artworks-and-beads

Bigs girls can have fun too!

2012-01-28T09:50:00.001-06:00

A couple of months ago I was asked by the St Anthony Hospital Wellness Group if I would offer a class at the studio- something creative and fun because that is part of wellness. They left it up to me what I wanted to teach.

I decided to do paper dolls. There was a flurry of phone calls from interested people. One lady even came down to the studio to see a sample.

- is this a class for kids? Is this something I could do? what exactly are we making.

uh- Paper Dolls.....

I figured there would be no takers after that. I was wrong- four brave women ventured out to take the class. And what fun! None of the ladies were into scrap booking ( neither am I ) but they jumped right in to art papers, rubber stamps, glitter papers, ribbon, tulle ....and created these wonderful paper dolls

From serious to sassy...

The paper doll template and rubber stamp faces can be found at The Enchanted Gallery and the mermaid crown and clown hat came from Inka at Altered Artifacts in her Etsy store.

New York Styles 1916-17

2012-01-27T15:31:00.000-06:00

This is my most recent find at my local thrift store. There are 393 pages of fashion items you can order from the National Cloak & Suit Co. of New York City. Dresses, hats, shoes....men, women, children...bridal veils, undergarments, and household dry goods. It has been such fun to look at the pages of this book.

I am not sure what I will do with the book but for now I will savor it. Spend time peeking into the world of fashion during World War I.

what's new, eh? how about a GIVE AWAY!

2012-01-05T14:25:00.000-06:00

So, I guess I took a two month absence from blogging. These things happen.
That does not mean that nothing is going on in the studio.
Lot's going on- lot's of new stuff.

I have a new line of paper goods created by my very dear friend Shari Kratoska- or- Shari theToska- as my kids used to call her. Shari is a self taught artist who has mastered the gelatin printing process. She has tried to teach me a couple of different times but I just can't achieve the same effects as she does.

( HOW DOES SHE DO THAT!)

Shari uses acrylic paints, rubber stamps, and all sorts of found objects to create the most interesting textures and compositions. My favorites are the ones she makes up using old slides for a slide projector.

Pretty cool aren't they? I really like the one in the top row left hand corner. I think these would make wonderful pins or embellishments in collage work.

Shari also makes tags. I will admit I have not quite gotten into the tag thing. But I can see where these would add the perfect touch to a gift or scrap book page.

Shari needed a name to call her paper goods venture so she said- you're the creative one! Think of something!- Oh please- she is just as creative- but this is what I came up with

Shari makes note cards and books and gift bags and doo-dads for scrap booking; wall pieces with quotes on them and large sheets of hand embellished papers so other people can create with her images.

Now, here is the fun part- I am going to give away an assortment of Paper-toska goods to one lucky reader and a friend.

There is more than one way for you to enter-

1. suggest my blog to a friend -have your friend leave me a message saying- so and so sent me

( make sure you are also following my blog- leave me a message too!)

2. like my page on facebook Artworks Studio - make sure you leave a message on the blog and facebook page telling me you were here and if you are the friend tell me who sent you!

Winners will be chosen from all the "my friend sent me" messages on January 19th. Please make sure you leave me your email address so I can contact you.

(can you tell I love getting messages!)

It appears that people are having a hard time posting on my blog. Well, we will just fix that! Follow my blog and then POST on my facebook page (link is above) I will pull the winner from there. Take THAT blogger!

Rescue me!

2011-10-20T14:08:00.000-05:00

This is my office.
I spend a lot of time here. A lot.
I have reached the point where I can't stand the disorganized clutter. I have my studio very well organized and things are neatly in their place.

The office is more like epic fail.

Stuff stacked all over the place.

I have to move half a dozen different things to find what I am looking for.

Is there ANYONE out there who is up to the challenge of organizing this mess?

It needs to be fun and functional and easy to maintain!

I am a HUGE fan of the barter system! So I would be more than happy to trade services with you.

If you are interested in tackling this mess I have created PLEASE contact me or leave a message here.

El Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead)

2011-10-14T11:50:00.000-05:00

When I first pitched this idea to my 5th - 8th graders the general reaction was "That's creepy!" until I explained to them what the Day of the Dead was really all about. It's a Mexican and Mexican-American celebration of dead ancestors. Despite the morbid subject matter, this holiday is celebrated joyfully, and though it occurs at the same time as Halloween, All Saints Day, and All Souls Day, the mood of The Day of the Dead is much lighter, with the emphasis on celebrating and honoring the lives of the deceased, rather than fearing evil or malevolent spirits.

As an educator I believe in teaching my students about other cultures beyond our community. Where we live is rural Iowa and when I was a kid diversity was more like being any other nationality but German or any other religion but Catholic. That is changing these days. We have a growing Hispanic population in Carroll as well as families from India and the African continent. I like diversity- it makes you think - about a lot of different things.

So this is our take on the sugar skulls. Enjoy!

ART is IMPORTANT!

2011-10-10T13:23:00.000-05:00

2.98 MILLION AMERICANS WORK IN THE ARTS!

One in 111 jobs is in art and design.

The creative industries are an estimated $30 billion export annually.

Jobs in design have increased 43% in the past ten years.

There are over 532,000 designers working in the U.S.

More people are employed in the visual arts than in all of the performing arts and sports industries combined.

Animators, film and video editors, and others skilled in digital filming and computer-generated imaging have the best job prospects in future of the motion picture and video industries.

There are about 94,000 computer artists and animators working in the United States.

OVER $385 BILLION IS SPENT ON ADVERTISING WORLDWIDE!

EMPLOYMENT OF GRAPHIC DESIGNERS IS EXPECTED TO GROW 35% FROM 2010 TO 2016!

THERE ARE ABOUT 400,000 AMERICANS WORKING IN THE FILM INDUSTRY!
The computer animation industry generates $33 billion annually.

Jobs and employment in many creative industries are growing faster than the labor force as a whole and make up 30% of the work force by some estimates.

America’s nonprofit arts industry generates $134 billion in economic activity every year.

By 2016, jobs for artists and designers are predicted to increase by 42%.

Arts-related businesses in the country's largest cities represent 4.3% of all businesses and 2.2% of all jobs in the United States.

There are 3 million people working for over 600,000 arts-centric businesses in the United States.

Wage and salary employment in the motion picture and video industries is projected to grow 11% by 2016.

PHOTOGRAPHY JOBS HAVE INCREASED 38% IN THE PAST FOUR YEARS!

BY 2016 JOBS FOR MULTIMEDIA ARTISTS ARE PREDICTED TO INCREASE BY 47%!

PEOPLE SPEND APPROX. $55 BILLION ANNUALLY ON VIDEO GAMES!
Employment growth by arts-centric businesses since 2007 was 12%, more than four times the rise in the total number of U.S. employees.

Designers are the single largest group of artists, followed by performing artists such as actors, dancers, musicians, and announcers.

Employment of interior designers is expected to grow 19% from 2006 to 2016.

Median salaries of: Creative Directors–$90,000, Art Directors–$86,505, Fine Artists–$48,870, Multi-media Artists and Animators–$61,555, Graphic Designers–$46,925, Set and Exhibit Designers–$49,330, Producers and Directors–$86,790, Broadcast Technicians–$40,270, Photographers–$36,090, and Film and Video Editors–$66,715.

Sources: Americans for the Arts, National Endowment for the Arts, U.S. Department of Labor, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, and the Entertainment Software Association

Lady of the Purple Roses

2011-09-28T20:02:00.002-05:00

This is what I have been working on this week. Inka from Altered Artifacts sent me some images a while ago and I have had ideas in my head on what to do with them. This week it all came together.

I used a collage technique I learned last summer at the Cloth Paper Scissors retreat in Chicago. I used roofing paper for my base. Then I used matte medium and a palette knife to glue my papers down. I used pages from very old books and sheet music. I love the color of old paper.

Inka sent me a digital collage page of wings that she called "wicked" she also posted a free printable on her blog of this Mourning Woman.

I printed two copies of the lady. I used some tulle with gold flecks in it, satin ribbon and antique tatted lace to give her gown some dimension. After gluing the pieces in place I cut out the second lady print and cut away her paper gown and glued her on top of the first print. I then found a little jewelled link from a bracelet to create the buckle on her gown.

I chose the angel wings from the digital collage sheet Inka sent me and used a dark purple colored pencil to color them in. Now my lady was finished.

I added a Gothic arch with black acrylic paint and then using matte medium glued that down over the arch to soften it up a bit. I used some Japanese Kozo paper.

Last week In ordered some Tim Holtz rubber stamps- I am really getting into unmounted rubber stamps! Anyway- I figured my lady needed some birds above her head. And tiny satin roses at her feet. Here she is all finished.

I have this vintage gold frame that I will be using to finish the piece. After James builds up the back for me so I can get glass over her and there is room for the roses. This frame really isn't a frame it's an insert from a frame sop there isn't a rabbit on the back. (That's the groove on the back of a frame that you place the glass, picture and backing into then nail it in place)

THANK YOU INKA! You make the best digital images for me to play with!

BORING!~

2011-09-11T13:10:00.000-05:00

That is what comes to mind when I look at the outside of my studio.

ABSOLUTELY BORING!

I want to paint the outside brick walls or DO something!

Any ideas? Suggestions? Send me pictures- ideas- ANYTHING! It's an art studio it should be as interesting on the outside as it is on the inside.

Art Swap

2011-09-01T13:20:00.000-05:00

I would like to try something new this year with my students. An "Art Swap" I am looking for anyone who teaches school aged kids- Kinder- 12th- who would be interested in swapping either ATC's or Postcards with my students. All swaps would be scheduled with them happening approximately every other month through the school year and each will have a theme so you don't have to come up with something to do.

There would be no exchange of any personal information since all swap items would be sent to my studio and I will distribute them to my students. I really want to get my students to experience something outside of just my studio. If you are interested PLEASE contact me. I'd like to get the first one set up for October.

Thanks!

The Studio and New Hope Village

2011-08-26T11:06:00.000-05:00

I have been asked to help New Hope Village - a wonderful facility where people with disabilities can live with dignity and support- create some sensory panels for their campus.

What is a sensory panel? Glad you asked-Our senses give us the information we need to function in this world- taste, smell, touch, sound,sight. People with disabilities often have one or more of their senses impaired thus keeping them from fully experiencing the world. Remember when you were a kid and you played with play dough or made mud pies or played in the sprinkler as if it were a rain shower? All of these are sensory experiences. For this project we will be creating panels with different textures, colors, and shapes for people to explore with their hands and eyes. Some panels will be able to create sounds and others smells...all in a non threatening way. (Sensory Fence)

Why did I volunteer my time and talent for such a project?

AUTISM

It runs in my family. My oldest brother was not only autistic but severely mentally disabled. When he was alive places like New Hope Village did not exist. I wish they did.

My daughter has a form of autism as does my nephew. I am pretty passionate about working for people who just don't fit in. Autism is like that- you can't SEE anything but it's there. There were many tears watching Kelsey grow up. She had to work twice as hard to fit in, to make friends, to be 'normal'. ( Even though Kelsey and I both know that normal is just a cycle on the dishwasher!)

I have created a board on Pinterest filled with ideas for this project. I am planning on getting my art students involved in the project too!

You can help with this project. Vote for Artworks Studio HERE- your vote can help me win a grant to help renovate my studio to make more room for bigger projects like this one so I can give back to my community. Thank you!

DREAM BIG!

2011-08-24T13:53:00.002-05:00

Why not? I mean what do you have to lose beside a little bit of time.

So that's what I did. I am competing with small businesses across America for a $50,000 grant from Intuit. You can help me win by voting for me. That red heart on my blog will help you do that.

What would I do with $50,000? oh my......

I would give my art room a total makeover. Currently I am teaching 90 private students in the studio. I love my art room but it could use some professional organizing instead of the hand-me-down make it work storage system I have now.

The drop ceiling would disappear and it would be painted white with a loft and a skylight that would OPEN for fresh air.

And then there would be organized storage all on one wall in one place! Everything would be labeled so each one of my students could find what they need!

I would have this professionally designed and done by my very dear NEW architect friend Kristen Greteman .

Dreams can come true can't they? If you vote for me you can help it happen.

Thank you!

Spread the word.

Is it over? Really?

2011-08-10T11:24:00.000-05:00

I just realized school starts in a little over a week and I haven't DONE anything this summer.

Where does the time go?

375 kids participated in art and craft classes this summer. Some days were pretty wild and crazy but we had a lot of fun. And it doesn't seem like it but this is my last week of summer classes.

One of my new classes this summer was Altered Doll Houses. We used cigar boxes to create miniature doll houses. There were two haunted houses, one mermaid house and a couple of wodland fairy houses. Who says kids today don't have an imagination?

Some of the details they put into their houses was amazing. Somer's haunted house has fourtune telling room with a crystal ball and a glow in the dark lantern. Her rocking chair wasade out of balsa wood.

Katie's mermaid house has a bed a mermaid would be proud of. made from two scallop shells and a shiney blue and silver blanket. She also made a sea shell framed mirror with a drift wood shelf and an armoire for all those mermaid accessories. The other room in her house is where her mermaid keeps all her treasures. This one is a work in progress because we keep finding things that would be perfect in the treasure room and keep adding to it.

I like the use of wood slices for tables and chairs in Melissa's woodland fairy house. The window with the half circle at the top in the blue room has a magazine picture behind it of an outdoor woods scene.

This summer we built sand castles out of sand clay, tree houses out of branches and wove rugs using old t-shirts. We created pictures from broken bits of glass and picture frames from sea shells. We painted t-shirts and decorated canvas tennis shoes and made headbands that anyone would love to wear. We altered books and records and made lanterns from cupcake liners.....

Ahhhh...summertime.....

AND just where have YOU been?

2011-07-28T18:07:00.000-05:00

Iif you have stopped by the studio and have not found me here you are not stopping at the right time. It feels like I live here at times. Pulled a couple of late nights last week and went in over the weekend to get the place cleaned up. It was looking a bit rough around the edges out in the front room. In the meantime I have been working on some projects. I finally took the time to go out with my camera and play with it. Get to know it better.

