tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-85795781673112348362024-03-12T20:34:41.514-05:00The Crafty Artist. . . An eclectic web scrapbook of one eccentric art teacher . . .Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8579578167311234836.post-52205658909492819772011-02-17T16:30:00.007-06:002011-02-17T16:38:39.222-06:00Clean house? or Blog?<div align="center">Blog!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">I had great intentions of coming home, opening the windows (since it is now 65 degrees, not -15), enjoying my coffee and getting some cleaning done. 3 of the 4 things I've got goin' on... aaaand I've decided to blog instead of clean.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><em>Yay!</em></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Not to sound, ya know, <em>whiny</em> or anything... but these 23,000 snow days the past two weeks sure have made it hard going back to teaching 5 days in a row! I deserve an award for making it nearly Monday through Friday without crafting. So Me, Myself and I have a date with a massage tomorrow. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">I am pretty pumped about the progress that my students have made this week. My 7th graders finished a huge project. We studied Claes Oldenburg and Pop Art then kiddos made giant food and every day items with boxes, newspaper and found objects. Next, we added papier mache and paint. This is the first time I've ever done this lesson. I have to say, even though my art room has smelled like a rotting bakery from the papier mache for 4 weeks.. it was worth it!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SX4HToN2VlI/TV2b-b8wfYI/AAAAAAAAAMs/mJb0elEZNbY/s1600/PM+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" j6="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SX4HToN2VlI/TV2b-b8wfYI/AAAAAAAAAMs/mJb0elEZNbY/s400/PM+1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jSBKrKotXJU/TV2fZsF9Z_I/AAAAAAAAAM0/lCyu0TbHxq0/s1600/PM+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" j6="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jSBKrKotXJU/TV2fZsF9Z_I/AAAAAAAAAM0/lCyu0TbHxq0/s320/PM+3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dmlVwa1g79I/TV2cDCnCScI/AAAAAAAAAMw/sBFfUNZE-EY/s1600/PM+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" j6="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dmlVwa1g79I/TV2cDCnCScI/AAAAAAAAAMw/sBFfUNZE-EY/s320/PM+2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FO048Vd5ANE/TV2fzfNmhsI/AAAAAAAAAM4/K6GHt9BRwhQ/s1600/PM+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" j6="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FO048Vd5ANE/TV2fzfNmhsI/AAAAAAAAAM4/K6GHt9BRwhQ/s400/PM+4.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Some of the projects aren't completely finished. The lolli-pop on the left is waiting for the rest of its paint and plastic wrapper. I can't wait to see it when it's finished! The projects are going to have a fantastic photo shoot in about a week or so then they'll have a blog all to themselves!<br />
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</div><div style="text-align: left;"></div><div style="text-align: left;">In the midst of the 5 day work week, I signed up for a welding class! I'm guessing you read the previous post and the part about fire and wax seals? YEAH! I cannot wait! The class lasts 10 weeks. We will be studying MIG and TIG welding and learning about plasma cutting. I bet my brother is excited because he probably thinks I'll stop bugging him to teach me to weld.. or maybe to just wear the mask. Nah. Now I'll pester him to compete with me in a WELD-OFF! <br />
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</div><div style="text-align: left;"></div><div style="text-align: left;">I'm out of coffee. I guzzled it as I was blogging... kinda like eating too many potato chips while watching TV. Looks like I should make more and find more interesting things to do so I can have exciting blog posts for my 9 followers... </div><div style="text-align: center;"><em></em> <em>Hollaaaaaaaa!</em></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8579578167311234836.post-81054586567893663572011-02-14T05:29:00.001-06:002011-02-14T05:31:03.640-06:00Happy Valentine's Day!<div style="text-align: center;">Memories of elementary school Valentine's Day parties are hard to beat.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="left" style="text-align: center;">I'm fairly certain my obsession with writing and receiving letters stems from collecting Valentines in a pink and red tissue covered kleenex box from kindergarten. I wish I could replace our mail box with one of those. I would definitely win the neighborhood contest with my rockin pipe cleaner, pom pom and glitter covered box.