A Quick Halloween Project

The children made these for their teachers:

Directions found here.

Meet Another Blog I follow

Meet Kathy Barbro.  I don't know her personally.  I've never commented on her blog.  But I love what she does on her blog.  She is an amazing art teacher and I love her ideas!  My children and I do A LOT of art... It's my way of relieving stress during the week when they have so much going on.  So we often take a break and do something that allows them to be a bit "unstructured."  I'm not a fan of structure... but I do often need routine in order to get through the day.  But art... art is so personal.  I don't care what my 3 do, as long as they are having fun and we can laugh about the process.

 
She has some great projects for all seasons.  She uses a variety of medium.  She provides specific instructions.  What more can you ask for?!
Fall is here!


She is taking part in an amazing project right now... I wish I had time to sew!!!


She created  this beautiful mural to raise funds for Project HOPE Art which provides basic needs to Haitian orphans.  You can purchase this mural for $10.  More info here.



The children and I enjoyed this project:



and this:



and a winter wouldn't be the same without doing this project!  The book is pretty wonderful too!



How cute is this for Mother's day?  (I wish I knew about this while the children were still eating from the baby food jars!)




I think Kathy is pretty amazing.  Well, she's  a teacher, and I think teachers are pretty amazing.  I'm partial to that career choice!  :)  I think teaching is a VERY difficult career/profession.  It's not for everyone... even though I have heard plenty of people tell me that they could teach if they wanted to... Sure, go for it!  I would give them 30 minutes and then they would be running out of the building screaming!  It's thanks to good teachers that make teaching "look" easy.  But let me tell you something, teaching is not easy.  It takes a special person... I miss teaching, but now my children are my students and I want to focus on them.    Kathy, you do not know me and I only know you through your blog.  But I think you are wonderful for all the wonderful things you do.  I hope you don't mind that I am bragging about you... as if you were a close friend of mine!  :)

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I wrote to Kathy and this is what she had to say:

Hi Stephanie,

I love having my work shared, thank you so much for writing such nice things about me.

I appreciate your taking time out to write, and I wish you much success with your blog too.

Take care,

Kathy 

Jack-O-Lantern Luminaries

Some jars from around the house, cut up tissue papers, watered down glue, paint brushes, black contact paper/vinyl sheet... and battery operated votives from the Dollar store.  Voila!  Now, go and make some for your front porch!

HOPE

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month.  I made this last year and will wear it this month.  This year, I am going to donate 50% of the sales from this pendant to the Susan G. Komen Foundation.  Let me know if you would like to purchase one.  It is $20 -- the pink birthstone is my gift to you for your support.  :)  I can add a 16" sterling silver cable chain (not pictured, the one pictured is a gift from my hubby's grandmother -- NOT for sale!) for an additional $10.  Contact me!  (use the contact me side bar on my blog or comment down below)
Tell a friend! Tell ALL your friends!!!  OR you can donate directly.  If you do, please let me know and I will make you a pendant for your support!

Thank you... for supporting this amazing foundation and for helping them find a cure.
A few facts for you to read. READ!  EDUCATE yourselves and those you love.

A princess for the day

(outside of our house!)
We attended the Renaissance Faire yesterday -- she wore this beautiful gown that Corinna bought for her (thank you Aunt Corinna!!!) and received many compliments and bows from complete strangers!  She was in heaven!  (She's counting down the days until Halloween when she can wear this again!)

Sit and Relax Weekend Blog Hop

This is a no rules hop.  If you're unfamiliar with what a blog hop is, you link your blog's URL and your blog name on the "linky."  Then, you have fun visiting new blogs and catching up with old friends.  Try to stop by and visit everyone on the linky.  The key word here being "try".  Try to also read each person's blog and make meaningful comments. 


Want to join?  Go here, stay for awhile, visit Michelle's blog, and then sign up!  

Blog Friends you NEED to meet!

I am fortunate to have met some amazing women while blogging and hopping around.  Some I discovered on my own while reading one blog which them led me to another blog and so on and so forth.

I will post a new blog friend once a week...

My first blog friend is Veronica.


I found her a few years ago (2008?) while visiting another site.  Her blog name (Of Mice and Ramen) caught my attention and then her posts, such as this recent one, pulled me in!

She posts about her life, her children, and some amazing things she finds on the internet.  I don't know how she finds them but I'm so happy she does!  She has shown some amazing things on her blog!

Check this out, for instance.  But really, you just have to visit her blog to fully appreciate some of these pictures below that I am posting.  You need to read the story behind this.
This post was very emotional for me:


Dear Photograph,
Dad is gone…but the strength of his arms will always be around us.
Holly 





Dear Photograph,
I hope I’ve made my dad proud.
Ryan 


And this post was fun!  I don't know how she finds these artists -- they are so talented!!!!


This one too!  How fun are these to look at!!!


I thought of my dear friend, Tony, from high school.  He doesn't read my blog, but I thought of him regardless.  Tony loved Calvin and Hobbes (he named his dog Hobbes!).


This was a fun one too.  You think the Queen appreciated this?!  Hee hee.  Kind of nice to see her in a casual "hat."




This was amazing.  I'm not a fan of smoking or people who smokes (as long as they keep their distance, I'm fine!)... but wow, what a creative artist to come up with this!



My favorite, of course!

How cute is this?!



And I will leave you with this!   Eeeewwww!!!!  I love the color of the dish, but oh, my.... Can I eat it?  No way!!!!

Thank you Veronica, for having such a lovely blog that keeps me coming back... daily!!!!  Now, don't you all want to stop on by her blog and check her out?!  (And read her most recent family vacation to Europe?)