Mark Kistler 3D Drawing Camp

Yesterday a dream of mine came true! I get to attend (with my boys) to a Drawing Camp with Emmy Award Winner, Mark Kistler. As a kid of the 80's, I use to watch "Captain Mark" on PBS as a member of his Imagination Station DRAW SQUAD! His enthusiasim and easy-going style helped me to become confident as a budding artist surrounded by a family of artists. I still don't consider myself a "great" artist, but look at what I drew yesterday as I attended the class:


This was what I worked on for a bit in the evening last night:


And today, at Camp Day 2, the fun continued as we explored an OCEAN theme.


Tomorrow is DINOSAURS and Friday will be MONSTERS, ALIENS, PENGUINS and whatever else we throw in.

What is even better about this experience is that Mark's Staff kindly offered us a FULL SCHOLARSHIP when they found out about all of Frank's surgeries, and his current preparations for yet another surgery. Parents and Grandparents are always welcome to attend, and for this camp, Jack has also been invited to sit in. As if that wasn't enough, Mark is welcoming us in two classes... so we attend for 2.5 hours each day this week full of drawing fun.

I'm loving the observations Frank is making. Things like "I noticed that Mr. Kistler doesn't use an eraser" or "as I'm sketching more, I'm getting faster." During the past month, as we've realized that Frank will be facing yet another surgery, we have been unable to get his mind off of the upcoming medical procedures (and their accompanying pain). This class has been just what he needed! He can't stop drawing! As if Frank didn't draw enough before this... now we just can't get him to put his pencil down... like when it's time to get out of the van or go to bed or anything, he's always got to "finish one more detail" on his drawing. Yeah PENCIL POWER!!!

My own excitement about drawing is over the top too! Seriously, yesterday, when I found out we would be attending I couldn't stop bouncing, screaming and getting shivers from head-to-toe. All this rekindled enthusiasm is probably just the kick in the pants my creativity inspiration source has been needing. I find things that I haven't done for years coming back to be easily to share with my sons. Today I explained to the boys that it is important to sketch first, then darken, which is like "whispering on the paper first, then increasing your voice and getting louder and louder." I think, perhaps, that using color is like YELLING at the paper.

One thing I've been intrigued by is all the different ways Mark offers to encourage a love of drawing: books, TV series, personal camps and assemblies, DVD's, and online art lessons (free and subscription services). If you'd like to get a feel for his fun-loving style, Mark offers a lot of free online lessons at his website: www.draw3d.com.

Travel Game Boxes

Last night I came up with an idea which I had a blast executing today. I've been playing a lot of educational dice games lately with my boys and my nieces. I tend to see my nieces at restaurants, and as such, we have a hard time keeping the dice from flying off the table. This idea of mine helps contain the dice AND a deck of cards, as well as a pencil. I'm certain (given enough time) I will even find little pads of paper to fit in here.


I want to share the idea AND how to make them. As such, here's a little tutorial, complete with a surprise at the end.

Travel Game Box Tutorial

A quick gift to put together and give to kids and adults alike. Anyone who enjoys playing basic card and dice games will enjoy this little travel set.

Difficulty: Easy (although an adult should work with the hot glue)

Time to Make: Under 30 minutes.

Cost: Under $4 each.

Materials:

• Small Pencil Box (I used tin "Catch All Cases" from Hobby Lobby, which measures 3" x 8" x 1.5")
• Felt Square
• Hot Glue

Suggested Contents to Fill:

• Deck of Cards
• 6 Dice (nearly all dice games I've found can be managed with this number)
• Pencil
• Paper
• Instruction Sheet

Supplies:

• Scrap Paper
• Ball Point Ink Pen
• Scissors
• Rotary cutting supplies (optional)
• Hot Glue Gun

Instructions:

1. Gather your supplies. I went to Hobby Lobby for the "Catch All Cases" and the felt. (By the way, you could certainly make this item out of any size box that will hold a deck of cards and some dice.) Then I shopped the $1 Stocking Stuffer Bins at Michael's for my playing cards and dice. I spent a total of $21 and made six tins. (I did use three decks of cards and pencils I already had on hand.)




2. Cut a rough template out of scrap paper to fit into the base and lid of your container. My template measures a hair under 3" x 7 7/8". For curved corners, find an object that approximately follows your curve, then use it to trace the shape onto the corners.





3. Once your fit is right, measure the actual size and cut the felt to match.



4. If needed, trace the rounded corners onto the wrong side of the felt with a ball point pen.



5. Trim the corners.



6. Check the fit in the item, then glue into place. When using the hot glue on the cooler tins, I found it best to apply glue around the edge of the felt, then quickly (and carefully) place the felt in, pressing to adhere. This step really should be overseen (or done) by an adult... and even then, there are no guarantees that the Hot Glue Gun Operator will walk away burn free.



7. Admire how nice your cards and dice look in the box!



8. Test roll a few dice, and pretend to play a game, where you set your "keep" dice up on the ridge so you can see them. Smile at how clever you are!