</div><div align="left" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-s94hZ6cUQR0/TVR3bSQmcoI/AAAAAAAAAKI/4dvOFcU5VEg/s1600/DSC_7600.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="265" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-s94hZ6cUQR0/TVR3bSQmcoI/AAAAAAAAAKI/4dvOFcU5VEg/s400/DSC_7600.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This has to be one of my favorite things from childhood. I have old school Valentines from 1991-1994 in this little book.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Gc3ZRZ_9JzU/TVR3tRVC0LI/AAAAAAAAAKM/2C-Rku_sibY/s1600/DSC_7596.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="424" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Gc3ZRZ_9JzU/TVR3tRVC0LI/AAAAAAAAAKM/2C-Rku_sibY/s640/DSC_7596.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">By 1994, I documented Valentine's Day happenings myself but Mom helped me with the writing aspect until then (Thanks Mom). Apparently "<em>What I liked least about this Valentine's Day</em> (1991) was getting my name on the board". I have to say, I can tell she definitely wrote down everything I said. Guess whose fault it was that was name was on the board... SHANE! <br />
Although, as a teacher now... and thinking about what <em>I</em> must have been like in school.... and if I was my <em>own</em> teacher... I probably would have put my name on the board, thanks or no thanks to Shane. </div><div style="text-align: left;">(I'm still going to blame it on sugar from the umph-teen Little Debbies cake hearts I ate at the class party).</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3xaPCOXCqfA/TVR6WuB74yI/AAAAAAAAAKQ/MF1HwFKBFJ0/s1600/DSC_7597.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="212" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3xaPCOXCqfA/TVR6WuB74yI/AAAAAAAAAKQ/MF1HwFKBFJ0/s320/DSC_7597.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">(My Momma loves me)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">My 5 other art teachers friends share my love of Valentine's Day... and receiving Valentines. My friend, Jen, had the <em>awesome</em> idea of hand making Valentine's Day cards and mailing one to each of our artsy friends. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>Project! Project! Project!</em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I started thinking... what is a unique Valentine I could make? My sewing machine was nearby and offered to help. Some scrapbook paper and felt overheard and decided to volunteer as well. Then, my stomach pitched in. It wanted a cupcake... </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">So, what does all that equal?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wZn5JFton88/TVSBFmfu7qI/AAAAAAAAAKY/WIGcrFt7VZk/s1600/cupcake+crop+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="397" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wZn5JFton88/TVSBFmfu7qI/AAAAAAAAAKY/WIGcrFt7VZk/s400/cupcake+crop+1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">...some pretty sweet Valentine's Day cards!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GB0RDSNK9gk/TVXMwQrkZrI/AAAAAAAAAMI/1tyV-lvvuvg/s1600/cupcake+crop+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="200" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GB0RDSNK9gk/TVXMwQrkZrI/AAAAAAAAAMI/1tyV-lvvuvg/s200/cupcake+crop+3.jpg" width="153" /></a> <img border="0" h5="true" height="200" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GCaUlnYsRBc/TVXMqh0i1nI/AAAAAAAAAME/uEZixVvFsUw/s200/cupcake+crop+2.jpg" width="195" /> <a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wMZQLZI_Oas/TVXM85QE5_I/AAAAAAAAAMQ/A5OlZrm9vao/s1600/cupcake+crop+5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="190" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wMZQLZI_Oas/TVXM85QE5_I/AAAAAAAAAMQ/A5OlZrm9vao/s200/cupcake+crop+5.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qAH1XXjQlAA/TVVUEEs4uaI/AAAAAAAAAKk/u9JqumbBhOs/s1600/DSC_7562.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="212" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qAH1XXjQlAA/TVVUEEs4uaI/AAAAAAAAAKk/u9JqumbBhOs/s320/DSC_7562.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-d8N0FnTVdic/TVVUOJpL3aI/AAAAAAAAAKo/dkiu7cqI6x4/s1600/DSC_7542.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="261" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-d8N0FnTVdic/TVVUOJpL3aI/AAAAAAAAAKo/dkiu7cqI6x4/s400/DSC_7542.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VaWsZsD6pWQ/TVXNqs-A7KI/AAAAAAAAAMU/rjwkuv_942g/s1600/made+by+amber+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="212" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VaWsZsD6pWQ/TVXNqs-A7KI/AAAAAAAAAMU/rjwkuv_942g/s320/made+by+amber+crop.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-506MD1QTp2Q/TVVV5gpbdbI/AAAAAAAAAKw/wX_RrWWIjDs/s1600/DSC_7605.