Something for the Season...

Here it is. I posted my process on Facebook and this is the finished product. Finally! I really like the stars peppering the dark blue in between all the bright gold and orange, and the simplicity of the figures...reminiscent of the simplicity and humble beauty of that night so long ago...in a stable, in a manger...

Senior pictures....

I had the opportunity to photograph two of my students recently. I can't believe they are seniors! They chose a fantastic park in the area which provided a wide array of backdrops for their shots. I would love to take Pumpkin there for a photo shoot but I doubt she would sit still for a measly two seconds. I usually have to follow her around with the camera...meh, maybe that would be okay. Maybe I'd still get a couple good ones...Anyway, here are a few.

It's Spring!

Well, actually, it depends on the day. Some days it seems like spring really IS here and we might even be on our way to hot, lazy summer days. But then I wake up on a day like yesterday and discover that it got down to 20 degrees the night before and all my plants are frozen. The frozen night was followed by a cold, windy day reminiscent of March. Definitely not MAY people. Not May. A few weeks ago I was enraged by the stinky, rotten weather. Now I'm just numb. But, in an effort to embrace the sunshine and warmth we are experiencing today I present some projects I've been working on with my students. My high school students paired with some elementary students in our district and used their beautiful art projects to learn about computer animation. Here are the resulting animations. Kind of cute! Enjoy. And focus on the positive people. 

Treasures in Heaven...

This is a little something I've recently completed. It's actually not little. It's approximately 16" x 20" watercolor and ink. I'm reasonably pleased with the outcome. Although if I could rework the temple spires I would. It's okay though. It'll do.

















There is a bible verse that follows the perimeter of the inner circle. "But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also." Matthew 6:20-21

It is a constant reminder to me of what is really important and on what and whom my life should be centered always.  

Doing Craffs with Pumpkin

Sooo, whenever I head down to the basement, to my little corner, by my sewing machine and other crafty stuff, I hear a little voice call after me, "Can I do a craff too? I want to do a craff..." I think Pumpkin just likes to do whatever I am doing. 

I know this because when I go down in the basement to run on the treadmill, she will trail after me with her tennis shoes on and ask me if she can run first. When I'm doing the dishes, she will pull a chair up to the sink and ask if she can do them too. (I know THAT won't last long.) She is my little buddy. Where ever I go she goes. Whatever I do she does. It makes me smile...

This is the "craff" we did the other day. Pretty easy stuff. You know those fleece blankets you make by tying together two big pieces of fleece? Well, we just cut two hearts from an old pink fleece blanket of hers. Then I made cuts all around the edge of the hearts.

Pumpkin tied most of the strips in knots all along the edge leaving a small portion of them untied. We stuffed the pillow and then she tied the remaining strips. And there you have it! The easiest pillow you'll EVER make! No sewing required.

She was very proud of herself.

"Grab a partner, lend a hand, welcome to Berry Bitty Land..."

That is one of Pumpkin's all time favorite songs. Have you heard it? Personally, having grown up in the eighties, I actually did play with Strawberry Shortcake and her friends. I had some. They were great. Cute, fun, sweet smelling, adorable little dolls. I do not remember that song however. I do not think that song existed when I played with my dolls, and it's probably a good thing, as I would have driven my mother crazy singing it over and over and over and over again just as Pumpkin drives me crazy. (My mom thinks it's funny. It's amazing how much Grandmas can tolerate as opposed to Moms. She sings along with Pumpkin. Sooooo funny. Not.)

Anyway, this post is not really about that song. It's about this little string bag that I got in my mailbox at work from a textbook company. It is bright red and has a company logo on it...and I was going to throw it away. I have many bags, much more functional ones at that, and certainly don't need any more. BUT, it's bright red. And perfect for this:

Her very own Strawberry Shortcake bag! I used some of my fat quarters to make a big strawberry applique. Easy peasy.

 And very well received. She loves it. I'd say that's a win-win.

 And now for your viewing pleasure, I present...