Playing with Fiskars Punchers

Upcycled art using bottle caps

Nora and I created some upcycled art this week
We used bottle caps, plastic gems, and buttons. 

Nora chose feathers as well. She figured out that placing the feathers around a button made them look like flowers. She was so proud of her 'flowers'. 

Because we have a very small apartment, we usually just place a tarp down on the floor and get to work. We often find cheap canvases at the thrift store and repaint them one color in order to reuse them. 

Close up of caps. 

View from above. 

Playing in Nature (Difficult Run Trail off Georgetown Pike in Virginia)

During our hike, Nora finds a 'natural' bridge, as she called it. She kept walking on it, to go to her island. 

We had this whole place to ourselves. It was picture perfect. Rocks galore, safe waters, quiet, etc. 

Luke then had an idea of making his own bridge and began collecting rocks. 

I love it when kids come up with their own ideas of what to do. I use to feel guilty not 'playing' with the kids as much. But now I stand back a bit and let them come up with the games and the rules and then after, if I feel inspired, I join in. Not as a leader, but as a follower. If most games kids play are adult-driven, kids will never develop their own sense of creativity. 

Nora joined in. Then mom. 

After about 40 minutes he was halfway done. Next time we go we'll bring chairs for this could have easily gone on all day. 

It's a miracle to see these two get along. I'm glad we captured it. 

The bridge is done. Ta da!!

Dad even went over it to test out the bridge's strength. 

The kids were so proud of their bridge. It took over an hour to complete. 

Inventing a cake and bringing it to life

Kids watched an episode of Paula Deen and they got this idea to make their own cake recipe.  We drew a picture of our cake and went shopping 

Trying to teach Luke to scramble the egg whites for our frosting by tilting the bowl.....we had a bit of a hard time. 

Our first layer is done

Luke wanted the cake so bad, he placed his face on it. 

Second and last layer ready. 

Chocolate/ strawberry cake with whipped topping and sprinkles. 

Latest paper collages

My latest collages.........click on the images to be taken directly to my online art store.

I love these Fiskars squeeze punchers...I must have about 20 of them.....every time we get unwanted mail I sit down with my kids and punch out amazing shapes from our unwanted mail and unsolicited catalogues.

Saturday morning lazy painting with kids and listening to music

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Yes, you can play with sticks....

We let kids play with toy guns,

and play video games based on death and destruction,

YET, we somehow justify a restriction on sticks

..............as if they were a symbol of pure violence.

Sticks are simply THE most amazing boy toys,

they can become anything, anything at all.

In an instant,

it's a sword,

a spear,

a laser beam,

a fishing pole,

a broom

a horse

a magic wand

a magic anything

Suddenly with a stick you are a royal king,

in a kingdom all your own.

Set some guidelines and allow

allow

allow

sticks back into your child's world......

Childhood is can't be magical without it.

How to still paint around kids

Trying to live a creative life and having kids is not easy. But making art is so incredibly important to maintaining my sanity and well being that I figured a way to do it....with my kids. We have this huge blanket we use for the floor, get all our supplies and we each get out palettes, brushes and colors. If each person (no matter their age) has what they need, they will get busy and let you work.

Here above is Nora's canvas. She uses the same one each time. It changes each time. The texture on it now is quite thick. I am working on a series that uses paper to build texture. They both have adopted my style and morphed it a bit. Interesting to see them follow their own ideas yet still pull some ideas and inspiration from my work.
Above is Luke's work. Not finished. He loves to build very think layers of paper. When it dries it feels more like a sculpture and he paints it. To him the mounds signify 'rocks'; an obsession of his. Will post pictures of most recent colors and textures soon.

Following our own advice to our kids might actually help US!!

Problems are everywhere. You talk to anyone and surely they are in the middle of some difficult issue in their lives, a tough decision they need to make, or a tough change must be implemented, etc. No matter what your status is in life you cannot escape the turning of the 'wheel of fortune'. Some days will be easy, some days will be like walking in peanut butter.

I had a very tough week this week. Every turn I made seemed to create a larger negative affect. The more I tried to dig myself out of my funk the more I seemed to drown in it. I was trying desperately to go back to homeostasis yet the more I tried the more I drowned in discomfort. While going through this, I reached out several times to my trusty Buddhist philosophy. In Buddhism you are encouraged to be with the discomfort and not fight it. Pain and discomfort is seen as mere balls of energy going through a predictable path, a path that will evade and fade away. Instead of utilizing valuable energy trying to make it all just go away, I should have just sat with it and allowed my toughs to settle and allowed my mind to see my problems for what they were; nothing.

In retrospect, It's obvious that I have a lot of work to do implementing the teachings of the Buddha for I still react no different than my kids do in times of stress. I have two young kids, ages 3 and 6. Every once in a while (or more frequently) they argue about very absurd things. Absurd to me of course. Obviously, to them, what they argue over is so important and seemingly central to their survival here on earth that it must be resolved that very moment. The grand dramatics around their arguments is so intense and so fierce that a neighbor might just think they are being beaten to a pulp. Yes, all this ruckus over maybe a wooden block of which we have dozens of, or some other insignificant item that was on its way to the trash perhaps. But in analyzing my own actions this week, I too am trying so hard to not feel the discomfort that I make it twice as difficult to get out of the discomfort. I should at these times take to heart the advice I offer my kids and (1) have them "take a deep breath", and to (2) "think about how just a few minutes ago you were fine and you could not possibly be dying".

Visit to EL BOSQUE (The Forest)

Near where my mom lives there is a nature preserve. It's a fairly small one but once you are in it, you feel like you are in a deep forest and it's a wonderful place to bring the kids and just let them loose. Unfortunately every time we go we find tons of cans all over the ground...

You will also find those colorful drug bags that are left behind by teens who also like the forest...but for other reasons.
Here is my hubby picking up trash..

Luke found a huge rock to stand on..

Nora on a wooden bridge path
They love hopping over this missing piece on the path....
This is so beautiful!!!

Had a great little lunch on Dupont Circle

Dupont Circle has got to be my all time favorite places to just hang out in DC. I took the kids out to get a present for Lela's birthday at Bedazzled and then we got a pizza lunch on the circle.

Water looks good but I would not get in it....
Luke wearing his MAN hat......he's such a character.
Nora's new 'take my picture' smile.
She finished the whole pizza....oh yeah!!