Which one did you enter in the contest? They all look really nice. And good luck!

Thanks! I actually entered a photograph in the contest - of a white crane just as it took off into flight. He was the most uncooperative bird... kept flapping away as I was trying to get a nice photo. I did get a lovely one though - with the marshes in the background. It was worth the 10,000 mosquito bites.

sue of course your drawing will be just lovely, I cant wait to see it too..
Sandy, those cards are absolutely lovely, you did an awesome job with the wc..
I just love your sense of humor too...you guys keep me lauging

Ack! I just got in from the office of the Veterans Affairs service officer, they act like your lawyer and fight for your claim with the VA. I got there shortly after 9 a.m. and left there close to 6 p.m. All that time waiting for a 15 minute interview and signing of paperwork. So you guys wonder why I am not getting more cards done! Please pray that they honor the claim, I am getting desperate. I have such a headache, I'm afraid I won't be able to do any cards tonight, but, who knows, after supper I may get a second wind.
You guys are doing wonderful work.
Regards,
Trish

Sue can I have all 6 birds.They're great. How about the purple finch. It's weird because one was just at my window feeder.Just kiding NOT!! Great birdies joanna I have four to go

Carol I just found your birds,I don't think you know the listed standard.It's around here some where. Since I'm a beginner I think I should just do bird heads to start with.I get all proud of my self then I see your card,of course you probably did them in a day or so. It is interesting you sure do have your own style. It is beginning very recognizable to me. Here it comes the the deep, deep,deep depression however if.......... just kidding God bless your talent. joanna

I finally got one more finished. I used a little brass swan or goose for reference that I bought at the Goodwil. I like the way it turned out. It's on my blog. Hopefully I will get a few more finished soon. That's only my 7th one.

Jeanne - i had a look at your birds - they are gorgeous

Thanks for all the support everyone, I'll start on the commission soon, I have finished 11 cards now, so will be able to post them next week.

I hope all goes much smoother than today Trish, but it seems that Govts all over the world are pretty much the same when it comes to Veterans Affairs.

I over-indulged in the art shop today and invested in a set of Polychromos coloured pencils. Oh they are gorgeous! I now know why I had so much trouble with the Derwents.......they are so hard and scratchy.........the Polys are buttery and go on easily whether a quick light sweep or a firm pressure. I love playing with them so much I did 4 cards as soon as I got home with them today!

Here are the cards I have done so far:

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Joanna .. Thanks for the observations.. I know I see a lot of Artist style in each of us.. All good .. Thing is it's like a fingerprint..doesn't take long before we can tell who's is who's..
never be intimidated ,be who you are and enjoy what ever you do.. Those little cards are hard to get use to.. Takes some doing to get even the slightest detail on such a tiny space .. Wish they made them a tad bit bigger.. like post card size. at least we would have room to make a decent eye ..I respect everyone who do them..
I take my cards to work with me and do most all of them then.. I have a really Cushy Job ..

That's what I want. What do you do?

I manage our County's Auditorium..Covers 4 square blocks.. We have a Theatrical Main auditorium where it houses 2 thousand legally ,(fire Code standards), where Concerts or Plays perform .. the Other portions of the building upstairs and down has meeting rooms and places for anything from reunions to business meetings .. I have to physically be there to open the building and basically Babysit them while what ever function is going on is over.. I mostly stay in my office until someone comes in pries me out of my chair to fix a microphone or re direct the A/C or some stupid something like that.. Then I walk the building when everyone is gone and then lock up making sure no one is lurking in the closets or Bathrooms so I don't lock them in..
I have seen some pretty awesome shows during my time there.. Great advantage besides the time to do my Artsy stuff..

Need an assitant?

those dorks! why such a long wait? that is uncalled for..and for the love of all goodness..there is no reason they shouldnt honor your claim...but lets' see what they do..good luck

Joanna, when ever you feel as though you may be getting depressed, come in here and look at steve's avatar, it is sure to put a smile on your face...

we are all here for you too as friends, so just join us in our silliness, it will lift your spirits..

a hug to you

You can tell mine instantly. I sign the back.

STUNNING birds Sue - i love flamingo's and yours looks lovely!

was that a hint tania

sue your cards are always great and lovely..

I received my first card yesterday evening from mumwond! It's so pretty!!! Here it is!
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The title says "sparrow" it's actually a starling. I can't type.

Sue - your cards are lovely and I'm looking forward to seeing on "in person".

I've mailed out two more this morning - one to a US trader, one to Canada. Who knows where they goes??? Here's the two I sent.
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Joanna - I totally understand what you are saying and I too have been critical over my own drawings, ready to give up. But - I have looked at your gallery - you are doing very nice drawings and have a nice eye for detail, so don't be sad or depressed, you're doing fine. Keep up the good work!

Trish - be persistent with the VA. I used to work there. Be persistent.

Fantastic cards !!!

I just received my first bird card from Norma

I'm done 12 cards now. I should be able to do maybe a few more before I need to leave for work.

Tania thank you. I need to get busy and get some more done. I am usually finished by now.

Sue love the birds. My favorite is the black and white (pelican?). I like the look on his face.

Trish hang in there and let me know if you need to vent. Just send a pm.

Steve I'm calling you the comedian. quite a long commute from UK to Texas.

I got wonderful cards from Norma and Carol. Thank you both so much.

