tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-53180794625511481692024-03-25T11:11:16.438-07:00Brushes and PaintPaintings of landscapes, houses, portraits, and pet portraits. Vibrant affordable art and commissioned pieces.Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07751345150459980798noreply@blogger.comBlogger32125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5318079462551148169.post-84829497611145439362011-04-07T08:50:00.000-07:002011-04-07T08:50:23.039-07:00Styrofoam daisies and twin portraits.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8NONtSz4U5Iih5MEgHyshklfSz_4IkQre34ZR6XSFWpTlRCugPo-Y8DW1-F-8CMqSsxBL9KH71QdrIiQF_ZVrZPy1TlWX2olX_1_1l6Zz3_No5quHHU12hjM8KgMbkj94jXTVkylGr-5R/s1600/Olivia.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8NONtSz4U5Iih5MEgHyshklfSz_4IkQre34ZR6XSFWpTlRCugPo-Y8DW1-F-8CMqSsxBL9KH71QdrIiQF_ZVrZPy1TlWX2olX_1_1l6Zz3_No5quHHU12hjM8KgMbkj94jXTVkylGr-5R/s400/Olivia.jpg" width="316" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">While we were visiting my family on spring break, I took a few photos of gifts that I have painted in the past year. This is my niece, it was intended as a present for my brother, but somehow my mom "forgot" to pass it on to him! These photos have a bit of glare on them that I didn't notice when I took them. The paintings are too far away to take more photos now, but I'll try to replace these with better images when I can.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The painting is part of a diptych of the twins. Each painting is 8x10 inches.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCfkU4N4wwfhDVqC4mDpC70iIkJ6NXxIfBi4a5ql6Fb9ApT4xzBSp6zzWKbfUXbOUynGDKJc4GpTd6yKmF3cgWNDfMV0BS0S0XXI-Yczg6GER6gMARXEAdUGoBw-SvtDDbKBdThWLTJT8l/s1600/nelson+and+olivia.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="243" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCfkU4N4wwfhDVqC4mDpC70iIkJ6NXxIfBi4a5ql6Fb9ApT4xzBSp6zzWKbfUXbOUynGDKJc4GpTd6yKmF3cgWNDfMV0BS0S0XXI-Yczg6GER6gMARXEAdUGoBw-SvtDDbKBdThWLTJT8l/s400/nelson+and+olivia.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Here is a quick portrait of the twins reading with Grandpa:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlv-VYzIzH1h46pjqts4Tsoiwy3-68hc5ZYW5uNAXdJjIOjUkTDt6BjOPk2WHnHRRml1jOCwVL0hqsajbmWPAIsrpD4SNzzhFOeepwUItYGbtw7uzmz96mFs4aD0Rv-_7RItU7eeIojTKk/s1600/grandpa.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="290" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlv-VYzIzH1h46pjqts4Tsoiwy3-68hc5ZYW5uNAXdJjIOjUkTDt6BjOPk2WHnHRRml1jOCwVL0hqsajbmWPAIsrpD4SNzzhFOeepwUItYGbtw7uzmz96mFs4aD0Rv-_7RItU7eeIojTKk/s400/grandpa.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And finally, this is a painting that I did when I was about 10 years old. My teacher had me cut up and paint Styrofoam meat trays to make the daisies! I really like this one, even today!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixXit2CVq5JBjJeBOQYwUdnDGrZuCy7hUyF-NWazkRFhwPanVVWieambFAqufG5H-u0lIZxlJMIyMklisil6LOSorsnMScacOuMlsMLWVQgmMZWdv5888xpY1TEixCqPapXOwnGCWWmgbq/s1600/daisies.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixXit2CVq5JBjJeBOQYwUdnDGrZuCy7hUyF-NWazkRFhwPanVVWieambFAqufG5H-u0lIZxlJMIyMklisil6LOSorsnMScacOuMlsMLWVQgmMZWdv5888xpY1TEixCqPapXOwnGCWWmgbq/s640/daisies.jpg" width="424" /></a></div>Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07751345150459980798noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5318079462551148169.post-54036994397089494082011-04-07T08:34:00.000-07:002011-04-07T08:34:47.089-07:00Grandma's mountain<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRHJsQW-k3NNSpXvW8pemVMVHOOFsXUn3stsK4HjlsvSyTotNBKLrGKHyx9cEc7hMs7h8jzZhJdvq-5SD2ju_go7Aa_q9cnn2y5jprF55obIVl0QGrbKpRe-fkLqEd21PyiOVQRwt7xb1u/s1600/grandma%2527s+mountain.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRHJsQW-k3NNSpXvW8pemVMVHOOFsXUn3stsK4HjlsvSyTotNBKLrGKHyx9cEc7hMs7h8jzZhJdvq-5SD2ju_go7Aa_q9cnn2y5jprF55obIVl0QGrbKpRe-fkLqEd21PyiOVQRwt7xb1u/s640/grandma%2527s+mountain.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
My grandmother, Carrie Vanderbilt Hoover, started painting late in life, after she retired as a registered nurse. She passed away at the age of 94 after spending many years quilting and painting. This is an oil painting on melamine, hanging on the wall at my mother's house. I think it is just gorgeous with the vibrant colors. It was painted sometime in the early 1980s or late 1970s.Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07751345150459980798noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5318079462551148169.post-33828777937250886822011-03-15T10:37:00.000-07:002011-03-15T10:37:25.878-07:00More example paintingsHere are some more paintings that I am making as examples for classes. I made these before I started party-planning last week for the big cake decorating party, you can read about it <a href="http://cookingfinland.blogspot.com/2011/03/cake-decorating-kids-birthday-party.html">here</a>.<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b7b7b7; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">My rules for painting these were once again pretty strict: the paintings had to be straight forward, not too much mixing of colors, and paintable with only 2-3 brushes. Also, in order for students to complete the painting within a couple of hours, there can't be too much drying time necessary, and I restricted myself to about 45 minutes per painting.</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-bODPmLz_fQw/TX-jFFlk_fI/AAAAAAAADD4/pDKbdAfEYGE/s1600/DSC_0628.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-bODPmLz_fQw/TX-jFFlk_fI/AAAAAAAADD4/pDKbdAfEYGE/s640/DSC_0628.JPG" width="456" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-BYc_6pk50NY/TX-jRkVKzyI/AAAAAAAADEE/t2PBn0lP_Os/s1600/DSC_0632.