Big news!

The Log Cabin Center for the Arts
12700 Southwest Hwy
Palos Park, IL
708-479-7919


Creative Writing for Teens (grades 7 - 12) Instructor: Brent Palucki



6 Thursday evenings, beginning Sept 15, 6:30 - 8 p.m.


Creative writer Brent Palucki helps students work on descriptive paragraphs, short stories, and poems. Brent describes his personal writing style as that of a minimalist, using as few words as possible for clear concise communication. Brent will help each student develop their own style, through a series of writing assignments and fun and supportive class critique sessions.


Class Fee: $60. Please bring a notebook and your favorite pen or pencil.
 
Pass the word along if you know any young writing enthusists.   Yes!  This is "my" Brent!

Papermaking

On Sunday, Marge and I went to the Japanese Papermaking Workshop at LaGrange Art League.  JoAnne Laudolff guided us step by step in the making of this beautiful paper.

It was an all day class, and we each made about 30 pieces of paper.  Here they are on the pellon in class and then we carefully carried them home to dry overnight.  I couldn't wait until morning to peel them off and as you will see below, the results were worth waiting for. 

The paper!

They peeled off the pellon nicely and I hung them up to make sure they were completely dry.  I have this wonderful "round thing with clothespins" that I bought in Amish country one time and it was perfect for this load of wash!

I began taking pictures and couldn't resist taking them from all sides.

The paper is so light and airy ...

and looked so pretty, hanging by the window light.

I guess I would almost want to just leave it there and not use it ...

but I know a collage is waiting ...

and I hope the Muse comes ...

soon ...

with that inspiration.

Still at it!

So I told you that I have been buried in my basement for a couple of weeks now, cleaning my artrooms.  I forgot to take a "before" picture when I began this time, but here is one that I took a while back when I had plans of starting and it didn't happen.  Oh horrors!

Now here is yesterday.  I can see the table and the floor!  And I've been getting rid of and filing and filing and filing papers.  Now, I know, I need new containers to hold "stuff" on the right wall (and on the left wall and the walls in back of me, and something to keep it all from view, but at least I know where things are now and that's a big improvement.....and I promise I will put everything back when I am done using it.  But wait!  There's another room adjoining this one!  It's partly done from the last time I started, so maybe one more week.  Whatever it takes!
My thanks to Alyson B. Stanfield's online class "Go! Get Organized" at http://www.artbizcoach.com/ .

Little treasures

I'm still in my artroom, and as I am cleaning and sorting and filing and cleaning and sorting and filing...I am stopping to smell the roses once in a while.  I have so many little treasures that friends have given me and I wish they knew how much I do treasure them.  See that little mouse up there on that weed?  My friend Sue and I share "mouse stories" and she drew that little one that was sitting and swinging on that weed in her garden.

Here is some "fairy dust" she gave me one time.

This is "Miz. Rootie Tootie Heart Sprite", a wonderful character made up by our beloved friend, Ruth. 

A beautiful little card made and sent to me by my friend Bernie after a day of fun and creating here.  I have so many treasures like these and, as I sort through things, I am going to set them aside to put out all in one place where I can look at them every day because they make me smile. 

And here, among the stuff from when I used to do art shows, I found this package of my cards still in the bag that someone had purchased and then forgot on my table.  It was at The Fields on Caton Farm Road and I never found out who left it.  If you are the one who bought them, please let me know.  The package is still waiting for you.

A very special brunch...

My pictures didn't come out so good, but this was such a special afternoon that I wanted to make a journal entry on my blog.  Brunch with family that we don't see all the time, but when we get together it's like we've never been apart.  We can pick up right where we left off. 

A lovely home, Clare set a lovely table, and everything was delicious!  We talked and laughed; catching up on family news and happenings.

"Family and friends weave a sturdy nest of love, laughter, and good memories."  Marjolein Bastin

Still cleaning...

I've been in the basement sorting and sorting; organizing and organizing; filing and filing for days now.  This morning I can see the surface of my art table and most of the floor in one of the rooms!  It's amazing!

Ducks!

Danielle had a little lesson in drawing ducks the other day.  Thanks to http://www.artclassideas.blogspot.com/ , she learned how to draw a duck and then drew Mother Duck and her ducklings.  They each have their own personality, don't they?

Of course, she wanted to add a turtle swimming around with her duck family...

and a little fish swimming by.  I love their feet paddling around in the water too!

"Each moment is a place you've never been."             Mark Strand

Yesterday's quilting workshop

I just love this bag I made in Denise's quilting workshop yesterday at The Center!  It's actually called a "reversible purse" and we finished them in about three hours.  I want to make more!  And I am thinking what nice little gifts they would make.

Here you can see the lining or, if I want to turn it inside out, it's reversible!

I'm thinking of what I want to use it for and first of all, I think it's a perfect bag to carry my journal or sketchpad or a book when I am going somewhere, away from my art table, where I don't know what to do with myself.

It's a good thing!

The Poets

Evie had a beautiful table set for our summer poetry gathering.  So bright and summery!

It was pot luck and we had quite a spread!

No one knew what the others were bringing, but we satisfied every course.

After our poetry session, we enjoyed each other's company with this nice lunch.

Thank you Evie!

Paste Paper!

Sunday was our meeting of the Creative Spirits and Marge led us in the making of paste paper.

All were busy trying to make the perfect design, and they all turned out individually beautiful .

Everyone's own style showed through.

Nancy had a wonderful knack with these beautiful swirls!

Lots of supplies; our tables were loaded!

You're never sure how they're going to turn out.  I plan to do the back sides, as we are planning on making a book.

I don't know - I just think this one was my favorite.  It's so organic.  Maybe a pond of frogs and tadpoles?

Some I may go over with another coat to make them match the ones I am happy with.

I did find a lot of "tools" to use, so I did swirls...

and circles...

and swirls!

At the end of our day, Marge gave us a little demonstration on "pressure and release" lettering.  Always fun!  Thank you Marge!

I wanted to show you our butterfly friend who joined us at art class...

"Nature paints with color...friends paint with kindness and caring."



"Pause now and then to enjoy a quiet moment...refresh the mind...renew the spirit."

"It is a joy to hold a lovely scene, a delightful moment, in memory."  Marjolein Bastin

Thursday's Summer Art

This past week, we met in Lora Lee's beautiful garden to draw and paint.

A warm day, but there was a nice breeze, and it was so peaceful.

I think this looks like a "Renoir" gathering of the Impressionists!

and the bunnies watched...

and posed.

The Black-eyed Susans were glorious and my eye went to this sweet bouquet that Lora Lee had placed on this little table.

"Gather a bouquet of sunshine..."  Marjolein Bastin

I chose them to paint and here is my start.  See that nice little patch of dark green, above the second flower on the right?  Now that is what I have to go for to complete my background and then my flowers will pop out.  My lesson for the day!

From my viewpoint, there was continuous grass and flowers behind this arrangement, so I needed to change my view, move over and get a view of a darker background.  I took pictures and now to work on it!

Here we are gathered for our critique, listening to our faithful leader, Lois.

That's "Auggie Doggie" sticking his tongue out at me.  Just kidding - he is a little sweetheart!

Tish's beautiful little watercolor.  I love the reflection in the windowpanes.

We pass each piece of artwork around to get a closer look.



Denise working hard to finish her drawing while still out among the inspiration.

Isn't this little wire birdcage the cutest?

 Lunch was lovely!

A very nice day.