Until Next Year!

Here are some pictures of our projects that were on display at The Christmas Finding House! Such a fun time as always! Thanks for having us, Pat!

P.S. Make the rolo candies! They are so easy, yet so good! Just turn the oven on, lay out the pretzels, and place a rolo on top. When the candy softens take it out of the oven and place a walnut or almond on top and press down. Stick them into the fridge to harden and after a few minutes they are ready to package...or eat. Try different toppings to mix it up. These can also be made in the microwave!

OH YES!!!

As I write this I am pretty much beside myself because I just met Apolo Ohno!!! I have been a fan of his for so long! I’m serious...ask my friends and relatives. I never stop talking about him, so when I found out he was coming to Bakersfield to promote his book, “Zero Regrets” I tried to remain calm, but I was a mess inside. I love sports, so I can only relate those feelings to the excitement I get when I am competing or when I watch Apolo dominate in the Olympics!!! I love the Olympics and so does my mom. We sit glued to the television and take it all in. Sometimes it’s almost too much for me, so I keep myself busy with art during the games. I have taken Olympic newspaper clippings and scrapbooked them, I have made keychains with Olympic quotes, and this last year I made a giant poster for my classroom. Yup, that’s right...my sixth grade class last year had a huge poster on display for Open House with the Olympic rings and Pierre de Coubertin’s saying, ”The most important thing in the Olympic Games is not to win but to take part, just as the most important thing in life is not the triumph but the struggle. The essential thing is not to have conquered but to have fought well.” I hope they carry that message with them as they continue their journey to “be greater than yesterday!” The Olympic rings were made out of my students‘ hands and, “We had an Olympic year” was added to tie it all together. If they weren’t sure exactly what the Olympics is all about or who Apolo is, they definitely knew by the end of that year.

As I take in all that just happened, I am humbled. I wouldn’t have found out about this event if it wasn’t for my mom’s friend (see...even she knows I am such a huge fan) who filled us in. I wouldn’t have been able to help Apolo and his team with the signing if it wasn’t for Thomas and the Russo's staff. I wouldn’t have gotten a picture with Apolo if it wasn’t for his team letting me take a quick picture at the end. I wouldn't have gotten to meet so many great people today, who were just as excited to see Apolo and I am so grateful that I got to experience this with them. I wouldn’t have painted a rock for Apolo if my mom hadn’t kept encouraging me the night before...even after some of the lettering smeared and I had to quickly touch it up this morning.  But, most importantly, none of this would have happened if Apolo wasn’t such a genuine person. It has been my dream to meet Apolo and I am so thankful he took the time to come visit Bakersfield and that he is so personable!  I will always carry the memory of my dad taking a picture of my mom and I before we set out to met one our favorite Olympic athletes!

The Christmas Finding House!

The Christmas Finding House is back and we are so excited!!!

The “store” will be staged and ready to go Friday through Monday, November 26th-29th!!! This show is once again put on by Hannah Rose Heart & Co. There will be soft-sculpture dolls, children’s books, a silversmith, stoneware, pottery, weavings, wall decor, wreaths, cookbooks, soups, sweets, notecards, blown-glass, homemade candy, jams, jellies, bread, pumpkin rolls, handmade fabric creations, jewelry, and much more!!! Lots of artists come together for this event and we would love to see you! Please email: saintolivecollection@gmail.com for directions. Some of the pieces featured on this blog will be available at the event as well as other work. Please come out and say hi!

Thank YOU!

Mixed Media!

Okay, here’s my attempt at a quiltlet like the ones Kayla makes. She will always be the best in my opinion! I love the fabric she uses, the color she chooses, and the detail she fuses into every piece! I’ll post a picture of one of her pieces soon!

Art for Healing

I took an Art Therapy class a few months ago with a friend and I loved it! I use art as therapy all the time and I believe that it helps cure many of my aliments. Check out your local hospital for classes! Here is an example of a program. I took a painting class, but I had a little trouble with being “free.” My diagnosis...I’m tense. Sounds about right, but I’m definitely going to try to be a little less uptight for future classes. I’m a planner when it comes to art (art vs. design), so it’s pretty challenging for me to just pick up a brush and go. My painting has a little too many identifiable characteristics, so I tried to compensate by splattering on some color. I also tried to paint outside the lines, which about killed me. So, in conclusion, I kept analyzing my piece and became stressed out about the outcome, which pretty much defeated the whole purpose. :) Next time I take the class, I will try to turn my brain off and “just do it!”

Get Organized!

Okay, this is so super easy to make. Basically, start with two rectangles. On one of the rectangles, sew a ribbon. Then, use the biggest item you have to measure how long to cut the rectangles and sew them right sides together. Leave a space to turn it and then...turn it! Close the opening. Now you have one rectangle. Take the bottom and fold it up and then sew from top to bottom to create pockets. You can make them as wide as you’d like. Put your items in the pockets and you’re done! Piece of cake!

Story Time!

Okay, I’ll try to keep this as brief as possible, but I have too many good things to say about the creator of this cute little hippo.

Basically, I was in the bookstore looking through craft magazines when I stumbled on mini quiltlets by Kayla Fujimoto. I LOVED them! I still LOVE them! In fact, I LOVE everything else Kayla makes! She has been featured in many craft magazines and also has the March page in the Cloth, Paper, Scissors calendar. WOW!!! How cool is that? She has so much talent!

Anyway, I went to the blog that was listed in the magazine and found a link on her page to One World One Heart! There I saw that Kayla had created a hippo to donate. I freaked out!!! I was teaching at the time and we were the Hippos! I emailed her and...she responded!!! Not only did she write back, but...she sent my class a hippo!!! No way! YES way!!!

Since then, we have corresponded and she has sent me more of her pieces. I will share them soon...they are awesome! In the meantime, check out her blog (here is her post about the hippo) and Etsy to get inspired!

Mini Zombie Sock Monkeys...

are the cutest things ever!!! This little guy was made by artist Michelle Guerrero. She and I have made a pact to get our Etsy pages established soon! In the meantime check out her facebook right here! She also has her work at The Empty Space, so don’t be a stranger!

Life is good...

especially when I wake up to little gifts like this that the neighborhood kids leave on our porch! :)

Ta-da!

So here are the finished pieces. The two brown/green pieces were chipped when I went to glaze them and another piece was missing, but that’s the way it goes. There are quite a few steps involved with ceramic making and you never know how your pieces are going to end up, but because of that I love ceramics. It helps me to relax and not get too attached any pieces because I never know what will make it out of the final firing intact. I have some more items in the works and I hope they make it out alive! Fingers crossed!

I guess I do get a little attached. :)