Thaw

Drip. Drip. Drip. Yesterday the icicles started to thaw. Today is the first day with above freezing temperature since Christmas, they say. And a busy day it was; the beginning of my collage classes for this year and the beginning of Denise's quilting class. Making a really cute little quilt! Can't wait to show you!

Starting the year off...

Starting the new year off with a bang! Classes at The Center begin this week and I must take them all! I haven't been to the calligraphy classes in a while; I miss it, and I get to have an afternoon with my good friend, Marge, who is the instructor. I love combining the arts in my artwork and lettering is a must. So, yesterday was the first class and back to practicing. This session concentrates on Bookhand or Foundational Hand. Practice! Practice! Practice!

Claybord Workshop

It was a freezy day, but we weathered the cold for the sake of art and a claybord workshop at The Center.

Carolyn was our leader for today, got us started and gave us an overview of what to do, step by step.

We filled the art tables with supplies to try everything that was suggested.

Here's Marge D, working on four separate pieces that work together nicely, or separate and be as individual as they want to be.

Sandy works away while wonderful ideas came through the blue to her. Carolyn keeps a watch over all of us.

Marge B and Gale work to get their inspiration down.

Gale has a lovely landscape with trees beautifully cut from text in a book.

Marge B works on her lovely pastel colors, collaging text inbetween and afterward adding calligraphy.

I am also working with earthy colors and organic-looking texture.

Nancy, Gai and Deb concentrating on their compositions. I see a hint of Teri's piece in the foreground. Don't know how I missed getting her in a picture!

Mary has a wonderful little colorful series going.

Marge D adds runs of dark color, adding drama to this piece.

Here, Carolyn continues to work on her pieces inbetween helping all of us.

The day went so fast and it sure was fun!

A good day

Danielle and Daddy came over to cook with Aunt Julie and me. They were invited to a friend's house tonight and offered to make dinner to bring along. They made spaghetti and meatballs.

Danielle enjoys helping and mixing.

Then forming these little meatballs onto the baking pan.

After that was done, it was time for art. Thanks to http://www.activityvillage.co.uk/ we made a winter collage. A winter picture, gluing twigs to blue paper to make a tree.

Then we glued on cotton for snow, and sprinkled glitter over the top for a frosty sparkle.

And thanks to http://www.deepspacesparkle.blogspot.com/ we made another winter scene. This time, painting the tree trunk and branches with brown paint on blue paper.

And creating "bark" with Cray-Pas oil pastels, and then adding the snow with a paint brush and white paint across the bottom of the paper and small clumps of "snow" on the tree branches.

Wheee...snowflakes splattered with a brush dipped in white paint.

A red hightlight was added. A red fox.

and a red cardinal up in the tree.

Well done, Danielle!

Collage for today

I couldn't stand it for one more minute! Had to do something "artsy" this morning. I "set the mood" with Gale's book "Butterfly at Daybreak", I grabbed some magazines and pulled out what caught my eye. I don't know if it's done, but I will look at it again later and see if meaning and a title come to mind.

Winter's rainbow

The stripes of color were so pretty this morning. A soft quiet morning. Soft subdued colors of winter. It makes me want to paint.

Henri's winter adventure

Henri slipped out with his tennis ball today...

"Okay, you tennis ball, let's have a game!"

And it's a slapshot!

"You haven't got a chance."
On with the game!

" I've got ya!"

"Where did it go?"

"Gotcha again!"

It's a tough game!

"I think I'm winning!"

"I'll make sure."

Gotcha!"

And it's a goal!

"Oh boy! I'll stay warm, watching you from inside."

"Okay, game's over. Let me in!"

Left with a mouthful of ice.