Watch that Doggie Door!

Could you imagine coming home from work to find this tiny creature napping with your dog on the couch?


This happened in Maryland recently. The owner came home to find the visitor had followed the beagle right through the doggy door and made himself at home. This hit the 6:00 news big time.

My mom sent this picture to us. My son's first response was, "did they get to keep the deer?"

Glass Pendants, Flowers, and a Winner!

The lucky winner of a glass pendant is

georgeinLG 

Her favorite flower is the Dahlia.




But which one?




Is it this one?






The choices can be overwhelming! They are ALL so wonderful.

georgeinLG, contact me with your mailing information and this handmade glass pendant will be yours!



Dahlias are easy to grow and make great summer cut flowers. You will be rewarded for your efforts for many years to come. In case you need some growing tips, here is a helpful link: How To Grow Dahlias

Coincidenally, I live within 20 miles of the world's largest grower of Dahlias: Swan Island Dahlias.  You can order their bulbs online, but good luck choosing which ones to buy. I've spent hours walking their fields trying to make a choice.

Thanks for the wonderful comments left on my blog.  I love all the flowers mentioned. I have grown several of them from time to time (even a venus flytrap). Wisteria is something I haven't tried yet, but I have a new trellis in my yard crying out to be covered in flowery vines. Maybe I'll plant a Wisteria this spring!

The Magic Seven

In the world of typefaces, there are literally thousands to choose from. In fact, the choices are so many it can be overwhelming.

When choosing type to use for successful computer screen display, the choices get somewhat easier. There are only 7 that universally work well. In other words, only 7 that are guaranteed to display correctly on everyone's computer.

Arial

courier

georgia

lucida grande

times

trebuchet

verdana

I'll be showing how you can use different font combinations successfully in the future so stay tuned.

Happy Mother's Day!

You deserve something special, so read on...

First let me tell you a secret...something really exciting is happening behind the scenes of my blog. I can't tell you what it is just yet, but this newly designed bug is a hint.

That's not why I'm writing though.

I'm teaching another glass pendant class so guess what? IT'S TIME FOR ANOTHER PENDANT GIVE AWAY!

This time, the pendant will be one of my choosing (guaranteed to be lovely) and will be revealed on Monday.

Enter your answer to this question in the comment box below:

What is your favorite Flower?

The winner will be randomly selected on Sunday, and announced Monday morning. So if you enter, be sure to check back to see if you're the lucky one. In the meantime have a wonderful Mother's day with someone who adores you!

Student Art Part 4: History of our program

The Art Program at Duniway Elementary School is unique since it is completely run by parent volunteers.


The program began nearly 20 years ago when due to budget cuts, funding for art programs and teachers were cut from Portland Public Schools. A group of concerned parents developed a program that would be taught, funded and run by parent volunteers. Currently, over 70 classes are being taught by more than 170 volunteers.

10 years ago, as a new parent to the Duniway Community, I could see all the beautiful art that was being created by the students but not seen by the community at large. I did some initial sketches of how a temporary Art Gallery could be installed in the School Gym.


The first official Art Gallery at Duniway opened it's doors to the public 1999. It has since become a highly anticipated tradition and showcases more than 700 pieces of 2-D and 3-D art pieces.

To read the complete history of the Duniway Art Program:
Duniway Elementary Website

The Flowers in the post were created by 4th grade students. They are based on a lesson about Georgia O'Keefe. To view the lesson Click here

Christine Claringbold, a past Duniway parent, wrote an excellent article on how to start your own art program at your school. To read more Click here

To brighten your day..

Painted by a 1st grade student and based on a lesson about the sunflowers of Vincent VanGogh.


Hope you have a nice day.

It's rainy and 52 degrees where I am.

Student Art Part 3: Announcing the Show

One of my favorite tasks as a Volunteer for the Art Committee, is to design and install a bulletin board that announces the upcoming Art and Music Show.

Since a bulletin board is quite large, it can be overwhelming to design. There is so much space to fill. I do a smaller mock up version in in my computer first. It's easier to see if all the elements are working together. If not, it's quick to rearrange on a smaller scale.