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="265" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-506MD1QTp2Q/TVVV5gpbdbI/AAAAAAAAAKw/wX_RrWWIjDs/s400/DSC_7605.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I also have a slight fasination with wax seals. I know this does <em>not </em>stem from elementary school Valentines... sometimes I'm still not sure if I trust myself with fire. To share my love of this lost art, I gave my 9 year old niece a wax sealing set for Christmas. My brother looked at me like</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>Really. You know this involves a flame... and she still hasn't mastered cursvie.</em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Speaking of my brother.. I even made a Valentine for him!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-R4A7s90kRGc/TVXLYl3XnxI/AAAAAAAAAMA/xp8W-qpCxPs/s1600/cupcake+crop+7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-R4A7s90kRGc/TVXLYl3XnxI/AAAAAAAAAMA/xp8W-qpCxPs/s400/cupcake+crop+7.jpg" width="283" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Hopefully all of my friends will enjoy their home-made cards. </div><div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And I hope <em>you </em>received a Valentine and are enjoying an ever-so-delicious Little Debbie cake heart today... but be sure not to get your name on the board!</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XUorGLuxutg/TVXSTpUjRWI/AAAAAAAAAMk/Gdl0VHrluBU/s1600/DSC_7564.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8579578167311234836.post-34407942959603820642011-02-11T16:33:00.002-06:002011-02-12T17:38:35.609-06:00Sweet Baby Boy<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">It's always a creative opportunity when another friend has a baby</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QHRgkBNq8Io/TVVu26v0C4I/AAAAAAAAAK4/sxYnpyx6Wd4/s1600/doggie+cropped.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="275" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QHRgkBNq8Io/TVVu26v0C4I/AAAAAAAAAK4/sxYnpyx6Wd4/s400/doggie+cropped.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div align="center">...and this time it's a boy!</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><em>YAY! What to make.....</em></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="left">Oo! Babies can never have too many stuffed animals! The first thought that came through my mind when I decided this was,</div><div align="left"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><em>Oh no. I've tried my hand at sewing little stuffed creatures in the past. They seem to be a better fit for the Land of Misfit Toys than in the hands of a baby. </em></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6RRtQG_WCvI/TVW4ZZANG6I/AAAAAAAAAL8/PDpUpbFiMgY/s1600/CIMG1120.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="200" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6RRtQG_WCvI/TVW4ZZANG6I/AAAAAAAAAL8/PDpUpbFiMgY/s200/CIMG1120.JPG" width="149" /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uvzWXTYMR_8/TVW4Uy9zhVI/AAAAAAAAAL4/uiRPhFHw4c8/s1600/DSCN0604.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="200" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uvzWXTYMR_8/TVW4Uy9zhVI/AAAAAAAAAL4/uiRPhFHw4c8/s200/DSCN0604.JPG" width="150" /></a></div></div><div align="left" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">I knew my friend and her little one deserved more than a make-shift pattern and jagged embroidery techniques. My snow-day-craft-day friend, Amelia, suggested I take a look at her sewing book, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/One-Yard-Wonders-Sewing-Fabric-Projects/dp/1603424490/ref=sr_1_fkmr1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1297445165&sr=8-1-fkmr1">"One-Yard Wonders"</a>. I found the perfect project! The pattern is titled <em>Leisure Suit Lapdog </em>and is a design by Marlene Gaige. Now, this particular pattern called for "vintage double-knit polyester" as the fabric of choice...</div></div><div align="left" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"><em>I'm gonna go with... mmm, no.</em></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: left;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">I decided on a cotton jungle theme fabric (to go with his bedding, of course!) I added the contrasting fabric on more sections than the pattern recommended. I thought he needed some... pizazz.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wiE7SdNwS2s/TVWOoLsQ72I/AAAAAAAAALM/spaSzjPYSW8/s1600/DSC_7585.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="265" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wiE7SdNwS2s/TVWOoLsQ72I/AAAAAAAAALM/spaSzjPYSW8/s400/DSC_7585.