Fremont Troll

The kiddos and I checked out the Fremont troll under the bridge on Sat. The poor troll needs some tlc......and a manicure.
“To love is to risk not being loved in return. To hope is to risk pain. To try is to risk failure, but risk must be taken because the greatest hazard in life is to risk nothing.”

Michelle Beschen - Some Fun Home Improvement

a few art lessons from school

This is my "Art History Mystery" board. Every month I display an unknown artist's work and ask several questions. When students are finished with their art work they can use the computer or take home the questions I have posted to find out the mystery-"who is this artist?"...and of course whichever little detectives figure out the mystery recieve a little treat at the end of the month.

This is my little piece I created along side my students in an after school workshop. Its the space needle made from "Found Objects." (cd/cone thingee...and the inside parts of an old clock)

2nd grade winter scenes.

Jackson Pollock after school workshop.

5/6th grade "Celtic Alphabet" project for our Festival of Peace and Light.

3rd Grade-Complimentary Colored Numbers! We studied the art of Jasper John's for this project.

2nd Grade-Abstract German Castles. Students created these in December for our festival of peace and light. Students used building blocks to construct a castle onto their paper. This project was one of my favorites-lots of color!!

4th Grade-Stained Glass Art Design on the back of cd's.

5/6th graders made paper mache guitars of their own design. I had several students in this class who play the guitar so I thought it would be fun to study the history of the guitar .(Dangerous Curves-The art of the Guitar from the Museum of Fine Art in Boston).

Hey Franki-I'm finally getting up some pics of some art lessons. I've got some more to post...I'm also going to try and get some of my favorite art teacher links up on "my favorites."

“Today you are You, that is truer than true. There is no one alive who is Youer than You.”

-Dr. Seuss

ATT: Chicago girlies.....midwest tshirt

Ok Franki, Andi and Jen...I found the tshirt! ...and I found a link with how to transfer an image with freezer paper..so we don't have to slap down twenty five bucke roos!

Freezer paper link: http://www.craftster.org/blog/?p=94 (check out the Madonna transfer)

http://gingerfied.blogspot.com/2006/04/freezer-paper-transferhow-to_16.html

Franki-thanks to you, I'm going a little crazy with freezer paper now....its all over the living room as I'm trying to make shirts for the kiddos birthdays.

I know well that happiness is in the little things. -John Ruskin

some inspiration

I would love to make a tub sofa....someday....

Ohhh la, la...This grocery cart chair is so sweet.....Now only if I could weld...mmmm.....I saw the tub and grocery chair at http://www.reestore.com/

Its the wee hours of the night-and I am unable to sleep-so...I'm looking through some of my favorite sites for inspiration. I love the milk crates-I may have to do something like this in the future..now to find a butt load of milk crates..... For the milk crate chandelier and crate stools: http://www.treehugger.com/files/2007/03/come_up_to_my_r.php

Our doubts are traitors, and make us lose the good we oft might win, by fearing to attempt.-William Shakespeare

A redo on a dresser...and some art

So Thursday evening the kiddos and I took a dresser over to Fremont. Its always a bit crazy with Oscar and Frannie wanting to play with the breakables at the shop! I also took a picture of a painting (an old Irish saying) I brought in to the Vintage mall awhile ago. ...and on our way out Oscar and Frannie enjoyed playing in their tent(the Fremont Vintage sign).

"Chop your own wood, and it will warm you twice."-Henry Ford

Collective

So my friend Susie who manages the Fremont Vintage Mall told me that Gail Miller from "Collective," had bought some of my stuff before. On my way home the other day I thought I would pop in to "Collective," and meet Gail. Walking up to the door I see my "Housekeeping" vanity in the front window. I also spotted a lamp and foot stool that I had redone. I talked to Gail a bit and asked her if I could take some pictures. It was so fun to see my stuff in her shop! Thanks Gail!! Visit her oh so cool shop at : http://www.collectiveinballard.com/

“Life is partly what we make it, and partly what it is made by the friends we choose.”-Tennessee Williams. -

Thanks Retta, Lori and Jimmy for really pushing me to do what I love...I thought of you and all of your encouragement when I was in Fremont this weekend!! Love ya,katie

Music Sheet Art

I found some amazing old music sheets awhile back. I picked out some music titles that resonate with me and decoupaged them with a little bit of wood stain onto these wood boards. The wood boards I found at Creation Station in Lynwood, Wa. ( http://www.creationstationinc.com/ ). I wanted to keep them in my living room but I took them to Fremont to sell. I have another project I'm working on that will take the place of these in my living room.

“Art is never finished, only abandoned.”-Leonardo da Vinci

another chandelier

I had this eighties light fixture that I added some junky beads/and other odds and ends and some black paint and whaallaa!!! My picture of the final outcome doesn't look to hot- This piece I am consigning at Fremont Vintage Mall.

“Limitations live only in our minds. But if we use our imaginations, our possibilities become limitless.” Jamie Paolinetti

Christmas Break

So I wanted the kids to pick out a few gifts for Jimmy and Jenny for Christmas. We all know we don't need more crap but I want them to understand giving more-so we went to the Target dollar section and I gave Oscar and Franki a list of people they had to buy for. Oscar picked out santa claus chocolate for Jimmy and clappers for Jenny. He was pretty adiment about Jenny having party clappers. It was funny. And Ms. Frances picked out a yo yo for Jimmy. We can always use yo yo's! Also..wrapping by Oscar and Franki!!

I was looking around the house for something to use for our advant-like countdown till Christmas. Chinese Take out cartons seemed to work. I bought them awhile ago for gift boxes but I think they spiced up our tree!

Snow in Seattle!!! Crazy.

Franki hitting Oscar with a snowball in the back.

Uncle Ralph, Franki , Oscar and Aunt Jenny -ahhh so cute.

Uncle Jimmy helping Oscar put together his Anniken Lego ship

Oscar opening up some spider man pajamas!!!

Oh dear....This barbie is Frannie's favorite gift and is annoying as heck!!! The barbie sings super cheesy songs. One of the songs starts out..."I feel connected...protected..." Jimmy made up some words..."I feel rejected....suspected.." hee, hee.

One of Oscar's favorite gifts..another light sabor. You can never have too many light sabors!

Frannie was serving us coffee with her new barbie tea set and putting barbie stickers all over our faces.

“Happiness is not in the mere possession of money; it lies in the joy of achievement, in the thrill of creative effort.” Franklin D. Roosevelt