"Today will give you strength for all your tomorrows"

Our Family Efforts aid Family Grieving

Yesterday was tough as thoughts of my own parents passing overcame me... A day before, I had asked Jacob to do a pastel drawing in memory of our family member's death so somehow it would help the immediate members of the family cope. I'm sure you'll agree ---that what he created was absolutely beautiful!

His drawing inspired the words I wrote and once framed...it worked its magic on the family.

Paper Mache the old fashioned way..!

Not just any old mask...this one has a mechanical component, an arm piece and red battery-operated eyes!

 No Modge Podge™ for my grandson, he prefers tearing newspaper and using flour and water. Every once in awhile, Jacob will pick up these items and begin a project. Lately, he’s been making masks and helmets.   

Enjoy!

1st version of a Roman Helmet!

Top mask enhanced: One can never have too much blood!

Creative journal cover with a touch of recycling

This picture of Jacob was taken this summer...His voice is not as high-pitched anymore and he's taller and super skinny, but his creative genes are as always...on the rise! Earlier this week, his 7th grade teacher told him that if he kept his grades up he would be able to paint a wall in the school hallway! He is sooooooo stoked and already thinking what he is going to paint!! Woot! Woot!

As promised, here is a creative take on covering a composition book my grandson needed for school. He cut off straps from an old helmet he no longer needed and stapled one on both front and back covers. This way his journal had a secure closure. He wanted duct tape to cover the spine and most of the staples, but I only had green colored tape...so he improvised. He added some doodling and a patch that he enhanced with his red permanent marker.

 

 

Front Journal Cover

Back Cover - Mini Ladder Man lost his ladder in an apparent free fall!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Artists run in my family!!

Presenting my grandson Jacob!

When this little guy was only 5...he saw me binding a book and he asked if I could teach him how to bind his book. He had been drawing a bunch of faces...one on each page. After I glanced over to see what he was drawing...I asked him a question, "Jacob, what is the name of your book?" He said, "What face am I ?" I simply fell in love with his thought process. He and I worked a bit more on the book and some day...we should self-publish it. I can't wait...

He's, now, actually very close to turning 13, but at the time he started wearing-out his pastels and creating colorfully when he was only 8!! Here are a few of his drawings at age 8... I hope you like them as much as I love them. Creativity abound!! He makes me so proud.

Tomorrow I'll show you a journal he made for a class assignment...naturally it couldn't be just plain! Not my grand kid!! LOL! 

Enjoy!

How-to-Make: Yummy Yarn Tote

Gee, I've missed showing my fun art projects. Here's a neat yarn tote that I made to hold all those skeins that lay neglected in plastic bags from the store. I thought it would be fun to store them in one of my favorite prints. All it took was a couple of fat quarters from Joann's on sale, some scraps from other projects, a bit of Velcro and super-duper straight-stitching... I even made a thin pocket for my needles. To make it sturdy, I cut out a round-circle of cardboard and covered it with fabric (you can also add cotton and give it a soft bottom) then I stuck it inside. Cool, it stands up all by itself! You can cut the cardboard into a square or circle...it's your choice. For the top of the tote, stitch a hem about 1 1/2 inches deep and then slice a bit of the fabric and pull some of your own yarn through it for the closing tie or use ribbon. 

You can sew this tote in any shape you want. I believe in quick & easy, so I played it by ear and this is what came out. If you aren't creative enough to wing it...make a pattern and use it as a guide to cut your fabric. 

Now start knitting or crocheting something fabulous!!

Cost to make: <$3.00

Handmade ensures lasting memories!