Sapce Cadet Project

 With a friend and fellow parent of a Lincoln Lion, I'm developing a project in Abe's class for next week.  We're going to be integrating science and art into a hopefully fun, educational lesson on the planets.  Along with making space helmets and telescopes, the kids will arrange crayon shavings on wax paper which will then be melted with an iron.  The resulting melted mass will be translucent planets that can be taped in their windows.  We felt it important that the kids have something that connects them directly to the universe.  The sun passing through their melted crayon planets does just that.  In addition we'll be reading the above book about the planets as well as the inspiration for the project if time allows.  I'll post more pictures of our projects and let you know if it was a success.  Hopefully this will be the beginning of more arts integrated projects at Abe's school.  My partner has already designed and implemented a geography project in her son's second grade class.  It's an exciting beginning!

Crayon Shavings

beginning to melt

finished planet

Promotional Material and Some Favorite Things

Pinwheel Button

 My Brother and I used to hide pennies above the hallway door.  We'd totter on the highest step precariously sliding pennies onto the molding.  Giggling about our secret treasure we'd wonder if anyone would ever discover it.  Acting alone I would nestle spare change into the fluffy cotton insert of a small gift box and rest it on my mother's pillow.  My belly would leap at the happy thoughts of her finding a surprise before bed. 

Ever since reading The Handmade Marketplace which suggests sending swag along with an Etsy purchase,  I've been anticipating making a button.  I finally bit the bullet and ordered pinwheels from zazzle.com.  To add text or to not add text?  I decided to keep it image only.  The buttons look a little dark.  I am not sure if this an issue regarding quality of the image or a result of the plastic coating.  At any rate, can't wait to send one along with my next sale.  Up until now, I've sent a paper wreathe or garland.  I don't know why I get the biggest kick out of sending a surprise!

Yellow thread scraps

I'm finishing up the binding on a quilt.  I should have pictures posted in a day or two.  The quilt will go up on my Etsy shop.  I especially love the yellow thread I used for quilting.  Yellow is my favorite color of 2012.  

I like these colors

Abe made succulent planter from cupcake paper mold- good idea!

Spring Tea at Abe's preschool was delightful last Thursday.  His class made concrete planters using paper cupcake liners and a greased cork to make the depression.  They then planted succulents, and the best part, watered them with an eye-dropper.  Succulents are my favorite plant group by far!

"Earth Day" Open Studio @ Nido Art Studio

I was fortunate enough to spend Saturday morning at Nido Art Studio http://nidoartstudio.com/Nido_Art_Studio/Nido.html transforming egg cartons and Snapple bottles into vases of flowers in honor of Earth Day.  Later we began to transform the studio itself.  Furniture moved, primer purchased, new things are on the way . . .

Heart Strings

Paper Hearts in Piles

I always love when you can combine passions into a singular task.  In this case, it's making garlands and spending time with my kids.  Whenever Abe wants to paint, I pull out some sheets of watercolor paper and get to work making painted paper.  The more layered and splattered the better.  So if the kids help out there is nothing to worry about.  In fact, Abe inspired a new technique of printing with an old cardboard dowel from one of my weaving yarns which ended up making a stippled effect.  Another reason to love making garlands is to savor the beautiful images created by the process.  Check out the photos posted and then try making some!

Make several sheets of  painted paper.  This shows the Abe dowel rod technique.

Cut your hearts out, but don't eat them.  Keep the remains for confetti to celebrate the completion of your project.

F

Choose complimentary yarn.  In this case hand died cotton yarn leftover from my weaving class  at CCA

Stitch the hearts together

Hang and Enjoy