I bought a new camera in December because my old one- which served me well- refused to work anymore. I didn't have the time to figure out all the new bells and whistles then so I was able to go out and do so today. I came across this in the lot behind the Mexican restaurant down the street. While messing around in photo shop I created this composition. My homage to Georgia O'Keefe. Her work is fascinating. She was an amazing woman who broke many biases and barriers in a male driven art world.

I also got a commission to create the cover for a children's musical CD called "Dogs, Frogs and Nature Songs" so I HAD to work on that piece because I had a deadline.

My inspiration for this piece was from one of my favorite artists/authors Eric Carle. His work is so colorful and fresh and vibrant and ALIVE! Creating this piece made me appreciate his process even more. Most every line in the picture was made by cutting papers. Except the details around the dog face. I just couldn't cut the lines fine enough to make it look good. And now they want me to create another piece for the CD itself- deadline Tuesday. I will get it done.

I have so many ideas bouncing around in my head it's good to finally get some of them out and onto paper.

where's the beach?

2011-06-22T15:00:00.000-05:00

"The time has come," the Walrus said,

"To talk of many things:

Of shoes--and ships--and sealing-wax--

Of cabbages--and kings--

And why the sea is boiling hot--

And whether pigs have wings......."

It's been a cold, wet rainy June-except when it's been over 90 with 98% humidity. Makes it hard to get outside and enjoy summer. So what do you do when you can't get to the beach?

You bring the beach to you! That's what we did today- we made sandcastle sculptures in the studio. The recipe is easy and prep time is simple. If you want to recipe leave a message and how to contact you.

this is why I do it

2011-06-10T14:50:00.000-05:00

Every now and then a person comes into your life who reaffirms why you do what you do. I love working with young people especially when they 'get' it and can step outside the box and run with an idea...

This is Sam's book filled with poetry and images that mean something to her. It's been a fun process working with this young woman.

Thanks Sam for 'getting' it'.

I just can't decide!

2011-06-06T12:16:00.001-05:00

I found this wonderful table

at my local thrift store and I want to cover the top with a mosaic.

The problem? I can't decide what I want on it.

Maybe a fish

or Van Gogh's sunflowers

or a mermaid or maybe a stylized sun?

or one with more detail. Oh what to do? If this was for someone else I wouldn't have this problem. Can you help me decide? Please?

To do list....have you colored outside the lines lately?

2011-06-01T09:48:00.000-05:00

So, officially it's only the second day of summer. The weekend doesn't count. Already I have a To-Do list that is pretty long. Sometimes I think I should make a To Don't list because it would be easier and faster to check the items off.

On a mad dash trip to Ames I saw this wall decal and had to get it to hang in the window. All because of item number 10- it says- "Color outside the lines"

YES!

I of course had to go in and make some of my own embellishments to the poster and added "take a summer art class"

Most people don't know this about me but my major in college wasn't art it was craft design with an emphasis on fibers/weaving. I fell in love with weaving when I was in grade school and was self taught. My first attempts were the ugliest pieces you can imagine- tension all off, pulled threads, knots everywhere...I have improved quite a bit since then.

Hula Hoop Rugs

In my "Art Explorations" art classes that I teach during the school year I decided it was time to introduce some fiber work. Because of the class size it had to be a small loom. Some kids took to it like they were natural born weavers and some just didn't get the rhythm. But most agreed it was fun and different. When I was flipping through a magazine waiting for my haircut and saw this project I knew I had to offer it this summer. It combines my two favorite things IN the world- weaving and re-cycling!

Hula Hoop Rugs- the hula hoop acts as the loom and recycled t-shirts are the "yarn". I made Joshua and Biz weed out their accumulation of t-shirts,worked up a sample this weekend and fell in love with the process. I didn't finish it so I can use it in class to demonstrate the process on. Here is my sample leaning against my first love- my Leclerc 36", 4 harness floor loom- handmade in Canada. I purchased it in 1982 with a small loan from the bank. She's a beauty and I don't get to spend as much time with her as I should or would like to. Right now one of my older students is working on a project on her so I will have to wait.

Another class I am teaching again this summer is one I call Photowords. We walk around downtown Carroll and take pictures of letters of the alphabet and spell out a word (most of the kids do their name) I like this class because it makes you look at the world a bit differently - some of the letters are actual parts of signage and some are parts of architecture or cracks in the sidewalk or pieces of debris or parts of objects. I wish I could get the grown-ups to come take classes because-

Coloring outside the lines is fun.

Won't you come color with me?

sidewalk chalk- here today and washed away by rain tomorrow

2011-05-23T10:20:00.000-05:00

Just thought I would post pictures of the sidewalk chalk pieces we created last week- before the rains came and washed them all away.

Artworks Studio Student Art Show May 2011

2011-05-17T13:26:00.000-05:00

The black light Coral Reef....

Stary Night

Art Doll

Fish

Owls

Gelatin Printing

Mixed Media Collage Masks

Zen Tangles

Mixed media printmaking with oil and chalk pastels and me. Hope you enjoyed the show!

Fishcious Cycle

2011-05-13T13:09:00.000-05:00

That's the name of my friend Fish's RAGBRAI team. For those of you who don't know RAGBRAI is a bike ride across Iowa at the end of July. This video is the best explination I have ever found about why people choose to participate in RAGBRAI.

So I got to design the t-shirt for her team this year. I also get to host her team in my house overnight because the first night stops in my town. Which is quite a bit of fun. I only get to see Fish maybe once a year as it is and the visits are always way too short .

I have not done any design work like this in a very long time. I used to design t-shirts all the time. I forgot how much I enjoy it. The fish on a bike is hand drawn- the only thing done in photoshop was the lettering- I hate hand lettering!

So looking forward to getting my t-shirt! Thanks Fish!

Oceans, mermaids and crowns

2011-05-10T13:03:00.000-05:00

For someone who is afraid of water and does not know how to swim I sure have a fascination with the ocean. I have only visited ocean three times twice off the coast of New Jersey and once in Italy. I am afraid of swimming pools but not afraid of the ocean. I could watch it for hours. My love of the deep blue is reflected alot in my work. I once created a mermaid out of Plexiglas, wire, copper screen and aluminum that was 7 feet tall. Those seas shells were bigger than the palm of my hand. Here is is 10 years ago hanging in the window of The Lagniappe . I think someone bought her and took her to Kansas City. I make "Zombie" fish and frequently use the beach as a theme when teaching drawing to my students. This year I have created a n exhibit for my Student Art Show called the coral reef. All year my students have been creating pieces just for the roof. Origami clams, branch coral and sea stars, sea turtles, jelly fish, sea urchins and tropical fish. Very nice- but then I had to add a twist to it- this exhibit will be viewed under black lights. I have been working on it the past week.

Another project I have been working on are crowns. Love, love, love crowns. I am pretty sure in a former life I was a princess. So here is my mermaid crown using Plexiglas, wire, beads, cheese cloth and RHINESTONES! Pretty cool huh? This one isn't perfect and I need to tweak the bending process some but I am pretty pleased with the results.

Where the sidewalk ends...

2011-05-10T11:20:00.000-05:00

and becomes a msterpiece! I love sidewalks. When I was a kid the sidewalk was like far away from our front door and close enough to the street to feel like you were someplace else. We always had a lot of yard around our house and the front yard in the Des Moines house was three steps above the sidewalk so there were steps at the end of our front walk. Best place ever to hang out and play. We didn't have a fence but a 30" cement retaining wall all around the front yard. The sidewalk is where we played hopscotch, and jacks and jump-rope. We dragged our dolls out and pretended they lived in apartments -each step a different apartment. There were flower dolls to be made out of hollyhocks and tooth picks and crowns out of white and purple clover. And when the people next door remodeled their house we discovered that there was 'chalk' in the walls just waiting for us to peel the paper away and draw with it.

When my kids were young the sidewalk and driveway represented a huge canvas just waiting for us to make our marks. On really hot days all it took was a bucket of water and a paint brush. Pictures would magically disappear so we could start all over again. We used sidewalk chalk by the pound. The cement around our house was always filled with colors and images.

Last week I ordered a case of sidewalk chalk. For the next two weeks my students and I are going outside the studio to draw on the sidewalk. Of course I won't let them draw just anything. My students will be re-creating some of Van Gogh's masterpieces on the sidewalk. Here is the first third of Van Gogh's "Iris" from 1889.

Norah's Jewells

2011-05-02T17:47:00.000-05:00

This summer I have made a commitment to be at the Carroll Farmer's Market on Wednesday evenings selling bracelets for my grand daughter Norah Jewell. Norah has Type 1 diabetes- she was diagnosed in October. She is only 3 years old. So far it has been a roller coaster of events for Norah, her parents and her little sister. Hospital visits, doctor's appointments and getting her finger poked several times in a 24 hour time period. So far I have made 150 bracelets. I am selling them for $6 each or 2 for $10.

My goal is to raise at least $1000. I better get back to making more bracelets! Stop by and say hello if you happen to be at the Farmer's market!

Fabulous Bags and Earth Day

2011-04-21T14:11:00.000-05:00

The first time I became aware of Earth Day was 22 years ago. I was visiting my sister in Philly and everywhere we went there were signs for the 20th anniversary of Earth Day. So Earth Day was a topic of conversation for us as we explored the city together.

I've been trying to do my part to be environmentally friendly for over 35 years. In my class room I try to stay away from art supplies that are toxic. I don't wash leftover paint off the pallets. I let it dry and then peel it off and throw it away. Sometimes those pieces of dried acrylic paint end up in another art project thus staying out of the landfill. I don't use paper towels but washable rags for clean ups in the studio. There aer live plants in the studio to help keep the air a little cleaner too. I also frequent thrift stores for things we can use in class instead of always buying new. So many people discard so much stuff- unused paints, slightly used pastels, artists brushes, paper- the list goes on. Anyone who is an artist can tell you that supplies are expensive and when you are working with children they get consumed quickly. This thrift store mentality on my part has helped me stretch my art supply budget by quite a lot.

This of course has spilled into my art making as well. I am drawn to vintage jewelry and old glass and crystal beads. I will often pick up a vintage strand of beads, break it apart and incorporate them into a new necklaces using a mix of trend colors and sterling silver. Or I would buy an old wool sweater felt it and make mittens or slippers out of it. Storage was a problem in my first house so I used old suitcases to store seasonal items like Christmas decorations and then by stacking them would also have an end table by the sofa. Little did I know that what I was doing was going to become a part of an art/lifestyle movement. I don't like calling what I do recycling- to me that means that you are taking something cutting it up, breaking it down and totally making something different out of the raw material- like soda bottles into jackets. What I do is re-purpose or alter an item. Give it a new purpose and extend it's life. So what does this have to do with Fabulous Bags? Well....

The Octagon contacted me last month about having a trunk show. They love my Fabulous Bags and thought a workshop plus trunk show would be great fun. I agree! So on June 25th I will be in Ames (one of my favorite destinations in Iowa) all day doing what I do best. Sharing my creative talent with people. When it says all materials provided they mean it. I have a confession to make here- I have about 75 vintage handbags stashed away at my house in a variety of shapes, sizes and colors. These are all thrift store finds and aer in two very large tubs in the studio. What each bag has in common- besides being vintage and a thrift store find - they all stand up on their own. So the bag can be used as an actual handbag OR it can sit somewhere and make a statement.

What's so great about a Fabulous bag? It still fits even if you gain 5lbs!

A Contest! Spread the word......

2011-04-05T10:51:00.001-05:00

This summer I am going to have a booth at my local Farmer's Market.

My 3 year old granddaughter was recently diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes and her parents are participating in a bike ride to raise money for research. They have been on quite a roller coaster ride since October 2010 when Norah was diagnosed. Sleepless nights, hospital stays, doctor appointments and finger pokes have become the norm for them.

So what does this have to do with Type 1 Diabetes?

Norah loves jewelry. Nana (me) makes jewelry. I am going to do my part to help Team Norah raise the money they need to participate in the 100 mile bike ride WITHOUT getting on a bicycle.

I have not been on a bike in years and I plan on keeping it that way.

So I am making bracelets. Bright colorful glass bead and crystal bracelets. $6 each or 2 for $10. I will be selling ONLY bracelets at farmer's market.

Here's the contest: I need a name for my booth- besides just Artworks Studio- something catchy and memorable and fun and just makes you WANT to buy a bracelet. Post your ideas in the comments. I will have Norah's parents choose the one they like best and the winner will get a $25 gift certificate from Artworks Studio to spend either here in the studio or in my Etsy store. Enter as often as you like. I need a name by May 1st.

Thanks for helping!

The Summer Class Schedule is READY!!!!

2011-04-01T18:31:00.000-05:00

Imagine my happy dance as I announce this! Summer Art and Class Schedule is now ready!

AGES 3-4

3-4 Year Old Kinder Artists
Young artists get to explore paint, glue, paper, markers and COLOR! It’s messy and it’s fun. Join Miss Laura and Miss Carly and explore the wonderful world of art. These classes fill up fast. Only sign up for the classes you can attend. Due to the popularity of the Kinder Artists Classes these are offered on a first come/first serve pre-paid basis. No phone reservations. A waiting list will be started and a new section will be opened at the discretion of the teachers. PLEASE PAY ATTENTION TO THE AGE BREAKDOWNS! CLASS SIZE IS LIMITED TO 10 AND WILL BE STRICTLY ENFORCED!

