Summer Flower Crowns

Oh, oh, oh, the joys of summer do delight! We have been holding class outside under the Cherry Tree and the Great Douglas Fir. We hide from the strong sun in dappled light, we bake cinnamon buns, a big favorite this season, and make art. We are surrounded by the blooming garden of flowers, herbs and berries. 

Each season we make crowns, this summer we celebrated the garden. Summer Flower Crowns. Lovely.
Happy Summer.

Shibori Detail

With the temperatures in the 80's, we have kept the dye vats going. Our Friday class finished their flags and I thought it would be fun for you to see a detail of all of their work. The different patterns that emerge are always pleasing and interesting to the eye. Here is just a  peek at a few details.

Long May They Wave

I almost did not get a photo of these before they flew away to their new homes. Two of my students have a new playhouse their grandpa built for them. I have been told they will decorate their new abode. Others have plans for camp sites, bedroom walls and one intends to festoon her bicycle basket with her new banner!

Summer Is Here

Summer hits full force after July 4th in these parts. I was hoping for a task that kept us in the shade and kept us cool. I remember learning how to tie dye in summer school. The day was hot, but the dye vats were cool and the hose was out and we used it to rinse out our projects and each other...

It was much like that day this morning, dye vats, sticks for stirring and lots of cool water. I hope these little ones look back fondly at this day, the way I do. 

The best part is unraveling your rubber banded mess to see what you made!

Here are the finished magnets, ready to go home. These were fun to make, easy and big hit.

Cinnamon Buns

As a treat, we made Cinnamon Buns in class this week. Not only were the children happy to follow every instruction very carefully, they were extremely pleased with their results. I'm sure there is a quiet lesson in that...Truth be told, I am quite impressed by my wee bakers.

Summer 2014

Oh, my. Why, why have I been gone so long? Life. Mostly. New roads with quick endings, old roads with the same endings. All along, I have been teaching art to wee ones. I will be sharing all that we do, and we do so very much.

Here is our Facebook link:

https://www.facebook.com/AlbertaArtClasses?ref_type=bookmark

This summer I am doing classes three days a week, we sing, we move a little, we bake a little and then we start a good long session of doing. Lately we have been immersed in clay modeling. I keep trying to introduce something else, but the children are engaged and happy and so creative, I do not have the heart to interrupt their flow.

All classes are held in NE Portland, Oregon and all classes are Pay What You Can Afford. 

A few of the mothers of my small students have requested a simple sewing class and craft class for adults. I will announce that schedule soon. 

Art Saves Lives

Adult Classes

The First Pillow

A Second

 Pillow

A Beautiful Bag Was Made Too!

The Cutest Quilt In The World!

A Little Hand Embroidery Makes It Better

Did you know that Alberta Art Classes has offerings for adults as well? We are also open to bartering services, being Pay What You Can Afford and all...

I am presently bartering ukulele lessons for sewing lessons. My student started with a small quilt style pillow in which I cut the squares and helped her along. The first pillow is that cute green number!

The next week, another pillow was in order for a gift. This time, she did nearly all of the work herself with only moderate supervision. The company is nice too. Like a Sewing Circle.

All of that sewing inspired me. I pulled out some cute Liberty of London fabric I have been saving, clearly for this project...I stitched this quick baby quilt. It came together like a breeze. I took this as sign that this will be a good, well behaved babykins. I wasn't too worried about perfection in this case, as it will have lots of spit up and the like on it. I wanted the new mama to be able to throw it into the washer and not have to be too fussy about it. I like it. I think it came out really cute.