Wild Earth Integration

With spring teasing everybody and the longer days slowly arriving, I’ve been inspired to do some colourful work.

Each pendant is imprinted and textured with little piece of nature (buds, twigs, leaves, rocks, etc), and given a shot of colour using a very cool method that leaves me covered in ink. They’re then polished and given an enamel finish, so they can be easily cleaned. (I may do a little tutorial on this if anybody is interested.) Because they forced me to get outside and hunt for natural objects, I called them the Quest Collection.

As always, they are 100% polymer clay and up for grabs. All seasons are represented here, with a main focus on capturing a little of the outdoors in some vivid colour. Click to expand each piece, or hover over to see exactly what types of plants are used – I hope you like them!

N.B: The inking process makes these pendants quite individual and hard to replicate, so once a piece is gone – it’s gone! Of course if you like a specific colour scheme or plant request I can do custom orders for you, but replicas here are a no-can-do!

P.S I’ve just started using Flickr and am a complete newbie. If you want to connect, find me here!

When I say the words “industrious real estate tycoon”, you’ll probably conjure up images of that oddly haired fellow who’s always saying “You’re fired” on national television.

Yes, Donald Trump might be awesome, but is he awesome as seen from space?

I didn’t think so.

Check this out. Scientists have discovered the world’s largest beaver dam – which sounds relatively unimpressive, until you realize the dam thing (har har) can be seen from space.

You already why beavers rock, but this dam takes architecture to the extreme. Located in Wood Buffalo National Park in Alberta, it measures 2,800 feet. To put that in perspective, that’s 8 football fields. Or, 2,800 rulers.

This slams the previous world record holder by close to 200 metres!

So, the next time you’re poring over NASA images, you can show off and pinpoint one of nature’s great marvels.

No word yet on whether the beavers are looking to expand on their franchise, but I hear Trump is in talks with them to head up his Alberta division.

Keep it wild!

Hey!

It’s Family Literacy Day.

Or as I like to call it, “put down the joystick and pick up a book’ Day. Rock on.

As you know, we go pretty nutso about nature and animals here. So I thought I’d inspire you with some nature and animal inspired reading for you and yours on this literary occasion.

I organized (or at least, attempted it) my bookshelves yesterday. We’ve recently had to install a handful of extra bookshelves because *someone* has too many books. Alas, I admit it – my name is Jess and I’m a book-a-holic.

The good news is, I found some gems in there you may love. Here are the tops gracing my shelves, for the nature adventurer in you:

• Walden and Other Writings by Henry David Thoreau – This guy basically said ‘Bah! Enough of society!’ and took off to live by himself in a cabin for 2 years. He grew his own food, talked with the animals and pulled the ultimate ‘unplugging’ known to man. His writing will make you want to go outside immediately and start preparing lists of vegetables.

• The Survival Handbook by Peter Darman – A book that everybody should have, in my opinion, because you just never know when you’re going to end up in the mountains without anything but some toothpicks and a shoelace. Learning the survival skills of “the world’s elite forces” will make you a better person, not to mention make for some great party tricks.

• The Sacred Balance by David Suzuki – Should be required reading for people who live on Earth. That is to say, everyone.

• The Emotional Lives of Animals by Marc Bekoff – Bekoff is easily one of my favorite writers and scientists. I was lucky enough to meet him at a lecture and his passion is contagious. This book outlines his work as a cognitive ethologist (someone who explores animal minds) and is a must read for animal lovers.

• The Tale of Peter Rabbit (the whole series) by Beatrix Potter – This woman is one of my heroes. She was not only a talented writer and artist, she had the observant eye of a scientist. Back in the day when women were expected to seek nothing in life other than a rich dude (gag me), Beatrix was writing nature journals in code and publishing what would later be the most successful children’s books of all time. Treat yourself to one of these classics.

• White Fang by Jack London – Nobody writes nature like Mr. London. To the best of my knowledge, this was one of the first books told from the perspective of an animal main character. You might want to move to the North after this one and buy some sled dogs.

• Supernature by Lyall Watson – I’ll bet a dollar to a donut that most people haven’t heard of this one. But don’t let its obscurity fool you. It’s a book about the ‘natural history of the supernatural’, but it’s not talking about ghosts and zombies. This book is about communication between living things, including plants. When science catches up with the natural world, I have a feeling this book will resurface and we’ll all say “Ohhh.. here it is written down already!” Definitely one for the ol’ noodle.

• Nim’s Island by Wendy Orr. Don’t lie – you’ve fantasized about living on a tropical island. Feed your imagination with this book and revel in a life where coconut is a staple. Also a great one to read to your kids during the grey of winter.

There you have it! I know there’s a lot I haven’t covered here, so I’d love to hear what books you pull out for a dose of nature – leave ‘em in the comments!

Happy Literacy Day, stay wild!

I have some happy news this week – as of 12:26 on Sunday morning, I officially have a new baby nephew!

My brother and his wife had their first child – a happy, healthy 7 pound 7 ounce wonder – born exactly on his due date. He clearly understands the importance of being punctual.

We are all ecstatic of course, and all of this baby business got me thinking about how much the world has changed since I was a wee one. Being a child of the 80′s (yes, I’m still rather young, but I *have* seen four decades), my generation has seen the rise of the Internet, globalization, climate change and yes, the Wii.

In the digital age, it’s easy to get seduced by the details. The high-res-high-def-high-speed-surround-sound-microwaveable-would-you-like-fries-with-that mentality is everywhere. I wondered what things my little nephew would see in his lifetime. How would the landscapes of the world change?

Then it hit me – the best things in life, those things that truly affect us, are timeless. The things I enjoy most about the world are the things my parents enjoyed, and theirs before them. They are also the things I hope any children I have would get to see. Incidentally, they’re also free.

Bonus.

So here, little nephew, is a list for you and other children (and kids-at-heart like my lovely blog readers), to remind you of the timeless things in life.

In your life, I wish you:

• Birds outside your window, singing away the night every morning.
• Mud to squish between your toes. Don’t worry what your parents say, just tell them that feet wash.
• Snow-fort building snow, and lots of it.
• Hot summer days, shared with lemonade, cool breezes and true friends.
• Open fields with itchy grasses that tickle your legs while you run.
• Flat rocks to skip, and big ones that just make huge splashes.
• Stars to count while you’re camping, or just to gaze at when you’re feeling small.
• Bugs! Watch them, follow them, enjoy them and set them free again.
• Trees to climb, with perfectly placed ‘helper’ branches.
• Polar bears, tigers and gray wolves. Remember every life has its place.
• Waterfalls that take your breath away.
• Heights that do the same.
• Hot sand on a beach that makes you do the anti-burn dance.
• Strawberry baskets for catching crayfish in ponds.
• Bridges. Some will lead you to better versions of yourself.
• Crackly piles of raked-up leaves in the fall. Feel free to leaf-dive.
• Rain on your face and inside your rubber boots. *Squish*
• Winter coat zippers that never nip at your chin as you do them up.
• A warm towel after a cool swim in the blue ocean.
• Books. These will take you to rainforests, deserts and the depths of the ocean.
• Grass stains on your legs and the perfect walking stick.
• Feathery, furry and scaly friends to learn about.
• And last but not least, a trusty dog. He’ll be a friend for life that you’ll never forget.

Happy Monday everyone! I’d love to hear about your timeless nature thoughts, so leave ‘em in the comments if you’re up to it!

Keep it wild!

Happy New Year!

Are you ready for another year? I have big plans for 2010, so let’s hit the ground running, shall we?

If there’s one thing I wish for everybody for the coming year, it’s to spend more time in nature. It will make you happier, healthier, smarter and quite possibly better looking. (Hey, it can’t hurt.) But according to the National Wildlife Federation, many kids are only spending four to seven minutes outside a day. Kid or adult – you need to get outside.

Here are 15 ways to get out there and rock the natural world.

1. Everyday when you wake up, take a deep breath. Air connects you to the rest of the world. Think about it – it’s quite possible that you’re breathing the same atoms that Da Vinci breathed in, hundreds of years ago. Thanks to Zen Habits for reminding me to breathe.

2. Go outside and look up. A change in perspective opens you up to new things. I promise you’ll see something new.

3. Go outside and look down. Ditto.

4. Touch trees. It sounds cheesy, but when you touch trees you’re reminded of what it feels like to be truly grounded.

5. Forget about the sanitizer for now and play in the dirt. Make moats, dirt castles and claim your land with a little flag.

5. Take off your shoes. Feel grass, puddles, soil and even snow on your feet. You’ll definitely make people wonder with barefoot prints in the snow.

6. Take a count of all the living things in your house. Try to double, or triple that number. Plants count.

7. If you have the resources, adopt a pet from your local shelter. A dog’s joy is one of the most authentic things in life.

8. Collect rocks. Stack them somewhere. Reflect on how much older than you they really are.

9. Get down close to the ground and see the world from an ant’s perspective. Stay there long enough to get used to it. Stand up and feel like a giant.

10. Climb trees. Pretend you’re Tarzan (or Jane). Loincloth optional.

11. Check out a zoo (a responsible one) and look a wild animal in the eyes. Feel that awe you get when encountering something that powerful.

12. Make a deliberate choice to learn more about nature. Read books, watch documentaries and take a new path. Thanks to Henry David Thoreau for reminding me to live deliberately, and to Melissa for writing about him.

13. Look for incredible natural patterns around you. Need a start? Look at a shelled walnut. Now look at a picture of a brain. Cool huh? Also check out trees, snails and leaves.

14. Start a nature journal. There is an astounding amount of beauty in this world, but training yourself to notice it is a skill. Take time, get your family involved and create a nature journal to document the world around you. Sketch, sculpt or take pictures of what you see. Bring the outside in.

15. Learn about a new organism everyday. Spread the word about the awesome species living in the world – the more they know, the more they’ll care. Of course, this blog is a great place to start!

All the best in 2010! As always, feel free to drop me a line in the comments – how will you discover nature this year?

What do you get when you mix fire and ice?

A whole lot of awesome, that’s what.

