Doodling In My Mind

Time to Think Challenges

2012-01-04T18:18:00.002-06:00

Usually when someone says a week has been challenging, visions of difficult situations fill my thoughts but this has been a fun week of challenging activities at school.
Here are some of the fun activities we have done in the classroom but you may want to do them at home with your family members.
I think this is just the kind of activity that helps to grow stronger brain power.

Standing Straw Structure:
Can you make a straw stand up? These high school students were challenged to do just that. To meet the requirements of the activity they were given instructions to take as many drinking straws as necessary and begin assembling them to make a freestanding structure using only an occasional miniature marshmallow to complete the task. The structure has to stand at least 3 feet tall and stand alone for 30 seconds to satisfy the requirements of the challenge.

I used cheap neon colored straws that did not have the bend-y part and miniature marshmallows. No other supplies were allowed. Students worked in teams of two or three and were given an hour to work on the structure. Most were completed in the allotted time.

This assignment was a hit for the students.

Mr. Potato Figures:
The last time these students played with play dough was about ten years ago or maybe more but they jumped into the middle of this project with enthusiasm. The assignment was to create a figure using a potato, play dough in various colors, and toothpicks. The figure had to have all facial features, plus ears, hair, a hat, arms, hands, legs and shoes and something that suggested clothes such as a scarf or buttons.

Where is the challenge? The potato itself can not touch the table. It must be suspended above the table by at least an inch. I allowed an hour for this activity. Most students completed the task in about 45-50 minutes.

High-schoolers enjoy revisiting their childhood. Prepare yourself for laughter if you do this project.

Make a Marble Run:
Here is one the whole family will get into. It is just hard to stand by and watch without wanting getting involved. There is just so much science in this activity and so much fun. To see more about the marble run see my post on June 21.

November:A Month to Celebrate

2011-11-20T21:08:00.001-06:00

In our household November is a month to celebrate.

Seven birthdays of immediate family members: three grandchildren, one son, a daughter-in-law and both my mother and mother-in-law and then there is Thanksgiving.

The celebration only ends to begin the next one.
And me.... trying to watch my weight!
Good luck with that!

In the spirit of celebration our November projects have been the Pinata del Estrella (six pointed star), our rainbow fish pinata and a cornucopia.
Not one of them has been completed until the day of the party so far. We are usually rushing to glue on the last few pieces of tissue paper to fill the bare spots.

Side view of Rainbow pinata

Check out the kissy lips on this fish!

All pinatas nearing completion, Reese comes in from school asking if we could make a cornucopia. I am assuming I must have reached Super-Nana rating in her mind since she just assumed I would know how to make one. You know, just whip one up right quick so....
we just whipped one up right quick!

Now Pearson, 3 months shy of four is planning our Christmas tree pinata.

Where do they get this ideas?

Okay, it going to be a beauty!

Papier mache cornucopia embellished with moss and dried leaves and greenery from the yard.

Child's Play Mixed Media

2011-11-03T17:56:00.001-05:00

My grand daughter has a shirt that says, "I learned everything I need to know in kindergarten."

She is in kindergarten!
I am expecting this to be a really busy year for her.

Crayon and glue line drawing and painting has started.

In my high school art class we are leaving behind the papier mache pumpkins, pinatas and masks we have been making and are moving on to mixed media.
The supplies we are using for the assignment are all the things you would use in kindergarten:

Crayons

Glue and

Prang or Crayola Brand Watercolor (8 color tray)

I set out bunches and bunches of cheap, artificial flower bouquets in red, yellows and oranges I found at Walmart this past week for three to five dollars per bouquet. I flooded the tables with the flowers for this spontaneous and quick painting.

Begin by making a contour line drawing using crayon.
Switch to white Elmer's glue and continue drawing using glue, adding details, outlining and applying glue where light areas are needed.
Set aside until all the glue is completely dry (up to 24 hours or more sometimes, depending on how deep the glue is).
Drop a little water in the top of all the colors in the watercolor tray to begin moistening the colors so you will have very intense color available.
Wet only the area you want to paint such as one leaf or petal, apply color on one side of the wet area then apply a second color on the opposite side quickly, then stop! Allow the water to transport the colors, blending sponanteously. Resist going in and "fixing" it.
Paint directly on the paper using primary colors to create the secondary colors on the paper. (IE:Add blue on one side of a leaf then yellow on the opposite side and watch the green develop)
Continue painting using this method.
When the paints are all dry go back and adjust colors as necessary, deepening the values and contrasts.

Demo piece for Child's Play Mixed Media

Resist the urge to try to make the painting "perfect".
Often that is when you lose the painting by overworking.

Most importantly, let loose and enjoy the spontaneous nature of watercolor.

Both the glue and the crayon resist absorbing paints leaving a white or faint area in it's play.

Installation of the Papier Mache Tree

2011-10-28T05:36:00.003-05:00

What a project!

We started it about a month ago and it is great to see it come together.

(The banquet hall is not decorated yet so more pictures to follow after tomorrow.)

Here is just a taste.

Pictures don't do it justice.

You can not see how 3-dimensional it is and stand in it's "shade".

Decorating the rest of the fellowship hall is tomorrow morning to make it look like a Fiesta!

Check back in for more.

Papier Mache Tree Nearing Completion

2011-10-20T17:57:00.003-05:00

The tree is nearly completed and moving day is Saturday to go to it's new location.

The tree is nearly nine feet tall and varies in width but probably averaging about 28 in. diameter for the main trunk. I made about seven branches that will be suspended from the ceiling and leaves and moss will help fill in. The decorating will begin on Saturday to be completed in the next few days. Hopefully, next Friday I will have pictures of the completed job!
Can't wait!

I let the students "carved" their names on the tree. They thought that was so much fun.

Tomorrow all of my students are beginning their papier mache pumpkins starting from a balloon. I have instructions on my previous post.

See my previous post on how to make papier mache pumpkins.
Quick and easy!

Painted Not Really Carved

Happy Paint Party Friday!

Halloween Fun/Papier Mache and Homemade Candy Corn

2011-10-17T17:41:00.001-05:00

Fall hit finally in South Texas. We had rains and the night air is actually cooled down and mornings are foggy with heavy dews. I think that is cause for celebration!

It is hard to ignore all the fun times that come along with the changing seasons and coming holidays when you are surrounded by adorable and I must say, easy-to-impress children. So I decided to surprise the little ones with a small, hollow, papier mache pumpkin filled with candy for Halloween. And it is so simple to make.

I started with a 6 inch balloon blown up. I wrapped twine tightly around it to form the divisions in the pumpkin. I mixed up flour, salt and water to make a paste like a thin pancake batter. Using my fingers I wet the balloon with the flour paste then applied strips of dry newspaper over the paste, wetting over the top of the paper with more flour paste until the newspaper was wet and would lay flat. Continue adding layers. The more layers the harder the finished product will be when it dries. I usually try to get between 10 or 12 layers of newspaper but less would work fine. I squeezed a little of the long strips up to make a stem and then wrapped the paper around it when I got several pieces gathered together to make a fair size stem end.

At this point patience is a necessity! DO NOT PUT THIS IN THE OVEN TO DRY! If you do the heat will expand the balloon inside and the pumpkin will pop like popcorn! Don't ask me how I know this! Let's just say....I know. It may dry overnight or it might take a little longer but be patient, it will dry. I try to put cleaner paper on for the last paper so I do not have lots of black paper showing through but I am not a stickler about it. It will just add more texture to the surface of the pumpkin if you have a little bit of text on the paper. I finished my pumpkin using one full sheet of orange tissue paper, tearing it into strips and applying it so it overlapped and kept adding layers to build up color. Pictured is my pumpkin with orange tissue paper but it has not had a finish put on it and my stem is still just newsprint. You can finish the pumpkin by spraying with a polyurethane, coat with an acrylic medium or even a thinned down white glue.

Well, the fun did not end with papier mache. We had fun making Homemade Candy Corn. The kids loved making the candy and everyone loved how they tasted. The recipe is posted on our family blog Thyme Together.

Paint Party Friday: Papier Mache

2011-09-29T20:49:00.001-05:00

Linda and I are the decorators for an October banquet.

In preparation for the upcoming banquet my classroom has become the crafting center.

We are creating a tree!

This is the beginning.

I will post additional pictures as we progress.

The photo here is of the main trunk. Branches will drop down from the ceiling as if the tree grew through. Only one branch has been constructed so far (not pictured). So far, I have done this with one small roll of chicken wire. I need another for the branches.

The assignment for a few of my advanced students has been to assist me in the making of a papier mache tree. We started by measuring out the chicken wire and creating an armature of sorts from it. (In retrospect I would now start with wooden slats or something more substantial and attach the chicken wire to that so it would be sturdier. As it is, we have had to make wire hangers along the edge of the tree to catch nails to secure to the wall. This will have to be moved on a trailer and set up on location.)

Next we taped full sheets of dry newspaper over the chicken wire to completely cover it before beginning to paste anything.

The paste is flour and a little salt mixed with water about as thick of pancake batter.

The paste is applied directly onto the tree, layering dry newspaper, paste, dry newspaper, paste, etc. Smoothing as you go. We did several layers and then allowed it to dry overnight before adding more. When enough layers are applied to make a hard surface when dry it is ready for the next step which will be to apply colored paper an /or paint the surface.

More next week.

Oh, the painting in the photo is the work of one of my Art IV students. It is his first attempt at watercolor and the white part is the bridge that has not been painted yet. It is going to be beautiful.

There are so many different projects going on in this room it is hard to photograph the room without catching other projects in progress. What an exciting time to be a teacher!

Happy Paint Party Friday!

Buddy Walk 2011

2011-09-27T16:07:00.003-05:00

Buddy Walk 2011

Our family has joined together in an effort to support people with Down Syndrome every year for the last eight years. There was a time in our lives that we never thought about those with DS but when one of our own was born with it we educated ourselves and began to take notice of this special population.
The Down Syndrome Association organization sponsors an annual event called Buddy Walk all over the nation to help local families and help with the local organizations as well as support research.

As many of our family members who can make the walk in the Texas heat will do the walk. (There are 21 in our immediate family, 19 were there plus aunts, uncles, friends and neighbors equaling 37 for our team this year, I think.) Sometimes, we groan that the weather is too hot and we are not up to dealing with the heat but once we get our family together, joined in the effort we always have a good time.

This year was no different.

Not only did we do the walk but the kids got to ride the train and do the bouncy castles.

It was fun. Then we all met at Chester's for hamburgers.

Paint Party Friday:Mixed Media

2011-09-22T20:12:00.005-05:00

Mixed Media

Completely unplanned!

Mixed Media using
Layers:
acrylic then a splash of alcohol,
acrylic then a splash of alcohol again, different colors this time,
collage of magazine clippings of fonts to add texture and multi-layers,
acrylic paint squeegee'd off,
and again, different color.

And then the work began.

Once I had layered in all the textures I could stand I finished this piece by detailing with more paint, colored pencils, Sharpie marker and even glued in some silk flowers I found on the floor of my art room(glued, painted and the buffed then outlined with Sharpie).

I am forcing myself to stop.

It is so fun I want to keep going but then I will overwork it.

I want to leave a bit of mystic in it.

I am guiding a few of my students at a time through this process. I wouldn't make it through the month if I did all of them at one time.

They are loving it!
It is just play!!!

Happy Paint Party Friday!

Below: Just doodling with a random acrylic wash, pen & ink and a quiet evening.

Just playing around mindlessly.

Paint Party Friday: Notes for Linda notebook cover

2011-09-09T06:15:00.000-05:00

Last week I did the sketch book cover for a demonstration piece for my classes. This week I made a notebook cover for my sister who requested "make me one and make me skinny, too". So here is Linda's notebook. Linda's passions are all about quilting and she loves to bake cakes and has the biggest collection of pedestal cake plates I have ever seen.
(Oh, no! My mice are missing. I drew them in after I scanned this! Shucks! They were cute!)

For the record this has been a very random week starting off with a holiday and family in to visit on Monday, Tuesday a new baby born in the family, Wednesday another visit to the hospital after teaching all day, Thursday they came home from the hospital and I spent a chunk of time in Walgreen's getting a prescription for Gaby and now, thankfully....
it is Friday!
So as I put this tiring work week to rest let's hear it for
Happy Paint Party Friday!
(not that Saturday is not a work day. It is just another kind of work.)

See Paint Party Friday here.
See Linda's Buzzing and Bumbling here.
See a picture of the baby on my previous post here.

You may also, notice a new page on my blog entitled Art Teachers Blog.
It is linked to Artists in Blogland, a new art blog directory with two directories one for art blogs and one for art teachers blogs. I found both interesting.

Eason

2011-09-08T06:25:00.001-05:00

Eason finally arrives!

It wasn't all fun and games but finally Eason arrived, healthy and content.

What a sweet little one he is; the second son to my second son.

It amazes me when I look at the children born in our family and I see the thread of commonalities.

There is no mistaking the children born into this family as one of us.

If the look is a little different a thread connects them to another who looks like another who looks like another and on and on through the family!

I can see it in his eyes, his nose, ...and blended so well with his mouth's sweet rose bud lips and dark hair.

I am going to label him a "heart-throb" from day one!

