Margarine Star

Margarine Star
Originally uploaded by Heidicrafts.

Art is a way of seeing. Art is how you look at something with open eyes.

My kids and I always try to notice and appreciate the star on the top of the tub of margarine, made when the factory machinery fills the tub quickly with a bloop of margarine.

A good friend once spoke of her family phrase, "Breaking the Smooth." It needed to be done with a little reverence. There is something about disrupting the form of a product as presented, altering the star into "just" a tub of margarine. Changing the sacred into the mundane.

My husband thinks we're all weird in this regard, and never shows us the star if he opens a new tub.

Where did you find art unexpectedly today?

Journal and Tags: Sept 2006 to March 2007

Had I realized how much the kitchen remodeling took over this journal, I would have put it on the cover. But I didn't. I started with my beloved Chucks.

I use my journal to encapsulate everything in my life: meeting notes, sketches, Cute Things They Say, and lists of things to get done (all noted with little boxes, waiting for that check mark.
Then add all of the samples of the kitchen old and the kitchen new, next to glued-in photographs and tucked-in event programs... This book will not close.

My life is too big to be fully captured. ;)

Journal and Tags: Sept 2006 to March 2007
Originally uploaded by Heidicrafts.

I have date tags in colors of fall and of my new kitchen. I chose fun fuzzy yarn with the kitchen colors, too.

I attached the Formica(R) laminate sample for easy Show & Tell. When the walls were painted, I took a little paint from the bucket and painted the back of the laminate tag with wall paint. You can see a little on the edges.

When Former President Ford died, I was researched flag etiquette for my Scouts. I learned that for a fixed flag, one on a pole that cannot be set to half staff, it is appropriate to hang a length of black ribbon from the top, folded or tied so two ends hang down. To remember that event with my journal, I added thin black ribbon to the edges.

Six Pink ATCs

Six Pink ATCs
Originally uploaded by Heidicrafts.

Six ATCS for my first swap with Imagination Tribe. Theme: Pink.

They are cut from one greeting card that I started and then it really didn't go anywhere.

Pieces are from my daughter's art: the yellow-pink swirly hearts, the star on construction paper, the fuzzy fabric from her poodle skirt project. She makes more art than I can keep, but it makes great collage fodder.

The lower heart on the upper left card is punched from a glossy ad, showing a sliced tomato.

Six Princess ATCs

Six Princess ATCs

Ganoush made six princess ATCs for a trade.

The Disney images are from a local DIY store. A roll of cellophane tape with images of Snow White, Cinderella, and Sleeping Beauty. Some of the paint stamps are also by Disney, bought a few years ago at the same DIY store.

On the lower left card, with C and SW, Ganoush stamped an apple for Snow White on the card's back.

Rose Vase ATCs

Rose Vase ATCs
Originally uploaded by Heidicrafts.

ATCs numbered 3 through 6 My second-ever attempts.

The roses in a vase came from a tissue box. I choose my tissues based on the box art. The base is purple index cards.

The text is from a financial planning catalog that had great colors on the cover. The shapes are all from the catalog as well.

I made these in early 2006, with friend Andrea of Atypical Life in mind, then I set them aside and lost them. And now they are found! I sent two to her and two for me.

Imagination Tribe hosted a trade of Puzzle ATCs. Nine cards that could stand alone or make a 3x3 larger image. I did not participate, but this idea might have worked. Can you see where I cut the rose vase?

Burgundy Gold ATCs

Burgundy Gold ATCs
Originally uploaded by Heidicrafts.

My very first two ATCs, from around last spring. A collage on chipboard of gift wrap, candy foil, glitter glue, and torn tissue paper.

Flickr

This is a test post from , a fancy photo sharing thing.

Double writing in Flickr and here

I've been posting a bunch of my recent art on my Flickr account, shown on the sidebar. I leave detailed comments, then I don't want to re-write the text here in the art blog as well. Ah, these modern dilemmas.

So, go look at some ATC photos there.

I'll work out the balance thing.

Easter Countdown

Lisa Vollrath has added an Easter Countdown to her site. It's the same URL for each countdown. If you want to participate, add a link in a blog or forum and head on over.

St. Patrick's Day Countdown with Lisa Vollrath

I like Lisa's art.

Every now and then, she offers free downloadable images, usually pertaining to a holiday.
This time, she asks for a link first. Fair enough. Here is the link for St. Patrick's Day images.

If you do link and load, please don't pass those images on to others. Invite them to download their own copies directly as well.

But her clock is ticking. They'll likely be gone in the next couple of days.

Feb CMP ATCs

I participated in the Creative Mom Podcast ATC swap for February.

Some swaps ask for participants to mail the art to the host, who mixes or matches and re-sends out. This works well for large projects like an alphabet swap. 26 participants are each assigned a letter and make 26 cards for that letter. The host receives the 26 "L" cards and put one each into 26 participant bags, like Valentines. Then, every participant receives an alphabet deck with 26 letter cards from 26 artists, included one's self.

The CMP swap is easier. Rather than mailing all cards to Creative Mom, we send just our address. She does the mixing and sends each person the name and address of their recipient. It is not a matched group. I send to Person R, I receive a card from Person V. Next month, I'm assigned person B and get a card from Person H.




I received this art card in the Feb Swap. The theme was Alphabet Soup. This has nothing to do with the theme, but who cares. It is sunny and bright in midwinter and I learned on the swap page that it was one of her first ATC attempts.



Here is the back, with contact info fuzzed out.



Here is my contribution. I love playing with font and color and shape of the alphabet.

The Concert

I can check some info about my blog visitors through Site Meter. One bit of information is what key words were put into Google or other search engine to bring that seeker to me.

This week, someone was seeking with the words {short British crosswalk piano}

I know exact what you mean. I loved that little moive when I saw it in junior high music class and I still remember chunks of it fondly.

The IMDb says that it is The Concert (1974).

Ordinary Guy walks into a London black and white striped cross walk and hears piano music, as if he were stepping on large keys. He investigates for a while, puzzled, then delighted. He plays on the wristcuff of a London Bobbie / police officer. He taps a trill on an old lady's teeth. Anything black, white, and vaguely rectangular becomes a music making device.

Then, just as abruptly, the gift has run out and the concert is over. He hops expectantly through the cross walk and hears nothing by typical street sounds. He re-composes (ha, ha) himself and goes on his way.

Alas, I cannot find it on You Tube.

Arrow of Light arrows

I have been a Cub Scout Den Leader for just over four full years. My six Webelos are crossing over to Boy Scouts soon (as soon as this weather lets up). As a remembrance, I took ideas from other Scout Leaders and made career arrows for my boys. I chose to use beads to represent the accomplishments they archived in their time with us.


Here is a full shot of a different boy's career arrow.



I chose feathers of blue & gold (Cubs) and red & green (BSA).
I attached them with hot glue, then lashed them with gold cord, just like in the Webelos book.

I added name beads (fuzzed out for posting) on a pipe cleaner / chenille stem, with a blue and yellow glow bead.

(I love glow stuff. Our den behavior markers were glow MegaBloksTM that were my wedding gift from my husband.)



I used translucent and opaque tri-beads to represent each segment patch they earned. There is a stopper bead on the end. The hole was small, so I used elastic gold cord.

Next are shiny pony beads to represent beltloops, silver for sports and gold for academics, just like the loops themselves. I couldn't find copper beads for the BB and Archery loops, so I used shiny red. These holes were large enough to use yarn. I used variegated rainbow yarn.

The large orange bead represents the Tiger badge. It was a plain wooden bead that I colored with a dry erase marker. I couldn't get paint to look good. Each Rank bead has matching glow beads above and below it. I used opaque tri-beads for the totem beads, with a glow stopper bead

Finally, the blue bead represents Bobcat. I added two shiny blue pony beads to represent the 8 steps to earn the Bobcat.



Red wooden bead for Wolf badge, yellow pony beads for the progress towards rank beads, a gold oval bead for the gold arrow point and silver oval beads in two columns to the silver arrow points earned. The oval beads have small holes, so I used gold cord.

Teal wooden bead for Bear badge with red progress beads

Dark blue wooden bead for the Webelos badge and unpainted wooden bead for the Arrow Light badge. The star beads are in five colors to represent the five categories of activity pins. These are the exact beads we had on pipe cleaners for each boy's den doodle. Earning the compass badge added a fat blue disk bead. Earning arrow points after each four more stars placed a shiny purple pony bead on the stack.



The arrowhead was purchased at our Scout Shop. I used hot glue to affix it to the dowel (painted with gold glitter paint) and then lashed it on, knotting in the back and sealing the knot in hot glue.

The arrow has glow Rexlace for hanging purpose.

Knitting update: projects 1, 2, 3

My first try at knitting grew and grew. What started with 30 stitches was stopped when I realized that I was now doing more than 60. Sometimes, the yarn untwisted enough that I put the needle through only half. Then I knitted the other half, too. Other extra stitches appeared with no understanding.When it was done, it was not a square. It is a Rorschach test. Everyone sees something that it *could* be.









