy. Every time I tried to come back to this piece to finish it, my .005 Micron would run out of ink, or I'd be unable to find that fine-tip paintbrush, or a friend would have to talk to me </span><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >ohmygodrightnow</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">, and then I'd just forget.</span> <span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /><br />And now I've finally managed to finish the damn thing. And I am pleased. It was fun.</span>Ozhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05905696357502122505noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5170690400276530710.post-17065166780000649142010-01-12T09:23:00.001-06:002010-03-05T17:37:30.334-06:00Kiwi freebies<span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">I have an ambition to make a latch-hook rug that looks like a slice of kiwi fruit. When I sat down to try to simplify the quintessential kiwi so I could work out a pattern, I got a little carried away and made it <span style="font-style: italic;">shiny</span>.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Please enjoy the resulting desktop images. Click for full size.<br /></span> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYveysfJLnTOMAVgErcWxmMr0QU-nmdD2cDTIDpmtg3hzuT_-A27eoMBzF9Q1G9wl5SWOoOj11OK5mZZkLpOvBFJJz-NTUiaq9OHHrDLAe8OkfCysTeTj5w8yO37B2BY7BWZQrCIM1oXtY/s1600-h/kiwi-stars.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYveysfJLnTOMAVgErcWxmMr0QU-nmdD2cDTIDpmtg3hzuT_-A27eoMBzF9Q1G9wl5SWOoOj11OK5mZZkLpOvBFJJz-NTUiaq9OHHrDLAe8OkfCysTeTj5w8yO37B2BY7BWZQrCIM1oXtY/s320/kiwi-stars.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5425598558689339090" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMb_6P0Zo83_CWJZQDV7T-wL68X2810cKK6BJ-oYOIVVkeU85n85G_xwDEc34TTgX-ZgLkwe3J8pAqodsZyo5ihM6RQc-D6NmcQXalj6Cgwk4HRJNXpV4yYZ0rEG2iM56EUdw_v1cR1MIG/s1600-h/kiwi-graphic.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMb_6P0Zo83_CWJZQDV7T-wL68X2810cKK6BJ-oYOIVVkeU85n85G_xwDEc34TTgX-ZgLkwe3J8pAqodsZyo5ihM6RQc-D6NmcQXalj6Cgwk4HRJNXpV4yYZ0rEG2iM56EUdw_v1cR1MIG/s320/kiwi-graphic.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5425596489298592706" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br />Also, if you can find a use for the base kiwi image (PNG format), be my guest. I only ask that you give credit and refrain from selling the image (as stock or otherwise). </span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRjOkLs5N44d8v9rm02h5sTWw8wiXyQuPzDjOcB6pIzXiNFOqq0GsoHWjvFkAJpC9AokqF71L4zAg5huEE0WsR4M350wBVZyXfzWxM_RQMFh-uyL6KScWnpFLL9BaNPBp2xtoHnwGpXld5/s1600-h/kiwi-iso.png"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 238px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRjOkLs5N44d8v9rm02h5sTWw8wiXyQuPzDjOcB6pIzXiNFOqq0GsoHWjvFkAJpC9AokqF71L4zAg5huEE0WsR4M350wBVZyXfzWxM_RQMFh-uyL6KScWnpFLL9BaNPBp2xtoHnwGpXld5/s320/kiwi-iso.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5425597516962755154" border="0" /></a>Ozhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05905696357502122505noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5170690400276530710.post-89099774904212370992010-01-10T15:17:00.000-06:002010-01-10T15:17:00.476-06:00Four Strong Legs<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgBQhZh5KiRXGf8NwH1JcUypyZcQiQn4-IrkMxJu2mpxEKh2hrZ0Ovk4Xot6NFFNq80HZ5-g4U1ggPzi_kNjduWD18m0E75PSI-ZdCwLriMolGOAvk-CdM8VZJavwsuiQkysdvfCBxpUBE/s1600-h/fourlegs.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 297px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgBQhZh5KiRXGf8NwH1JcUypyZcQiQn4-IrkMxJu2mpxEKh2hrZ0Ovk4Xot6NFFNq80HZ5-g4U1ggPzi_kNjduWD18m0E75PSI-ZdCwLriMolGOAvk-CdM8VZJavwsuiQkysdvfCBxpUBE/s320/fourlegs.