Paint Party Friday: Sketch Book Covers & Zentangles

2011-09-01T21:17:00.000-05:00

Friday we are finishing up our second week!
Second football game!
Second pep rally!
Second project!
Students are now going to complete a drawing combining Zentangle design and cartooning to create a sketch book cover which they will be using in their art classes.

My Sketch Book Cover (8 1/2" x 11")

The project has a good bit of flexibility built into it yet it can be used to teach several concepts such as: focal point, design and composition and we can even touch on a little bit of color theory and application of color, "painting" with washable markers.

This is my demonstration piece I have been working on during the classes to model to my students. I will use this for my Sketch Book. ( I am not sure I am finished but if not, it is nearly finished. )

*And yes, that is another cartoon of myself again. My students think it looks like me. Hum-m!

I also posted a small Zentangle completed last week or the beginning of this week that had color added using washable Crayola markers. (I have lost track of my days.)

I am still having fun! Have a Happy Paint Party Friday.

Adding color to Zentangle (4 1/2" by 6")

Paint Party Friday: A Great First Week

2011-08-25T18:50:00.006-05:00

I have had a great start to the new school year and I think I owe my friends from Paint Party Friday a big thanks for inspiring me and helping to keep me motivated to be creative!

THANKS!

After all the necessary paperwork, rules and procedures are behind us I had my students begin by drawing themselves as a cartoon. They are adorable and I will share them when I get an okay from my students.

Zentangles have been all the rage in my room. Not only in my room but my co-teachers in art are using them also. The kids are loving them.

A third year student stayed after school today just to talk to me about how excited she was over Zentangles! And she is not even my student but has visited with me every day.

The photos are of my in-class demonstrations I completed for my students. We are using heavy paper cut to about a small postcard .

Tuesday: Instructed to use 2 Zentangle designs

Wednesday:Instructed to use 3 Zentangle designs, repeat Tuesdays plus one.

Thursday: Instructed to use four Zentangle designs. Previously used

Tomorrow we will be doing Fun Friday and completing Splotch monsters!
(In case you are wondering what is a Splotch monster: A Splotch monster is a creative creature created from a random splotch of paint.)
Here are my demonstration pieces.

I am not sure who are having more fun... the kids or me!

Going Postal Splotch monster

Splotch monster Meet Goose

Baby Tutu Splotch

Mrs. Howl Splotch

Super Splotch!

Thanks, again to my friends at Paint Party Friday!

First Day Back

2011-08-21T17:14:00.001-05:00

First day tomorrow!

Kids will be drawing an animation of themselves

so I got a jump on them and here I am in my room at school!
See I have my crock pot on my left side and my paints on the right side.
I think that makes me ready for a new year.
Say a little prayer for a good school year!

A New School Year

2011-08-20T09:19:00.003-05:00

Soon we begin a new school year and teachers everywhere are preparing.

Often the beginning is somewhat bittersweet; leaving the freedom and leisure time of summer but refreshed and ready for the challenges of a new year.

Although my summer was not filled with my own personal creative time I expected to be happening,

it was filled with creative time with family and energizing ideas for school projects.

I have added a number of new books to my library to inspire me and

to offer additional instructional aids to students.

Zentangles are going to be big in our high school art classes this year!

Fabric design is going to go in some new directions!

A make over in multi-layering in collage and mixed media are in the works!

Challenge Competitions, Moody Mondays and Fun Fridays...

all I need now are my students.

My little helpers are sharpening my pencils,

the room is arranged, supplies organized and drawing papers cut to size!

At no other time in the year, will I ever be as prepared as today!

(In the spirit of Lily Tomlin from Laugh In for those who remember it.)

"And that's the truth!"

So off I pop to a new school year!

Paint Party Friday: Trying my hand at Batik

2011-08-11T22:59:00.000-05:00

Fiber Reactive dyes

Oh, this is going to be embarrassing!

Not a stunning beauty here but a fun experience and a new medium for me to explore!

I am trying my hand at batik and I have not perfected it yet.

Are you like me...I am so visual that I read a few instructions and look at all the pictures. If a picture looks a little confusing I MIGHT read a little bit about it. But I get just enough information to be dangerous!

First Drew loosely then began to paint.

Application with paint brush

Well, I did just that this week. I have two books both by Jane Dunnewold (available through Amazon, "Art Cloth" and "Complex Cloth"). These are the books I scanned quickly and studied the pictures. She gives detailed explanations on how to do this and I bought the appropriate chemicals and dyes and then jumped in with both feet. I did have an opportunity to be with several other art teachers playing with batik this week.

I am not satisfied with getting just a little information. I want to know how to do it perfectly which takes time and patience.

In retrospect.... as my friend likes to say...My two biggest mistakes (other than that hideous swirl in the left hand corner) were in rushing the wax job and in rushing my application of the black dye.

When I can get back to work on batik I will add stronger blacks to this one, and experiment a little with the medium.

I would also, like to try my hand at something more spontaneous, something loose and fast to help me understand the application, timing and techniques.

It is definitely a fun experience!

Not stunning results but it's my first attempt.

Today, I went to my high school art room to arrange desks and begin to prepare my mind for a new year at school.

I expect it to be a wonderful year in art.

Look for me to be posting about some of the projects we will be doing.

Happy Paint Party Friday!

Thyme Together

2011-08-07T12:56:00.000-05:00

Be sure to drop in on our new family cooking blog: Thyme Togethe r

Family.... together wherever...our favorite place to be! Thyme Together aims at using our mealtimes together to unite a family scattered from the east coast to the west coast and beyond! Varied cultures united in love!

Our family is joining together to create a cooking blog by each submitting recipes online. Since we are scattered in different regions of the United States it is sure to have some variety and maybe along the way we will learn something of different cultures, different family traditions and some old time favorites maybe even a funny story about family members, a few good memories and a heap of love!

Stop in!
Follow Us!
Tell us what you think.
We are always interesting in making new friends.

Strictly Chocolate:Brownie Tart

2011-07-30T11:00:00.006-05:00

I missed last week...well, actually I only missed posting my recipe on Saturday.

The problem is that all summer long I have been off schedule

and I have NOT reserved chocolate for my Saturdays.

So here I am attempting to get my eating habits back on a schedule

and eat healthier during the week.

A couple of weeks ago, I made a trip to Borders Book Store,which is now closing. :-(

But before that happened I was in their cookbook section and came home with two inspiring cookbooks.

The first book I picked up was "500 Chocolate Delights"

and it certainly is delightful!

Usually prior to cooking I have to make a trip to the grocery store to buy some special ingredient. Today I am desperately in need of a long strolling tour of the grocery store to stock up on everything from butter to produce so when I found this recipe that made me drool and I had everything in my pantry I jumped at the chance to whip it up.

It is so simple.

Melt

Stir

Bake

Drool!

Get Recipe:

Brownie Tart

Moist and light, heavenly chocolatey and just the right sweet!

Not just a brownie but stepping up to a more sophisticated palette.

In a saucepan melt 3 ounces of unsweetened chocolate with 1/3 cup of unsalted butter.
Take off of the heat and add: 2 eggs slightly beaten, 1 cup sugar and 1 tsp. vanilla.
Stir to blend.
Add 1/2 cup flour, 1/2 tsp. baking powder, 1/2 tsp. salt.
Optional: 1/2 cups nuts
Garnish with whipped cream and raspberries if you wish.
Bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes in a greased 9 1/2 inch tart pan.

Serve it simply for your family or dress it up for guests.

Or better yet dress it up for your family!

I hope you enjoy it as much as I am!

{This moment}

2011-07-30T10:06:00.003-05:00

{this moment}

In response to Lana's It Seams to be Sew Friday posts:

A single photo - ~~no words~~, capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment.

A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

(And speaking of Lana....her moment to savor and remember is a special announcement this week! Congratulations, Lana!)

Paint Party Friday: The Art Party

2011-07-28T23:09:00.000-05:00

Last Friday I had a great opportunity to get together with friends in one of their art studios along with a number of other women, most of whom are or had been art teachers. It was a wonderfully creative experience. Everyone was working on different things, including sewing.

Never a dull moment, the conversation flowed!

Sometimes I feel intimidated when working among other artists which is exactly why I think it is a very important experience to have right now before school starts again. I can put myself in my students' place and understand their fears and help to alleviate some of them by the words I speak and the projects I assign.

The piece I started on Friday started off as a traditional watercolor but because everyone was trying to stretch themselves and most started their paintings minus the preliminary drawings so that the pieces were freer and looser. I had to jump in and follow along. I must say it is difficult for me to abandon my safe zone and venture out into uncharted territory

BUT

...I never allowed the piece to be "precious" to me!

By that I mean if it ended up lining the trash can...

so be it...

I would just start another.

I allowed myself to play and have fun.

I have worked on this every evening while listening to a movie or something in the background.

It has numerous layers.

I applied a little bit of stamping, numerous watercolor washes, detailed in watercolor pencil and then outlined using a Sharpie and then went back in varying values in the designs.

It has been a positive experience.

Although I may not abandon my traditional style of painting, it certainly has changed my perspective.

Have a great Paint Party Friday!

I know I will!

{this moment}

2011-07-22T16:12:00.000-05:00

A New Friday ritual inspired by Soule Mama. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment.

A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

Strictly Satruday: Candy Corn Butterfingers

2011-07-16T10:23:00.002-05:00

I am always on the prowl for a good chocolate recipe for our Strictly Saturday's Chocolate post.
Linda from Buzzing and Bumbling (who so happens to be my sister) found this recipe and sent it to me to make for my husband because he loves Butterfingers.

Lee's birthday is this next week which makes this a good time to make something special for him.

Linda did the baking this weekend and sent me a photo to submit to you. I still have to make mine but I know if Linda is recommending them it is a sure thing!

Homemade Butterfingers

1 lb. candy corn

16 oz. jar peanut butter (I used Jif, but the sweeter the better)

16 oz. pkg. chocolate candy coating (I just melted chocolate chips)

Melt candy corn in the microwave on high for 1 minute. Stir and continue to cook in 15 second intervals until melted, stirring each time. Stir in peanut butter. Spread mixture in an 8 x 8 square pan lined with parchment paper or foil. Either melt chocolate chips and spread over the mixture or dipped chilled bars in melted chocolate. Chill in the refrigerator until firm. Cut into narrow bars.

Yum! I have to make these myself!

My poor old county boy, husband brought me candied corn on our first Valentine's Day together. He thought I would be so pleased because I loved candy corn and he said the only other thing he could find were those "heart shaped boxes of candy" which by the way was exactly what I wanted.

Communicate is so important!

I now know after all these years together that he was trying to please me and I should have communicated what I wanted before the time came.

Now, I say forget those heart shaped boxes, and no candy. Why not just an evening together and not ON Valentine's Day but maybe the weekend before or the weekend after.

Paint Party Friday:Letting Loose

2011-07-14T23:06:00.000-05:00

"Letting Loose", a multi-layer mixed media is my most recent creative adventure.

I have been on an exploration of artistic websites lately and one of you posted about sewing together multi layers of magazine pages and then painting with gesso.
I thought that was a really fun idea and NOW

I can not find that post!
If you have read this article or if you wrote it please, leave the site in a comment or email me.
I so want to reread this and try my hand at this.

"Another Journey" is another mixed media.

It was painted/drawn while watching the Diary of a Wimpy Kid with four children surrounding me at home. I'm not sure if the movie influenced me at all in the drawing but I do know that I have had a hard time focusing on serious work lately. The kids agreed that upon completion they would help me come up with a childrens story to go with the drawing.
I am sure there is a story here somewhere.

The summer is already almost over (at least for teachers) and I have hardly begun to do the things I had planned
...work on sidewalks around the house
.....design a quilt
....make a doll with my granddaughter
...make a trip to the hill country
...make a trip to the coast....make a trip anywhere!.....
...mostly paint every day
but I have done other fun things and soon there will be a new grandson.
We have all begun making our predictions on the arrival date.
(I chose August 31st as the arrival date. He is due September 5th ...I just have a feeling.)

Well, have a happy Paint Party Friday!
I am!

Artsee Bloggers

2011-07-11T18:10:00.001-05:00

Just a quick little note to tell you about a new blog indexing artists. If you are interesting in associating yourself with it there is contact information on the site.

I am listed under Drawing/Painting but other categories include fabric, mixed media, digital, etc.

I visited this morning and have already been inspired!!!!

The link is on the sidebar but if you don't see it go here.

Thanks to the dedication of Geri Centonze from My Heart Art Blog Artseebloggers is launching today!

Thank you, Geri.

Strictly Saturday: Sandies, Sugar Cookies and Hot Fudge Sauce

2011-07-09T14:02:00.007-05:00

What a wonderful summer we are having.

I baked two chocolate cakes this week for two different occasions and Pecan Sandies for my non-chocolate lover in my family. (Yes, there are some of those.) One of our smallest members of our household does not like chocolate and while I baked chocolate cake for our Fourth of July party he wanted to know what I was making for him. I had previously told him I would make cookies for him so he was ready. Together we whipped up Pecan Sandies. He loved helping me spoon out the dough on the pan with the cookie dough scoop, and we watched closely as they baked but once they came out of the oven he realized this was the end of the production and it was not what he was expecting.

In his sweet little three year old voice he said that was not the kind of roll cookies he meant. His arms went up and he quickly began gesturing a simultaneous back and forth motion in front of his chest and I realized he wanted rolled sugar cookies.

