Monday, October 31, 2011

Happy Halloween!


Thrice the brinded cat hath mew'd.

Thrice and once, the hedge-pig whin'd.

Harpier cries: - 'tis time! 'tis time!

Round about the caldron go:

In the poison'd entrails throw. -
Toad, that under cold stone,
Days and nights has thirty-one;
Swelter'd venom sleeping got,
Boil thou first i' the charmed pot!

Double, double toil and trouble;
Fire burn, and caldron bubble.

Fillet of a fenny snake,
In the caldron boil and bake;
Eye of newt, and toe of frog,
Wool of bat, and tongue of dog,
Adder's fork, and blind-worm's sting,
Lizard's leg, and owlet's wing, -
For a charm of powerful trouble,
Like a hell-broth boil and bubble.

Double, double toil and trouble;
Fire burn, and caldron bubble...

William Shakespeare

Saturday, October 29, 2011

Out and about...


Yesterday I got to go to the Museum of Science & Industry with three friends to see the Dr. Seuss exhibit.  I haven't been there in years and my goodness, has it changed!  The Dr. Seuss exhibit was wonderful with so much of his wonderful artwork on display. 


One of the permanent exhibits at the museum is "Science Storms".  We could see the tornado swirling as we were walking through. 


And trains...


and planes.  And the miniature train exhibit traveling though countryside and past all the miniature buildings of the Chicago landscape.


Theodor Seuss Geisel died on September 24, 1991, and I have saved the Sun Times newspaper from that week picturing The Cat in a Hat with a tear streaming down his cheek. 


"Don't cry because it's over. Smile because it happened." 
Dr. Seuss

Thursday, October 27, 2011

Autumn colors


The colors are "hanging in there" at The Center.  It was a dreary day yesterday, but still pretty with all the reds and oranges. 


Collage class in the morning and we all worked on preparing our board books to alter.  I gave a theme for our books; a Navajo prayer named "The Call".  It begins:

What in your life is calling you?
When all the noise is silenced,
The meetings adjourned,
The lists laid aside,
and the wild iris blooms by itself
in the dark forest,
what still pulls on your soul?

In the silence
Between your heartbeats
Hides a summons.
Do you hear it?
Name it, if you must,
Or leave it forever nameless,
But why pretend it is not there? ...



On to quilting in the afternoon, and again just posting my October block (above) for the Rainbow Scrap Challenge because I wanted to show Denise's great orange piece below.


Happy October!

Monday, October 24, 2011

The Collage Workshop


Yesterday was Laura's "Free Flow Mixed Media Collage Painting" Workshop and here are the two pieces that I did.  I loved this workshop.  I love all of Laura's workshops because I always come home with something finished.  And she gave us wonderful direction and a beautiful instruction booklet.  My piece above has a nautical feel to me.  Ocean-y.  Stormy.


 This one was my first piece.  I don't know...Autumn-y.  Suggestion of windows.  This way...


or this way?  A whirlwind!  What fun!

October quilt block


Here is my October piece for the Rainbow Scrap ChallengeOrange, the chosen color!

"Live life in all its colors..."  Marjolein Bastin

Friday, October 21, 2011

Midweek Masterpieces!


Wednesday's class, working away on their collage pieces.


Fun!  One of Peggy's Fall/Halloween pieces.


Relaxing and meditative, Bernie's collage done in restful colors.


Sandy's love of bicycling.  The transfer is her own bike's wheels.  Very innovative!


And here, Sandy is working on a colorful collage with a transfer of one of her beautiful pen & ink trees for the focal point.


Finished!  Barb's beautiful and powerful statement...


and a start to a new one.


Marge's lovely pastels anticipating their image.


MaryAnn's is dramatic, I think.  Reminds me of a waterfall landscape.


Linda's lovely pastel flower garden, waiting for their stems...


Planted and bloomed!


And fun again!  Linda's Halloween card.


Lora Lee's serendipitous arrangement...


ribit! ribit! ribit!


Judy, deciding on the right pieces for an interpretation of a favorite New Orlean's cafe garden.


Very impressionistic.


Denise's leaves glowed against her colorful background.


And it's a series!


Beautiful Southwestern colors by Teri.  I can just hear that coyote howl.


and maybe a small companion piece started?


And here, Teri's interesting and powerful statement.


and "yours truly" again. 

A great session!  And next week, we begin an altered board book.

Tuesday, October 18, 2011

"Interlude"


Yesterday, I worked on finishing my collage for my Wednesday's class.  If you remember, we picked a word out of the dictionary to express in collage.  I had opened the book and chose the word "interlude".  Interesting, what people chose.


Sometimes you have to let it sit for a while and look at it, and then decide if something has to be added or taken away.


But I think it's done.

Monday, October 17, 2011

The birthday party


Danielle has always loved Scooby Doo.  And Dan and Angel and Danielle and Kassidy all love Halloween.  So, it was decided that the cake that Angel would make would be Scooby Doo and the haunted house!


Yikes!


But the birthday girl is still a princess.  So there was a princess gown, princess slippers, lots of pretty things for her American Girl doll, books, slippers, pretty clothes, games, and pajamas that say "My favorite color is Glitter".  Love it!


A very happy birthday!

Sunday, October 16, 2011

Back to Friday


Danielle and Kassidy spent the night here on Friday.  We were busy coloring and cutting out Autumn leaves.




They loved the bright colors!


Meanwhile Dan and Angel were at home getting ready for the big birthday bash on Saturday...Danielle's 7th!


Scooby Doo was ready and waitng...

Friday, October 14, 2011

where did the week go?


Monday, Henri' went to the beauty shoppe and came home with his Halloween scarf.  Oh yes, you're a pretty boy!


While he was gone, I had fun working on some tags, getting ready for the Christmas Art Show at The Center.


It's always a fun and festive day.


This year it's Sunday, November 20th.


You can do a little Christmas shopping!


Mark your calendars!