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mandy-m-andersen.bsky.social
@mandy-m-andersen.bsky.social
270 followers 160 following 310 posts
International nomad.
Travel, museums, photography, volunteering, writing, and researching family history. 🇨🇦🇬🇧🇺🇸
Happily married to the same man for 36 years.

All photos are my own unless otherwise indicated (eg. reposts), and copyrighted.
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mandy-m-andersen.bsky.social
Some #stars for #ArtAdventCalendar day 9.

#Moravian #geometry #BlueSky #EastCoastKin #tradition #origami #creativity #Advent #DIY #Herrnhut #Christmas

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In this picture there are 3 origami-folded Moravian or Herrnhut stars - one large purple, and two smaller white ones. The largest is about 8” across, and the smaller about 5”. They are 3-dimensional with 16 points. They sit on a wooden floor in front of a glass door to the outside. Leafless trees can be seen in the background. Nearly 200 years ago in Saxony, Germany, a math teacher in a Moravian school created a star for his students to demonstrate geometric principles. That star went on to be known as the Moravian star, and today is hung in homes across Europe, during Advent, Christmas and Epiphany. These softly glowing stars in windows or hung from eaves, porches, and balconies, can represent different things to each of us. In the mid-winter celebration of light, the star can be a comforting reminder of brighter days to come. ******** A nomadic lifestyle of traveling ‘light’ means limited resources to spruce-up for Christmas [spruce up . . . get it?! Sorry - couldn’t resist.] As such, the Christmas season has become a bit of a decorative non-event, but last year in Dresden we kept seeing hundreds of these multi-pointed stars hanging from balconies, trees, doorways, bell-towers, and I got to thinking - I wonder if there’s an instruction book? And so these were born. This picture is a vignette of another Moravian star I folded - in a golden yellow.
December 9, 2025 at 9:06 PM
mandy-m-andersen.bsky.social
Day 8 of the #ArtAdventCalendar, and this is my ‘Norfolk Coast’ necklace, inspired by an extended stay in deep ancestral areas of East Anglia, in the UK.

Ongoing learning process.

#art #creativity #jewelry #beading #survivorship #artglass #semi-precious #metallic #lapislazuli

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As a nomad living ‘out of my suitcase', I am restricted to a small cache of supplies, and hopefully components purchased or ‘found’ [existing pieces I break up to repurpose] at different stops along the way. This blue, silver, green and pink design has the focal interest situated on the forward-facing half of the necklace. Using tiny faceted lapis lazuli beads [purchased in Norwich, UK] strung from a lobster-claw fastener at the back, the length continues with spaced art-glass beads in two different shapes [from an amazing creative re-purposing non-profit in Portland, Oregon]. They are of clear glass with random translucent bands of blue, pink, and green. Of the beads, four are a tear-drop shape the size of a thumbnail, and four are a barley-twist shape, the size of a pinkie thumbnail. The glass beads are interspersed with the same small lapis lazuli beads as earlier in the design, and silver electroplated lava-rock spacers, and then at three evenly-spaced spots in the focal section, there are single, solid metal cylinder beads in metallic royal-blue [from a store in Leipzig]. The blue sea and skies of the Norfolk coast, along with the rich greens and wild blossoms of local vegetation were my inspiration for this piece. Surprisingly - I find I wear this the most often.
December 8, 2025 at 9:45 AM
mandy-m-andersen.bsky.social
One of the joys of a culture that respects history is the wealth of #architecture for education and enjoyment by all.

A summer #Stunday scene from Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire, UK.