So today I will be giving you three recipes:

Pecan Sandies, our Best Ever Sugar Cookies and Hot Fudge Sauce.
It's all good!

Pecan Sandies

You may know these cookies by another name. Some times they may be called Mexican Wedding Cookies, or some other variation of the name. It is an old recipe. In fact, I think this is one of the first cookies I made out of my Better Homes and Gardens New Cook Book back in 1971. (I question the use of "new" in the title of a book!) They almost melt in your mouth. Just the right amount of sweet to be good with a cup of tea or a cup of coffee and they are quick to make. I can get all of them on one cookie sheet because they do not spread. Makes about 3 dozen.

1 cup butter
1/3 cup sugar
2 tsps water
2 tsps vanilla
2 cups flour
1 cup chopped pecans
Powdered sugar to roll baked cookies

Cream together the butter and sugar, add water and vanilla, then combine the flour. Chill for 4 hours. Shape dough in balls, crescents or fingers.
Bake at 325 degrees for 20 minutes.
Cool slightly and roll in powdered sugar.

Best Ever Sugar Cookies

Now I must tell you the story of this next cookie recipe and explain why my family does not call these the Best Ever Sugar Cookies although it is the only sugar cookie recipe we will use. My four children are all grown and have children of their own now. My four are all close in age. At a fairly early age they would beg to make sugar cookies because they loved to roll out the dough or they loved to eat the dough. One day I agreed to help them make the dough and let them roll it out and cut the dough. When I got to a point where they could take over I left all four of the children in the kitchen rolling and cutting out cookies. I was cleaning and occasionally would pop in to check on them.

After quite a long time of the kids "working" at this, the dough was beginning to not be so clean looking (yes, they did originally wash hands) and had a more golden look (some might say brown) than the original dough. Yuck! I was getting tired of the mess in the kitchen and supper time was coming up soon.

Decorated for Baby Shower

I came into the kitchen and took the rolling pin,quickly flattened the dough and rolled it out. Got out the pizza cutter and made quick cuts one direction then cut across the opposite direction making quick squares as I announced,

"You can just call these 'Mama Got Mad Cookies'"

So today, my kids and those who have heard the story will still make "Mama Got Mad Cookies" and everyone knows just which cookies they are. For you they will be called

Best Ever Sugar Cookies

Preheat oven to 400 degrees
Sift together: 3 cups flour, 1 cup sugar, 1 1/2 tsp baking powder, and 1/2 tsp salt,
Beat in: 1 cup softened butter, 1 egg, 3 T milk, and 1 tsp vanilla
Mix about 1 or 2 minutes on low speed until blended.

Roll out dough 1/3 at a time.
I like my cookies thin, but some people like them thicker so experiment and see what you like.
Bake on un-greased cookie sheet for 5 - 8 minutes. Makes 6 -7 dozen medium sized cookies depending on thickness.

You may decorate or eat plain. You decide. I use a powdered sugar glaze when I ice mine.

Hot Fudge Sauce

Recently I went to the home of friends for ice cream. My contribution was the hot fudge sauce.

It took me no more time than it took to open a can of sweetened condensed milk,measure out a few chocolate chips, get a pat of butter, and a splash of milk and pop in the microwave and I had a great hot fudge sauce.

I had to "test" the flavor a few times before proceeding but it is fast and delicious.

Hot Fudge Sauce

1 can sweetened evaporated milk
1 cup chocolate chips
2 T butter
2 T milk

Put everything in a microwavable bowl and microwave for 2 minutes checking and stirring occasionally.
Serve warm over ice cream. Leftover can be stored in the refrigerator.

Yesterday, Linda, my sister and I shopped.
We came home with new cookbooks. I bought "500 Chocolate Delights" and we both bought "The Cookie and Biscuit Bible". I can't wait to dive in and find some interesting recipes to share.
Happy Baking!

{this moment}

2011-07-08T18:07:00.003-05:00

In response to Lana's blog {this moment}.

Lana says "A New Friday ritual inspired by Soule Mama. A single photo - no words -capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment.
A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.
If you're inspired to do the same, leave a link to your 'moment'
in the comments for all to find and see."

If you want to play along go to the link for Lana's blog and leave a comment and your url.

It Seams to be Sew

Paint Party Friday: No Paint just Pen & Ink

2011-07-08T07:57:00.003-05:00

Such a small little pen & ink but at least I did something myself this week.

It is only 9" by 4" on watercolor paper.

This was a drawing I had completed in May but decided it was too small to paint in watercolor to get the details I wanted. The heads are smaller than a dime.

Yesterday I needed a creative outlet and completed this in an hour or so.
I normally would use technical pens with variable nibs but I did not have them and used a fine tip Sharpie.
I normally would do stippling but I did hatching.
I normally would paint but I just did pen & ink.

I thought I wasn't going to have anything for Paint Party Friday but I did do this.
I also, did some tangling this week and created a decent zentangle
but the grandbabies loved drawing on my paper and ended up coloring it in for me and I just let them. Their love of art is worth the sacrifice of a zentangle or two.

There is a ton of creativity going on at our house, mostly with the grandbabies.
But I did do something creative.

Happy Paint Party Friday!

Outdoor Games:Team Challenge

2011-07-05T13:15:00.004-05:00

Part of the fun of the Fourth of July

is being able to play outdoors with friends and family.

Our family hosted a teen party this Fourth. The family came up with this game.

Team Challenge:

The game board is the back yard:

The object of the team is to direct a blindfolded team member through a maze without stepping into the yellow mine field, yellow line or on opposing team colored circles as quickly as possible but must step in the teams color circles to advance to finish..

Start Line

We used Rustoleum marking spray paint. Not only does it wash out with water, it does not hurt your grass

Finish

We made our triangular "field" about 25'-30'.

Our circles were about 10"-12". (I used a pizza box a plate as a template to cut my circles to use as a template for spraying.)
We marked the tip of the triangle as the start and another corner for the big finish. (see photo below)
Between Start and finish we sprayed circles in an equal number of red, white and blue circles with dividing lines which marked off three sections of the field with a yellow line with an opening in the line AND most importantly we had our explosive "mines" marked in yellow circles placed strategically among the field.
Our circles were about 10"-12". (I used a pizza box a plate as a template to cut my circles to use as a template for spraying.)
One person must be a time keeper and one person must be a referee.
Optional: We used Mardi gras necklaces from Target as tokens. Each team member who crossed the finish line got a necklace in the team color. At completion the winning team gets a second necklace in a different color.
Teams were chosen and given the following instructions:

Each member walks the field but not all have to complete it.
Alternate between teams: Red Team, Blue Team and White Team one member at a time.
First player is blindfolded and placed on Start.
The remaining team members must verbally direct the blindfolded member through the field to the finish line without stepping on any yellow mine, yellow line or opposing team's circles but they must step on their team's color circles to advance to finish.
The first time a team player steps on any forbidden zone they must restart at the beginning.
The second time a team player steps on any forbidden zone the player is out.
No one other than the blindfolder player may be inside the perimeters of the field during a play.
Only team members may direct blindfolded player directing from the outer perimeter of the field.
Winner of the game is the team with the most members making it through the field in the shortest amount of time.

This game is good for team building skills or just a fun time. There is no set pattern of where the circles are placed and we provided a good bit of "green" space which safe zone.

Pass the Potatoes Please & No Fries Please

2011-06-30T19:20:00.001-05:00

What is summer without some creative outlet?

Summers are so full of fun things to do would be a shame not to have something to remind you of those fun times.

Some of you are experts at keeping a visual journal and I am by no means an expert. In fact, although, I may keep a sketchbook a visual journal is a new thing for me. I just want to share what the kids and I are doing. The kids loved working on their pages and are so willing to show them off to anyone who will look.

So look what they have done today.

We have worked in stages on our journal. One evening we completed the wash of colors and completed potato stamps on a separate page so each child had a color washed page and at least one stamped page .

The second day we cut out stamped designs and photos and began to glue things down. Then the finishing touches came, adding additional stamping with purchased foam or rubber stamps in various colors that blended into the background. As you finish up the first journal page you can quickly wash in color on a new blank page for tomorrow's journal.

Preparing the paper with a wash of color:

We like to start with a board that has several layers of newspaper covering one side, and then staple or tape our paper on top of the newspaper for absorbing the spill overs.
We thin our acrylic paint with water in coordinating colored condiments bottle. (Ketchup bottle is red paint. Mustard is yellow paint.)
Then we squeeze out color on the paper and allow it to flow together.
Set it aside to dry. It can take hours depending on the paper and how much water was used.

Potato Prints
You are going to need a potato for this next part. And a knife sharp enough to cut into the potato.

Cut the potato in half. This will give you two stamps.
With a sharp pencil or a pen that no longer writes draw a shape
Carve off the negative space.
Remember to reverse or cut the mirror image of your asymmetrical shapes. Pictured is the letter "P" reversed for printing.
Use ink pads or acrylic paint to stamp on paper.Experiment wth colors.
Stamp on a clean sheet of card stock
Cut out when dry to glue down on paper

Putting It Together
While everything is drying find a photo to use and print it out in various sizes, cut and glue down on your prepared page. Prepare a week's worth of pages to use and have ink pads, and purchased stamps to add more texture to the surface.

Now you have a surface to start your journal writing.

Pearson's journal page. (3 1/2 yrs old)

Reese's journal page (5 yrs)

Everybody helped with 19 mo. old Blakely's page.

Wrangling Tangling Doodling

2011-06-26T14:12:00.002-05:00

Terrie, from Creative Explorer, you inspired this post!

I think I have mentioned that it is difficult for me to sit and not be doodling on paper
so when I first ran into Zentangles I was hooked.

After all, I had been doo-ing it for years!

First I searched everything online to find Zentangle patterns.

Finally, I decided I needed to have some of the books in my library.

I purchased

Zentangle Basics,

Totally Tangled

and

Doodle Formula (Not a Zentangle book but doodling).

Of the three, I totally loved Totally Tangled. It has a good assortment of patterns and examples of combining patterns.

Since I teach high school students the Zentangle Basic would be a good one to keep in my school library and if Zentangle 2 and 3 are similar I will add them to my library for my students also.

Here is my sketchbook after a day of play.
I worked with a pencil some of the time and with a fine point Sharpie. Ignore that I wrote Zentangle Basics on the sketchbook because after one or two patterns I was into Totally Tangled and then just working from my intuition.

Sketch book is 12" x 18" so I had lots of space to play

This morning I came back to this sketch book page using a pencil and added a string of points of a pencil as the design pulling the two squares together just for fun.

Just pencil (5" x 5")

As my blog title suggests I have been doodling all my life so creating Zentangles is just right up my alley.
(Oh, and if you are interested in picking up on the proper lingo of Zentangle.
Zentangle is a noun so it is the design.
You create a Zentangle
but if you are creating the design you are tangling.)

It looks so complicated but it is so easy!
One stroke at a time.

Oh, and there is more...
Hers is a link to the official blog site:    http://zentangle.blogspot.com/
And...
Here is the link to the site where you can subscribe to the newsletters and they will send you new patterns or look through the old newsletters and see patterns they sent out previously.
http://zentangle.com/whats-new.php

Strictly Saturday: Chocolate Caramel Slice

2011-06-24T23:22:00.002-05:00

I love finding recipes that people from other parts of the world are baking
and this recipe is an Australian favorite.

In England it is a tray bake,
in the US it is bar cookies
but in Australia it is a slice
but
wherever you are
it is delicious!
I now know why it is a favorite in Australia!

Just a hint of coconut in the bottom crust, a creamy layer of a subtle caramel made from cooking sweetened condensed milk (not a purchased caramel), and a little bit of chocolate to top it off.

I recommend you give this one a try soon!

Chocolate Caramel Slice

Ingredients: Base
1/2 cup brown sugar, firmly packed
2/3 cup desiccated coconut
2/3 cup self-raising flour
3 ounces butter, melted ( 85 gr)

Caramel Filling
1 ounce butter ( 30 gr)
2 tablespoons golden syrup
1 (14 ounce) cans sweetened condensed milk ( 395 gr)

Chocolate Topping
6 ounces milk chocolate (150 gr) or 6 ounces dark chocolate chips ( 150 gr)
1 tablespoon butter

Directions

Preheat oven to 375F (180C). Grease an 8-inch baking pan and line bottom and sides with wax paper.
Stir brown sugar, coconut and flour together. Add butter and mix until well--combined. Firmly press mixture into prepared pan using the back of a tablespoon.
Bake for 10-12 minutes until lightly-brown and slightly-risen. Make caramel during this time.
Place butter and golden syrup in a medium saucepan over medium heat, stirring occasionally. When butter has melted, add condensed milk. Cook, stirring constantly, for about 9-12 minutes, or until caramel thickens,
Gently spread caramel evenly over base. Return to oven for a further 10-12 minutes (a border of lightly-browned caramel will form around the edges of the slice). Allow slice to cool to room temperature.

To give credit where credit is due I found this recipe at Food.com

Paint Party Friday: Working from Photos

2011-06-24T01:17:00.001-05:00

It's Paint Party Friday!

My summer has been consumed with grandchildren and
with maintenance of a home

that has gone from just the two of us to the seven of us!

I think you might say "growing pains" but it has been good.

I started a painting a couple of weeks back of my son with his son fixing a child's stroller.

It is a watercolor based on a photo I took in November.

Here are some things I have picked up from working with photos:

Start by manipulating the photo and ignore the parts of the photo that are unimportant to you. This is different than manipulating for printing. You want to enhance the exposure, contrast, tint, and saturation, and do some cropping, etc. Maybe you are pushing the warm colors so that the resulting image is more colorful than the original photo. Now, the focus is on shapes and values.

Another example of this color manipulation is seen in my April 29, 2011 post of a Waterlily (right) in which I showed an example of boosting warm colors in a fairly neutral photo.

Change things at your discretion: Now, about the background in that top photo! Yuck! Who wants to see a background in a painting like that? You don't have to use the background from the photo! Ignore it! Put in a wash of color. I decided that with the white in the stroller and the white of the shirt I needed something with more color for the background and washed in a quick wash of cadmium yellow, Prussian blue and an occasional burnt sienna for contrast.

Strange perspectives: Here is another problem with working with photos...sometimes, the camera catches something in an odd position like this child's foot in the picture. What a challenge to paint. I am going to put a sock on his foot instead of figuring out the angles of each one of those toes.

Light and Shadows: Also, watch for the direction of the light and shadows. Make sure your shadows fall opposite the light source.

Composition Manipulation: One of the benefits from working from photos is playing with the composition and combining photos and moving around figures and objects. In a post from years ago, I used about five photos and arranged and rearranged photos until I decided what was best over a period of several posts. See New Idea and Idea Reworked and the completed painting A Day at the Beach

I hope everyone is finding their inspiration on this fun Friday!

Be sure to check in on all the different artists today!

Paint Party Friday

No Losing Your Marbles Here

2011-06-21T11:53:00.001-05:00

Just another post

for Rocknquilts Tuesday Toot-torial

Think you are going to lose your marbles while taking care of your kids this summer?

Well, here is a fun activity for the kids to play and grow their brains at the same time!

As a grandmother and a teacher I think one of the biggest challenges parents face during the summer months is "Grow your brain activites".

It is hot outside and if they are not in the pool they start winding down and complaining about the heat! I can not blame them one bit for that either but the last thing I want to do is bring them in to watch television or play video games (which both can be grow your brain activities if done properly) but sometimes your brain starts to turn to mush, too and you find yourself saying,

"okay, just go do it...anything!"

A little prep time and less than a five dollar investment

can save your sanity, and help your child get a little smarter.

SO....
Stock up on a few of the pool noodles, a few marbles and a roll of masking tape and turn the kids loose with it.

Oh, preparation first!

Take those noodles (must have a hole down the middle) and with a sharp knife slice them down the middle the length of the noodle to make two long tracks per noodle for a marble run. Mine sliced easily. (I used three noodles and had all the length necessary for the marble run.)

Then the tracks (as many as you want to try) can be taped together end to end to make a continuous run. We found that the start needs to be about three feet high to get a good long run. Explore a little. My guys found that the stairs worked as a great place to start the run and then they did loop-de-loops and curves. The guys from 2 to 62 got involved and they had hours of fun. Part of the fun is the experimentation of "what happens if...?"

Make a science lesson of it if you wish or just let them discover!

We did this last summer and the kids still ask to take them out and play.

A great father/ son activity, actually, it was a great Nana/child activity until Papa came home and then it really got fun!

So find your marbles and go have fun!

*Marbles come in various sizes and we found the medium size worked better on our noodles (stayed in the track better).

So you may experiment with marble sizes as well as slope, height etc.

Most importantly, let loose and have fun!

Sock Roses & A Hospital Survival Basket Tutorial

2011-06-21T08:41:00.003-05:00

Visit RocknQuilts for Tuesday Toot-torial!

We found out this week that one of our men from church has been diagnosed with colon cancer. At a loss for what to do for the family, Gaby, my daughter-in-law suggested we put together a basket for Ron and his sweet wife, Kay. After making a few calls and asking friends who wanted to contribute to the basket to bring specific things we had a basket full of good things for the hospital visit.

Remembering previous hospital visits and family experiences with hospital stays we put together a list of things that would be good for a hospital survival basket

Socks to keep our feet warm in a cold room
Lip balm to put on lips that dry out due to meds
Hand or body lotion (unscented for me)
Quarters for vending machines (Use old medicine bottles filled with quarters. My medicine bottles hold ten dollars of quarters)
CD of calming music
Mints like Altoids come in easily sealed containers or individually packaged mints don't need an enclosed container and can be shared with visitors
Prepacked crackers with peanut butter or cheese for a quick snack
Nuts (check diets, some won't allow nuts but family members who are staying over may like this healthy snack)
Green tea bags along with a microwavable cup or disposable cup, plastic spoon and sugar packets if necessary

Now with all that good stuff the task is to make these random things look pretty in a basket. We used a package of mens low socks and they came in a package of twelve. Packaged the socks just took up space and did not look pretty at all in the basket of goodies so I took them out of the package and started to roll them when an idea popped into my head....rolled socks can look like a rose bud! Using a skewer from my pantry or you can use Popsicle sticks or craft sticks of some kind to make your rose buds. So here goes!

Start with a pair of low cut socks or short socks and a skewer or some sort of craft stick. Fold the toe end down to hide any writing that may be on the toe. Make sure the heel is to the top as seen in picture. Begin a slight downward spiral, allowing the heel to wrap outward a little to create a petal for the bud. I used a rubber band and wrapped securely to keep the sock on the stick.

Cut a strip of felt about 12 long and tapered from about 3 inches wide on one end tapering to about an inch on the opposite end. Start with the narrowest end and wrap around the rubber band. Secure with hot glue when the felt begins to overlap. (glue felt to felt not the sock) Randomly cut a leaf shape on the wide edge of the felt with the remaining flap of felt. Allow leaf shapes to vary, some small, some larger. Vary colors of green from lime green to deep green.

Once you have a dozen sock roses you can bundle them into a bouquet.

I gathered mine in a loose bundle, secured the bundled sticks with a rubber band so the roses stayed as I had them. I wrapped the bouquet with paper by cutting a piece of paper 12" by 12", turned it to make a diamond shape with one corner at the top. I then created a cone shape which wrapped around the sock roses exposing the socks and the pointed end of the cone behind the bouquet.

Happy Father's Day: Candy Cards

2011-06-19T07:20:00.001-05:00

Sometimes, getting a card for special days is a challenge but this year we found an answer for a Father's Day card in the candy aisles.

This card is Mom to Dad:

Hot Tamales, I Skor'ed a good one! Some people may think you are an Airhead but I think you are a Big Hunk, always good for a few Snickers and Mounds of fun! Twix you and me and the 3 Musketeers you are the sugar to my Sugar Babies, the Almond Joy to my days, and the Starburst to my Milky Way.

The one the kids are giving their dad reads:

"Hot Tamales!" Some“Sugar Babies” have “Nerds” or “airheads”for a Daddy but you are a “100 Grand” among dads, always good for “Mounds” of “Snickers”, a true “Nugget” among “Nuggets”, a “Starburst” in the “Milky Way”. Mom thinks you are a “Big Hunk”or "Life Savers". We don’t know what she means but to us you are a “Whopper” of a dad, and a “Joy” to be around! You are sooooo “Special” . Twix” you and me we Skor” ed a good one. We love you!

This is not a new idea but it was fun for us to do. We enjoyed playing with the names and trying to work in the special candies our dads liked. (Oh, just noticed that the kids picture is missing the special dark chocolate on the card.) I bought one foam core board at Target thinking I could cut it in half but our sentiment got long and the words needed more spacing.

Strictly Saturday:Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Brownies

2011-06-17T21:05:00.001-05:00

Loving this summer thing!

But WOW! It is wreaking havoc on my diet!

I can not keep myself to Saturday anymore. I am going to have to find some will power....maybe next week!

This recipe is really, really good. If you can't keep your fingers out of the cookie dough when you mix up a batch of cookies you will love this recipe! A baked chocolate lovers brownie on the bottom and a cookie dough minus the evil eggs to top the brownie and a little melted chocolate drizzle and this is a true winner.

I baked them on Monday and even put them in the freezer to discourage my picking at them but no....I could not keep away!

Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Brownies

Yield: 32 brownies

Prep Time: 30 min + cooling time

Cook Time: 25 min

These brownies are a major treat for cookie dough lovers...

Ingredients:

BROWNIE:
4 ounces unsweetened chocolate, finely chopped
1 cup butter, at room temperature
2 cups light brown sugar, packed
4 large eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 cup all-purpose flour
COOKIE DOUGH (EGG FREE!):
3/4 cup butter
3/4 cup light brown sugar, packed
3/4 cup granulated white sugar
3 Tablespoons milk
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 cups mini chocolate chips
1/2 cup semisweet chips + 1 teaspoon shortening for drizzle, optional

Directions:

1. Prepare the brownies: Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. Spray a 9x13-inch pan with nonstick spray. In a medium glass bowl, melt chocolate in the microwave in short bursts of 30 seconds; stir after each burst and remove from microwave when melted and smooth. Set aside to cool slightly. In a large mixing bowl, mix butter and brown sugar with an electric mixer. Beat in eggs and vanilla extract. Mix in melted chocolate. Blend in flour and mix just until combined (don't over-mix). Spread batter into prepared pan. Bake 25 to 35 minutes. Watch closely and remove from oven when toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Let cool completely.
2. Prepare the cookie dough: In a medium bowl, use an electric mixer to combine butter, brown sugar and white sugar. Mix in milk and vanilla. Mix in flour just until combined. Stir in chocolate chips.
3. Spread cookie dough over the cooled brownies. Refrigerate until the dough is quite firm. It's okay to speed up the process and place it in the freezer too. The firmer the dough, the easier it will be to cut into neat squares. Use a sharp knife to cut the brownies. You may need to wipe the knife off with a paper towel in between cuts since the fudgy brownies and cookie dough will tend to stick to the knife a bit. These brownies are best to serve placed inside cupcake papers and served with a fork.
4. If you'd like to add chocolate drizzle on top, melt 1/2 cup chocolate chips with 1 teaspoon of shortening in the microwave; stir until smooth. Scoop the melted chocolate into a zip baggie and snip off the corner. Squeeze the bag to drizzle the chocolate on top of each brownie. Sprinkle additional chocolate chips on top, if desired.

Found on RecipeGirl.com

Paint Party Friday: Summer Vacation

2011-06-17T06:25:00.003-05:00

July Artist of the Month

I am going to be Artist of the month for my county Art Club. It has me in a panic because I want to show a masterpiece and of course, I have not painted it yet because the one you are going to do is always better than the one you just finished.

Is it just me or do others get...... for lack of a better term...."stage fright"?

I look at that huge piece of paper and think:

I will not be able to do this one. This is the one I will throw in the trash. It will be the one I will not want anyone to ever see. I will never complete it.

Logically, I know I can. I teach it! I battle students who say these words to me and I laugh with them. I talk about the awkward stage of painting to my students and warn them about it and talk them out of quitting paintings at that awkward stage.

If I do not turn out a masterpiece by Monday....I think the painting or paintings I will use will be "Caleb's Love" (left) and it's companion piece "Gaby's Love" (right) (the couple's honeymoon pictures from Playa del Carmen).

I love the figure in Caleb's Love but the rocks in Gaby's Love are much fresher looking and more spontaneous, less labored looking.

(Please, excuse these poorly photographed images.)

A Basket for Ron: Sock Roses

As always people are so generous!

I asked for socks to keep his feet warm in a cold hospital, I got twelve socks!

I asked for a small container of mints and lip balm for dry mouth and lips, I got two big bags full of mints and lip balm.

I asked for a music CD....got two!

I asked for quarters for the vending machine....I got twenty dollars in quarters (we put in medicine bottles for the basket).

Add instant soups, bread sticks, peanut butter crackers, cheese crackers, and various nuts for the family, and a package of caramels, a few microwave safe disposable cups, instant green tea, a wrap to keep Kay warm and all the love that goes with it.... our basket is filled to brimming. I almost had to go find a bigger basket.

Now with all that good stuff I had the task of how to make these random things look pretty in a basket. Those socks just took up space and did not look pretty at all so I took them out of the package and started to roll them when an idea popped into my head....rolled socks can look like a rose bud! So here goes!

Start with a pair of low cut socks or short socks and a skewer or some sort of craft stick. Fold the toe end down to hide any writing that may be on the toe. Make sure the heel is to the top as seen in picture. Begin a slight downward spiral, allowing the heel to wrap outward a little to create a petal for the bud. I used a rubber band and wrapped securely to keep the sock on the stick.

I got out my camera this week while I worked and organized and took some photos just for the sake of finding my creative outlet.

I did a little research on food photography and then started playing with the idea of photographing food. (This is Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Brownies. The recipe will be posted tomorrow on Strictly Saturday's Chocolate post.) Food Photography is more fun than I thought. I knew I enjoyed eating, but photographing what you eat? Yes!
The African violet I purchased for a friend who loves them and is very successful growing them. I noticed a new color for her. The plums are from my tree out back that was very abundant this year.

