Sharing Your Photos...and my new niece!

My new niece, Adi, sketched out with Adobe Photoshop Express.
There's a super cool and cheap, er...thrifty, way to upload, edit and share your photos!! Adobe, the creator of Photoshop, has put into beta a new photo editing tool that uses Flash. Simply sign up for an account, upload photos, and edit away! The tools aren't as exact, or as complicated as Photoshop, but the results are amazingly pleasing, for such a simple idea. Plus, you can play around with your photos, creating some more bizarre images, as well...
It also lets you link and upload directly to selected outside sites, such as Facebook, Picasa, and Photobucket. You get 2 GB of free space to show off your photos in galleries you create. (I've embedded these two photos into my blog post without putting them in my public gallery, for those concerned about privacy issues.)

Oh, Go Felt A Snake!!

I've been trying to find some really cool felted hair thingies, but can't quite find what I'm looking for...What to do? Well, make them myself, I'm sure! So, I've been researching the topic of felting to learn more about it and have found the coolest site with lots of great tutorials.
I thought I'd share it: Woolcrafting... and the portion that I'm most intrigued with, Learning to Make Felted Snakes. It's this technique that I will have to master in order to make my envisioned hair-thingies:)
If I ever get around to actually making them, I will show them off!

Crochet Some Hearts...

Grandma taught me to crochet when I was young, and I caught on but didn't have the attention span to finish anything (just like when mom tried to teach me to quilt - I still have the almost finished piece mounted in a wooden frame). I have been thinking that I'd like to learn to knit and re-learn to crochet with wool, so I can experiment with felting.
I ran across these directions. Maybe I'll find that old needle lying around somewhere:)

Kaki King - Langerado, 2005

So, driving home from work tonight, listening to KFOG on the radio, I hear this beautiful song being played. The guitarist is Kaki King, whom I've never heard of before. I make a mental note tha tI must check this guitarist out!
Of course, I head to YouTube, because I want to share...and I don't find the song the I was listening to ("Sad Americans"), but I see some amazing footage of this girl playing guitar in a very unusual style! WOW!

John Mayer - Message in a Bottle

Enjoy!

Craftzine.com blog: Shrink Your Trash

Craftzine.com blog: Shrink Your Trash
DIY Shrinky Dinks
DIY Shrinky Dink Jewelry - About.com Teen Fashion

Here's are some great articles I found while trying to find some Shrinky Dinks for my next "fused glass" project with kindergartners and first graders. Cool idea that I'll have to check out when I have a little more time:)

And one more awesome and inspiring blog:
Dabbled - Experiments in Art, Craft & Food. Make rings, suncatchers, wine glass markers, and learn all about sealing your creations!

Mosaic for a Cause...

will be taking place Saturday, April 12th (1:30pm-5pm workshop)

and Sunday, April 13th (10am-12pm option to grout in studio) at M.Mitcavish Glass Studio, 68 Coombs St. Studio O1, Napa, CA 94559 (www.mitcavish.net)
The workshop will be taught by Marisa Casa.

The cost for the workshop/fundraiser is $50, and is tax-deductible.
In this mosaic workshop, you will learn:

• Types of Tesserae
• Tools and Protective Equipment
• Cutting Techniques
• Design Techniques
• Adhesion Techniques
• Grouting
• Workspace Setup & Organization

Come meet new people, start a new hobby, and donate to a worthy cause!

They're Always After Me Lucky Charms!!!

The California Crafters Club of Etsy (CCCOE) is proud to present the entries in their February challenge under the topic of “LUCKY CHARMS”.

Now it’s your turn to judge which one is the best. Polls open until midnight Thu., March 7. See below for this month's prize, 10% off in the list of shops AND a spot in one of our treasuries beginning March 8.

Click through the list or see them all in one place here

Rules:
1. Post your vote here.
2. Chat as you wish but vote only once!