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#Tewkesbury #BlueSkyphotography #photography #UK #Tudor #waterway #EastCoastKin #history
A sunny day - with blue-sky and white cumuli clouds featuring in the top quarter of the image, behind a magnificent old Tudor building at the end of a row of historical buildings - sitting quayside on the River Avon. The second story of the building has the iconic half-timbered black posts with light-colored stucco between. The windows on this floor are not deep. The windows on the ground floor are taller. In the steep-pitched roof, there are two simple dormer windows. The older chimney stack at the front has four flues. This building appears to be at least two residences, being that there are two brown wooden front doors raised from the street by several steps. In front of the building are two full rose bushes in bloom. This corner view of the building shows that there is great depth. There are also two main doors on the side of the building, so it would be reasonable to think there might be multiple residences within. The blocky chimney on this side is more modern. Next to this large building there are smaller, old dwellings possibly of same period, with steep roofs and whitewashed walls with dark timbers. This view is taken from an adjacent mill (barely visible on the edge of the image) on the Severn Way (pedestrian crossing) across the river. The lower half of the image is about the river which is largely occupied at this spot by rushes and water-lily pads in the foreground, and behind them, moored to the quayside beneath the Tudor building, is a small pleasure boat. Also barely visible is a corner tower of Tewkesbury Abbey up towards the right corner of the photograph.
December 7, 2025 at 7:33 PM
Reposted
kerriedoodles.bsky.social
Day five of #ArtAdventCalendar.

Here’s a stone I painted a reeeeeally long time ago.
On a light grey pebble is a painting of a rising full moon with a silhouetted hare in front of it. The colours are monochrome, and there are lots of stars in the sky. There are silhouetted trees of either side of the hare.
December 5, 2025 at 8:17 PM
Reposted
timosborne.ca
Day 6 of #ArtAdventCalendar: I was watching this Grizzly Bear and her cub when she stopped for a moment, sat up, and seemed to just take in the view as the sun began to set. #wildlife
A female grizzly bear sits up while surround by small branches and a rock face behind her.
December 6, 2025 at 3:49 PM
mandy-m-andersen.bsky.social
Another of a series, for #ArtAdventCalendar

#ArtAdventCalendar #art #creativity #creative-passion #color #contrasts #shadowplay #lightinthedarkness #BlueSkyArt #EastCoastKin #photography #abstract

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An abstract photograph of a rainbow-hued ribbon and a white one, twisting in the air against a black background. They cross the frame from the top left corner down to the lower right of the frame. In places, the way they have twisted makes it difficult to see where either ribbon begins or ends - the color and light each lending to the other in harmony. Where the light catches the white ribbon brightest - it reflects in a scattering of iridescent fibrous flecks. The deep black background offers a perfect canvas of contrast for the almost lightning-bolt of twisted color across its expanse.
December 7, 2025 at 12:13 PM
Reposted
laurabundesen.bsky.social
Day 4 #ArtAdventCalendar

‘My original ‘Day Dreaming’ 16x20

Lovingly made with rainbow fabric, hand embroidery and a collection of handmade glass beads made by my daughter Maya when she was in high school

LauraBundesen.com

#NeuroArt #FiberArt #MixedMedia
Right hemisphere of a brain in rainbow fabric with hand embroidery and beads on a white background The piece hanging on a white brick wall next to a small plant
December 5, 2025 at 1:02 AM
Reposted
sculptedreef.com
✨ Caribbean Reef Octopus sculpture 🐙 Clay & Paint 🎨

#ArtAdventCalendar
A photo of a hand sculpted octopus, depicting the species Caribbean Reef Octopus. Scientifically known as Octopus briareus, a bluish teal octopus with bronze and shimmering patches. It is holding a small Swarovski crystal and sitting inside an abalone shell. Photographed on a black background.
December 5, 2025 at 3:24 AM
mandy-m-andersen.bsky.social
#ArtAdventCalendar #art #creativity #jewelry #cancer-survivor #beading #survivorship
Several years ago I started making my own jewelry. Fast forward a few years, after surviving breast cancer, I decided to making shorter pieces to remind who I am, rather than what I had lost.

