FAIRY CAMP

Lovely Fairy house






This would be a great location for a fairy to hide out in a rain storm.

D. is very proud of her fairy bunny.

Fairy bunnies all in a row.

Last week was the first week of summer camp at East Roswell Park. I started my summer camps off by teaching one of my favorite camps, FAIRY CAMP. Most would think this camp is all about becoming a fairy but it's all about how to attract fairies to your garden. I teach the girls over 50 facts about fairies. We start the week by creating a wind chime full of shiny things and bells so that fairies can easily find their backyards. Then we created Fairy Bunnies. We created their wings from wire and tissue paper. We ended the week by creating a house for the Fairies to live in. Each day we took a walk in the woods to collect item to build these houses. You wouldn't believe how imaginative these little minds can be.

Newest Obsession with Embroidery

For some time now I have been following a blog called a "Bird in the Hand" http://a-bird-in-the-hand.blogspot.com/ . This lady creates the most wonderful fabric collages. She has been published in several of my favorite magazines. They are just little pieces of cloth that make me happy. They reminded me of all the sewing stitches that Grandmother taught me years ago so I decided to get my embroidery hoop out and get busy. As usual I went a little over board with it.

Now I can stop. Above are a few of the ones that I have created. Most of them are created from vintage lace, linens and fabrics I found in Grandmother's sewing basket.

Portrait workshop

Over the week-end I attended a Portrait workshop at the Spruill Art Center in Dunwoody by Summer Lowe. It was pretty costly but it fit my schedule and I really want to learn more about portrait painting. I figured how much can you really learn in a five hour workshop, right? Well, this woman was amazing. She broke down each step of painting into such basic steps that even some beginner students came out with some amazing portraits. I choose this picture of my mom because it had a lot of lights and darks to work from and it's an amazing picture of her.

I photographed each step as I went along in the workshop. I think the pictures do a better job explaining the process than words can. i can't wait to share this process with my art chix on a Friday.

Something New to Paint On.

My mother has been painting on furniture for years but I've never tried my hand at it until now.

I found a few piece at a yard sale and well this is how it came out. They are currently for sale at the Elegant Attic in Roswell.

Royal Wedding Crafting

During the Royal Wedding the Art Chix and I were busy crafting away. Here are in our Fancy Hats and Tea Cups

What were we crafting, we were crafting these special little boxes made from large match boxes.

We've all decided to use them as gift boxes for Mother's day. Of course I couldn't make just one I had to make about 10. If you think you need one you can pick one up at the Boardwell Cottage or send me an email.

Beading Fit for a Queen

I have an art friend name, Marcy, she refers to herself as, "THE QUEEN". She is just one of those people when you meet her that you know you're going to just love her and want to be her best friend. We have shared blogging together and have created together a few time but OMG, not in a million years did I ever imagine that I was in the company of such greatness.

I was visiting her blog today and look at what I found. She created this wonderful thing. Of course it took her over two months but can you believe it. I would never have the patience to work on one project that long. I have suggested that she send photos into some of the bead magazine to have it published and then send it to a fancy gallery in New York.

Let's just say dear Queen, I am bowing at your creation.

www.queenmarcyoriginals.typepad.com

WHAT A KID

There are days when a Mom just has to brag a little, especially when you have a kid that was born completely deaf. You set certain goals for him and well, you just can't set them high enough because he keeps Jumping over those goals so that he can reach even higher goals he has set for himself.

Yesterday was the JROTC 2011 Awards Ceremony at F's high school. He decided on his own last year to join this program. At this Awards Ceremony he was awarded 9 different ribbons to wear on his uniform for things like attendance, personal appearance, athletics, cadet challenges, good conduct, raider's team and academic achievements. But the most impressive part of the ceremony came at the end when several National Awards were handed out. F was the only freshman to receive a national award. He was awarded the Emry-Riddle award for outstanding performance in academics, leadership and cadets corps activities as a first year JROTC cadet.

This award came with a beautiful shiny metal to be worn on his uniform. I don't know who was more proud, me or him. His face was just glowing with pride. We are so proud of him and the man he is turning into.