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5424481516902305570" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">Also posted this to my DeviantArt account.<br />Reference photo from <a href="http://www.dailycoyote.net">The Daily Coyote</a>.<br /></span>Ozhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05905696357502122505noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5170690400276530710.post-950238575016096752010-01-08T21:32:00.000-06:002010-01-08T21:32:00.180-06:00Friday Dogs: Ghost Rufus<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0FuIhIMEuZzpdxGaLJ1ZgtLfH0lea1mN9TCedljsYsnxraLQMrTN2-o_URgyN_jun8_vpasTcc6oZcepqFhVqEMc2jVm3qBWNyXsOEfxYVQnOzJlTCcKiQC_4NxNx8_oPRftbJpUxzsTj/s1600-h/ghostrufus.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0FuIhIMEuZzpdxGaLJ1ZgtLfH0lea1mN9TCedljsYsnxraLQMrTN2-o_URgyN_jun8_vpasTcc6oZcepqFhVqEMc2jVm3qBWNyXsOEfxYVQnOzJlTCcKiQC_4NxNx8_oPRftbJpUxzsTj/s320/ghostrufus.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421981794952223874" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">This is one of those all-too-common photography accidents, except it ended up being something I actually like. Photographing dogs is usually pretty easy compared to other animals, unless said dog is trying to get you to throw the ball. Then it's just a free-for-all.</span>Ozhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05905696357502122505noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5170690400276530710.post-70189225440550523852010-01-08T15:12:00.002-06:002010-01-08T15:17:40.603-06:00Friday dogs: Katie<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEE4Iv1R6ydM2tbeyOTaU3suT9xAxPsy3rTarTuxL6luwKVTdxweUxuQlvu7zhVRICuyFkieBrOiOyFFFnU5476BeXP4eoPXudjG_1AmwCOgaB07tCBFJNS8OyOhyWuJEVtPFHG94zIlGG/s1600-h/katie1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 216px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEE4Iv1R6ydM2tbeyOTaU3suT9xAxPsy3rTarTuxL6luwKVTdxweUxuQlvu7zhVRICuyFkieBrOiOyFFFnU5476BeXP4eoPXudjG_1AmwCOgaB07tCBFJNS8OyOhyWuJEVtPFHG94zIlGG/s320/katie1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5424480314775851922" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">Katie Biscuit, purebred golden retriever, born when I was in kindergarten, died while I was in college at the ripe age of 14. I literally grew up with her. She died old, overweight, mostly deaf, partially blind, and highly flatulent. Hobbies included lavishing affection on every human being within range, demolishing plastic children's toys, and chasing chipmunks (she actually caught one once, but didn't know what to do with it, and dropped it back to the ground, unharmed). </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">You have never met a dog so gentle.</span>Ozhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05905696357502122505noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5170690400276530710.post-71317693048125014692010-01-01T21:25:00.002-06:002010-01-01T21:30:59.930-06:00Boa tree<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_rl7whyMg-fHjBPmMnCMmZ82yrihRIR0oFkUVYblvvxG7GiCKlLv1JK4_CivPVoQDythfwE7G5tkRQUNayNZC7zv561qmocaNWcbU2nJSjtPtRVGcvNnnEfnoiAIwBMTSa2Xt5BmeZYK5/s1600-h/boatree.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_rl7whyMg-fHjBPmMnCMmZ82yrihRIR0oFkUVYblvvxG7GiCKlLv1JK4_CivPVoQDythfwE7G5tkRQUNayNZC7zv561qmocaNWcbU2nJSjtPtRVGcvNnnEfnoiAIwBMTSa2Xt5BmeZYK5/s320/boatree.