The week that is behind me:
So there it is....besides cleaning, organizing my studio and sewing areas, cooking meals for hungry men, baking for fun, experimenting with pickle recipes and making juice from my plums, (sounds sort of Martha Stewart-ish...huh?) I have pulled a few weeds in my garden and fed the fish in my pond, I have doodled a little but never enough, I have wet my watercolor paper and been called away....several times and started a new full sheet watercolor drawing (not pictured....yet), finished a good book (only reading at bedtime) by Charles Martin (one of my favorite authors) and started a new one, I have hugged on my grandchildren, played with their toes, tickled their bellies and kissed their necks.....all in all, a good summer week!

Painting In Progress

As I post this I have my painting, paints and all out on the table about to find the time with everyone in the house still sleeping a quiet hour (at least) of my personal Paint Party Friday time! I'm excited!

Detail

Getting Help from my little experts. Thankfully, on the masking tape.

Strictly Saturday: Frozen Hot Chocolate

2011-06-10T18:16:00.000-05:00

If hot chocolate is good on a cold winter day; frozen hot chocolate is good for a hot summer day!

I found this recipe online and had to try it out on my grandchildren for a mid-day snack and cool-down.

I have to admit it was not on Saturday but rather on Tuesday.

Then on Wednesday, my three year old grandson requested a smoothie. On Thursday, they wanted a different flavor and now every day this week we have had a frozen drink just adapting our recipe a little to make different flavors.

I never could pass up a good cup of hot chocolate but this frozen one is even better!

Frozen Hot Chocolate

6 ounces chopped semisweet chocolate (or chocolate chips)
3 cups whole milk, divided
1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon of powdered hot chocolate mix
3 tablespoons sugar
6 cups ice cubes
Whipped cream for garnish

Place chopped chocolate and 1/4 cup of the milk in a microwave-safe container. Heat the chocolate on 50 percent power for 1 minute. Stir. Heat the mixture on 50 percent power for an additional 30 seconds. Stir. If necessary, continue heating in 30-second increments until chocolate is completely melted.
Add hot chocolate mix and sugar. Stir.
Slowly pour in 1/2 cup of the milk. Stir, and let cool to room temperature.
Pour cooled chocolate mixture into blender. Add ice cubes and then the remaining milk. Blend until smooth.
Top with whipped cream and serve immediately. I used the spray can of whipped cream and it comes out so pretty.

This makes a huge blender full. We served a coffee cup full to four children and two adults and still had enough left over for refills.

Don't forget the whipped cream, it makes it so smooth!

Same concept, different flavor:

I replaced the chocolate chips and hot chocolate mix with half a package of instant vanilla pudding mix with a ripe banana, strawberries or blueberries or any combination of the fruits. Add Milk, ice and blend until smooth.

Be creative with your smoothies!

The kids love them!

And they are getting fruit and milk.

Eric loves the chocolate and really don't skimp on the whipped cream.

Reese's favorite is chocolate

Pearson loves banana and blueberry without the whipped cream.

Paint Party Friday:Carpe Diem

2011-06-10T06:25:00.001-05:00

Paint Party Friday!

Carpe Diem!
(Seize the day!)

What a great boost of inspiration Paint Party Friday was for me last week! I thank you all for your notes of encouragement! You will never know how much your comments mean to me!

All of the posts last week for PPF were very inspiring to me. I enjoyed them all so much and I have looked forward to participating again this week. I hope it was as much fun for you!
Paint Party Friday

Kid's Paint Party Friday

I had my own little Kids' Paint Party Friday in my yard with three of my grandchildren!

We set up our paints in the yard and everyone grabbed a brush and enjoyed a beautiful evening, cool weather, a gentle breeze and focused on art. Even the youngest got involved. However when Blakely ended up with paint on her clothes and we decided she could paint naked (with her diaper) older sister was concerned and wanted to know if she had to also. We had about an hour of total focus on painting!
At completion we hung the show!

A few tips for painting with children:

Aprons! Old shirts! Expect messes and spills and getting paint on themselves. So prepare for it.
If partying outside expect wind. Use masking tape to secure to a board or cardboard so the artwork does not blow away.
Wide masking tape or duct tape (loop a piece of tape with sticky to outside) attached to the bottom of plastic water glasses to secure to the table top helps control spills. No guarantee but certainly helps.
Limit color selections otherwise you end up with mostly brown paint because red, yellow and blue make brown but do use the opportunity to teach color mixing. Red and Yellow make orange. Blue and red make purple. Yellow and blue make green. Tell them they forget. Let them discover and experience it, they learn.
Card stock paper or freezer paper (waxed side down) works great.
Crayola water-based markers can be used as paint by painting clean water over applied color to blend colors. Put down a little red with a little yellow next to it then apply water lightly and sit back and watch it blend itself together. Results are spontaneous and can not be totally controlled. Great introduction to watercolor painting. When all is dry a black Sharpie can outline for added clarity is necessary or display as is. Other paints will work as well, tempera paint, acrylic paint or trays of watercolor.
Kristin Dubish...Art & Stuff has featured some great ideas on her Sunday Sketches. ( Paint Party Friday people know Kristin has her hands in numerous projects.) I loved Kristin's monsters she created from Steve Loya's Splotchmonsters . Steve generously gave me detailed explanations of how to work with kids creating splothmonsters. Thanks, both Kristin and Steve.
Steve recommends having examples of body parts arms, legs, noses, eyes, etc. to give the kids to have something to see while drawing. I agree. The more examples and demonstrations the kids see the more successful the kids will be.

Happy Painting!

Happy Paint Party Friday!

Strictly Saturday: Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups

2011-06-04T18:41:00.002-05:00

Strictly Saturday's Chocolate has gone Kid Friendly!

At least for today.

As of 2:30 today, Saturday, summer vacation has begun for me! And not one minute too soon.

Could you hear that squeal? It is excitement....and I'm not talking about the kids!

Early this morning I was up getting prepared for my last day of work, one final time this school year. A faculty meeting, reports by various committees, appropriate papers signed, rooms cleared of evidence of school work and ....off we pop!

Back home my house is loaded with children, grandchildren to be exact. With this in mind my recipe today will be kid friendly. Peanut butter and chocolate! Last night Blakely (19 months) did not want any supper but after her bath she came in and "shopped" the pantry and came out wanting peanut butter! A spoon full or two and she was satisfied!

Peanut butter....the kid pleaser!

Of course, since one of Papa's major crops is growing peanuts I think supporting him is reasonable and desirable. In my younger years I attempted to make my own peanut butter numerous times and burned up a few blenders and one peanut butter grinder. Making peanut butter takes a lot of grinding. And then once you finally grind the peanuts to a smooth consistency the kids liked Skippy or Peter Pan peanut butter better anyway so I learned to just keep it simple and if they like it from the store that is what I give them.

Today, I had my helpers in the kitchen with me!

I measured; they dumped.
I stirred; they tasted!
I cleaned up my work area; they licked the spoons clean.
I melted chocolate; they sneaked chocolate!

They did make the nice little tablespoon sized balls with my Pampered Chef small scoop. (A great tool even for the adults. I would not do without mine. I have them in various sizes.)
We popped them in the freezer to set up for awhile and then put melted chocolate over them.

So here it is.
A recipe you can make with the kids,
the kids will enjoy
and you know there is something in there that is good for them and you are supporting the peanut farmers! Thanks, all!

Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups.

1 cup creamy peanut butter
1 cup honey
2 cups powdered milk (yes, milk, not sugar and dry, not mixed up)
1/2 tsp vanilla
Blend together. until smooth.
Scoop out onto waxed paper or into mini candy wrappers with a small scoop (about a tablespoon size).
Place in freezer for a fifteen to thirty minutes.

1 1/2 -2 cups of chocolate chips.
Place in the microwave for a minute at a time. Do not over cook in microwave. Once chips start getting warm and soft take them out and start to stir. The chips will continue to melt. If additional heating is required watch closely and stir every 15-30 seconds.

Spoon a little chocolate on the top of each ball and swirl to cover the top.
Refrigerate until the chocolate hardens.

If you have leftover melted chocolate throw in any kind of nut, pretzels, potato chips or whatever you like. I used walnuts with my extra melted chocolate. And someone has already eaten all of them! And it wasn't me!

So that is the recipe today!
A simple one but a good one for the young ones and the young at heart.
Fast and easy! We were out of the kitchen before their attention span ended!

Paint Party Friday: Finally Friday

2011-06-03T06:16:00.005-05:00

Finally Friday!

Paint Party Friday!

I must admit after an exhausting-ly, artful six weeks of a Painting a Day this week has seemed unproductive comparatively.
(See sidebar for individual paintings included in A Painting A Day running through April and May 2011)

Painting a Day Collection at End of Challenge

BUT

This has been the last week of school this year!
AND

I could feel myself losing momentum!

Every day when the alarm would go off I had a harder and harder time popping up!

I drug myself to the shower and even that did not help as much as usual.

I had my usual two cups of coffee and my eyelids just began to stop being so heavy.

I don't think I left at my usual time one time this week (but I do arrive a good 45 minutes before school starts even when I am late thanks to my "leave-30 minutes-early-or-we-are-late" upbringing).
Today I have tried to cut my eggs with my butter knife upside down!
Maybe, my brain has already gone on vacation mode.

Our final project for our art students was really more play than serious work.
They had two hours to complete it and completed using children's supplies you could buy at Walmart.

It was a crayon/watercolor resist project, simple instructions, big on exploration.

Draw two horizontal straight lines.. Draw two vertical lines. Then add four random lines (two vertical, two horizontal). All drawing is done in heavily applied light colored crayons. Then a wash of dark watercolor paints is applied by wetting the paper first then adding first one color then adding a second color along next to it and allow the water to blend the colors. Working in layers with the watercolor continue to add additional layers as necessary.

Sounds a little like a recipe. The kids had fun and took home a little more knowledge about painting. Some knowledge is acquired through discovery and allowing yourself to do something that is not a serious artwork.
I tell my students,
"If you don't fill your trash can first with things you have tried, you will not learn how to be a good artist."
And
"The difference between someone who can and someone who can't? About a hundred hours of practice."

Planning ahead

A good bit of time this week has been spent doodling while in mandatory meetings/in services, and looking for inspiration for next year's student sketch book challenges.

I found some fun sites.

Hot Toast and Jam's Mr Toast's Creative Tuesday
proved to be a good find and looks to be inspirational.

Another inspirational find was Zentangles Designs.

There are a number of websites and books on the zentangles.

I purchased three books on Amazon today.

Three books because one leaves you wanting more,

two is okay,

but three is thrilling

and four would just be too extravagant.

I will report on the books once I have them in my hands.

As much as I have wanted to continue my painting a day this week,

it has proven to be too challenging this week

and I have fallen into bed in exhaustion every night as it is.

However I am working on two paintings.

Each is of a father and child interacting which I find to be a sweet subject.

Hopefully next week will spring creative again!

Works in progress: Still on my Table Two paintings started at varying stages of completion.

Last weekend was a great three day weekend.

Saturday was an organizing day in the kitchen, ending with a fun day of baking.

(Strictly Saturday: Chocolate Chip Paradise Pie I do a Saturday post of a chocolate recipe every week because I limit my chocolate to once a week....strictly on Saturdays! )

Monday continued with organizing, working in the dreaded garage outside.
We spent the necessary money on big sturdy shelving and by the end of the day the garage was looking much better.

Another shelving unit and we may have it really looking good and just in time for the bicycles, scooters and fun wheely toys belonging to my grandchildren who have temporarily combined households with us while they build a house.

On Monday the family got together to shuck corn and lay up in store for the coming year (Shucks) and to enjoy eating a meal together of fajitas grilled by Papa, fresh corn grown by Papa, black beans and all the good stuff that goes with a meal like this.

We ended up with 20 -22 people by evening.

I think that is a houseful.
And I think that is a week!
Happy Paint Party Friday!

Shucks!

2011-05-31T13:58:00.000-05:00

Corn Harvest is a family event at our house.
Everyone gets involved.

Strictly Saturday: Chocolate Chip Paradise Pie

2011-05-29T07:56:00.001-05:00

I am late!

I'm a little behind on posting my Strictly Saturday's post but I did bake!

Chocolate Chip Paradise Pie is one of my favorites but not one I make often.

Last night I baked my pastry and then sent out word to Caleb and Gaby to come eat it while it is warm.

It did not take long before I heard them at the door.

I made them wait as I prepared the plate, swirling the Cinnamon Butter on the plate,

setting the pastry on the plate,

scooping out a scoop of ice cream,

and adding the final touch...the drizzles.

Add a few nuts on top of this would be pretty, too but I forgot.

Gaby thought it was restaurant quality dessert.....hum-m!

Caleb licked his plate and asked for seconds.

The recipe says it serves 9.

In my opinion, it would serve about 12 women but 6 men so averaging maybe 9 is a good estimate.

It is made in a 9" by 9" pan.

So here it is....this heavenly dessert!

Chocolate Chip Paradise Pie

Cookie Layer:

1 cup flour

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

` 1/4 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 cup butter, softened

1/3 cup granulated sugar

1 egg

1 Tablespoon milk

1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

1/2 cup shredded coconut

Crust Layer

6 Tablespoons butter, melted

1/4 cup sugar

1 1/2 cup graham cracker crumbs

1 1/4 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips (I used the mini chips, they covered more easily and evenly)

1/2 cup chopped walnuts

Cinnamon butter

1/2 cup butter, softened

3 Tablespoons sugar

1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon

Vanilla Ice Cream

Chocolate Syrup

Caramel Syrup

Cookie Layer: Preheat oven to 325 degrees.

