"Here Be Dragons" for Melange quote challenge

When I was a child I loved maps, the older & more exotic the better.


My favorite parts were the edges,


sometimes covered with fantastic drawings of creatures from Beyond.


There you would find the magic words ....

HC SVNT DRACONES : Here Be Dragons


I spent last weekend rereading Moby Dick (1 of my favorites)


and started making a map for the Melange challenge

Then decided I'd rather make an adventurer's box. Travel sized (2.5" sq x 2" H) for a small compass perhaps. Eventually I dumped the compass in favor of some trinkets an explorer might carry.


A tiny bottle of earth from home. Another filled with treasures for his love. A seeing "stone ", actually abalone. A figure he's been whittling. I'm not sure if I should leave the pin or not.....

It still needs some finishing touches. The abalone needs some roughing up. I need to replace the red sculpey with "wax" once I find the mislaid cork. I'm also missing a brass pin on the box front . Once finished, I'll add it to my ArtSnark etsy shop.

Find links to other fun quotable artworks in the Melange Team comment section HERE. While you are visiting, check out their new prompt, FLIGHT. Play along if you like, all mixed media pieces are welcome!

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Just a reminder, tomorrow is a new Thursday Giveaway. This week's prize is a $10 gift card to Michael's Craft stores. Just leave a comment here before noon (EST) tomorrow 8/20 to enter the random drawing. Click HERE for details & link to store locator.

Also, tomorrow afternoon I have a new artist interview & prize, so check back when you get a chance, okay? In the meantime, hope you have a creative day!

You Can't Escape .... Random Tuesday Thoughts

But this guy could
Happy Birthday Harry Houdini!

If you need a little escapist fun today let's get you started:

Harry's My Space page is "authorized by...the grand nephew..."
Houdini tribute If you're at work be sure to mute - the music's a bit of a giveaway that you're slacking off. Course if you're still at work you've already got this covered,yeah?

Den Mother of Random Tuesday, Keely The Un Mom, has rampant robots (+ a lovely Haiku) on her blog today. (C'mon....click thru, grab a button & play along....you know you want too....) So Keely, this pic I found last night on The Great Harry Houdini is for you


Had your dose of vitamin Z today? Check out this new zombie piece by digital artist Barbara Moustafa. She's having a bit o' fun with the latest image prompt from Art On The Darkside , one of my favorite challenge sites.

Mike over at The Mental Kavity features the seriously cool skateboard art of etsian alexxxcastaneda today. Had to nick the image & share....forgive me, Mike?Click the pic to visit alexxxcastaneda on etsy. If you like what you see, visit iamalexxx.com for some more fabulous work by this talented artist

If you are looking for a spellbinding tale check out The Hermitage blog by the wonderful wandering artist Rima. She shares her adventures in art, thought & the great wide world. Her house on wheels is extrememly photogenic too. If you enjoy her blog, be sure to check out Rima's etsy shop, also The Hermitage.

I want to take a minute to say thanks for all the kind comments that have been left by visitors. Although I suck at getting back to you, I do stop by & enjoy your posts. Been out of town & without internet but will be catching up this week, I hope. Seeing some amazing creativity out there! Keep it up

I could get lost blog-hopping today, but the day job awaits. If you can spare a minute, go grab a button & share your wonderful random thoughts with the world.....