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="484" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-BYc_6pk50NY/TX-jRkVKzyI/AAAAAAAADEE/t2PBn0lP_Os/s640/DSC_0632.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-mIo8K5QniS4/TX-jeWXgO8I/AAAAAAAADEM/QSOJKirKNKU/s1600/DSC_0635.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="468" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-mIo8K5QniS4/TX-jeWXgO8I/AAAAAAAADEM/QSOJKirKNKU/s640/DSC_0635.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</span>Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07751345150459980798noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5318079462551148169.post-73691576623841789722011-03-04T10:05:00.000-08:002011-03-04T10:05:37.291-08:00Getting ready to paint with kids (or their parents!)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-zp-bWoIe108/TXEg4BVo_UI/AAAAAAAAC6s/NXRodDCwebk/s1600/DSC_0486.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="476" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-zp-bWoIe108/TXEg4BVo_UI/AAAAAAAAC6s/NXRodDCwebk/s640/DSC_0486.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bugsy</td></tr>
</tbody></table> I've had a lot of requests for the kids in the neighborhood to come over and paint, which is really fun when I have the time. The problem is that when everyone has their own painting to work on, it gets extremely labor-intensive for me, and a little chaotic. I've been reluctant to do these sessions this winter, but it really is kind of fun to paint with the kids, they are so enthusiastic! So for the last couple of days I've been working on some small sample canvases that I could use for kids to paint from. Wouldn't this make a great Ladies' night out, too?!<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;">My rules for painting these were pretty strict: the paintings had to be straight forward, not too much mixing of colors, and paintable with only 2-3 brushes. Also, in order for students to complete the painting within a couple of hours, there can't be too much drying time necessary, and I restricted myself to about 45 minutes per painting. I'm really excited about the paintings from my long session!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;">I used acrylic paint and a stack of canvas boards that really have no other purpose in life...they are all 9x12 inches, and the stores seem to not carry this size of open back frame! Right now I have a stack of my own kids' paintings that size that need a frame, and a lot of molding that I need to cut and glue to make them. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;">This is still a work in progress, I'd like to have at least 15-20 samples representing a broad range of difficulties and subject matter. This way I could easily offer a set rate per painting, and have everyone in the group do the same painting. And keep my sanity. (maybe!)</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Ni17_3ewT2A/TXEgc6fqTkI/AAAAAAAAC6k/YiOLm-8tF0I/s1600/DSC_0481.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Ni17_3ewT2A/TXEgc6fqTkI/AAAAAAAAC6k/YiOLm-8tF0I/s640/DSC_0481.JPG" width="478" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The never-ending snow...</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-QR79kpZqmUo/TXEgrvp-mMI/AAAAAAAAC6o/xZHi9kqt8Sw/s1600/DSC_0484.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-QR79kpZqmUo/TXEgrvp-mMI/AAAAAAAAC6o/xZHi9kqt8Sw/s640/DSC_0484.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Waves!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-4qcGCuTuv_Y/TXEhZer1ODI/AAAAAAAAC60/6PjqsI45VgU/s1600/DSC_0489.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-4qcGCuTuv_Y/TXEhZer1ODI/AAAAAAAAC60/6PjqsI45VgU/s640/DSC_0489.JPG" width="478" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Swallowtail Butterfly</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-UgQ7rar1Y0s/TXEgLA1UoPI/AAAAAAAAC6g/Z4k5UuPp6VM/s1600/DSC_0480.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-UgQ7rar1Y0s/TXEgLA1UoPI/AAAAAAAAC6g/Z4k5UuPp6VM/s640/DSC_0480.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Midnight cherries</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-CzxOSGDY4qw/TXEhEuGj5hI/AAAAAAAAC6w/EW5-XmMpzpM/s1600/DSC_0488.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="470" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-CzxOSGDY4qw/TXEhEuGj5hI/AAAAAAAAC6w/EW5-XmMpzpM/s640/DSC_0488.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Technicolor butterfly</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-oT0zB45fSxQ/TXEhpldfBbI/AAAAAAAAC64/HiJ41qk4bus/s1600/DSC_0493.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-oT0zB45fSxQ/TXEhpldfBbI/AAAAAAAAC64/HiJ41qk4bus/s640/DSC_0493.JPG" width="472" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wild Cherries!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07751345150459980798noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5318079462551148169.post-91382582375482732992011-03-04T09:40:00.000-08:002011-03-04T09:40:57.082-08:00Sunset at the Summer Cottage<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-aysfdWc5q4I/TXEh270GkDI/AAAAAAAAC68/RdAopXXC8ss/s1600/DSC_0495.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="474" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-aysfdWc5q4I/TXEh270GkDI/AAAAAAAAC68/RdAopXXC8ss/s640/DSC_0495.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sunset at my Uncle's Summer Cottage</td></tr>
