Thanksgiving Greetings!

I made a few Thanksgiving cards for my family this year. The components came from Paula's Kit Club. I was a member for several years and I treasure all of my lovely themed kits! I wish everyone a very Happy Thanksgiving . Surround yourselves with loved ones and be happy with what you have! I am so thankful for the love, friendship and art that fills my life!

Christmas Card Workshop Designs 2010

I have been busy this week making preperations for my annual Christmas Card workshop extravaganza!

I invite my friends from work and my family to make Christmas cards. I design 5 new designs every year. When I started this tradition I assumed everyone who came really wanted to learn new cool techniques. But, I soon found out that, NO, not everyone is handy with the scissors and glue. So...

I got with the program and I prepare lots of the elements ahead of time and my frinds have fun coloring and putting the pieces together. We have dinner and drinks and spend a few hours making handmade holiday cards. Of course, I have to make sure they get a good start before I serve any cocktails!!!!! My party is tomorrow evening and I will try to post some pics of the festivities.

A Face In The Crowd- Sketchbook progress

Here are a few of my latest drawings for the Sketchbook Project. I have about 20 pages left to fill before I mail it off to the Brooklyn Art Library. It is due in early January so I know I can get it finished. I am working on the 3/4 profile. The hardest part is getting the eyes right because it is not as symmetrical as a front view. Sometimes my eyes come out a little cross-eyes looking! I've enjoyed

this project and I do feel like I've gotten better. I like coloring with colored pencils and I know I need to learn to blend my colors more.

Welcome 2 new dolls!

I made this card to welcome my dear friends latest granddaughter. Congratulations Bonnie, Michael, Grandma and Grandpa!!!!
My cousin Tina made her very first art doll when I kidnapped her and forced her to go to the workshop with me. I totally LOVE what she created! Awesome job, girl!

ART DOLL WORKSHOP !!

Last weekend I spent a sunny Sunday making ART DOLLS at Wendy's in Torrence. She was hosting a mixed-media artist group that meets regularly to teach techniques to each other.

I convinced my cousin,Tina, to come with me and give it a try. We had such a fun day putting our dolls together. Our hostess Wendy had the wooden blocks (which were made to hold rubber stamps but she scored them stampless) and paintbrushes which made the body and the head of the dolls. Next, we shared the goodies we all brought and decided what to attach for arms, legs, hair, wings, etc. All of the dolls turned out so differently ! You can really customize this project by using your own buttons, charms, symbols, to make a gift that holds personal meaning.

Wendy is putting together kits that she will sell in her ETSY shop. I am going to buy a few for my next art get together. The kits contain all the basic components and you can customize it with your own colors and embellishments! Tina's doll came out so cool I was jealous! I will post a picture of hers as soon as I get it.

Drawing + Writing = Learning! Visual Art Journals

www.donorschoose.org

If this project gets enough donations, 25 students in California (South) will get resources MY CLASS needs to learn!!!!!

Make a commitment to see "Waiting for Superman" (waitingforsuperman.com) and you can get a FREE $5.00 donation to contribute at donorschoose.org! It was REALLY easy. Please consider contributing to my class project or perhaps a teacher at your school who is doing the same thing. DO IT TODAY AND MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THE LIFE OF A TEACHER WHO IS STRIVING TO ENRICH THE LIVES OF HIS OR HER STUDENTS!

Sketchbook updates!!!

Here are a few more pages in the sketchbook project I am doing for the Brooklyn Art Library.

The completed book needs to be mailed in January and will tour the country with thousands of other sketchbooks in the exhibit! Cool! I will try to go to San Francisco to see it next June.