9. Fill the tin with all the other lovely goodies (I included a cute little "winter" button in these tins... which has nothing to do with the game tin, but was a fun way to give the item out.)

While I now realize I was able to link to the tins online, I did take this special picture of the label just for you, so, here is the information if you were wondering who creates the boxes I used. That would be "The Tin Box Company".


And now for that surprise... here is the PDF I created with a dozen different dice games.

Dice Games Booklet

You can print it (double sided) then trim a bit off each edge (about 1/4"-1/2"). It will fold up quite nicely to give you an assortment of dice game ideas.

Of course I'd love to know if you use this tutorial (and see pictures of your projects) but even if you don't, you may enjoy this set of dice rules.

In the spirit of giving credit where credit is due, I adapted the rules for these rules from the following sources: activityvillage.co.uk, ehow.com, and grandparents.com.

I also wanted to share my original use for these fun tins.


Over the summer we moved, and I needed to put together a new little kit of sewing notions. Now that I've got my things out of storage, this handy little kit STILL sits right by my computer & sewing area. I love how it has everything I need just right there... even a little sweet should a sweet tooth attack!

Merry Christmas to all, and to all a Good Night!

added 25 Dec 2010
By the way... the Creative Spark for this idea came after reading a post on Sara vs Sarah about Joe's Stuff... specifically the cigar box for the Paris, France Journal. Thanks to Sarah Meland for the great ideas and help keeping the creative juices flowing!!!

Quilt - Pineapple Blossom

After seeing Becky's beautiful Pineapple Blossom quilt and then playing with her extra blocks from the same pattern, I decided to take her class... it was the first one she'd taught and every teacher needs a friendly heckler in the front row, don't-ya-know?

The timing turned out perfectly, since Becky taught the class at Cutting Edge Quiltworks over Halloween Weekend... which I happened to be spending with her. While in Arizona, I cut the pieces and sewed all the blocks. Home less than 24 hours, I've played with layouts. Here are "a few" of what I came up with... all from the same 36 blocks!

I would love to hear your input on which layouts you like and why.

I love the variety of a diagonal block like this, and am quite pleased that Becky convinced me to make this a two color quilt instead of just mixing all the pieces together.

Seeing Becky teach her class has inspired me... I'm thinking of taking this quilt into the local shop to see if they might like it on (I'm thinking) their January class schedule... it feels like the dead of icy winter to me. I'll let you know if I get the nerve up to share Bonnie Hunter's Quiltville Pineapple Blossom Pattern in a paid capacity.

Biological Lessons

When we woke to wind and cloudy skies (with rain on the ground), I groaned because of putting off the zoo yesterday. Two hours later we arrived at the zoo, to find blue skies, 58°F-68°F temperatures, and a deserted zoo full of frisky animals (thanks to the rain). Today was our third week in a row we've gone to our Biological Park for the morning. I don't realize just how many times I press that shutter... until I get home and download over 270 photos from just 2 hours at the Zoo. Here are the top 10% from today:

Jack is quite pleased that he's starting to be able to read words like "zoo".

There are several photos of the boys as they walk (backwards), but I love this one where Jack is looking up to Frank.

You've got to love Photoshop Actions where you can save even a fuzzy, out of focus photo, and make it look "aged" or intentional! Thanks again Pioneer Woman for your amazing (free) Action Sets! This photo has the "Heartland" Action, from Set 2, applied to it.

Ever since the 6th Grade I've been interested by Flamingoes.

Just because I had knobby knees, weighed under 60 pounds, and wore hot pink all the time, that wouldn't have had *anything* to do with said "interest".

No matter the reason why, I do like flamingos and am quite pleased that the exhibit at this zoo is front and center by the entrance/exit. I can stop and watch them coming AND going.

For the times when Mom is taking too many pictures, the boys get going on their own with a "C'mon MOM!"

Like water on a (Carolina Wood) Duck's back, I tell you!

Now THIS is the kind of Birthday Portrait I've been after for the past two weeks... well, minus the raincoat and sun hat, but this expression! That's what I'm talkin' about!!!

Got sun, just add tree branch.

Instant shade AND a snack all in one!

Such a funny expression and pose.

The orangutans are given cardboard and paper; which they play with, sit on, and eat (not necessarily in that order).

The exuberant young'en reminds me of my own...

Right down to monkeying (pun DEFINITELY intended) around during meal times!

Another shot showing how the little guy looks up to the big one.

There is a small Parakeet aviary at this zoo (we've been finding many new areas during our weekly excursions).

Ever wonder why there are so many green parakeets? Natural camouflage, baby!

You knew that Koala's are nocturnal, right?
You knew that Koala's are from The Land Down Under (Australia), right?
You knew that Koala's are marsupials (carry their young in pouches), right?
You know that Koala's hardly drink any water because they live by eating Eucalyptus, right?
DID YOU KNOW, that Koala's have five digits on each limb, but on their arms, they have three fingers and TWO THUMBS? Neither did we... until today!