Got my card from Carol today! It's wonderful - "King of the Barnyard" a proud and colorful rooster! I've been trying to upload him this evening with no luck. I'll give it a shot Monday if all else fails.

Hi All!
I got two wonderful cards today. One from Norma, and one from Carol (mumwond and texaslady, repectively), both are very well done. I want to get going on mine and I think I should have some time tomorrow. Today I was still recuperating from the ordeal yesterday waiting to talk to the Service Officer. I had a wicked bad headache and still had it this morning. Finally after a nap this afternoon it seems to have gone away, yay! So five cards done, 12 more to go!
Regards,
Trish

Boy I think that everyone is faster this month. But if I have 4 more to go I'm almost there too. Is it all the rain? I like those pencils Sue.Are they metallic. .I'm looking for real metallic. Yours too Kay is that inktense.Your colours are so bright. Don't laugh but there are these beautiful beetles and they are very shiny and metallic. I enjoy you all and always follow along but my computer has been down for a wk. I really missed you guys. You really do help me ,it's almost really funny to say but its true. I've been on a medication and my spelling and typing is slow.oh well.Thanks all of you joanna P.S how do I make my box smaller?? This thing that I write in in case someone takes that sentence wrong.

lol...i think the box only comes in one size joanna..those birds are done in the hydrus watercolors too.

Joanna, in my art shop they had some metallic Faber-Castells, but I didn't get any. Sometimes its easier to to add a metallic touch with some gel pens that are archival, like they use in scrapbooks. Just call it a mixed media piece then. The same as its often easier to add some white in the eye by using some white watercolour pencil or goache to add the highlight.

Just be a little careful with the inktense guys.....have found out that they and the graphitints have really bad lightfastness. Oh well, live & learn!

Only one card to do now and then will post them Monday!

Jeanne, was hoping to get a serene look on the pelican, but unfortunately he looks like he's seen a ghost!

Tania, I love the chance to get out the candy pink when I do a flamingo, they are such a wonderful colour!

Did I actually call the starling a sparrow? I know I had a senior moment by forgetting to scan them before I posted them, but I didn't realise I'd made a mess of naming. If any others are wonky, please excuse me! At least ncgirl recognised it as a starling! Maybe I've made a guessing game. Just back from holiday with grandchildren, so I'm feeling rather frazzled.

I've received my first bird - a puffin- from Norma. And I've got three more childhood memories - I'll post them in the other thread.
Thanks a lot, Norma! The puffin's very nice. I am sending mine on Monday.

It'll be the drink Norma.

I wish!

No the mistake was on my part when I was uploading the card to the thread! I looked at your title "starling" and typed "sparrow" just a pretty as you please! Don't worry about the senior moments - I'm having them at a rapidly increasing rate. I just remind people that I was in an accident and got hit in the head. It still works.

That's all mine done! Mainly used my watercolour pencils. Which are great! Need more colours though. A few of you will be getting a bonus.



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Wonderful birds, Steve. Are they all from the songsparrow's species?
I've finished mine, too - I've tried a few techniques, and kinds of paper. Not very happy with the experiments and had several accidents with pens, brushes and ink, still I'll post them tomorrow. Otherwise I might draw birds forever.

wow...you guys have really out done yourselves, those are gorgeous!

I agree.. when I first started this trade .. seems they just keep getting better and better.. I do have a favorite tho, with the Childhood cards .. They were so full of memories .. some I had forgotten .. I vote for more like that one ..

WooHoo!! These are fabulous Steve & Sveta !! I can't wait to see which of them arrives at my place!!

I have one to finish & then off to the post office tomorrow.

Got lovely Red Cardinal from Sandra (ncgirl) this morning. Thanks a lot. I've just said on the 'Childhood' thread that it might be better to have a bigger gap between trades as just now I've got two different ones arriving. I'm easily confused!

It'll be the drink again Norma.

I'm coming to visit! Save some for me!

More of my bird cards are on my blog. Plus I finished 3 more today. I think I have just 3 or 4 more. I will try to get those done tonight so I can mail tomorrow.

I just got your lovely Song Thrush Norma. Have started the new page for the Birds Swap in my binder.

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And I see Jeanne that Bozo is taking pride of place again..........as she should!

Posted all of mine this morning so hopefully will be arriving at all your places over the next week or two.

My final birds have now been posted on my blog. If all goes well, they will be mailed tomorrow. Hope you all enjoy.

Sue it's not Bozo this time. I took photos of the cockatiels that live across the street about a year ago. Decided to do that one this time. Bozo was demanding payment for posing.

I absolutely adore your birds, Jangra! They are great!

Got lovely Blue Grosbeak from Texas Carol this morning. Don't think those birds find their way to UK - different.

Finished two more this morning and sent them out just a few minutes ago! Again, one to Canada trader, one to US.

Here they are:

Willow Flycatcher
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Eastern Phoebe
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Well i'm done!! in advance for once lol So here are the birds I did and i'm going to send them out in just a bit before I head out to work.

I love your selections Roxy !! Very nice group .. I see some of the same ones I did as well .. funny with all the birds from everywhere and we all seem to pick nearly the same ..

Congrats on getting them all done in record time .. I'm so proud of you !!

Some splendid efforts from this trade! Well done everybody! All mine posted today. You should get them by tomorrow. Let me know if you don't? I'll complain to the Post Office