Teacher Gift

The end of school is fast approaching for my boys.  Just one day left!  They are very ready for summer and I am, too.  I am ready for a calmer schedule and the lazy days of summer to begin.

For my Kindergartners class I had the boys and girls sign their names with neon paint markers on a spray painted terra cotta pot.  Many of the kids enjoyed embellishing with smiley faces and hearts.  I sprayed a clear coat on it and then planted some light and bright pink geraniums.  Their teacher is retiring after 18 years of teaching to spend more time with her family.  This was just a small way for us to show her our thanks for a great year and to congratulate her in her new season of life.

Are you ready for summer to begin?

Sewing for Africa

A gal from my church has started a ministry of sewing baby bedding and twin size comforters out of hand batiked fabric made by women in Ghana.  She incorporates modern fabric into Ghanian fabric and comes up with a very bright and fun mix of patterns.  You can learn more about her "Two Little Fish" ministry here.  God's hand of blessing has provided so many people for her to take her vision and make it a reality.   All profits from the bedding go to purchase a mattress for an AIDS orphan in South Africa as well as missionaries across the world.

Every week 3-4 women gather in her home to cut, iron and sew (and laugh and talk of course!)  I wanted to show you the twin size comforter I have done some applique on.  Fun little appliques are scattered throughout; won't it look great in a little girl's room?  I love how it is so bright and cheerful.

I think the buttons for the owl and birds eyes are too cute!!

It has been a joy to work with the these talented women and be a part of helping out women and children in Africa who face such big challenges.

Blessings to you!

Art 101

Months ago I mentioned I was doing some sketching and really enjoyed it but the "busi-ness" of life has prevented me from doing very much of it.  But, recently I have had the joy of sitting in on my youngest sons art classes that meet once a week after school.  It is through a wonderful program called KidzArt.  I just wanted to learn some techniques and tricks well, anything really that would help me!  His teacher graciously said yes when I asked her ( *happy dance*!)

His teacher is simply wonderful:  she doesn't allow any negative self talk, she says there is no such thing as perfect art and she will never draw on anyone's paper as everyone has their own idea of what their art should look like!  After just a few instructions the kids get busy while she walks around guiding them.  Soothing classical music is playing after the instructional time.

This week the kids were to draw a mama and baby duck near the water using example drawings.  After sketching with pencil and outlining with colored pencil then they colored in with chalk.  To make the artwork look like a painting they were suppose to use a wet-wipe or q-tip to create shading (this was so neat to see the transformation!)

I wanted to share some of the things she taught me before I show you our drawings:
1) always draw with a light touch.  There are no mistakes in artwork - just go with the flow!
2) nature always has some curve to it; while man-made things (such as buildings) are linear so use a ruler.
3) keep in mind value, called ABC:  (A) dark, (B) medium and (C) light - this will give much needed depth to a picture
4) symmetry (just like in photography) the subject looks best a bit off center (say 1/3 to the side)

Now for our artwork, first off is my sons.  He takes great care in his drawings and he works so hard to get them just right.  Can you see him apply the ABC principle?

I have to say drawing is a huge tension reliever for me.  I walked out of the classroom feeling like a 1000lb weight was lifted off my back (can we say mommy stress?)  I was so amazed that just an hour and a half of sketching could do that!  Here's my drawing.

And here is an example of a house I started a couple of months ago and haven't finished yet!  It didn't occur to me then to use a ruler when drawing it (applying the man-made -straight line principle) so it was very difficult to good symmetry on either side of the door.  Anyway, it is a work in progress.

I also wanted to share a couple of good art resources in case you are interested in sketching too.  The first is from Anne Voskamp's blog, Why Everybody Needs to Make Art Everyday.  Fear of failure is something that keeps me back more times than I care to count.  When I am faced with a blank white sheet of paper I have to fight back fear which says to me "you'll ruin it", "you'll never do a good job", and on the list goes in my head until I overcome it and pick up the pencil and just start.  So, Anne's 4th tip to creativity really hits close to home with me.  She says "when we stop fearing failure, we start being artists."  So true!