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421978539840766978" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;"><br />2009 was my first Christmas <span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">in my own home, as opposed to my parents' or Evan's parents' house. It was, therefore, my first Christmas without a tree. I'm not religious — I'm not even Christian — but having the holidays without a tree was not an idea I was too keen on. So I rigged up this little beauty using four zip ties, three coathangers, two feathered boas, and a partridge in a pear tree.</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">Tacky, but effective, and made with love.</span>Ozhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05905696357502122505noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5170690400276530710.post-8336577497634955822010-01-01T00:11:00.000-06:002010-01-01T22:52:12.812-06:00Custom MLP: Kitsune<span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Kitsune is the fox formerly known as pony. It (I haven't decided if Kitsune should be male or female) was made from a pink fakie I found at Walgreen's and it's the size of a baby MLP. It features a re-angled neck, done with Sculpey — it was quite a revelation when I learned that you can bake a pony with no ill effects, though I wouldn't try it if the pony still has its hair (that stuff melts easily).<br /><br />It also has a long, fluffy tail made from fake fur which was dyed by hand using a glorious technique elucidated by Beetlecat, <a href="http://beetlecat.livejournal.com/188117.html">here</a>. The tail is attached with wire and is poseable.<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglFrBSu85XqYaWr_IW6HuZqaTRHyBBtJ4DmWDS9Fit3fCuqf6hewUkxhjZb0G7BoN-RIvf6DxNa_YBifKoyY_m4_udaWjDmYaH2SOUFQrLRmd922cBgIm1fkZwM7GZ1S5wLexrDjdArhiI/s1600-h/kitsune-front.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglFrBSu85XqYaWr_IW6HuZqaTRHyBBtJ4DmWDS9Fit3fCuqf6hewUkxhjZb0G7BoN-RIvf6DxNa_YBifKoyY_m4_udaWjDmYaH2SOUFQrLRmd922cBgIm1fkZwM7GZ1S5wLexrDjdArhiI/s320/kitsune-front.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421992325707423826" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">The hair plugs along the back of the neck were plugged up with Sculpey as well, to give it a smoother look since I wasn't going to re-hair it. Then the pony was painted by hand with acrylics and given a matte sealant to prevent chipping/flaking. The fur was attached last.</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM3F24WoaYiMi8wLhjP8XuWaqMyqrXh6fHcs5VgaqfKJq329zB6_VLSpCOE1eaPVe7q3rmqzDclx6lxbnKZn0XBQISQNQOsLUQCUqucvNVvQY3zpaAemFAAX3s7evh2FgsvvcTbzyH2nsO/s1600-h/kitsune-ds.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM3F24WoaYiMi8wLhjP8XuWaqMyqrXh6fHcs5VgaqfKJq329zB6_VLSpCOE1eaPVe7q3rmqzDclx6lxbnKZn0XBQISQNQOsLUQCUqucvNVvQY3zpaAemFAAX3s7evh2FgsvvcTbzyH2nsO/s320/kitsune-ds.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421991885440471298" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY3y_7BWkHlBJtTndqxcEQsPacn1Ve_mJcKTVfbnFrRTSM5TKB5sF5ygkH8BlAOL555JYxQlSWw6OIsEqqu9eq95PAqTouyndA2XiIkVXJTjpO-iDM_B1JAw3CKKa-aexokUUKjNiQkWaj/s1600-h/kitsune-nds.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY3y_7BWkHlBJtTndqxcEQsPacn1Ve_mJcKTVfbnFrRTSM5TKB5sF5ygkH8BlAOL555JYxQlSWw6OIsEqqu9eq95PAqTouyndA2XiIkVXJTjpO-iDM_B1JAw3CKKa-aexokUUKjNiQkWaj/s320/kitsune-nds.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421991502531513778" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Kitsune also features pink pawpads and white claws on all four feet:</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtvBgv_qOnSwCg5TeoE2WUHzs1zRZyQ8xTlk1um_VCnXDKSN_HIchmmUpb_L7Nqu6MjfEUUgRsrgn0hxgKROGD6M9p6spHTQMyL-NX-wJfZJuYnnlCg1NaCWzdSD0fOKCqZoNScdfukDOY/s1600-h/kitsune-paws.