Christmas Mess-terpiece & Grinch

 

My projects don't always turn out the way I want and that's okay. This one turned out not to be what I wanted. (You'll see it down further)

I'm still trying to get rid of some of my craft stash I have on hand before buying anything new.

I had spoons that I'd bought years ago for a craft project and decided I'd make a holiday door wreath titled Silver Singers. These would be spoons with senior citizens singing Christmas Carols.  All materials would be whatever I had on hand.  

I USED : spoons, felt, red tulle, permanent markers, glitter, mini song books, pipe cleaners, hot glue, acrylic paint, precut wooden shapes, precut sticky letters.

 

The King's Ranch Thrift store was having a 50% off storewide sale. I bought this wreath and ribbon for $4.00. I removed the harvest decoration and proceeded to wrap it with the ribbon.

Silver Singers turned out to be just plain Silver, Gold, Joy.

I made musical symbols out of pipe cleaners and wooden shapes.

This didn't turn out well. It's too busy and pretty much looks thrown together. I showed it to a friend and while she didn't say it looked like crap, she did say it looked "interesting."😀 That's okay. So this did not go on my front door, it did go on the back door where no one can see it. After all, I did take a lot of time to prepare this mess-terpiece. 😆

TIP: Metal and hot glue don't play well together. I had to put tape on top of the glue.

59 seconds

GRINCH  This turned out much better.

That's it *****

ETC. 

Decorated rosemary.

Jacob Lawrence- STRUGGLE: From the History of the American People

Jacob Lawrence- STRUGGLE: From the History of the American People

On exhibit now until  February 2021 at the Birmingham Museum of Art, is the work of Jacob Lawrence.

 Lawrence's innovative work was to consist of 60 panels depicting the struggles in American history from the American Revolution to World War I. In the end there were 30 panels. Lawrence's abstract, cubist works gives his impression of the "myths" of American history. He includes the contributions of people of color lest they be erased and omitted from history.  

The Library
Jacob Lawrence 1960 

Research was done by the artist at the 135th Street Branch of the New York Public library. Lawrence was constantly in the eye of the FBI because of his social and political views regarding America freedom. 

Margaret Cochran Corbin is portrayed to the left with a pistol in her belt and ready to (wo)man the cannon after her cannoneer husband was mortally wounded.

Representatives of the 13 original colonies debate deeply and profusely on the meaning of the Preamble to the Constitution and how it will be executed.  The seven swords represent the seven states ready to ratify the Constitution.  Choosing not to display a  "happily-ever-after" ending Lawrence displays conflict in which enslaved Americans gained neither freedom, citizenship or the right to vote.

The Burr–Hamilton duel is one of the most famous personal conflicts in American history. It was a pistol duel which arose from long-standing personal bitterness and political that developed between the two men over the course of several years. Tension rose with Hamilton's journalistic defamation of Burr's character over a long period of time. (Wikipedia)

President Jefferson encourages explorers Lewis & Clark to treat the Native Americans with mutual respect. Sacajawea (in red), the translator for Lewis & Clark  is reunited with her brother, Shoshone Chief Cameahwait who she has not seen since childhood. Sacajawea's raveling braid indicates the undoing of relations between the Natives and white American oppression.

In 1956 Birmingham, Alabama opened the Booker T. Washington library later renamed the Smithfield Library.

I know this library well, as it was the one I used during my elementary years 1960-?) for much of my schoolwork. Since I lived in the area I could walk to the library. Later my parents bought a set of encyclopedias which cut back on a lot of travel and time doing research. 

Ms. Reba Williams is now head librarian at the Smithfield Library. Scan the code for recommended readings by Ms. Williams.

Winn Dixie Sleepover

copied from Zavvi.com

Because of Winn Dixie is a book written by Kate DiCamillo and later made into a movie.

Opal, a lonely girl and her preacher father live in a trailer park. While at Winn-Dixie Supermarket one day, Opal notices a Berger Picard running around the store creating chaos. Not wanting the dog to end up at the dog pound, Opal tells the manager the dog is hers and that his name is Winn Dixie. Opal takes the dog home and hopes she can convince her father to let her keep him. After some persuasion he agrees.
This is a wonderful, heartwarming movie suitable for all ages. It examines abandonment, loneliness, understanding and hope. 


During the promotion of the movie in 2005, Winn Dixie Supermarkets had for sale stuffed animals resembling the Winn Dixie dog from the movie. I bought one and I still have it. It’s as close to owning a pet dog as I plan to get.

Just recently, a local library sponsored a Stuffed Animal Sleepover for young children. They were to bring a stuffed animal of their choice and leave it overnight.

While the animals are there, the staff will take various pictures of what they (the animals) are doing then post them on Facebook. I’m not a young kid but asked if I could bring Winn Dixie to the sleepover and was told yes.

First, I had to fill out a form concerning my stuffed animal before I could leave him.

1. My friend's name is Winn Dixie. 
2. My friend's favorite snack is Oreos. 
3. My friend likes to chase cats. 
4. My friend can't go to sleep without a lullaby. 
5. Any other instructions for your friend? He has a peanut allergy. No horror movies.

Below are pictures the library staff took and posted on Facebook. The captions are mine.

*NOTE: The stuffed animal in the toilet was placed there by it's tiny owner when tiny owner's Mom took him to the restroom. After being fished out and rinsed, the stuffed animal was placed in a ziplock bag and allowed to sleep over. 😀

That's it***

Next week: Dominoes Masters Games

This Isn't Your Grandma's Button Box

It's been a while since I posted. Had what I consider major PC issues. Had to get a new modem. Then the PC had to be upgraded. Tech ,Tech,Tech.
 Anyway...

