Forest Bookmarks April 2022

Forest Themed Bookmarks. 

It has been quit a while since I posted here on my personal blog.
I'm not going to try to catch up, 
most everything I've made or done I've shared on my family blog.

I started with these mushrooms and dandelion based off of memory.

The rest of the 5 bookmarks I used reference photos.
I love this frog on a mushroom with a butterfly one.
I did have a hard time drawing the moss at the bottom of the drawing.

Sam came home and told me foxes don't eat mushrooms. 
Of course I looked it up and informed him,
“ Foxes eat rodents, hares, birds, lemmings, reptiles, fish, frogs, voles, eggs, earthworms, caterpillars, seasonal vegetation, berries, seeds, mushrooms, and wild grasses.

I love how the Lavender in the corner turned out I wanted to add some kind of flowers to fill the space.

I wasn't sure if I could do them justice but glad they turned out.

Although raccoons aren't always welcomed in reality.

This little one is to cute (and only a drawing) not to like.

I enjoyed adding the acorns, mushrooms, poppies and wood violets to give this a shinrin-yoku* feeling.

Another attempt at moss.

But on a positive note my snail and mushrooms turned out lovely.

My sixth and final bookmark of the page.

I knew I wanted to do another forest critter,

I debated between an owl, wolf, bear, deer, and of course a squirrel.

After finding a wonderful reference photo of a squirrel eating a mushroom,

the squirrel won.

I wanted to add a forest flower to fill the background but worried with the leaves on the ground it would give mixed feelings of spring and fall.

So I looked up fall forest flowers.

And immediately decided to draw these beautiful daisies.

And here is my finished page.

I may in the future print copies and cut these bookmarks out and sell them. 

But for now they were enjoyable to draw.

**shinrin-yoku

"The idea of nature baths comes from a Japanese concept called shinrin-yoku, which means “forest bathing” or “relaxing in a forest atmosphere.” You don't need to put on your swimsuit or get wet — during a nature bath, you're “bathing” in the energy and clean air of the woods."

Now that's a neat word and idea. I may need to keep it in mind as I love enjoying a walk in the woods.

Book Reviews

The Gammage Cup: A Novel of the Minnipins

Author: Carol Kendall

Originally published: 1959

Library Classification:  Tween

My Classification: Tween

Genres: Speculative fiction, Fantasy Fiction

Favorite Character: Ltd.

Online Blurb: “The Gammage Cup” by Carol Kendall is a fictional book about the Minnipins defending themselves against the Mushrooms.   

Walter the Earl, Gummy, Curly Green, Muggles, and Mingy become outcasts from their village when their habits and differences become to much for the others.

As they begin working together building their new home they find out a terrible secret.

Mushrooms, the dreaded enemy of the Minnipins, are in their peaceful valley.

Walter the Earl, Mingy, Gummy, Curly Green, and Muggles work together on warning the villagers and defending the Valley.

Carol Kendall’s “The Gammage Cup” is a remarkable story showing us that differences can be good, listening more is important, and working together is essential.

My Thoughts:

Galadriel of Trinity Acres* lent a copy of this novel to me. She thought I might enjoy the novel.

I did enjoy it. I found it interesting how the descendant of Fooley seemed to rein over the rest of the villagers. Seeing how they change their ways at the end of the book defiantly changed they're evil appearance. While reading this novel I hoped the Minnipins would learn how to communicate with the Mushrooms. Although sadly that didn't turn out in the end.

This book is one of those that paint a picture inside you're head!

My favorite character was Ltd. he was very calm. And seemed to look for what was best for his village. Trying to resolve any conflict.

And even at the end of the book he was very humble and acknowledges his misgivings.

Prepared to step down from his role as mayor even.