Measure the flour into a medium size bowl; add the baking soda and baking powder. Set aside.

Using an electric mixer, blend sugar and butter until smooth; add in egg, milk and vanilla. Slowly add flour mixture to sugar mixture. Blend until smooth. Add coconut. Set aside.

Crust Layer: Melt butter in microwave in a small bowl. While butter is melting crush graham crackers into fine crumbs. Mix together butter, graham cracker crumbs and sugar. Pat into the bottom of a 9” x 9” pan.

Pour chocolate chips evenly over crust.

Carefully spoon cookie mixture over chocolate chips.

Sprinkle chopped walnuts over cookie mixture, carefully pressing them into the dough.

Bake in preheated oven for 35 -45 minutes or until the edges turn a golden color. Don't overbake.

Prepare Cinnamon butter by blending all ingredients together. Refrigerate until time to serve.

Serving Preparation:

Swirl a dab of cinnamon butter onto a heated plate running the spoon through the butter to spread it across the plate or use an unheated plate and place in microwave for 30 seconds to melt the butter.

Plate a slice of pie on prepared plate.

Add a scoop of ice cream on top of pie.

Drizzle first caramel syrup, finishing with Chocolate syrup,

Enjoy!

My Challenge: A Painting A Day

2011-05-25T21:53:00.004-05:00

Challenge, Dare, Double-Dog Dare, Triple-Dog Dare

No matter how you say it, it is a call to bring on your A-game!

Challenge: a call to test your abilities in a demanding but stimulating undertaking.

Within the challenge there exists an opportunity for development to a higher level than previously achieved.

My new Little Gems Collection (Not the complete set.)

My challenge to myself was done on the spur of the moment.

I typed it out and hit publish!

Public humiliation was both a threat and a great motivator!

I knew if I did it publicly I would work my hardest to complete the task.

So here I am with 38 new pieces of artwork to add to my collection at the end of my 6 week/6 days a week challenge. So where am I now with this and what did I learn?

The first week and this last week were my two most difficult weeks of the whole challenge. The first week I had to work out my plan of action and learn my limitations. This last week with school ending and the changes taking place in my home life there are demands put on my physical time both at school and at home that have to take priority but all for good. On days when it looked like I was not going to get my work done I mourned the loss of my creative time. At school my students rose to their own challenges as well and I saw a marked improvement in their work as well. They stopped by often to see what was on my table, often stood over me to watch me while I painted, asked questions but most importantly they recognized the value I place on being creative. Some of them followed my lead and started working smaller in order to complete a larger number of works in a shorter amount of time.
So here it is my top ten list!

Top Tens List of Things I Learned From my Challenge:

After the first week painting became a habit. Habits, even good habits are missed if it does not happen.
Working smaller and faster helped me to focus in on what is important and leave off the unnecessary.
Photographing for the blog helped me to see where more contrast and brighter colors were needed.
The timing does not have to be perfect nor do you have to be "in the mood.". I can paint most anywhere; inside, outside, with people looking over my shoulder, with others talking to me, with the television on or off, music on or off, anywhere as long as I have enough space to put out my paint palette and my paper.
Procrastination is a killer to creativity. It is the big Satan of creativity.
Plan to work! Work your plan! If you don't plan ahead, the work does not happen or it suffers.
The approval or praise of others may boost my ego but is not a necessity to my achievements.
In like manner, the lack of praise or criticism can only sabotage my progress if I allow it to.
If your work makes you happy, it does not feel like work.
Creativity begets creativity.

In summary: I will not stop! I plan to work a little larger so faces are not just a little dot here and there so I may not have a painting a day but I will paint every day.

My 38th remains unpublished at this time. It is in the center of the pile of paintings in the photo above. It is a little larger and although I am now farther than the photo shows I wanted to give it a little more attention. It will be published at completion.

Thank you to all of you for hanging in there with me and seeing me through to the end.
It was fun on my part, I think a growth experience.
I challenge you to find your creative self!

A Painting A Day:Follow Me

2011-05-24T19:04:00.001-05:00

Follow Me (Watercolor 8" x 10")

A Day of Celebration and Bonding

2011-05-23T22:02:00.007-05:00

The weekend now past was as hectic as I expected.
It was exhilarating and exhausting!

We started the day with working on cake pops for our birthday celebration. We made three different flavors; confetti, strawberry and chocolate. We used vanilla candy melts and white chocolate and of course, chocolate for dipping. The kids helped with sprinkles.

Then we had a pinata estrella. The kids loved that. Even after the pinata broke, they used the leftover pieces for a party hat!

Then the exhausting part started....the moving. Moving continued long into the night, before they gave up from exhaustion, saving the rest for the next day.

Leann's Purse

2011-05-23T17:49:00.001-05:00

My Mother's Day gift from my daughter, Leann, made me a purse.

I received a gift this past weekend.

It is actually my Mother's day gift from my daughter, Leann.

She made a purse for me, a very cute purse.

It is nice size, not too large, not too small.

And complete with a double sided pocket, stitched down the middle but zipped with one zipper.

The pleats reverse themselves from the top to the bottom, revealing contrasting fabrics.

Thank you, Leann, I love it!

A Painting A Day: Topsail Island Beach

2011-05-21T11:58:00.001-05:00

I believe I mentioned this is a hectic day with many activities going on. But when grilling the brisket meant I had to stand guard over it outside to make sure it did not go up in flames (this time) I moved my paints and painting outside and enjoyed the morning.

The birds were singing and the sky was overcast slightly and for a little while I was misted with a very light mist of moisture from the sky. We are in drought conditions here in my area so rain would be a blessing about now.

In the time I was outside I finished up the little painting from Topsail Island. The access across the sand dunes to the beach intrigued me the minute I saw it. I took a number of photos of it. I loved the rhythm the boards created in the boardwalk.

Moved my painting outside.

Set up in line with the grill in my line of vision.

Strictly Saturday: S'Mores Brownies

2011-05-20T20:00:00.002-05:00

Busy Weekend coming up!

Not only is the big move happening tomorrow but a birthday party!

How fun!

While the big guys carry in the heavy furniture, the little ones are going to be dipping their cake pops and having fun outside. (Be watching for pictures of the kids making their cake pops.)

This evening when I came in from school, I had on my mind all the things I need to be doing this weekend, so I started by whipping up some cakes to bake and shape for the cake pops for the party tomorrow. By the time my cakes were cooled enough to shape into balls I also, had S 'mores Brownies baking in the oven for my Strictly Saturday's post.

It is going to be a joyfully, rushed and hectic time in my household tomorrow! I hope your weekend is a fun filled time with people you love.

I found this recipe on the Food Network website and revised it for myself so I did not have to run into town to buy anything else.

S'more Brownies

Ingredients

Crust:

6 tablespoons melted butter
1 1/2 cups crushed graham cracker crumbs
2 tablespoons sugar

Brownie:

8 tablespoons (1 stick) butter
1/4 cup oil
4 ounces unsweetened cocoa
1 cup packed light brown sugar
3/4 cup white sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon fine salt
4 large cold eggs
1 cup all-purpose flour

Topping:

4 cups large marshmallows

Directions an 8 inch square baking dish with foil so the foil runs over the edges. Spray or oil foil.

Make graham cracker crust and press in bottom of pan. Bake at 325 degrees for 20 minutes until browned.

While crust if baking, mix up brownie. Put butter, oil and cocoa in a glass bowl and place in microwave for 1 minute or until butter melts. Stir until blended. Add brown sugar, granulated sugar and vanilla. Stir until blended. Add eggs, one at a time and beat by beat until smooth. Add flour and salt and beat until smooth.

Pour brownie batter over warm crust and place back in oven for 40-45 minutes or until a toothpick comes out nearly clean with just a few crumbs.

Place marshmallows on top of brownie and place until broiler about 6 inch under burner. Watch carefully, and allow to heat until marshmallows start to brown (about 2 minutes).

Cool on rack.

Carefully remove S'mores Brownies from pan using the foil edges as flaps. Remove the foil. Cut into squares.

A Painting a Day: Playing at the Water's Edge

2011-05-19T20:33:00.001-05:00

Playing At the Water's Edge (watercolor 8" x 10")

A Painting A Day: At the Water's Edge

2011-05-19T12:03:00.001-05:00


The Water's Edge (Watercolor 8" x 10" Updated from previous post.)

A Painting A Day: Paper Sails

2011-05-18T14:26:00.001-05:00

There is a fascination with water.

We migrate toward water as soon as the weather starts to warm a little, camping next to a lake, river or a big body of water of some sort.

Paper Sails (Watercolor 8" x 10")

At the start of this week I went through old photos and chose a number of photos that I thought could make a good composition. It was not until I got to painting I soon realized that most of this week's paintings are at the edge of water or water related. I have three more drawn out I am still planning to paint and all are at the water's edge. Funny things though, they are not from one trip but rather several different trips to different locations.

I remember one trip my husband and I made when our children were about 7 and under. It was a camp site friends had recommended. We pulled an RV to the spot and settled in and as soon as we got settled the kids started to ask where the water was. There was no water other than a public swimming pool. The kids had no idea what to do with themselves. I think they would have rathered been at home because we had dirt and trees at home. We hiked and rode bikes in the hot blazing sun and then returned home early, cutting our time short.

We all missed the water.

I think the fascination with water began with infancy. All of my children loved playing in their bathwater. The bathtub would be full of all sorts of floating toys until they outgrew them.

A Painting A Day: Treasure Hunting

2011-05-17T17:50:00.002-05:00

Our lives got "complicated" over the weekend (more so than our usual, normal complications) so I missed a day painting here and there.

I missed painting on Friday because I left my drawing and paints at home when I went to school and when I got home I was in the midst of the "complications".

Then on Saturday my house was full of people moving things out of my house and then people moving things into my house and then there were trips back and forth to the storage unit in town. So painting was out on Saturday.

Sunday I was wiped out but by evening I was rested enough to spend a little time preparing a few drawings for the new week.

Treasure Hunting (Watercolor 8" x 10")

I have doubled up on my paintings for a couple of days to fill in for those days I missed. I really did miss them, too. I have formed a habit of painting in the evenings or at school. People ask what I have painted and I pull out all of my little paintings to show them off.

It is so fun! I am so glad to have challenged myself. I do think I am a slave driver to myself. I stayed up late a couple of nights at the start of this just to get my paintings done.

Now that my time of challenge is soon to end (in just a few more days) I will have to come up with some new sort of challenge for myself.

A Painting A Day: Beach Play

2011-05-17T17:47:00.002-05:00

I must be seeking comic relief with all the stresses building up in my life during this transitional period between ending school and beginning summer; between moving my son's family in with me and moving out some of my own belongings, furniture and junk to make room for them.

All good things but still stress is involved.

I was inspired to complete this little painting some years ago but did not have it fully developed in my head. My brother-in-law often stands holding his hands behind him. I have seen him do it a million times and know this stance. He may not even realize he does this but to me it is a signature pose for him. I got a picture of him standing like that and decided to turn it into something comical so I changed his clothing and added a goofy hat, sunglasses and the creme de la creme the old man pot belly.

The man is no longer my brother-in-law but now some old man watching the kids playing on the beach adding just a touch of whimsy and comedy to the composition without insulting anyone I know.

Beach Play (Watercolor 8" x 10")

I have had a lot of fun with this one.

Another small quick study, intentionally leaving miniature people with no true facial features, just the illusion of maybe, having a face when in fact, it is truly only a dot placed just so.

Isn't that what our artistic expressions is for?

Art Therapy!

I can face the world now.

A Painting A Day: Sea Gulls

2011-05-16T22:14:00.000-05:00

This painting is actually a fun little study in watercolor.

I drew it off quickly and painted it nearly as quickly.

A Painting A Day: Mariachi Singers

2011-05-16T18:30:00.000-05:00

Oh, what freedom there is when drawing people whom I don't know. No worries about insulting anyone because their face is messed up or their body looks too fat or just that they don't see themselves looking the way we see them. I don't know these guys personally but we did have this group of singers at the wedding for Caleb and Gaby a couple of years ago. The group wandered in and around our guests and some of our guest even stood up with the group and joined them singing. They were very good and their presence was appreciated.

It was very festive, very fun!

Mariachi (Watercolor 8" x 10)"

Often in the San Antonio area we find Mariachi bands playing in the restaurants, weddings, parties and the such like. Recently Lee and I picked up my sister and her husband from the airport and headed over to a popular Mexican restaurant and were anxious to hear all about their trip. The Mariachi band came out and the lone man sitting at the table next to us made a request for a song. The man made a second request, then a third and by the time he was four or five requests into the night we were beginning to realize he was lonely and planned to keep the band at his side all night long.

The group was close enough to us that any one of us could have picked their pockets if we had been so inclined (which we were not) and so loud that we could not hear each other talk and we soon began joking about tipping them to go sing at the opposite end of the restaurant so we could appreciate them more and we could talk.

The next weekend we went out to another Mexican restaurant and another Mariachi group played at the next table but thankfully they were not so close nor so loud and we enjoyed their songs much more.