Class Size: 10

Class Fee: $6.00 per date

Session 1: Mondays 9:30 AM – 10:15 AM

June 6 –Absorbing Artwork

June 13 – Marble Paper

June 20 – Color Wheel garland
June 27 – Mono-printing
July 4- NO CLASS
July 11- Potions
July 18- Painted Suns

Session 2: Wednesdays 9:30 AM – 10:15 AM
June 8-Absorbing Artwork
June 15 – Marble paper
June 21 – Color wheel garland
June 29- Mono-printing
July 4 – NO CLASS
July 6- Potions
July 13- Painted Suns
July 20- Water Color Wash

AGES 4-5
4-5 Year old Kinder Artists
Young artists get to explore paint, glue, paper, markers and COLOR! It’s messy and it’s fun. Join Miss Laura and Miss Carly and explore the wonderful world of art. These classes fill up fast. Only sign up for the classes you can attend. Due to the popularity of the Kinder Artists Classes these are offered on a first come/first serve pre-paid basis. No phone reservations. A waiting list will be started and a new section will be opened at the discretion of the teachers. PLEASE PAY ATTENTION TO THE AGE BREAKDOWNS! CLASS SIZE IS LIMITED TO 10 AND WILL BE STRICTLY ENFORCED!
Class size: 10
Class Fee: $6.00 per date
Session 1: Mondays 10:30 AM – 11:15 AM
June 6 –Absorbing Artwork
June 13 – Marble Paper
June 20 – Color Wheel garland
June 27 – Mono-printing
July 4 – NO CLASS
July 11- Potions
July 18- Painted Suns
Session 2: Wednesdays 10:30 AM- 11:15 AM
June 8-Absorbing Artwork
June 15 – Marble paper
June 21 – Color wheel garland
June 29- Mono-printing
July 4 – NO CLASS
July 6- Potions
July 13- Painted Suns
July 20- Water Color Wash
GRADES K-2
Adventures in Art (mixed media/cultures)
One of my favorite activities is learning about other people and cultures. What better way than through art and craft projects. Come travel around the world with me as we visit Peru, Russia, Jamaica, Egypt and the USA
Session 1: Grades K-2 Mondays June 6 - 27 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM
Session 2: Grades K-2 Thursdays June 30-July 21 1:00 – 2:00 PM
Class size: 10/ Fee: $54.00 per person

Just For Fun!
These classes and projects are designed for the busy schedule where you just can’t commit to more than one class time and date.

Dragon Puppets

Students will create their own Chinese Dragon Puppet

Session 1: Grades K-2 Thursday June 9 9:30 AM – 10:45AM

Session 2 Grades K-2 Monday August 8 10:00AM – 11:15AM

Class Size: 8

Class Fee: $16.00 per session

Can-Do Robots (recycled crafts)

These friendly robots are more than just good-looking; magnets hold their features in place, making the 'bots the metallic equivalent of a Mr. Potato Head.

Session 1: Grades K-2 Thursday June 23 9:30 AM- 10:45 AM
Session 2: Grades K-2 Tuesday August 2 10:00 AM –11:15PM
Class Size: 8
Class Fee: $16.00 per session

Sand Castle Sculptures
Using a special mixture, students will be provided with self hardening “clay sand” so they can create a permanent sand castle complete with moat, flags, sea shells and other decorative items you would find at the beach.
Grades K-2 Thursday June 30th 9:30 AM – 10:45 AM
Class Size: 8
Class Fee: $16.00 per session

GRADES 3-4

Adventures in Art (mixed media/cultures)
One of my favorite activities is learning about other people and cultures. What better way than through art and craft projects. Come travel around the world with me as we visit Peru, Russia, Jamaica, Egypt and the USA
Session 1: Grades 3-4 Mondays June 6 – 27 2:00 PM-3:00 PM
Session 2: Grades 3-4 Thursdays June 30 – July 21 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM
Class size: 10/ Fee: $54.00 per person

Just For Fun!
These classes and projects are designed for the busy schedule where you just can’t commit to more than one class time and date.
Dragon Puppets
Students will create their own Chinese Dragon Puppet
Session 1: Grades 3-4 Thursday June 9 11:00 AM – 12:15 PM
Session 2: Grades 3-4 Monday August 8 1:00 PM- 2:15 PM
Class Size: 8
Class Fee: $16.00 per session

Solar Flare T-Shirts
Using a paste mixture and user friendly fabric dyes students will get amazing results on this one of a kind colorful t-shirt. PLEASE SPEFICY YOUR CHILD’S T-SHIRT SIZE!!!
Grades 3-4

Session 1: June 16 10:00 AM – NOON
Session 2: June 29 1:00 PM – 3:00PM
Class Size: 8
Class Fee: $16.00 per session

Can-Do Robots (recycled crafts)
These friendly robots are more than just good-looking; magnets hold their features in place, making the 'bots the metallic equivalent of a Mr. Potato Head.
Session 1: Grades 3-4 Thursday June 23 11:00 AM – 12:15 PM
Session 2: Grades 3-4 Tuesday August 2 1:00 PM – 2:15PM
Sand Castle Sculptures
Using a special mixture, students will be provided with self hardening “clay sand” so they can create a permanent sand castle complete with moat, flags, sea shells and other decorative items you would find at the beach.
Session 2: Grades 3-4 Thursday June 30th 11:00 AM – 12:15 PM
Class Size: 8
Class Fee: $16.00 per session

GRADES 4-5
FAC (Friday Afternoon Club) (Crafts) Grades 4-5
Friday afternoon and it’s time to get crafty this summer. You can sign up for just one two or all the FAC Dates Come join the fun as we make flower vases from recycled glass bottles, some funky yard art, a fireworks t-shirt just in time for the 4th of July, friendship bracelets, sea shell picture frames and a hand painted ceramic tile. Sign up for only those classes you wish to take.
Class size: 10/ Fee: $18.00 per person per day
Fridays June 10 – July 22 1:00 PM – 2:30 PM

June 10- Painted Glass Vase
June 17 –Yard Art Birdies
June 24-Fireworks Shirt
July 8- Friendship Bracelets
July 15- Sea Shell Picture Frames
July 22- Hand Painted Ceramic Tiles

Mosaic Art
Mosaic art goes as far back as 400 B.C. to ancient Greece where geometric patterns and scenes of people and animals were depicted by placing small pieces of different colour materials to create a picture. . You will learn how to create a wall mosaic using Italian glass tiles.
Grades 4-5 Wednesdays June 8-22 1:00PM- 3:00PM
Class size: 8/ Fee: $75 per person

Hula Hoop T-Shirt Rug (recycling and weaving)
You want me to make a rug using t-shirts and a hula hoop? Sure do! Come to this class and learn how you can recycle old t-shirts into a 36” decorative rug for your bedroom floor. Basic weaving with no fail results every time!

Session 1: Grades 4-5 Thursdays June 9 – 23 1:00 PM – 2:30PM
Session 2: Grades 4-5 Fridays July 8 – 22 10:00 AM - NOON
Class size: 10 / Fee: $54 per person

GRADES 5-6
Ultimate Tree House (Architecture)
This class proved to be so popular last year I brought it back for an encore! You have been dreaming of building your own tree house for a long time but don’t have the time, space or resources to build one. This class is where you think small –really small- as in dollhouse sized staircases and rope swings fit for a fairy. The only requirement for this class is a creative imagination, balsa wood, craft sticks and of course trees. Students will be using a hot glue gun and small hand saws.

Session 1: Grades 5-6 Tuesdays June 7– 28 1:00 PM – 2:30PM
Session 2: Grades 5-6 Tuesdays June 7 – 28 3:00 PM – 4:30 PM
Session 3: Grades 5-6 Thursdays July 6 – 27 1:00 PM – 2:30PM
Class Size: 6/ Fee: $85 per person

Altered Books (collage and mixed media)
An Altered Book combines several types of artistic techniques into one unique art form. Starting with a book base, the artist tears away pages and then adds their own creative expressions through rubber stamping, scrapping, image transfer, collage, photomontage, and writing. Students are asked to bring to class song lyrics or a favorite poem to use as the theme for their book.
Session1: Grades 5-8 Tuesdays June 7-28 10:00 AM – NOON
Session 2: Grades 5-8 Thursdays July 7- 28 10:00PM – NOON
Class size: 5/ Fee: $55 per person

Mosaic Art
Mosaic art goes as far back as 400 B.C. to ancient Greece where geometric patterns and scenes of people and animals were depicted by placing small pieces of different colour materials to create a picture. . You will learn how to create a wall mosaic using Italian glass tiles.

Grades 6-9 Tuesdays July 5-19 1:00 PM – 3:00PM
Class size: 8/ Fee: $75 per person

Photo Words! (Photography and computers)
Back by popular demand! Students will learn top look at everyday objects with new eyes as we walk around downtown and look for letters of the alphabet to spell out their name. Using digital photos and Photoshop –images will be transformed and put together into a unique wall piece. Students must provide their own digital camera of at least 6 megapixels and higher!
Grades 5-6 Tuesdays July 5-19 10:00 AM – 11:30 AM
Class size: 6/ Fee: $90 per person

GRADES 5-8
JUST FOR FUN! (NEW)
These classes and projects are designed for the busy schedule where you just can’t commit to more than one class time or date.
Leather Cuff Bracelets:
Recycle thrift store leather belts into fun and funky bracelets. Make enough to wear and give as gifts!
Session 1: Monday July 11 1:00PM – 3:00 PM
Session 2: Tuesday August 9 10:00 AM – NOON
Class Size 10 / Fee: $28

Headbands and Hair Clips:
Headbands and hairclips with flowers, feathers, sequins, beads and ribbon are THE hot fashion accessory of 2011! Make some of your own to wear AND share with your BFF!
Session 1: Monday July 18 1:00PM – 3:00PM
Session 2: Tuesday August 9 1:00 PM – 3:00PM
Class Size 10 / Fee: $28

Vinyl Record Clocks & Cupcake Lanterns:
Does your room need a new look? How about a funky clock for your wall made out of a retro vinyl record album- you know those big plastic circles people used to play on a record player- and a lantern made out of cupcake liners. So easy and so cool too!
Session 1: Wednesday July 27 10:00AM – NOON
Session 2: Monday August 1 10:00 AM – NOON
Session 3: Thursday August 4 10:00AM - NOON
Class Size: 8 / Fee: $28

Walking Works of Art
Grab a pair of white canvas sneakers or high tops and turn them into walking works of art using colored tissue papers, rhinestones and all weather clear sealing glue. YOU MUST PROVIDE YOUR OWN SHOES!
Session 1: Wednesday August 3 10:00AM – NOON
Session 2: Thursday August 11 10:00AM - NOON
Class Size: 8 / Fee: $18

GRADES 7-12

Altered Doll House (Architecture) (NEW!)
Participants will transform four cardboard cigar boxes into a delightful free standing 3-D doll house with details like rugs, curtains and furniture and covered by a roof. If you are into tiny details this is the perfect class for you. Hot glue and x-acto knives will be used.
Session 1: Grades 7-12 Fridays June 10 – 24 10 AM – NOON
Class Size: 6/ Class Fee: $85 per person

Ultimate Tree House (Architecture)
This class is where you think small –really small- as in dollhouse sized staircases and rope swings fit for a fairy. The only requirement for this class is a creative imagination, balsa wood, craft sticks and of course trees. Students will be using a hot glue gun and small hand saws.
Session 1: Grades 7-12 Tuesdays June 7– 28 3:00 PM – 4:30PM
Session 2: Grades 7-12 Wednesdays July 6 – 27 3:00 PM – 4:30 PM
Class Size: 6/ Fee: $85 per person

Photo Words! (Photography and computers)
Back by popular demand! Students will learn top look at everyday objects with new eyes as we walk around downtown and look for letters of the alphabet to spell out their name. Images will be transformed and put together into a unique wall piece. Students must provide their own digital camera of at least 6 megapixels and higher!

Grades 7-12 Thursdays July 28-August 11 1:00 PM – 2:30 PM
Class size: 6/ Fee: $90 per person

JUST FOR FUN! (NEW)
These classes and projects are designed for the busy schedule where you just can’t commit to more than one class time or date.
Walking Works of Art
Grab a pair of white canvas sneakers or high tops and turn them into walking works of art using colored tissue papers, rhinestones and all weather clear sealing glue. YOU MUST PROVIDE YOUR OWN SHOES!
Session 1: Monday August 1 1:00PM – 3:00PM
Session 2: Wednesday August 10 1:00Pm – 3:00PM
Class Size: 8 / Fee: $18

Leather Cuff Bracelets:
Recycle thrift store leather belts into fun and funky bracelets. Make enough to wear and give as gifts!
Grades 7-12 Wednesday August 3 1:00PM – 3:00PM
Class Size: 10 / Fee: $28

Headbands and Hair Clips:
Headbands and hairclips with flowers, feathers, sequins, beads and ribbon are THE hot fashion accessory of 2011! Make some of your own to wear AND share with your BFF!

Grades 7-12Wednesday August 10 10:00AM - NOON
Class Size 10 / Fee: $28

sea stars and art shows and things that glow

2011-03-23T11:33:00.000-05:00

Laura Fact: I teach art classes in my studio after school to kids in Pre-K through High School. I have 65 students this year and each spring we put on an art show.

And........
It's hard to believe we are almost finished with another school year. Once we get into April it flies past so quickly. In my classes at the studio we have done quite a few projects centered around a coral reef theme. I have always loved the ocean and fish and aquariums and mermaids.....

This year my Student Art Show is going to have a black light coral reef exhibit. It's been fun to plan it with my students and the closer we get to May the more excited they are. My K-2 class on Tuesdays just finished their part of the exhibit. Using Celluclay each student created a sea star ( star fish to you commoners who have not studied the coral reef). They were also given three sticks. Each student painted their sea stars and sticks with bright patterns in neon colored paint. The next step was to anchor the painted sticks in some plaster of Paris. The painted sticks are branch coral and are a means of displaying the sea stars.

Once the plaster dried the sea stars were hot glued into place ( This was a Laura only job since glue guns are not kid friendly!) When my students came to class yesterday I had their projects lined up by the white board so they could see the finished project. I had drawn them a picture of what they would look like but reality didn't sink in until they actually SAW them!

After much oohing and ahhing I asked them if they wanted to "SEE" them like they would be in the Coral Reef Exhibit. So I turned off the lights. Alek and Lincoln were the first ones to shout out.

"HEY! Nothing's happening!"
"Hmmm....it was working before... oh yes- I forgot my special light."

The looks on their faces were priceless. Big toothless grins...sounds of amazement and lots of questions about how that worked and when is the art show and can we make more stuff and will it glow in the dark if I put it in the bathroom where there aren't any windows and why is your t-shirt glowing and will people be able to see where they are going and how big will the room be and......

...and it was so much fun and made me realize why I love teaching.

Vintage Jewelry repair

2011-03-15T10:10:00.000-05:00

A couple of years ago I received an email from a woman who found my website asking if I did repair work on vintage jewelry.