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;">The funny thing was, the entire time I was making the stuffed animal I was thinking to myself,</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"><em>Oh man, it's gonna look so good. I wonder if she'll even know I made it...</em></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PHOb_YUt8Y4/TVVzOriyFWI/AAAAAAAAALE/OHKPb0uL-bU/s1600/DSC_7587.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PHOb_YUt8Y4/TVVzOriyFWI/AAAAAAAAALE/OHKPb0uL-bU/s400/DSC_7587.JPG" width="265" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I'm going to make a shot in the dark, but I'm pretty sure the poor hand stitching along the back and the fact that the doggie looks like it's making a wee toot give away that it is non-factory produced stuffed animal.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I think I'll go with the</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>"I wanted to give it a... hand-made look"</em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Next came the stitching for the eyes and nose. On fourth attempt, I got something I could live with.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IX1EFCPPRQs/TVWxN_cRADI/AAAAAAAAALQ/BN2lE9ECdZw/s1600/DSC_7582.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="212" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IX1EFCPPRQs/TVWxN_cRADI/AAAAAAAAALQ/BN2lE9ECdZw/s320/DSC_7582.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">My original plan was to sew buttons for the eyes (or large glass eyes as the pattern suggested). But you know, buttons + new born = choking hazard. I hope as long as the little guy has no teeth, unwinding the thread might hold some difficulty.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Many hours and cups of coffee... he's finished! Now on to the card for the...</div> <br />
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DCmxtjFuWlg/TVWzO8puUNI/AAAAAAAAALc/4TQGkPrjfVg/s1600/krissi+cupcake+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DCmxtjFuWlg/TVWzO8puUNI/AAAAAAAAALc/4TQGkPrjfVg/s400/krissi+cupcake+crop.jpg" width="361" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">Sweet Baby Boy!</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PedE6Jigebw/TVW0epI4QMI/AAAAAAAAALs/zAWm_bkH128/s1600/DSC_7589.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="132" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PedE6Jigebw/TVW0epI4QMI/AAAAAAAAALs/zAWm_bkH128/s200/DSC_7589.JPG" width="200" /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rhAzK06dnNs/TVW0Thr_UqI/AAAAAAAAALk/w6e84ks1geQ/s1600/DSC_7590.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="132" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rhAzK06dnNs/TVW0Thr_UqI/AAAAAAAAALk/w6e84ks1geQ/s200/DSC_7590.JPG" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">I plan to give this gift at his baby shower later in the month. I hope he likes it!</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fqJtyu7Q_Aw/TVW0x1Fsk7I/AAAAAAAAALw/Nj1S5NcqGHY/s1600/DSC_7572.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="265" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fqJtyu7Q_Aw/TVW0x1Fsk7I/AAAAAAAAALw/Nj1S5NcqGHY/s400/DSC_7572.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">...and I have to say, I am pretty proud of myself with this project. After all, I sewed my first gusset! </div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8579578167311234836.post-20797240275323748552011-02-10T12:59:00.001-06:002011-02-10T19:15:07.775-06:00Snowpacolypse 2011<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">Snowpacolypse 2011...</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/elVIzWuYwZc?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">Way worse than last week's Snowmageddon 2011</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Man! Talk about me hyper all yesterday morning. I was so excited I forgot to start my coffee for the first 30 minutes I was awake. I was too busy running around the living room, going outside to video, coming back inside to video, going back outside, eating the snow, spitting out the snow all the while, making the poor dogs a nervous wreck.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Oh poor dogs...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QhrGKJrgWVU/TVQfr39y2PI/AAAAAAAAAJs/mSnEYntJQMo/s1600/tall+snow.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="236" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QhrGKJrgWVU/TVQfr39y2PI/AAAAAAAAAJs/mSnEYntJQMo/s400/tall+snow.