Loving

: : these zinnias outside of my kitchen window

: : the places my cats sleep

: : block printing with 10/11 year-olds


: : sewing with friends young and wise

Good times of the summer.

Commentary

Block printing was the highlight of my weekend. While my son watched me printing my third block on the floor of the kitchen, he told me that my prints didn't have enough "action" in them. Interesting.

On the other hand, his oil pastel drawings on black construction paper constitute "action." I agree.

My daughter, on her own, incorporated my love for all things square and log-cabinish into her own Styrofoam block printing. Has she watched me knitting and sewing lately? I love it.

And, she drew a city-scape oil-pastel that depicts the times. Given the "For Rent" sign in the top of the tall building, I think I can safely say that she has overheard NPR reporting about the economy a few times in the last six months.

This commentary is a brief and simplistic illustration of the following statements: we can learn a lot about our children through what they draw and create. We can learn a lot about each other through art.

Happy Birthday, Beth

My little sister turns a year older today. I made this block in honor of her-- as a mom and all of the wonderful things she does in her life. It is loosely based on a Theotokos (or Mother of God) and Matryoshka doll combined. And, the pocket for the baby sports a log-cabin square.

A strange fact, while I was block printing yesterday, I found out later that she and her daughter had been carving potato stamps to make a t-shirt for the first 100 days of school. How is that for a convergence in the universe? It also illustrates the kind of person she is. Always creative and willing to spend time with someone.

I'll bet our mother was looking down at us with the same smile on her face as the mother above.

Weekend creativity

On Friday, I bought the necessary supplies to do real block-printing-- a set of Speedball lino-carving tools and some Speedball Speedy-Cut blocks. I've been doing Styrofoam printing learned at LifeShards for too long! I made two blocks-- one in honor of someone getting ordained to the priesthood tomorrow (A.C.) and one for someone having a birthday tomorrow (B.L.). I have been inspired by Rachel and Emmie's block-printing! They are both wayyyyy better than me, but it is fun to start something new and learn how to use new materials. I watched this YouTube video this morning to get me started.



I've also knitted here and there-- finishing one more square for whatever the natural, green, and blue log cabin project will become (a blanket or a table runner?) and starting a log-cabin dishcloth for someone special (C. O.) who will help me with the children next weekend.

The exploration into sewing and quilting continues. I bought some new fabric on Friday, and I can't wait to turn it into something. Sometimes, I go shopping with a project in mind. Sometimes, I let the fabric tell me what it wants to be. I found myself buying primary colors-- red, yellow, and blue. I liked the old-fashioned look of these fabrics. And, I loved the red fabric with cats, dogs, ducks, chickens, and rabbits reading stories. It may be hard to see, but the butterflies also look like little flying books. I'm thinking this might make something nice for my library.

Christmas Cards

And I thought I wasn't going to send out Christmas cards this year! Some mysterious force took over a few days ago, and I was at the kitchen table with the brayer, a Styrofoam plate of a Japanese maple leaf, green ink, and card stock. They are going in the mail today.

After a visit from grandparents/in-laws over the weekend, we have another short visit tonight with another set. But, this last week before school starts up again is fairly free and open with time for making new things, cleaning up old things, playing, walking, cooking, reading, and watching movies. It sounds like the perfect week to me.

Our Advent Calendar of Mini-Books

This is the advent calendar that we worked on over Thanksgiving. First, we folded little hot-dog books out of half sheets of 8.5 x 11 size paper. The instructions to make these are here. Then, we used pencils to carve Styrofoam from recycled take-out sushi trays. These became our blocks from which to print the numbers. (Numbers and letters must be carved in mirror-image. How many times did I get that wrong? Several). Then, we printed the numbers on the covers of the books. On the first Sunday of advent, we strung up the books with sisal twine and mini clothespins across the kitchen windows. Everyone in the family is encouraged to write reflections or daily happenings or draw pictures for each day. On some days, I'll put a clue in the book for a mini treasure hunt.

The light this afternoon was so beautiful, so I'm starting a new set of photos around the theme of advent light. The Japanese maple is almost done shedding it's brilliant, fiery leaves. Look who joined me to marvel in the carpet of drying leaves.

Log Cabin Dishcloth & Styrofoam Printing

Publish Post

Looking at the colors in this washcloth makes me happy! It might even make washing the dishes a little more enjoyable. One of my teacher friends, Kathy D., made this over the weekend after coming to my little knitting gathering to learn log-cabin knitting techniques. It reminds both of us of something from Honduras because of the bright blues, reds, and yellow. Now, I want to make one just as colorful. This was made with Peaches and Cream dishcloth cotton.

At school today, I assisted the art teacher in teaching the students how to make a simple block-prints using recycled styrofoam as the block and ball point pens as the carving utensil. Below is what one of the Kindergarten students made. This is a great method to use with any age child. Sometimes the younger children amaze me with their abstract designs!

Just look at my tree today in the full glory of the afternoon sunshine: