I used to feel like I should be secretive about my processes, but now I take the same over sharing, excited stance as I do with my science job. Ask me anything!

Excited to be in talks of becoming the new compiler for my favorite local Christmas Bird Count... Not sure if I'll be the top guy or part of a group, but it sounds fun! I love our local CBCs. I participate in 2 every year with my dad and brother and I prefer them over actual Christmas ngl

How am I supposed to drag myself to the gym after work when the sun clocks out an hour before I do?

I'm happy for people who had this experience. My Christmases looked beautiful but were incredibly stressful as far back as I can remember. I much prefer my tiny tree, kitty stockings, and escaping to the mountains for the actual holiday. STILL unlearning things tied to this season.

You guys see those $800 Prada brooches? I couldn't stop thinking about how silly they are (here's some single crochet on a safety pin, gimme money). Obviously had to make my own. Needle-felted turkey vulture head and tiny key for charms, because I said so.

Describe your cat's personality with one photo (Opal and Bobo)

I am Far Too Broke for buying stuff right now. I also am struggling with some pain issues so I can't take custom orders. Weemp womp. You can buy art from me though if you want! I also have a book out and have a few copies on hand if you want one. No pressure tho linktr.ee/dancingvultu...

Introduce yourself with five animals you've seen in the wild: - California Condor - Periodical Cicada - Vermilion Flycatcher - Short-eared Owl - Blanding's Turtle

Finally finished the right panel (just have to sew in the ends)! The big back piece is next... The real struggle will be to not overdo it and hurt myself again lolll

Tendinitis is really bumming me out, basically can't do anything. Tomorrow is another day...

This project... I actually got too into it and gave myself some minor crochet elbow 😅 So I have to take the week without crocheting and then be very mindful about breaks and not overdoing it! Why must crochet be so addicting and yet so repetitive motion injury inducing... Pattern by Biyabimi !

Art show last night was a blast! The quality of work was excellent, got to chat with folks I hadn't seen in forever, and overall just a super fun time. I hope they do more group shows! For any Pocono people, this show is at the Brodhead Creek Heritage Center and will be up for the rest of the year!

It's so weird to have winter activities I actually look forward to while also having seasonal depression lol Energy please come back

Welp, back to work. For how stupid that was, I'm grateful for all the time I was able to spend making art!! I finished 5 projects, my witch hat, darned my socks, and started my first crochet piece of clothing. I really needed that. Gonna doy best to keep the art momentum going.

Bird art you say 👀 These are just pieces I completed this year, but I have so much gotdang bird art it'd make your head spin! 😆 This is fun to look at. I think I created more work this year than the previous 5 combined ♥️

I've never heard of InvertFest before but it looks so cool! Just submitted my big boy, Cronus. Hope he makes the cut! I made Cronus for a call for art back in 2014-2015. The place closed submissions the day before I finished him due to the influx of art, so he's lived in my stairwell ever since!

#InverteFest season is almost here, which means it's time to submit your bug & slug art! The form closes at 100 entries. Find more info, download past art book, and submit here: invertefest.com/#artbook

I finished my barred owl fledglings last week and just dropped them off for a local art show this morning ♥️ I haven't shown my work in person since May. I'm really excited to get out there for this nature-themed show! Opening reception Friday November 14!

I guess this would be a good time to toss out there that I do have a lil shop and there's work in there for anyone interested! I mostly needle-felt small bird soft sculptures, but there's other pieces in there too ♥️ dancingvulturedesigns.square.site

I have been on the constant verge of opening up for commissions for the past month and a half, but I KNOW the moment I do, the govt will open back up and I won't have time to do them. I can just feel it lol.

Just finished my brother's Xmas gift. I'll explain in a thread below, but it's a little American Dipper paddling an inflatable kayak 😆 I couldn't get the idea out of my head, so here he is! Totally needle-felted and so small!

My favorite fuzzy Halloween socks are pretty beat up with holes in the bottom. Figured I'd practice darning with embroidery floss and see how it holds up! Not the cleanest but I've learned a lot and I love the way the woven embroidery floss looks. If it doesn't work out, they'll be used as stuffing.

Flu shot got me feeling like doodoo but it's better than getting the actual flu! Resting today under strict Opal supervision.

Finished my dad's Xmas present the other day- a red-breasted nuthatch! These guys are so adorable, I always love to see em! We love our winter migrants, they tell us that the Christmas Bird Count is coming up soon ♥️

Nothing like climbing in the Gunks to get the adrenaline going! I repelled myself for the first time today and have never been that terrified in my life, but I did it! I need a nap!!! Also for those who don't know, I am TERRIFIED of heights, but the view from the top was incredible ❤️

When this bird dissection pattern dropped, I was like YES PLEASE GIMME. This was the perfect project for this week, I just had to make a turkey vulture version! Finished just in time for Halloween, too. I'm absolutely obsessed ❤️❤️ He's so cute ?! www.etsy.com/listing/4390...

