Lego's remind me of Jes...

Recently, I saw a clever idea using Lego's for printmaking.  I spent some time prepping for summer art camp at work this weekend and decided that playing with some Lego's while I am missing my son was the perfect art project!

First I designed a simple plate:

I used a cosmetic sponge to dab on acrylic paint:

I used a variety of papers and tried to think and work like a 10 year old.  In the end, I liked the print that was made from an old t-shirt the best.

Not so very good week...

This week I moved my aunt into the memory care unit at the home we moved her into this past November.  I am just sick to my stomach over all the events.  It is so difficult to see loved ones decline.  Thank goodness for a long weekend and very few responsibilities for 3 whole days...

My mother is nursing a cold and I haven't stopped in to see her, so I am off to her house with a basket of goodies...  But first an hour of art.  My therapy.

I hope all my friends remember to take time for themselves.  Keep smiling!

5 minutes of art

This past week has been a catch up week after being gone for 3 weeks.  No time for art.  No time for me.  Cranky me...

Luckily this morning, I found a few minutes to run up to my studio before being picked up for an out of town meeting.  That's what we do - find those precious me minutes between must does...  I printed a first layer of star fish on some fabric.  Not really art... not yet...  but I had to start somewhere!

Stitched Leaves

I was cleaning out some old files and came across the pictures of some leaves I embroidered a few years ago.  My leaves were picked up in the early fall as the colors were changing.  The leaves that seemed to work the best for me was pear leaves - nice color and sturdy.  I must put a reminder on my september/october calendar to save some time to stitch this fall!

Home again

The past three weeks have been a fabulous adventure traveling with my son.  Now it is back to reality and time to catch up.  My garden is a lovely weed bed, the house is needing a woman's cleaning touch, friends and family want to hear about my travels, and the calendar is much too full.

I will take it one day at a time and maintain my European lifestyle as best I can in the Midwest states.  Today is a somewhat back to normal day with work.  Evening should give me time in my studio to start planning  and working on the zillions of ideas that found their way into my soul in Italy.  I love to travel, but am also happy to be home.

Fleur-de-lis

With eyes wide open, I started seeing fleur- de-lis all over the city.  With a little research I found that they are the official symbol of florence...

Florence / Street art

Random art by an unknown artist... I am inspired to play:

Florence - looking deeper

Stamp designing

I signed up for an online  stamp designing class with Julie Balzer.  My spring became crazy and I quickly found myself behind...  Fortunately vacation gives one time to play.  While my son watches his baseball games, I work on classes each evening.  Here's one page of play:

Imagine what I can get done on my flight home!  Or maybe I will sleep for 8 hours...

Butterfly collection

Sow stitch

I brought along a few stitching supplies on my journey.  My son is not an early riser and I like to keep my hands busy.  I am teaching a mixed media mandala class at the end of summer and have used my morning stitch time to create my first sample.  I see so much yellow in italy, so this journal cover is perfect for my written ramblings and drawings of this trip.

Lucca, Italy

Today we took a road trip to Lucca, Italy.  Enjoy some pics that many wouldn't see: