Originally uploaded by adilah5
His name is Nathaniel Bowman DePalma


We have a new addition to our family. On November 14, at 7:46am, weighing 7lbs. We are all pretty excited(and a bit tired). Everyone is whole and healthy and we are quite thankful for that. He's pretty dreamy, huh?

A Gift for Big Brother


Recently I found a new product on the web that was just what I needed. I wanted to make a book for my grandson, who is 2, make sense out of the arrival of a baby brother. There are a number of children's books available (I purchased quite a few) as did other members of the family, but none were exactly what I was looking for. I wanted for him to be able to really see himself in it.

Most of the products I found to be too limiting. There was not enough variety in layout, not enough variety in background paper... I suppose I could have opted for some of the professional tools. But, since I was not looking to do mass production or publish for distribution to the masses, I didn't need the cost or time associated with a massive production project.

Inkubook fit the bill perfectly. Now I don't have any affiliation with this company. I did get a free promotional copy for trying it out and inviting a friend, but so did 100s of other folks. You might get one also if you find your way there soon.

Anyway. Take a look at what I got:








I was so pleased with how it turned out. Actually it is close to 30 pages. His father read it to him when we went to the hospital with him to meet his brother.
























If you are looking to create a special project that uses photographs to tell a story, consider using it. I must confess that it takes some time. But the results is well worth it.If you're interested here is the link. Inkubook
New Dolls!!

Well, I've taken a challenge and will actually be selling some of my dolls for the holidays. I've been working pretty hard and am just a wee bit nervous. Please have a look see and let me know what you think. I'll try to post some more as I complete them. I'd really appreciate your thoughts:

This is... Elfin




He's a goodies snatcher. You have to constantly check his hands for snacks. He has really been fun to work on. He's a one of a kind sculpted guy (head hands and feet). I just love his toes. His body is soft wrapped with a wire armature so he can be positioned.




He's done except for some finishing stuff. He's been begging for a hat.
I need to work on it!









Would you like to Swing on a Star?

Another OOAK sculpted face , soft cloth body, hands and feet, and a wire armature. I just finished working on the star that she will be swinging from.




One Cold and Snowy Winter Night, Dianna...



This is actually a night light which I made from a lantern that I found. My wonderful husband took care of the hardware construction. It was challenging, but he got the job done. The light is an led which is in her body. There is a scene constructed in the bottom and I cut blue glass for the windows.

This is how the bottom looks with the light on and the door closed.











This is how it looks with the door open.

There is large glitter. Rox stuff on the back windows. A Tree made of air dry clay and lots more snow.


I think you can see where the night light is in this shot. It's actually embedded in her body at the top of her in her skirt.

Spirit of the Ginkgo

I have been working on this piece for awhile. I've been connecting to trees... My father had a favorite tree. It was in front of our home. When he purchased the land, (which was much earlier then he had money to build a home), he marked the trees that would remain when the property was clear. He also determined which street the house would face. It was a corner property. During the later years of his life, he talked of how he marked his days with the life of that tree. The tree is gone now, and so is my father.

Although my father's tree was not a ginkgo, she (this ginkgo spirit) has been on my mind for some time. I have a few more waiting, so I really have to get this one done soon. As you can see she's a pretty big girl. She's approximately 24". She's all polymer and apoxi, with acrylic paint, pearl ex powder and chalk for color. I sealed her with PymII. Tomorrow she WILL get completed. Thanks for having a look.


Here is what the University of Maryland website has to say about the ginkgo:

Ginkgo biloba is the oldest living tree species. A single tree can live as long as 1,000 years and grow to a height of 120 feet. It has short branches with fan-shaped leaves and inedible fruits that produce a strong odor. .

Although Chinese herbal medicine has used both the ginkgo leaf and seed for centuries, modern research has focused on the standardized Ginkgo biloba extract (GBE), which is prepared from the dried green leaves. This standardized extract is highly concentrated and seems to be clinically more effective in treating health problems (particularly circulatory ailments) than the non-standardized leaf alone.
Canine Partners for Life
(People who are making a difference)

Earlier this month the Manning/Bowman/DePalma clan took a field trip with Fenix to Canine Partners for Life, and I have been on cloud 9 and making pins ever since! What an incredibly selfless and caring group of human beings. We were all in awe. Here are some photos that I took that really don't do justice to the experience that we had. But, take a look...




Back On My Feet Again... I Think!



I can't believe that it's been so long since I last posted. Life has taken over. I'm
just trying to keep up. Sometimes I feel like I'm just treading water and can't get up on my feet without being overtaken.



but then...









everything seems alright, and there isn't much that matters. Except...








their smiling faces!






Artistically, I've been somewhat busy. Fenix(see previous posts on this daughter) needs a service dog. She has narcolepsy with cataplexy. It is really presenting some challenges for her daily life, and consequently mine. I don't think there is anything worse then to have your child challenged in ways that you cannot help. Although we have found an organization that might be able to provide a dog for her, it will be some time before we know. It's remarkable what these animals are capable of doing. Here's a link to give you some idea. This dogs name is Adele. Adele was trained by Canine Partners for Life, and believe me, these dogs and the people that train them make a difference in peoples lives. Take a look at their site.

So, what does this have to do with my art? Well, it costs about 15k to train a companion dog, and although most of the organizations provide dogs at no cost, Fenix and I are doing this fund raisers. I need to do something!



I've started making these small pins. Someone suggested that I also make them into necklaces. They are polymer and hand made. I begin each one with the basic heart shape and then build on it.



I have actually grown fond of working on them, and adding the detail to each one. Each one becomes special. This is how I have learned to let my hands do the work of my heart. This way I can contain it.



Something else that I want to bring to your attention is how difficult life has become for those in this country for citizens that suffer any type of disability. The conservative courts have obliterated ADA. Congress has recently held hearings on the ADA Restoration Act of 2007. This new legislation is an attempt by Congress to more clearly define ADA so that the courts cannot as easily use their on "judgement" in determining if they should hear a case. I have included a video of opening remarks of Rob Andrews (D.NJ) made during those hearings.





I really didn't think that I had enough energy left for another cause in this lifetime, but I guess I was wrong. I have begun to circulate a petition and am urging folks to contact there congressmen and urge them to sign on as co-sponsors of this important legislation. I'll be posting more about this later.





That's all for now. And I really think, I'm back up on my feet again,