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtvBgv_qOnSwCg5TeoE2WUHzs1zRZyQ8xTlk1um_VCnXDKSN_HIchmmUpb_L7Nqu6MjfEUUgRsrgn0hxgKROGD6M9p6spHTQMyL-NX-wJfZJuYnnlCg1NaCWzdSD0fOKCqZoNScdfukDOY/s320/kitsune-paws.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421991196555928818" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">It also has tiny black whisker-spots on its muzzle, like a canine, which you can see a little bit in this snap:</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJYvduAUKg8utVMaah5OWLr78w17QhiEfBFDaYaj2ox9KtS-KwrSjYowbQU_eBIrYA6d-IA6PNSIfhAU544d_4tf6JnxlSqji8qBMUUtu1YnDsA3DrqZLX0frMeqE9APHu77DuNuu5HXlM/s1600-h/kitsune-closeup.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJYvduAUKg8utVMaah5OWLr78w17QhiEfBFDaYaj2ox9KtS-KwrSjYowbQU_eBIrYA6d-IA6PNSIfhAU544d_4tf6JnxlSqji8qBMUUtu1YnDsA3DrqZLX0frMeqE9APHu77DuNuu5HXlM/s320/kitsune-closeup.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421990993498254754" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Kitsune has identical brand marks on both sides of its rump, like the old-school ponies had. The symbol is the kanji for fox. (I know, really original, amirite?)</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYNIdoHrgYacg2v9I_jodbXrqHfqQK7IDW2AKnziI0fLO8Ey83V162zDUf9-TlCVSjYqjHGs7zLU2ayWWLxGv0fqbTlwNUhXN3cxPDXIl7DzkkmccZX2WQ-MBMvBEPDGyyzKcfL9-jGWjf/s1600-h/kitsune-symbol.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYNIdoHrgYacg2v9I_jodbXrqHfqQK7IDW2AKnziI0fLO8Ey83V162zDUf9-TlCVSjYqjHGs7zLU2ayWWLxGv0fqbTlwNUhXN3cxPDXIl7DzkkmccZX2WQ-MBMvBEPDGyyzKcfL9-jGWjf/s320/kitsune-symbol.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421990487205191474" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">The original plan:</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6HvHPwe6drEAqmTv-VFlOOpElcxvTeaHgTj49g1AAFNscN5oK7s9Zv0mmALTlQVkSCUGbrby2L2RSXbx4-BSw12Gi7zaq_3A7hhaYJY1kYmH1ehDcFdCn0YF_JaU20xAN7Ou_1LiSbsZW/s1600-h/plan-kitsune.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 236px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6HvHPwe6drEAqmTv-VFlOOpElcxvTeaHgTj49g1AAFNscN5oK7s9Zv0mmALTlQVkSCUGbrby2L2RSXbx4-BSw12Gi7zaq_3A7hhaYJY1kYmH1ehDcFdCn0YF_JaU20xAN7Ou_1LiSbsZW/s320/plan-kitsune.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421990414157338594" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">And a progress picture I took right after baking. You can see the wire for the tail, which I had to insert before baking or painting since I wouldn't be able to get the pony's head off once that was done.<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif0TvUHlGmZEysQMVkhxOaCjkHqHOwopz4SAiCm74FZYwHPkKYAET51HsVVIc_HxqFBspJp3tPW86ZE2iQT1FmRTcn00TbhkBzrVOrFdUkc8hOi8856LfcMTBC7SgU-Up04zz9UYvwQy3V/s1600-h/kitsune-wip.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif0TvUHlGmZEysQMVkhxOaCjkHqHOwopz4SAiCm74FZYwHPkKYAET51HsVVIc_HxqFBspJp3tPW86ZE2iQT1FmRTcn00TbhkBzrVOrFdUkc8hOi8856LfcMTBC7SgU-Up04zz9UYvwQy3V/s320/kitsune-wip.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421992512165064002" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">I haven't decided yet whether I'm willing to sell Kit. Leave a comment here or email me (summerdog.studio AT gmail) if you think you might be interested</span>, <span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">and we'll talk.</span>Ozhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05905696357502122505noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5170690400276530710.post-16147793916920464842009-12-18T21:34:00.007-06:002009-12-18T21:48:50.852-06:00Custom My Little Pony: Cloudburst<span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">This is my first completed My Little Pony custom. She's flawed, but I'm proud of her. I've named her Cloudburst. She used to be a G3 Starsong.