Strictly Saturday: Maltesers Traybake

2011-05-14T08:08:00.003-05:00

With the world looking in on the Royal Wedding in London recently my attention went toward English recipes and I found this enticing recipe but I was not too sure about those digestive biscuits and maltesers but with such a high rating it must be good! So I began to look into what this was all about.

Doodling Maltesers Traybake

Most people know that the English call cookies, biscuits but a digestive biscuit?
Digestive biscuits turned out to be what we call a Graham cracker, developed in 1829 by Rev. Sylvester Graham using graham flour, a mix of whole grains, a healthy choice! I am not sure he knew people would develop such concoctions as the following in which we have to limit our indulgences due to our interest in our own health but thank you, Rev. Graham. Your crackers are the base of so many heavenly desserts!

And Maltesers? Just malt balls!
Personally, I prefer Brachs but my local grocery store does not know this so I use Whoppers.

Below you will find the original recipe as I found it and then I will give you my own version of the dessert.

Malteser Traybake
Rating:
Oink!

100g butter
200g milk chocolate
3 tablespoons golden syrup
225 finely crushed digestive biscuits
225g Maltesers

Melt together the butter, chocolate and syrup then add the crushed biscuits and the maltesers. Mix together quickly then pour into a square tin and chill until set. For a special occasion drizzle with some melted white chocolate. Cut into squares, pig out.

Doodling Maltesers Traybake:

Here is my conversion to this recipe:
Melt together:
1 stick butter (1/2 cup)
1 1/2 cup milk chocolate chips
3 T Lyle's Golden Syrup
(I found this in my local grocery store on the very top shelf of the syrups. If you have a British section you may find it there. It has a hint of molasses and vanilla. If you can not find it you may use 2 T of white Karo syrup and 1 T molasses and then a 1/4 tsp. vanilla.)
Add the following ingredients:
15 graham cracker crushed(I am referring to the large unbroken crackers)
2 cups malt balls (This recipe said crushed but I left mine whole)

Stir together in a large bowl and then quickly put into a square pan and refrigerate.

Optional:
Melt 1 pkg Ghirarbella classic white chips and pour over the top of the chocolate concoction.

A Painting A Day: Field Trip!

2011-05-13T14:48:00.000-05:00

I did not know any of these boys but they were so animated while looking at the exhibit at the zoo that I was intrigued by them.

Working small and with so many little figures I had to keep the drawings somewhat loose.

I struggled with the face on the boy facing outward. I thought about all those artist doing the little carvings on ivory or wood or whatever and could not imagine going any smaller and getting any sort of detail. This boys face is about the size of a dime and I used my smallest brush. One dot in the wrong spot and it is all over.

I painted it.

I repainted it.

I even had to scrap off the top layer of the paper on the boys face and redo it again!

Oh, how frustrating!!!

But I love the rhyme of the boys all crowded in among themselves.

I think this one would be a fun larger painting.

I think I see a summer project!

Doodling In My Mind Blog Hop

2011-05-11T06:24:00.002-05:00

Doodling in my Mind is conducting a Blog Hop. Submissions are accepted through May 25th.

Easy as 1...2...3!

Pick a post you want to share and copy the web address.

Choose a picture you want to show.

Submit it to the linky!

Let's see how many we can do in two weeks.....

1...2...3

GO!
(Entry on the right sidebar.)

A Painting A Day: Sun on my Shoulders

2011-05-10T16:00:00.002-05:00

This little watercolor was inspired by our day in the wheat field.

Wheat is not a tall crop.

It grows about 2 feet tall, maybe and all of the grain heads are about the same height.

When the wind blows the wheat sways and makes a soothing rustling sound

like an ocean of grain heads.

You saw the photo on Sunday.

Here is the painting.

Sun on my Shoulders

(watercolor 7" x 10")

A Painting A Day: Mama's Flowers

2011-05-09T20:36:00.004-05:00

The flowers this time of year are so beautiful.

I always enter the stores through the garden section and then work my way out of it but I have to stop and smell the flowers before moving on. I can credit my mother for this love of flowers. I can remember waking up early in the mornings back when we slept with the windows open and I would look out my window and Mama was already outside watering her flowers.

I loved them from the time I can remember.

So it only seems natural to adorn a gift with a flower instead of a bow.

I inserted this beautiful yellow Gerbera Daisy in the craft tote I bought my mother.

Before I left her house I was sure to get some photos of it.

I set the flower up in front of the television (turned off) so I had a black background instead of the distracting background I would have gotten otherwise.
With a photo in hand and the images drawn off quickly I began to paint.

Once I started working the background I then could play with the shapes and colors creating a textured background using the complementary colors to the flowers. The textures in the background help to create the movement toward the focal point making sure to leave my corners unadorned.

Mama's Flowers is an acrylic painting, 6.5" x 10.5".

The Gift of Family

2011-05-08T21:42:00.001-05:00

The greatest gift is family!

Blessings to you!

Strictly Saturday: Abuelita Marble Cheesecake

2011-05-07T08:31:00.007-05:00

Heavenly aroma is emanating from my oven! If aroma is any indication of taste this is going to be wonderful! Abuelita Marble Cheesecake is in the oven now and I am anxiously waiting to see how it turns out. But if my taster is any good at all this is going to be a wonderful blend of mild chocolate and just a touch of cinnamon flavored cheesecake, a wonderful Mexican flare!

I was concerned that since it is a cheesecake it was going to be a challenge but really the only challenge was the gathering of the ingredients which were not the typical items on my pantry shelf. I found most everything I needed at my local grocery store in the aisle where I normally find the evaporated milk and instant cocoa mixes. I am including a picture of the items for those of you who are, like me, visual.

* I did not find Maria's cookies in my local grocery store although I know they used to carry them because I have used them before and they are very good. As noted since I did not find them I substituted cinnamon graham crackers and left out the cinnamon on the recipe.
*Media Crema (Left side of the photo at the top of this post) in front of the cream cheese is NOT evaporated milk. It is thicker and creamier. I'm not sure what I would substitute if not found. Anyone have a suggestion, I would love to hear it.
*La Lechera is a sweetened condensed milk but it is caramelized. (See photo to right.)
*Abuelita chocolate is typically used by Mexican mothers and grandmothers to make hot chocolate and has a slight cinnamon flavor. It comes in large tablets of chocolate that melt easily. Worth the search!

And in case I have forgotten Abuelita is Spanish for little grandmother, a term of endearment! How sweet is that. It makes me feel all warm and fuzzy thinking of the sweet little grandmothers loving on their babies!

Now that I am better informed about these products I will not skip over those recipes I find using them. Next week I am looking into an English chocolate brownie-like bar cookie that uses "digestive biscuits" and "maltesers". No worries! I will have it converted over to English for us....uh....I mean Americanized English!

Abuelita Marble Cheesecake

CRUST
1 pkg. (6 oz.) Maria cookies , finely crushed (about 1 1/2 cups)
1/2 cup (1 stick) butter , melted
1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
*(My grocery store did not carry Maria's cookies so I substituted cinnamon graham crackers and left out the tablespoon of cinnamon.)

CHEESECAKE
1 can (7.6 fl. oz.) NESTLÉ Media Crema(condensed milk)
2 tablets (90 g each) NESTLÉ ABUELITA Chocolate
2 pkg. (8 oz. each) cream cheese , at room temperature
1 can (14 oz.) NESTLÉ LA LECHERA Sweetened Condensed Milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3 large eggs
Sweetened whipped cream

PREHEAT oven to 325º F. Grease 9-inch springform pan.

FOR CRUST:
COMBINE cookie crumbs, butter and cinnamon in medium bowl. Press onto bottom and 1 inch up side of 9-inch springform pan. Bake for 6 to 8 minutes (do not allow to brown). Cool on wire rack.

FOR CHEESECAKE:
COMBINE media crema and Abuelita in small saucepan. Heat over medium heat, stirring frequently, until melted and smooth. Cool to room temperature.

BEAT cream cheese, sweetened condensed milk and vanilla extract in large mixer bowl until creamy. Beat in eggs. Mix 1 cup of plain cream cheese mixture with Abuelita mixture; set aside.

POUR plain cream cheese mixture into prepared crust. Pour chocolate mixture over cream cheese mixture in pan. Swirl mixtures with a spoon, pulling plain cream cheese mixture up to the surface.

BAKE for 1 hour, 15 minutes or until edges are set but center still moves slightly. Remove from oven; cool in pan on wire rack for 15 minutes. Refrigerate for several hours or overnight before serving. Remove side of pan. Top each serving with whipped cream; serve immediately.

Serving Size: 12

Strictly Saturday: Cracker Cookie Brittle

2011-05-07T06:52:00.003-05:00

This simple little recipe is easy to make, a good beginner recipe to do with the children and comes with my warning....it's a nibbler, you keep going back for another little chunk!

If you make this with the children they will need your guidance. The most difficult part will be cooking the butter and brown sugar. I did not try that part in the microwave. If anyone does and finds it works successfully, report back to us or if not, we need to know that, too. The brown sugar/butter combination cooked on the range makes a thickened sauce much like the consistency of a caramel sauce for ice cream.

I think I will try it again when I have my grandchildren around. I will have to leave off the nuts because most of my grandchildren don't like nuts. (I can't figure that out but more for me!)

Cracker Cookie Brittle

You will need:

1 package (8 ozs) thin round wheat crackers (I used Keebler's Toasteds Wheat Crackers)

1 cup butter

1 cup brown sugar (packed)

1 1/2 cups chocolate chips

1/2 cups chopped nuts (if you wish)

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees. Line a cookie sheet with foil so the foil rises up a little around the edges.

Open the package of crackers and begin to line the full sheet with the crackers overlapping the edges, shingle style. (photo on left)

Put butter and brown sugar in a saucepan and begin to stir together as they blend. Cook until it becomes a thickened sauce (about 3 minutes).

Spoon the sauce over the crackers evenly.

(photo to right)

Place in oven for 15 minutes.

Take out of oven and sprinkle chocolate chips over the hot crackers. Allow time for the chips to melt (about 2 minutes) and then spread with a spatula so that the chocolate covers all the crackers. Sprinkle with nuts.

Allow brittle to cool for an hour and then crack into chunks and store in an airtight container.

I'll be posting two recipes today in honor of Mother's Day.
Watch for the next recipe Abuelita Marble Cheesecake.
In case you don't know it Abuelita is Spanish for little grandmother.
More later!
I will post as soon as I get it made.

A Painting A Day: Working the Land

2011-05-06T23:18:00.001-05:00

I felt adventurous.

I decided to use my acrylic paints on my old watercolor paper that is defective.

Some people probably would think I am silly to think that is adventurous but I have never used acrylic to complete a serious painting myself.

Although I teach the techniques of acrylic painting to my students daily I have never been a good advocate for the medium. I prefer watercolor or oil. Watercolor is difficult for beginners and oil is not a logical choice for high school considering all the properties of the medium which makes acrylic a logical solution.

Acrylics are inexpensive, dry quickly and can easily be painted over in a matter of minutes if you change your mind.

On the other hand they dry darker than when wet making corrections extremely difficult once the color has dried, they dry too quickly for ease of blending in large areas and they are hard on paint brushes.

So here it is... my first serious acrylic painting on watercolor paper.

Working the Land is 9" x11".

I worked from a photo of one of my grandchildren when he was just a baby.

Hum-m!

Another leftie in the family.

A Painting A Day: Testing the Waters

2011-05-06T18:57:00.000-05:00

Thursday was rush, rush, rush!

Three of my grandchildren had a promotional night and the event starting at 6:30 was an hour-plus drive to get there on a normal drive.

No problem, you say?

Well, that is on the opposite side of San Antonio from us and putting us directly in line with the rush hour which slowed us down so much last year that although we left an hour and a half ahead of time we were twenty or thirty minutes late missing seeing our little ones.

Aw-w! (Sad face!)

So we decided to choose another route thinking it would put us through quicker although the mileage was a little more. We left at 5:00 feeling confident that would work this time. All was going well. We were going to make it on time this year.

But then there was a wreck on our route and it slowed us down.

Now we were going to be at least five minutes late!

We entered the building just as our youngest was on the stage. I rushed in and got to see her on stage but did not get to hear her name.

I can live with that.

I know her name.

We got to see the other two, saw their display boards, signed their books and ate a little something with them. The youngest was so excited she could hardly sit still. Now, that I think about it all three must have been excited because they were flitting about all evening with their friends once the ceremony was over.

And the evening was a success!

Needless to say. With all the rushing going on I did not get to post a painting yesterday but I did get one done during the day at school. (Thankfully, I teach art.) I had to tweak it a little today but it was pretty much done.

It did not start out to be a mixed media but soon after beginning the painting in watercolor I realized I had a piece of the old watercolor paper that the sizing had gone bad or it was a defective piece to begin with (I don't know).

The same application I would use on the new paper was soaking into the paper and the colors were washed out and chalky looking.

I was disappointed

But alas! I had my Prismacolor Nupastels I purchased during spring break!

I rushed in and applied a little here a little there.

Something I would never have done before I met Jeannette Cuevas!

(Thanks, Jeannette!)

And it saved the day!

I think I like it.

A Painting A Day: Golden Zinnias

2011-05-04T18:16:00.000-05:00

Our summers are so hot in Texas finding flowers to withstand the heat is a challenge.

