Christmas Past

All I want for Christmas is to laugh and eat and hang out with my family.... a week off to play with art and go exploring. Maybe into the city, go to Awakenings (cool store) and shop for a new computer.
Looking through my pictures, this one brought back a fond memory. The adventures of the flat selves. Fun stuff.
A new project for the new year is working with metal and fiber. I've decided to go back to working on some canvas but in a more experimental way.
And prepare for Machu Picchu in the Spring!!! That is so very very exciting.
Now off to see family.
Merry Christmas.
Love and Peace in the New Year.

My inspiration

My Chicken Cacciatore was a success. Besides being inspired from reading Julie and Julia by Julie Powell, Jake is an inspiration to cook as well. Jake can cook. He's one of the most creative people on this planet. Besides being able to write, draw, sculpt and play music... he can also create some amazing dishes. The key is using spices. (I discovered chinese 5 spice while making the pumkin/peanut sauce with shrimp and scallops.)
The key to my Chicken Cacciatore was marinating it in red wine. Trader Joes had chicken thighs that were deboned too. I love Traders. I also used a bit of balsamic glaze in the sauce. I let is sit overnight, letting all the flavors meld and it was perfect for Sundays dinner.

Creative cooking?

Creativity moves into the cooking arena. While eating at one of the very nice restaurants in town not too long ago, I had an idea. I love good food. I also like someone to cook for me. Here we are eating this dinner that I could very well have made myself and spending more than I had anticipated, that I came up with this idea of a cooking game. ( Trying to outdo one another with each meal)
My husband usually has dinner for me on Mondays as I come home late from teaching Yoga. Candlelight dinners! It inspired me to return the favor for when he has to come home late after a football practice or game.
I'm not that great of a cook. But I can read and follow a recipe (somewhat).
I'd rather spend the money at Trader Joes at this point and spend time at home eating a delicious meal with my hubby. AND I don't have to leave a tip.
My first recipe:
Pumpkin-Peanut Curry Noodles with Five-Spice Sheared Scallops and Shrimp.
I saw Rachel Ray cook this and I knew I had to make this.
Don't let the name of the dish scare you. It wasn't hard to make at all. Shopping was the hardest part. What the hell is Five Spice?? I had to leave one store to shop at another where I found it, but then they didn't have the Patak curry paste. But my sister did!
It was a very gratifying Halloween Treat.
And I felt good about it - an accomplishment. The same feeling I usually have after making a piece of artwork that came out better than I expected.
Art and now cooking?? Will wonders never cease.....

Halloween Window Painting

Halloween Window Painting... another year done! It turned out to be a pretty decent day too. Weather held up and it wasn't too cold. I think everyone had a great time and that is all that matters... it make it all worth the time and effort.
Got a chance to meet Joe too :-)

Creative for others

Although it is not my own art, it was a big creative project. It's Halloween Window Painting. Over 300 children came out to paint windows in town. These are some of my favorites and I have not gotten a chance to see all of them. I love how the cat crackled.
It's a lot of work and glad it's over - I can have some of my life back!
In art class, we've been making masks. I made a 6x6 for fun too. Didn't get to finish it though...
I have so much in my head. Hopefully I can get some of it materialized today.

Painting the World

In art class friday, we made characters. I gave them the option of making them for Halloween or not. Some of the kids are getting into cheerleading, so that was their focus. But Jacob painted the world. I laughed when he said he was going to paint the world. "Hey, that's my job! You want tho help?" The class got a big kick out of this as we began talking about painting the world....
I have a special fondness for this Jacob as he reminds me of my Jacob. Imagination exemplified!

Painting furniture for now.

I started the desk yesterday. I stared at it long enough before picking up the brush. Once I did though I was on a roll until I had to leave for class. Pictures will have to wait.
Worked a little more on the kitchen hutch. Not so sure I went with the right picture because it doesn't go, colorwise. But hey, maybe that will all change too.
I am very happy painting furniture. I could do this forever.

a boy and his dog

This is a picture of Jake and Rauch'n. One thing I saw was how much love is between them and how good Jake is with his dog. It is a lesson in unconditional love. It is a good lesson and one we could all practice more of with humans. Why do we find it easier with animals? But I say look at how someone treats their pets and it will tell you a lot about them.... their soul.

Refreshed!

