Bookmark

 The library printed my bookmark design!

It's not really a competition. They print every entry unless it is super terrible. They print them and laminate them and then put them in the normal place for bookmarks on the checkout desk.

I took a few copies.

My 6 year old made this cute design. The theme was "Reading is Delicious." See how she put books on plates and gave the girls knifes and forks to devour their books. Hehe! It makes me smile!

I am using it to mark my place it the read aloud book I just started reading to the children.

John Paul Jones is the book. I wrote a review about the book back in December (click HERE.) I had only read it to myself back then. Now I am ready to read it to everyone.

Smiles And Ice Cream | Art

 

 Can you feel how excited the baby girl is to get her ice cream?

This is my bookmark design for our library summer reading program. Our library will print the best designs to distribute. They asked for designs that go with the theme: Reading is Delicious! Usually the children are the only ones asked to make designs each year but this year I found a bookmark design form in my packet for the adult summer reading program.

I was pretty happy that they included the adults this year. I had a lot of fun with this little art project.

I can never seem to get eyes symmetrical, but I still think she is cute and contagiously joyous.

This is my finished entry. I am going to turn it in at the library today. 

Sewing in June

 

My son needed this button sewn to his shorts.

These shoes that are new to me needed a little stitch where the thread had unraveled.

You may have noticed that I had no sewing updates for May. That is because I had a baby on April 28th. I took the month of May off from sewing projects. Due to baby gifts and people bringing us meals I have a lot of thank you cards to send.

I made this design, copied off a bunch, and then added the color with crayons. It's not a sewing project but it is a creative endeavor.

I have also started another pioneer doll. So far the face is embroidered and the seam allowances are marked.

By the way, our baby is a girl. Delivery was a very uncomplicated, routine affair. Baby girl has been blessed with good health and is growing like a bean. We love her very much!

Cards I Have Made Recently

 Here are some card designs that I have made recently. You can use them for inspiration for your own homemade cards or art. I get most of my ideas from Pinterest. I usually alter the design slightly to suit my taste.

Do you enjoy making and receiving homemade cards? I feel that there is something special about a hand drawn card even if it is not fancy. I find that just drawing with confidence and intentionality gives my art the look that I am going for. Also, a quick practice sketch goes a long way to helping my finished drawing turn out the way I desire.

Crayon Drawing

 

I decided to use crayons to make some rough drafts of my next art work. These crayons in the picture are the ones that I was working with. To say, not the finest art supplies, would be an understatement. This piece was inspired by a water color picture that I saw on Pinterest. I figured that I'd have to use colored pencils for the final picture. But, I was so surprised with how nice the crayons worked for my drafts that I decided to go ahead and use crayons for the final picture, too.

I started by very very lightly sketching the out lines for the ducks. Then I added colors. I did 3 practice copies 

This is the final picture!

Close up of the faces.

Close up of the fence in the background.

Close up of the dandelions.

Close up of the feet.

Maybe this will make you consider trying crayons for artwork. It is harder for me to use my good colored pencils because the children use them if I get them out. That's okay, but the pencils are harder to keep track of. They roll around. I have trouble tracking them down and getting them back in the box. They are special/expensive so they require more care. And I have no place to leave them out in-between breaks on my project. Our tiny table doesn't even provide us with an adequate amount of space when everyone wants to draw at once.

With all these barriers to using colored pencils I am glad that I found the crayons to be so pleasing and easy to use.

Art: Rooting For You Card

 

Here is a little art inspiration. I saw a cute picture on Pinterest that gave me this idea. I added my own vegetables and style to make it my own. 

The message in the card says, "I'm rooting for you!"

It is a pretty easy idea and it will put a smile on someone's face. You can be an encouragement to someone!

Art

 

My mother-in-law bought me a sketch kit for my birthday this week. I was so excited to use it that I started as soon as I opened the package. I made these two drawings for a double baby shower today. I made the cards from these drawings. One of the families is expecting a boy. The other one is expecting a girl. And their due dates are a week apart, I believe. They are going to be close cousins!

I hope you all have a lovely weekend and get to enjoy fellowship with believers tomorrow. 

Hebrews 10:24+25

And let us consider one another 

to provoke unto love and to good works:

 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, 

as the manner of some is; 

but exhorting one another: and so much the more, 

as ye see the day approaching.

Chameleon Art

 

What does Art have to do with a good education? I enjoy the arts, but I tend to think of art as a more frivolous pursuit. A luxury for the affluent. I value more highly the subjects that I associate with production; Reading, Math, Science. These subjects have real practical applications. Skills in these areas keep food on the table, they keep people alive. 

Art has been added to the STEM education acronym for a while now, making it, STEAM education now. STEAM stands for: 

S- science

T- technology 

E- engineering

A- art

M- mathematics

I am coming around to seeing the practical value in learning art. This experience shows my progress:

I saw a really nice picture of a chameleon in a board book that I rented from the library for my 2 year old. I really wanted to try my hand at drawing this chameleon, just for fun.

It was fun, but I really had to slow down and pay attention to details. That is a practical skill that art helps to develop. Observation, noticing differences, and minute details are valuable skills. Paying attention to details saves lives! 

Art also exercises one's creativity. Creativity also has practical applications. Being creative helps develop new products and come up with solutions for problems.

I made some step by step drawing instructions on how to draw a chameleon for my children.

Easy Version 

This is the easy version with obtuse shapes and stick legs. 

Step 1. Is draw a rectangle for the body.

Step 2. Add sideways U shape for the head and a tail. Make your tail spiraled or tapered.

Step 3. Add a hood and stick legs. Make elbows/knees point towards one another. Draw the toes forked like an upsidedown letter Y.

Step 4. Draw the face. Chameleon mouths point down, so, give your chameleon a frown. Draw a sawtooth line of points down the back and down the chin/belly.

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