Illustration Friday - fortune

Madam Mew The Fortune Teller is very talented at seeing the future. But she only seems to the see the mice in your life. I guess she has a one track mind.

This week's theme for Illustration Friday is "fortune." Pretty easy for me to come up with an idea this week. Amazing! If you've never checked out Illustration Friday, you should do it! It's got incredible art and so fun to participate in.

This is ACEO size (2.5x3.5 inches), watercolor and pen and ink.

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Art Lesson - Child-friendly Batik

I'm finally catching up a bit... I did this lesson with 46 sixth graders a week or so ago. I'm able to do this lesson with the middle-school sixth graders because we can fit it into their curriculum. They are learning about India, so I steer them in the way of Indian-type of designs. They also get a little bit of history on batik, which could also be incorportated into lessons on Indonesia, or even China. Actually if you researched, you could probably find some more countries where batik is a big art form.

This is pretty child proof, at least for responsible, or older children. It takes two sessions. I first have them draw their design onto paper, then trace it on to a cotton fabric. We usually just buy some white bandanas at Michaels. Then they draw over their pencil markings with white glue (instead of the usual hot wax). I add a tiny bit of water to the glue so that it flows into the fibers of the fabric easier. It's a fine line of too much water and not enough. Not enough will give a less white contrast once rinsed. You must stress to make sure to almost over-do the glue, and to keep the design simple, and bold. This first session takes the most time and I have to really push the kids so that they get done in the 50 or so minutes. I learned about that the first year I did this project. A lot of kids didn't get done, and my helper and I had to finish the glueing for a bunch of the kids! A lot of work!!

The next day is the painting process. Because it's water soluable glue, you must paint over it, not submerge into a dye bath. And you must not scrub too much over the glue once it's wet. At the school I use a watered down acrylic paint instead of dye. The cheaper "craft"-type of acrylic works better than the "artist" type - it just mixes in with the water better. Dye seems to be very irritating to the eyes, and I didn't want to chance a problem. If you were doing this at home, you could use dye with eye protection. I also have to emphasize wearing bad clothes, because of the permanence of acrylic. They have the option to wear a smock, but it's good to tell the kids this. There is also a fine line with the acrylic. Too much water will give a pretty weak product. Not enough and the fabric is kind of stiff. You have to really mix the paint up and get the pigments mixed in. I remind the kids to mix once and a while (I do the same with the glue). They just paint over the fabric, and they can use more than one color. So many kids overdo it and add too much color on top of each other, which really muddies it up. And next year I'll just have a brush per container of paint, rather than rinsing the brushes between colors. When they do this too much, it causes the paint to get too watered down. We hang them to dry. Then I take them home and hand wash them. I just worry that the washing machince will fade them too much. It's a lot of home-work for me, but when it's one of the few art projects our sixth graders get, I find the extra work much worth it. And they turn out just gorgeous!

Illustration Friday - Green

This week's IF Challenge is "green." A somewhat easy challenge in that a lot of ideas come to my head. But not so easy to narrow down. I decided to just do a doodle in my little journal (6.5x4.5 inches). When I think of green the main thing that screams at me is a message about saving the planet. Yes, I am, and always have been, a tree hugger. I can't stand the idea of the loss of a species on account of human foolishness. I hate the thought of nature being paved over and no longer available for future generations to enjoy. Let alone the fact of the weather patterns changing and having no water on account of massive drought -which is very likely to happen out here in California. All these things terrify me and I wish for a new administration to help move our country in a better direction toward a more Green way of living.

Sometimes I've just got to doodle, and not try to make some kind of "masterpiece" - not that my art is any thing nearly close to a masterpiece! When I'm not creating something to try to sell, I usually do some kind of doodling. All in the hopes of a new brilliant idea to be born that will one day make it into a creation that is saleable. This is the first I've shared a journal entry with the web viewer. This is a little flashback to my younger days -just a hodgepodge of ideas thrown onto a page. It was very fun, and it's nice to not be pressured and to just doodle.

Happy Easter!

We spent part of our Easter out in nature. We usually go on a hike on Easter, and most any holiday when we're in town. I find being out in the beautiful woods is the best place to feel closer to God.



This is an ancient manzanita. One of the largest I've seen. Such beauty, even after it's death.



The marine layer was thick today. You could still see the mountaintops through the clouds. Clouds, yet still a lovely Easter Day. Hope yours was wonderful, too!