So when I started my second project, observers asked, "What will it be?" and I replied, "A square."
"No," they all countered, "what will it be?"
I explained. "The last time I tried to knit a square and failed. This time, I only hope to make a square." and I succeeded.

I really like using verigated yarns. It helps me keep track of my stitches much better than if I was looking into a sea for sameness. I like the surprised of what goes with which. What combinations appear that I wouldn't have chosen but now rather like?



For my third project, I wanted to branch out a little. I am attracted to fun fibers and wondered how they would knit. I wanted to make a small swatch, only 13 stitches across. But once I got started, in a gather of homeschool moms, I was encouraged to continue on. "Make a scarf," they said.
"But it's not really all that soft," I protested.
"Make a Fashion Scarf," they said, and one showed me her accent scarf, worn in that loose Lark's Head way.
"I am the one who wears a lizard hat," I reminded everyone.
But I'm making a scarf now, anyway. I like having one 13 stitches before flipping.



I'll declare that for Project Spectrum, CHG is reading aloud "Wintersmith" for the family. The third Tiffany Aching book from Terry Pratchett, it is full of grey skies, white snowflakes with curious properties, and the little blue Wee Free Men, the Nac Mac Feegles. While he reads, full of spot-on voices, I knit.

I really should try knitting with something blue, grey, and white, but I like these colors. I'll think about it. I have a second set of #10 needles, which are grey.

I'm coming along nicely. It reaches from my palm nearly up to my shoulder now. I expect that I'll keep going until I finish the skein or reach my arm's span across.

Kitchen switch and outlet covers on display

The ceramic covers have been fired, picked up, and installed around the kitchen. They add a lovely, personal touch to the place.



These are Ganoush's. She included her initials, which I have craftily disguised using MS Paint. The pink puffy paint that she had used is now purple. It does not affect the design.



This was CHG's first time with ceramics. He did a lovely layering on the leaves that is hard to see now. The dark greens overpower the lighter greens. The stripes are bold.



On the flip side, my leaves could have used more layering. I used rubber stamps, and they are difficult to align for second or third stampings. The boldest fern, I went over the paint with a brush, but it seemed too thick. I do like it. I just wish that the leaves had come out darker. I also initialed (and masked here) my work.



Gonzo's Electric-type Pokemon cover turned out great. It features Voltorb, Electrode, and Pikachu.

Valentine's Day Countdown

Lisa Vollrath is having another Countdown giveaway.

Do not pass along the pictures you may download from there. Just spread the news and let everyone download for themselves.

Hats

I like hats. Hats add to or enhance my character. Hats keep the sun out of my eyes.

In the summer, I wear a brimmed hat. I pin buttons and pins on it. Once, a librarian found a pin in my vicinity and asked if it was mine. It was not. "Oh, well," sid the librarian. "It should be," and gave my the button. A quote from Albert Einstein about education. Rather unschooly.

My hat has style ~ Heidi style. It is not a Tilley. It is from Lands' End. CHG has a real Tilley.

They are white-ish to reflect away sunlight. They are green underneath to minimize reflection into one's eyes.

They have a cord for windy days. I usually tuck mine up and around the back to keep it out of my way.

They have a fun foam insert inside the pocket inside the top; this will help it float in water.

The sides can snap up, though I don't wear it that way.

They have grommets to let the breeze blow through.

I can found in a crowd. The lady in the hat.

When I have summer band concert, the hat means that I am the personnel manager. I take attendance. When I remove my hat, that means that I am ready to be a musician.

In the winter, I wear a hat that was a gift for my son when he was younger. But I liked it much better than he did. So now it is mine. It was made by Doni Jo McBeath at Art for Your Frame. Go click. Not only does she make lizard hats, she makes chicken hats, rabbit hats, Knights visors, Viking hats with Brunhilda braids attached. She also makes coats for wee ones and pillow.

She is delighted that I send her an e-mail every year, letting her know that one lizard is still out in the world, making people happy. When we coordinate, she says she can make a winter hat for me with a brim. A duck in a pond.

Drivers are nicer to pedestrians that make them chuckle.

People smile at me when I wear the hat. I smile back. I rifle through my mental RolodexTM. Do I know them? Do they know me? No. They like my hat. Brave people find the courage to say out loud, "I like your hat."

There is a wire in the lizard's tongue. It usually keep it pointing up and out of my way.