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Can you even imagine trying to pee</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Later in the day, my husband and I ventured out with a failed attempt to sled... in nearly 2 feet of snow. Hmph. Who would have known. On our way back home, a nice young gentleman on a four-wheeler offered to pull me on the sled behind his killing-machine (per my husband). I'm guessing he saw me starting to squirm and dance with excitement as he was driving by. Somehow he must have known that I've been wanting to be pulled behind a four wheeler or truck since the last snow, despite news segments on deaths while doing such things. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Bo and I responded to his offer at the same time. "Yes! Awesome! I'd love too!", "Aw, no thanks man." Then we looked at each other. Poor guy on the four-wheeler... must been cold as Bo and I silently battled it out. I tried the ever-girly batting-of-the-eyelashes and head tilt. <em>Note to self</em>: ice-crusted eyelashes and a snot-spit covered face mask lack a cuteness factor. I think my looks would have won if it had been... warmer. Then, he telepathically reminded me, "What about our 5 hour visit to the hospital last January?"</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> <em>Oh yeah</em>.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Seeing how I'm not the most graceful creature and being adventurous on a sled last year landed me in the ER (thanks to a big metal hand rail)...</div><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-c15qIb7cq6Y/TVQhGnFV99I/AAAAAAAAAJw/ZSqZCu5GvH8/s1600/CIMG2832.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-c15qIb7cq6Y/TVQhGnFV99I/AAAAAAAAAJw/ZSqZCu5GvH8/s400/CIMG2832.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Pre-concussion + 4 stitches</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Winter 2010</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"> ...I politely declined the four-wheeler-man-'s offer. Ugh. I hate when common sense wins. </div><div style="text-align: center;">Eek. Hopsital smell memory overload.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">So, I resorted to more modest options when we returned home:</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-epfG98D4m-E/TVQwsFzLyKI/AAAAAAAAAJ4/1-Xc6XSNkDk/s1600/CIMG7874.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-epfG98D4m-E/TVQwsFzLyKI/AAAAAAAAAJ4/1-Xc6XSNkDk/s320/CIMG7874.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">1. Snow-day photography</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">2. Drinking hot chocolate</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">3. Staring out the window</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-V3w4aJRyMiU/TVQw7dabHMI/AAAAAAAAAJ8/PFuOVRqTEzI/s1600/CIMG7862.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-V3w4aJRyMiU/TVQw7dabHMI/AAAAAAAAAJ8/PFuOVRqTEzI/s400/CIMG7862.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Meg8X3Tryq8/TVQyWskRFkI/AAAAAAAAAKA/YU5GGiECf4s/s1600/fire+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Meg8X3Tryq8/TVQyWskRFkI/AAAAAAAAAKA/YU5GGiECf4s/s320/fire+crop.jpg" width="178" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And the snow-day photography continues today...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">with flying objects involved</div><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Bi5VSX3Ag3I/TVQyeeyeAhI/AAAAAAAAAKE/ipVhQZqEeHQ/s1600/broom+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="260" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Bi5VSX3Ag3I/TVQyeeyeAhI/AAAAAAAAAKE/ipVhQZqEeHQ/s320/broom+crop.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Harry Potter method of taking out icicles<br />
<br />
<div align="left"></div></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">Welp, just got word that our school is closed tomorrow for the 3rd day in a row. Looks like I should save my blogging excitment for tomorrow. </div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">Coffee shop here I come!</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8579578167311234836.post-44275996218107471232011-02-09T09:05:00.002-06:002011-02-09T09:10:38.308-06:00Ah, Warm Weather Crafting<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Let us now take a trip from the snow... into the future...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_v2MFnO3q0CY/TVHVo0GVN4I/AAAAAAAAAI8/NrMJ8hCPQ0A/s1600/Box+5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="265" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_v2MFnO3q0CY/TVHVo0GVN4I/AAAAAAAAAI8/NrMJ8hCPQ0A/s400/Box+5.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">...Ah, Spring.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Guess what else happens in the spring besides crafts. Yes, ok, allergies.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> Babies!