Jenny's Vintage Kitchen Swap - 2007

I participated in the lovely Jenny's Vintage Kitchen Swap last month. I love anything vintage, and my entire house is basically filled with old stuff, except for my electronics. But vintage kitchen has got to be my favorite. I like my kitchen to look very cheerful. Maybe it's a way to try to make myself seem like I'm an old fashioned housewife who makes lots of homemade bread and other goodies, and always has an extensive, healthy meal at hand. Which I'm not! But it's nice to dream! So I decided to join in on the fun with the other wonderful girls and get myself a swap partner, and hopefully be able to send something her way that she would enjoy.


This is the package sent from Melissa out on the Jersey Shore all the way out here to California. Very Spring-like in it's packaging!


This is the oh, so fun, collection of goodies sent to me from my swap partner. How much fun to open and find the surprises! There's an old tin box, vintage inspired yellow bowls (so very cheery and always needed!), a muffin tray that I can always use for sorting my supplies, a very old pie tin, very quaint recipe cards with an adorable crochet flower, three vintage inspired cookie cutters (some that I don't have-amazingly!), and my son's favorite - a goody bag of yummy Easter chocolates (those didn't last long). What fabulous stuff! Thanks so much Melissa! It was so wonderful meeting you!


I love this sweet tin box the most! I have an extensive tin box collection. I'd rather store all of my supplies in an adorably-old tin box, than a new plastic box with no personality. No matter how many I get, I can always find something to put inside of them. So I put my collection of tiny boxes inside this cute one from Melissa!


Phoebus really liked the leftover tissue in the box from Melissa! What a cozy bed!


These are the goodies that I sent to Melissa. She collects Mexican floral batea trays and I wanted to get her one. I know I have one floating around in my shed or somewhere lost in my house. I looked, but no luck. Just couldn't find it. I was bummed about that. Instead, I decided to paint my own batea-inspired little plaque. I like how it turned out. I hope she had as much fun in this swap as I did! And thank you, Jenny, for organizing the fun event. Hope to do it again!

Illustration Friday - Snap

The IF theme this week is "snap". So here you have a bunch of "snap dragons."

The brightly colored flowers are so named because of the way you can snap the flower heads and make the little dragons open and close their mouths. I've never actually done this to one of these flowers, even as a kid, but I guess many kids enjoy doing this. I remember these flowers growing in my mom's garden when I was young. I've always loved their bold splash of color, but I personally have never really had good luck with them. I've tried growing them from seed before and they took 2 years to finally bloom. The ones I planted from the nursery never seemed to live long. I think they needed more organic matter in the soil. Something that mountain dirt lacks sometimes - too much decomposed granite. I'm sure I'll try again some day, and I'll be sure to add something to the soil. Then I may get to see these little dragons snap!

Here it is on ebay.

It's an ACEO (2.5x3.5 inches), watercolor and pen and ink.

Bloomin Daffodils

Look at how cheerful this guy (or gal) is! I've got a few daffodils here and there in my yard. If any flower has a true personality, it's the daffodil. They are one of the plants that can survive the many moles and gophers I've got. They don't eat daffodils! I don't know if my bulbs are lacking nutrients, but only a small percentage bloom each year.
I'm starting the annual chore of cleaning out the garden of it's fallen pine needles and cones, acorns, branches, and dead growth. It takes me a long time because I do a pretty small amount at a time. It is still a little early, so I can take my time.



This is a more rare variety of daffodil. I missed it's prime. I think it got snowed on last Tuesday.

Art Lesson - 3D Tissue flowers collage

This lovely piece was created by a seconder grader. I was inspired by spring for this collage of flowers art lesson. Made with tissue paper and glue. I cut the tissue into circles to save time. An older child could do this their self. Then used the old, eraser of a pencil wrapped with the tissue and glued it. We twisted strips for the stems, and made grass with tissue cut into fringe. I tried to get her to use a variety of methods with the tissue paper. You can also roll a small piece into a ball. I like how she made the flowers look like they're blowing in the wind.

My week was so busy that I felt like I had a hang over today. Art lessons, my son's busy schedule, other unusual events, and an extra amount of volunteering at the school - that made for a small amount of time left over for my art. Usually, Sundays are my best day for lots of art making, so I look forward to that tomorrow!

I'm listening toJack Johnson now on Austin City Limits. Jack has got the most relaxing groove. How can something so mellow make you want to dance? It's a goodey.

