Squashed paper flags for Memorial day @WBCL

I keep trying to do something a little different to stretch the kids' (and parents) imaginations and skills while using the wonderful donated materials I continue to receive. For this project we used an A5 envelope and red & blue streamers. First they drew the American flag--yes it has 13 stripes and a square on the LEFT. they tore the streamers into pieces about 1 1/2" long and made piles of paper wads. They then dabbed on glue and squashed the paper wads into place. They were supposed to leave spaces in the blue are to represent stars--that was hard for some of them as they just would rather have had white to squash up. In all though it was a great time doing this one.

Drawing and Painting Pumpkins @ WBCL

What a fun project and everyone was able to draw a grouping of pumpkins and gourds then paint them and take home a finished project. We used cardboard from shipping boxes as our surface and drew with chalk until we had the composition how we wanted it. Amazing that they we quick and great shapes.


Everyone used acrylic paints and a variety of techniques to complete the paintings. It did take a bit longer to complete but was well worth the effort.

The Drawing and Painting group meets at the Wells Branch Community Library every month on the 3rd Sunday and is taught by Dianne Koehler. The program lets teens and adults try out their artistic abilities.

You may also want to take a look at the new Art & crafts database the library recently subscribed to for the patrons. check  the library website for details.

HOTT Tole Month display at Wells Branch Library

What a fantastic variety of handpainted/tole painted items the members of HOTT (Heart of Texas Tolers) are sharing with the public in this display. The top shelf is devoted to holiday items from the bunny thru many Santas and great pumpkins. Peggy really outdid herself on the paper mache as the basket even includes mini vegatables. Many of the items on display are from classes that have been offered during monthly meetings or at special seminars.
Thanks to Wendy Watson, Marie Welsch, Peggy Ashmore and Dianne Koehler for items in this year's display. When I was putting the display together on Saturday several people stopped to look and ask questions. What a great way to share our passion!The display will be in the cases for a few weeks--mid October through early November at the Wells Branch Community Library. A selection of books on painting that can be checked out is also part of the display.
The panda box on the bottom shelf is one of our Memory boxes for the North Austin hospital's berevement program. HOTT members paint and donate more than 40 boxes per year for use in the program that supplies parents who loose a newborn with a box for their memories to help with the grief.

Art camp day 2 painting t's, quilting & paper weaving

We were so busy that I got no pictures during the day. We looked at lots of quilt examples and examined the embroidered and 9 patch quilt I brought. Each one of the campers sewed a single block and learned how they join together to make a quilt. Most of the campers had never held a needle (including one of the assistants) but that didn't stop them. We went on from quilting to paper weaving using old bookmarks we cut into strips. The concept of alternating strips is hard to explain but once the kids began to see the "over and under" "make them alternate" method, we had a pretty good time. I have to say that the desire to make the strips match was hard to overcome for some of them.
We painted T-shirts using a variety of tools--sponges and stamps, stencils and sponge brushes. Each person decided on their own design and colors and off they went. My plan was to use the fabric medium--never happened. We did finish some of the designs off with glitter paints which is always popular. My assistants did their shirts the night before to have an example to model.

The 1/2 day art camps are at the Wells Branch Community Library.

Making visors for July 4th involves stars

So what happens when you put out a pile of visors, stars, glitter and glue and mix it with a room full of kids and parents? Wonderful glittery sparkely visors, of course! I am not sure what they liked more--making the visors or modeling them for the picture. We had 34 visors and used every one of them. Now on to the next project. Is there anything this group will not like this summer????