I think Jack actually has a hard time holding a "normal" pose for a photo!

Just yesterday, Tom was telling the boys about his SCUBA diving days. The boys were delighted to watch the workers cleaning the Seal & Sea Lion Tank today.

Actually, they wouldn't leave the area until the three SCUBA diver's exited the exhibit!

When I tickle Jack JUST before the camera goes off... then things look more natural!

And THAT was our third visit to this zoo. We are finally getting our groove on for what to take, how long to go, and how to relax and enjoy ourselves while there (which I am learning from the boys!)

Sock Puppet

Recently I've saved a few socks for something crafty.

Friday, Jack and I read a story ("If you give a Moose a Muffin" by Laura Joffe Numeroff) and in it the Moose made sock puppets. Since then, Jack has wanted to make some too...


Tom and Frank were out, so I took the opportunity to work with Jack on it. He picked the sock, cut the shapes and choose the yarn colors. I put the needle in and held while he pulled the yarn through. I also felt really good about doing a project with him, while it was fresh in our minds.

There are still boxes all around, but I was able to put my finger on the supplies AND put the things in my mind (unpacking boxes, prepping for a trip, surgery, etc.) aside in order to grasp some of those fleeting moments of childhood and spend a little time with my little-one. It makes me feel good and happy.


PS: This sock puppet also works well to make "Dragon Punches" (when worn on the hand), "Dragon Kicks" (when worn on the foot), and "Dragon Tickles" (when worn by Daddy!)

A Bit More About My Ear

I'm a bit surprised that it's already been over a year since I last wrote about needing to have an ear surgery to restore some hearing. Certainly a lot has happened during the intervening time, but, well, they do say "time does fly!"


On July 10th, I went to bed with my ear hurting, I put some drops in and told Tom "we're going to need to get this things fixed soon." Then, at 2:30 am I woke rubbing my ear in my sleep... vigorously with the palm of my hand. This action caused the dislocated titanium prosthetic incus to rupture the tympanic membrane. That is, a small piece of metal is now sticking through my ear drum. This does a few things: causes pain, significantly reduces hearing, and continues to damage the ear drum.

Owing to moving and needing to find new doctors, and already having a visit to my ear doctor planned the first week of August, I went to Phoenix to meet with him and have my suspicions of the course of events and the course of action confirmed. While I trust my doctor greatly, he did recommend a colleague in the Albuequerque area. Thing is, I can have surgery (in Phoenix) September 16th... I couldn't even see the new doctor until the beginning of October and surgery would have been towards Thanksgiving. Did I mention that this thing hurts?

So, I've decided and made arrangements to travel to Phoenix to have the surgery, then to stay with my Father-In-Law for the ten days post-op until my follow-up visit.

The bad news in all of this is that each surgery I have (this will be the third) increases scar tissue, there is a decreased blood flow to the area, and oh-yeah, a decreased chance of success. I've begun to wonder when I might bite the bullet and tell them to stop trying to fix the hearing and just leave the wire out... thus guaranteeing deafness in that ear. It's sobering, but as my Grandad said, "as long as you have hope, you keep trying."

So, this week I've been making preparations to go for another Phoenix trip, this one involving a lot of rest and light-lifting (nothing over ten pounds for a month), so the boys will need to be able to load and unload the van for us.

The surgery is on Thursday, September 16th; wish me luck!

Perfect Light

I take a lot of flower photos.


I think it's in my blood, flowers, I mean.


I come from a family of green-thumbs and while my personal ability to grow flowers is, shall we say, a bit lacking, I have found my knack for sharing the joys of flowers to be in my ability to capture them with a camera.


Or, at least I think so.


It all started when my Aunt Lou.


She's one of those green-thumbs who also happened to own a Flower Shop I was raised in, handed me my camera and sent me out to photograph her irises, daffodils, and tulips (no bulb flowers in this set of summer-time photos though).


For a while, I seemed to be inspired to take flower photos whenever I return to her mountain cabin.


Now, I do it anywhere and everywhere... even expanding into fruits and seeds as subjects.


I will cause the vehicle to stop and even make U-turns whenever I see a bright bit of color along the road.


It's gotten to the point where the boys even find flowers and point them out for me to photograph.


Of course, on our recent trip, I found "a few" flowers to capture, but one day in-particular, I found a flowerbed I'd been eye-balling in this amazing light of the nearly-setting sun.


Take a look at these photos!


The flowers just seem to glow!


One other thing about all these flower photos.


When I just took "casual" photos (and I do mean casual for me, but probably not for most people, I've always been a bit of a camera-hound) of "normal" things, I never thought to take flower photos. However. My Great Aunt Adeline and her brother (my Grandad) both took photos of things I found, well, weird.


They took, or shall I say, they TAKE, photos of flowers and food.


Now, here I am, doing the very same thing.


This shutterbug thing too must be in my blood.