Back Home

I'm back home after a few days down at my mom's house. Then a day at my sister's. I'm not ready to post any art today, but I had to get something on to this blog. It had been too long. So I had to show a nice picture from my mom's garden this past weekend. A wonderful thing about Orange County, California is you can have a great garden year round. My mom's garden is a little bit of wilderness in the middle of suburbia. A little bit of paradise amongst the concrete jungle. My camera was malfunctioning so this was the only shot taken while down in OC. I couldn't get any pictures of my twin 16 month old nephews. I spent 24 hours with those little guys and what a joy that was. A busy, exhausting JOY!

I grew up mainly in Orange County until I was 21. Then I moved out to the mountains. I don't think I could ever live there again, but I do enjoy the lush, jungle-like gardens that grow there.

Spring Fling Tea with Artsy Mama

So glad you could stop by for a relaxing cup of tea in honor of springtime! Artsy Mama was so very kind to host this lovely party in which visitors from around the world attended. You should definitely drop by her place to join in the festivities!

I love any excuse to use some of my vintage tea cups. I'm sorry I couldn't make some hand made crumpets of some sort, but I do have these yummy mint-chocolate cookies made by Newman's Own Organics. I was busy volunteering at the school today, so I couldn't find the time to bake. I'm making it to the party just in time for tea time on the west coast - 3:30 pm.



Also, while you're here you should take a walk amongst the garden and see the fruit trees in bloom. Here's my plum blooming early in the warmth of this early spring on the mountain. Believe it or not, we'll probably get another freeze here before June, so these beauties will probably not transform into a fruit. This is the life on a mountain in Southern California.

I'm a huge fan of tea, be it hot or iced, green, black or any color. I can guzzle a pot of it down each day in winter. In summer my glass of iced tea is never far away. It's so nice that the beverage can be so beneficial for your health as well. It makes it fine to overdo it and have cups and cups of the stuff. So sit back, relax and have another cup! Happy Spring to you all!

Fifi The Wonder Dog - Art2

The Art2 Theme Week is "Circus." I've done Art Squared before, but this is the first time I've participated in the eBay group - Art2.

This is "Fifi The Wonder Dog." She's able to spread love and magic all while doing a balancing act with her busy life.

It is acrylic on 5x5 inch plywood. With lots of glitter and a final coat of acrylic matte varnish. Yeah, plywood is not the highest quality, but I like the way these look hanging on a wall in a group of other art squared. And once painted look very folksy and whimsical.

You can find it here on etsy.

Sweet Scent of Violets

The delicately tiny violets are blooming at my house. They are so cute, and have a very subtle sweet scent. I've got a few varieties. These are the two that have made their appearance. I know that I just posted a bit about my garden. I think I'm so looking forward to the warm months, and the flowers are starting to bloom, so I feel the urge to take some photos of them. I've also got a painting in the works and hopefully tomorrow I can post that.

Now on to photography. Many have probably seen that I don't always take the best pictures. I just can't get the lighting right all the time. I always hear that the best pictures are taken in indirect lighting - like on an overcast day. Well, the first picture was taken in the shade, the second was obviously taken with some sun shining on the flower. I think the sunny one looks better, I guess. But does it caputure the true colors? For now I'll just continue trying to get the best photo that I can, and maybe I'll master photography some day!

A Very Mod Easter Bunny Doll

This is quite a dapper Easter Bunny dresssed in his finest mod-attire. He's a little quirky and lots of fun. And he's ready to hippity hop down the bunny trail.

He's made out of an old dress that just didn't fit me right. Plus I added some cotton polka dot and muslin, some wool-blend felt, ric rac, and a cute checkered bow tie made from a ribbon. I machine quilted his suit, and embroidered his face. He's very folky, not perfect stitching. Meaning you can see lots of stitches. But that's part of his folkiness.

This is part of the VIM Doll Project on ebay. The VIM members were to do a doll in whatever art form they preferred. So as I've said before, I love to partake in challenges and theme weeks. So I gave it a go. I just know he would do better on etsy, but oh well.

I'm going to hopefully make some more bunny cuties for etsy real soon while it's still the Easter season. Stay tuned.

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Spring Ahead with a Crocus

Only in California can you have snow one week, and flowers the next! That's the way these crocus are though. They are the tough little beauties that bloom while the snow is melting around them. They are always the first flower that blooms in my garden, trumpeting the beginning of Spring! It feels like summer now in March, but I know that could very well change any day. Up here at 6200 feet our true official growing season doesn't begin until Mother's Day. After that we can plant tender seeds and annuals. I've also seen it snow in June so I have a feeling this bit of hot weather is just a tease, and only the hardy bloomers will show their faces for now. Still, what a joy to see the flowers return, one by one.