Here is the list of entrants, or you can click on this link to see them all in one place
http://quirkynberkeley.blogspot.com/2008/03/cccoe-february-challenge-entries-lucky.html

1. Spirit Charm - OOAK by PalleikoDesigns

2. Lucky Charm Magic Wand by NeedleWorks

3. Good Karma charm bracelet by ElenaMary

4. Lucky Fish Necklace by luchi

5. Land of the Leprechauns by RedBessBonney

6. Super lucky button horseshoe earrings by AlliesAdornments

7. Chinese Animal Lucky Charms by Wumpus

8. Shamrock is the new Black by Tresijas

9. Lucky Little Snot Mens Handkerchiefs Set by Knittergirl

10. Larry the Lucky Llama by visionquest

11. Elephants for luck by QuirkynBerkeley

12. Lucky in love!! by mycatlulu

Lucky number 13!!!
Lucky Charms by CalyxAnn

14. Jinx the Lucky Cat by buttercupbloom

15. Gilbert and George's Lucky Origami Peace Cranes
by Nancy McNally aka localcolorist

16. Broadway Cricket Struts Her Stuff Down 42nd Street by peggradyart

17. February Birthstone Pendant by Marie Julie

18. Silk Drawstring Tarot Card Bag by Oceanavesilks

19. Feeling Centered and Lucky Necklace by AmandaKLockrowJewels

20. Lucky Minx Scarf by phydeaux

21. She has an Irish Brogue by Onyx of Treslocas

22. Luck of the Irish by anniek

23. abstract lucky charm 4 leaf clover pendant

Each voter is eligible for a 10% discount off entire purchase from the following shops during the week of March 8 through 14. We will also feature voters in a treasury. We cannot notify you individually due to site rules, but start looking for the CCCOE treasuries starting on March 8.

Keep your eyes on this list as more shops may be added during the week of voting.

http://CalyxAnn.etsy.com	http://Shellmitchell.etsy.com
http://Ohmay.etsy.com	http://Knittergirl.etsy.com
http://annieKdesigns.etsy.com	http://prairieprimitives.etsy.com
http://sandysimone.etsy.com	http://thevintagejewelrybox.etsy.com
http://cigarboxbeads.etsy.com	http://prettycheap.etsy.com
http://needleworks.etsy.com	http://laurenbacchus.etsy.com
http://Elenamary.etsy.com	http://KimzVisionz.etsy.com
http://suchandsort.etsy.com	http://senoritasoto.etsy.com
http://JMCdesigns.etsy.com	http://Phydeaux.etsy.com
http://quirkynberkeley.etsy.com	http://localcolorist.etsy.com
http://peggradyart.etsy.com	http://buttercupbloom.etsy.com
http://redbessbonney.etsy.com	http://visionquest.etsy.com
http://tresijas.etsy.com	http://treslocas.etsy.com
http://Blackbird72.etsy.com	http://Yolandasclay.etsy.com
http://Mycatlulu.etsy.com	http://Luchi.etsy.com
http://AmandaKLockrowJewels.etsy.com	http://alliesadornments.etsy.com
http://palleikodesigns.etsy.com	http://combustionglassworks.etsy.com
http://designsbymariejulie.etsy.com	http://oceanavesilks.etsy.com

Jack Johnson and Ben Harper - Gone

Yowsers! Hot, hot, hot! Two of my all-time favorite guitarists/singer/songwriters on the same stage playing such a meaningful and soulful song. Just listen to that slide guitar, too! What a find!

Miss Carrie's Stained Glass....

I've almost finished my leaded stained glass piece to match the stained glass project that I did with the kindergarten and first graders at Salvador and McPherson Schools. I was able to grind, lead, solder, and putty all in one three hour period! Then, I polished it up for the final clean, the next day. Now, I just need to solder some hangers on it, so it can hang from my window, instead of sitting on the overpopulated windowsill!

Ivan Chan - "Out on a Limb"

Out on a Limb, oil on canvas, 36" x 12" NFS, originally uploaded by Ivan Chan Studio.

oil on canvas, 36" x 12" (NFS)

It is our intentions that take us where we will go, and even if it seems accidental to find oneself on the edge, it is no less purposeful.

What do we learn, and what do we offer, when we climb out on a limb?

I learned--and offered--my willingness to leap.

Thought that I'd share with you today one of my favorite Californian artists, Ivan Chan.
I love his "Here Kitty Series," a series of halo-ed cats caught in contemplation.
His technique consists of fingerpainting with non-toxic, professional grade paints.
Read his bio, here.
Check out his blog, here.
See more of his work, here.

Gary Jules - "Mad World"

Ingrid Michaelson - "The Way I Am"

Postmodern Venus by Madelyn Smoak

PostmodernVenus, originally uploaded by MadArtjewelry.

I just found an awesome new-to-me metal artist! Wow! You've got to check out some of her work!
Check out her shop, here!

Steel Cut Oatmeal

I've found the yummiest steel cut oatmeal recipe at VeganYumYum:

I've been substituting coconut oil for the margarine, and I think it adds to the flavor. Also, instead of sugar, I use 1/4 tsp of blackstrap molasses and 2 tsp of maple syrup. Enjoy!