</tbody></table>This painting is by my first-grader, almost 7 year-old. He wanted to paint something meaningful, and this is probably his all-time favorite place to be. He painted this from a photo we took last time we were in Finland. I love his finger-paint clouds and glaze on the water! He also did a great job with the dock's shadow. He likes to go sit on this dock, and play with all the frogs in the grass nearby. The water around the dock is shallow, sandy, and full of oyster shells.Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07751345150459980798noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5318079462551148169.post-34956781731730924142011-02-16T07:58:00.000-08:002011-02-28T10:45:01.993-08:00Finland has the most incredible sunsets.<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4Ucpdtt3z8s/TVvxpqWoDcI/AAAAAAAACus/FRO6aQ3lTJc/s1600/DSC_0127.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="496" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4Ucpdtt3z8s/TVvxpqWoDcI/AAAAAAAACus/FRO6aQ3lTJc/s640/DSC_0127.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Baltic at Night, 11x14 in. on stretched canvas</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Finland has amazing sunsets. The Baltic on the west coast and the wide open skies create perfect conditions to enjoy the spectacular show. The sunsets last so long at Northern latitudes, in summer the sun follows the horizon most of the day and night. In the midwest where we live now, the sun blazes down in summer, from straight overhead, making it something to be avoided. But in Finland the sun comes at a welcome angle from near the horizon in summer, perfect landscape lighting!Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07751345150459980798noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5318079462551148169.post-16677894594361000452011-02-08T12:01:00.000-08:002011-02-08T12:01:22.505-08:00The weight of snow on the redbud tree<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_grDKyVXFldg/TVGdCl11dSI/AAAAAAAACl4/uX3H9SnMIhs/s1600/DSC_0681.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_grDKyVXFldg/TVGdCl11dSI/AAAAAAAACl4/uX3H9SnMIhs/s640/DSC_0681.JPG" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The weight of snow on the redbud tree, 11x14 inches acrylic on stretched canvas</td></tr>
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Like I've said before, I don't generally paint snow. When I was a kid, I enjoyed painting pretty little scenes of animals and cheerful snow with beautiful pastel blue highlights, but that was back when I didn't have to spend days cleaning it and driving through it, or worrying about my family trying to get home. Funny how growing up changes your perspective so much. Today is actually a bright, sunny day, with sunbeams radiating off of the close to three feet of snow on the ground. Only about half an inch fell last night, just enough to make everything clean and crisp. I sat down to paint a joyous tribute to the beautiful winter landscape, but quickly decided to finish another blizzard painting that I started during last week's blizzard. Then I found this photo of our redbud tree that I took two nights ago with the intention of painting. Something about the desolate beauty of this twisted tree struck me. It was glowing in the light from the house, and the reflected light from the snow. I have no idea how to capture this glow and majesty with my camera, it seemed whatever settings I used, the camera just couldn't capture what I saw and felt staring at this cold tree. I snapped a few mediocre photos and tried to remember the rest of its desolate beauty. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_grDKyVXFldg/TVGcz-BSdGI/AAAAAAAAClw/AA6NvnsuG7c/s1600/DSC_0687.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="514" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_grDKyVXFldg/TVGcz-BSdGI/AAAAAAAAClw/AA6NvnsuG7c/s640/DSC_0687.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Icy Road, 16x20 inches acrylic on stretched canvas</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07751345150459980798noreply@blogger.com21tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5318079462551148169.post-19432684298845068292011-02-08T09:18:00.000-08:002011-02-08T09:18:08.877-08:00The Crane<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_grDKyVXFldg/TVF2MMjMRMI/AAAAAAAAClo/DxGDZudyRBU/s1600/DSC_0673.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="440" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_grDKyVXFldg/TVF2MMjMRMI/AAAAAAAAClo/DxGDZudyRBU/s640/DSC_0673.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This is a painting from a photo from my father-in-law of a familiar field in Finland. After the crane landed, according to the back of the old photo, there were two family births. The strong lines of this painting really appeal to me, it is one of my favorites. 16x20 inches on stretched canvas.</div>Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07751345150459980798noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5318079462551148169.post-51062232149090434502011-02-08T09:10:00.000-08:002011-02-08T09:10:51.505-08:00Another version of the blizzard<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_grDKyVXFldg/TVF2a-1fu9I/AAAAAAAACls/tinGqnmaj2w/s1600/DSC_0677.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_grDKyVXFldg/TVF2a-1fu9I/AAAAAAAACls/tinGqnmaj2w/s640/DSC_0677.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
My daughter was inspired to make her own version of "The Blizzard" on an 8x10 stretched canvas. She did a beautiful job, so cheerful for such a gloomy subject! She learned a lot about painting trees and lighting. I barely get to see her work until it is finished or she needs to know how to do something. She is so independent (and maybe a little stubborn), but she learns best by watching and experimenting. Not a bad way for a girl to be!<br />
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I'm not sure what she titled this next one, she painted it last year while looking at a book of Thomas Kinkaid paintings. It is 16x20 inches on stretched canvas. I love her color mixing and depth in this one!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_grDKyVXFldg/TVF1yRBT-1I/AAAAAAAAClk/Sk35dCPNdoo/s1600/DSC_0669.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="450" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_grDKyVXFldg/TVF1yRBT-1I/AAAAAAAAClk/Sk35dCPNdoo/s640/DSC_0669.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07751345150459980798noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5318079462551148169.post-2395577681829351072011-02-01T15:58:00.000-08:002011-02-01T15:58:27.779-08:00The Blizzard<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_grDKyVXFldg/TUiazif35UI/AAAAAAAACjM/fhOtbmtB2Co/s1600/DSC_0484.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="512" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_grDKyVXFldg/TUiazif35UI/AAAAAAAACjM/fhOtbmtB2Co/s640/DSC_0484.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
With most of the country in blizzard conditions today, what better subject to paint? This is the Linden tree in our yard in the blowing snow. It feels like the world outside is turning into a giant snow globe right now, with snow blowing sideways. Tonight we are supposed to have "thunder snow." Don't think I've ever heard thunder while it is snowing before. I painted this while waiting for the kids to come home from school on their buses, I think a bit of my worry crept in. Not necessarily a day I want to remember, but I love this painting! This acrylic painting is 16x20 inches on stretched canvas.Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07751345150459980798noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5318079462551148169.post-32246097042998172532011-01-13T07:58:00.000-08:002011-01-13T07:58:28.709-08:00Welcome?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_grDKyVXFldg/TSOB63APPMI/AAAAAAAACbM/aTi6DPipPHY/s1600/DSC_0117.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="512" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_grDKyVXFldg/TSOB63APPMI/AAAAAAAACbM/aTi6DPipPHY/s640/DSC_0117.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This is a painting from around Halloween. Thus the "welcome" sign on a gateless fence...</div>Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07751345150459980798noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5318079462551148169.post-74964306266944900192011-01-11T07:46:00.000-08:002011-01-11T07:46:50.855-08:00The Path not Taken<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_grDKyVXFldg/TSOA5qaJgPI/AAAAAAAACa4/2k6hesOPyWE/s1600/DSC_0103.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="510" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_grDKyVXFldg/TSOA5qaJgPI/AAAAAAAACa4/2k6hesOPyWE/s640/DSC_0103.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Today, we are enveloped in a snow storm, so I'm posting this painting from more pleasant weather as a distraction. Enjoy!Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07751345150459980798noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5318079462551148169.post-13168923132693765852011-01-08T19:18:00.000-08:002011-01-08T19:18:55.540-08:00The Newborn<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_grDKyVXFldg/TSOCYpwlSsI/AAAAAAAACbQ/TsHhvmvGf-E/s1600/DSC_0115.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="512" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_grDKyVXFldg/TSOCYpwlSsI/AAAAAAAACbQ/TsHhvmvGf-E/s640/DSC_0115.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>This is a sweet little 8x10 on canvas board that I painted from a friend's baby announcement. I am planning to give it to her, hopefully before the little one is in college!Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07751345150459980798noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5318079462551148169.post-21733254909466191392011-01-08T19:13:00.000-08:002011-01-08T19:13:08.913-08:00The Firefly Princess<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_grDKyVXFldg/TSOBO1XK0NI/AAAAAAAACa8/4pRVbaPpmwk/s1600/DSC_0106.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_grDKyVXFldg/TSOBO1XK0NI/AAAAAAAACa8/4pRVbaPpmwk/s640/DSC_0106.JPG" width="456" /></a></div><br />
This is a fun little 5x7 painting on canvas board, part of my dreaming fairies series, based on little girls playing dress-up. This little one is lost in a beautiful dream world, looking to the distance for her next adventure.Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07751345150459980798noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5318079462551148169.post-77725877874118135502011-01-06T20:12:00.000-08:002011-01-07T06:21:28.992-08:00Thursday is craft day! Recycled earring card beads.<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Check out this new blog, showcasing my daughter's crafts, she is so talented! <a href="http://partiesandcrafts.blogspot.com/"> Parties and Crafts</a> I think she is trying to send me a hint that we need to have another Valentine's party!</span><br />
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<h3 class="post-title entry-title" style="font-size: 13px; font: normal normal normal 26px/normal Impact, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; position: relative;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Valentines day: green is the new pink...heart bracelet</span></span></h3><div class="post-header" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.6; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div class="post-header-line-1"></div></div><div class="post-body entry-content" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.4; position: relative; width: 506px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">My next posts are going to be about "green" being the new pink for Valentines Day. I will be using recycled materials as much as I can to make cute Valentines day crafts and party favors.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
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This is a bracelet that I am making for my friends for Valentines day. The little sparkly purple and blue hearts are made from the cards that earrings come on. These are from Claire's, but any should work.<br />
</span></div><div style="font-size: 13px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">For the instructions, click <a href="http://partiesandcrafts.blogspot.com/2011/01/valentines-day-green-is-new-pinkheart.html">here</a>.</span></div></div>Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07751345150459980798noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5318079462551148169.post-47259213147621355382011-01-05T07:26:00.000-08:002011-01-06T20:05:15.008-08:00Painting of window with forest view<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_grDKyVXFldg/TSN_mkxydcI/AAAAAAAACaw/jQW1ie0oFj4/s1600/DSC_0096.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="512" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_grDKyVXFldg/TSN_mkxydcI/AAAAAAAACaw/jQW1ie0oFj4/s640/DSC_0096.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
This is one of the most beautiful views in the world to me, Sirkka and Olavi's kitchen window. Once upon a time, many years ago, I was an exchange student and stayed with two terrific families in Finland. The second family I stayed with didn't really speak English, and was hesitant to take an exchange student. We had so much fun, and have remained good friends today. They have moved from the town where I stayed with them, but their new house has a beautiful view of the forest, and if you follow a trail to the left a couple hundred meters, there are ancient, prehistoric graves covered by lots of granite stones. Like most places in Finland, the forest is full of berries in the summer, and ski trails in the winter. It is a beautiful place out this window, I have sat here often with my morning coffee. Now, this painting on stretched canvas hangs in my dining room, a great memory and constant reminder of my dear friends. Some day I may give it to them, but maybe I will wait until they come to visit and fetch it...Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07751345150459980798noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5318079462551148169.post-75631315963622570722011-01-04T12:34:00.000-08:002011-01-04T12:34:56.538-08:00Painting without brushes--palette knife painting<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_grDKyVXFldg/TSOBmdLeu0I/AAAAAAAACbA/VCV85YO6zAI/s1600/DSC_0121.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_grDKyVXFldg/TSOBmdLeu0I/AAAAAAAACbA/VCV85YO6zAI/s640/DSC_0121.JPG" width="512" /></a></div><br />
This is an 8x10 acrylic painting on stretched canvas that was made entirely with a palette knife, no brushes at all. I love making birch trees with palette knives, they have so much more depth than brush-painted ones. This one is a favorite of mine, it has so much movement.Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07751345150459980798noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5318079462551148169.post-49960196547033038702010-12-30T21:08:00.000-08:002010-12-30T21:08:12.970-08:00Encaustic artWe have had a really busy week, and I don't have any of my own work photographed for craft day, but this is a great video on encaustic art. This reminds me of the suncatchers we made in school by ironing crayon bits between sheets of waxed paper. This is an exciting technique, and I can't wait to try it!<br />
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<object height="385" width="480"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/8nwB3Ec4E0w?fs=1&hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/8nwB3Ec4E0w?fs=1&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object>Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07751345150459980798noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5318079462551148169.post-89167886091749390582010-12-24T10:51:00.000-08:002010-12-24T11:09:26.199-08:00Thursday is craft day! Ornaments from soda cans!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_grDKyVXFldg/TRTpYcjMgSI/AAAAAAAACWM/DG1cmX3tgOU/s1600/DSC_0329.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_grDKyVXFldg/TRTpYcjMgSI/AAAAAAAACWM/DG1cmX3tgOU/s400/DSC_0329.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div><br />
</div> Well, Thursday was craft day, but I'm a little behind this week. but I have a great quick Christmas craft to share, next year I think we will cover the tree in these and not have to worry about the dogs breaking/eating all the ornaments and candy canes. These look like they would be sharp, but really aren't, the kids could have helped me make them, if there weren't so many Christmas specials on TV...<br />
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First, I cut a soda can in half...<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Then cut slits down the sides like this:</div><br />
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Fold down the fringe:<br />
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If you want, put a squirt of spray adhesive in the middle and sprinkle on some glitter. You can also trim the spikes on an angle if you want. I used a needle and some thread to make a loop for hanging. <br />