Zinnias are one of our answers to summer blooms. From spring to the first frost in the fall we can expect to find zinnias blooming in all colors and then the next spring the bonus volunteers come up to start a new year of blooms.

They bloom profusely and the golden yellows are the most visible from the road.

When I was a child I remember my mother growing zinnias in her flower beds. We would cut a few and bring them in to put in a vase on the table. They work well as cut flowers.

I wandered out to my parent's garden one day last week and there in the middle of their garden was a myriad of color....zinnias!

I wanted to convey a sense of summer sun and heat.

The warm colors have been boosted to include some oranges and reds along with the bright yellows.

What a fun little painting this was to do after the challenging River Rental at the Guadalupe.

Golden Zinnias is only 6" x 11".

A great size for an enjoyable afternoon painting!

A Painting a Day: River Rentals on the Guadalupe

2011-05-03T18:03:00.000-05:00

I found this storage of canoes and kayaks to be an appealing area.

Canoes and kayaks were thrown together after a busy weekend on the river.

I began drawing out this scene and knew I had to go larger than I had been drawing because the complexity of details demanded it's space.

Once the drawing was established I put in a quick wash of color in the background to suggest shrubs and tall grasses and then began to work toward the foreground working light to dark.

Watercolor is completed in multiple layers, with each progressive transparent layer going over the previous layer, building richness of color and deepening the values but it is necessary to retain the whites. Once the whites are gone, they are difficult to get back without much work.

I could keep adding details but I decided it could be overkill and did not want to risk overworking the painting and losing the freshness of the colors in painting.

I have not signed my name so I could still change my mind.

I think I will live with it a few days and decide if it is complete.

As an art teacher my students are always saying,

"I'm done!"

And nine times out of ten I will say,

"Not yet, you still need to ...." whatever it needs.

Saying it is finished is just hard to do sometimes.

I seem to think one more thing will make it complete.

My advice is set it aside,

look at it often

and then when you can separate yourself from the creative process

and the composition itself you will know when it is time to stop.

Find your creative self!

It is so satisfying.

We were made in the image of our Maker!

He was the most creative!

The Rich Bounty

2011-05-03T06:33:00.001-05:00

Living on a farm has it's blessings.

As with everything sometimes you have to learn to recognize the blessings.
Other times they are so obvious.

This week I received a bouquet from Lee.

Then my mother gave me jewels of pearl and ruby.

I snapped them up!

A Painting A Day

2011-05-02T23:14:00.001-05:00

I know, you all are thinking I have quit on my challenge of a painting a day.
That would not be correct.

I did a painting on Saturday you will never see.
I got some new acrylic paints I wanted to play with and I did a non-objective design painting that day. When I paint non-objectively I have a hard time taking the paintings very seriously.

I also, started a drawing on Saturday of this river rental scene that has all sorts of rentals. I took hours just drawing because the painting is 11"x 22" which is almost the size of three little paintings I have been doing and it is a rather complex design.

Still Working on this one. Check back tomorrow for an updated version.

I expected to get right to work on it Sunday afternoon but finished up the drawing and got a little paint on it.

Today I have spent a good bit of time painting on my river rental scene but did not have a full block of time for it like I have been doing. Work was sporadic but I have the hardest part behind me. No area is complete and some don't even have any paint but you can get an idea of where this is going and hopefully tomorrow I will post the finished painting.

Maybe, this is why it is called a challenge.
Time is a challenge!
I miss getting to sit down and really focus my attention on my painting when I have so many other things demanding my attentions.

Strictly Saturday: Chocolate Almond Biscotti for Mother's Day

2011-04-29T21:58:00.000-05:00

With Mother's Day coming up we want to be sure to have something that has both a little sophistication and lot of charm.

Biscotti is a popular pastry with our young and older coffee or tea drinking crowds so that just might include your mother, sister, daughter or some special woman in your life.

Originating in Italy, biscotti came from the Italian word biscotto which means twice baked because these little cakes are baked twice to make them dry which can be stored longer.

My favorite biscotti is chocolate almond.

These are as all biscotti I have ever eaten....dry and not terrible sweet. If that does not appeal to you maybe you would prefer the Brownie Layer Torte for Mother's Day.

To make Biscotti mix together

1 cup white sugar
1/4 cup butter, softened
1/4 cup olive oil

Add

1 teaspoon almond extract
3 eggs

Sift together before adding to above mixture:

2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/4 cups unsweetened cocoa powder
2 teaspoons baking powder

Add:

1 (5 ounce) milk chocolate candy bar, chopped

Optional:
1/2 cup chopped almonds

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease cookie sheets.
In a large bowl, cream together the sugar, butter and olive oil until smooth. Stir in the almond extract and eggs. Combine the flour, cocoa, and baking powder. Stir into the creamed mixture. Fold in the chocolate pieces. Cover, and chill dough for 10 minutes.

Divide the dough into two equal pieces. Roll each piece into a log about 9 inches long. Place the logs onto the prepared cookie sheets about 4 inches apart. Flatten each one down to 1 inch thickness.
Roll dough in chopped almonds if desired.

Bake in the preheated oven for 20 to 25 minutes, or until firm.

Cool on sheets for 15 minutes before removing to wire racks to cool completely.

Move the cookie loaves to a cutting board. Using a serrated knife, slice each loaf crosswise into 3/4 inch slices. Return slices to the baking sheet cut side down and bake for an additional 8 to 10 minutes on each side, until dry and lightly toasted. Cool completely before storing in an airtight container.

*Drizzle with melted chocolate chips, almond bark or Wilton's candy melts.

Be creative.

You can use sprinkles if you want.

A Painting A Day: Waterlily

2011-04-29T18:13:00.000-05:00

Waterlily (Watercolor 7" x 11")

Today was a much better day.

It was relaxing to sit and paint today. My students were still testing but only the sophomores and juniors leaving the freshman in regular classes and seniors were given time off until after lunch. Since my classes are all mixed I had an easy morning with just a few students. Even so I decided something less challenging today may be necessary after yesterday's fiasco so I found a photo of one of last summer's waterlilies from my pond.

Photo of White Waterlily

It was a photo of one of the

white waterlilies but I wanted more color. Originally the photo of the waterlily was pretty washed out looking and not very interesting in my opinion (see insert to right).

Changing colors in a photo can be challenging and sometimes it looks unnatural in a painting. In order to maintain some naturalness to the enhancement of color I manipulated the photo on my computer using software for photos. I boosted the warm colors and increased the contrast before printing out the photo.

I loved the warm colors reflecting off the center of the waterlily and the reflected lights under the petals. I could add in more detail if I decided to do so but at the end of my school day I called it finished, packed up my supplies and put the painting away as my last class entered the room.

It pleased me when one of my students asked what I had painted today and wanted to see it.

They noticed!

A Painting A Day: Good Idea Gone Astray

2011-04-29T09:33:00.005-05:00

You know how sometimes you know you should have stayed in bed....well, yesterday was that day for me.

It started with not knowing whether or not I took my medication so I did not take it in case I had already taken it.

Then it was a state testing day at school and I had a good group of juniors but the day was dragging on and getting long and they become restless and I got tired.

Then the afternoon classes were cut short so no work could really take place since the set up and clean up time occupied about 50% of the class.

Going home was fine but I just did not feel "right" (probably I did not take my meds!).

Then I sat down to paint. I had a couple of interruptions and then got right back to the painting before I noticed I had painted the background right on top of where the top part of a girl belonged and since her feet and the bottom of her skirt were already painting I had to work in her upper body.

But alas, the composition looked crowded so I painted out two, maybe three women who were creating too much ambiguity.

So I turned my watercolor into a mixed media....by the time I got tired of working with it I had applied all sorts of things to work out the composition.

It was turning out to be a terrible, horrible, no-good, very bad day!
I think I will move to Australia.

When Lee turned out the lights on me while I sat working, I just called it a day.

But proof of my attempt...and this is not going in my portfolio....

My Fiasco!

Organization for the Busy Lady

2011-04-29T06:24:00.001-05:00

Organizing Jewelry!

Sunday morning I was going through my necklaces that were all hanging from my towel hook next to my mirror in the bathroom, searching for a particular necklace and having to untangle it from the others that have attached themselves....a very frustrating time all the while thinking if I would just hang them individually it would be so easy.

J-Hook Push Pins

It all started so innocently. I am one of the buyers for my son's frame shop and because I am buying jewelry for the shop; I am buying jewelry for myself. Over the period of time we have had jewelry in the shop I have accumulated a good many pieces of jewelry. Storing the jewelry became a problem when the sheer number of pieces became more than was my jewelry organizers, boxes, etc would hold. When I had Lee install a decorative towel hook next to my bathroom mirror for my hand towel I hung a necklace there as I took it off. The next night I did the same thing and before long I had a dozen necklaces (or more) hanging on the towel hook, crowding out the towel long ago and piling one necklace over the other making it hard to get to the bottom necklace. Plus there were necklaces downstairs on the table, next to the phone, in the studio next to my painting, next to the laptop on the table....you understand....I have a good many pieces and organization had no true meaning when it comes to jewelry. I had pieces I had forgotten I owned.

I thought I would purchase a piece of plywood, cover it, frame it and put decorative hooks on it and hang the frame behind the door.

Great idea!

Never got done!

I got as far as buying the plywood which turned out to be a great purchase. I use it daily with my Painting a Day challenge as the board to which I stretch my watercolor paintings.

Recently at the grocery store I was on a mission to purchase push pins for my students when I found J-Hook push pins that looked interesting to me and I threw them in my basket.

They are cheap-cheap-cheap.

Just a little nail inserted into a button of plastic that has a plastic hook hanging on it.

In five minutes I lined up the push pins on my wall behind the closet door and hung my necklaces on them.

Behind my closet door inside my closet

The push pins come 40 to a box and I need to buy a new box to hang the rest of my jewelry.
Let's see....what shall I wear today?

A Painting A Day: Snips and Snails and Puppy Dog Tails

2011-04-27T21:54:00.001-05:00

What are little boys made of?

Snips and Snails and Puppy Dog Tails,

That's what little boys are made of.

My grandson was quietly entertaining himself under the tree,

snapping twigs in half and making a small pile at his feet when I noticed him.

No telling how long he had been at work there with the twigs and

no telling how much longer he could entertain himself if no one had interrupted him.

Just being a little boy!

Snips and Snails and Puppy Dog Tails... (watercolor 8" x 10")

Really a rush job, needs tweaking still but this is what I got done today.

A Painting A Day: River Rentals

2011-04-26T23:35:00.000-05:00

When I go anywhere I usually have a camera on my shoulder. My family has gotten used to my unusual taste in photography. They humor me.

Being an art teacher I am always looking for a new idea for an artwork and usually come back with something my students and I can use. Often a couple of my students have tried their hand at one of my photos and I never give it a second thought after that.

For the fourth of July a couple of years back we took a day trip to the Guadalupe River at a privately owned camp. It is not unusual for people to float the river and rentals are usually available on the river.

Canoes, rafts, kayaks, tubes....whatever you can think of you could probably find it for rent somewhere.

I was more interested in the patterns of shapes and colors created by the canoes in storage around the side of the camp store than actually renting anything.

Next time, I think I will take my paints with me and paint at the river.

River Rental is a watercolor about 9" x 12".

A Painting A Day: Fiesta

2011-04-25T22:29:00.000-05:00

Fiesta, watercolor 9" x 12".

Too tired to write.

Easter Day

2011-04-25T08:38:00.002-05:00

Our Easter celebration was a great family time!

There were about 45 family and friends gathered at our home in the country...

in and out of the house...

upstairs and downstairs....

in the swings, on the trampoline, relaxing in lawn chairs,

drinking coffee or tea or pink lemonade,

eating cakes and candies and everything else,

making hats out of foam plates and stick-on shapes,

drawing on the sidewalk with chalk

and blowing bubbles

and getting wagon rides!

A great loving good time!

A Painting A Day: Folklorica

2011-04-23T21:01:00.000-05:00


Folklorica (Watercolor 8" x 10")

Correct me if I am wrong but Folklorica is Mexican folk dancing.

I wrongly called my last piece Flamenco and technically it is Folklorica.

I am thankful to Gabriela, my daughter-in-law for helping me to learn more about the Mexican culture.

In the midst of Easter preparations I squeezed in this little painting between smoking the brisket and cleaning the kitchen.

I like painting much better than the cleaning.

Happy Easter.

A Painting A Day: Feeding the Cows

2011-04-22T23:47:00.000-05:00

Unfinished (Feeding the Cows Watercolor 8" x 10")

It has been a busy day but I did get a painting started.

Feeding the Cows is a small watercolor. It is a painting of my son and his son sitting on top of a round hay bale with a cow below them eating the hay. My grandson was not to sure about the situation and was a little scared. I can remember being scared of cows myself when I was young. If I were ever to touch a cow or even a calf I had to be held by one of my parents. If they were not holding me I kept my distance.

You can not see the face of the cow and I can not "make it up". I have seen cows all my life but while I am painting the face on a cow eating escapes me.

At some point I accidentally picked up a large amount of Ultramarine blue while working on my son's face and before I noticed the blue it was right in the middle of his face.

I screamed!

Then I wet it and wiped it and got most of it off but lost a little of the detail in his face.

So despite the challenges I have had today I got most of a painting done.

I am still working on it.

No area is complete yet.