Archive for the ‘Thoughts’ Category
A very safe and happy New Year!
Posted by: Lyon
December 29th, 2011 >> Coloring Pages, Illustration, Thoughts
Thank you so much for being a loyal blog visitor. There would be no point to doing this without your continued support.
This week’s coloring page is a tiny bit different. Every once in a while, I get a bug to do something ‘more’ with them and they become activity pages. These snowflakes are a matching game as well as a coloring page. I hope you and your little ones enjoy them. Click the image to open a .jpg to print and color.
Here in Missouri, we’ve only had a dusting of snow on Monday, which was all melted before the end of the day. Temperatures have been well above freezing for the majority of the month. For a New England transplant like me, it just isn’t winter without the white stuff covering the ground.
I’m hard at work on a number of book related projects, but I can’t spill the bean just yet. I hope to be able to tell you all about them very soon.
As always, I love to hear from you. Emails, comments and your colored pages make my day.
Happy New Year, to all. Be safe in your celebrations and I’ll see you in 2012!
Blessings,
Lyon
Email your colored image (less than 1mb) to coloringpage (at) handcraftedpagan (dot) com and I’ll post it to my blog!
Do you have a special request for a coloring page? Let me know either via an email or through one of my social networking sites. I’m on Twitter and Facebook.
I send out coloring pages to let people know about me, my art and my children’s books. Help support my efforts by spreading the word or buying any of my books. Please stop by any of my social networking sites to leave me a message (here is good too!) and let me know how you like the coloring pages. Remember, I provide these pages free of charge for your own personal use. Do not reproduce them or use them for any other purpose without my written permission.
Solstice is upon us. Bring back the light!
Posted by: Lyon
December 21st, 2011 >> Coloring Pages, Illustration, Thoughts
Celebrate the return of the sun tonight. The season are shifting toward spring again. Time to begin planting new ideas for a fruitful harvest in the summer and fall months to come.
Click the image to open a .jpg to print and color.
Email your colored image (less than 1mb) to coloringpage (at) handcraftedpagan (dot) com and I’ll post it to my blog!
Enjoy the coloring page! See you next week!
Do you have a special request for a coloring page? Let me know either via an email or through one of my social networking sites. I’m on Twitter and Facebook.
I send out coloring pages to let people know about me, my art and my children’s books. Help support my efforts by spreading the word or buying any of my books. Please stop by any of my social networking sites to leave me a message (here is good too!) and let me know how you like the coloring pages. Remember, I provide these pages free of charge for your own personal use. Do not reproduce them or use them for any other purpose without my written permission.
Hup, two, three, four. Color in the nutcrackers.
Posted by: Lyon
December 7th, 2011 >> Coloring Pages, Illustration, Thoughts
I’ve been meaning to get the house decorated for the holidays, but all things being equal, it hasn’t happened yet.
Mostly, the weather hasn’t been very cooperative. It’s been cold, wet and windy for most of the last week. The sun came out today, but as luck would have it, I have a bunch of deadlines that can’t wait and the house decoration can. All I’ve managed to do so far is hang a couple of bows from the porch railings. The rest will have to wait until I have time to dig through the garden tools and get the holiday decorations from the spare room in the basement. Then the evergreen branches will join the bows and a holiday wreath will find it’s way to the front door.
One of my all time favorite holiday shows is the Nutcracker ballet. I used the story as inspiration for this week’s coloring page. Have fun coloring!
Click the image to open a .jpg to print and color. Email your colored image (less than 1mb) to coloringpage (at) handcraftedpagan (dot) com and I’ll post it to my blog!
Enjoy the coloring page! See you next week!
Do you have a special request for a coloring page? Let me know either via an email or through one of my social networking sites. I’m on Twitter and Facebook.
I send out coloring pages to let people know about me, my art and my children’s books. Help support my efforts by spreading the word or buying any of my books. Please stop by any of my social networking sites to leave me a message (here is good too!) and let me know how you like the coloring pages. Remember, I provide these pages free of charge for your own personal use. Do not reproduce them or use them for any other purpose without my written permission.
Decorating time for Mr. Snowman
Posted by: Lyon
November 28th, 2011 >> Coloring Pages, Illustration, Thoughts
We had a wonderful and relaxing holiday weekend. I hope you did the same.
It started off with an artist date with my husband. We went to see the Da’Vinci Machines exhibit downtown. I’ve always loved the drawing and line art of the master. This exhibit took his many sketches of machines, and created scale models of them. There were 50 models, some you could even try out to see how they functioned. Local peeps, if you can get to downtown St. Louis, the showing has been extended until mid Dec. http://www.davinciexhibitstl.com/
After a yummy lunch, we headed back home. The afternoon activity was the actual sale (finally) of the house which was hoarder haven. 14 months of non-stop cleaning have finally, FINALLY come to an end. We couldn’t be happier to have that chore off our list.
I baked a mountain of cookies, a spice cake and a large batch of my cranberry relish. I hope you had a chance to try the recipe. Did you like it? It’s one of my husband’s favorites.
Today, the last of the turkey is in the crock pot with veggies and rice. A nice thick soup is just what we need for the chilly weather that has settled in. The temp has been dropping steadily all week. It looks as if snow isn’t too far off.
Speaking of snow, this week’s coloring page is a roley poley snowman. He’s managed to get himself into quite a tangle trying to decorate for the December holidays.
Click the image to open a .jpg to print and color. Email your colored image (less than 1mb) to coloringpage (at) handcraftedpagan (dot) com and I’ll post it to my blog!
Enjoy the coloring page! See you next week!
Do you have a special request for a coloring page? Let me know either via an email or through one of my social networking sites. I’m on Twitter and Facebook.
I send out coloring pages to let people know about me, my art and my children’s books. Help support my efforts by spreading the word or buying any of my books. Please stop by any of my social networking sites to leave me a message (here is good too!) and let me know how you like the coloring pages. Remember, I provide these pages free of charge for your own personal use. Do not reproduce them or use them for any other purpose without my written permission.
Don’t Worry, Be A Happy Turkey
Posted by: Lyon
November 21st, 2011 >> Coloring Pages, Illustration, Thoughts
Here in the US, Thanksgiving is looming on the horizon. After spending Thursday in a turkey induced comma, many people begin their long holiday weekends with the festooning of seasonal lights all over their homes. Some of them include exterior lights and in my town, there is even a contest to see who has the best lawn display.
When I was growing up, my family’s home was the only one on the block to remain “dark.” When I became an adult, I spent a long time in city apartments with no outside living space. When my daughter was 3, I bought a house with a little postage stamp of a yard. Whoa! I could decorate to my heart’s content.
After careful consideration, I purchased some balsam garlands and giant red ribbons. I draped them along the stair railings leading up to the front door. I bought a small, decorated rosemary tree, the live-in-a-pot with roots kind and a tiny string of purple flashing lights. I was in heaven.
Later, when my daughter got older, I decided this didn’t really involve her enough in the holiday spirit. I continued with the balsam boughs and ribbons, (still do that now) but dispensed with the potted plant. Instead, we made our own decorations. Here are some links to a couple of her favorites.
Watercolor paper chain garlands http://ohhappyday.com/2010/12/watercolor-paper-chain-garland/ Pick your favorite colors or seasonal ones for the holiday you celebrate in your home.
Popcorn and cranberry strings http://artesprit.blogspot.com/2010/12/simple-art-of-making-popcorn-chains.html
Click the image to open a .jpg to print and color. Email your colored image (less than 1mb) to coloringpage (at) handcraftedpagan (dot) com and I’ll post it to my blog!
Speaking of cranberries, this is my recipe for a unique and tasty cranberry relish. Much better than the glop from the can.
1 bag of fresh cranberries, water, sugar, 1 large pomegranate, 1 small can of mandarin oranges, walnuts, cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, vanilla extract and a package of unflavored gelatin.
Follow the directions for the plain cranberry sauce on the back of the package of cranberries. This uses just the cranberries, water and sugar. While the cranberries are cooking and popping open, slice the pomegranate in quarters and pick out all the seeds. This is a fun (if really messy) task to do with your kids. Make sure you get the BIG pomegranate so the little ones can eat some of the seeds will making a pile of the rest.
Follow the directions for the unflavored gelatin to dissolve in water. By this time the cranberries should have all popped open and removed from the heat to cool. (When they are cooled slightly taste test them to see if they are sweet enough for your family. I like mine tart, but if you want a sweeter relish add a bit of honey.) After they have cooled for 10-15 minutes, add the dissolved gelatin, 1/2 tsp each of cinnamon and vanilla extract, 1/4 tsp each of the nutmeg and allspice. Stir well and let cool some more. While the mixture is cooling, rough chop 1/2 cup of walnuts (skip this step if nuts aren’t your thing), open the small can of mandarin oranges and drain of the syrup.
Gently mix in the nuts, oranges and pomegranate seeds into the cooling cranberry mixture. Transfer to a nice covered serving bowl and refrigerate until set. Serve with the rest of your turkey dinner. Yum.
The coloring page for this week was at the request of one of my young fans. When her mom told me what she wanted, I asked why the turkey was dancing, wouldn’t it make more sense if it was running away? She replied the child was too young to connect the image of the bird with the cooked one on the table and didn’t realize the turkeys got eaten.
Enjoy the coloring page! If you are in the US, enjoy the holiday. And most of all enjoy the crafts and time spent with your children.
See you next week!
Do you have a special request for a coloring page? Let me know either via an email or through one of my social networking sites. I’m on Twitter and Facebook.
I send out coloring pages to let people know about me, my art and my children’s books. Help support my efforts by spreading the word or buying any of my books. Please stop by any of my social networking sites to leave me a message (here is good too!) and let me know how you like the coloring pages. Remember, I provide these pages free of charge for your own personal use. Do not reproduce them or use them for any other purpose without my written permission.
Coloring page – Silent Squirrels Hibernating
Posted by: Lyon
November 14th, 2011 >> Coloring Pages, Illustration, Thoughts
I love watching squirrels play tag in the back yard. They seem to delight in the game in spite of the encroaching winter heralded by blasts of chilly winds.
Usually, when I come out the house, they see me and scamper willy-nilly in all directions to escape my presence.
Usually.
This weekend, I left the house to run to the post office before it closed. On the air conditioning unit, about 5 feet from the door, sat a squirrel completely absorbed by the acorn he was consuming. The door clicked shut, and the squirrel dropped his acorn and leaped from the unit.
I assumed he would run away from me and walked toward the steps on the end of the porch only to come face-to-face with a very startled squirrel. I was pretty startled myself and stepped backwards. The squirrel scrabbled off the trash can onto the chimney, bring him even closer to my face. I’ve never looked a squirrel in the eye before, and am not interested in doing so again.
I think the squirrel had the same kind of thoughts as it scolded me as it climbed up the chimney and onto the roof. He continued scolding as I made my way to the car, and I could hear him still as I drove off.
Today’s coloring page is a pair of squirrels. Silent in their cuddling hibernation, they will be scolding no one for a while.
Do you have a special request for a coloring page? Let me know either via an email or through one of my social networking sites. I’m on Twitter and Facebook.
Click the image to open a .jpg to print and color. Email your colored image (less than 1mb) to coloringpage (at) handcraftedpagan (dot) com and I’ll post it to my blog!
I send out coloring pages to let people know about me, my art and my children’s books. Help support my efforts by spreading the word or buying any of my books. Please stop by any of my social networking sites to leave me a message (here is good too!) and let me know how you like the coloring pages. Remember, I provide these pages free of charge for your own personal use. Do not reproduce them or use them for any other purpose without my written permission.
Samhain Blessings and an alphabet coloring page
Posted by: Lyon
October 31st, 2011 >> Coloring Pages, Illustration, Thoughts
Samhain is here. The king is dying. Honor your sacred dead. And, why not, go out to join in the secular frolic of Halloween.
This is the last year I will have a child at home. It’s a happy sad feeling to know my last baby is all grown up and will be out on her own in less than a year. Many of her friends’ parents have told their teens they are too old to Trick or Treat. It never occurred to me to do that. I figured she’d just stop when she’d outgrown it.
To help her celebrate with the friends who can’t don costumes and parade the street, I told her she could have them all here for pizza.
Don’t look at me like that. It’s only for a few hours. I can hide in the studio until all the pizza is consumed and they’ve left the premises.
I hope you have wonderful things planned. Shoot me a comment, tweet me, leave me a facebook status or email and let me know how you’re celebrating.
Blessed Samhain to all. May the new year bring peace, prosperity and bounty!
Do you have a special request for a coloring page? Let me know either via an email or through one of my social networking sites. I’m on Twitter and Facebook.
Click the image to open a .jpg to print and color. Email your colored image (less than 1mb) to coloringpage (at) handcraftedpagan (dot) com and I’ll post it to my blog!
I send out coloring pages to let people know about me, my art and my children’s books. Help support my efforts by spreading the word or buying any of my books. Please stop by any of my social networking sites to leave me a message (here is good too!) and let me know how you like the coloring pages. Remember, I provide these pages free of charge for your own personal use. Do not reproduce them or use them for any other purpose without my written permission.
BOO! What’s cooking? A hot ghost to color.
Posted by: Lyon
October 24th, 2011 >> Books, Coloring Pages, Illustration, Thoughts
One week left before Samhain.
What’s scary to me this week is how much work I’ve got coming up in November.
A lot of it has to do with actually finishing things I started at the beginning of the year. With a little over 60 days left, that doesn’t leave much wiggle room.
I’ve decided not to do National Novel Writing Month again this year. The very idea of any book 50,000 words long makes me shiver. Trying to write that many words in a holiday month is tatamount to insane. So, no new novel for me.
However, I have not let myself off scott free for November. There is another challenge called Picture Book Idea Month, where participants come up with 30 picture book ideas in the 30 days of November. I’ve done this challenge the last two years and “won.” In addition to being a participant this year, I will also be a guest blogger. My post will be online on November 14. In it, I will talk about the picture book challenge and give away a finish signed, original painting created just for the event.
And, as an off shoot to this, several of my writer friends and I are working toward having November designated as a worldwide celebration of picture book and literacy. The web site is almost live. I will send out more detailed information as soon as it’s available.
There are several other personal book related projects in the works, and I opened an Etsy shop last month. I sell Hardened Leather Masks, Amigurumi Plushies and an assortment of beaded items. I’ll be adding quilts of my own designs soon.
Have a wonderful week.
Do you have a special request for a coloring page? Let me know either via an email or through one of my social networking sites. I’m on Twitter and Facebook.
Click the image to open a .jpg to print and color. Email your colored image (less than 1mb) to coloringpage (at) handcraftedpagan (dot) com and I’ll post it to my blog!
I send out coloring pages to let people know about me, my art and my children’s books. Help support my efforts by spreading the word or buying any of my books. Please stop by any of my social networking sites to leave me a message (here is good too!) and let me know how you like the coloring pages. Remember, I provide these pages free of charge for your own personal use. Do not reproduce them or use them for any other purpose without my written permission.
Bones clattering, crows chattering, a spooky skeleton to color
Posted by: Lyon
October 18th, 2011 >> Coloring Pages, Illustration, Thoughts
October is winding down.
Last Friday, my husband took the kid to pick out a Halloween costume. This is the first year I can remember where she opted for a store bought creation. She had originally planned on being a Monarch butterfly, but the store didn’t have one in her size. She tried on a bunch of costumes until she found one that fit, which she could live with. It’s a character from a movie. ‘Nough said.
I read a distressing statistic the other day. About store bought costumes. Did you know that 6,250 TONS of landfill waste is from used Halloween costumes? That’s a lot of trash.
I’m a saver, a recycler and a composter. I still have costumes I created in the late 80s. I couldn’t possibly fit into any of them, but they’re not in a land fill. One of my kid’s earliest chores was taking the kitchen scraps to the compost pile out back. A chore she still does to this day. I tried to teach by example, by using as few resources as possible and reusing the ones I had on hand as many ways as possible before disposing of them. Somewhere along the line, it got lost in translation. My child contributes more trash to the landfill every week than my husband and I combined.
I know there are kids her age who care about the environment and being frugal. I read about them in the paper and on the internet. It worries me though, that they may be in the minority and the current generation of children are even less concerned with what’s going on around them then the children of my own generation. According to the United Nations Population Division, the world’s human population will hit 7,000,000,000 on October 31. That’s a billion more than just 11 years ago. Talk about scary. That many people use a LOT of resources and make a lot of trash.
Are your kids wearing a homemade or store bought costume? Where will it end up the week after Halloween?
Do you have a special request for a coloring page? Let me know either via an email or through one of my social networking sites. I’m on Twitter and Facebook.
Click the image to open a .jpg to print and color. Email your colored image (less than 1mb) to coloringpage (at) handcraftedpagan (dot) com and I’ll post it to my blog!
I send out coloring pages to let people know about me, my art and my children’s books. Help support my efforts by spreading the word or buying any of my books. Please stop by any of my social networking sites to leave me a message (here is good too!) and let me know how you like the coloring pages. Remember, I provide these pages free of charge for your own personal use. Do not reproduce them or use them for any other purpose without my written permission.
Pumpkins, pumpkins everywhere – color in this pile
Posted by: Lyon
October 10th, 2011 >> Coloring Pages, Illustration, Thoughts
Yesterday, my husband and I were visiting my mother-in-law. We go to see her every Sunday. This week she was baby sitting my nieces and nephew. The two girls are in their last childhood years, one turning 12 next month and one will be 14 at the end of the year. The boy, the youngest of the siblings is about 8.
While making pleasant Sunday lunch conversation, the question of what they were going to be for Halloween came up.
The eldest said she didn’t know. The middle child stated she was going to be either a ninja or a sock monkey, she hadn’t decided yet, and the boy proclaimed proudly he was going to be dressed as Mario. He then went on to explain to his poor old aunty he meant the character in his DS game.
It occurred to me, that many kids will be dressing in similar costumes, bought off the rack, tying into some game, movie or television show. When my kid was little all her costumes were home made. She was a princess, a pumpkin and a dalmatian. I’m sure there were others, but I don’t recall them at the moment. Now that she is nearly grown, she makes her own costumes. This year she plans on being a monarch butterfly.
I wonder if the ease of buying an off-the-rack, pre-fab costume is draining creativity from the newest generations of children. It takes very little thought or imagination to go to the corner K-Mart and pick a costume from the dozens on display. This is just a symptom of a wider trend, though.
I remember playing made up games when I was a child, hand-held video gaming wasn’t even a concept yet. My parents only allowed my brother and I to watch TV between 6 – 9 PM. Other than that it was either playing outside or reading a book. Or, as my mother threatened when ever we complained of boredom, she’d find us something to do. This usually entailed some form of housecleaning and was to be avoided at all costs. My brother and I spent many an hour concocting games and activities to while away the free hours after school and homework.
After our Sunday lunch, all 3 children pulled out their DSes and “played” a game “together.” One sat across the room from the other two. All three had their eyes glued to their screens. They sent each other messages through their games. Maybe I’m hopelessly outdated, but it seems to me there is no real interaction happening between these siblings wired into their programmed games. That concerns me.
What are your thought?
Today’s coloring page was a special request by Tara and Autumn. Thank you both for a wonderful suggestion.
Do you have a special request for a coloring page? Let me know either via an email or through one of my social networking sites. I’m on Twitter and Facebook.
Click the image to open a .jpg to print and color. Email your colored image (less than 1mb) to coloringpage (at) handcraftedpagan (dot) com and I’ll post it to my blog!
I send out coloring pages to let people know about me, my art and my children’s books. Help support my efforts by spreading the word or buying any of my books. Please stop by any of my social networking sites to leave me a message (here is good too!) and let me know how you like the coloring pages. Remember, I provide these pages free of charge for your own personal use. Do not reproduce them or use them for any other purpose without my written permission.
- Click on the book covers to find out more.