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Lots of babies seem to come about in the spring! (I shouldn't talk.. I was born in April). Making things for little ones.. oh man, it's so much fun. I like to imagine it will be their favorite thing for all time. When the truth is they will most likely throw up on it, break it or loose it. Well, maybe not. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">My friend, Louann, asked me to make her niece, Erica, a piggy bank last spring. It was to be a gift for her sister's baby shower. She said she wanted a piggy bank, gave me the color scheme.. and off I went! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I was never the best at ceramics in college. I really struggled through the hand building... I think this was mainly due to the fact that I couldn't quite keep the back end of a ceramic cat attached to its body (Ugh, memories).</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div> <br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_v2MFnO3q0CY/TVHljaZk2uI/AAAAAAAAAJA/tL53IP4fFTI/s1600/sad+bread.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_v2MFnO3q0CY/TVHljaZk2uI/AAAAAAAAAJA/tL53IP4fFTI/s320/sad+bread.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Specimen A</strong></td></tr>
</tbody></table> My instructor always told me "clay is a lot like bread" because of the wedging and the science behind the mixtures. That must explain why my bread never turns out. See Specimen A.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">In my defense, this bread would have been edible if I had not:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New;">1. <strike>used wheat flour</strike> tried to make it health food</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New;">2. <strike>used splenda</strike> tried to make it health food</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New;">3. <strike>used a bread maker</strike> been in a rush</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Despite my lack of confidence in baking and ceramics, I knew little Erica would just love this piggy bank if I made it out of clay.<br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">And so we begin.</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_v2MFnO3q0CY/TVHpwnJIH2I/AAAAAAAAAJE/68mIxTXqZMk/s1600/CIMG4276.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_v2MFnO3q0CY/TVHpwnJIH2I/AAAAAAAAAJE/68mIxTXqZMk/s320/CIMG4276.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Observe slab box</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_v2MFnO3q0CY/TVHqYaUETgI/AAAAAAAAAJI/H64jyurnfTA/s1600/CIMG4279.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_v2MFnO3q0CY/TVHqYaUETgI/AAAAAAAAAJI/H64jyurnfTA/s320/CIMG4279.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;">Sense frustration in previous slab box </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">See newly formed box</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_v2MFnO3q0CY/TVHr8WqjOaI/AAAAAAAAAJM/R7RyUZwcCqg/s1600/CIMG4284.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_v2MFnO3q0CY/TVHr8WqjOaI/AAAAAAAAAJM/R7RyUZwcCqg/s320/CIMG4284.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">"Insert Baby's Savings Account Here"</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_v2MFnO3q0CY/TVKn-cTpl1I/AAAAAAAAAJY/Gl03LQXO9m0/s1600/clay+bug.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_v2MFnO3q0CY/TVKn-cTpl1I/AAAAAAAAAJY/Gl03LQXO9m0/s320/clay+bug.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Adding embellishments (so she'll keep it forever)</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_v2MFnO3q0CY/TVKpEYVlTGI/AAAAAAAAAJc/Q6SND31YJQU/s320/CIMG4344.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Transparent & Opaque low fire glazes</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">...Ta Daaa! </span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_v2MFnO3q0CY/TVKqJDd2vxI/AAAAAAAAAJg/JtvEwGsW-2Q/s1600/Box+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="265" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_v2MFnO3q0CY/TVKqJDd2vxI/AAAAAAAAAJg/JtvEwGsW-2Q/s400/Box+4.jpg" width="400" /></a></div></td></tr>
</tbody></table> <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_v2MFnO3q0CY/TVKqYai-m6I/AAAAAAAAAJk/xU9JUCdtVZk/s1600/Box+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="265" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_v2MFnO3q0CY/TVKqYai-m6I/AAAAAAAAAJk/xU9JUCdtVZk/s400/Box+3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I hope this brought a smile to Erica's little face...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">and yours!</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div> <br />