Seeing how we’re starting to enter into ‘Winter Temperatures: The Extreme Edition’ around here, I thought it would be a great time to put all of the cold to some creative use. Plus, all of this gray outside can make people squirrelly. Enter the Icy Candle Holder. I swear, it’s going to be the next Snuggie.

All you’ll need is an empty can – big, small, whatever you have – (although tuna sized cans would make for particularly cute holders), some water, food coloring and a chunk of plasticine. And if you know me at all, you know I’ve got plenty of plasticine lying about. *Grin*

Start off by cleaning out your can and giving it a quick dry with a tea towel. Next, use your hands (or feet, if you’re really talented) to form it into a tea light shape. Don’t worry, you don’t have to be Bernini to pull this off. Starting off with a bit of clay the size of a rum ball should do the trick. Stick your chunk of clay into the bottom of the can – this will serve as where the candle will be set when your masterpiece is done.

Next, fill ‘er up! Add water to the top and a dash of food coloring and head on outside to find a good spot for it to freeze. Letting the water freeze for awhile before adding color will give you some cool streaky designs, while adding it right away will give you a nice blended look. When the whole lot is frozen, a quick run under warm water will loosen the ice and voila! – a wintery candle holder to add a bit of color to your winter world!

I’d love to see some of your creations, so send some my way (pictures, please no ice in the mail) if you try it out!

Now if you’ll excuse me, I’ve got to go and shovel purple snow.

Field notes:

-Hat on wet hair does not a warm girl make.

-Adding bird seed to the water will gain you some feathered friends.

-If attempting while windy, be prepared for lovely food colored-splash on pristine white snow. (see above) This might result in neighbors thinking your dog is terribly ill. Oh my.

We got snowed on last night, mighty snowed on. I woke up to a blanket of white this morning, but a check on the forecast shows that temperatures are going up quickly and my snow-town is soon to become a slush-town. Gross.

We nature lovers aren’t always lucky enough to have sunny with a light breeze. No, sometimes it’s downright awful out there. “Brace weather” I call it – where you can’t go outside for two minutes without screwing your face up inside your scarf and bracing against the world. Sometimes, you even get those little frozen dripsicles under your nose. Delightful.

How do you enjoy nature when brace weather hits? Here’s five ways to connect with the outside, without the frostbite.

• Suck it up – arm yourself with forty layers and go out anyways! Of course, this one only works when you’ve got the right gear for the chill. We don’t want anyone getting hypothermia here. Some of the best experiences outside happen when you’re caught trudging through knee deep snow. Why? It’s exhilarating. You realize again that you’ve got quad muscles. As soon as you stop trying to hide from the precipitation (why do we think that works?), the feeling of being out getting pummeled by snow is really kind of fantastic. So is the feeling of knocking down icicles (yes, I’m four), rolling down a hill and watching all of the other creatures (or kids) muck about. So the next time you think the weather is blech, maybe try heading outside anyways – you may just surprise yourself. And remember, snow=tracks=awesome animal watching!

• Listen. Sometimes, the worst weather can make the best sounds. Although most animals are quiet during storms, the rain, hail, snow, thunder and wind create some pretty neat symphonies. Turning the television, radios and other techy sounds off and listening to the world outside can help you feel connected, while you’re nice and dry inside (roaring fire optional). Try sitting in the middle of a dark room (ignore how creepy that sounds) and pinpointing all of the sounds you hear outside. This is also a great way to trick get the kids involved in some quiet time.

• Use the bad weather to create something new. The obvious one here is – build a snow fort! I don’t care if you’re 9 or 90, building a snow fort probably never gets old. Other alternatives- snow car, snow dog and snow mermaid. The key here is frequent cocoa breaks. But you can also stay in to use bad weather in this way. If you’re a writer, use the dark day to delve into your work. I find the dark winter mornings are like blinders for my mind, helping me to focus on a writing project at hand. Artists, photographers and other creative types can all learn something from the bad weather because the light and sounds are so different and dynamic.

• When the weather outside is frightful, it might just be the time to enjoy a good book. Thanks to some remarkable authors out there, you can enjoy a little surge of nature in the written word. Thoreau’s Walden is a great read for anyone who fantasizes about packing up and living off the land for awhile (or is perhaps sick of yet another reality show commercial on the tube). Other greats are A Sand County Almanac and anything by David Quammen or Tom Brown. For kids, there are lots of nature related books out there, that can help them plan their next outing. Some of my favourites growing up were Island of the Blue Dolphins (I still want a fort made of whale ribs) and the Beatrix Potter series. What are your faves for you or the kids?

• Have a nature backup plan. Now, this one involves a bit of planning, but trust me – it’s worth it and you and the kids will love it. The key here is to go out before the bad weather hits and collect your favourite bits of nature. Dried leaves, pressed flowers, rocks – anything goes (of course, we like to leave the living things in their homes). Put all your great finds into a memory box or cloth bag of sorts and presto- you’ve got yourself some portable nature to whip out anytime you’re itching to get outside and the weather won’t cooperate. If you’ve got kids, the dreary outside can be a great opportunity to research your latest nature goodies.

So there you have it.  As always, comments are open – let’s hear your thoughts! How do you enjoy nature when bad weather hits?