G2 Gallery of Venice, CA - Conservation Photography Gallery

G2 GALLERY

Venice, California

It was through Robert Glenn Ketchum's Blog that I first heard about the G2 Gallery - he had a post about his Exhibit there in 2010 focusing on the Conservation Issue "No Pebble Mine" in Bristol Bay, Alaska, as in the video below!

I loved the whole Gallery - but especially Robert Glenn Ketchum's exhibit and I spent most of my time looking over his Images and reading about his conservation work on Stopping the development of the Pebble Mine in Alaska!


-- More Recently, as in earlier this month (April 13, 2011), I went to The G2 Gallery again - to see several exhibits and I had a wonderful time again - and decided to tell the world!!

Robert Glenn Ketchum on that date (through April 24, 2011) was the Nature LA Photographer at The G2 Gallery -- and one of his Embroideries was on exhibit and I got to see it live (not just a photograph on a computer screen)!! Exquisite is the only word I can use to describe it!! -- And after admiring it from several angles, all I could think was how much detailed work went into the hand-stitching and how admirable the embroiderers' work is!

But there were 2 more Exhibits at The G2 Gallery at the time that I got totally excited about! Both Exhibits were amazing and inspiring to me.

-- The first one I spent time on was Essence of Life: Fresh Water - sponsored by Conservation International and their "sister" organization, International League of Conservation Photographers (ILCP). See the video below from CEMEX, the publisher of Conservation International books, on the book that Exhibit is based on!




You need to go see this exhibit to see the amazing photographs if you can - it is through May 8, 2011.


-- The second exhibit I was so amazed with was that of photographer J. J. Heureux's, Faces From the Southern Ocean (also through May 8, 2011). Her photographs of the Wildlife in the Antarctica are astouding in how they show the life there -- you really need to see the full exhibit including the slideshow, but below are a couple of videos of J.J. Heureux's photography in the Antarctica!


A Bleak Future For Penguins ... video 1 ---





Antarctic Spring - Iris Bay to Gold Harbor South Georgia Island ---





The G2 Gallery has new exhibits all the time -- and a Gallery Store full of Eco-Friendly and Artistic items! If you are in Southern California or passing through at some time, you may want to make a special trip to Venice, CA to see this Gallery -- they have a number of Events at different times in addition to the Exhibits!


Ruth Sandra Sperling
RSS Designs In Fiber - My Handmade Designs on ARTFIRE and ETSY

Thanks to "On Fire For Handmade" For Being This Week's Featured Artisan

Ruth Sandra Sperling
RSS Designs In Fiber - My Handmade Designs on ARTFIRE and ETSY

This weeks Featured Artisan is Ruth - RSS Designs in Fiber.

Ruth has beautiful creations to decorate your home!

Stop by RSS Designs in Fiber and see for yourself!

You can find Ruth on:

ETSY SHOP

RSS DESIGNS IN FIBER BLOG

ARTFIRE STUDIO

Facebook Profile For Ruth Sandra Sperling

Facebook Page For RSS DESIGNS IN FIBER

Thanks to Anne Hopfer of Made For Me By Oaklie and On Fire For Handmade for creating this blog ring, Share The Love - Featured Artisan -- and my Feature this week starting April 26th !!

I am truly On Fire For Handmade!!  Ruth

Wildlife Where I Live - the Antelope Valley of Southern California

Ruth Sandra Sperling
RSS Designs In Fiber - My Handmade Designs on ARTFIRE and ETSY

I was walking through the field in the picture above yesterday - on my way to various places in my small town in the southeastern Antelope Valley, when I heard this call!!  Not sure what it was -- a bird or some other wild animal, I figured it was warning others that this 2-legged being was walking through their territory!!

On my way back (this field is just to the east of where I live and I walk through it rather frequently) -- I looked and looked at something in the field -- at first I couldn't tell whether it was a bird or a bush -- it was very still and close to the color of the surrounding vegetation in the field.  As I got closer, I could see it better -- it was some kind of squirrel it looked like - standing up very alert and frozen in position, looking to the left of me -- then there was this screech!  Then it moved and jumped down a hole!!

Ah-hah!!  When it moved, I could see it better!!  I was not quite sure what it was -- but a little bit further on at another place to the right of the path I was walking on was another just like it -- or was it the same fellow popping up through another hole????  Another screech and jump down the hole!!

Well -- not being sufficiently trained to identify it, I decided I was going to have to look up something online to see if I could find out anything about some desert squirrel - or something - that might be burrowing in the fields of my little town!!

Well - I found "him" online -- he looked exactly like this picture, which is a picture of a California Ground Squirrel that I found on the Wikipedia page for:  "Ground Squirrel"!!

And there I found this quote:

"The ground squirrel is especially renowned for its tendency to rise up on its hind legs. It does this whenever it senses nearby danger, or when it must see over tall grasses. The squirrel then curls its paws flat against its chest and sends a screeching call to warn other family members about the presence of predators."

I guess they think us people walking through their fields might be predators, though I am really quite friendly to them!!  As there is no fence between this field and my front yard, I am afraid I may have seen "him" or one of his cousins in my front yard occasionally!! 

