Linda's Magic Workshop - Linda Britt Design

Summer!  Sun shining days and warm breezes bringing lots of birds to my deck in Prescott.  I love summer and remembering the short trips we take.  I have to share this one. Indigo Bunting Matt the new birder!  When we were in Missouri recently my nephew, Matt, took us to the Arboretum Botanical Gardens in Overland Park, Kansas.  I had been there once before but this time we walked all the trails and introduced Matt to the world of birding.  I’m hoping he really gets interested in it because he can really spot the birds!  This is a lovely garden with lots of flowers and different ecosystems.  Monet’s Garden has flowers and plants like the ones Monet painted and there is even a little bridge. Remember the ‘water lilies’? An international sculpture garden shows off some interesting metal sculptures that were donated by Chinese artists and are tucked among the trees. The bird trail leads to a little house with seats and a place for bird food

It’s been such a ‘birdie’ beginning of summer!  We had Western Tanagers migrating through our area and they are such beautiful eye- candy that all one could do was stop and look at them.   Unfortunately, one of the males flew into my neighbor’s patio door so hard that it obviously had a concussion.  We tried to revive it with diluted orange juice in a syringe.  My neighbor, Phoebe, and I emailed each other through the day. “Henry is safely installed in our AZ room in the aquarium with a small maple branch, water, o.j. and seeds.  He hasn't taken more juice, but has moved around, out of the box a couple of times. Keep the fingers crossed!”  Sometime in the night our patient (Phoebe named him Henry) gave up the fight and he was buried in the yard under a rock.     This was the first time I had the privilege of actually holding a wild bird.  He was so light and his feathers were such beautiful colors.  Quite the nature experience and of course, sad.  Soon afte

Glass Lampwork Beads are among my favorite eye candy.  When I saw this tutorial on faux lampwork beads I decided I had to try it!  This is the link for the tutorial:  https://www.etsy.com/listing/176555759/faux-glass-polymer-clay-tutorial-pack-3?ref=related-6 It is very well written, nicely illustrated and a pleasure to follow.  I recommend this! I love these beads and can't wait to make more with this technique First I started collecting the supplies and naturally I needed to order some things!  I did not have Kato liquid polymer nor did I have a heat gun.  I love tools so here was another excuse!  Now I have a heat gun!  I bought the Ryobi 11 Amp Variable-Temp Heat Gun that was suggested in the tutorial.  It is great – easy to hold and the temperature is easy to adjust!  The Kato clay I bought came in a bubble wrap envelop and the lid was loose.  Ick! What a mess.  Amazon refunded the money and I was able to salvage enough to do the project.  Finally ready! I m