AUTUMN
DECEMBER 2012

January 12, 2011

SCULPTING IN SNOW . and a Nature Book GIVEAWAY!

An abundance of wet snow is the perfect medium for SCULPTING!

Dressing in layers and armed with a garden shovel and wooden spoon, my "sweet birdie" came into fruition. And how appropriate that she keep watch over our Bird Haven.
Noone was available to join in the sculpting, but that didn't stop me. The child within took over and I was having so much fun. WE need as much creative play as the children!

After shoveling off the branches and bird feeders, I stood back and looked at the pile of snow and thought of the sweet Mourning doves out the kitchen window this morning waiting for sunflower seeds to drop from the birdfeeder. (They are ground feeders!)
They were my inspiration for the snow sculpture.
Notice how they puff their tummy, I mean their feathers? That's how they keep warm.
Air is an insulator, and the air that is trapped in the puffed up feathers of the bird is warmed by the birds own body heat and stays trapped close to the birds skin.
Had I glanced at a picture of the Mourning dove before sculpting, I would have made longer tail feathers, but this is my rendition and exactness and perfection do not matter. It's the process of creating and being in the elements and breathing in the fresh cold air that matters.

I carved out a small hideaway in front of the sculpture, just enough for a bird to get respite from the wind and partake of birdseed.
It wasn't long before the birds came, as soon as I got out of their way.
If you want YOUR sculpture to be included in my SNOW SCULPTURE SHOWCASE , an upcoming blog post: 

1) Go outside and create a snow sculpture. . .with or without your children
2) Take a picture of it 
3) Post it on your blog and send me the link to your blog picture in the comments.
                OR
4) If you don't have a blog, just email me the picture and I will include it .



THE GIVEWAY ( it has nothing to do with the snow sculpture)

In light of being passionate about connecting people with our earth and being in tune with Nature, and that my blog has reached 100 followers; followers who I am grateful for and with hope that I have inspired in some small way, I am offering up one of my favorite books. . . AND a sketchpad and drawing pens so you can get started drawing right away :) 
This book is full to the brim with inspiration and the know how to connect with nature by drawing what you see.  What better way to start your new year than beginning a nature journal recording the natural world around you. 

Start a nature journal yourself, encourage your children, or do one together! You will see an even deeper connection to our earth.

To enter the giveway, please 
1) LEAVE A COMMENT - why you are interested in the book.
2) FOLLOW this blog ( link on right sidebar)


The winner will be drawn next Thursday, January 20th.


happy day, happy snow!


28 comments:

Loreli Young said...

I love the bird! We had snow the last few days but not enough to even make a snow man let alone a bird.

I am interested in the book because my little one is now 7 and does a ot of journaling but doesn't know how to add leaves, or keep it all together.

Unknown said...

Oh, your bird sculpture is fantastic Marcia! I've no doubt you have inspired each and every one of your follower's myself included...
I already own the book so no need to include me in your give away... Just wanted to say how fun you and " your child within" got out for some good old fashioned creating today in the snow!
Just awesome!
Deb

Sherry Gann said...

The more I journal, the more my son wants to journal. This book would give me great inspiration, I'm sure. :)

Fundip said...

We would absolutely LOVE this book. I am a homeschooling Mom who organizes a year round Nature Club for other homeschooling families. We would put this journal to use.

Love the sculpture and the blog!

Farm Mom said...

Hi, just became a new follower! Would love the book as I am a homeschooling mom to my 6 year old son. He is just beginning to journal. Love your bird. We just got about 6 inches of snow. Know what were doing in the morning! :)

Jessica said...

I love your bird too...makes me wish that we actually got snow here where i live...but alas we dont.I would be very interested in the nature journal book, we are very big nature people here in this house.

softearthart said...

The book sure looks cool, cheers Marie

June said...

Oh My Gosh Macia! What an amazing talent you have. Never would I ever be able to sculpt in any medium, let alone snow!
Thank you so much for the lovely message you left for me. I am so happy to meet you!

g7s22 said...