</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdC56PgKBQkiYU4Kt8K9o0IhcxH6BV5AYctaC7evjPVzmBCQW6jgcOTK_8P_oz_-ACHO0g4iI1xPVszG4P130Yrk8aVyG9hGUubw9944QsdmOM_2LbWyovAclSCujMt0e2Z8Ho3Zjy2QhJ/s1600-h/cloudburst-ds.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 234px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdC56PgKBQkiYU4Kt8K9o0IhcxH6BV5AYctaC7evjPVzmBCQW6jgcOTK_8P_oz_-ACHO0g4iI1xPVszG4P130Yrk8aVyG9hGUubw9944QsdmOM_2LbWyovAclSCujMt0e2Z8Ho3Zjy2QhJ/s320/cloudburst-ds.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5416785811092916946" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">Compare the finished product with the original plan:</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSe2Hx1h1g9Bv2vy0yFgfCUvwD4p0qwLkUjVTkgo3uhT8bRByy3Y3LtstF_32SthsOBpeV8zJtwL0Bofk02miOg5k4_WAzGlStYdgc_WPu0q039MUkDbMgAKbGjsNoY4HUqLFOOFz65_Zt/s1600-h/plan-cloudburst.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 294px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSe2Hx1h1g9Bv2vy0yFgfCUvwD4p0qwLkUjVTkgo3uhT8bRByy3Y3LtstF_32SthsOBpeV8zJtwL0Bofk02miOg5k4_WAzGlStYdgc_WPu0q039MUkDbMgAKbGjsNoY4HUqLFOOFz65_Zt/s320/plan-cloudburst.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5416785875025570866" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">Cloudburst features a double-thick tail in four shades of purple with three blue braids (I had to widen the tail hole in order to get the darn thing through). Her mane is three rows thick instead of two, with the middle row cut longer than the outer rows. She has a subtle gradient on her lower legs and muzzle, along with zebra stripes on her legs, face, and the back of her neck. She has swirly white clouds on her forehooves and her "brand mark" is two clouds with rain falling from them. The eyes were repainted also.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">All paint was done by hand with acrylics and sealed with a matte sealant for durability. Nonetheless, I have to recommend Cloudburst for display only.</span> <span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">I'm willing to sell her; e-mail summerdog.studio AT gmail DOT com if interested.</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWcr8viaLr2ceXKbGZ8O7JJL2QITxQvmObXNIJ14ihkuZPCse35FXAcm41Vg45WlcDH2zSGjN_Zidg6rk-ZoHN5pzynf55OYoH4aXfPshneTME6nHZZT4PYOMmkyV43-5A2ejFMDJjU7Fs/s1600-h/cloudburst-top.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 273px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWcr8viaLr2ceXKbGZ8O7JJL2QITxQvmObXNIJ14ihkuZPCse35FXAcm41Vg45WlcDH2zSGjN_Zidg6rk-ZoHN5pzynf55OYoH4aXfPshneTME6nHZZT4PYOMmkyV43-5A2ejFMDJjU7Fs/s320/cloudburst-top.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5416786023616652610" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbwMnxdxWFpX-6vteLp3lzy-GWTLOKyYzCHORoQZTz91ikT8zuJJNtYJHj9ZpyCzzG7Eg7R37yFHQPJ7tLJdwaaTaEVSAEY4uWPuZDzrzPPGyN0Sh8U0N1xZvOapY5ViVCEHdQUkrfw81w/s1600-h/cloudburst-nds.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbwMnxdxWFpX-6vteLp3lzy-GWTLOKyYzCHORoQZTz91ikT8zuJJNtYJHj9ZpyCzzG7Eg7R37yFHQPJ7tLJdwaaTaEVSAEY4uWPuZDzrzPPGyN0Sh8U0N1xZvOapY5ViVCEHdQUkrfw81w/s320/cloudburst-nds.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5416785961157331218" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDQklJx2qJ2peZ4sbpdoE6YpJPe8o-Qs6yvg3-PpZgIjQ2LVxUC1vk-tQyc6WaFT9rLMjuw6Q3Q8IUDLXgL0Izs46_P93zd_U4Z7hVMT0lICw_GwMt8Emyd6j17aLybpuPq3rMHy7cDl8d/s1600-h/cloudburst-hooves.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 268px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDQklJx2qJ2peZ4sbpdoE6YpJPe8o-Qs6yvg3-PpZgIjQ2LVxUC1vk-tQyc6WaFT9rLMjuw6Q3Q8IUDLXgL0Izs46_P93zd_U4Z7hVMT0lICw_GwMt8Emyd6j17aLybpuPq3rMHy7cDl8d/s320/cloudburst-hooves.