The software I use when designing bulletin boards is Adobe Illustrator. I set a new file size at the exact dimensions of the bulletin board. As I work, I can zoom in and out on my computer screen so the size is not overwhelming. When it comes time to install the bulletin board at the school, I can refer back to my computer for accurate measurements of where to place things.

Here is the actual bulletin board after it was installed.


A trick I use to replicate my original design is to print it out portions of it using the "tile" option (found in the print dialogue box). Since the bulletin board is too large to print in it's entirety, I print only small sections (such as the lettering). I build the rest of the board using large sheets of colored butcher paper cut to the size I need.


Once the lettering is printed, all I have to do is cut it out with scissors and staple it to the bulletin board.


I used the "tile" option to print the musical notes and treble clef. An exacto knife on a self healing blue mat was used to cut out the images.


I always add a little "zing" to my bulletin boards by giving a couple elements some glitter. In this case, it would be to the musical imagery. I apply a thin coat of glue with a detail brush.


Then sprinkle ultra fine black glitter on top. Shake off the extra, then let it dry.
Voila! Another bulletin board is born.

Student Art Part 2: Designing the Poster

I'm a volunteer on the Art Committee at our local Elementary School.
We are getting ready for the Annual Student Art Exhibit.

Of all the tasks I do to prepare for the show, designing the poster is one of my favorites.

After a student illustration is selected to be used for advertising the Art Show (see previous post), the next step is to turn the artwork into a poster by adding informational text and words prior to going to print.

The first step is to scan the original artwork for importing into a graphics program. I like to take my images to be scanned at Kinko's Copies. They made a high resolution scan and saved it as a jpeg file. It cost $10.00.

I imported the jpeg file into an Adobe Illustrator file with page size set to 11x17 inches. I chose 11x17" because most photocopy shops can inexpensively reproduce posters at an 11x17" size, which is what I needed. If you choose to go larger, it will cost more money but will be visually stronger in the community. You'll have to decide what is more important to you: Smaller size, less impact, less expensive versus Larger size, more impact, more expensive.


The illustration was larger than 11x17", so I cropped off the bottom. I allowed plenty of space at the top for a headline.

I tried different type styles for the headline and landed on one that had a handmade appearance - which was in keeping with the look of student artwork.


The typeface I chose came from a free font website called da font
The name of the typeface is: "Got Heroin."

I experiemented with typeface colors.


I tinkered with the font size, and added a brush stroke below that served as background for the show dates.


Once the headline was in place, I added some small detail copy giving credit to the artist and other information the viewer might need.


The poster design is now completed and ready to go to print. I save it as a PDF file, and load it onto a disk.


I took the completed poster to local print shop called Rhino Digital. They printed a quantity of 30 posters and gave me a discount on the pricing.

Sometimes local suppliers are happy to work with you on the cost if you ask them. I always make sure to give them lots of free publicity and referrals when they contribute in this way. Word of mouth is what keeps the small shops in business. When I do have a print job that pays in the future, I will remember these small shops and give them my business. I never take their generosity for granted and I try to spread their name as much as possible.

I took one poster to be framed at a local shop called Chrismans Picture Frame and Gallery


Chrismans is the oldest frame shop in Portland and they do a fabulous job.


After the Show, the poster will hang in the main hall stairwell at the school, along with all the posters from previous years.



Links:
Chrismans Picture Frame and Gallery

Rhino Digital

da font

Student Art Part 1: Art for a Poster - 700 pieces to choose from.

I'm a Volunteer Chair for the Art Committee at our local Elementary school.
The next few weeks will be quite busy as I help get ready for the Annual Student Show. The entire process is a lot of work, but incredibly creative too. I'd like to share what goes on behind the scenes of hosting an art show for over 450 families and the community at large.

Of all the tasks to do, there are two that are particularly fun for me.

1) Creating bulletin boards for the School.
2) Designing the Art Show Poster.

IT ALL BEGINS THE YEAR BEFORE...
Each year during Duniway's Annual Student Art Exhibit, several pieces of student work are selected as possible poster candidates for the next year. It's a tough decision, since there are usually 700 pieces of student work to choose from. Selections are based on personal impressions, and some general guidelines:

a) Will it look good in a poster format - 11X17" vertical?
b) Is it a good representation of the art lesson it was based upon?
c) Is it visually bold enough to draw viewers attention from 3 feet away?
d) Is it interesting to look at? Good use of color, balance and proportion?
e) Will it serve as a good showcase piece for the Duniway Art Program?

Once the initial set of poster candidates are selected, a bulletin board is created to display them in the main hallway of the school. Everyday, students, faculty and Duniway parents can see them.


Each piece is given a number, and all the students of the school are invited to vote for their favorite.


Votes are collected in a box during library time.


After two weeks, votes are tallied, and the winner is announced.

In this case, the winning piece was created by a 4th grade student who painted in the style of Pablo Picasso.




This is Michelle Smit. She's the mom who wrote the lesson plan about Pablo Picasso. She has written a lot of lessons for our Art Program at Duniway.


(this photo was taken by Christine Claringbold of www.EyePopArt.com).

To learn more about Duniway, click here Duniway Website

Christine Claringbold, a past Duniway parent, wrote an excellent article on how to start your own art program at your school. To read more:
click here

Is she related to Imelda Marcos?

There's an obsession going on in my house...


It involves a girl and shoes...

I walk around the house and see this sort of thing everywhere...


Or this...


And when she goes to sleep, it's usually something like this.


The girl's got it bad.


Occasionally I'll catch her in the act.


But how can I get mad at a face like this?


Could Prada and Christian Louboutin be in her future?

How To Shred Your Blue Jeans

These are just your ordinary kitchen graters.
You grate cheese. Carrots, lemons, chocolate and whole nutmeg too. Occasionally you might push play dough through them to get imitation spaghetti, or mermaid hair. Any way that's what I've always used them for.


But the other day, I learned a completely new way to use a kitchen grater.
Oh gee golly miss molly. Hold onto your britches now.


You can shred your blue jeans with them too!
Didn't you always wonder how to do that? I know I've been dying to find out.


According to the most fashion savvy teen in my life, a grater works wonders to remove the outer layer of blue threads, leaving only the white threads to show through. You pay big bucks in the retail stores for jeans that look like this.

Hmmmm, can't you just see all those little worker bees in the bluejeans factory rubbing their cheese graters in perfect rhythm back and forth across the yards of denim?

You can take things a step further...rip the holes bigger


or write words with a permenant sharpie marker.

Then you'll have a real valuable pair of jeans like this.


Oh, and lest you judge my parenting skills too harshly, leggings are worn under those jeans SO NO SKIN SHOWS THROUGH!

Can you smell this?

Ohhhhh. It is a heavenly smell.
If you have never smelled a Hyacinth flower, put it on your "To Do List" before you die. I plucked this lovely specimen from my garden.

Before Photoshop


After Photoshop



What I did:
MCP High Deffinition Sharpening
MCP Color Magic
Adjusted color balances again.

I experimented some more: First turning the photo to Black and white.


Then, with a soft brush, I brought color back to the purple flower only.


I also boosted the contrast and sharpened the image several times.

If of thy mortal goods thou art bereft,
And from thy slender store two loaves alone to thee are left,
Sell one, and with the dole
Buy hyacinths to feed thy soul.

- Moslih Eddin (Muslih-un-Din) Saadi (Sadi),
Gulistan (Garden of Roses)

And the winner is...

First things first...
The temperature in my neck of the woods (Oregon, USA) is 52 degrees Fahrenheit and rainy.
Chances are I am cold and wearing 3 layers of fleece as you are reading this.

The chosen winner, randomly selected, and not by the content of their comment, (though I did like hers):

Anonymous (aka Becky) from Fruitport Mi.
You have won a glass pendant with sterling silver plated snake chain. Congratulations!

Email me and it will be on it's way to you.