Snow sculptures are a great idea! We are a soon to be homeschooling family and my kiddos (9,7,5) have requested nature studies as part of their curriculum. I am sure this book would be a great help.

Anonymous said...

You blow my mind with your fantastic ideas!
As I grow older I feel nature calls more and more to me.

Thank you

Rosina {Rosy ~ Posy} said...

Oh I just love that bird!! We made snowmen yesterday but this is so cute with the little bird feed spot in the front :) I just finished showing it to my children and they are all gung ho to sculpt something to share with you *grin*.

We have this book and LOVE it to :) It was actually the first one we purchased when we started nature journaling so one lucky mama is going to really enjoy adding this to her library :)

TwigandToadstool said...

Oh I wish we had some wet snow here...we've been waiting for a good snowfall so we can ressurect our igloo!

I'd love to enter your giveaway...nature journalling is something I'd love to get into more with the kids!
xo maureen

Unknown said...

Nature journaling is something I've been wanting to do with my 5 learn-at-home kids, but somehow we've never gotten to it. Since it's now a new year, and the world outside is a winter wonderland, it seems like the time to begin. This book would help show us the way!

Anonymous said...

Keep posting stuff like this i really like it

Luisa said...

This snow sculpture is absolutely awesome.

Anonymous said...

Looks like a wonderful book. I am trying to connect my family to the rhythm of the seasons and this book would be a wonderful way of doing that artistically. eapapagni at hotmail dot com

Jen @ Happy Little Homemaker said...

I love things that give us something to do outside. i look forward to reading more!

jensteed dot 08 at gmail dot com

Lise said...

Love your sculpture...and that you'll still play!

I'd love a chance to win. I help the kids in my group do nature journals, but don't really do one myself--leftover hangups from my once-upon-a-time schooling that taught me that "I can't draw." Need to get over that!

Suzanne said...

Hi Marcia ,
I love your bird! We've been doing snow sculptures for years, from porcupines to bunny rabbits. We were thinking our latest storm would have to be something mugger with the 20 or so inches it dumped on us!
We're well on way to our first igloo, and maybe we'll make a polar bear to live outside.

Rosina {Rosy ~ Posy} said...

Hi Marcia :)
I just finished posting some photos of the sculptures my daughter and I made today.

http://rosinahuber.blogspot.com/2011/01/snow-sculptures-candle-light.html

So much fun!! You'll see that we were so inspired by your birdie and bird seed *grin*. Hope you are having a fabulous weekend!

Unknown said...

Hi Marcia!! I started following your blog before the holidays, while researching unschooling :) We are a homeschooling (moving towards un!) family of 10 (almost 11) living on 10 beautiful acres of woods! We would LOVE to win this book and take our love of our land to a whole new level!!

~Dawn~ said...

We love the nature! Your bird is wonderful and so is your blog - I'm a new follower!

Martianne said...

Love the sculpture! So fun - especially that you did it by yourself. :)

We would love the book to help us with homeschooling our three young children. we love nature walks and informal nature study and I think our eldest is ready to start journaling. Thanks!

Martianne said...

PS I follow you via email updates, but I just signed up for you via google follower, too

Beth said...

I think you would like Genninne's Art Blog because of her beautiful bird paintings, Marcia!

I would love to win the nature journal. I am looking for cheery fun to get through this awful gloom.

Did you hear about the steampunk exhibit at Waltham Museum of Technology? I'm going to try to go with my young engineer later this week. love, Beth

marcia said...

Beth, the steampunk exhibit looks awesome! I would love to try and go soon. It's only about 50 minutes from me.

happy day!

michelle and murph said...

I am already a follower and always feel like we are kindred spirits!

I have my own little snuggle bug as well as several others who come over to learn about horses, nature and more recently art (now that we have the art studio/playroom finished!). The book would be used to help many children learn to nature journal!

Glen @ ICe Castle said...

Great sculpture and the work is very neatly designed.