A Monster Alphabet!

I was given this wonderful book by the author. She heard me mentioning that my 5y/o nephew loves everything Halloween and monsters and she very thoughtfully gave me a print. Jozen created the written portion of this wonderful book and Sophie created the amazing illustrations. They bounded the books themselves and self published.  I can't wait to see what book they create next.

  I just sent it off to my nephew and can't wait to see what he thinks!

Friday Fling! Mud & Merlot

I finally made it to this Friday night mud and merlot workshop at Genesee Pottery; http://www.geneseearts.org/Genesee-Center/Genesee-Pottery-Single-Class.php?refno=2985.  There was wine and appetizers and you received a brief lesson on throwing on the wheel. I've been intimidated to throw on the wheel since an undergrad ceramics course where we were on the wheel for only an hour and it was tragic how untalented I was at it.

However my mom and I have enjoyed taking art classes when she visits so on this trip up we tried our hand at making pottery and we had a blast going to this workshop.  My mom flung her clay at people a few times and kept throwing her sponge all over but eventually she managed to make a couple of awesome bowls.  I was uber excited because on my first try I made a cool bowl. It then took me 3 more tries before I made another awesome bowl and they even let me make one more in which I was daring and tried quite a few of the techniques they taught me throughout the evening.  It's a pretty awesome workshop that'd I'd recommend to anyone. When you are done you pick out glazes for your pieces, the instructors will fire the pieces and glaze them for you and then you go back in a bout 2 weeks to pick up your pieces.   I would definitely try working on the wheel more in the future. Maybe mugs and a vase next time. :) Check out our adventure below.

This was my first attempt and it was successful!

The Wrap Them In Love Project

I'm continuing on with my goal of at least one art creation donation project a month. I actually participated in two projects during September but the Dress A Girl project will be an ongoing monthly project.  This month was actually a goal I set to create four quilts for children by Thanksgiving. I finished before my goal date, but with my schedule being very hectic I had wanted to give myself plenty of time on this one. All in all it took me about a month to create the four quilts. I made a baby quilt, 2 children quilts and an older child/early teen quilt. I have to give props and credit to my co-workers Megan, Sandy and Emily who all donate a lunch break to help me cut the tiny squares for the baby blanket and to my mother who helped me layout the pattern for the baby blanket. This was a group effort!

These quilts will be donated to the Wrap Them In Love project; http://www.wraptheminlove.org/.  Below is info. on their purpose and mission:

Wrap Them in Love Foundation is a non-profit, tax exempt organization
created to help needy children of the world.
Our Mission is to collect donated quilts and distribute them to children around the world, so they can be wrapped in love and comfort. As we all know, a quilt is a very special thing. It isn't just a blanket; it has been lovingly created by a real person. A quilter leaves a part of themselves in every quilt they make. The child who receives it will be able to snuggle up in all the love that comes in that quilt.


I was able to purchase all of the material at Craft Bits and Pieces for a fraction of the cost it would have been at a large art store. That's why I LOVE CBP!  I estimate that I spent about $15-20 on the materials to create all four quilts. On the two children's quilt I embroidered on some off white plain squares to match the other quilt pieces. The main cost will most likely be the mailing of the quilts.  Below are pics of each quilt. Enjoy!

Children's Quilt

 Children's Quilt

                                                                                                

                                                                 Baby Quilt

  Older Child/Young Teen Quilt

                     

Created By Us Pottery

I have always wanted to go to one of those paint your own pottery places but I've heard they are pretty expensive. It just so happened that recently I received a Groupon online and it was for a paint your own pottery deal. I immediately purchased it $15 for 2  to go to Created By Us Pottery; https://www.facebook.com/createdbyus?v=info.  I saved the Groupon until I found someone to go with and this happened to be a date. It was a really fun date idea and we both created hot cocoa mugs for each other. It was an interesting way to get to know someone because you had to ask them what colors they like and what style they like and try to create something that might turn out neat to give to them.  We had a great time and I would recommend this for a creative date night activity or simply a fun night out with friends.

This was mine for him. He wanted a relaxing kind of Asian look.

I did this bubble technique on the inside and on the spoon. It was silly and a lot of fun to do. (kind of looks like hot cocoa).

This was his for me. The drip effect turned out really awesome and there was a little heart on the spoon too. I love the colors and I have a preference to artwork with circles.