Paver Patio Progression

So, my good friends and family keep asking me, " What are you doing at work? Do you like it?"
Here is a look into a recent project... I spent a few weeks outdoors with the crew, working with them and collecting images and memories of the experience!

Normally I work inside designing, drafting, and occasionally rendering or performing other office tasks.  It is also pretty common to catch me outside around Indianapolis, measuring clients' properties and preparing a base plan for the future design.  It is not normal, though, to catch me digging out the soil to prepare for the base of the paver patios that I helped to draft. Also not normal to catch me shoveling multiple tons of gravel before my coworkers compact it down to prepare for the sand base. However, if you were in Cicero during the fruition of this design, you would have caught me doing these things. AWESOME, RIGHT?!!!!

I'm not exaggerating when I say that I loved being there for the learning experience! Sure, I learned a lot of great information during my landscape architecture undergrad at Ball State. I learned how to specify a great, long-lasting and reliable base to support various paving materials. I learned about soil compaction, grading, water and drainage, and the importance of doing things the right way. I learned about good design practices and how to take both micro- and macro-climates into consideration.  Ball State gave me a great start with a great education.

But, there is more to design than what you learn in school.  There is something unique and exciting about being there and building what you already designed on paper.  Putting pencil to paper isn't quite the same as plunging the tip of a shovel into the earth and breaking ground.  Then doing it again, and again, and measuring the grade of those efforts to determine whether they are deep enough to get a solid base under the pavers.

Fetching about 5 tons of gravel in one trip, unloading, shoveling, and wheeling that gravel, then smoothing, leveling and compacting it teaches a lot about the time it takes to get things started. It teaches a lot about the elbow grease lodged under those pavers. We aren't quite to the pavers yet though. Of course, another load of gravel must be fetched and the process starts again. (The project took more than 25 tons of gravel.) The story is about the same for the sand.

 

Building a project also teaches about the techniques involved with making each individual paver level and sturdy. Well, I'm rambling a bit. At any rate, it was a wonderful experience and if you get the chance to be a part of an experience like this, don't turn it down!!

Here is my video, which chronicles the progression of the paver patio:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xfK2GFUl_Gk
(The images on this blog are not in the video, but supplemental. Check out the video... worth watching!)

Care Package: Sweet Notions (1)

As many of you know, my mom is starting chemo very soon. I've put together some sweet little care packages to bring her a bit of joy.  The first bit is to add some creative and colorful spunk to inspirational and joyful sayings and scriptures.

I started with some mini canvases and easels that will easily fit on a bedside table, or near a collection of flower arrangements!  (Don't judge the talent here. They are VERY tiny canvases!)

Here are the first two:  (Click the picture to enlarge.)

1)

2)

I would love to have some ideas...
...for little goodies to include in her care packages! She does not want reminders of what she is battling.  She prefers cheery reminders of the best things in life.

Bustle Dress: Final Pictures!

The final product of all my hard work is finally being posted today!

Special thanks to my good friend Kristen Mittlestedt, an amazing photographer and artist. 

http://www.kristenmittlestedt.com/

Thanks to those who visited the state fair exhibit to see my hard work in person. It has been such a fun project. Enjoy... and google search for Rachel McAdams as Irene Adler to see the dress that inspired this Halloween costume.

Photography at the Zoo

Any zoo is a great place to visit.  Whether you are there to observe the animals, to enjoy good weather, for a fun weekend activity with friends, to get a nice exercise stroll with scenery, or to find creative inspiration, there is something for you at the zoo!  I went for all these reasons, except for the weather.  Here are the image results of using my camera as a creative outlet at the Indianapolis Zoo yesterday.  Enjoy!

Easter Eggs!

Easter is my favorite holiday, not for the candy or the bunnies, or the multitude of cuteness, but for the real meaning behind the holy day. There is nothing greater than knowing that God would sacrifice what is most precious to him so that we may live. Historical records of Jesus and his teachings of love defeating even death itself are inspiring.

The hope and joy that come with the newness of spring, the abundance of life returning and replacing frigid temperatures, is all an added bonus. Green leaves peeking out from under a layer of winter decay and the sounds of songbirds are little demonstrations of life after death.  They are very comprehensible reminders of what we've already seen and known, and analogies of what is to come.

Easter is also a great time to be creative! This year so far, I've made some lemon 'n' honey bunny cakes and I've painted many of the eggs that I've hollowed out over the last couple years. I intend to paint more, but here are some of the ones I've already completed.

Yes, I do very much enjoy any celebration of new life and I love that rabbits are almost always a part of that celebration. Rabbits have such a zest for life, a tender and conscientious kind of sweetness, and can still express their strong opinions and even an aggressive protectiveness for those they love... all without words. Perhaps it is that never-ending pantomime of personality that I find so fun.  Maybe its the huge heart inside such a tiny creature.

Indianapolis Sketchers: Circle Center Mall

The Indianapolis Sketchers had a great turn-out at Circle Center Mall.  8 people RSVP'd they'd be there, and 8 people showed up! There was a lot going on there, as well, which made it fun to pick out subjects.

Anyone is welcome to join in on these sketching outings. The group site is:
http://www.meetup.com/Indianapolis-Urban-Sketchers/

Here is my work from the outing.

Indianapolis Sketchers: Rock Bottom Brewery

The challenge at Rock Bottom Brewery was to bring something 3D from home to put on the table for people to sketch. We had a pretty little white rabbit jewelry holder that Sam gave me as an early birthday gift- thanks Sam!

Sketch of Jewelry Holder

After sketching the jewelry holder, I started sketching a lady at another table. 

Thumbnail Portrait: Stranger at Rock Bottom Brewery

Winter Window Buddies :)

Tillandsia, an onion atop the twin towers, and my little German gnome.

There is nothing better than a splash of color in a winter window, especially when the color source is living. These fellows are just above my kitchen sink and they keep me company when I wash dishes!

Pyrography: Fishers of Men

Wood burning, or pyrography, can be very fun and a bit addictive. I built a cryptex out of wood for a studio project in my last year at Ball State, and really enjoyed lettering the wheels during the project.  This little wood block received some of my creative energies when I got that tool back out in September, 2010. 

I didn't copy a font, just had fun making my own. If you want to try this craft, I got the tool at harbor freight for a low price. It comes with several different bits and can also be used for soldering.

Enjoy!

Monica

Indianapolis Sketchers: Zoo Sketch

Only two sketchers braved the cold this morning, including myself!  I have some nice sketches to show for it though.  Here they are.

Tundra the Polar Bear's Waterfall

Tundra, Head in the Snow

Child Watching Sharks in the Petting Pool