Since I enjoy crafts I've been hanging out once a week at one of the city libraries where they have crafts for adults. 
The first I participated in was making pictures with buttons.  
There were buttons of all shapes, colors and compositions. 

First we painted a tree on the canvas mat.

This tree looks a little angry. Maybe it'll cheer up after I decorate it.

We used E-6000 glue and a real canvas mat.  Choosing the buttons wasn't easy with so many choices






Here are some of the ones that were done .

 

Remember the angy looking naked tree at the top? This is how I filled it in.

 That's it***

More Adult Coloring

Weather changes always do something to/for my psyche. After two weeks of decaf, I splurged and had a cup of Mickey D's coffee. I suppose the vacay from caffeine gave me a boost when I reentered it into my body. 

I took care of some errands and made my way back to the library in time for Adult Coloring which is one of the new stress relievers. They have a Keuring coffee machine along with snacks for participants. Two people were there when I arrived. One left, leaving just two of us. It was pleasant and of course I did avail myself of another cup of coffee. It would have been impolite not to accept. The remaining person said that she floats from library to library participating in the crafts that each has to offer. I may look into doing something like that during those weeks I have fewer plans.

Shortly after I began.

The end product.

That's It *  *  *

Adult Coloring

My brother and his wife would color with their daughter when she was a little girl. I remember him saying how relaxing it was. This was over 25 years ago. Coloring with crayons for adults was not something you'd hear of back then. Sure, you could get away with it if you were sharing an activity with a child. On your own, it might cause other adults to give you  an over the shoulder, second glance. 

NOW there are coloring books for adults. Recently, I was in a local library where one of the activities that morning was adult coloring. I was invited to stay but because of previously scheduled commitments, I had to decline.

After seeing a flier for adult coloring at another library I decided to attend.  The catch word for me was, "coffee." There would be coffee and muffins or, if coffee wasn't your pleasure, bottled water. I'm a coffee lover so I was sold.

There were four other ladies in the meeting room. The librarian had us select a page from one of the several books available. Selections were printed on card stock.  The tables already had pencil colors so all we had to do was get busy. One person brought her own coloring book that she'd been working on. She'd been using  markers made especially for coloring books that didn't bleed through the pages.

I've seen the adult coloring books. They can go from tame to risque. 
The tamer ones usually have very intricate pictures. I chose a design that wasn't so elaborate. Otherwise, I'd become frustrated  and stressed  causing the purpose for coloring to become null and void.

I enjoyed the experience.  It reminds me of the vintage "Paint by Number" series so popular during the 1960's.

Interacting with other people in a comfortable environment made it even better.

THAT'S IT***

Tablescape

I was asked to do a Tablescape at the local library for their annual seasonal Open House. I've never done a tablescape before but since I've been trying a lot of new things I decided to add this to the list. I let it be known that I would not be making purchases for the tablescape but that I'd be using what I had at home, found objects and crafted items. It would be a shabby chic tablescape. I looked through a few sites on the web to get ideas and decided on a New Year's theme. I assumed that there would be a number of tables with a Christmas theme.



Dress rehearsal for table. Making sure I have everything before I pack it.

 Included in my tablescape were:
*3 table coverings-turquoise sheet, bottom, white lace tablecloth top, powder blue damask overlay
*painted white magnolia leaves
*2 cerulean blue vases from the 1950's belonged to Mom
*flatware with the initial "S"-over 20 years old bought from Fingerhut
*square plates-from over 20 years ago bought at a knockoff store
*Napkins made from home decor  fabric- The only purchase @ $14.98 a yd. (It was an impulse buy)
 *turquoise and gray organza ribbon
*blue stemmed glasses
*large canning jars
*menu
*old watches- thrift store purchase already in my stash
*Old books painted with glitter paint
*Riesling wine bottle relabeled to imitate champagne
*glass flat beads
*old keys painted blue
*Paper clock cut outs
*A computer



1.The title on the spine reads, In a Darker Time. It was painted with turquoise glitter paint. A computer generated 2012 is on the cover. 2.Menu 3.Wine bottle turned champagne bottle 4.  napkins




Father Time and Baby New Year were a last minute thought.

Father Time is made from a paper towel roll covered in silver fabric. If you enlarge the photo you'll see he has a watch across his left arm. The hair is a cotton ball, The scythe is a drinking straw covered with foil. The head is a wooden bead covered in blue chiffon. Baby New Year is made from silver fabric. His top hat is a toilet tissue roll cut to size and painted. His diaper is off the sleeve of an old tee shirt.




The finished table before being viewed by the public

 Here's what was on the southern style faux menu

Black-eyed peas slow cooked in a seasoned bouquet

Freshly picked collards with a hint of banana peppers prepared in a cast iron pot

Alabama raised free range golden crusted fried chicken

Tender, grilled barbecue ribs dipped in brown sugar barbecue sauce

Savory buttermilk and garlic cornbread

Deep dish sweet potato pie topped with homemade whipped cream and southern pecans

Old-fashioned banana pudding made with vanilla wafers crowned with a toasted meringue

Sweetened iced tea with lemon and mint

Louisiana style coffee and chicory

Champagne




This is a close up of one of the place settings.

 
The canning jars are for the iced tea. It is adorned with two magnolia leaves that have been painted white which have New Years wishes on them. The stemmed glass is decorated with a blue key that has either, "faith, hope or charity" written on it. The iridescent napkin holds the menu and is tied with a gray organdy ribbon with blue baubles tied on the ends.

Close the book on the past. Open the book to the future.

Update: 12-02-2012, 6:46 pm.

I have returned from the library. Third place received a colorful live potted ponsettia. Second place received a trio of gift wrapped chocolates in beautiful boxes. First place was awarded a $25 Walmart gift card.

I WON FIRST PLACE    

Whoopee!!!

THAT'S IT***