In light of this month's Bird Whisper Project being the turkey vulture (and me totally missing it OOPS) I decided it would be fun to post a bunch of turkey vulture art I've made over the years! Thread incoming, starting with my usual needle-felted guys. I've made more of these than I can count! 🧵

I can't believe I missed this post 😭😭😭 Well at least there will be lots of art of my favorite bird to look at today!

I decided since I have downtime, I'll make small gifts this year for my family My sister's is inspired by the jack-o-lantern she carved (Bobo inspected it) while she was here! After she left I putb it outside and our neighborhood black bear ate it immediately lol.

The latest Witch Hat bug- a Pigeon Horntail! My first fall in field work, I freed one of these gals from a trap (despite being super scared of her... I was really new to bugs lol). Hat's starting to get a lil heavy but I would love to keep adding moreeee

My relationship with art and my body are finally in a really good place now. I make what I want to make, and I take care of myself instead of sitting like a shrimp all day long poking away. Just need that final piece of the puzzle- a steady job 😅

Making art & working out a lot while things are Real Weird w/ work. Good time to job hunt (my contract is up next Sept anyway), but it's so overwhelming. One step at a time I guess -gonna update my resume. Wish I could go back to art full time, but I can't afford that (financially or physically!)

New bugs joined my hat today! Lightning bug, periodical cicada, and woolly bear ❤️ all needle felted with an embroidered cicada wing Bonus Opal cuddles for horror movie time More bugs coming soon...

Off again tomorrow from the sound of it, so I started planning the next bugs I want to put on my witch hat! Gonna add a periodical cicada, pigeon horntail, and some lightning bugs ❤️ (Also vulture-me doodle for funsies)

Opal has decided that, since I don't have work today, she's the boss. She's demanded cuddles before I could finish breakfast, scolded me to stop cleaning, and trapped me in her chair for hours and it's not even 11 am lol I'm just gonna give her everything she wants today.

My jack-o-lantern this year features Opal and Bobo. I love it lmaooo Can you tell who's who?

More progress on my witch hat! Added and attached my female Io moth, and sewed on my Marbled Orbweaver and crochet spiderweb today ♥️

This weather may be aggravating my chronic pain and keeping me out of the gym, but it means I have no excuse but to watch horror movies! Got any recommendations? Currently watching Texas Chainsaw Massacre for the first time, saw Terrifier 1 & 2 last week...

Today was a good day at home catching up with chores, but I also got to work on some art! -Female Io Moth WIP for my witch hat -lichen and Barred Owl toes sculpted -a thank-you doodle for folks who came to my book signing yesterday (Cayden and the nightmares thank u!)

Today is book signing day!!! AHHH As a fun and silly extra thing, I'm bringing a 5-page comic I drew when I first started this whole story (back in like 2006-2007??) to have on my lil table for people to read if they want to. It's actually part of the book, back when I wanted to draw the whole story

It's supposed to be my errands morning, but somebody fought really hard to get me back in bed... I'll give her an hour for her efforts

I've been wanting my own witch hat ever since I went to Salem in 2019 and didn't buy myself one of the super beautiful ones for sale (I was real broke lol) Today I finally decided to make my own! Not done yet, but grateful for how easy this old random felt hat I had works for this!

Sooo... Gym time has done wonders for me. Working out helps my anxiety tremendously, makes me so much stronger, and I've even fixed some long pain problems thanks to it! But when I miss days... A week... Now more than a week... Boy am I Not Happy. (Please go away, headache, I need to get swole soon)

I'm in a super weird position where, if the govt shuts down this week, I don't know if I'll actually still be working while my bosses don't. So uh Yeehaw I guess

Daydreaming about mountain time. It's a struggle when you want to hike and climb and go UP, while also having bad knees and a major fear of heights! My current obsession/fear is Katahdin...

Stretched a little in bed and tweaked something between my neck and shoulder I'm old 😭

R. Stevie Moore, The Mumps

Things are sloooowly settling down and I'm sneaking more and more art time in. Here's what I've been up to recently! Mostly finished this eastern box turtle, and crochet a tiny pumpkin. Feeling very Halloweeny right now haha.

We've been having such beautiful field work weather lately. I'm ready for you, Autumn!!!

I got to the gym 2 days in a row, today was gonna be 3! But as soon as I went upstairs to get ready, Opal demanded uppies and then lap time. I have been trapped ever since. I guess today could be a rest day...