Really, I have been so busy with web design stuff, that I haven’t taken the time to draw, and that’s just sad.  So I’ve had this robotic rooster in my head (he’s eventually going to be a big piece) and here’s my first attempt at a sketch of him.  Doesn’t it look like he’s just launched a football into the air?

I really like this sketch so much I don’t want to mess it up by adding more…  but alas I need to keep working on it!  Does that ever happen to anyone else?

Mrs. Olafsen and her dog, Hercules (he made it from from  the McDonald’s Happy Meal milk bottle and a light bulb-pictured at the link.)

Christmas Gift Label Downloadable Tags

I was looking back at some old posts, and I thought these deserved some front page space!  Download these adorable (if I do say so myself) little gift tags for your Christmas gifts… Click here to download as a pdf or from flickr!

Make a “Little Game Box”, with an Altoids Tin and these cute downloadable cards

Here’s a great little stocking stuffer you can make yourself. A pocket sized game is a great little ‘handmade’ Holiday gift. I’ve included (almost) everything you need to make one for yourself as free downloads! Just grab the file, print, and add your own Altoids tin for a cute little gift that fits perfectly in a stocking!  … Download the instructions and all the cards here:

A holiday gift from me to you… Thanks for reading Dabbled!

You might also like:

The matching Thank You Note templates for kids downloadable:  Just download the thank you note and let them fill in the blanks!  Either full color, or with a snowman the kids can color themselves…  Go get the Downloadable thank you note template

Brian Despain

I love Brian’s work… the subject matter is right up my alley–robots and all manner of coolness– , and it’s just plain gorgeous.  I could just stare at the robot worlds he creates all day long–Inspiring!

Love these robots..

The Escape

The Haunting

Web: Despainart.com

Jason Thomas

Jason’s work is full of fun and whimsy.  Along with robots, he also shares my love of tentacle thingies and monsters.  A fellow Atlantan, too–he’s also a very cool guy.   In additional to prints and such, he was also selling some great 3-D wooden pieces (one of which I will soon be the proud owner of–and I’ll share that when I get it, since he doesn’t seem to have any of those in his online store right now.).

If you’re in Atlanta, he’s at a lot of the festivals… He’ll be in my write up of East Atlanta Strut when I get to it.  So go find him because his stuff is sure to make you smile.

Web: Red Rocket Farm

Jason Limon

I picked up a print of Jason Limon‘s a few years ago, and I love his otherworldly style.   A really interesting mix of natural / organic elements and  mechanical elements.

His most recent work has an ‘owly’ feel, but I’m of course fond of his robots especially– and you can even get his cool bots as an iPhone Skin!

Web: Limon-Art

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Pete Abrams (Sluggy Freelance)

All around awesome guy, and creator of the long running webcomic, Sluggy Freelance, I would be remiss in not including Pete in the list of cool people in Artists Alley!  If you never read Sluggy, you really should.  But be warned, there are 13 years of archives to go through – so you might want to just buy the books!  Still in my book one of the best comics ever.

(Plus he looks ever so cute in a wig!)

Web:  Sluggy.com

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Andy Runton (Owly)

Pete pointed me toward’s Andy Runton’s Owly series, so we picked up a book for the 5 year old.  I love the idea of graphic novels for the kiddo set.  With very few words, it looks like an ideal way to expose a pre-reader to sequential story telling.  Plus Owly is awfully cute!  We haven’t gotten around to reading it yet, but looking forward to it!

This is the one we got.

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Web: Andy Runton

Other shout-outs… I didn’t get a chance to speak to either Gus Fink or Meg Lyman, but I wrote about them last year!

Original sketch: http://dabbled.org/2010/06/sketchbook-tuesday.html

It’s been a while since I added to my how to draw on food series. And to my marshmallow collection. So here is something to cover both: marshmallows for your summer barbecue. These are incredibly easy to make and take mere minutes. You can put them on lollipop sticks and display them in a glass jar on your picnic table for a treat (assuming marshmallows won’t melt in 100 degree weather? Best eat them quickly.)

Go check it out:  How to Draw on Food – BBQ Marshmallows!

(Previously featured: sugar icing tutorial – on Foodwhirl)

Oh! Foodwhirl giveaway ends today! Go enter quick!

Here is the ballooning robot in the early morning light.  I imagine he got up early, and just headed out on an adventure.  Not quite sure where the winds will take him, as his craft has very little ability to steer. (Maybe he’ll see the Ship of Gnomes!)

Cute huh?  Well, I think so at least :)

I just posted a recap of last week’s recipes on Foodwhirl: Poured Sugar Icing, Lentil Soup, Bunny Treats, Summer Salads, Rhubarb & more! And enter to win a $80 prize, yay! http://ht.ly/1P7NQ

And I’m trying to be more social ;)—  You can go Like Dabbled on Facebook and/or Foodwhirl on Facebook!  And Twitter, of course–if you friend me on Twitter be sure to send me an @ message so I know you’re from Dabbled, not a spammer!

Ciao!

Here are the results of The Boy’s safari, and below the pic are some tips for taking one with your kids!

Click here to see the full picture set on flickr!

And here’s a previous one from February..

Tips:

• Do use a decent digital camera.  While I wouldn’t give him a fancy digital SLR or anything, resist the urge to just hand over a disposable (taking LOTS of pictures is key!), or one of those ‘kid cameras’ with less resolution than your cell phone.  A decent digital point and shoot will provide the best pictures… and don’t be surprised if you get a few really nice ones!  And that’s motivating to the kids.
• Review camera handling and rules prior.  His main rule was that he always had to have the wrist strap on.  And also to keep his fingers off the lens!
• Pick a good walk:  It should be long enough for plenty of interesting subjects, but short enough that he or she doesn’t get worn out.  And make sure there is plenty of variety of subjects.   Once you’ve done your neighborhood thoroughly, consider driving or biking a bit a way to start your safari!
• Encourage, but don’t micro-manage.  Let him find what he wants to photograph.  Make occasional suggestions (“Do you see anything cool on the ground?” but not “Take a picture of that red leaf”)
• Switch off occasionally to get a picture of the kid!
• If interest is flagging, try a ‘Find the Picture’ game.  “Can you find something that’s shiny?”  “that is moving?”  “How about something that’s orange?”
• Afterwards, we go back and plug the camera into the computer, and do a slideshow of all his shots.  Blurry pictures can be deleted (although don’t dismiss those with artistic merit!) so you just save off his best.  You go through together to pick your favorites.
• Then upload a set of his favorites to flickr or some other photo sharing spot, where he can share with friends or family!
• You can also use something like big huge labs or Picasa to create a mosaic of a few favorite shots.  Maybe they go up on a bulletin board or become a card for grandma!

So, get going on safari… you don’t even have to be a kid to do it, ya know?