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As a slow-traveling, international nomad, I like to make at least one piece as a memento of each place we linger. This black, silver, and sky-blue necklace is called ‘Tirana’ after a multi-month stay in Albania. Unfortunately, a mishap on the first evening there landed me in the ER, with a bashed knee, two sprained wrists and double black eyes. Consequently, I chose elements for this necklace to remind me of that time: black lava rock [for the close-encounter my face-plant on the ground]; silver electroplated lava rock to represent the Albanian silver jewelry industry; and robin’s egg blue glass beads [cubes, faceted rounds, and ombre balls on wires] for the amazing blue skies we experienced nearly every day. The necklace pattern is of round black lava beads, interspersed with blue glass beads, and silver-colored lava spacers. In the middle-section at the front of the necklace, I have repurposed components of a second-hand bracelet of individually wired, ombre light blue beads, and spaced them with more silver lava-rock spacers. You may think it odd to create a reminder of a painful experience, but the smile I get when I look at it reminds me of the kindness of the strangers who came to our aid, and changed a difficult memory into something better.
December 5, 2025 at 12:34 AM
Reposted
timosborne.ca
Day 3 of #ArtAdventCalendar: It's always hard to find the perfect tree-topper, but I think I've done it! #wildlife
A Great Horned Owl sits on the top of a thin evergreen tree. The weight of the owl bends the top branch downwards.
December 3, 2025 at 3:30 PM
Reposted
pixelsandalchemy.bsky.social
Orange Leaves in Fog
#ArtAdventCalendar #Day1
#Sweetgum #Leaves outside my window on a foggy day in Jan 2025.
#PNW #Photography
December 3, 2025 at 4:33 AM
mandy-m-andersen.bsky.social
Four days late to the #ArtAdventCalendar, I’d love to participate by sharing some of my favorites that make me smile.
#creativity #color #art #photography #BlueSky #EastCoastKin #abstract-photography #contrasts #shadowplay

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An abstract photograph of two ribbons dancing against a black background. Both curve from the bottom of the frame, up and over to exit the right of the image. The ribbon on the left is a rainbow ombre and the other white. The dramatic play against the background enhances the curves and twists of shadow-play on the ribbons.
December 4, 2025 at 12:25 AM
Reposted
jayispainting.earthskyart.ca
In case you're wondering what I'm talking about...
December 2, 2025 at 5:06 AM
Reposted
debmaluk.bsky.social
day 1 #ArtAdventCalendar all aboard the posting beautiful things train! Let's make everyone's timelines joyful and inspiring!
A frosty spruce tree on the right with snow all around. There is a pale band of aurora in the dark blue night sky.
December 1, 2025 at 6:35 PM
mandy-m-andersen.bsky.social
I love the intensity and texture of this rendering. 😮Makes me want to try to reproduce it in clay!
jayispainting.earthskyart.ca JayIsPainting 🍁 @jayispainting.earthskyart.ca · 8d
Let's get #ArtAdventCalendar rolling!

It's December 1 somewhere right now.

Saskatchewan Supercell 32x40in 81x102cm
Oil on Canvas
2019

#Art #Painting
Abstract landscape painting: Blue green mothership storm with heavy rain at bottom with a green field in foreground.
December 2, 2025 at 9:40 AM
mandy-m-andersen.bsky.social
A dynamic Oregon coast shot.
lorettarobinson.bsky.social Loretta Robinson @lorettarobinson.bsky.social · 8d
Good Morning...it is time for the #BlueSkyMonday art challenge!

I really enjoy photographing lighthouses!

Jacqueline, my drone, got this shot of the Coquille River #Lighthouse in #Bandon #Oregon on the Oregon coast.

#EastCoastKin #Photography #Drone #DJIMiniPro4
December 1, 2025 at 6:50 PM
mandy-m-andersen.bsky.social
Rocks on #Stunday

#Germany #Saxony #Bastei #BirdsEyeView #rocks #photography #landscapephotography #BlueSky #EastCoastKin #landscape #nature

