Collage class today

This morning is collage class. Today and then one more class before "summer break". My piece is "coming along". It's the one that's taken from Brent's beautiful photograph from Wales. The cemetary where Dylan Thomas is buried. "Do not go gentle into that good night". I wanted some "quiet" lettering of the poem in there, so I tried a new process. I ironed my tissue paper onto a piece of freezer paper, shiny side up, and then after cutting it to the size of computer paper, I ran it through my printer, printing the poem on it. You must take care with separating the layers when done, but if you go slow and use an xacto blade to loosen where it sticks, it works fine.

They're back!

Do you remember last May here at my house? Well, here we go again. Is it "Emma"? It must be. I knew they were house-hunting and so I had hubby move the hanging planter basket to a nearby safer place. I even bought a new lining for it. Oh Emma! She nested in the windowbox on the shed! She sat and sat and I knew there was something underneath her.

I saw a little clump of feathers moving next to her yesterday and she was feeding it. He must have been very very hungry because had to go and find some more. Maybe you can see the little feathers on the right end of the box. I think it's just one - maybe two?

All snuggled up this morning. I am wondering how her and her quickly-growing bobbling newborn will fit in here soon.

Just stopping by...

"Ragtime"! Saw this wonderful play on Sunday at Oak Brook Drury Lane and it was great. Wonderful voices! Wonderful acting!

Then yesterday was calligraphy class in the afternoon and we practiced "Neuland". Fun!

This morning is "Bookies" book club. Needless to say, I didn't quite finish the book "School For The Blind" by Dennis McFarland. But , surprisingly, I don't have much farther to go and I will finish it. I'm not sure that I like it. I will let you know.

The greatest treasures...

"The greatest treasures in life are the wonders of nature, the love of family, and the joys of friendship." from Nature's Sketchbook Perpetual Calendar by Marjolein Bastin

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

Another chance to take a walk and enjoy nature at The Center yesterday while the family was in the photography class and kid's art. I love the circle of Trillium that grows around this big tree. Reminds me of a "fairy ring".

Beauties!

I could hear all the wonderful birds in the trees but the Robin was the only one who showed himself to me. Proud Robin Red Breast.

Oh, don't go away. I love to hear your song too.

And again, all the beautiful wildflowers growing there.

Weddings here today and these flowers would make perfect bouquets for the brides, I thought.

Hidden in the woods, you would never see these treasures, if you didn't take the time to look.

Each one, like a flower fashion show.

Little miracles.

"I see you in there. "

And past the chapel...

Baby pine cones forming!

Look at that!

Natural ornaments.

"Nature touches us with her lovely works of art."

"Nature...that perfect place where we can simply be ourselves."

A fairy path.

Picnic art

Danielle had an idea for an art project. She wanted to make a checkered tablecloth and a dog at a picnic, and she wanted him to stand up. So this is what we did. Then there had to be a picnic basket, and I said all picnics have ants! Oh, and so she made a piece of bread for the ants lunch!

Here you can see how they stand up. I helped with the dog and the tablecloth, but she drew and colored the rest herself. I love it!

and then it was thursday...

Painting class at The Center. We had plans to paint outside but it was such a rainy morning that we changed the plan and stayed inside the art cabin. I quickly cut some flowers from my garden before heading out, to serve as some subject matter and Lois brought her Mother's Day Mums, so we had lots of inspiration.

The rain brought out the green. The woods looked lush and greener than green could be.

The robins were singing happily, knowing more worms and bugs would be popping out.

It looked like a page out of a fairy book.

Is someone hiding under there?

Yesterday

Yesterday, Thursday, I forgot to take pictures in collage class. Everyone was busy busy thinking and considering the next steps for their collages, and I was busy trying to keep up with them! A good time!

And working on two unfinished pieces in quilting class, so didn't take their pictures yet. But here are the next two of my quilted once-a-week journal pages. The purple one is named "Lilac Time" and to the right you can see the back of the page. The other one is named "Dandelions and Buttercups".

Here is Brent's photograph from Wales again, that i am trying to reproduce in collage.

And this is it "in the works". I love all the textures and the mystery of it and this will be my impression of it.