Visitors

These are both frequent visitors in our backyard. We love sitting out under the trees in our adirondack chairs and listening to the birds and squirrels. Although, with 3 terriers in our family, any squirrels are taking a serious risk to enter our yard!

Wordless Wednesday

Noah Swimming

 

One of the aquatic centers near us closes for the season after Labor Day weekend. Then they reopen on the following Sunday afternoon to allow dog owners to bring their dogs for a swim before they drain all of the pools for winter. I went last year, and it was a lot of fun, so I decided to take Noah this year. I wasn't sure if he would enjoy the water or not, but it turns out that he swims like a champ!

My Princess

We adopted Mya two years ago, and every day I am thankful for her love and companionship. She is truly my little princess!

Not Always Black & White

No matter which political party you support, I think you'll agree that the issues are not always black and white. This series of collages is my response to all of the political campaigns and advertisements. They are available for sale on my website. Please stop by and take a look!

http://www.karenstiehlosborn.com/Gallery/NotAlwaysBW.htm

Wordless Wednesday

Blues

I'm still painting on this new cloth, and I like the results. It takes the paint well, and the texture of the cloth adds a new dimension to the finished art. This piece is about 6" square and has numerous layers of paint. 

Boston

Yesterday I went to a huge adoption event for Hands, Hearts & Paws that was sponsored by a local car dealership. They really went all out, and it was a great event! 

This photo is Boston, who was my escort for the event. He is a one year old yorkie, and he loved playing with all the other dogs!

And Mya loves her new toy from the dealership! She's not sharing this toy with any of the other dogs.......LOL

Matisse

 

This little cutie is Matisse, a 6 year old Bichon that is new to rescue. I just loved photographing him! He has such a sweet, friendly personality. Apparently animal control took him from his owners due to neglect. I hope he finds a perfect forever home, and soon!

Wordless Wednesday

Weeble's Wheels

Sometimes your schedule takes an unexpected turn, and you are never, ever the same. My husband and I gave up our weekend to build this "dune buggy", so that this little 10 week old rottweiler puppy could have some mobility. When we watched him walk down the sidewalk in it this afternoon, we were both a little teary-eyed. What an amazing adventure!

It's Official!

Jim, Zeke, Noah, Karen, Mya

We have adopted our little foster yorkie and changed his name to Noah. He is so adorable, and we fell in love with him almost instantly. Noah is a one year old puppy mill survivor, and he loves having a yard and family. Mya is his favorite when it is time to play, but the rest of the time he idolizes Zeke and follows him everywhere.

Wordless Wednesday

Next Collage

I am enjoying the graphic nature of these collages. Each one is different, yet they are all similar. The arc is stitched on each one.

Continuing On

While I am waiting for new cloth and new paint to arrive --- both are on order --- I returned to a recent series of collages. Originally I was a graphic designer, and black & white images have always seemed more dramatic to me. I love working with pen & ink, yet I also love the touch of color in these collages. My only guideline is that I am only incorporating one color with the black & white images.

Seattle

Look who followed me home yesterday! I took two little yorkie boys to a "Meet & Greet" event for the rescue, and this little one snuggled right into my arms after giving me a couple of kisses. I guess he knows how to bribe me! LOL

Seattle is one year old, and he spent his first year in a puppy mill. Yesterday he raced around our backyard --- exploring and running and playing. So fun to watch!

Wordless Wednesday

"Vista"

20"h x 42"w

$1000

I rarely experiment with new materials, but recently I was given a length of an unusual cloth for painting and playing. It is called cavity insulation fabric, and I enjoyed painting on it. Once it was painted, I mounted it on a cradled board, and I am very pleased with the outcome.

"Vista" was inspired by the golden, drought-ridden cornfields, with a touch of green here and there at the tree lines, plus flashes of the red sumac. 

Wordless Wednesday

Wrangler

I photographed this little guy today. He's a tiny rottweiler puppy, and it looks like he is going to need hip surgery when he gets a little older. We don't think he is even 8 weeks old yet. But he is adorable, and so cuddly and sweet!

A Quick Foster

This is Memphis, a small 6 pound male yorkie. He will be turning one on August 7th, and I am totally in love with him! We just started fostering him this week and working with him on socialization and house manners. He came from a puppy mill and is very shy.

And he has already been adopted!!! Now he will celebrate his first birthday in his forever home, with his schnauzer big brother!

Printing with Nature

One of my projects during my time at Patton Lake was to gather local leaves and do numerous monoprints with them. This is a detail of a piece of cloth that is approximately 2' x 4', printed with various leaves. I'm not sure about the next direction for this cloth, but I love all the variety of leaves included in it!

A Lake, A Kayak & Me

I just returned home from nine days of kayaking, bird watching, painting and photographing. It was very tranquil --- no tv, no phone, no internet --- and I had plenty of time for creativity and self reflection. I came home rested and rejuvenated and ready to start anew in the studio, with a new series of art!

Collage #2

5" x 7"

matted to 8" x10"

$50

New Collage

5"x7"

matted to 8"x10"

$50

This is the first collage in a new series, "Plus One", featuring black & white plus one other color. Each collage incorporates paper, cloth, paint and stitching.

Snickers & Phoenix

Little Snickers has been adopted! Here she is with her forever mom, Sharla, who was very excited to be chosen as Snickers new mom. I have no doubt that Snickers is going to be spoiled and loved, plus she will get to play with Alize, another of my former fosters, since their moms are friends!

This little guy is Phoenix. He's a one year old yorkie, who spent his first year in a puppy mill. When he arrived in rescue, he had severe bilateral hip dysplasia and needed immediate surgery. He walked on his front legs, because his back legs couldn't support any weight. Pilots N Paws flew him to an orthopedic surgeon in Kansas last Sunday, and he had FHO surgery on both hips on Monday afternoon. He flew back to Omaha on Thursday morning, and we have been fostering him. He is such a sweetheart and has an amazing personality, even after all that he has been through!

Phoenix's stitches --- his incisions are healing nicely with no signs of infection.

Here's Phoenix walking in the yard, 6 days post op. He is a fighter!

Sweet dreams, little Phoenix! Here he is, tucked in a fleece sleeping bag made by a friend.

Babies

We have our first set of twins in our family, and they are adorable. Maddyn and Moyer arrived early this month, and everyone is totally in love with these little sweethearts!

Simple Beauty in Nature

I love this photo of such a simple object. I think the composition makes it so much more interesting, plus all of that texture!

P.S. I took this as I was photographing a young hawk, kind of a side note to the main attraction!

Pastel of Austin

When we first started fostering Austin, I started this pastel sketch of him. Now I'm disappointed that I didn't get it finished before he got adopted. Somehow I only managed to get the first two colors applied. It is a sad testimony to my recent lack of studio time.

Today I have started a To Do list, in an effort to get my life under control again. I have started blocking out studio time on a regular basis, like I used to do, and I am going to limit the distractions once again. The laptop and cell phone usage have gotten out-of-control. It is time for a change!

Austin is Adopted!

Austin, our handsome little yorkie foster in the yard.... such a friendly sweetheart! He has been so much fun to foster, with his amazing personality!

Austin with his forever family --- Scott, Paula, Taylor and his two maltese brothers, Cody and Max.

All 3 pups getting treats from Taylor, as Austin learns the routine.

Austin finally zonked with Scott. The blanket is a fleece blanket that Austin has been using at our house. One of our volunteers makes each dog their own blanket, and it goes with the dog to their forever home. Such a great touch!