Sound Reflections

I created this drawing with a combination of graphite and colored pencils. 
Here are a few of the stages of the evolution of my drawing, followed by the
completed drawing again - enjoy!

Jewellspiration at Camp Yofi

Last week at a family summer camp for Jewish autism families, I had a wonderful opportunity to get a little creative.  It was on an evening of some respite time for myself, along with some of the other autism moms.  It is absolutely one of the best perks of Camp Yofi at Ramah Darom in Clayton GA.  This precious time to connect with others, relax and recharge; it's nothing short of golden.

In the first photo bellow: I made a set of necklace and earrings with the hamsa symbol of the hand.  The hamsas are in a copper tone (it's hard to see in the photo).  

Here's a little overview about the hamsa symbol from Wikipedia:

"The hamsa (Arabic: خمسة‎ khamsah, also romanized khamsa, meaning lit. "five") is a palm-shaped amulet popular throughout the Middle East and North Africa, and commonly used in jewelry and wall hangings.^[1][2] Depicting the open right hand, an image recognized and used as a sign of protection in many societies throughout history, the hamsa is believed to provide defense against the evil eye. The symbol predates Judaism, Christianity and Islam.^{[citation needed]} In Islam, it is also known as the hand of Fatima, so named to commemorate Muhammad's daughter Fatima Zahra (c. 605 or 615^[3] – 633). Levantine Christians call it the hand of Mary, for the Virgin Mary. Jews refer to it as the hand of Miriam in remembrance of the biblical Miriam, sister of Moses and Aaron".

In this second photo: I made a set of necklace and a bracelet.  The pendant of the necklace has a silver hamsa with an attachment of a star of David.  I also made an interchangeable pendant (on the bottom of the photo) of a vintage key and lock, a gift for my daughter.  I made her another interchangeable pendant that isn't captured in this photo, of a heart and star of David.  She wore it today for the first time, as her first choice.  It was very sweet!

I realized while making the jewellery, just how much I was enjoying myself.  It felt like a very similar rush that I experience from drawing or playing the piano.  Therefore, I plan on making many more pieces, as a way of unwinding and finding additional outlets for creative energy.  I can't wait to go get some tools and beads for the new pieces.  Thank you Camp Yofi, for putting a sparkle in my week!

The Kingfisher Bird

I saw a photo of this beautiful Rufous-Backed Kingfisher bird sitting on a branch and had to draw it this week.  This drawing was done in colored pencils.  I added a colorful shadow to its silhouette to add more depth and three diagonal sun rays to build in dimension.  After Tuneful Nectar, my colored pencil drawing of a Humming Bird, I thought of doing another bird drawing as a companion.  I hung up the first one in my daughter's room.  I asked her if she would like to have another picture of a bird and she was excited about the idea, so the Kingfisher will accompany the Humming Bird on the same wall.

Here are a couple of earlier sketches followed by the completed drawing again.

The completed drawing: