The amazing NZ praying mantis. Apparently this species rarely perform the gruesome after mating ritual of attacking and consuming her partner, they die on their own of exhaustion.

La increible mantis de NZ. Por lo visto esta especie no realiza el macrabro acto de atacar a su compañero despues del ritual de apareamiento, los pobres se mueren solos del agotamiento.

The autumn arrives suddenly.
I cut the pages of my diaries, they become leaves.

Llega el otoño de repente.
Corto páginas de mis diarios, se transforman en hojas.

I create two round newspaper balls and I cover them with masking tape.

I tape them together with more masking tape.

I cut the wings, tail and beak shapes out of a strong piece of cardboard.

I then tape them to the body with more masking tape.

I cover the wings with newspaper dipped in raw flour and paper paste.  There are great tips of how to make it here.

Once the wings are dry I cover the body with paper mache clay.  I do this using plastic gloves, they help me spread the paste without it sticking to my hands.  There is a great recipe here.

I stick the wings together with some masking tape to keep them from moving whilst drying.

Once everything is completelly dry, I cover it with evenly with a layer of gesso, and once that is dry I colour the birds with acrylic paint.  You can also put a layer of matte or glossy varnish to protect them.

I have a new project ahead… two months before the deadline and a mannequin appeared miraculously in my garage.  (Thank you Beth!)

Un nuevo proyecto a la vista… dos meses hasta la fecha de entrega y un maniquí ha aparecido milagrosamente en mi garage.  (Gracias Beth!)

water water water
the past goes on falling
still a tangle
of bones
and of roots;
it has been, it has been, and now
memories mean nothing.
(fragment poem Past, Pablo Neruda)
…
al agua al agua al agua
va cayendo el pasado
aunque se agarre
a espinas
y raíces:
se fue se fue y no valen
los recuerdos.
(fragmento poema Pasado, Pablo Neruda)

I want to share the music of 23-year-old British artist  Michael Kiwanuka. I love his song “home again“, can’t stop listening to it.
Quería compartir la música de un canante inglés de 23 años, Michael Kiwanuka. Me encanta su canción “home again” (de nuevo en casa), no puedo parar de escucharla.