If we have a large snow, I need to brush the snow from the roof of my car. In doing so, snow usually get on the lizard. Typically, I brush off my car because I intend to use my car, so after brushing, I get into my car. I turn on the heater. The interior warms up. The snow on my lizard hat melts. It drips. On my face. While I'm driving.

Lizard spit.

Valentine ATCs

Since I don't sign up for swaps much, mine are more AGCs, Artist Giving Cards.

My kids don't want to make their own Valentines for their exchange. I don't want to buy licensed cards. So they contracted me to make their cards. I was delighted.



These were for Ganoush's exchange. The background is Marvy ink pads, direct to paper. The patterned pink is store bought tissue paper. The bright pink hearts are just Astrobright copy paper. I added the Snoopy stamp after they were punched. For a time, Ganoush would hold out her arms, throw back her head, and tappity tap dance whenever she heard the word "Snoopy," as shown in this stamp. She was tickled that I used it on her Valentines. And it added that wee bit of licensing that the kids have come to expect.

I also broke my big heart punch during this session and had to make it work without its plastic casing.

I finished up with a lit of little "exploding heart confetti" stampings and one heart with wings stamp.



Gonzo's cards have a more masculine look. The cards are darker. I had started with the same pink and purple, but overstamped them with Marvy orange direct to paper.

All of the hearts are punched from one page from TV Guide magazine. The ad is for Cheez-its. The ad shows that a Cheez-its brand cracker is small but shows it next to a large block of cheese to represent the big taste.

Again with the exploding heart stamp and the winged heart stamp.

Gonzo surprised me with his thoughtfulness. On the cards to his close friends, he is adding original art tailored to their preferences. Pikachu for one, light sabres for a couple of others.



Ganoush has one friend in Gonzo's class, so I made this card extra for Ganoush to give and for Gonzo to deliver during the exchange. It will be a surprise when she looks at her Valentines.

Same formula. This heart is punched from some random paint art that Ganoush made one day. Most of our painting sessions end with time for "let's use up all of the paint you guys poured out but haven't used yet" background making.

And in true ATC form, I am continuing to number them. My last card was #658.


Ganoush's exchange was today. Gonzo's will be next week.

Ganoush's received cards had many kittens, kittens with puppies, Veggie Tales, and a few Disney princesses. She likes the card of Will Turner from Pirates of the Caribbean.

Her b-o-y-f-r-i-e-n-d drew his cards on copy paper, saying "Best Firend" and showing a bald head and a head with flip curls. Ganoush said that he made those for everybody. She said that he doesn't know yet that he's her boyfriend. She didn't know until last night that the boy's father work with CHG. They have had a chat about their children. As far as I know, nothing about dowries was mentioned.

She received candy on about half of the cards. I don't believe in giving out candy. It makes it too much obligation. But I did accept the Hershey's mini-bars, Bottle Caps, and Butterfinger hearts that she didn't want.

Project Spectrum 2.0

February / March
Blue, White, Gray

April / May
Green, Yellow, Pink

June / July
Red, Black, Metallics

August / September
Brown, Orange, Purple

Poppins has been excited about Project Spectrum and I'm ready to give it some attention. This was started last year and basically asks folk to be aware of color in their lives. It draws attention different colors each couple of months, and certainly invites craftiness if that suits one.

I have some ideas, but nothing to show yet.

New outlet and switch covers

The kids and I like visiting a local pottery store. We can paint bisqueware with glaze, they fire it for us at the store, and we pick it up a week later.

Since the kitchen's design phase, I have had a dream of each of us in the family decorating an outlet cover for the new kitchen. Today, my dream came true. We were all available to go painting together.

We realized that their stock had just the right switch covers for all of our configurations as well. Each of us now has ownership of one corner. The pink spells out "dad."

Near the dining room are the pieces by Ganoush. She made the three-switch plate and the outlet cover next to it. She finished early, so she also painted a cat.

The electrics between the stove and the garage door were decorated by CHG. His pieces are at the top, striped or leafy. What looks like a cover for one switch and two outlets is really for three outlets. Original to the house, at least since we've been here, is one "regular" switch for the kitchen overhead light, and two left-to-right switches, one over the other, for the light in the garage and the light for the landing just before the garage.

The corner by the pantry is mine. I used rubber stamps to make a leafy theme. The kitchen has a lovely summer to autumn feel without really having any glaring orange in it.

The three of us used the same palette of three green and three wood-beige colors.

Gonzo went off and did his own thing. He didn't use any of our colors but had a definite theme in mind. He drew Pikachu from Pokemon. He also drew Pokemon Voltorb and Electrode. These are all Electric type Pokemon. For an electric outlet cover. Cool.