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An amazing rock formation in Saxony, Germany is the Bastei (“bastion”) - 636 feet above the Elbe River. This particular photo features the pinnacles at one end of the formation, like fingers reaching upward to the sky. On closer examination, but may not be possible to see on the BlueSky rendering, are tiny people standing on the top of the nearest pillar, and some at vantage points at the top of the rocks behind. This view is taken from another promontory of the Bastei - looking down on the adjacent pillars as a bird’s-eye view — giving an idea of just how high this towering formation is. We cannot see the ground in this image as the trees growing up from the valley floor, in their green-, amber- and russet-turning foliage, crowd the adjacent rock massive - almost like a dense barrier to a towering defense wall which–in fact–was a purpose it served for the mid 1700s rock Neurathen Castle (of which little now remains). In 1938 the Bastei became the first nature reserve in the Elbe Sandstone Mountains.* [See link below]. In the far distance we see forested hills in on the horizon in the late Autumn afternoon.
November 30, 2025 at 10:46 PM
mandy-m-andersen.bsky.social
Snapshot of a moment in time in #Baja #warmth even though I know I missed the deadline for the #BlueSkyArtShow; I had this lined up - and then forgot to post.

#LaPaz

#Mexico
#beachvolleyball
#sports
#paddleboard
#athletes
#photography
#EastCoastKin
This is my spectator side-on, action shot near the net line at the Volleyball World Beach Pro Tour a couple of years ago in La Paz, Baja California Sur in Mexico. Across the image at first third down, the view of the sandy beach volleyball court [in the lower two thirds] is bordered by a temporary 5 foot high purple wall displaying white logo advertisements for the tour sponsors. At the top of the purple wall is a pedestrian walkway, supporting an art installation comprised of free-standing, blocky, artfully-decorated letters spelling ‘LA PAZ’. It’s a common public art form found in many cities. There are two, blue-shirted referees - one standing on the yellow-draped referee stand at the net, and three of the four players (in two-piece competition suits) in this women’s game are close to the net. One player, in the middle of the photo, is suspended in mid-air, with her right arm in mid arc before striking the ball which is camouflaged to the viewer by the arty ‘A’ of the La Paz art installation in the background. Above the purple wall and the arty LA PAZ letters, the rest of the image is of the calm La Paz bay in the background, broken only by a single paddle-boarder standing on his board trying to watch the game (which looks kind of difficult at that angle).
November 30, 2025 at 9:45 PM
mandy-m-andersen.bsky.social
#Scape #landscape #BlueSky #photographers-of-Blue-Sky #steam-locomotives #golf #English-landscape #Norfolk-coast #lazy-days #bygone-era #train-spotting

A #summer memory
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A deciduous forest marks the horizon of this summer pastoral view captured near the north Norfolk coast in England. The landscape harks back to a bygone era due to a locomotive pulling five burgundy and cream, curtained coaches across the middle horizontal line of the photo, trailing snowy white clouds of billowing steam, as it heads toward the small town of Sheringham. An open-scape golf course occupies most of the swath of close-cropped, natural-green grass - making up two thirds of the view in front of the viewer, who stands on a gentle slope looking down a shallow slope toward the train tracks in the distance. In the middle foreground, we see three relaxed golfers with their golf push carts as they make their way around the circuit. Interspersed within the green expanse are large growths of gorse - in its flaming seasonal yellow display - those cheerful summer blossoms hiding vicious thorns.
November 28, 2025 at 8:29 PM
mandy-m-andersen.bsky.social
And how could I forget the gyre of indecision and the pea-souper fog of imposter syndrome?
gabino.bsky.social Gabino Iglesias @gabino.bsky.social · Nov 5
Monthly reminder: Many people have a book in them, but it takes a special kind of freak to leave the Land of Laziness, cross the Plains of Procrastination and Insecurity Mountain, find the Blade of No One Made You Do This, and use it to cut your chest open and yank that book out.
November 9, 2025 at 9:18 AM
mandy-m-andersen.bsky.social
An #Evening stroll through the park as the sun drops toward sunset
#BlueSkyArtShow #EastCoastKin #Norwich #England #Spring #photography #parks #silhouette #shadows #goldenhour #public-art #bandstands
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An early evening view through the park towards the west. This is Chapelfield Gardens in Norwich, UK. The viewer stands at the T-intersection of the pathways. It’s May and the leaves are bright green, as is the grass. However, because of the low sun in the distance beyond the park, color is retreating into shadows. There are two trees in the foreground: on the left we see the young leaves with still much light and space between the branches. On the right, nearer the viewer, is an already flush large tree with branches that reach out over the path that passes between the trees. At this Golden Hour, this tree is now almost completely in silhouette. Near the tree on the left, and beside the path where it takes a corner from the left, is a large cement ball on a flat plinth. There is no sign, and so it is difficult to know if it’s a deterrent for bicycles cutting the corner across the grass, or an artistic element added for fun. In the middle of the image, further along the path, we see two individuals walking away into the ‘almost sunset’, approaching a large central circular open space. This is where community meets. Soon, on the left, they will pass a quiet, white-pillared bandstand, wrapped with an X-design balustrade, and encircled by luxuriant flowerbeds. It's topped with a red-tiled, peak-roof - and is, again, topped with a louvre-paneled cupola, with it’s own echoing miniature red-peaked roof. Around the edge of the large open circle there are regularly spaced benches facing the bandstand; here people gather to enjoy entertainment from featured guests during festivals and other special days.
November 8, 2025 at 10:14 PM
Reposted
churchstreetimages.com
Join the #BlueSkyArtShow
Saturday November 8, 2025
The theme is #Evening