The second resource is about a nature journals.  Take a look here.  Just makes me want to grab my sketchbook and go outside right away.  The author even includes resources for the the art materials she likes the best. 

I hope you have been inspired to do something artful today.  Trust me you will be glad you did!  There is something in the creative process that really soothes the soul.  

The Amazing Sara Trail

Today I want to introduce you to a very gifted and special young lady named Sara Trail.  I discovered her by picking up one of her books, "Sew with Sara," at the library.

While her sewing projects are adorable what struck me was how young she is.  At the time this book was published she was 13 years old!!  She has little journal entries next to her patterns that reveal her fun loving personality but also her passion for sewing.  She shares how her parents sometimes had to turn the power off to her room at night so she wouldn't get up during the night to sew!  Love it!

Since the publication of this book she has gone on to publish numerous other books and has designed patterns for Simplicity.  Her website can be found here.  But, what inspires me the most is her joy for Jesus. 

Her mom calls her a quilting artist.  I couldn't agree more!  Sara is now 17 years old and ready to start college.  Recently she has designed several lines of fabric that can be found in stores.  If that wasn't enough she teaches sewing lessons at her church.  She just inspires me so much.

Many blessings on your day!

GooGone to the Rescue

I accidentally dried a load of clothes with a tube of chapstick.  I was so horrified when I saw all of the stains on our clothes as I began to fold them.  There were dark grease spots splattered across many of our shirts and pants.  I tried multiple products, including "ZOUT" my favorite,  but none of them worked much to my frustration.

But, then I asked a friend of mine, and she suggested using Goo Gone.  At this point I was game to try anything because it looked like a loss as far as I was concerned.  I squirted it on every stain and let it sit for 5-10 minutes (found out it's best to do this in a well ventilated area because the smell is quite strong!)  Then, I washed the clothes with detergent just like I normally would.

Waalaah!  Clean clothes again!!!  Every spot came out!!  There is a faint smell left over on the clothes but it either evaporates out or is gone after multiple washings.

I have had my bottle of Goo Gone for years and years to get stickers off things but I never once tried it on clothes.  Now I know!

Have you ever had a dryer nightmare? 

May all your laundry days be blessed!

Passage of Time

If growing up too fast was a crime I would have reason to fine my boys, especially my oldest!  Seeing him  all dressed up for prom was quite an awakening of how fast the years have gone by. 

Dressing up in a black tuxedo has a way of transforming young boys into handsome (but still goofy) men.

While the young men were dashing the young ladies were breathtaking in their floor length elegant formals.

Aren't they beautiful?

 Seeing my son and his friends all dressed up and excited for a night of fun was pure delight. 

 There are so many rough spots with raising children but it's times like these that make it all so worthwhile!

Rejoice in the Lord always!!

My Flower Garden

On the way to my mailbox my clematis with it's first blooms of the season caught my eye.  What is it about flowers that delight me so? 

Perhaps it is their cheerful, colorful faces pointed heavenward. They are beautiful bursts of joy.   I am so glad God created the flowers!

Then, I peeked around the side of my house to see what was happening there.  To my surprise I saw my peonies are about ready to bloom.  Their buds are so large and tight, about the size of a ping pong ball.

I had my heart set on pink peonies while shopping at the nursery last year but there were slim pickings.  Apparently a lot of other people like pink peonies, too!  Imagine that!  Not one to wait my husband urged me to pick from what was there.

Whatever the color I am sure it will not disappoint!  Can't wait to see the layers and layers open up. 

Since our March weather was unseasonably warm we took a risk in putting in our tiny vegetable garden early.  Last week when the temperatures were foretasted to dip below freezing we covered up our starter vegetable plants.  Unfortunately,  many of our tomatoes and some of our peppers got too cold.  They look so pathetic all withered.  It was disappointing but I guess it was a lesson learned! 

I am enjoying watching our gardens this Spring, how is your garden growing? 

Blessings,