Dia de los Muertos Masks

Dia de los Muertos is one of my favorite holidays! Living in the Southwest I have noticed that this celebration has becoming increasingly part of popular culture without becoming over commercialized. If you are unfamiliar with Dia de los Muertos I highly recommend reading up on it. It is a meaningful holiday that celebrates life and death. Added bonus the decorations are amazing.

To celebrate this year I made my own Dia de los Muertos skull masks. I picked up the paper mache masks at Michael's right before Halloween. If you are lucky they still may have some!!! Next I painted them using regular craft paint. The traditional skulls are usually colorful and celebratory. We tried a little bit of everything.

Paper mache mask primed in white craft paint

Decorating with swirls and things

Good thing about being a skull: No double chin

Luchador! Courtesy of Casey

Muy traditional

Finished Mask- Like the Platinum Grill? It was unintentional.

What if this is what I look like inside?

This scares me pretty bad

Someone give this guy a sandwich

I know that you are thinking: Finally! A use for all those skull masks I have just laying around the house. You are welcome!!!!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

Milo as El Diablo

Hannah as a bat (naturally)

Felt Squid Gift-O-Rama

My friend Jenny is a fan of the wool felt animals, and for the past few months she has hinted that a wool felt squid would be really great.  Always being one to please, I whipped this little guy up for her. I hope Jenny enjoys her new friend!

Arty Squid

Orcas better watch their backs

 Please do not do this with a real squid

It is all in the eyes

Wool Felt Gift: Panda Addition

My very soon to be brother-in-law Carl had a birthday just the other day, and I wanted to give him something special. Panda special to be exact. Carl really likes pandas, and I assume pandas really like Carl.I got out my wool, my needle and got to felting. This is what I came up with.

Birthday Panda!

Love my face

Beary nice

Pandie in situ (image courtesy of Casey)

Mmm Bamboo

I hope Carl really enjoys his panda and keeps it nice and safe away from the dogs!

Devo & McRib Dogtography

Ok I am a giant liar. I promised there would be more crafts before photography. Clearly this is more photography. There are crafts in the making, but the pictures aren't ready yet. These pictures are.

I would like to introduce you to Devo and McRib. These are my sister and her soon-to-be-husband's dogs. They are rescue pups (which I love!), shar-pei mixes, and also brother and sister. They have very silly names as well.

McRib Vision

I think he is a pitbull for sure

Debating which gross thing to do next

Screams!

Sister and Brother

McRib with dignity

McRib's tongue (no dignity)

Kiss

Lovely Lady Devo

PawPaw

The Eyebrows!

What a Love

McRib deep in thought (common in mutts)

I hope you can forgive my little lie and hope you enjoy the dogtography!

p.s. Click on the images for extra hugeness!

Awww Rats!

Although I focus on dog photography, I love ALL animals... OK, I don't like mosquitos. Darby asked me to take pictures of his new rat babies, and I was happy to oblige. They proved difficult to capture because they were so darn quick. If an eye wasn't blinking than a whisker was twitching! Also, please excuse all the noise (graininess) in the pictures. I really had to increase the ISO and it wasn't ideal. If it really bothers you please squint. Thank you.

Family Picture

Brotherly Love

Ratty Drama

Convict!

Rat Art= Rart?

Heavenly

And then there was light! And then a mini rat!

Albino Beauty

Whiskas!

Sexy shoulder glance

Ratatouille

I think beady eyes are charming

Good rat. Five dollar. Deals?

Rat circa 1974

The cutest infestation ever

Peeker

Hope you enjoy!!!

Dog Photography

In an attempt to improve my photography (specifically dog photography) I decided to take my camera along for a quick weekend getaway to Greer. I captured a whole lot of images! Here are some of the better ones. I think I am improving on my CRAFT.

You can get lost in those eyes!

NO WAI! (thanks Nico!)

What to murder next...

She loves vacays

A tale of two tails

Sneak Attack

Dainty Paws

My love

Just my fur kids. Hangin' out.

Glamour shot (where is the red rose?)

Driver License Photo

Coach Snuggle

Whiskas!

Sneak attack part II

Leash vision

A squeaky toy may have been used

Someone needs Just For Men Gel