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Jamie Dykstra's Home

1 - I can do better 2 - Jury's out 3 - Pretty darn good 4 - Splendiferous 5 - Awesometastic (by 1 person)   Your rating: 1 - I can do better 2 - Jury's out 3 - Pretty darn good 4 - Splendiferous 5 - Awesometastic

Ranked #1682 in Arts, #34318 overall

Donates to Squidoo Charity Fund

Rated G. (Control what you see)

Welcome to my little corner of the institution!

 

Please come in, come in.  Don't mind the dogs, they may be energetic but I assure you they are quite friendly.  Be careful of the tiger though, he can be rather unpredictable.  Allow me to introduce myself:  I am Jamie Dykstra, writer, artist, adorer of animals, and world seeker extraordinaire.  Yes, I find few things more invigorating than the discovery and exploration of vast, uncharted realms.  What you will find here are some of my projects from various worlds just waiting to be discovered, everything from animation to illustration to--what the heck is that? I do hope you will find them mildly entertaining.

Let the adventure begin! 

Feel free to poke around and/or make comments; we do have a guestbook to sign below, if you wish. Just mind your fingers and your head; we've had some falling pinecones lately. Oh, and please be careful not to step on the poor cat. He's already been hit in the face with a soccer ball.

(Disclaimer: The above are just some pics I thought I'd share. My own works of art begin with the links directly below. Enjoy!)

Where would you like to go? 

Take your pick. And your shovel, too. (...Lame joke, I know, I know.)


Surprise me!

Surprise me!
Show me whatcha got!


To the Frontyard
From the Frontyard to the Beach
I think I'll take a little stroll out front and down to the sunny beach. That sounds fun and relaxing.


To the Backyard

Out to the Backyard
It's out back to the happening place for me.


To the Caves
Off to the Caves!
I'll slip out the side way and venture off to the deep, dark caverns. Who knows what hidden treasures await to be found?

To the Hills
Away to the great beyond
I'm feeling adventurous and want to go far, far away. Over the hills and through the woods, it's to the mountains we go!

To the marketplace
What can I say, I love to buy stuff! And get in on the latest scoop.

Unsure where to go? 

Not ready to explore yet? Or weary of your travels? You could always hang around here for the time being. A world seeker should never venture out unprepared. Below you will find various items with which you might equip yourself, and literature, if you prefer. Don't forget to sign the guestbook! You are also welcome to make comments, vote, and so forth below if you would like.

Reader Feedback 

Your comments and constructive criticism are quite welcome.

ashleyo

awesome lens. i really enjoyed it. i also enjoy slipcovers. http://www.allaboutslipcovers.com

Posted March 20, 2008

Christopher_Scott

Great lens and keep up the hard work. I love your bio picture.

Posted November 08, 2007

My Occasional Blogoney 

Seeing in the Light ~ by Jamie Dykstra ~ 11/5/07

As I take the opportunity to browse through a number of arts and crafts shows going on this past weekend, something beyond the array of arts and crafts, and cars and booths, and pets and people catches my attention. It begins in an artist's booth, when I venture upon a colorful, loosely done painting of a sunset.

Seeing me eyeing it, the artist hurries over and plucks it off its display hooks. "Look at it in the light," she says, hastening to a spot where the sun is shining. "Come, come, you must see. Look at the play of colors. See that?"

Of course, she knows how much of a difference lighting makes. Although not everyone is as bold, she is not the only one who insists on having her handiwork viewed in the sunlight.

Geodes particularly fascinate me, so I couldn't help but stop for a second look at some tiny intricate ones that had been cut open and crafted into hinged boxes.

"Hold it up to the light," the craftsman advises. "Go ahead. See how it sparkles?"
He even has some pieces set up so that a tea light could be put behind them and shine through them, which he very lovingly points out as I try to tear myself away.

But none is so extreme as the effect of a gold ring with what looks to be a black stone in it. The lady at the jewelry display booth singles it out.

"What color do you think it is?" she asks about the gem. "You would say black, right? Take this one over to the light and look at it."

As I hold it up to the sunlight, sparks of red, orange, and green flare up inside a dark brown gemstone.

"It really fires up, doesn't it," she comments with a smile. "Most people think it's onyx, but it's actually hungarian opal."

It is remarkable how much light can change the appearance of an object, as any experienced artist, cinematographer, or salesperson can tell you. So I wonder, what kind of light are we seeing things in? Do we continue struggling to see things clearly, when we are still in the dark? Or do we put these things in the light, so that we can see them for what they really are? Perhaps there are some things we would rather stash away in the dark. Or perhaps the light we are using is tainted or dim and we must move into the true sunlight first.

There is a saying that one should never buy a car at night. We are unable to make an accurate assesment apart from good lighting. Something might look really good that one night, but wake up one morning and you might find yourself greeting an unpleasant surprise. Or who knows but that some black object, when held up to the light, contains the sparkle of an inner beauty we would scarcely have imagined.

What kind of light are you standing in?