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5416786092237385474" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQXUKZIaDvPpkDy-y9AersVW3YMm96baC9mIsKlsMCv5-2bYfuS3zPN3Yj-Qx3Bck7i5e205JXgO8Wu9-e-0nJM4FMs7tXsvQjI3X0K6fWr9tfIRjOR9S6vPcB71DYeHS7YXngxDIjosEb/s1600-h/cloudburst-brand.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 154px; height: 154px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQXUKZIaDvPpkDy-y9AersVW3YMm96baC9mIsKlsMCv5-2bYfuS3zPN3Yj-Qx3Bck7i5e205JXgO8Wu9-e-0nJM4FMs7tXsvQjI3X0K6fWr9tfIRjOR9S6vPcB71DYeHS7YXngxDIjosEb/s320/cloudburst-brand.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5416786150305950370" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">I also just recently discovered that I'm NOT the only male in the world who makes custom ponies. I've always believed in being myself no matter what others may think about it... but still, it's something of a relief to know I'm not alone.</span>Ozhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05905696357502122505noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5170690400276530710.post-68255419423064512462009-12-04T14:21:00.000-06:002009-12-04T14:21:00.416-06:00Friday Dogs: Elderly goldendoodle<span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">From the archives, taken sometime this past summer:</span> <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijHMlIEVC_-UDLe-7G8YUxoz-lUkIfXCk5v2iqGlUP8u7oE4NE8cbXoSGGqKpkOulPe-s1zbHn9rEeME6u2OYY6ERlG0LxXnA0uO38pWjOWUO_oTJPL_XA5x11hlKuUjpiEKeDhWGMOW4F/s1600-h/namelessgoldendoodle.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijHMlIEVC_-UDLe-7G8YUxoz-lUkIfXCk5v2iqGlUP8u7oE4NE8cbXoSGGqKpkOulPe-s1zbHn9rEeME6u2OYY6ERlG0LxXnA0uO38pWjOWUO_oTJPL_XA5x11hlKuUjpiEKeDhWGMOW4F/s320/namelessgoldendoodle.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5410736924004206834" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">This is a ridiculously sweet elderly goldendoodle (golden retriever/standard poodle), owned by a ridiculously sweet elderly lady, whom I've had the pleasure of meeting several times. Unfortunately, I never learned either of their names. Whoops.</span>Ozhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05905696357502122505noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5170690400276530710.post-19510711238084304572009-12-02T14:07:00.004-06:002009-12-02T14:21:02.555-06:00Military presence<span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Evan, Rufus, and I went to Denver for Thanksgiving, and just got back last night. I'd gnaw my own leg off before subjecting a dog to riding in the cargo hold of a plane, so we drove. It's a 14-hour drive from there to Minneapolis. Rufus slept most of the way.<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoR1BezNqsJ88JPPfOL2ASTcTnoPKEB6QW1R88wkxjw_6tqz7Y85cly3o3eyAZa_B5ue6ydPE37p7kKwBhcamPMtR5mrXzBaTKHkRWffyLIC-PEquAyRrqmlF2kb46Zs79cxcfjijM_1o5/s1600-h/rufsleepynose.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoR1BezNqsJ88JPPfOL2ASTcTnoPKEB6QW1R88wkxjw_6tqz7Y85cly3o3eyAZa_B5ue6ydPE37p7kKwBhcamPMtR5mrXzBaTKHkRWffyLIC-PEquAyRrqmlF2kb46Zs79cxcfjijM_1o5/s320/rufsleepynose.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5410734508015848466" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">After sleeping in late this morning, I took Rufio out for his morning potty. The apartment complex we live in abuts the playground of an elementary school, and I won't lie to you — I felt a moment of panic when the first thing I saw was a military helicopter, blades still spinning, out on the playground, with a few soldiers in camo jumping out of it and an ambulance parked nearby. The elementary students were standing in rows and bunches closer to the school building.