summer reading

Well I have definitely checked out for awhile.

Sorry...

Summer has officially begun and I have final lessons to share, 

but for now you have to settle for my summer reading list.

I tend to go through seasons of no-reading and then savoring everything in sight.

Yep that's where I am at right now;

soaking in all sorts of genre.

And new paintings have started and

etsy prints too.

more to follow soon...

I promise :)

Happy Father's Day!

Ahh Father's Day...

Here is my clan many years ago.

We are now all grown up (sometimes)

and that saluting kid now has a daughter of his own.

*See the second photo.

And that funny little bundle of squintness (not a word-I checked)

is about to start grad school.

Sigh.

Aren't they cute? 

I stole this photo from them and messed with it a bit

as they live on the other side of the country.

Hence I can't take my own photos of Sophie changing every day.

 So I think that gives me the right to do that.

Ya it does.

And here is my dad reading to me.

How sweet is this photo I just dug out and scanned?

Happy Father's Day!

the week in Instagram

If you like what you see and want to view more 

just click on that little instagram button over on the right...

ya that one.

Anthropologie window with paper butterflies

Anthropologie interior

Mt. Rainier in the mirror 

 hubby's big birthday

spotted at the nursery

 my beautiful wisteria

Dragons and Castles and Princesses oh my!

Start with some creative kiddos

 and have them stamp using foam blocks for some castle texture.

 Then cut out castle towers and make them stick out so they are 3D.

 Add some stamped clouds and grass rubbing texture

 as well as brick turrets.

 Then think about what your setting needs to really let it zing...

 Ahh yes it needs a princess and a dragon and maybe some tissue fire.

 It was a great project with lots of laughs.

We first drew dragons and princesses on the iPad.

Then I printed out their creations so they were able 

to cut them out and place them into their setting.

A great collaborative project as we all stamped together on group papers.

They were able to see how iPads and mixed media thrive together.

How about all you art teachers out there.  

Have you been able to incorporate iPads with traditional art?

(their iPad drawings)

I also did this lesson several years ago. 
To see the detailed printing instructions
just click here.
Seriously one of my favorite lessons.
I would love to see pictures if you teach this lesson.

It may have helped that I just finished all 5 years of Merlin.
Good thing I got them from Mail-in Netflix
or I would have been glued to my tv for a seriously long time.
So yes I was in a Medieval dragon mode.

Family Reunion

 "Well, well," he exclaimed.  

"What's this?  A family reunion or something!"

I still love finding words that are no longer needed and giving them a second life.
For some reason it just makes me chuckle.

for sale here

no words needed

I adore Instagram.

Love all the images that greet me everyday.

Here are my latest from Easter.  

You can follow me.

Just click on the Instagram button over there

on the right side of the blog.

When Picasso met Mona, then Matisse

What happens when you take several lower grade elementary students

and try and introduce the idea of cubism and Picasso

while you are recreating the Mona Lisa?

Well here are some examples.

I just love them - 

They are humorous and fun.

Check out the bling on them too.

For the record, the kids didn't see their pictures quite like I did.

They hated them to be honest.

Most wanted to rip them up on the spot even though I insisted they take them home.

Drat I won't be doing this lesson again.

I still think they are wonderful

 We also made Mona - iPad style.

Now they loved creating these.

And for the record - 

I thought they would think paint by number was lame,

but they sat silently for an hour and filled in each section.

Just goes to show you that you can never tell which lessons will be awesome

and which will flop.

Ahh such is life.

I read this fun book before we launched in to our version of Matisse's GoldFish.

We made them with tissue and glue and...

we drew them on the iPad too.

I love creating the same lesson on the iPads and in mixed media.

It works all the parts of the kiddos' brains and really stretches how they see the world.

Just love these guys!