This is the first piece she sent me. It was an absolutely beautiful Miriam Haskell piece with large baroque pearls and cobalt blue glass beads and those impossibly tiny seed pearls and a book value of $900. Since this piece arrived on my workbench she has sent me several other Haskell pieces for me to repair.

What I love about this woman is she actually wears her vintage jewelry.

That is much better than letting it sit in a box somewhere.

What HAS she been up to?

2011-03-10T15:40:00.000-06:00

I realize I have been MIA- missing in art I like to call it- lately. Between teaching classes and kids home on spring break and fighting with my depression I have not posted much of my work lately.

So- good news- I have been working! Just finished these today.

This is a journal/album that I recycled. I used these wonderful papers made by my friend Shari. I keep trying to get her to sell these papers on Etsy. They are so unique! Her process involves gelatin printing, textures, rubber stamps, stencils and anything else she can find to make it all come together. At our Art Retreat last month I got to try my hand at Shari's printing process- what fun! I just don't have the same feel for it that Shari does though. I love her papers and am lucky enough to receive some as gifts every now and then. The original book was just a photo album. I kept the original clear pocket pages and added in some lavender and purple card stock paper. I like journals where you can tuck items into it and write on the pages at the same time.

This little piece was the 3-D challenge from last month's Art Retreat. Again it's an up cycled item that I picked up at my local thrift store. Using the papers I designed in the gelatin printing session of the retreat, some sea shells and a few clay fish beads I created this treasure chest fir for any mermaid! This box measures about 3" x 5" and the drawer pulls out. Sorry this picture washed out a little on me.

And finally- I saw an altered spoon for the first time as I was blog hoping the other day. I love altered art and as soon as I saw it I had to try for myself. I used a vintage serving spoon- measures 9" long and the bowl holds 1/4 of liquid. I have been fascinated with all things Alice and a spoon needs a tea party right? I had this vintage image of a young lady and her dolls having a tea party from my favorite place to get images- Altered Artifacts-

a couple of brass crowns, a clock face and the words "tea time" in glass alphabet beads and I was on my way to altering my first spoon.

All of these items are available in my Etsy shop. Now, I need to figure out what I want to do with this pile of rhinestone jewelry and a travel case that needs some TLC....

Artsonia "Artist of the Week"

2011-03-09T10:44:00.000-06:00

I participate in Artsonia- the world's largest online art museum of children's artwork. I teach over 60 kids in the studio from Pre-K through high school. This week two of my students have been nominated for "Artist of the Week" Please take a moment and go vote for them. Thanks!

Tori611

Carly602

Pay It Forward

2011-03-08T10:34:00.000-06:00

I am participating in a great blog event called "Pay it Forward 2011". I heard about it from Cricket at Gypsea Nurse and I just knew I needed to be a part of it. Here is the deal:

The first 5 people who comment on this post will receive a gift handmade by me, Laura of artworks-and-beads. In return, you must write a blog post explaining Pay It Forward 2011 and send your first 5 commenters a gift handmade by you. It's a great way to make new friends and spread some handmade love around Blogland. With all of the talent that abounds around here, it should be a very fun time. No rush to send them out today or even tomorrow, but do make sure you send them out.
"It's not the size of the item that matters, but the spirit of paying it forward."

"I believe in Karma. If the good is sown, the good is collected. When positive things are made, that returns well."

Yannick Noah

You need to wander over here

2011-03-03T21:59:00.000-06:00

This blog has some wonderful free tutorials! Sunflowers & Dragonflies and right now beth has some terriffic blog candy she is giving away! It's worth a look!

window to the future

2011-02-23T12:43:00.001-06:00

The first two weeks of February I participated in a blogging event called "One World One Heart". This was an amazing gathering of creative people from all over the world. I visited each and every blog- all 800+ of them. Part of the event was to have thank you gifts for the people who stopped by your blog and left a comment. For me it wasn't about the possibility of winning a prize it was about seeing all the diverse talent "out there" The World Wide Web is aptly named.
Today in my mailbox was this piece:

Isn't it wonderful? It measures 4 x 6" and is absolutely delightful. This was made by Helen Campbell of Washington. I am now following her blog "Nature's Walk Studio". The title of the piece is "Window to the Future" I am already planning on framing it. It uses the techniques of image transfer, collage and wax. LOVE IT!

I took a class this summer and dabbled in using wax on ATC's. We dipped our pieces in wax and I like the look and feel of it. In this case the fine coating of wax looks like it was maybe brushed on and it gives this piece an aged patina that is so cool.

This past weekend I hosted my first ever Art Retreat in the studio and one of the techniques I got a really good feel for was image transfer. (finally! Thanks Cecelia!) I think I'm going to dig out the crock pot that I melt beeswax in and do some experimenting!

"Curiouser and curiouser"

2011-02-17T15:30:00.000-06:00

Here it is. The finished version of the pocket watch. Thanks for all of you who told me what you preferred for the watch fob. The bottle won hands down!

Oh my Ears and Whiskers....

2011-02-16T13:35:00.000-06:00

...I'm Late!

Once again I've been lost in Wonderland. Everything in the project except for the White Rabbit on a penny farthing bicycle was found in my studio. I have a lot of stuff... A LOT.

I also need to give a nod and a Thank You to Inka at Altered Artifacts for her digital images. Some are free on her blog and others I purchased from her Etsy shop.

I am not sure what I want to title this piece. I am open to suggestions.

So what have you been creating? And where do you find your inspiration and materials?

Post a comment. I love hearing from you!

here's the deal...help me decide

2011-02-13T15:53:00.001-06:00

I need finish this piece called "Curiouser and curiouser" James made me a wooden pin and I have a brass ring that I will be attaching to the back of the piece so it will look like a pocket watch. My plan is to then attach a chain to the ring that will hang on the wall draped beside the watch. My big question is what to use for the fob?

I have three different ideas floating around inside my head.

A small glass bottle with a blue ribbon tied around it's neck and a tag that says "Drink Me"
A vintage tea cup and saucer
A playing card minion.

Please leave a comment and let me know which one YOU think it should be.

I just can't decide!

The Butterfly Project

2011-02-08T23:27:00.000-06:00

As some of you may already know I am participating in this incredible blogging trip around the world until February 17th. I have seen some amazing artwork and have "met" the most generous people. This post really caught my eye "the Butterfly Project" at the two dresses blog.

Each year I try to do a project with my art students that makes them think about the impact their artwork can have. Last year we participated in the Global Art Project for Peace. When I read about the Butterfly Project I knew we had to contribute.

"The Butterfly Project" is hosted by The Holocaust Museum in Houston Texas, USA. The Holocaust Museum Houston is dedicated to educating people about the Holocaust, remembering the 6 million Jews and other innocent victims and honoring the survivors' legacy. Using the lessons of the Holocaust and other genocides, we teach the dangers of hatred, prejudice and apathy.

Stop Hate. Starting Here.

yeah~

On my other blog outside-the-lines I wrote about the give a damn campaign so I knew I had to not only get involved but help spread the word.

What is this all about?

The Butterfly Project mandate is to remember the 1,500,000 innocent children who perished as a result of the Holocaust by collecting 1.5 million handmade butterflies. In Spring 2013, these butterflies will then become an exhibition to serve as a memory of this event.
Why a butterfly? Good question. They chose a butterfly based on this poem:

I Never Saw Another Butterfly

The last, the very last,

So richly, brightly, dazzlingly yellow

Perhaps if the sun’s tears would sing

against a white stone....

Such, such a yellow

Is carried lightly ’way up high.

It went away I’m sure

because it wished

to kiss the world good-bye.

For seven weeks I’ve lived in here

Penned up inside this ghetto.

But I have found what I love here.

The dandelions call to me

And the white chestnut branches in the court.

Only I never saw another butterfly.

That butterfly was the last one.

Butterflies don’t live in here, in the ghetto.

Written by Pavel Friedman, June 4, 1942

Born in Prague on Jan. 7, 1921.

Deported to the Terezin Concentration Camp on April 26, 1942.

Died in Auschwitz on Sept. 29, 1944.

My oldest daughter is the same age as the young man who wrote this and died at the age of 23. I have three other children...living their lives in freedom....I see a butterfly as a symbol of hope and beauty in an ugly world. So many dreams died with each child ... so much potential lost.

I have to make a butterfly. My students will be making butterflies too. (They have a wonderful curriculum for educators here) I will tell them a little bit about the Holocaust - about the children. You see children are innocent and tragic casualties of war. Not just a war that happened 65 years ago but the wars that are happening today.

So, I am inviting each one of you who read this to take the time to make a butterfly.

"Children are the world's most valuable resource and its best hope for the future”

John F Kennedy

Will you join me? Make a butterfly? This link will take you to some wonderful free butterfly patterns

With a nod to Gandhi- I am going to be the change I want to see in the world.

This is what I want to do. I want you to make a butterfly. Follow the instructions as outlined by the Holocaust Museum highlighted in green below. When your copyright free butterfly is completed, pop it into an envelope including your name, email and blog or web address and mail it to:

Artworks Studio
PO Box 74
Carroll, IA USA 51401
Artworks Studio DEADLINE - May 1st 2012!!!!

I would like to take a picture of each butterfly I receive and post them in my art room for my students to see and on my blog. As soon as your butterfly arrives I will take a picture of it and then email you that it arrived safe and sound. I will also let you know via email when I post the butterflies on my blog. I will then send off ALL of the butterflies to Houston. (I have borrowed this idea from Trudi Sissons - Two Dresses Studio)

If you want to borrow this idea from me and have your own Butterfly event please feel free to do so. Let me know about it so I can see how your project is coming. If you just want to make a butterfly and send it directly to the museum the address is below. Butterflies need to be received at the museum by June 30th, 2012.
Holocaust Museum Houston
c/o Butterfly Project
Education Department
5401 Caroline St.
Houston, TX 77004

~Instructions for Making the Butterfly ~

•Butterflies should be no larger than 8 inches by 10 inches.

•Butterflies may be of any medium the artist chooses, but two-dimensional submissions are preferred.

•Glitter and all glitter-related products should not be used.

•Food products (cereal, macaroni, candy, marshmallows or other perishables) also should not be used.

Getting "Dolled" UP!

2011-02-07T13:46:00.000-06:00

I have had a couple of very nice young ladies - with impeccable taste for fun and fashion- approach me in the last few weeks. They each want me to create something unique just for them. One is for college graduation and the other is for high school prom.

I love a challenge! And the chance to cut loose and have fun- because "FUN" was the emphasis from both young ladies.

The soon to be college grad- Cece- sent me a picture of her graduation shoes- ABSOLUTELY LOVE

THESE!!!!

Aren't they wonderful and fun! So what Cece wants is a necklace to go with the shoes. Something equally fun and flirty and one of a kind.

A week later in walks KT B. She has this pair of sandals for prom and wants them to have more pizazz and fun.

Cece - meet- KT B; KT B. - meet- Cece!

So many ideas - so many directions to go....

Needless to say I have been very busy surfing Etsy for all sorts of unique embellishments I can use to create something wonderful for these two fashionistas!

Foe Cece's bib style necklace I am going to start with this lace piece for the base and embellish it with vintage rhinestones, shabby organza roses and - if I can find it some finely pleated satin ribbon plus a few other fun dangly things.

For KT B's sandals I have my eye on these bows to start with....I'll know for sure as soon as she brings me her dress and other accessories.

It is going to be so much fun! Keep checking back- I will post pictures of the finished pieces!

Dear Prince Charming

2011-02-06T20:14:00.000-06:00

Sending Regrets. Love, Cinder

Cinderella opted NOT to go to the ball. She'd rather have some fun!

Had a lot of fun making this treasury while the guys were watching the super bowl. To see the full treasury click on the link.

falling in love...

2011-02-02T13:31:00.000-06:00

I'm not ani-Valentine's Day by any means. I just have this different outlook on life. Last summer- (oh how I miss thee Summer)- I spent a weekend at an art retreat. Lot's of fun and ended up with these 6 x 6 inch canvas panels with interesting backgrounds. I enjoy workshops but there isn't enough time and you can't drag all your stuff with you on a airplane.

So yesterday as I was surfing through my snowday an idea popped into my head. This is the result~

Of course I used collage pieces from Inka's wonderful offerings on Etsy .I also have quite a collection of vintage photographs in my private stash of stuff.

I even managed to trick my printer into accepting a page from an old book to print my words on. Someday I am going to design a printer that does what I want it to do. Are you listening HP?

Enjoy!

Bob Marley was amazing!

2011-02-01T14:48:00.000-06:00

Curiouser and curiouser!

2011-01-26T21:44:00.002-06:00

I have been busy on eBay recently. I haven't been able to get to some of my favorite junky haunts so eBay has to be my stand in. I won a bid for a lot of clock faces. They arrived Monday and they were delightful. No idea what I want to do with them but that has never been an issue before. One of the pieces is 16" across with a pearl finished clock face and marked "Made in West Germany". The cool thing about this clock face is that it had a hinged frame attached to it with the bubble glass still in place. This got me to thinking......

a couple of months ago I purchased some collage sheets from my favorite Etsy seller Altered Artifacts an Alice in Wonderland Articulated Paper Puppet Theatre. Three sheets of wonderful full color images from the John Tenniel illustrations.

I added some other embellishments that I had in the studio. A miniature glass bottle with a cork, a gold key, an interesting watch face that I liberated a while ago from an ugly watchband, and some paper flowers.

I am almost finished with the piece. I am working on making a stem for the top with a ring and a chain so it will hang on the wall and look like an over sized pocket watch of "Wonderland" I am kicking around ideas for a watch fob to hang from the chain. Tea pot? Key? Top Hat? If any of you have an idea leave a comment. I am open to suggestions!

Close up of "Curiouser and curiouser!"

Oh Dear! Allice has gone missing again!

2011-01-24T10:35:00.000-06:00

"It's Half-Past Four, Time for Tea and Alice has gone Missing! Oh Dear! Where can She be?"

This Steampunk thing has me fascinated. I love the gears and watch faces and keys and all of that other gadgetry.So I can use up a lot of the junk I have been collecting over the years into something quite interesting.

My Very Dear Friend Inka, at Altered Artifacts sent me her Steampunk collage sheet to play with. I had just returned from a successful foray into my favorite thrift store with this wonderful vintage antiqued brass frame with original bubble glass. the glass is so old it has some wonderful flaws in it- I love rolled glass! The frame is stamped "Made in Italy" on the back which makes it even better!