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">By the time I got back with the camera, everyone had gone inside. (YES, I have access to a working camera again!)</span> <span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnLT68dCT09qsmdJqoT_RgNA7rn6buSYluO4ogJCr5Ti4VM5wZHb5YKz8_RhzyJdpsDnQIzC535tPOozYGunx1oDT83yLb8LL9EXDxn88EvTe_G7bRbVKXmmIhb_s0QLUKZ2YffDOCUxr7/s1600-h/militchop2.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 206px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnLT68dCT09qsmdJqoT_RgNA7rn6buSYluO4ogJCr5Ti4VM5wZHb5YKz8_RhzyJdpsDnQIzC535tPOozYGunx1oDT83yLb8LL9EXDxn88EvTe_G7bRbVKXmmIhb_s0QLUKZ2YffDOCUxr7/s320/militchop2.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5410735711921280066" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">One of my neighbors said it was for "DARE Day."</span> <span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /><br />When I was in <a href="http://www.dare.com/">DARE</a> way back in 4th or 5th grade, they had police officers come lecture us about drugs. I had no idea that the military had gotten involved. If I had known, I would've protested.</span> <span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /><br />I want to be clear: I'm NOT anti-military. I am, however, very much against military presence in schools, regardless of whether they're actively recruiting. Because it can easily be argued that the military is ALWAYS recruiting. And when kids age 10 and under are involved, it just gets way too creepy for me.</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9M1skFKdc6EB9UT6a4GhWhniAgHeCb2u0KLt8r9zOur-Dhz-m9mDGYvoxw81BQF51QtdeJ4-Y89lt9pGIsrATKI_nmTbydb1RQiMZunrolT6JaZTF9nL93rwR2wZ-lVnjYEkSvDUE4-Ag/s1600-h/militchop1.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 182px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9M1skFKdc6EB9UT6a4GhWhniAgHeCb2u0KLt8r9zOur-Dhz-m9mDGYvoxw81BQF51QtdeJ4-Y89lt9pGIsrATKI_nmTbydb1RQiMZunrolT6JaZTF9nL93rwR2wZ-lVnjYEkSvDUE4-Ag/s320/militchop1.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5410736088438844178" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br />Besides, it costs an obscene amount of money to fly a helicopter. That seems like a pretty excessive expenditure for an anti-drug program that's been proven not to work.</span>Ozhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05905696357502122505noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5170690400276530710.post-641103155039668902009-11-23T14:33:00.000-06:002009-11-23T14:33:00.252-06:00Rain<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh38wPccNew9ka9OBhtSEKJrxJcKvghfBeyW_3goiQSGWJoraGS29uQZOYHSwpKxgnOKSVXCc8l83XGc_cHlH_jF2H0gh1JsXhZQm0gBA6eZ5zkrpSodpV-ELPVqKC74aWcC1sSPWKsTPXm/s1600-h/rain.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 256px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh38wPccNew9ka9OBhtSEKJrxJcKvghfBeyW_3goiQSGWJoraGS29uQZOYHSwpKxgnOKSVXCc8l83XGc_cHlH_jF2H0gh1JsXhZQm0gBA6eZ5zkrpSodpV-ELPVqKC74aWcC1sSPWKsTPXm/s320/rain.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5403689059711110274" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">Another older picture.</span><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">Ink + Corel Painter<br /><br />Please do not claim, alter, distribute, etc.<br /></span><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;"></span></div>Ozhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05905696357502122505noreply@blogger.com0