Winter Wonderland

Sleigh bells ring-
Are ya listenin'?

Keep it Cozy

Warm up your heart and feel the joy of the season.

Gift Tags

Here is a set of tags I created today while the turkey was roasting. I'll be selling these at two craft gatherings this week. These are designs I've been making for years and it is really fun to see them all together in one place.

Let me know if you're interested :)

Jumpstart

Here's another view of some designs I have been working on lately. I am thankful for having started the holidays sooner than usual.

And

Thankful for family, new and old friends, and the opportunity to get to know so many students.

Thank you for stopping by!

A Swatch

A hint
A possibility
An entry for a contest!
I love contests!
It is about Ugly Christmas Sweaters.
Thing is, they still look cute!
Will let you know!

Roar

Katy Perry's song came on today and it made me feel good. It feels like I have overcome a very rough time in life and am beginning to notice the beauty around me again.
My plan for the "roar" is to make it wearable. Maybe that will take time and money but it will definitely be well worth it.

Joyful Rest

Sunday is a day of rest and that is what I did. No running from place to place and no appointments to keep. Just a nice day filled with naps, good company, and good eats.

Have a great week!

Direction

When starting up a new routine, it is easy to feel pulled in several directions all at the same time.

I know if I choose to keep the faith, I will be led in the "right" direction, no matter the number of detours.

Hang in there and believe.
It's all good.

The Gift

Treats

A discussion with third graders inspired me to make this today, because we talked about cupcakes in detail.

The particular story we read was about a pig making cupcakes. She mixed her batter in the bathtub! Oh, how funny!

We talked about drawing our favorite flavors as I created a black-line cupcake for each of them. They got to illustrate their cupcakes with crayons while I asked questions about their dream flavors.

I told them they can have any flavor they wish when they draw it on paper and taste it in the imagination. One boy had made these at home before, but did not know their name until today- at least in English....

They all learned "cupcake" today.

Photosynthesis

Ok, so not really. But I did teach a class about it today. Man.

In this first week of teaching the young ones, I think I've decided when kids are of a certain age, it's best to multiply time by 1.5 when trying to decide on how long an activity will take to do.

Sheesh.
And dirt didn't help very
well either.

The kids were well -behaved and fun!
Great day.

Friends?

The past couple of days I have been just knocking out at eight o'clock.
Heavy sleep.
Wiped out.

There will be more I add to this in the a.m., but I have to share the reason for posting the heart.

It has to do with kindergartners.

Toast they taught me what it is to "hold a bubble" in the mouth when passing through the school. It's a great management technique that is as cute as it is useful. Man, it's cute.

I introduced my "friends" to each other today, and by the end of our session, one turned to another and asked,
"friends?"

Heart warming, for sure! Of course, the question was met with "yes" and nodding with smiled. Just so cute!

We should all be so sweet.

New Media

Throughout the year, I've discovered many different ways to create art. One of the most surprising was the use of markers and water. For the entry today I used Flair porous felt tipped markers and a water brush.

In fact, that is also how I've been creating my wintery scenes. I love how the simple felt tipped outlines becomes something a little more special. It is like a paint, but it is also like a marker when I use the water brush to spread the ink.

And, it's so easy! And portable, too! If you haven't tried it, you might give it a whirl. Water brushes can be found at any of the craft stores and, of course, any art store. I'm thankful for the discovery of this tool.

The words on the page only reflect the "unlikely pairing" of the marker and the water brush, and the "crazy"-ness of their beauty together. I believe I will be adding more to this page, but I just love the start already. For instance, while walking back from a fire drill at school today, I picked up a piece of book page that had been nearly decimated and knew exactly where it would find a new home.

Speaking of school, my first day with kids was today. If you're keeping track, I'm helping them learn to read, speak, write, and think in English. Many of my students have not been in the United States for more than a year, which can make school difficult, but I'm glad that I can teach them in a small group.

Today went well. Of course it wouldn't be a good first day without a fire drill....

Be Merry

Let it be known:

I am starting early this year!
Most people who know me probably hit the floor already. We even have our tickets back home for Christmas!

No holiday tunes are spinning just yet-
I will WAIT for Thanksgiving to pass for that to happen.

Until then, "be merry" anyway!

A Familiar View

I painted this from a picture I took last year at the family farm in Bern, Minnesota. Actually, make that West Concord, but who knew?