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_v2MFnO3q0CY/TVKqcc3XJfI/AAAAAAAAAJo/a-F-HFYq4So/s1600/Box+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8579578167311234836.post-27852489765298581232011-02-08T16:56:00.004-06:002011-02-09T09:07:50.727-06:00"Imminent Death Eve" A.K.A "It's going to snow again tomorrow"<div style="text-align: center;">Beautiful sunrise... hot coffee... garbage trucks... </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_v2MFnO3q0CY/TVGI6qbWLLI/AAAAAAAAAI4/1cmxU_AF1ZM/s1600/weather.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_v2MFnO3q0CY/TVGI6qbWLLI/AAAAAAAAAI4/1cmxU_AF1ZM/s400/weather.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">...the perfect morning. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div>No, really, we haven't had our dang trash picked up in about a week. Because, you know, of the SNOW. The non-picking up of the trash even landed a segment in the local news. <br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">Can you imagine the intern... "You want me to cover... <em>what</em>?"</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div>And due to the 4 days of no school, I've managed to create an exponential amount of garbage at home. The less-than-extra-strength trash bags are poking through with coffee grounds, cat poop (because stir-crazy-ness results in litter box cleaning twice a day apparently), vacuum...stuff (again, twice a day), and loads of thread, paper and fabric. Which reminds me, we're actually out of trash bags. Hm, looks like I'll be braving Walmart once again in preparation of... you guessed it...<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Imminent Death!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"> (be sure to really annunciate the "th" to get the full effect)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">A.K.A. snow tomorrow</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_v2MFnO3q0CY/TVGDMLg8U5I/AAAAAAAAAI0/T8kUq9ga6g4/s1600/weather+on+tuesday+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="216" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_v2MFnO3q0CY/TVGDMLg8U5I/AAAAAAAAAI0/T8kUq9ga6g4/s320/weather+on+tuesday+2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">But as you can see, by Monday it looks like I'll be lounging in my bikini (ok, not really). </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">So here I sit, enjoying my pumpkin spice latte (half-caff, mind you, because I'll not be sleeping well... the mere sound of snow keeps me up), awaiting those wonderful frozen flakes to fall from the sky to send the town into a tizzy, me into art mode and make the last day of school (for good or bad)... oh, June 13th.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8579578167311234836.post-76928179898888943792011-02-06T18:54:00.011-06:002011-02-11T17:43:11.596-06:00"Feeling a Little Loopy!": Ribbon Wreaths <br />
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_v2MFnO3q0CY/TU9CIWmVGaI/AAAAAAAAAIA/WMf0z-kUY1M/s1600/CIMG6796.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_v2MFnO3q0CY/TU9CIWmVGaI/AAAAAAAAAIA/WMf0z-kUY1M/s400/CIMG6796.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">So enough about my snow day insanity.. how about some crafts!</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_v2MFnO3q0CY/TU9De38IokI/AAAAAAAAAIE/btvS18aIWiE/s1600/CIMG6801.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_v2MFnO3q0CY/TU9De38IokI/AAAAAAAAAIE/btvS18aIWiE/s320/CIMG6801.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">I really love these things and making theme is quite addictive. I have a feeling before long I will have one, in every color scheme, in every room of the house. My snow-day-craft-day-teacher-buddy, Liz, shared this wonderful idea! </div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">Sadly, we cannot take credit. We must hand over the I'm-The-Craftiest-Person-Ever-Because-I-Came-Up-With-This-Idea flag to our friends at About.com. Check out this link for the How To's & What For's: <a href="http://familycrafts.about.com/od/wreaths/ss/ribbonwreath.htm">Ribbon Wreath How To's</a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_v2MFnO3q0CY/TU9FemErgHI/AAAAAAAAAII/HxdZApPrRiM/s1600/CIMG7467.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_v2MFnO3q0CY/TU9FemErgHI/AAAAAAAAAII/HxdZApPrRiM/s320/CIMG7467.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_v2MFnO3q0CY/TU9F4cXYsMI/AAAAAAAAAIQ/ReuTpAg7vjk/s1600/CIMG7465.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_v2MFnO3q0CY/TU9F4cXYsMI/AAAAAAAAAIQ/ReuTpAg7vjk/s320/CIMG7465.JPG" width="320" /></a>I must say, though, thank goodness this ribbon wreath idea came my way around Christmas time. Hello Hobby Lobby 40% off Christmas ornaments! I like to think I gave this craft my own spin by adding the embellishment in the center. <br />
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I have also found that using a variety of widths of ribbon works well. I feel like it makes it a bit more interesting. <br />