Apple Cinnamon Steel-Cut Oatmeal

Serves One Hearty Breakfast Portion, Two Petite Portions

2 tsp Non-Hydrogenated Vegan Margarine
1/2 Cup Steel Cut Oats
1 1/2 Cups Hot water
1/4 tsp Cinnamon
1 Pinch Salt
1/2 Cooking Apple, diced
1/4 Cup Soy, Oat, or Nut Milk
1-2 tsp Brown Sugar (or regular sugar with a small drizzle of molasses)
1 Tiny Pinch Nutmeg, optional

Heat margarine in a small sauce pot that has a tight fitting lid. Add oats and toast them for 1-2 minutes, until fragrant. Add cinnamon and salt, stir well. Stir in hot water and bring to a brisk boil. Cover and turn down heat. After 15 minutes, add apple, milk, and sugar and stir. Cook for another 5 minutes uncovered, stirring occasionally.

If after 5 minutes you’d prefer your oatmeal to be thicker, cover and turn off heat and let sit for an additional 5-10 minutes. This gives the oats a chance to absorb more liquid without running the risk of burning the oatmeal. Also, the oatmeal at this point is approximately the temperature of magma, so you might as well let it cool down a bit before you dig in.

If you feel like dressing up your oatmeal, drizzle it with a small amount of molasses and a pinch of nutmeg, or sprinkle it with additional brown sugar, or add a fresh apple slice or two to the top.

The Importance of Eating Organic...

I felt the need to share this with everyone that I could!

CHILDREN FED NON-ORGANIC FOOD HAVE PESTICIDES IN THE URINE
A new peer-reviewed study found levels of nerve-gas like pesticides in the bodies of children who eat conventional foods. Researchers found that if a child switched to an organic diet, the pesticide disappeared from the child's urine within 36 hours. Organophosphates were designed during WWII specifically to kill humans and later evolved into commonly used pesticides for food crops. The study has not yet linked the pesticide levels to specific foods, but other studies have shown peaches, apples, sweet bell peppers, nectarines, strawberries and cherries are among those that most frequently have detectable levels of pesticides.

Read more about it here.

Art Integration Program at Salvador Elementary....

We've finished our first project! Yea!! The kids worked very diligently and are ecstatic to have finished pieces! I got the design for this project from Hands On Crafts for Kids.

Stained "Glass" Windows with theKindergarten/First Grade Class

I took the kids through the actual stained glass procedure. First, we made templates of each of the shapes. "What shapes do you see?"
Then, we traced around the templates on tissue paper (our surrogate glass). "How many of each shape do you need?"

Stained "Glass" Windows with First Grade Class

After all of our pieces were traced and cut, we glued the tissue paper onto waxed paper, using our pattern as a guide.
Finally, we put borders on both sides of the piece so it can be viewed from the front or the back!

So, it's time for me to get ready for the next big project!
Nipping glass while watching Aragon.

Hmm...mental note to make sure the kindergartners know they should wear shoes...
I did shoot glass on the carpet, but I think I cleaned it up well.
Most of the glass that I had access to for this project is transparent or translucent, so for the first class, we used crayons to color our base pieces. We're almost ready to grout already! I really love how these pieces are coming along so far.

Glass Mosaic with the First Graders

Some of the kids worked on mosaics with me in the afterschool program last semester, so they zipped right through this project. They really loved the addition of the colored picture beneath the glass.

Yael Naim - New Soul

I'm a new soul, I came to this strange world,
hoping I could learn a bit about how to give and take.
But, since I came here,
felt the joy and the fear,
finding myself making every possible mistake.

la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la...

I'm a young soul in this very strange world,
hoping I could learn a bit about what is true and fake.
But, why all this hate?
Try to communicate.
Finding trust and love is not always easy to make.

la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la...

This is a happy end, 'cause you don't understand,
everything you have done. Why's everything so wrong?

This is a happy end. Come and give me your hand, I'll take your far away.

[Refrain]:
I'm a new soul, I came to this strange world
hoping I could learn a bit about how to give and take.
But, since I came here, felt the joy and the fear,
finding myself making every possible mistake.

la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la...

la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la....

You! Promote here....

So, wow! What a long list! And thank you for that:)

and Here, too!

My new slogan...

I love this one! From Sloganizer.net:

The goddess made CalyxAnn.