The Frog Prince

My ACEO group's special promotion this week was "Frog". I did a Frog Prince. Is she about to plant a big kiss on this guy? Is it true love?

Can you tell I like to participate in challenges? I love being prompted with some kind of subject. Yes, it's a challenge, but it also motivates me. Lately, I do more challenges than anything. If it gets me to do some art, it can't be bad!

This is an ACEO - 2.5x3.5 inches. It's painted in acrylic. It's here on Etsy.

Studio Friday - Let's Face It!

The subject for Studio Friday this week is "Let's Face It!" ...whatever 'it' is. What have you been procrastinating about and dragging your heels to do?

This is the story of my life. So to find just one topic was the challenge.

I've been putting off cleaning my desk, but not just my desk, the shelf above my desk. My cats have been in the house a lot this winter and they've made a mess of it. It's one of their favorite places to sit and look out the window, safe from the dog. Well, they really thrashed it with their clumsiness. I've also been meaning to paint the shelf, any color. I had to use some old acrylic I had. Not sure if it's the BEST color, but it was available. I even had some Christmas lights that needed to be taken down, how pathetic!

I couldn't reveal how bad it looked without an after-shot to go with it! And now looking at the after-shot I wonder... Did it change at all??!!! Still pretty cluttered (the result of a small house and way too much stuff!), but I do think the paint helped to cheer it up a bit. And definately not my favorite chore, but worthwhile in the end!

Illustration Friday - Hide

"Hide Your Love Away". I'm glad I could participate in Illustration Friday again. The challenges there are so very... challenging! It can really excercise your brain to come up with an idea.

What a coincidence to hear the Beatle song this morning. So this idea was born - a mama and baby kangaroo. Such a cute image of motherly love! This is an ACEO (2.5 x 3.5 inches).

-SOLD-

Later in the night I heard another quote from a song that also gave me some inspiration - "All the things you try to HIDE will be revealed on the other side" from the song, "Hell", by the Squirrel Nut Zippers.I'll have to put that on the back burner til another day.

Art Lesson - Symmetrical Butterflies

This is an art lesson that I did in a third grade class. It's a good one for third grade because they are learning about symmetry in math. So it's always nice to have a little art to connect with math.

First they were to fold a paper in half. Then we drew half of the butterfly. You must watch that they are actually drawing on the fold - there's bound to be a couple that don't. I tried to encourage them to do their own design, and also to keep it large. It seems there's always some kids that draw so tiny. They can use pencil first if they are not comfortable with using oil pastels right away. I usually allow that because someone is bound to make a mistake. Then they traced over their pencil with a black oil pastel. Then I had them fold the paper in back with the drawing on the inside. After that I had them use a paint mixing stick to rub the design onto the other side of the paper. You probably did this at some time in grade school. When I was a kid we would use a pencil and totally color it with pencil to transfer the image. I decided the pencil is just too much pencil lead and is a mess. So I use whatever hard tool instead. I try to use something that's not so distracting - scissor handles, or clothes pins work, but they are distracting too! After the transfer is done (have them check and look at it from time to time) they need to darken the transfer and colored it in. Since I had some time left over I had them paint over the butterfly with watercolor. It wasn't necessary, but it's nice because this group hadn't done a watercolor resist yet this year. It can be amazing how the watercolor doesn't change the oil pastel, and they had some fun with that. When they were done, if they had time, they could do their own design. I was glad when many choose to do more symmetry and came up with there own creatures. That was very imaginative and fun!

Frank is the name of the creature, not the kid!

Lots of Snow and Blue Skies

The sun finally popped out from behind the clouds around noon.



This is a street near my house. My dirt road wasn't plowed, so that made for some difficulties.



Some difficulties, yet such a gorgeous scene!

Tea with the Mad Hatter

This weeks ACEO challenge was "hat". I did "Tea with the Mad Hatter". My Mad Hatter is a dog. I like how the March Hare looks truly mad, and poor Alice is a little freaked at her circumstance.

I was reading about The Mad Hatter and found this interesting info. Did you know that Hatters really did go mad? Mercury was once used in the felting process of making hats. This caused some terrible effects, making them quite mad! Not sure what made the March Hare so mad.

It's always so much fun to draw Alice and her crazy encounters. So yes I hear "hat" and Lewis Carroll definately comes to my mind.

This is an ACEO.
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