New ArtByUs Artist Module 

Feel free to browse and/or buy the treasures offered by others.

Earth - Rob Burkhard Watercolor Original
Current Price: $250.00
Buy it now: $250.00
End Date: Saturday Jul-19-2008 21:32:21 MST
Bid now | Buy it now | Watch this item
THE CHRISTMAS TREE- 13 IN. DECORATOR PLATE
Current Price: $8.00
Buy it now: $12.00
End Date: Saturday Jul-19-2008 21:35:23 MST
Bid now | Buy it now | Watch this item
ANDY PANDY- 13 IN. DECORATOR PLATE
Current Price: $8.00
Buy it now: $12.00
End Date: Saturday Jul-19-2008 21:52:22 MST
Bid now | Buy it now | Watch this item

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Digital Fantasy Painting Workshop

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Fantasy painting has a long tradition.It went through a stylistic revolution in the 1980s with the widespread adoption of airbrush as a medium of choi... more »

Realms of Fantasy

Realms of Fantasy

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Realms of Fantasy covers fantasy, Arthurian sagas, ancient myths, contemporary fantasy, and features fantasy artists, movie reviews, new computer game... more »

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Original Video Game Soundtrack - Final Fantasy-Black Mages

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Great Stuff on Amazon 

Folding Pick & Shovel

Ah, that's what I was referring to! This one's a two in one deal! It's your lucky day!
Forged Steel. Hardwood Handle. From the Galaxy Army Navy Store.

Amazon Price: $13.99 (as of 07/19/2008)

Suncast SK4000 Kids Snow Shovel

In case you run into a small scale blizzard.
(Don't worry, there's some for the grownups through this link, too ;)).

Amazon Price: $5.41 (as of 07/19/2008)

Toro Power Shovel 7.5 Amp Snow Thrower/Electric Broom #38360

In case the blizzard is a little bit larger.
It's another two tools in one. When in shovel mode it can clear 300 pounds of snow per minute. Measures 52.00 inches.

Amazon Price: $119.99 (as of 07/19/2008)

Victorinox Swiss Army Champion Plus

Always handy, wherever you might find yourself.
5.25 ounces, 3.5 inches when closed, with large and small blades, a file, a saw, scissors, a magnifying glass, can and bottle openers, and small, medium, large, Phillips screwdrivers, a cork screw, a chisel, a reamer, a hook, a punch with a sewing eye, tweezers, ink pen, and a toothpick pull out of the ends, the saw doubles as a ruler with both inch and centimeter marks, and a notch in the bottle opener can be used to strip wires.

Amazon Price: $29.99 (as of 07/19/2008)

Columbia Sportswear Men's Cougar Ridge WP Hiking Boot,Flax/Dragon,13 M

Always make sure to have good footwear. A fun journey can quickly turn sour without it! With these, you'll be prepared for just about anything. From wet mountain streams to dry rocky trails, they'll keep your feet dry and happy.

Amazon Price: (as of 07/19/2008)

Great Stuff on Amazon 

Columbia Sportswear Women's Mystic Peak GTX Hiking Boot,Mud/Vintage,10.5 M

High-performance, waterproof hiking boots that offer styling and are fit specific to a woman's foot, featuring leather uppers, waterproof lining, padded in-soles, lace-up closures across the vamps and ruggedly tractioned out-soles. These hiking boots are engineered to provide comfort and support in multiple terrain-types.

Amazon Price: (as of 07/19/2008)

Columbia Sportswear Women's Razor Ridge Mid II Boot,Tusk/Dragon,10 M

With rubber-capped toes and heels, padded in-soles and tractioned rubber out-soles, these high-performance boots will provide serious comfort and support to your well-deserving feet.

Amazon Price: (as of 07/19/2008)

Teton Sports Scout 3400 Internal Frame Backpack

This will carry all your goods, and what treasures you might find along the way. Plenty of room, lots of pockets, and even a rain fly to keep your stuff from getting wet.

Amazon Price: $74.99 (as of 07/19/2008)

JanSport Wasabi Backpack (Black)

Or this one if you prefer the more bookish sort, and I wouldn't blame you. Sturdy and long lasting, ooh, and it's even got the side mesh water bottle pocket!

Amazon Price: $29.00 (as of 07/19/2008)

Construction Helmet Yellow

In case you venture under any large pine trees or wander around any caves.
Strudy plastic construction helmet. One size.

Amazon Price: (as of 07/19/2008)

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Tartar Check Dog Biscuits (6 lbs.; Medium)

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Always the popular favorite, and especially wise for mail carriers to have on hand. Milk-Bone biscuits help keep your dog's teeth clean and are fortified with 12 vitamins and minerals.

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JamieDykstra

About JamieDykstra

I am a free-lance writer and artist, who loves creating and exploring realms of fantasy, adventure, and imagination. I am also particularly fond of animals. Thanks to Squidoo, I have been able to create a fun, interactive network of lenses to display some of my work. Hope you enjoy it!

JamieDykstra's Pages

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