I actually think they are quite cute!  I guess they may be one of the reasons there are all these holes in these fields -- you have to watch it as you walk through them, particularly if you go off the un-official "paths" through them!!

To quote one of my favorite Folk Singers/Songwriters, Dan Fogelberg, from his song, "The Spirit Trail" (Wild Places Album copyright 1990):

"Let every creature I see
Be a brother and a friend to me"

Celebrating Earth Day with Nature Themes in My Designs In Fiber

Ruth Sandra Sperling
RSS Designs In Fiber - My Handmade Designs on ETSY - and elsewhere online!

Cottontail Rabbit in A Bush

Well - here it is -- my most recent "Inspired by Nature" piece!  And just in time for Earth Day!!

My "Inspired By Nature" pieces are available in my online shops  - or I can do a Custom Order privately!

Though I do Nature themes all the time -- and, for me, Every Day is Earth Day -- this is a project especially for this Spring and for celebrating Earth Day 2011!

You see -- I designed it based on the real Desert Cottontail Rabbits I see in the wild fields in the town where I live (like in the field in the photo of my small town in upper left-hand corner of this blog!) -- they are grayish brown with white Cottontails -- and they run through the fields and then dive under bushes or jump down holes!!

So funny - they make me smile!

Like I said above:  Every Day is Earth Day to me!!

Most people who read my blog already know!

It is how you live -- and how you make decisions in life, such as Re-using, Recycling and therefore Reducing our waste. 

And how about Restoring? 

And getting Locally Grown produce - or at least growing your own herbs, like I do!  You can grown them inside if you have nowhere outside to grow them!

Now that Spring is really here and the below-freezing nights are over, I am pruning my herbs, which are growing more now -- and I have my first Basil plant of the year already!!  My Rosemary plant of several years is doing very well -- and my perennial herbs:  Chives, Oregano, Stevia and Mint plants are all coming back!!  It so great to have the fresh herbs just outside my door -- and fun, too!!

So, Celebrate Earth Day as a Reminder -- Every Day is Earth Day !!

Here are a few other of my Designs In Fiber that show my love of Nature!!

Tree Tapestry Pillow

Mountain Cabin Landscape in Filet Crochet

Bear Head Silhouette in Filet Crochet

Proud Rooster in Textured Filet Crochet

Tree Tapestry Home Decor

Celtic Woven Garden Suncatcher or Ornament

TO LIFE!!

My Gemstone Designs - Featured Artisan from "On Fire For Handmade"

Ruth Sandra Sperling
RSS Designs In Fiber - My Handmade Designs on ARTFIRE and ETSY

This weeks Featured Artisan is Hazel - My Gemstone Designs.

Hazel has wonderful creations in all her shops!

A Very active supporter of handmade and a lovely person, Hazel is a joy to all she meets!

You can find My Gemstone Designs at:

Etsy

Facebook

She also has 2 other shops: Classy Classic Jewels and Big and Beautiful

Buffy Sainte-Maire Singing One of My All-Time Favorite Folk Songs!

Ruth Sandra Sperling
RSS Designs In Fiber - My Handmade Designs on ARTFIRE and ETSY







One of my favorite Folk songs of all times -- heard it originally back in the early 1970's.

Thank You, Buffy Sainte-Marie for writing and singing such a poignant, to the point - and beautiful - song: "Universal Soldier"!!

It was very important and significant and personal to me back then -- I had friends in the Vietnam War draft, threatened with having to go fight - something they did not believe in! Some friends of mine, when they finished college, put in time as conscientious objectors rather than bear arms.

My own Father, when he served in the Armed Services, served in the Army Red Cross rather than bear arms. He still served our great country and its goals of its many freedoms, but did not fight.

Still important now.

Thank You, Eco-Interactive Voices, for having it on your website!!

Joycies Jems - Featured Artisan from "You Can Sell It Guild" on Artfire

Ruth Sandra Sperling
RSS Designs In Fiber - My Handmade Designs on ARTFIRE and ETSY





Organic lampwork glass beads with silk & leather cord necklace from Joycies Jems

If you are looking for some more Unique Jewelry Designs --
Joycies Jems may be what you are looking for!!

Above is a Lampwork Bead Necklace with Silk Ribbon and Leather Cord!

And here is another example of a more Unusual, Beautiful Jewelry Design with Sterling Silver Bali Beads and a Glass Flamework Hollow Bead:



Sterling Silver Bali Beads with a hint of red necklace from Joycies Jems


This Feature is part of a Blog Ring of the Artfire Guild, "You Can Sell It" !! 

Buy and Sell Handmade!!!



MUSIC - part of my Life!!

Ruth Sandra Sperling
RSS Designs In Fiber - My Handmade Designs on ARTFIRE and ETSY


Since I was a little, little girl - Music has played a major part in my life.

I actually don't remember when it all started, because my Father was musician - he had a beautiful voice - and he would sing all kinds of songs, some of them just to me -- and I loved it!!

I remember when I was really little getting an album of the music to "Peter Pan" -- and loving it!!

When I was a little older, I was introduced to Musicals!  I remember "West Side Story", "The Music Man", "Fiddler on the Roof" and "Funny Girl" !! 