Hoping this one will settle nicely as a greeting card.

Happy weekend!

Snow Peeps

Angry Birds. Ha!

In an effort to collect images for holiday cards, I bring you two cardinals.

I love cardinals and miss their chippy calls.

At work today, I helped a young girl with her"soft- C sounds. I also helped in a math-problem-situation. Tomorrow I will help prepare for the rest of the school year. (that means, MAKE COPIES!)

Honestly.

It feels good to be there.

Thank you for being here :P

Firsts

The first day at my new job in Irvine was today. I haven't told the whole world because the last time I did that, I regretted it like burnt pancakes.

I've been hired as an instructional assistant and will aid children with reading and language skills to help them cope with learning the English language.

I'm hopeful this job will turn out to be one I love to pieces- our at least as much as non-burnt pancakes.

Little Messages

There is hope.

Little encouragements are better than none.

Be good to yourself.

Pray for comfort.

Love more.

Hug often and cherish it all.

Worms

These are sketches from the teaching I did today.

Enjoy!

Transition

It's time.

I missed a deadline to post, but it was wholly necessary. My creative batteries are low and in need of charge. The way I have found to do this is by resting.

The past week has been filled with "run here, do this, sign that, drive there, test this," and, you get the picture. I am fortunate enough that today I had the opportunity to wind down.

Sunday is a day of rest.
I took it for all of its worth.
I slept.
And cleared my mind.
I talked with an old friend.
I went grocery shopping with my sweetie.
Slept some more after laundry.

It was a good day.

In times of transition, it is necessary to take stock in recharging batteries. Find what it is that will help do that and follow through.

I am thankful for today and ready for tomorrow with plenty of smiles and whatever the week will bring.

Charge it up!

Reuse it

Today was the first depot event for reMake, a Meetup group I belong to here in Southern Orange County. There was a garage sale, but also plenty of reuse-able supplies teachers could use in classrooms for lessons and crafts.

I created a couple of signs for the event, but I didn't get pictures of them- and I don't know why....just busy, which is a good thing, I guess!

There was a magenta glitter crayon thug was sparkling up at me- like Harold's purple crayon? Well, it had to come home with me. It was used as soon as I got there on some brown kraft paper, acrylic paint and acrylic spray. I intend to use the painted paper for collage and a special journal cover for a friend.

Later in the day, I had art with the neighbor girls and we used some donated clay. It was tough to work with, but we still had fun trying to make it into something with kneading and cookie cutters. It isn't perfect, but neither is art.

We had fun-all of us, all day, and that is most important.

 

Power.

Acrylic paint on re-used cereal box cardboard.

Follow the Dream

I'm exhausted.

Getting into a routine is tough, but "performing"for kids is really fun. I walk away after two hours feeling like I've worked out for six, but the time slips past like water through my fingers.

Resting up is a pleasure and a necessity.

Follow the dream to wake up!

Watercolor on Canson XL watercolor paper.

Take care of your heart

After taking a CPR class today, I am wiped out. It's so good to be cautious and honest with your health.
Nobody needs to know you better than you and nobody but you knows how to take better care of you, too.
Stay alive, stay healthy!

Staying connected

These are long, fun filled days. I'm tired, but it's good. Stay connected!

New Day

Painting:
Watercolor and acrylic on Canson XL watercolor paper.

Here are some sweet pictures from my first day at work with Mad Science.
I couldn't escape the beautiful light.

I'm thankful for these moments.

Rest up from Fun!

The time changed overnight and I am so grateful for the extra hour. Admittedly, I haven't been very productive today, but I'm glad to have rested. The next few weeks will be packed with going to and from lots of different places.

The biggest thing for me is taking care of myself when things get busy. I tend to get rushing around and start eating things that don't belong in my plan and then end up dealing with the consequences.

Planning is a really big part. I need to make sure I get what I need and not desperate excuses to eat junk. It's all good- will just have to be sure I have the ingredients on hand and I will be fine.

Looking forward to a new chapter!

The painting is watercolor on an index card and was painted from a picture I took in Temecula.

Nov. 2

We went to Temecula to see friend and attend the Harvest Festival for wine tasting. I'm attaching some pictures of the countryside to get a feel for the day.

The painting is rough, but it is the last of the ones I've made without a picture for a guide. It is watercolor on an index card.

Sleep is worth it.

Here is some Art for November, 2013.

Watercolor on index cards.