The background is an original piece made by my talented sister Cecelia Comito - she used acrylic paint and gold leaf on this "fabric paper" and then different found objects to create texture in the wet paint.

I chose two pieces by Inka one of them from her Steampunk Collage Sheet available on Etsy. The little girl with the top hat and wind up key holding what appears to be an over sized fork in her hand. The other piece I used from Inka is "Alice's Tea Table" which she has posted on her blog as a freebie. ( make sure you check her blog thoroughly she has many wonderful free downloads for you to use!)

I also receive in my inbox twice a week emails from Dover Publishing with free download-able design samples. I have a file on my desktop dedicated to these wonderful images! That is where the old Bi-Plane and the tea cup came from. I hand colored these images with my artists watercolor markers. These markers create a watercolor look without the messing around with paints and brushes. The rest of the images in the piece are various stickers that I have in my collection.

Putting the Tea Table together in such a way that it would appear 3-D in the frame was a challenge. I had to take it apart and trim it 3 times to get it to fit just right. I also wanted the tea cup and airplane to stand out a bit so I used a piece of double stick foam on the back of them. The clock on the wall is from an old watch. I used this one because it is marked Victoria Rhein and I have set it to read 4:30.

and what will you do with all that stuff?

2011-01-15T10:10:00.000-06:00

When I make a decision to deep clean and re-arrange the gallery space in the studio it takes about a week to get it just right. Which means it looks like I am either moving in or moving out! Tomorrow I am getting a new display unit. I've been thinking about buying a new one for awhile because my needs have changed since I moved into this building. This display case just fell into my lap and it was FREE! Free is good! I have also acquired a really neat wooden trellis/gate and since it'll be another 5 months before I can put it in the backyard I am going to store it in the studio in the front window. I have some interesting ideas for a window display with it and some chili pepper lights and of course my umbrella skeleton and all those gears and empty frames....I will post pictures when it's finished OK?

mom...she's doing it again.....

2011-01-13T15:52:00.000-06:00

Those of you who really know me are aware of the penchant I have for moving things around. I am sure serious psychological analysis would reveal some deep seeded fear of something that I could blame on my mother.

Today the deep cleaning bug hit me.
Hit me hard.
So I started moving stuff and washing glass shelves.
When I looked at the floor I saw dust bunnies under the loom.
So I moved the loom to reach under it.
As I was sweeping under the loom I noticed the hand prints all over the front of the glass cases.
I started cleaning the fronts of the glass cases and noticed there were some smudges inside the case.
This meant I had to go around to the back side of the counter and get on my knees to reach the smudges.
As I was getting up I noticed how dusty my pants legs were.
So I got down on my hands and knees and looked UNDER the glass cases.
Now I was going to have to move the cases so I could clean under them....

and so it goes....but when I am finished the studio will look so sparkly clean so I can have another party.
Then I'm sure I'll have to start all over again.

snow days and power tools

2011-01-11T21:33:00.000-06:00

My dad was many things but handyman was NOT on his resume. Not one little bit. There were no power tools in my house and the only tool box belonged to my mom. Not that she was handy either but she was a bit more than dad was .My Dad had a handy man on retainer. No kidding. So where did I get this penchant for power tools? (I was giddy when James came home one day with a band saw. Oh the stuff I could cut up with that...)

Today was a snow day for us. Snow days mean I don't teach. If the kids can't go to school then they can't come to art class. I took advantage of an entire day of no interruptions to indulge in some jewelry creating. In all my years of junking I have accumulated quite a collection of old silverware. When I was in high school I used to wear a spoon ring that I "borrowed" from my mother ...(unfortunately I lost that ring at Reinharts Pits...slipped off my finger in the water) but I digress. Back to the old silverware. I find old silverware has a lot of charm and character and I found myself keeping some of the more interesting ones so I could maybe do something with them someday.

Someday is here. I've been in a search and re-purpose mode lately. Use it or give it away. That's when I came across the silverware. I Googled "uses for old silverware" scrolled through tons of images until that "A-HAH~" moment occurred.

Using my Dremel tool with the flexible shaft - this is my absolute must have tool for the shop- I went to work on some old silver pieces. And created two pretty unique bracelets. This one features matching salad forks and a round turquoise bead. The flatware has a sweet and delicate floral design on it. I was very pleased with the results.

So what do I do if I only have one piece of silverware in a pattern? And some odd links from a necklace? And some charms in the shape of a heart, teapot and key? Hmmmm......you get this bracelet. I call it Alice's Tea party. This bracelet features an interesting tea spoon with a hammered texture and a delicate Victorian design.

It's really too bad we won't get a third snow day because ideas are just buzzing in my head and I have about 40 more pieces of silver to play with. Like the fruit spoon and these vintage glass beads I picked up awhile ago in the shapes of apples, grapes, pears and bananas.....a fruit salad bracelet perhaps? We'll see........

Here's My Heart!

2011-01-08T22:31:00.000-06:00

A few months ago while surfing Etsy I came across a shop that I totally fell in love with. Altered Artifacts has an amazing shop. She creates collage sheets of vintage images and ephemera for artists to use in their artwork. I am also following her blog. Inka has a great shop, great blog and is a really nice person!

I volunteered to create some pieces using one of her new collage sheets. The theme of the collage sheet I was given to work with is called "Here's My Heart"

I am not a heart person. Never have been. So this was challenging for me to work with. That's a good thing because it made me work harder. Even though Inka said no deadline I put a self imposed one on me because I know what a procrastinator I can be.

The piece is called " I will love you forever". Back in August I attended a three day creative conference in Chicago. One of the classes was all about creating backgrounds using medias I had never played with before. I left the workshop with 10 6 x 6 canvas panels with some pretty interesting textures and layers on them. The background for this piece is one of those panels. It has layers of paper ephemera collaged over paint and then textured with bubble wrap and lace and this new product from Krylon called spray gesso (great stuff by the way!) The three cherubs are images from Altered Artifacts. The rest of the items in the collage were all found in the studio. The white rose and two butterflies are stickers, the stars and the large cherub at the bottom left of the collage are rubber stamps I had on hand. using StazOn Ink Pad in brown ( this too a wonderful product for rubber stamping on just about anything). In the upper right corner is a portion of a gold foil doily with a resin 3-D face.

The second piece I made for Altered Artifacts is an ATC (artist trading card) called "Be Mine" The background for this ATC I made using a Distress Ink Pad by Tim Holz. These stamp pads give you a great grunge look. I generally use these inks by rubbing it over the blank ATC card. in the upper right corner I used a calligraphic line stamp and then placed a pink flower made out of acrylic jewels. The two cherubs were cut from one the vintage valentines on the Altered Artifacts collage sheet. I covered over the hearts these two little darlings were holding with faceted red acrylic jewel hearts. Unfortunately my photo doesn't pick up the brilliance of these little gems.

Art Show 2011- Exploring the Coral Reef

2011-01-03T14:50:00.000-06:00

I spent the past few days of my post holiday R&R thinking about the Spring Art Show. Once we get past the New Year times seems to speed up. Because I have over 60 students this year I have decided to have the Art Show in the Carroll Arts Council/Community Theatre Black Box. All sorts of bare walls just waiting to become a temporary art gallery and I really wanted something that would have that "WOW!" factor.

....after watching "Finding Nemo" for the "eleventeenth" time with my granddaughter Norah - I had a eureka moment! Why Not Create A Coral Reef? Brilliant!

With a little help from my associate, James, we are going to build a black light room in the CAC/CCT's little theater. This has me very excited. I get to combine my love of theatre with art. All of my students will contribute to the Coral Reef. I have one group slated to create some amazing branch coral in fluorescent colors, another group will concentrate on sea urchins while my high school students are down for tropical fish...I have yet to figure out the jelly fish and definitely have a handle on the sea turtles....totally...duude

Actually- at the rate the ideas are flowing right now I thibnk I have more projects than I do students to create them. But, that's OK, because it's better to have too many than not enough and some of them might turn out to be duds.

Sold the bracelet off my wrist

2010-12-16T19:52:00.000-06:00

so of course that meant I had to create a new necklace and bracelets to wear to a party I am headed off to in a little while. The necklace is made up of vintage jewelry components. The pendant was a brooch that lost it's clasp but I thought it was too pretty to throw away. The pearls are new Swarovski glass pearls in espresso brown with a big vintage cut glass bead in the center. Then there is a strand of vintage glass beads that I came across awhile ago that were broken apart and the clasp was missing. they were already linked together I just re-arranged the links. Add in a few bronze fire polish beads plus Swarovski resin cubes with copper rhinestones and you have this lovely confection and I am ready to go to a party!

See you later!

Holiday Hours

2010-12-13T19:14:00.000-06:00

Starting tonight I will be in the studio Monday through Friday from 10:00 AM until 8:00 PM. Saturdays and Christmas Eve I will be here from 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM. Your response to the up-cycle request was - as always- amazing! I am so happy there are so many other people out there who see the benefits of re-using things. So I am extending it until December 24th!

If you bring in 6 paper shopping/gift sacks or jewelry sized gift boxes you will get 15% off one item in the studio.

Vintage and new rhinestone jewelry. Handmade neck scarves.

Handmade paper star lanterns from India......and so much more!

Shop local! Shop hand made!

Seriously- clean out that stash you have and take home something beautiful just for you!

I just love a party!

2010-12-03T09:36:00.000-06:00

Last night was my first Open House in the studio. We had so much fun. My besties- Sherry and Susan wore black dresses and stunning necklaces. Sherry wore this lovely Robin Rush rhinestone piece I have and Susan wore a necklace I designed just for her in purple- her favorite color. We were dripping in sparkles. I of course wore my tiara.

Susan's crystals and pearls

One of the guests suggested I declare That from now on it shall be known as Tiara Tuesday and Tiara Thursday. I just might- because I can. It was such fun to watch the ladies "oooh" and "ahhh" over the baubles in the studio. I got to visit with some friends I haven't seen in awhile too. Which is always very nice.

Siberian Soap Co

One of the hits of the evening were the artisan soaps made by Ann Stuadt from Ames, Iowa. These wonderfully scented creations delighted everyone who stood by the table. There will be a lot of nice smelling people happening around here if the number of bars that went home are any indication. Siberian Soap Co. is brand new and the big debut was at my open house. All the soaps are plant-based and nature inspired. She even has soap for dogs! I have the Zen Garden bar sitting on my desk so I can pick it up and smell it when I need a refreshing break- it is so calming and so wonderful. Ann also makes salt and sugar scrubs and lip balms. The Siberian Soap Co. has a permanent home at the studio and so far Zen Garden is my favorite...but the Harvest Moon is pretty delightful too as is the Cedar Wood Sage...... I will just have to try them all at home.

Sherry's Robin Rush necklace

Susan, Sherry , Ann and I were kept very busy all night helping our guests find the perfect gift or filling out their wish list so they could receive the perfect gift. I am already planning my next party. Valentine's Day? I already told Ann to come up with some sexy smelling soaps and some kissable lip balm flavors. Hmmmm...Valentine Vixen Party....? I'll let you know.

great idea but....I DISLIKE cutting glass

2010-11-29T14:47:00.000-06:00

A couple of years ago those glass balls with the long tube for watering your plants were all the rage. I thought they were pretty cool too and bought some to put in a vase like a bunch of flowers. The colors are so pretty with the sun shining on them. I have noticed that a lot of these babies are showing up in my favorite thrift store. I have this bright idea of what to do with them but can't seem to get my bottle cutter to work for it. I want to cut off the tube and put a piece of felt over the opening so the ball can sit on a table....or in a bowl.

The Dremel tool is not the answer ( yes I wore safety goggles) so....anyone have an idea on a safe and easy way to cut these off or would be willing to cut them off for me I would love to hear from you. I really do not like cutting glass. I will do it on a flat pane of glass - if I have to- but I will go out of my way to avoid it.

Use it up, wear it out, make it do or do without

2010-11-27T12:20:00.000-06:00

Bring in 6 gift boxes or paper shopping bags and recieve 15% off any item in the studio.

For those of us whose parents lived through World War II this was heard a lot. It was a mind set that helped many people get through some very lean years. Clothes were handed down to siblings or cousins, broken things were mended until there was nothing left to mend. Being thrifty was something to take pride in because it was "for the boys over there"

Not so much anymore- with affluence comes waste and we are a wasteful nation. That bothers me. You see, our natural resources are not infinite. I have been the butt of much kidding over the years for being able to make something from nothing. For re-purposing items that most people would throw away. I was raised among a very large group of strong minded opinionated women. They were mostly Aunts and Great Aunts and a couple were cousins of my mother but were lumped into the group I referred to as the "Loony Ladies" There were 9 of them and each one was quirky and loud and thrifty. One of The Loony Ladies used to say:

"If you take care of the pennies the dollars will look after themselves".

If you asked Aunt Lu where she got the new mixing bowl or rolling pin or picture on the wall her response always was:

"I got it at a garage sale for a quarter"

Aunt Mary was a bargain shopper- Younkers downtown in the bargain basement would offer such treasures. The one I remember best were the summer dresses she bought for the youngest 5 girls in the family. These dresses had matching bloomers underneath so when you twirled around no one could see your underwear. Mine was pink with big polka dots! Aunt Emily took frugal to heights I won't even go into here. Suffice it to say when she held forth on ways to save money it made for interesting commentary in later years. I mean -

"If you're going to bake a turkey then for Pete's sake BAKE a TURKEY"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

It's time for me to restock the shelf of empty jewelry and gift boxes and paper handled shopping bags. I could order new ones complete with my logo in shiny gold letters. I prefer not to. I aks my customers, family and friends to go through their stash of paper goods at home and bring in thier excess boxes and bags. Anyone who brings in at least 6 boxes or bags or a combination of them get's 15% off anything in the studio. This is the only sale I ever have. I figure it's a win-win. I get boxes and bags out of it you you get to take home something wonderful.

"AH-HAH!!!!!"

