koru #130

It's apparently koru-unfurling time in the pacific northwest (and pacific coast in general). This one comes from my brother in the Seattle area. I especially love the way the individual leaves form their own tiny koru shapes.

You can see the same thing in another koru from my mom in the San Francisco bay area. Very cool.

koru #129

I created this little digital drawing using Online Sketch Pad. Let's just say I have a whole new respect for digital illustrators. And I started out with a lot of respect. I bet they don't have to use virtual white-out when they go out of the lines...

koru #128

Took these late last night and was too tired to post, but here they are.

Blue Moon Beads Natural Elegance glass seed bead strands in jet and lime.

koru #127

Water in the Desert: Maceration (PDF) water on dry desert earth with cacti and bone bucket.

koru #126

I finally decided to try out my new/old sewing machine before undertaking the koru quilt project I've been thinking about...

The good news is, the machine runs like a dream...

The not so good news, I haven't quite gotten the thread right...

But I remain optimistic. I really want to make that quilt.

koru #125

Sewing tape measure on tile floor.

koru #124

koru #123

So I wasn't sure I should post this one because I didn't want to spoil the surprise, but since my brother's birthday was last week, I figured what the heck. Besides, it's not the only surprise in the box.

Happy birthday, Tone!

Green-coated copper wire with skill bead, purchased at Beadweaver of Santa Fe.

koru #122

Very cool lighting fixture sent to me by my good friend Ed. Love. :)

koru #121

Toothpaste tube koru in medicine cabinet. 6.5 oz. tube of Sensodyne Extra Whitening.

I know I promised something surprising but alas, I ran in to some challenges preparing my "canvas." Soon, though. Soon...

koru #120

This stunner comes from my mom. It's amazing the way they curl. Just had to share it. But don't worry. I hope to have a surprising crafted koru tomorrow.

koru #119

So, having spent four days at the zendo, I've been thinking a lot about the "enso" and how it might be interesting to try and create a koru using a similar technique to achieve that very cool calligraphic, sumi-e technique. Let's just say I'm glad I decided to give myself some practice before busting out the canvas. That whole appearing effortless thing is a lot harder than it looks.

Art Alternatives half-pan watercolor set (green), number 10 Artist's Loft Fundementals round natural hair camel brush, Strathmore Windpower Watercolor paper (11" x 15").

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koru #118

According to my mother who took this very cool picture, this sculpture sitting in front of the Honolulu Aquarium is almost 5 feet tall. As my cousin so aptly observed: "you are getting sleepy..."

And yes, I know I promised fewer "found" and more "made" but this one was too good to pass up.

koru #117

This koru-hearted wicker angel welcomes visitors to my new friend Ann Marie's house.

koru #116

Had a little fun playing with online art tools tonight. The following koro-based designs were created at bomomo.com. (The first is my favorite of many attempts.)

koru #115a/b

So, I'm supposed to be on internet hiatus through Sunday, but I figure if I've got the koru, I may as well post the koru (or two -- one made, one found -- as the case may be).

Random seed pods found in park.

Just in case you were wondering what that koru was...

koru #114

Green-coated copper wire bracelet.

bonus koru

Hurray for art blog cross-over! Acrobotica is one of my favorite daily art blogs (not just because it's created by a good friend). It's creative and witty and just plain fun. Check it out.

koru #113

Green-coated copper wire ring (yes, I made it myself). :)

koru #112

When I originally started this project, my goal was to actually make something koru-themed every day. Unfortunately with work and moving two states away, that making turned into documenting. Sure, it's still been a lot of fun and I've founds some wonderful stuff, but now that I'm settled in my new place, it's time to get back to the original plan -- at least as often as I can. (Don't worry, I'll still post all the cool korus I find as well as the guest korus people send me.)

So, for today's koru I went back to Noah Scalin's book 365: A Daily Creative Journal and started with the first prompt: "make something small that fits in the palm of your hand using only the materials in your immediate environment." In this case, a paperclip (though I did have to go into the other room to hunt down a pair of pliers when my fingers turned out not to be up to the job).

Wish paperclips were made out of  surgical steel -- this would make an awesome earring.

koru #111

Unidentified seed pod, Santa Fe, NM.

koru #110

Pottery serving bowl, New Mexico History Museum gift shop, Santa Fe, NM.

koru #109

Koru-curled snake in eagles claw. Mural, S. Guadalupe St. near Railyard, Santa Fe, NM.

koru #109

Coiled Palm Centro headset.

bonus koru set!

Bonus #1: An absolutely stunning sand koru from The Art of Andres Amador, sent to me by my friend Kim (yes, the same Kim who sent yesterday's link-hidden beauties).
















Bonus #2: Silver bracelet with Hopi symbols for wave and bear claw belonging to new neighbor Jeremiah.

Bonus #3: Woven straw trivet belonging to new neighbor Carole.

koru #108

Koru skull homage to Noah Scalin's Skull-a-Day; pencil on paper. Check out another cool koru skull.

koru #107b

Today my friend Kim sent me a link to an amazing garden design site. While giving it a look I found a feature on Thea Sunshine Alvin. All I can say is wow. Give the link a click. You won't be sorry. And be sure to scroll down the page. Her stonework is stunning, but the piece in the middle is the one that begged to be posted. (Okay, here -- a direct link.)

koru #107

Metal faux-finished headboard, Santa Fe, NM.

koru #106

Gnarled branch koru from my friend Ann Marie.