workshop with Margi

It was an extremely fun weekend workshop with Margi Hafer in Park Forest at Tall Grass Arts Association.  In the three days, we learned lots of new and fun things to do with paper.  Here, heating painted tyvek.

Our tables full of this fun stuff, working on one and another as each one had its drying time.

I learned about alcohol inks!

Busy, busy, busy!

Just a sampling of our projects; blockprinting, tyvek, alcohol inks...

and a photomontage.  Fun, fun, fun!

A happy group were we!  Thanks Margi!

the Pumpkins!

Today was my day to drive Danielle to school, so I peeked out on their deck when I got there this morning, and there were some faces were looking in at me!

Yesterday, they had carved their Halloween pumpkins.  First is Danielle's with a skeleton face, she said.  In the middle is Angel's snacking on a teeny pumpkin bite. Next is Kassidy's scary one!

"Don't bother me while I'm eating!"

Dan carved "Oogie Boogie" on his!  Do you know Oogie Boogie from "The Nightmare Before Christmas"?  I love him!

Shelby wants to know what all the fuss is about?.....

Backgrounds

Beginning a new six-week session yesterday, we created distressed paper backgrounds.  Many times, it is so hard to face the "blank canvas" so I decided to give this a try!  Above is a background I created before adding any elements of collage...(ooops with the exception of one little green piece I laid at the bottom left.)

I began collecting bits and pieces of paper that I felt were the colors that I want to incorporate in this piece.  Just a start and I will continue going through my stash.  I haven't decided what I want to "say" in here yet.

I had done a couple of sample backgrounds to show the class before they began creating yesterday.  Here is another one.  This way...

or that way?   hmmmm...what is it telling me?

And then another; a demonstration I did in class.

I can't wait to see what the class is going to do with theirs!

oh Henri!

Henri is wondering when his new sod will take, so that he can go out and play ball on it...
hmmmmmmm.

New shoes

I just had to show you these new witch's shoes that I found at a shop the other day and I just had to have them.  (that's Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde in the background).

After the Halloween Tea last Friday, I guess I am really "into" witches.

The tag on the shoes reads "The time has come for the witches dance" and she's ready!

Wednesday's class

Finishing up our "The Power of Words" pieces, this phrase from a poem inspired mine.

the softly warbled song

comes through the pleasant woods,

and colored wings

are glancing in the golden sun along

the forest openings.

Longfellow

Lora Lee is working on building up her butterfly for the focal point of her collage.

Caroline is concentrating on music and will still be adding a center of attraction on top to pull her collage together.

Barb is finishing up what is going to be a gift for a bride.

Sandy is deciding on one of her tree sketches to be over the moon.

Denise's brilliant colors.

and Peggy's lovely fall piece.

I will be noting everyone's "words" that inspired their pieces as these will be among the display in January at the Palos Heights Public Library.

Then, for fun, we just had to do some Halloween cards.  Unfinished is mine, above. Next week, they will all be finished and printed as we will have an exchange in class.  Below are some of the ones the class is working on.

What fun!

and just had to show you the beautiful "nest" that Carolyn made for this lucky little pumpkin!

Another party!

Quite a weekend!  Friday was the Tea and Sunday, Danielle's birthday cake day!  Angel made a beautiful "Monster High" doll cake.  "Rochelle Goyle" and Danielle was dressed like her too!  And Kassidy dressed as "Frankie Stein", two of their favorite Monster High characters.

Julie put the pizza set-ups together; the girls like that...

and had to show you the wonderful monster cheese ball that Julie made!  He's almost too cute to be scary, except for his toes.

And one last note...Julie always says the last daisy in her garden always blooms on Danielle's birthday...

the Halloween Tea

It was a wonderful gathering; the gathering of witches.  A first annual Halloween Tea.

Cackling and singing, these wonderful witches greeted the guests with Spider Cider.

And the witches began to arrive.

"Come in, my little lovelies"...

 EEEK!

All the witches came in their best hats and...

legs...

Wonderful witches...

having a wonderfully wild time!

Special witches.

A whispering of some of the hostesses.

Hungry witches!

Goodies so bewitching...

I made Rye Tombstones, a Jack-O-Lantern cheese ball,
Carmel "Apple" Grapes...

lots of them!

and Mummy Munch.

It was a beautifully bewitching time...

Hee-Hee-Hee.....