2010-11-24T15:01:00.001-06:00

I get asked quite often where my ideas come from. That's an interesting question because my ideas come from all over. There isn't a "go-to" place where I can randomly pick an idea and run with it. Sometimes my ideas are a random incomplete concept and sometimes I can see the finished piece clear as day before I have even started. Then there are the projects I start thinking one thing and it turns in completely different direction and looks nothing like the original idea. Once in awhile I will be working on one piece and the mess on the bench will suggest another piece to me. I am always working amongst these huge messes. I try to kep it looking neat and tidy- huge fail.
I don't keep a formal sketch book. I mean not like what I had to keep in school- I don't draw everything out. What I do have are several blank books. Some are small and thin enough to slip into my pocket and some are purse sized. At last count there are 21 of them. I always have one of these on hand because I never know when an idea may hit me-especially when I am traveling. I might see something someone is wearing or a combination of colors I find striking that I never would have thought to put together. I make notes and little sketches in my books. Sometimes I tear a picture out of a magazine or catalog and that goes into the books too. Maybe I read something funny or came across a word that for some reason I needed to remember- yep- in the books.

When I find that I am blocked or uninspired I will flip through the books hoping something will jump out at me. I have found that I will consult these books when working on a project looking for that one thing that I know the current project needs.

So last night I am in bed, letting my mind wander as I try to get to sleep and all of sudden it hits me. I have to make this bracelet. I cold not sleep now- this bracelet was shouting at me to be made. I was just about ready to get up and get dressed and head to the studio at 11:00 at night. So I grabbed the book by my bed and made a little sketch. I have had these amber beads for a long time and I like working with them on gloomy days because the color reminds me of warm summer days soaking up the sun. I also like pairing amber with sterling silver and I had ordered these tube beads several years ago thinking I would make a choker with them and never got around to doing that. While looking for something else on the bench I came across those beads and filed it in the back of my head to do something with them sometime. And I did. And this is what I came up with. Amber and sterling silver- my little bit of sunshine today because it is drizzling and cold and just plain icky outside.

Santa Baby...I've been an awfully good girl

2010-11-22T10:11:00.000-06:00

I have been back at it in a bricks and mortar space for close to 5 years now and I haven't had a party since year one. I am having a Santa Baby Open House on December2nd. I figured sometimes we women just have to give the guys a little nudge in the right direction when it comes to what we really want for Christmas. There will be wine and cider, finger foods and music. I have been ordering new items like a crazy rhinestone junkie for the open house. There will be all sorts of scarves, earrings, bracelets, necklaces, and purses just for your wish list. There is no reason at all for you to get a toaster or a vacuum this Christmas. Ladies- you come to the party, fill out the wish list postcard and I will get it mailed to your sweetie the next day. If you can't make it to the party you just come down anytime and fill out your wish list...we women have to stick together.

Santa baby, slip a sable under the tree, for me

Santa Baby Open House
Thursday December 2nd 7:00 PM - 10:00 PM
Hats and TIARA's are encouraged!

I've been an awful good girl
Santa baby, and hurry down the chimney tonight
Santa baby, an out-of-space convertible too,
light blue
I'll wait up for you dear
Santa baby, and hurry down the chimney tonight
Think of all the fun I've missed
Think of all the fellas that I haven't kissed
Next year I could be oh so good
If you'd check off my Christmas list

Santa honey, I wanna yacht and really that's
Not a lot
I've been an angel all year
Santa baby, and hurry down the chimney tonight

Santa cutie, there's one thing I really do need,
the deed
To a platinum mine
Santa cutie, and hurry down the chimney tonight

Santa baby, I'm filling my stocking with a duplex,
and checks
Sign your 'X' on the line
Santa baby, and hurry down the chimney tonight

Come and trim my Christmas tree
With some decorations bought at Tiffany's
I really do believe in you
Let's see if you believe in me

Santa baby, forgot to mention one little thing,
a ring
I don't mean a phone
Santa baby, and hurry down the chimney tonight
written by J. Javits and P. Springer
originally sung by Ertha Kitt

Oh yes, and by the way- I'll be wearing my tiara that night.

what do you want to be when you grow up?

2010-11-09T11:07:00.000-06:00

I have watched three of my four children struggle with this question for the past several years. One is in grad school now and she has a pretty good grasp on her career and how to achieve what she wants. Carolyne has always had a plan that is at least five years out and she pretty much sticks to it and modifies when she needs to.

Kelsey and Biz, who are in undergrad are still working on it. Kelsey has narrowed her focus to where she is headed and what she wants to do with her life.(After three years of college I would hope so!) Biz, who just started her first year of college with a fiery passion for music and through music she was going to make a difference! She has begun the painful process of discovering that this passion is not a good fit for a career choice in fact all of her music classes are making her miserable. That would be a pretty good indicator that this is not what she wants to spend the rest of her life doing.

Mohandis Gandhi

She wants to change the world and all I can think of to say to her is:

"Be the change you want to see in the world"

and

“The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.” Gandhi

Whatever path she chooses I will still love her no matter what and I will be proud of her because I know that whatever she chooses she will do it with love and with a fiery passion to make a difference. College is where you discover who you are and what you want. Some people figure it out before they get there and just march right through college and then out into the world. Others need to take a little more time and explore different paths. It took me a little over 40 years to figure out what I wanted to be when I grew up and quite a few years in the school of hard knocks. I don't want that for my children I want them to find a career that they love because then they will never have to work a day in their life.

Smith Corona Manual Typewriter circa 1930

2010-11-04T11:26:00.000-05:00

Yep. I have one. What an amazing piece. Shiny black, sleek lines, perfectly round keys...it's a beauty. I was digging around in the basement looking for some more steam punk type items for my front display and there it was. In the original case with the cleaning brush and owners manual. I love old typewriters. Keyboarding is just not the same as the click clack of keys hitting the batten a ringing bell and the ziiiiiiiip! sound of moving the carriage back across the page for the next line. I am searching for someone who repairs old typewriters. This one isn't broken it just needs a cleaning and a new ribbon. I am going to use it for my cards. No more fonts to look like my mother's typewriter for me from now on. I am using the real deal. In fact I am going to start typing letters to my daughters who are away at college. There was nothing quite like getting a typed note from Mom in the mail- even if it was on Bill Comito Insurance memo paper in triplicate. Every third letter you'd get the original and my other two sisters who were in college same as me would get the other two copies. Oh yeah- and she'd always sign her name in purple ink. I kept every one she sent.

you don't ask you don't get...willing to trade

2010-11-01T13:57:00.000-05:00

So I am asking. Each year I try to create a window for the holidays in the studio that does not use red and green together. Two years ago it was lime green, orange and purple. And last year it was my silver and gold artists mannequins up to shenanigans. This year I am headed in the steam punk direction. What is steam punk you ask? I am glad you did. Steam punk is sci-fi meets the Victorian Age. Where machines ruled and anything powered by steam revered.

Ok....I am looking for a few items to borrow OR TRADE. An hourglass would be wonderful. As would anything that looks like it is old and mechanical or part of a machine. An old trunk would be lovely too. I could kick myself for getting rid of the globe from my house..... I have one in my garage but can not access it due to the amount of stuff in front of it- like a dishwasher. Does ANYone need a dishwasher? I have one cheap! in my garage and would love to get rid of it.

Anyway- a very large round clock would also be fun to use.

On another note- I am looking for cogs and wheels- like from the inside of a clock or watch and old keys for some small pieces I am working on.

Except for the dishwasher which does not belong to me - I am storing it- I would be willing to trade for anything like the items I have mentoioned. Stop by the studio and we'll talk.

art is not a thing it's a way

2010-10-29T09:11:00.000-05:00

“If we removed all the art in the lives of our children,

there is no way that

adding more math,

increasing more reading,

requiring more science,

mandating more foreign language,

or scheduling more computer courses

could replace what they would have lost.”– Unknown

bringing back imagination!

2010-10-27T11:49:00.000-05:00

"Look! I found a treasure chest!" was the drawing prompt I gave to Griffin yesterday. He drew a treasure chest on a beach with the sun in the sky. The chest was filled with orange triangles. When I asked him to tell me what was inside the chest he gleefully shouted "Pizza!"

Today's kindergarten is totally different from the one I remember. My kindergarten was filled with imagination. We had dress up clothes- my favorite was the gray "mink" stole and the pearl earrings. There was an area of the room with a kitchen, couch, chair and baby bassinet scaled down to our size for playing house. In the corner was the clay crock. I loved the smell of the clay crock. It was this large ceramic crock with a heavy lid that was filled with this awesome off white modeling clay. On the other side of the room was a huge assortment of wooden blocks in so many shapes and sizes. You could really build a castle with those blocks! It wasn't all play time but studies have proven that when a child is engaged in play they are learning.

Kindergarten isn't like that anymore. Creativity and imagination are like muscles- you don't use them you lose them. Experts are acknowledging that the loss of creative play is having some negative consequences. Kids who are involved with plenty of self-directed creative play develop better abilities to regulate their own behaviors and emotions, compared to other children. Creative play gives kids a chance to practice policing themselves.

After floundering about the past 8 weeks with my class of 5-6 year olds I have decided to introduce these kids back into the world of imagination. Where they can create any world they wish with a pencil and paper, paint and glue. In this class it's not about the product- it is the process. I am purchasing some awesome off white modeling clay so we can create sculptures during free time. If I had a bigger room we'd have an area for dress up and we'd put on some plays. I think I need to do some of this with my 7-8 year olds too. I have too many who rush through their work and never really become engaged in their drawing.

We need more treasure chests filled with pizza!

hit the wall....it's time to quit

2010-10-14T12:00:00.000-05:00

I am passionate about children. Period. I believe that every child born has a gift to give the world. I am also passionate about art, theatre and libraries. There is one more thing I am passionate about and that is giving back to your community.
There are too many people who have forgotten about this and yet they still expect this same community to support them. I am just as busy as the next person. I am raising a family and running a business- both are 24/7 occupations. But because I am passionate about children and art and theatre and libraries I volunteer time in those directions. My life would be a lot easier if I did not volunteer and there are times when I regret saying yes and get a little cranky about it.

Why volunteer? Why get involved? ???

Because I care about children. Children live in my community. Therefore I get involved. I have one child left at home and in a little under two years he'll be gone and off to college. Does this mean I get to stop being involved? NO!

But there are times when I feel like I am banging my head against a wall. I am president of the Carroll Arts Council/Community Theatre (CAC/CCT). I have been president for 7 maybe 8 years? I don't know I've lost track. In that time I have seen the organization through some very rough times. I had some goals when I became president and I reached them. My biggest goal was to create a 50 seat theatre in our building for small shows. We've been using the Black Box Studio now for over a year. Another goal I had was to create a summer program for high school and college age kids who are interested in theatre to experience theatre outside of a school setting. We had our first program this past summer and I think it was successful.

Yesterday I told my board that I am resigning. It is not a decision that I made lightly. The biggest question back at me is WHY?!?
It's not the lack of funding or resources. Unfortunately the arts seem to thrive on shoe string budgets. It's not the work- I love costuming a show, making a set come to life and creating a mood with lights. It's not working with kids because I LOVE working with kids! So why am I leaving something I feel so passionately about?
There is no COMMUNITY in the Community Theatre anymore. Recently the CAC/CCT was asked to collaborate with the Public Library for a fundraising event for our new library. ( YES! A NEW library!!!!)The Library wanted us to produce an audience interactive murder mystery. I spent hours online searching for the right play, talking with the head librarian and the Friends of the Library Board. I spent more time promoting auditions and beating the bushes looking for people to fill all the parts. I still have 3 parts left to fill and will more than likely step into one of the roles myself because the show must go on. So I will be spending another 20 hours next week rehearsing the play and getting it costumed. When I asked one person who has an interest in BOTH the library (serves on the board) and the theatre to be in the show the response was:

" No, my schedule is insanely busy and I can't do it"

That stopped me so short I actually hit that wall I have been banging my head against.
This is for a good cause. This is for our COMMUNITY. This is for our CHILDREN!

I just can't do this anymore.

coffin trinket box

2010-10-07T15:55:00.000-05:00

Last year I bought some purses for the studio. They were in the shape of a coffin and pretty darn cool if you ask me. I had two of them left from last year and decided to do something to dress them up a bit. I removed the strap and turned the coffin every which way. On it's side, laying flat, standing up....I finally settled on converting it to a trinket or dresser box. Way back in the day people kept a small decorative box on top of their dresser to keep things in that were important or special to them.

In the early 1930's the Lane Cedar Chest Company used to give miniature cedar chests to young women about to graduate from high school by inviting them to pick up a free miniature chest at their local furniture store. My mother had one and it was filled with all sorts of bits and pieces; letters, receipts, photographs ,keys....I was fascinated by that little wooden box with it's tiny key on a red satin ribbon that hung from the lock.

I could have just left the box alone, after all it is a coffin and pretty cool just like that. But no, I had to dress it up a bit. So....going to my stash of ephemera and other embellishments I created this "Goth Box" complete with owl, ghost, black cat, clock tower and creepy kid. I even cut open the door and have a picture of a kid with a skeleton behind it. The edges are trimmed in sheer white ribbon with small spiders printed on it and each point of the box has a black ribbon rose on it.

Sweet huh?

desperately seeking .....

2010-09-29T10:49:00.000-05:00

....your stuff. Seriously. In my classes we use a lot of weird and unusual stuff to create our masterpieces. So if you are doing some cleaning and would like to re-cycle some of your stuff. Please do not hesitate to drop it off at the studio. Here's a list of items I am collecting for future projects with my students.

cancelled postage stamps

old sheet music

greeting cards- any holiday or subject

small doll accessories- you know- unmatched shoes, dishes, gloves, brushes all that tiny stuff that you always manage to step on with bare feet.

tiny trinkets- the stuff you get out of gumball machines and the empty bubbles they come in

misc. game board pieces- wood or plastic

keys

bottle caps

misc.broken jewelry or single earrings

wine corks

silk flowers

empty matchboxes

1/2 gallon empty jugs

plastic bottle caps of all sizes

aluminum tea light holders (save after burning candles)

beautifully shaped wine bottles in an assortment of shapes and sizes

toilet paper rolls

large round opaque bottles, such as those for bleach/cleaning fluid

and if you are cleaning out your craft cupboard and don't know what to do with those odds and ends of scrap papers and ribbons and stickers....

