Tomatoes!!!

I hope my friends like garden fresh organically grown tomatoes... 'Cause I've got a whole bunch that are about to be ready for pickin'! These are the first ever full sized tomatoes I've grown. I'm so proud! Aren't they cute? :-) (I think I'm gonna be eating a lot of homemade salsa!)

Oh, I'm so tired... but what a nice day! :-)

First, when I got to work, I got the sweetest bouquet.

Then I drove to Volente Beach with three giggling 5th grade girls playing games on my iPhone in the backseat. I had a great time spending the day hanging out with my Safety Patrol team and even went on "The Taco" water slide again (and screamed so loud my voice got hoarse.



After work, I drove to North Austin to attend an Ebru workshop.

Nazli was SO patient with us. Her brushes were made from rose branches and horse hair. Her paints were all earth based. And look what I made! I asked her to help me make a carnation and she did. :-) Check out my masterpiece! haha

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Here's Jenifer's masterpiece. She made a Turkish Tulip.
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Last, the hostesses served us homemade Turkish treats and tea. Man, they were all delicious. What a great day! Ahhh.... now I am ready for beddy...

Another little artist and other stuff...

Oooo... I am down to just six more days of work. Four more this week, a three day weekend and two next week! (and Wednesday of this week, I am taking my Safety Patrol Team to Volente Beach!) Grading is complete and I am ready for summer break! (Could I use more exclamation points?!? haha)

For a couple of weeks early this summer I will be teaching a theatre class at my school (yay), and in July I will be performing at the City Theatre in a play (of which I will post more information about soon).

Anyway, I leave you with a little artist from one of my first grade classes. Have a great week, everyone!

-Misty

My Paisley Example

I thought it turned out pretty cute. :)

Who's the fairy-est of them all?

Here's a little drawing of me as a fairy that one of my first grade students made for me. (not sure if the other things are bees or birds) Awww.... :)

I'll be tired, but it will be worth it!

On Wednesday the 26th of May, I get to take my safety patrol group on a field trip to Volente Beach. That evening, I get to attend an 'Ebru- Art of Marbling' workshop. I am so excited that they added an extra class.

Doesn't this sound fun?

Introduction
One of the most unique and beautiful forms of Turkish art is Ebru, or water marbling. Ebru is formed by drawing designs with dye on top of water, and then carefully placing paper on the surface of the water in order to absorb the dye. The earliest examples of Ebru are found in the Topkapi Palace in Istanbul, and are dated 1539, but the detail and quality of the work suggests that Ebru was present long before that time in the Ottoman Empire. Ebru has traditionally been rarely signed, and therefore many great artworks remain unnamed. Modern day students may study for more than 10 years before being considered master marblers, learning how to make the perfect dye, water bath, and design. Since each dye bath can only be transferred to paper once, every original piece of Ebru is unique.

Overview
A basic Ebru Class with instructor Nazli Cizmeci. Nazli has Masters Degree in Textile Education from Marmara University in Istanbul. The will consist of one hour of introduction followed by hands-on training, and tasty Turkish treats. Come and join this joyful experience.

Can't believe it took me so long

to teach a lesson involving goldfish. ;-) These fourth grade projects turned out great! I have my annual Fine Arts Night Program tomorrow night. Free to anyone interested, fourth grade choir is doing musical numbers from Grease, Hairspray, and Wicked. Frito pie and drinks will be served to all in attendance and then I will have a student artwork gallery walk, and three art stations for kids, parents, etc. to make some artwork. Stations will include collage, water color, and food sculpture. Thursday night at Boone from 5:30pm - 6:45pm . (PS- I can't wait until the weekend... lol)

Upon seeing this...

at the nursery this morning, did I:

a. say "Woah!" in a low voice

b. say "Hmmm..." in a normal and bored voice

c. say "Eeeee..... Hee-Hee!!!" in a high-pitched voice that offended nearby dogs (and people probably)

Little Cards

Here are some new little hand-painted business cards! Next on my list..., post some artwork on Etsy, and take Monday off to spend with Mr. Spotbear and read.

Inspired by the wonderful things I see, have and want in my life...

I've been doing some thinking about the artwork that I have been creating lately. It is very different from my work over the past 20 years. What caused me to reflect on this was a video that my sister posted of a song that was stuck in her head. The song was 'Eet' by Regina Spektor. I also liked the song right away and got from the song a feeling of being disconnected from something that you once loved, a person, place or time in your life. I felt like the song was an expression of trying to reconnect with that feeling. After watching the video, I clicked on the video for 'Fidelity,' another song by Regina Spektor that I already knew and liked but had not given much thought to. In fact, most often I had seen it used as a breakup song. After seeing the video, I liked the song even more. It seemed to me to be about a woman who had always closed herself off to life and love, to protect herself. After meeting this person, the door to seeing all of the beautiful colors/things/possibilities was now open to her. She may still be with him and she may not, but the thought of her life ever going back to that cold, colorless, protected place ever again, breaks her heart.
All of my paintings, up until the last few months have had the color black in them somewhere. They were almost always dark, I guess even a commentary on how the world had seemed to be for me so far. Now, all I want to do is try to show all of the beautiful colors that I still see everyday, everywhere. I know that my life will never go back to the way it was before, and that makes me smile - and apparently want to paint a LOT! :) <3

PS- I'm going to be in a play this summer, yikes! Ok, fine, whatever... I'm excited. Haha!