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</div><div>This craft is so simple, the kids will love making them, too!</div>Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07751345150459980798noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5318079462551148169.post-36664159620276431422010-12-22T20:22:00.000-08:002010-12-22T20:22:16.379-08:00The MSI Finnish Christmas tree, covered in yarn elves!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_grDKyVXFldg/TRLJYHNNNWI/AAAAAAAACVU/IKN81HoDoBQ/s1600/DSC_0222.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_grDKyVXFldg/TRLJYHNNNWI/AAAAAAAACVU/IKN81HoDoBQ/s320/DSC_0222.JPG" width="257" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This is a follow up to last Thursday's craft day, yarn elves. We visited the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago today to see the Christmas trees of the world display, and they were all beautiful! I had to share the picture of the Finnish tree, it was covered in yarn elves, made very much like the ones from last Thursday's blog. The only major difference is that they used wooden balls for the heads (you would have to make the body shorter to do this. And I love the little crocheted hats, they look just like the Finnladies from the Chicago Finnish-American Society, who coincidentally decorated the tree!</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_grDKyVXFldg/TRLJj58dOSI/AAAAAAAACVY/i2hzx1DieNk/s1600/DSC_0221.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_grDKyVXFldg/TRLJj58dOSI/AAAAAAAACVY/i2hzx1DieNk/s320/DSC_0221.JPG" width="256" /></a></div>Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07751345150459980798noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5318079462551148169.post-64041344182097037522010-12-20T21:34:00.000-08:002010-12-20T21:34:17.479-08:00A fun Christmas bird ornament<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_grDKyVXFldg/TRA3G1rzA0I/AAAAAAAACTs/FgXAQTSfUok/s1600/DSC_0099.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_grDKyVXFldg/TRA3G1rzA0I/AAAAAAAACTs/FgXAQTSfUok/s400/DSC_0099.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">While we are waiting for the natural light to improve so that I can get satisfactory photos of my paintings, I'll share another craft. I found this one at <a href="http://lintusininen2010.blogspot.com/search/label/askartelu">a bit of this & a bit of that</a> but she didn't give any instructions. The author of that blog is from Finland, living in Canada now. The bird shape is very popular in Finnish crafts and glasswork. </div><div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_grDKyVXFldg/TRA3G1rzA0I/AAAAAAAACTs/FgXAQTSfUok/s1600/DSC_0099.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_grDKyVXFldg/TRA2ktUSSdI/AAAAAAAACTk/t2TlXC6EpSM/s1600/DSC_0084.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_grDKyVXFldg/TRA2ktUSSdI/AAAAAAAACTk/t2TlXC6EpSM/s400/DSC_0084.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">My six-year old helper and I first cut bird shapes out of last year's Christmas cards. Then we made pompoms, wrapping the yarn carefully around four of his fingers.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_grDKyVXFldg/TRA2uZXhtSI/AAAAAAAACTo/1MRSsABPXpU/s1600/DSC_0087.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_grDKyVXFldg/TRA2uZXhtSI/AAAAAAAACTo/1MRSsABPXpU/s400/DSC_0087.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_grDKyVXFldg/TRA3NAdaAWI/AAAAAAAACT4/0IkZLmfwMCQ/s1600/DSC_0090.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_grDKyVXFldg/TRA3NAdaAWI/AAAAAAAACT4/0IkZLmfwMCQ/s400/DSC_0090.JPG" width="400" /></a></div> We tied the pompom between his fingers (he said this was the painful part...next time we will wrap a little more loosely!). After it was slipped off his hand and tied securely around the middle, we cut all the loops and trimmed up the pompom. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_grDKyVXFldg/TRA3KganxeI/AAAAAAAACTw/vJfp1-Tr9p8/s1600/DSC_0093.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_grDKyVXFldg/TRA3KganxeI/AAAAAAAACTw/vJfp1-Tr9p8/s400/DSC_0093.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div>Next we cut a small hole in the bird's side and slipped the pompom through. A paper punch hole for an eye, and a loop of string to hang it, and the bird is complete. My helper was thrilled, I think we have found a great way to recycle and create unique ornaments!</div><div><br />
</div><div>Happy crafting</div>Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07751345150459980798noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5318079462551148169.post-6343706694546187682010-12-17T06:59:00.000-08:002010-12-17T07:33:02.084-08:00The 10 year tree skirt project and my favorite housework excuse sign...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_grDKyVXFldg/TQt3UGtZURI/AAAAAAAACRo/epCwTPfWExY/s1600/DSC_0460.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_grDKyVXFldg/TQt3UGtZURI/AAAAAAAACRo/epCwTPfWExY/s640/DSC_0460.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The natural lighting is terrible again today, so I'll post a few more crafty photos. Someone needs to remind me to take lots of photos on the next day when I have good lighting. That may be awhile this time of year! This is a gorgeous star/snowflake chain that my talented daughter made. Her nimble hands can make the tiniest of crafts! If you haven't made one yet, you can get the instructions in my <a href="http://brushesandpaint.blogspot.com/2010/12/crafting-for-christmas.html">Crafting for Christmas</a> post.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_grDKyVXFldg/TQt3EkNrTjI/AAAAAAAACRs/iAR4XBMjAAA/s1600/DSC_0457.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="293" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_grDKyVXFldg/TQt3EkNrTjI/AAAAAAAACRs/iAR4XBMjAAA/s400/DSC_0457.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We've been working on this tree skirt for almost a decade now. I bought a big piece of felt and cut out a circle. The gold trim is hot-glued on. Every year we draw around the kids' hands with a marker, then trace it with gold fabric paint. This year my oldest son's hand took almost an entire small bottle of paint! The kids write their own names under the handprints, but I've removed the names from this photo. I couldn't remove the chihuahua, though, she loves to lay on this tree skirt and thought I was spreading it out on the floor to make her more comfortable. This link is to the paint I like to use, I had a different kind this year, but it didn't cover as well. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=brushesandpai-20&o=1&p=8&l=as1&asins=B000PBOWOY&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"></iframe></div>Also, I should mention that when we first started, I tried to put the paint on the kids' hands and have them make a print. It didn't work well at all, and was EXTREMELY messy. The next year we just started to do outlines. I let the kids write the year above the hands, lots of cute backward numbers! <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And I will leave you with a little crafty painting that I made, it seems appropriate today, my house is a wreck with remodeling projects and the Christmas cookies we baked last night...if you would like to mess up your kitchen with some really yummy cookies, you can read about them <a href="http://brushesandpaint.blogspot.com/2010/12/crafting-for-christmas.html">here</a>.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_grDKyVXFldg/TQt3ocOrV2I/AAAAAAAACR0/kf8kEQEHYd4/s1600/DSC_0463.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="321" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_grDKyVXFldg/TQt3ocOrV2I/AAAAAAAACR0/kf8kEQEHYd4/s400/DSC_0463.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
This is just a quick sign that I made up to use in case of emergencies. It truly explains what is going on in our house right now. Even the sign itself is painted to look a little dusty.Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07751345150459980798noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5318079462551148169.post-70579732397609730672010-12-16T11:17:00.000-08:002010-12-16T11:17:34.061-08:00A flower still life for a dreary day<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_grDKyVXFldg/TQpixO4G2FI/AAAAAAAACQ0/rJ2SyqhQ-hU/s1600/DSC_0379.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_grDKyVXFldg/TQpixO4G2FI/AAAAAAAACQ0/rJ2SyqhQ-hU/s640/DSC_0379.JPG" width="516" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">It is so dreary today that it is hard to get a good painting photo, but this one is acceptable. While I've always been more of a tomboy, roses and sunsets have always been some of my favorite subject matter. Must be a lingering bit of girlishness... This one may be small, 8x10 inches on stretched canvas, but I really like it. I painted it last month to demonstrate to my daughter how I painted a larger, similar painting when I was a teenager. I'm not sure this particular bouquet ever existed, I think my painting teacher probably supplied some kind of picture, but that was decades ago. For me, painting this small copy of my old beloved painting was like sitting in a chair at my teacher's house in a little house far away from here, feeling her hand on my shoulder. Some days I can still hear her voice if I concentrate. </div>Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07751345150459980798noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5318079462551148169.post-77241928937346837222010-12-16T09:44:00.000-08:002010-12-16T18:45:36.348-08:00Thursday is craft day! Yarn Elves (lankatonttu)<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_grDKyVXFldg/TQpLjSLOARI/AAAAAAAACQw/Aa7oUW6rU-k/s1600/DSC_0378.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="295" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_grDKyVXFldg/TQpLjSLOARI/AAAAAAAACQw/Aa7oUW6rU-k/s320/DSC_0378.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_grDKyVXFldg/TQpLjSLOARI/AAAAAAAACQw/Aa7oUW6rU-k/s1600/DSC_0378.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a>Thursdays are a difficult day around our house, the weekend is almost here, but not quite, and the kids have a lot of homework. We all need a little break, so I'm declaring Thursday to be our official craft day, and I'll be posting instructions here every week. Check back often, and craft along with us!<br />
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As many of you who read my other blog, <a href="http://cookingfinland.blogspot.com/">Cooking Finland</a>, know, my husband is from Finland, and I have been an exchange student there. So a lot of our crafts will be following instructions from Finnish websites and other traditional Finnish crafts. The Finnish school system really values handicrafts and practical arts, and there are a lot of really great ideas in blogs coming from Finland. Also, I like for my kids to learn about their cultural heritage through experimentation. Hope you enjoy this series, too!<br />
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Today's craft is yarn elves. These are really cute and would make great tree ornaments or package toppers. If you have ever made a corn husk doll, the instructions are very similar. For anyone who can read Finnish or is motivated enough to figure out what <a href="http://translate.google.com/">Google Translate</a> really means, these are the blogs that I looked at to find instructions, <a href="http://artturi.vuodatus.net/blog/1622303/lankatonttu/">http://artturi.vuodatus.net/blog/1622303/lankatonttu/</a> and <a href="http://www.kookas.fi/articles/read/2499">http://www.kookas.fi/articles/read/2499</a>.<br />
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These are my supplies: two colors of yarn, a DVD case (if you don't have a Finnish war movie like in this picture, I'm sure any other case would work...), and a pair of scissors. You can use regular scissors, mine have all disappeared and I had to use kids school scissors.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_grDKyVXFldg/TQpH-qyRSHI/AAAAAAAACQM/jSsksujRR_w/s1600/DSC_0340.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="297" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_grDKyVXFldg/TQpH-qyRSHI/AAAAAAAACQM/jSsksujRR_w/s320/DSC_0340.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
