The Art Show: 2013 Edition

As always, so proud of my kiddos!

paintings: of late

I've been taking some breaks from my "littles" to work on my "humuuungus". It's been going pretty well..my usual painting mood-swings have been kept to a minimum and I'm feeling pretty positive about the whole thing. There are plenty of problems to work out (simplify, simplify! lighten, lighten!), but my goal is to get it into it's new home in the next month or so. 

Thankful on a Monday afternoon

Thankful, for - 

- time to finally sit down and write my blog post. These quiet moments. :)
- my brother and sister in law's computer help and new hard drive; a much smoother running mac
- a day of celebration and service at New Hope's Servathon; a morning sorting and folding at the Pregnancy Care Center, Levi loved on by many New Hope-ers, a celebratory picnic, a beautiful day
- an afternoon in NH, celebrating a cousin's graduation and new job
- Kimmie home from Thailand, a visit from Kevin, too
- an evening at the graffiti wall, watching CORE BTM work and Levi's first building tag
- Big C's new album
- salads with strawberries
- Levi crashed at the end of a long day, watching him sleep
- beautiful summery days
- nursery with mom and BFF
- ziggy's donuts
- kind handwritten notes in the mail
- bulbs in the ground
- Levi's piano/singing songs
- relevant and good Bible study discussions
- a friend taking Levi for the morning so I could set up my art show
- art show; fun, successful and done 
- my parents attending the show, Dad's good questions
- playgroup hanging in the boat
- Levi, his hair in a mohawk
- a church that celebrates
- "that was a great art lesson, Mrs. James!", when I wasn't really sure if it was going to be..
- school winding down, fun with final projects
- finding him shirtless, reading my Bible

Art Show Day

My arms are sore, I've spent more hours at school in the last few days than I usually do in a month, my family had dinner last night in my classroom and I can't feel my thumb and forefinger (push pins!) - it must be art show day! :) 

Lots to finish up in the next few hours, see you on the flip side!

double

These days he insists on seeing his mama in not one, but two rear-view mirrors at all times. This kid. 

Teacup Candles for Mother's Day

My, my, it's been too long since I've posted a tutorial! I think I run out of energy to write more "tutorials" after writing so many for my students every week. But not today! :) 

These tea cup candles were simple to put together and made charming little Mother's Day gifts for all of my mums and grand mums. I had such fun hunting for the perfect cup for each recipient and found that most thrift store have a plethora to choose from in all sorts of colors and styles. After picking out my pieces, I found some candle making materials in my old art closet at my parents' house and went to work making my candles. Full tutorial below..

To gather:

- pretty tea cups or other small containers (that piece of pottery was just perfect for my bird and pottery loving Grandma)

- candle wax (can you believe that wax I found in the closet?! It must be 50 years old.)

- wicks

- essential oils (optional)

- double boiler or metal can

- ladle

- something to hold the wick in place; a dowel or just something skinny to lay on top of the tea cup.

The process:

1. Make sure tea cups are clean. 

2. Using a double boiler or metal can, melt wax.

3. Add a few drops of essential oils if you want your candle scented.

4. Using a ladle, fill tea cups about 3/4 full.

5. Before wax cools, place wick in the center. Use a dowel to keep the wick in the center of the candle.

6. Let cool.

7. If your candle droops in the center when it cools, just reheat more wax and fill it in. 

Thankful

Thankful,

- May weather 
- Levi's "HEY-lo!" and "byebye" to everything; strollers, cars, macaroni, dogs, bicycles, books
- my high schoolers spray painting chairs on a warm and sunny day
- friday night stroll to the Willows; good talks, Levi's excitement for the ocean, arcade games, ice cream and a Mother's Day photobooth session with my boys 
- a clean sink
- a super productive week
- good headway on my big canvas
- a mid-saturday date with my BFF
- Brian's project help
- seafood dinner with my fam and mother's day festivities 
- All the highrock churches together for a service; getting there in one piece (Boston driving..ack!), many voices, Brian's song, Levi dancing, sitting with much of my family
- Sunday afternoon with the Jameses; pizza lunch, a rainy day turned sunny, Levi in the swing
- Kimmie back in the country!
- a refreshing spring redecorate in the living room
- sweet cards and gifts from many; lavender-dandelion perfume, a cuddle satchet, chocolates, bathsalts, cyclamen and an orchid.
- another Mother's day with the sweetest son a girl could ever ask for.