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for the teachers

We had some fun last week getting the kids' teachers gifts ready.

They were quick, easy and budget friendly. And green. (Bonus!)

I let the kids choose jars from the "jar drawer." Then we glued a votive candle into the bottom of said jar. Tied some bits and bobs from the sewing box around the neck of the jar. Added a jingle bell, and voila!

re-fest

I'm doing a few pieces for a green living event in town. Some girlfriends and I are pooling our creative resources, and each pitching in a few pieces for a "green baby" booth.

My contributions will be these. The frames are made by my husband out of 2 x 4s rescued from a building before it was torn down in the name of redevelopment. The fabric stretched over them are a mix of random scraps from my stash as well as repurposed old linens...table cloths, bedding, and curtains.

Inspiration found here.

I started by sketching out animal shapes, cutting the sketches as templates, then either tracing the template on the fabric and painting it, or cutting out the fabric and stitching it on the canvas.

trying it again, again

Even monkeys can do it. What's MY deal?! I'm going to try again. Surely, my pregnant mind will be sharper than my regular mind. *cough*

Two Silhouettes

1. Print out side profile photo on card stock.
2. Trim around outside profile, allowing for corrections--looks best if you increase shoulders, just ever so slightly.
3. Place backwards on contrasting paper, adhere with a thin coat of glue--or double stick tape.
4. Frame. Voila!

The latest

I was asked the other day about my favorite medium...hmmm...

I thought about it. Do I have a favorite? Sure. What day is it? What way is the wind blowing? What do I have right here, right now? My favorite medium is which ever is the closest at hand when the mood strikes. Flaky? Perhaps.
Yesterday, I had yarn, a needle, this fabric that I'd stapled to a frame, and a little boy who's current favorite animal is the giraffe. So, yesterday's favorite medium was textile. Tomorrow? It will depend upon the wind.

Tree

yarn on fabric stretched over canvas

It's been one of those days, again.

You know the kind? When you finally tell your naughty son, "There will be a consequence. You'll have to wait until your father comes home." (age three is tougher than two--hands down.)

So, what is a gal to do after saying those words? Why not string together some beads? (Gotta do something to keep the sanity.)

The knitting is not going as planned. I can cast on like nobody's business. Nobody's. It's the stuff that comes after that part that isn't working out so well. Boo. But, beads...you can't really go wrong there. There's only one hole to poke through, and I can handle that!

And then there's the stew that I made yesterday that I had planned on serving through out the week. Uh, who knew that rutabaga and yams don't blend so well with green peppers? You know now. Even some wonderful parmigiano-reggiano didn't save it.

So, tonight my friends, tonight, Daddy's cooking. Which means we're eating out. So the dishes are a good catch for my necklace. (It is advisable, when contacting your husband about said naughty 3 year old, to do it while he's yelling in the background--it has more oomfph...and increases your chances of eating out.)

Maybe my favorite sister-in-law would prefer a necklace around her neck than a scarf?

I'm going to give it a go...

Knitting, that is. My fingers have always worked at a different speed than my brain. Every previous attempt as left me frustrated and flustered. This time will be different. This time my brain and fingers have vowed to work in tandem. We shall see...we shall see...

Sock Puppets

It's been a busy day today, what, with all the puppet shows going on. These guys may look harmless, but I've learned from experience, that the one with the yellow mustache bites. When they ask for audience participation, I'm not volunteering next time. Live and learn.

Ummm....they're not quite as bugged out in person.

Today's projects

To be sent out with the post...

Me and my girl

We're painting today...

I just love to watch her little mind work...

(She bought this chair at a rummage sale for $1.)

Little Angels

Mom, remember these? I wanted to come up with a way to utilize the small scraps of fabric left over from my pillow projects, and remembered the little angels I used to make.

A perfect way to use up scrappy bits of material...that sounds yucky...umm...a perfect way to use up lovely bits of material left over...because you cannot simply throw them out, you know.

After...

...so I liked how it turned out, but now I'm thinking it might move to a different location. I may have to come up with another clock to fit this space.

(The outside is a smearing of paints and chalks, and the inside is a bit of decopauged papers with a little more chalk smearing--all set with a clear coat of acrylic spray.)

Before...

This clock was an afterthought and serves a purpose, but (completely) lacks jazz.

This may be brave, since I'm not quite sure if the after is going to be something I'll want to show off or not...TIME will tell. *snicker*

A few projects

Found these today...



...I'm going to put them on poles and stick them in the garden. They're small, and they make me happy.

And a few pictures of my yo-yo obsession...

the wreath:





the garland:





I have several works beginning their process in my mind. I'll post more when they become a little more tangible. :)