Any art, any interpretation
Use both tags to be
included in our feed.
Multiple entries welcome

More details in the comments

#photography #drawing #painting #sketching #poetry
Join the #BlueSkyArtShow Saturday November 8, 2025 The theme is #Evening Any art. Any interpretation. Use both tags to be included in our feed. Multiple entries welcome.
November 3, 2025 at 4:38 AM
mandy-m-andersen.bsky.social
#día-de-los-muertos #ancestors #loved-ones #photography #remembrance #reflection #gratitude #BlueSkyArt #EastCoastKin #cultural-history #indigenous-tradition #family-traditions
A close-up picture of a basket of fragile glass Día de los Muertos skull ornaments in metallic greens and oranges, with big eyes and grins and decorated with flowers.
November 2, 2025 at 11:52 PM
mandy-m-andersen.bsky.social
Light extinguishes the dark.
May we all find the courage to add to the great beacon of light - be it physical, financial, spiritual, emotional support, or kind word.

#light #hope #kindness #love #Spain #gardens
#courage #BlueSkyArt #EastCoastKin #Stunday
#photography

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Perhaps one of the hardest things is to find light or hope when all around is dark. If we have the reserves, we can add to the light for others . . . This photo of one of the walled-gardens at El Escorial, the monastery in Spain, is set out in geometric designs, picked out in low (possibly boxwood), green hedges. Most of the garden is in shadow cast by the buildings, out of picture, on the right. Yet in the middle ground, slightly right in the photo - still in the shadow - a dark-trunk tree glows with early autumn-turning leaves of yellow and light bronze. It’s large shape - a beacon of light in the dark section of the garden seems lit from within, without the assistance of direct sunlight. It reminds me that even in the darkest of times, we can be part of the light.
November 2, 2025 at 3:18 PM
mandy-m-andersen.bsky.social
And finally - need I say more?
#spiders. #Halloween #spiderweb #arachnids #nature #BlueSkyArt #EastCoastKin #photography
An upward shot against the grey-siding of a residence, taking up two-thirds of the image across the page. The third on the left is of green trees in a sunny garden in the background. Smack bang in the middle of the photo is a fat-bodied, thick legged spider hanging in the center of its immaculate web strung across a footpath. The body of the spider is brown with white speckled markings, and hangs inverted, and picked out in bright sunlight. Barely perceivable is the right half of the web that is blended into the coloring of the grey siding. This spider was the bane of my existence as it would return and build across the pathway even when disturbed and encouraged to spin elsewhere. More than one I had to duck my head to avoid a collision.
October 31, 2025 at 11:59 PM