Then there was the Classical music - quite a bit of it.

Music is just part of my life!!

Going to College at a University of Illinois campus - Urbana-Champaign in Central Illinois - was my first taste of living away from home -- and finding my own ways to do things.

And when I was in College, I found some Music all right - live, acoustic - and some of it original, sung and played by the songwriters themselves!!  It was a stimulating environment -- I wrote about it some here !

It was a Campus Coffeehouse:  the Red Herring of the Channing-Murray Foundation -- and there were some great times!

Some of the things that came out of that time were a Book of Folk Music -- and several Albums of recorded music - I posted photos in a Facebook Album with some descriptions !

Here are a few photos with my favorites in each listed:

Book - Folk Music From The Red Herring copyright 1970 Channing-Murray Foundation

My Favorites in this Book:
1. "The National Guard Waits" - Bill Taylor
2. "Time For You To Go" - Les Urban



Album - Folk Music From The Red Herring - Fall 1970 Music Festival

My Favorites in this Album:
1. "If To You Adieu" - Steve Cowan, Judy Spratlin, Nancy Spratlin
2. "Oh, About 3 or 4" - Pete Swinnerton
3. "Anubis" - Louie Kotva
4. "The National Guard Waits" - Bill Taylor
5. "Don't Be Angered By the Dawn" - Steve Reinwand and Mark Hamby
6. "Hickory Grove" - Dan Fogelberg




The Red Herring Bootleg Album - Fall 1970

My Favorites in this Album:
1. "Subtunnel Blues" - Pete Swinnerton
2. "Time For You To Go" - Les Urban
3. "Rhythum of Winter & Fall" - Pete Berkow
4. "Morning Grey" - Steve Cowan
5. "Carry the Light" - Mark Hamby (and Steve Reinwand)
6. "Beneath A Hoosier Moon" - Pete Swinnerton, Elliott Delman, Red Herring Friday the 13th Crowd









Folk & Music From The Red Herring - Fall 1971 Music Festival

My Favorites on this Album:
1. "Raggamuffin Child" - Linn Brown
2. "White Wine" - Steve Cowan
3. "Lying Trying" - Mark Hamby
4. "The Celebrated Robitussin Blues" - Goddard Graves

Yes!  I remember the songs -- and I still like them!  Some of them are just fun!  And a part of my life!

Do you have some Music that is just a part of your life????

Like I said on Facebook -- I still listen to acoustic music, such as:

 -- Leo Kotke

 -- Woody Guthrie

 -- Judy Collins

 -- Dan Fogelberg

 --  Joni Mitchell

 --  Gordon Lightfoot

 --  Pete Seeger

 -- Buffy Sainte-Marie

 - and almost some every day!!

Fun!!

My White Cottontailed BUNNY RABBIT - More Nature In Art Crochet for SPRING

Ruth Sandra Sperling
RSS Designs In Fiber - My Handmade Designs on ARTFIRE and ETSY




White BUNNY RABBIT Trinket Doily or Coaster Pair


I got a little "sidetracked" when I was working on my "Cottontail Rabbit In A Bush" Project (still a Work In Progress) -- I decided to make a Pair of Trinket Doilies or Coasters in All White of a Cottontailed Rabbit - for this SPRING!

 -- Apparently, though I am used to seeing Rabbits all year long where I live in the Antelope Valley of Southern California, Rabbits are associated with the SPRING Season -- it is the Season where they come out after the colder winter months and mate, from what I have read.  (Though I love seeing all the wildlife - I am not a wildlife biologist who observes the seasonal behavior of them!  I just read up about them occasionally!)

I put a lot of detail into these Filet Crochet Trinket Doilies:

- The Rabbit, with his "long ears", is outlined with a Raised Stitch
- The Rabbit's cottontail is done in Popcorn Stitch, so it really looks like a cottontail
- The 8-sided piece is bordered with a Raised Stitch with a finished edging on it

All three of these features add Texture and some depth to the pieces!  See the detail better in the larger image of the crocheted Rabbit below!




White BUNNY RABBIT Trinket Doily or Coaster

Have you ever seen a Rabbit running at top speed through a field???  I have!!  They don't really hop, but their powerful rear legs really push hard as they race along - then jump down some hole - I am assuming into one of their nests!!

More new SPRING DESIGNS IN FIBER on the way!!  Keep an eye out here for more announcements!  Some bigger, some more "little things".

If you have any particular requests - email me!  I am open to suggestions!

And here on my favorite theme, NATURE IN ART - an Artfire Collection I did!

Nature In Art - L...

Curated By: RSSDesignsInF...

ArtFire.com

Handmade Gifts

Wrapped In Silver - Featured Artisan from "On Fire For Handmade"

Ruth Sandra Sperling
RSS Designs In Fiber - My Handmade Designs on ARTFIRE and ETSY

This weeks Featured Artisan is Ingrid McCue - Wrapped in Silver.

Ingrid creates

Unique handcrafted silver pieces to adorne your neck, wrist and ears!

A Must have for every jewelry box!

You can find Wrapped in Silver on:

Artfire

Blog

Facbook