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<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-t5FO4SsOPv4/TVSNIGIbYJI/AAAAAAAAAKg/lcEB-jpJB40/s1600/iPhone+pictures+521.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="200" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-t5FO4SsOPv4/TVSNIGIbYJI/AAAAAAAAAKg/lcEB-jpJB40/s200/iPhone+pictures+521.jpg" width="150" /></a></div><br />
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I will say that it looks quite sad when you first begin... 10 little loops of ribbon on this styrofoam wreath.. but keep at it! It's totally worth the work!</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div> <br />
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<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"> </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"></div></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8579578167311234836.post-91626277253334134112011-02-06T12:54:00.011-06:002011-02-09T20:58:53.515-06:00It's Starting to Melt!Good morning (well... afternoon but I just finished my coffee) my friends,<br />
I would first like to give a big blog shout out to my husband for being my first follower! (Does it count that I lead him to my page and tickled him until he clicked "Followers"?)<br />
The snow is beginning to melt which means we will (most likely...) have our first day back to school tomorrow since last Monday. HOWEVER! There is <em>another </em>storm system moving in Wednesday that is predicting 5 - 10" of snow. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_v2MFnO3q0CY/TU702BkU7jI/AAAAAAAAAHU/MfQNlIGVgbI/s1600/weather.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="216" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_v2MFnO3q0CY/TU702BkU7jI/AAAAAAAAAHU/MfQNlIGVgbI/s320/weather.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">It looks like more insanity is imminent in my house due to my unwillingness (or inability) to drive on the snow. Which, lucky for you, means more crafts and blogging!</div> Even though we will be making up snow days until the middle of June, I do indeed love the snow. I spend snow days alternating between crafts and joining my dogs as we all stare out the window. I do have "Snow Day = Craft Day" fellow teacher buddies that, I'm assuming, still love me despite my overly excitable personality because they continue to come to my humble abode. To see a glimpse of what my friends endure on snow day-craft days... check out the video below! <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/1ti5ubmJzSE?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"> Now, please excuse me while I prepare my snow dance for this week.</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8579578167311234836.post-44750927576558402252011-02-05T10:51:00.008-06:002011-02-09T09:06:58.794-06:00Snow Day - Day 5 (Help Me)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_v2MFnO3q0CY/TU7yAciRbnI/AAAAAAAAAHM/xPwgipBsGIs/s1600/iPhone+pictures+019.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_v2MFnO3q0CY/TU7yAciRbnI/AAAAAAAAAHM/xPwgipBsGIs/s320/iPhone+pictures+019.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_v2MFnO3q0CY/TU7za2AjyBI/AAAAAAAAAHQ/mPQRLZguGI0/s1600/blog+pic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="204" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_v2MFnO3q0CY/TU7za2AjyBI/AAAAAAAAAHQ/mPQRLZguGI0/s320/blog+pic.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Due to "Arkansas Snowmageddon 2011" or better known as "OMG-it's-still-snowing-and-we're-out-of-coffee", "I'm going to be teaching till the 4th of July", and "I'm so bored I've decided to submit my husbands "Prey Application" to Man Tracker" ( <a href="http://science.discovery.com/tv/mantracker/casting/">Man Tracker Casting Call Season 6</a>) ...<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"> I have decided to create a blog. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div>If you are reading this (which who knows how long that will be before someone finds my post) please keep in mind that I have no clue what I'm doing or even how to structure a blog. I'm so lame, I even chose a pre-made background for this thing which is pretty embarrassing for an art teacher in the 21st century or a "crafty artist". Which, by the way, is a complete oxymoron... A title for which my college art professors might be slightly disappointed.<br />
The term "blog" has always reminded me of a friendly ameba. While I do not wish for my blog to resemble a grayish blob under a microscope, I do anticipate it will constantly change as time moves along or better yet, will stop all together when our district runs out of snow days (or I run out of coffee). However! I do hope you will tag along with me on this adventure.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2