You get the idea.

it all starts with an idea

2010-09-28T10:52:00.000-05:00

Last week I started a project with my K-2 class that I am calling "The Monster Project" I gave each student a large sheet of black paper and a set of construction paper crayons. Then I told them we were going to draw monsters. I had a whole list of questions about their monsters. Questions like- what color is it? How big is it? How many eyes and arms and legs? You get the idea. Before I even got halfway through the list of questions they were off and drawing. I love to listen to kids this age draw. Before I knew it each student was caught up in a world they had created on paper and each monster developed a unique personality.

I decided that I was going to make their monsters real. I got the first one finished last night.

This is Megan and Maria. Megan and Maria live in the jungle and they like to play. What makes them so special is they have two heads. Megan and Maria was designed by Olivia who is a first grader.

After studying Olivia's monster for a bit I drew a simplified version of it. Then I went to my sewing machine and created this~ my version of Megan and Maria. I am planning on doing this for each of my students. I want them to see how an idea can come out of your head and onto paper and sometimes that idea can then be turned into something real.

Everything starts with an idea.

Peter Pan was right.....don't grow up

2010-09-24T10:30:00.000-05:00

Once in awhile you come across something that makes you think and smile at the same time. Like this:

"When my daughter was about seven years old, she asked me one day what I did at work. I told her I worked at the college - that my job was to teach people how to draw. She stared at me, incredulous, and said, "You mean they forget?" ~Howard Ikemoto"

The Pirate Bunny by Ben age 6

Yes grown ups forget many things. Like how to look at the world through the eyes of a child. At least three or four times a week I get an adult in the studio asking me if I teach lessons to adults. My answer is always no. I used to work with adults but I just can't do it anymore. Adults are so wrapped up in all that grown up baggage that they are very difficult for me to work with. Many adults go through their adult life with blinders on-too busy to stop and notice little things like the color of the sky as the sun is setting on a winter day. Or how brilliantly red a cluster of tulips can be on a sunny day in spring.

Too often I hear a child show a grown up their latest drawing and the adult says "That's wonderful! What is it?" Art doesn't always have to be something you recognize right away. You want total realism take a photograph. Art should make you think. Art should connect on so many levels with you. Even art done by a child. So the next time a young person comes up to you to proudly show you what they have drawn. Please, take a moment and really look at it. Give it some thought instead of an absent minded "....that's very nice" and say something constructive and real about it. You might miss a delightful drawing of a "Pirate Bunny"!

"All children are artists. The problem is how to remain an artist once he grows up." Pablo Picasso

I will not let a bunch of 6 year olds get the best of me...

2010-09-21T12:02:00.000-05:00

...not today anyway. So I mis-read this group of kids but then it's hard to get a handle on 6 year olds right away. Last week it was like herding cats. This group runs towards the silly. They like to tell stories while they work.

I spent most of yesterday trying to figure out a way to connect with all 9 of these highly creative kids. Last week one of the girls started talking about monsters. She wove this wonderful, magical story about this monster she was drawing. He was a friendly monster with these big bug eyes. That got me to thinking....

monsters from make your own monster

Today we are going to make monsters. We are going to use my super cool construction paper crayons on black paper and draw a monster. You see I saw this wonderful website where kid's illustrations were turned into a plush stuffed creature. The cost was $250! But the "plushies" or "stuffies" as they are called were wonderful- it made me want some of my own.

Zombie Katz by Laura

I like to sew and I make "stuffies". Those are my "Zombie Katz" on the right. I think I am going to surprise my students by creating a stuffie for each one of them from the picture they draw. I came up with a list of questions to ask my students about their monster before they draw them. After they are done with their drawing I am going to interview each child and ask them about their monster. This could work out wonderfully OR it could result in barely controlled chaos. Either way I think it'll be a lot of fun and the creative juices should be flooding across the room!

A is for....

2010-09-18T23:56:00.000-05:00

WHAT IF...

everyone knows A is for Apple and B is for Banana ... SoI had this great idea last week. You see I have always enjoyed alphabet books.

What if I came up with a list of words for each letter of the alphabet and had my art students illustrate them? Then what if I got a grant from the Iowa Arts Council and got the book published?

And then- what if I sold copies of the book to raise money for the new children's library?

For some reason Alphabet Salad popped into my head. Alphabet Soup is such a cliche that I didn't want to do that. Besides there are some great words out there that are so fun to say like- Arugula ,Artichoke, Brussels Sprouts and Asparagus. Kohlrabia, chicory and Collard Greens....I could keep going but you see where I am headed with this? ( I keep hearing The Major Generals song from the Pirates of Penzance as I write this!)

Tell me what you think about my idea and if you can think of any fruits or vegetables for my Alphabet Salad let me know. You just might end up in our book!

I think I created a monster

2010-09-17T10:56:00.000-05:00

This is a good thing. You know not all monsters are scary. My students catch on fairly quickly that there are some words and phrases in my classes that are not acceptable.

"I can't"

"That's too hard"

"I'm bored"

.............................................are the biggies

I'm bored are two words that make me crazy. Maybe it's because I knew when I was a kid if I said I was bored my mother would have a list as long as my arm of things for me to do before I could even finish saying it. Oh, and it usually contained housework. So I learned real fast to occupy my time on my own.

Sometimes in class kids will reach a stopping point on their piece and there is about 15 minutes of class left or less. I usually would let them do what I call free drawing. They could draw anything they wanted. This year I have a different plan. The week before classes began I set up the table in the gallery with papers, glues, rubber stamps, and some random ephemera. I didn't say a word about it to the kids. Yesterday two of the kids showed up to class early and were wandering through the gallery. When they saw the table they asked what all this stuff was for. I explained to them it was for making an ATC.

ATC's or Artists Trading Cards are little original pieces of art that are the same size as a deck of playing cards. They are meant to be traded only and not bought or sold. I then told the kids that if they made a card they could keep it OR they could trade it for one of the cards on my board. I had about a dozen cards that I had made on the board for just this purpose. As the kids started working two more students showed up and the next thing I knew the entire class was gathered around my little table making ATC's. It cut into class time by 10 minutes they were so focused on what they were doing. I finally got them to finish their cards so we could get to the art project. By the end of class cards had been traded on the board several times.

I am going to keep the table supplied all year and see what happens. I'd like to see each one of my students collect at least 24 cards by the end of the year. I am also encouraging people who wander into the studio to create an ATC to trade too. I would say that I have "perfectly captured" their interest with this activity!

Art is Girlie????

2010-09-10T11:26:00.000-05:00

Seriously? I was confronted with that statement yesterday by a 12 year old boy who was pretty hostile when he said it. At first I didn't know what to say. I mean I'm an artist and I'm a girl but that doesn't mean it's girlie. I'd just as soon as create a creepy Gothic type piece as I would a happy little sunflower. In fact the collage class I recently took in Chicago made me a bit uncomfortable because everyone was making these happy little birds and flowers on their collages and I was seeing Nightmare Before Christmas type figures in my piece.

So I had to think about it for a minute and explain to him and I hope I got my message across to him because his mom registered him for my after school art classes and I don't think he's happy about it. I would have cleaned my room and done dishes every day without complaining as a kid if my mom had signed me up for art classes.

Where does this kind of thinking come from? Is it because there are too many female teachers in the lower grades in school? Is it because kids don't get exposed to cultural experiences? Is it girlie to write music? sing opera? act or dance? Please don't tell Mikhail Baryshnikov that he's second rate because he dances and "girls" dance.

I guess it was the way he said it with this sneer and hostility that really took me by surprise. I felt this need to defend the female gender. Art is the one place where you can relax and just be. In math there is one answer and either you are right or you are wrong- and believe me I have experienced the humiliation of coming up with the wrong answer in math too many times to count. In art I was on equal footing with my peers because no matter what I produced it was truly mine. Freedom of expression! I know what it's like to be different and not fit into the crowd. I know what it's like to be on the outside looking in. From what his mom told me he's standing there too. So I have until Monday to come up with the best way to approach this boy and get him to relax and enjoy being creative. In the meantime I need to work on my skeletons...they are way too happy!

artist's retreat...

2010-08-31T16:56:00.000-05:00

just got back last night from Chicago. I spent some time being an artist and not teaching. It was wonderful and a great way to recharge the batteries. I can apply so much to my classes. I am hooked on Golden Pumice Gel- by using it on my canvas first I was able to create a piece that looked like it had been made out of rock. So cool especially since I like to do multicultural projects with my kids. Cave paintings will never be the same again! Got some great ideas for incorporating ATC's and altered books into my classes too. It's going to be a great year!

what's a three letter word for......?

2010-08-16T15:32:00.000-05:00

Have you seen my new work? I call them Photo Words. I take pictures of objects that suggest a letter of the alphabet or pictures of actual letters from signs. I have been collecting "words" to spell out. Words like: DANCE, IMAGINE, DREAM, LEARN and of course ART. I am looking for interesting and different words. LIVE, LAUGH, LOVE is everywhere you know? I also make these in people's names but I am looking for you know- edgy...cool... So throw some words out to me OK? In the meantime I'll keep walking around and snapping pictures.

Tempus fugit! let's have some fun then

2010-08-10T16:23:00.000-05:00

What is an Artist Trading Card? Please read the following:

Artist Trading Cards (or ATCs) are miniature works of art about the same size as modern sports cards or 2 ½ X 3 ½ inches (63 mm X 89 mm). The ATC movement developed out of the mail art movement and has its origins in Switzerland. Cards are produced in various media, including dry media (pencils, pens, markers, etc.), wet media (watercolor, acrylic paints, etc.), paper media (in the form of collage, papercuts, found objects, etc.) or even metals.
ATCs are NOT to be sold- ever. They are meant to be traded personally. It is important that you meet other people in person to trade - i.e. it is OK to trade by mail or to participate in editions but the main purpose of this performance is the trading session and the personal meeting.

It's not about money: participants in trading sessions and editions should not be charged any money: the point of the project is the exchange of cards as well as personal experience.

OK- now that the rules have been spelled out this is what I am planning to do. I am setting up a table in the studio filled with an assortment of collage materials. ANYONE who comes into the studio can and will be encouraged to create and ATC.

This ATC was created by me in about 5 minutes. I used an image transfer using Lazerton paper, a wax seal, German foil, stickers, Swarkovski crystals and a collage image of a clock face.

When I get enough people hooked on ATCs I am planning to have some trading sessions where you can trade cards with other people. I hope it catches on quickly because "time flies" especially when you are having fun!

looking back on the past 12 weeks

2010-08-05T12:00:00.000-05:00

Everyone says it and I'm going to say it too- summer goes by too fast. I must say that classes this summer went very well. 270 kids walked through the door and participated in an art class. We made tree houses, glass beads, bubble wands, altered books and mosaics. We drew comics, visited foreign countries, and took photographs. We made paper dolls and paper mache tropical fish. It was a lot of fun! And now it's August and school starts soon. But here are some memories of this past summer.....

by the way...I am already planning NEXT summer!

Miss Happiness and Miss Flower and the Ultimate tree House

2010-07-06T14:06:00.000-05:00

The summer after 4th grade my mother brought home a library book for me. She thought I should expand my horizons a bit and read something other than horse stories. The book she gave me was by Rumer Godden and it was called "Miss Happiness and Miss Flower" England is the last place Nona Fells wants to be. No one asked her if she wanted to leave sunny India to live in a chilly English village with her aunt's family - and her cousin, Belinda, just hates her! But when two dainty Japanese dolls arrive at Nona's doorstep, everything begins to change. Like Nona, Miss Happiness and Miss Flower are lonely and homesick, so Nona decides to build them their own traditional Japanese house. Over time, not only does Nona create a home for the dolls, but one for herself as well.

I fell in love with the Japanese culture through this book. I was fascinated with the dolls but most of all I was envious of the Japanese doll house they build. In the back of the book are the plans for the doll house that Tom builds for Nona. How I wished I had a clever older brother who could build such a house for me.Sadly-my father nor my brothers were handy . I did not own Japanese dolls but that didn't matter. I would make dolls for my house- if I ever got a house.

I compromised- I created a Japanese garden. I used a pop flat and lined it with plastic. Then I filled it with sand from the sandbox. I pried the mirror out of the hand mirror and brush set I got for my birthday and used it to create a pond. For trees I cut branches off the evergreen by the alley. I used pebbles to make a path. I couldn't make a clay lantern to put a candle in like Nona did in the book but I was pretty pleased with my garden...

Fast forward 40 years later- I am thumbing through a magazine waiting at the salon. There is an article about a math teacher who has his students build a tree house and it's all part of a math unit in his class. Can you see the light bulb go off in my head? What an awesome idea! What a cool class!

This summer I offered "The Ultimate Tree House" as a 5 week class. I provide the kids with a base with 3-4 branches drilled and glued into it. They get a supply of balsa wood, craft sticks, wire, walnut shells, slices of wood logs with the bark on them and other assorted items, a hot glue gun, coping saw, x-acto knife and a pencil. The only requirement for the class is they have to have more than one level, at least one level must have a structure on it with walls and a roof and every level needs some way to access it. Rope ladder, regular ladder, stairs, slide- there's no magic jumping from one level to the next.

What a fun project! Sessions 1 and 2 were half full. Sessions 3 and 4 are filled. I had people stopping in to see the progress the kids made on their houses over the first 5 week sessions. It wasn't until we got to the part where the kids started furnishing their tree houses that I thought about Miss Happiness and Miss Flower and how hard they wished for a house of their own...

I still have not built my Japanese doll house but I have my own copy of "Miss Happiness and Miss Flower" with the house plans in the back. I am going to try my hand at building my own doll house some day and then I am going to find a set of Japanese dolls to go inside. But in the meantime I am having so much fun watching this forest of doll sized tree houses under construction in the studio. This class is a keeper and I will offer it each summer until there aren't any children with imaginations left to take it!

Those crazy mannequins are back!

2010-05-14T17:09:00.000-05:00

Today I was Spring cleaning the studio which means taking everything apart and dusting and sweeping and all that lovely stuff. I decided the mannequins needed to come out and play again for summer. So here they are dancing and drawing and painting and getting into mischief!

summer time! I love Summer time!

