Week 58--Zipper

The week's word was zipper. We thought the idea was pretty straightforward. Then Freebird sent in her beadwork: she found an arachnid that weaves a zipper-like web!

Is that cool or what? Mother Nature can surely surprise us, can't she?

That's the offerings this week. Be sure to check out the artist's blog! Until next time....

Week 55--Key

The word this week was, "key." Are you like us and have a can of keys to cars and houses that you haven't owned in a lifetime? NO? We thought everybody did!

Freebird sent this beaded artwork of filigree keys, isn't it delightful? What wondrous doors they must open!

Our official response is a collage:

I guess you'll just have to visit the artists' blogs to see what they had in mind in creating these mini artworks! Be sure to do that or even better, try your hand at this twinchie challenge!

Until next time....

Week 50--News

Not much news to report, just some great art entries for the week.

From Arkansas, Freebird sent her graphic of a newspaper front page in beads:

Our official response is a collage:

Be sure to check out the artists' blogs to see what they have to say about their artwork!
Let them know you saw it here. Maybe you'll want to join in on the fun?

Until next time....

Week 47--Fairies

We are nearly bidding 2016 farewell. The magic of a brand new year is almost upon us. And what else to expect to spread cheery good will than fairies, mystical little winged creatures?

Freebird sent us her "Teal Star Fairy" from Arkansas.

Be sure to check this little cutie out on her blog. Love the sparkly beads. Perhaps we'll see her again, sometime?

Our official response is a close-up, a favorite doodle of an eyeball. Try as we might to draw the whole fairy....

That's it for now, until next year...!

Week 41--Copper

If, indeed, there is a collective consciousness and inspiration is everywhere, then this week's responses drew from that collective wealth. The artists, with very different mediums, illustrated eerily similar ideas.

First up, Freebird beaded an entry to the periodic table:

And it snuck into our official response:

Be sure to visit the artists' blogs to see what they've been creating. And if the spirit moves you, to participate, next time, any time!

It's that time of year for posting next year's list! So you will see "2017" as a new page. It took a couple weeks to sift through the working list and narrow down the choices to 26--coincidentally, one for each letter of the English alphabet. We may rearrange the words yet, which is why there are no dates on the page. Get ready for another exciting year!

Until next time....

Week 40--Astronomy

Look to the stars and what do you see? 

Freebird captured a spaceship and Saturn in her signature beads:

If you could rocket into space, where would you go?

We're not planning on going to Pluto soon, but we occasionally visit the observatory that was responsible for finding the dwarf planet. Thus we have:

Be sure to check out the blogs to learn about the artists and their inspiration, to see what they see. Perhaps, to try your own hand at interpreting the challenge, to boldly go where none have gone before? 

Until next time....

Week 38--Poetry

How to put words into pictures? Isn't that what defines the artistic endeavor? To convert thoughts and ideas into images?

Sometimes easier said than done!

Freebird wanted to channel her inner Edgar Allan Poe and chose to illustrate setting quill to paper with her bead art:

We, too, wanted to go in a different direction than where we finally ended up. We started with concrete and ended up in water for the official response:

Meanwhile, Mr. Poe's words rattle around in the grey matter:
"This is it and nothing more...
Quoth the Raven, 'Nevermore'."

Until next time....

Week 35--Hearts

Freebird sent this in and we will let her words speak, then her art.

I had a design all set up for this week, but with the Dallas thing that just happened it changed my perspective on the design.  I used the background from the tradition theme from last year but the heart design came from wanting and praying for love, understanding, peace and equality for all people.  I guess I am in a tribute mood lately.  Have a blessed and creative week. 

Ours pales in comparison:

Until next time......

Week 32--Blanket

Here in sunny Arizona, we have been enjoying the loveliest spring weather with chilly nights. Perfect for pulling a nice fuzzy blanket up to our ears.
Until today. With the turn of the calendar to June, it's officially Summer, with Inferno expected over the weekend. Did you know meteorologists have a different definition of summer from astronomers? While summer doesn't officially start until June 22 based on the movements of the sun, weathermen (or women) say it starts June 1.
We're believers.
But before we get all heated up, let's look at our blankets.

From Freebird, we have this beaded cutie:

And our official response is a positive relic:

Every child, no matter how old, should have a blankie to call their own.
Until next time....

Week 31--Echo

Oh, this was a toughie: how do you creatively illustrate a sound? AND keep it to a diminutive size? We think the artists handled this challenge bravely and admirably. For the visual "Echoes:"

First, Freebird created this in beads. She explains: "It was a picture I saw online that was made to convey 2 echos hitting one another.  I just loved the colors on it." 

Echo by
Freebird

It's a very bold graphic in bright colors, isn't it? We appreciate that Freebird has completed each and every challenge thus far. And she's our best cheerleader. A big woohoo for Freebird!

