art class #6 [clay pots/trees/owls/black circles]

I can't tell you how we look forward to art class day!  I LOVE seeing the different results! The kids are given the same lesson and same supplies, but their color choices and way of adding their own creative spin make the result a delightful surprise.

Projects:
clay recipe
tree project
black circles
owl step-by-step

We talked about how paper is made and I showed them a youtube video (I can't seem to find the exact video, but there are lots on there on how wood is turned into paper). We also read 2 books about trees/gardens:

It is amazing to me how much you can get done in 2 hours! AND- how behavioral problems are zero when the kids are kept so busy....:)

This is Mrs. Sara when class is over :) haha

((fyi---new pricing for art class for siblings- first child $20, each additional sibling- $10))

mark your calendar!

coffee filter, tissue paper, + twig flowers in vase

 cake card

 watercolor flowers card

 watercolor cones

 watercolor on canvas- my favorite subject matter- cake! :) 

 bookmarks

 tiny canvas + watercolor

I've been working on art to sell at a local art fair! I am so excited! I am sharing the booth with my dear friend Marilou. She's crocheting bags and dog collars and other stuff that I need to get pictures of to post on here too. If you live in NC or close by, email me for info. (saramincy@gmail.com) The fair is Saturday, June 1, 10:00-4:00. **if you come and see me there and tell me you heard about the fair from my blog I will give you a prize :) :) I know you are dying to know what the prize will be, aren't you ?!?

Barb's Book Party!

We had so much fun with Dave's family. Barb's book is so good, it deserved this party :) I don't know what I liked better; all of the beautiful fresh flowers, or the cakes!!!! I will spend the rest of my life trying to recreate the Salted Caramel Dark Chocolate cake! mmmmmmmmmmmmmm.

a new and different layer cake... and a party!

 

My mom sent me a recipe for a colorful layered cake; you pour a thin layer of batter into the pan and broil until golden and just starting to brown, then you add the next layer and broil, etc....here is a similar recipe. What fun, and you can imagine the many possibilities! It is a little labor intensive- I was laughing to myself as I waited by the broiler, watching the batter carefully so it wouldn't burn. I mean, the cake was good, but it was just as good as a regular cake...its the artistic possibilies and the hope and joy you feel as you make the first cut to see the stripes of color.....makes it all worth it! 

We are on our way tomorrow to a book signing! This awesome book (and I mean it, it is a really good book with gorgeous pictures....someone in our family is always flipping through and reading) was written by Dave's sister, Barb! That makes us famous by association, right?? 

I'll take lots of pictures!!! Its sure to be a great party :) We are so happy for Barb and impressed with the quality and creativity of her first book.

my new window

This window was flowers, then butterfly, now perfection.

I KNOW - that sounds so prideful- and Dave teased me about that because I kept complimenting my own window...but anyone who's crafty knows that you can try something 100 times and not get it right, and then something will click and magically turn out how you would have wanted it to- if you had just been able to think of it!

That's what happened with this window. I scraped off the butterfly (which was really getting on my nerves), and painted some flowers and some dots and then a thin strip of these stripes- immediately I KNEW these stripes were it. I scraped off all the rest and filled in the stripes.

Then I went crazy and put a few stripes on all my kitchen windows...

Of course that led to other moose/muffin and mouse/cookie moments- and there it is- my dining room is completely changed!

It is clean and bright and perfect for spring. I took down the dusty curtains and probably won't put them up again until winter.

It feels like my soul does right now. Bright and crisp and a little sensitive to light - but in a good way. (OK, I'll stop now, I am not the one to wax poetically about my soul.. (I only do that to God and Dave)

SIDE TRIP- I started hanging the kids' artwork up in the hallway- I think we will eventually fill every bit of wall space here and I love walking through the hall of color and wonder.

Back to the kitchen/dining area.

The lamp has stayed white for so long, just waiting for inspiration. Inspiration came! In the form of the song Jesus in My Place (Written by Matt Papa and Jonathan Welch)

We love looking at those lyrics> This is Hope! This is Grace! Jesus in my place!

I have to remember not to be prideful about my window...but as Mr. Duffy would say, I am thankful it turned out :)

beautiful spring has come to our yard

good night ;)

art class #5 {king tut/ladybug collage/newsprint doggie}

 ERIC CARLE! He was our inspiration. We all voted and the top 2 favorites of his books were: The Very Hungry Caterpillar and The Very Grouchy Ladybug. We read them and enjoyed them :)

 happy, happy creating

 We sprinkled coffee on the dirt- so our dirt smelled good!

Ideas and where I got them:

King Tut
Ladybug collage
newsprint doggie

We loooooooove art class day :) :)