<iframe src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?lt1=_blank&bc1=000000&IS2=1&bg1=F1EDED&fc1=000000&lc1=0000FF&t=brushesandpai-20&o=1&p=8&l=as1&m=amazon&f=ifr&asins=B0020ZQYDU" style="width:120px;height:240px;" scrolling="no" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" frameborder="0"></iframe><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Wrap the yarn for the arms around the short side of the DVD case (loosely!). I wrapped about 15 times, you can do more or less depending on how thick you want the arms and how thick your yarn is.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_grDKyVXFldg/TQpINPu8zCI/AAAAAAAACQQ/RliVOPqGX1s/s1600/DSC_0341.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_grDKyVXFldg/TQpINPu8zCI/AAAAAAAACQQ/RliVOPqGX1s/s320/DSC_0341.JPG" width="259" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Pull the yarn off carefully and tie one end a little from the end. This makes the hand. </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_grDKyVXFldg/TQpIrFiVY6I/AAAAAAAACQU/YQ34nNIIfX0/s1600/DSC_0343.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="319" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_grDKyVXFldg/TQpIrFiVY6I/AAAAAAAACQU/YQ34nNIIfX0/s320/DSC_0343.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
It is REALLY IMPORTANT to tie the knots tightly, so I wrapped the yarn around about 5 times and tied again. We don't want any little elves falling apart on us.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_grDKyVXFldg/TQpI8KUERUI/AAAAAAAACQY/EWOEZRF7KN8/s1600/DSC_0344.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_grDKyVXFldg/TQpI8KUERUI/AAAAAAAACQY/EWOEZRF7KN8/s320/DSC_0344.JPG" width="278" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Now lay the arms on the DVD case as in this picture and wrap the contrasting yarn around the DVD long-ways. This time I wrapped about 16 times. I left the end of the yarn toward the bottom so that when I trimmed the feet it would disappear, but you could also glue it into the hat later if you start from the other end.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_grDKyVXFldg/TQpJiV6agkI/AAAAAAAACQc/etnNvxkKaO8/s1600/DSC_0349.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="310" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_grDKyVXFldg/TQpJiV6agkI/AAAAAAAACQc/etnNvxkKaO8/s320/DSC_0349.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
This time I just cut the yarn off at the bottom. Very Carefully.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_grDKyVXFldg/TQpJ2-zgleI/AAAAAAAACQg/LpJTg1WfpgU/s1600/DSC_0350.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_grDKyVXFldg/TQpJ2-zgleI/AAAAAAAACQg/LpJTg1WfpgU/s320/DSC_0350.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
To make the head, tie, then wrap and tie again as for the arms. Then I criss-crossed the yarn to make the torso, and tied and wrapped again for the waist. All of this should be done with the same piece of yarn, don't cut it after you tie off the head.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_grDKyVXFldg/TQpKabMR3mI/AAAAAAAACQk/xZNJQN4WVCI/s1600/DSC_0357.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_grDKyVXFldg/TQpKabMR3mI/AAAAAAAACQk/xZNJQN4WVCI/s320/DSC_0357.JPG" width="290" /></a></div><br />
Now it is time for the little elf to spread 'um. I separated half of the yarn for each leg and tied off feet and wrapped and tied again, as with the arms. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_grDKyVXFldg/TQpKmXjvg8I/AAAAAAAACQo/-wZMZQ_HAdU/s1600/DSC_0360.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_grDKyVXFldg/TQpKmXjvg8I/AAAAAAAACQo/-wZMZQ_HAdU/s320/DSC_0360.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">After he is all tied off, you can trim his feet and hands carefully. Don't cut any of the strings too short, he might unravel...</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_grDKyVXFldg/TQpLN6WrYCI/AAAAAAAACQs/i_3ZlbEAJF0/s1600/DSC_0364.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="296" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_grDKyVXFldg/TQpLN6WrYCI/AAAAAAAACQs/i_3ZlbEAJF0/s320/DSC_0364.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I cut a pie-shaped piece of felt, then hot glued it in back and to his head to make a hat. Online, I found a picture that I want to try next, she crocheted the hat on, and they are adorable!! Click <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/23882161@N03/4297891597/in/photostream/">here </a>to look at it.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Happy Crafting!!!</div>Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07751345150459980798noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5318079462551148169.post-67412986919208095222010-12-15T10:41:00.000-08:002010-12-15T10:43:12.141-08:00Portrait of the reluctant Child<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_grDKyVXFldg/TQkDSWqvaHI/AAAAAAAACNs/B6llR_eYFrA/s1600/DSC_0319.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_grDKyVXFldg/TQkDSWqvaHI/AAAAAAAACNs/B6llR_eYFrA/s640/DSC_0319.JPG" width="494" /></a></div><br />
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I love this painting! A couple of years ago, we were at the <a href="http://www.fieldmuseum.org/">Field Museum</a> members' nights, and my daughter, quite a girly-girl, stepped right up to the scientists and ASKED to hold a hissing cockroach! We were so surprised that we almost forgot to take a photo. Fortunately, we did, and I painted this later to better preserve the memory. I am very sure she regretted asking after she got the bug in her hand. By the way, my daughter said that I should sell this painting cheap! She would like it out of the house.Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07751345150459980798noreply@blogger.com2