And a big welcome back to Sarah! She promised to return once she took care of some health issues and true to her word, here she is:

Echo by
Sarah

In her own words, "I tangled Opus, which reminds me of a musical score to a symphonic piece or just in its form as a tangle how it undulates and repeats." 

Also a bold representation with color and a single tangle, this just sings!

Our official response is part of a larger composition, six twinchies in all, based on the tangle "Echoism." This looks like a pair of Emperor penguins to us:

Echo by
Cheryl

Thanks for visiting and don't forget to visit the artist blogs to see what all they've been up to and offer kind words of encouragement. Let them know you saw them here! And perhaps? Try your own hand at TwobyTwo art!?

Until next time....

Week 30--Wood

Thank you for checking in on the results for this weeks' TwobyTwo, The word is wood, which can take on many meanings and therefore can be illustrated in so many ways.

In Arkansas, Freebird went with the definition that falls into "into the woods," as in "forest." She made this lovely depiction with her beads:

Wood by
Freebird

You can just hear the wind through the trees and the leaves gently falling!

This is our official response, a ZIA using the pattern, "Wud:"

Wood by
Cheryl

Be sure to check out the blogs and see how the artists were inspired this week--and let them know you saw them here! Perhaps, join in on the fun!
Until next time....

Week 28--Orange

There has been just a little hilarity as we were playing with Knock-Knock jokes this week. We have to wonder: does the Banana joke even translate into any other language?
Aren't you glad we chose "orange" this week? Because we are!

First in, from Germany is Tina's contribution:

Orange by
Tina

She sent this note along with her art:

"This week's challenge was very interesting. I thought about it a long time to find something special for your "orange" theme but nothing wanted to come in my mind. So I just started to draw this evening and the result is a little still life of oranges and an abstract drawing of yellow, red and orange on the wall in the background. 
Hope you like it."

And we do!

Freebird sent this beadwork from Arkansas:

Orange by
Freebird

She has her inspiration and materials list on her blog, and naturally, the Knock-Knock joke!

After working on Citrus all week long, our official response is a bit of collage:

Orange by
Cheryl

Be sure to check out the artists' blogs and tell them you found them here! Kind comments and encouragement are always welcome! Thanks for visiting, perhaps consider participating?
Until next time....

Week 24--Sweater

What a difference a week makes! Last week we couldn't wear enough layers, this week we're back to t-shirts, shorts and sandals. We try to enjoy the cooler weather because soon enough it'll be the inferno that makes an Arizona summer. Which is why the twinchie of the week is, "sweater."

Freebird channeled her inner Olivia Newton-John, putting on a varsity sweater from "Grease," as you'll see on her blog.

Letterman Sweater
by Freebird

Our official response was a little off-center, composed of elements for instructions from 2003 for a granny-square poncho. We have no delusions that granny squares or ponchos are or have EVER been hip, just so you know. Square, definitely.

Square
by Cheryl

Have a brilliant week! Until next time....

Week 22--Goldfish

We can't tell you why we've had a hankering for Campbell's Tomato Soup with Pepperidge Farm Goldfish crackers, but it was on our mind all week. And we finally had it for lunch!

No childhood is complete without it!

Freebird followed a childhood theme for the first challenge of the year, a cartoon of a cat fishing in a fishbowl:

Also on her blog. Reminds us of Cleo and Figaro in Disney's Pinocchio, how about you?

Our official response can be found here and here:

Thanks for stopping by and seeing where the themes take the artists. We appreciate your time and wish you could join in the fun!
Until next time...

Week 14--Cake

Our inbox has been filled with delightful stories and some very yummy offerings.

Ann in Denmark got her daughter involved--while Ann drew her twinchie, her soon-to-be ten year-old daughter actually baked a cake! She said by the time she finished drawing, the house smelled heavenly. YUM!

Cake
by Ann

Sarah shared this story from Michigan:

This year a very special thing happened while at lunch on my birthday. An older lady was having her birthday at the restaurant with a group of people. She was in her late 70's, and I was turning 38. I waved at her and wished her a happy birthday and said 'me too!' And she smiled. A half hour later one of the older ladies friends brings my Mom and I each a piece of coconut cream cake. 

I will treasure that moment as I said thank you, and the old lady waved and smiled. Definitely the best birthday cake ever. 

Cake
by Sarah

From Arkansas, Freebird sent a slightly off-centered wedding cake:

Cake
by Freebird

Our official response to the challenge is:

Cake
by Cheryl

This weeks offerings made us very hungry! It just happens to be a birthday WEEK in our house, but EVERY day is cause for celebration, isn't it?
Be sure to check out what all of these talented artists are doing--it's typically a LOT! And join in the fun, won't you?
Until next time....Let them eat CAKE!