What's Your Sign?

First off, it's a birthday celebration here at the Two by Two--this art challenge blog is officially one-year old! So we have a birthday kind of theme this time around: YOURS!

If you lived through the Seventies, you survived Nehru jackets, madras plaid, bell bottoms, macrame and tie dye.
Then you were subjected to disco, qiana (the fabric, not the model) and mile-high hair. But that's a discussion for a different day.
Back to the '70's, perhaps the lamest pick-up line of all time is, "What's your sign?"
In astrology, how the stars aligned at the moment of your birth defines who you are and who you will become. (And, by extension, who you are compatible with).

There is the zodiac based on 12 constellations:

There's also a different way of looking at the stars in the Southern hemisphere:

Sun signs of the Southern Hemisphereby Alice Portman

The Chinese zodiac based on which year you were born:

There is a Celtic calendar:

Answers the age-old question:
"If you were a Tree,
What wood you be?"

There are rocks and flowers associated with your birth-month:

And planets:

All divided by the elements, earth, wind, fire...

And water. (Oops, got side-tracked again!)

We like this Nerd zodiac:

Or this emoji one:

Which brings us to this totally cute Zodiac:

So, do tell: What IS YOUR sign? Show us your twinchies!
Send images of your artwork to 1xeritas@gmail.com by 2PM Arizona time, Tuesday, March 22, 2016. [N.B. Arizona does not observe daylight savings time, so you have an extra hour now!] We'll post the responses later the same day.
Come back next week and see the signs!

Week 26--Unicorns

Let's dive right in, shall we?

Tina sent this from Germany. She said having two daughters has made her well-versed in the mystical creatures. She upped the ante by working with Blacklight Gelly Rolls and photographing the result under blacklight:

Unicorn by
Tina

As she noted, the effect is just magical! We know what we're adding to our art supply goodie list.

From Alabama, Freebird sent a "Catacorn," in the Kawaii form, in beads:

Catacorn by
Freebird

We wonder if the kitten's incredible cuteness is it's greatest power? Also, magical!

Our official response:

Unicorn by
Cheryl

Thanks for all the participants sending their "corny" twinchies this week. Be sure to check out the artists's blogs and consider trying your own hand in the challenge?
Until next time....

More Unicorns

If you joined us last time, you know that you don't want to play leapfrog with a unicorn, which is an interesting segue to today's twinchie theme of "unicorn."
Nearly every culture has a unicorn somewhere in its past, and not all of them are pretty like this

*CUTE*
Unicorn by
My Little Pony

But they are known to have magical or mystical powers such as being able to cure sickness and neutralize poisons. And to catch one requires a virgin as it will sleep on her lap.

The gentle and pensive maiden has the power to
tame the unicorn, fresco
Attributed to Domenico Zampieri, 1602

For a general rundown on everything unicorn, check this out and for descriptions in your native language, go here.
Show us your unicorns! Send the results to: 1xeritas@gmail.com by 2 PM, Arizona time, Tuesday, March 8, 2016 and we'll post them later the same day.

Week 25--Leap

This coming week marks the end of "Leap Month," with February 29, so the twichie word of the week is "leap."

Freebird thought of leap frog and tree frogs, so she created this adorable  and colorful piece in beads. Also on her blog:

Leap by
Freebird

We, on the other hand, allowed our minds to jump around. The explanation of how we got here is on this blog:

Leap?
By Cheryl

We hope you'll take time to visit the artists' blogs, sprinkle kind thoughts all around and perhaps next time join in on the fun?!
Until next time....

The Calendar and Unicorns

This year, 2016, is a leap year in the Gregorian calendar. That means an extra day, the leap day of February 29, is added to make sure the calendar stays in sync with the rotations of our planet around the sun.

Cultures that mark their own years, such as in the Chinese and Jewish calendars, have a variety of different ways of making up for lost time. Very interesting stuff.
Add a day here, add a month there....

You can take a leap of faith.

Or...

And there's this cute saying.

That's a very keen observation, don't you think?

You can play leap frog (just stay away from the unicorns!)

Or Leap Frog

You can make decisions with a Leap or Jump Mat--kind of like a Magic 8 Ball for your feet

Or you can take one small step and it becomes a giant leap for all mankind.

What kind of art will you leap into?

Send us your TwobyTwos, your twinchies to:
1xeritas@gmail.com by 2PM Arizona time, Tuesday, February 23, 2016. Include links to your blog post or what-have-you. We'll post all the accumulated goodies later the same day.

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....

Warm and Fuzzy

There's nothing quite like a cozy sweater n a cold winter's day, except perhaps hot chocolate with marshmallows.
But that's something altogether different. Let's get back to the sweaters. (And we're not talking people who perspire, that would be really different. Ah, the English language! How easy it is to mutilate!)

There are Fair Isle sweaters:

And there are Aran sweaters:

And we learned that there are meanings behind the various patterns. We just thought these things were impossibly difficult to knit.

And we're not quite sure about the Ugly Christmas Sweater craze, other than it's an excuse for a party.

All we can say about THAT is WOW! Full disclosure: we have our share of outrageous sweaters from the 80's that can now claim honors at that kind of party.

Whatever your fancy, let's see some pretty sweaters in miniature! Send your twinchies to:
1xeritas@gmail.com by 2PM Arizona time, Tuesday, February 9, 2016 along with blog linkies or notes on your inspiration. We'll post them later that day for all the world to see!