We are back from vacation, although we are still on vacation.... which means I can focus on some art. I have come to the conclusion that I need to be in a place that has more trees than people.
I think everyone is friendlier there because they have more space... breathing room and fresher air too!
It's more colorful there. I took pictures of Tannersville and Woodstock. If you're in Tannersville, you should check out Maggie's Crooked Cafe... Delicious.
I did some art but spent most of the time behind the camera and just refreshing myself with new ideas. Found some great fabric in Woodstock too. A new gallery called Lotus Fine Art opened in Woodstock and Jamie who owns it was a student of Ulla Darni. She does reverse glass painting and it is eye candy to the 100th degree. I bought a small piece to hang in the window. She's affordable unlike Ulla's work, at least for now....
Now. The Power of Now is the book I took with me. I bought this book about 4 years ago on vacation in the Catskills. I would like it to be easier to be in the moment and not worry so much or rehash the same old stuff. What brings me into the present like nothing else??? Art. Creating. Making stuff.

Mystery solved

I always wondered how they got the rocks to balance. I thought maybe some glue or something. The magic is... tiny little pebbles placed at crucial positions. I always am intrigued by these sculptures and one of my watercolor drawings, Water Walkers, was inspired by them. (on the other blog).
Another temporary art form.

Self Portrait

Camp wipes me out.
I do have a young CIT that helps me. She's very quiet which I actually appreciate. She helps when I ask and sometimes even takes the initative. She's very sweet, and I see her spark of creativity. She likes to create and I leave her to do some creative work as much as I could.. She created this pocket book. This week she started on another one.

Last class

I wish I took pictures of these when they were finished. I gave the kids some cheap flip-flops. They had Dora the Explorer on them. They painted, glued all kinds of stuff on them. Lots of fun.
Not sure why the pictures are sideways though...
Today was the last class. I have 2 weeks off then camp begins. I love these classes, but it gives me a chance to come back refreshed and with some new ideas.
I took a look at some pictures of the kids in the middle school. Kids that once took classes with me... in preschool!

Laundry room finished

Laundry room is finished. I did the washboard today and added some shadows. And another picture of the dinning room finished.

Heeeere's Johnnie!

Always eager to fix things.....
Johnnie's visit from Florida.. So good to see my brother again. The only one missing here is my brother Bob who had already left. This is my mom's new room that my sister and brother created. They just brought the mattress in and we were hanging out on it.

Wellingtons is done!

the bar area at Wellingtons. Through the windows is the dining room. The bar was ragging on. the dining room ragging off. Base coats were different in each area, but the glaze on top is the same.

Play room flowers

This morning I painted in the playroom. Three large flowers in the corner. Tomorrow, I'll paint some more behind the sitting bench.

Stage one

Pondering my next step. Backgrounds for the tag book.

Blogger is bugging me out!

another point of view.. 

Painted in Semi-gloss stripes. 

Dinning Room chalked and taped. 

Stripes

Over spring break, I worked in the dinning room. One day to chalk and tape the lines. Next day to paint them. Semi-gloss stripes on eggshell background. Yosemite Sand is the color. A lot of work!

HCC art & photo exhibit

Some of the boards of art and photos from the children's exhibit.... You might be able to read the quotes if you click on the picture. There were 22 boards hung and a wonderful reception.

Children and Art

Most of my uploads have been on the Daily Devotions blog. One special project I'm working on, is putting together a show of children's art and photos. I really enjoy working with this group of kids. It's lots of fun and I so enjoy watching them create. I've been taking pictures of them working and they will be part of the show too.

Jen's book -Colorerratica RR

This completes the RR for me. The last book returns to it's owner. I have one of mine, still waiting on the other which is in Postal Limbo. I'm sure it will eventually find it's way back.

Laundry room

I worked in the laundry room today. It's not done yet, but this is it so far.

The House project

For the past few weeks, I have been having an art class with the Children's Center in Harrison. They walk over to me for some art time. This is our third project. I gave them the black paper to build on. It was about shape recognition and size, emphasizing we were going from largest to smallest. I told them they can build anything they wish, but the majority built houses. This is not a surprize as the square/rectangle and triangle lends itself to it. I also wonder if it has to do with one child projecting the image of the house and the rest follow? One younger child went in the direction of a rocket ship (on left). I was impressed with what came later with the strips of paper I gave them. I gave them an example of what can be done by manipulting it various ways; curling, folding, bending... Last was the embellishment of flowers and butterflies.
These artworks and photos of them working will be exhibited in the town house during the month of April.