2010-05-13T13:52:00.002-05:00

OK, in spite of the crummy weather summer will be here sooner than you know. Today the seniors had their last day of school. Then graduation. Then last day for the common students! Then it's SUMMER!

....and I am doing my happy dance!

I love teaching in summer. The kids are more relaxed and focused. I am more relaxed and I can do some pretty in depth projects.

Look at this list of classes I am offering!

Cartoons and Comics (Drawing)
Do you love to doodle and create your own characters? In this class we will look at different cartoon and comic styles for inspiration and then create some of our own. Students will learn how to develop cartoon characters, write a story line and create a cartoon strip and comic book.

Friday Afternoon Club (Crafts)
Friday afternoon and it’s time to get crafty in June. Come join the fun as we make prints using nature’s bounty, paint a ceramic piggy bank, knot some hemp bracelets and emboss a picture frame using metal foil.

Bubble Fun! (crafts)
Summer time is bubble time! Kids will create their own unique bubble wands using wire and beads. We will also make our own bubble solution and each participant will get a booklet of winning bubble recipes.

Kinder Artists
Young artists get to explore paint, glue, paper, markers and COLOR! It’s messy and it’s fun. Join Miss Morgan Gehling and explore the wonderful world of art.

Ultimate Tree House (Architecture)
You have been dreaming of building your own tree house for a long time but don’t have the time, space or resources to build one. This new class is where you think small –really small- as in dollhouse sized staircases and rope swings fit for a fairy. The only requirement for this class is a creative imagination, balsa wood, craft sticks and of course trees.

Altered Books (collage)
Altered book art combines several types of artistic techniques into one unique art form. Starting with a book base, the artist tears away pages and then adds their own creative expressions through rubber stamping, scrapping, image transfer, collage, photo montage, and writing.

Mosaic Art (collage)
Mosaic art goes as far back as 400 B.C. to ancient Greece where geometric patterns and scenes of people and animals were depicted by placing small pieces of different colour materials to create a picture. . You will learn how to create a wall mosaic using a variety of materials including glass gems, pre-cut ceramic tiles, and glass tiles.

Adventures in Art (mixed media/cultures)
One of my favorite activities is learning about other people and cultures. What better way than through art and craft projects. Come travel around the world with me! Each week we will visit places like Mexico, Poland, Japan and France.

Tropical Fish Fun! (Paper mache/painting)

Come under the sea with us as we make paper mache tropical fish. These three dimensional colorful fish will brighten up your summer!

Introduction to Drawing

This is a basic drawing class where students will learn to draw what they see using methods like blind contour and basic shapes. This is also a good class to take to improve drawing skills. It’s all about drawing with art pencils, charcoal, colored pencils and chalk pastel.

Photo Words! (Photography and computers)
Back by popular demand! Students will learn top look at everyday objects with new eyes as we walk around downtown and look for letters of the alphabet to spell out their name. Using digital photos and Photoshop –images will be transformed and put together into a unique wall piece.

Glass Bead Making (Grades 7 and older) Single session class
Participants will learn to make their own glass beads using a glass torch head with an open flame and special glass rods. You can get as creative as you want making your beads.

Paper Dolls! (Single session class)

Paper dolls are making a huge comeback and they are much better than ever before. Using templates, fine art papers, gems, jewels and patterned papers we will create the most wonderful paper dolls complete from hairstyle to foot wear.

Back to School Fashion Plan! (Fiber arts/surface design)

It is time to start thinking about what statement you want to make this year in school. In this class we will make jewelry, transform a pair of Capri’s or jeans into a fashion statement and create a one of a kind t-shirt all for your first day back to school!

Global Art Project for Peace

2010-05-07T15:59:00.000-05:00

The Global Art Project is an International Art Exchange for Peace. My students and I participated in the 2010 exchange. We created works of art in many different mediums that expressed our view of global peace and goodwill. This was a good project for many of my students. It sparked numerous discussions about what peace really means. For my younger students we spent several class periods talking about how each one of us could help create global peace everyday in the way we interact with our friends and classmates and people we meet as we go about our business. Our work was exchanged with a small starter private school in Tuscon Arizona. The mission of the Global Art Project is to joyously create a culture of peace through art. The Project spreads world peace by promoting tolerance and non-violence. The Global Art Project is an expression of the idea: We Are All One.

On May 21st from 4:00 to 6:30 PM Artworks Studio will host our Annual Art Show. This show is OPEN to anyone in the community. The art work we received from Waldorf School will be on display along with my students work.

Earth Day project

2010-04-22T15:42:00.000-05:00

Today in honor of Earth Day I made this journal. Everything you see here was found in my studio as I was making it. I took a photo album I had purchased at the thrift store and took it apart. Then I went through my stash of papers and hand cut papers for pages to fit the book. Some of the pages are half a wide as the regular pages so they can unfold to give you a longer pieces of paper to work with. I was going to just throw away the photo pages but then thought- NO! I will incorporate them into the book and a person could use the pockets for photographs or ticket stubs or even a leaf they found while on a walk. The cover was white fabric and it was very dirty. I painted it black and then used my gel medium ( I LOVE THAT STUFF!) to collage some oriental joss papers on the cover plus images of spring and earth. The entire book is held together by left over hemp from my son's obsessive hemp jewelry making phase. As I was looking through my stuff while making this journal I came across this quote - which is now in the bottom left hand corner of the front of the journal.

"All thinking worthy of the name now must be ecological" Lewis Mumford. Happy Earth Day!

TA! DA!

2010-04-15T15:16:00.000-05:00

The summer class schedule is finished and posted on my website and you can register at any time. Class sizes are limited so sign up early to make sure you get the classes you want. Looking forward to summer!

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2010-04-08T12:55:00.000-05:00

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Summer Class Schedule!

2010-04-08T11:27:00.000-05:00

After several hours of typing and revisions I can now say that the Summer Class Schedule is ready. On my website is a link where you can print out a copy of the class list and a registration form. My IT Guy told me it would load faster if I left out the pictures and me being a visual person had a hard time with it. Since he does all the website work for me out of the goodness of his heart then I guess I had to conceede the point.

BUT- that can't stop me from posting pictures here!

Altered Books will be offered for grades 5-9. This is an example of a book made by one of my students last year.

Photo Words For kids in grades 5-9 where we walk around downtown and look at objects in a new way to spell out a word. We use digital cameras and learn some basic photo editing in Photoshop.

Adventures in Art - one of my favorite classes to teach is where we travel around the world and explore different cultures through art and craft projects. Last summer we traveled through the ancient world. This summer we will be traveling through Eurpoe, Asia and Africa with maybe a stop in Australia. This class is for kids grades K-4.

Intro to Drawing is a basic drawing class for kids in grades K-6th. The primary focus of the class is to draw what you see. We will use pencils, charcoal, colored pencils and chalk pastels in this class. This is a sample of a piece done by a 4th grader last summer.

Summer Class Schedule

2010-04-07T11:11:00.001-05:00

I am finally getting the class schedule figured out- which means way too many hours in front of the computer. I enjoy teaching in the summer.We get to spend more time working on projects and the kids are a lot more relaxed. As is the teacher! This summer I am trying some new classes. The one I am really excited about is called Ultimate Tree House. The students will design a tree house and anything goes- it can have trap doors and multiple levels- whatever they want. Then using real tree branches, balsa wood and other items they will buil their tree house. I plan on taking a lot of pictures!

cancer sucks...and it really sucks for kids

2010-04-03T10:36:00.000-05:00

I have been working with the Kyla Miller Foundation (KMF) for over a year now designing jewelry for their shop. KMF is a non profit 501 (c) 3 foundation that is raising funds for pediatric brain cancer research. That means kids with brain cancer. Children...kids...cancer sucks but when you put a child into the equation it is a gross injustice. Children should grow up healthy- full of laughter and mischief and wonder and -LIFE!

Raising kids is a lot of hard work when they are healthy. Throw a life altering disease into the mix and I can not imagine how parents manage to deal with it all.

Back to the cancer.....
There is an entire sub-culture surrounding cancer patients that most people are not aware of. Your life narrows down to white blood cell counts and visits to the clinic and watching for fevers and hospital stays and all this while trying to keep this child calm and positive. Breast cancer with it's pretty pink ribbons gets the spot light and most of the research dollars. Kyla's family wanted her to be a part of clinical trials for her cancer and they have a teaching hospital right there - but- research dollars for her type of brain cancer only went as far as a 9 hour drive one way. Put that on top of being sick with cancer and the treatment which is sometimes worse than the disease and - well, it isn't right. Those Cancer Treatment Centers of America ads make me so mad. It makes it sound like ALL cancer is curable. That chemo and radiation will take care of everything. Most brain cancers are inoperable because you have to be very careful not to compromise brain function. No brainer huh?

Anyway- I got invloved with KMF because my older sister is a Pediatric Neuro-Oncologist at Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center in Hershey, PA. She was Kyla's doctor and now serves on the board of the foundation. I have always admired Melanie for her career choice- for using her talents to help people. Me? I'm just an artist...but not anymore.

After several phone calls and dozens of emails I have designed a set of jewelry- bracelet, earrings and pendant- incorporating the KMF logo- Heart of an Angel- the sterling silver heart in the center of the bracelet with pearls (the wings) on either side and gold rings (the halo)- there are 10 purple crystals in the bracelet that symbolize Kyla's ten short years of life. KMF is selling these items as a way to raise funds for Pediatric Brain Cancer (PBC) research. You see, Kyla's family took her short life and death as their perosnal misison to fight PBC with their foundation,because,on a national level, funding for scientific and clinical research for brain cancer is considerably lower than other types, such as colon, prostate, breast, leukemia and lymphoma cancers. The funding that is available is consolidated to a handful of research institutes. This makes it difficult for children to participate in medical studies because of cost, location and other considerations. Simply put, more funding is needed, and the research capabilities need to be brought into our own local communities. I am sure you have heard of Susan G. Komen right? And you associate her with breast cancer. I would like to see KMF become the Susan G. Komen of Pediatric Brain Cancer. Giving kids a fighting chance to become adults. Maybe it's just me but I find it to be totally wrong when a child dies. That it goes against nature. So, I am doing my part. I designed the jewelry and I personally make each piece. So do your part please. Spread the word. One person CAN make a difference.

It's Spring!

2010-03-24T14:55:00.000-05:00

...and I am working on summer classes. Some of the classes I will be offering are:

Glass Bead Making
Jewelry Design
Altered Books
Altered Jeans
Paper Dolls
Tree House Construction Zone
Intro to Drawing

This is just a start- there will be more. Look for details coming up on the website!

paper dolls and a party

2010-03-02T15:44:00.001-06:00

I have always played with paper dolls. I remember getting this wonderful set of wedding paper dolls for my 10th birthday and spending hours cutting out all the pieces and loving every minute of it. So I made this paper doll for my daughter Biz. She's working on the big "shrine" for her graduation party. I spent over an hour on just the face. Biz says it's almost creepy how much it looks like her. Oh yeah- and Biz insisted on the lime green high tops. So this weekend I am doing a birhtday party at the studio. We are making- you guessed it- paper dolls. Eight 3rd graders for two hours Saturday afternoon~ let the giggling begin!

Critters in the Studio

2010-02-16T10:51:00.000-06:00

The paper mache circus is coming along. I spent all day Friday with students and half of Saturday as well. We are trying hard to meet the February 27th deadline for this project. All Strings Attached director Becky Windschilt asked if my students could make circus animals for their March 7th concert. We didn't count on snow days throwing a "monkey" wrench in the process. I think the kids are enjoying it- if the sound level is any indication!

FYI.....

2010-02-05T11:11:00.000-06:00

...when working with paper mache refridgerate the glue if you need to keep it for a few days. If you don't it starts to ferment and turn really interesting colors. Just in case you were wondering.

Am I old?

2010-02-03T10:25:00.000-06:00

During art class last week with my high school students the conversation turned in the direction of Saturday Night Live. There was the usuual " that was so funny!" and "I didn't like that..." and then one student said she liked the classic SNL with the old people- they were much more funny. I jumped in on the convo and said me too SNL was much better with Gilda Radner and Lorraine Neuman and Garrett.....

They just stopped and stared for a second and said who?

.................sigh..........................

The Circus is coming to the Studio!

2010-01-30T18:55:00.000-06:00

Twenty seven of my students are working on paper mache. All Strings Attached director asked my if my students would be interested in making some set pieces for their spring concert. The theme of the concert is the circus. So right now I have an assortment of lions, tigers, camels, seals, monkeys giraffes and one bear. Students "sculpted" their animals by creating forms out of plastic shopping sacks, masking tape and cardboard. Next week the flour, glue and water goop!

First window display of 2010

2010-01-12T14:40:00.000-06:00

Last month I ordered a dozen of these artists mannequins. The price was right and they were painted metallic silver and gold. Inspiration struck yesterday on what to do with them when I found these moss covered styrofoam "rocks". I could see the mannequins climbing up the window..but how? A quick reconnaisance of the workshop and I had my solution. I cerated a ladder out of plexiglass strips and rope. Some glue dots to hold them in place and I had my window. Scatter in some pieces of jewelry on the mannuquins and the rocks and it is finished.

Scavanger Books!

2009-12-24T12:07:00.000-06:00

Recently a friend of mine stopped in the studio. "Help me! I have 9 kids age range 3-12 coming to my house and I need to keep them occupied for about half an hour!" After some brainstorming we came up with this idea- a scavanger hunt.

Divide the kids into teams with one clue book per team and a pencil.
Materials Needed:
small photo albums from the dollar store- one for each team
a digital camera
printer
photo paper
plain paper
pencils
scissors
small prizes

Walk around the three main rooms the children will be in while they are visiting your house.
Take photos of objects in the rooms- get creative with close-ups
print the pictures
put pictures in the photo album on one page
write clues for each photo on the plain paper and cut the papers to fir the album
tape the paper with the clue on the facing page from the photo and leave space on the paper for the teams to write the answer down

Hand out the Scavanger Books and set a timer for 30 minutes.
When the timer goes off the game is over and the persons with the most correct items in the Scavanger Album wins a small prize.

My friend reported back to me after her family's Chritmas gathering that the Scavenger Hunt was a success. Even the adults got in on the fun.