ACT BOLD AND MIGHTY FORCES WILL COME TO YOUR AID.

That is Lance and I's favorite quote. It is what motivated us to first move to Kauai and for me to start doing art again......

On Wednesday my DH took me for a motorcycle ride. We only went up the road a few miles and then back home. I hadn't been on a motorcycle in over 30 years. It was scary! I had to pay attention and hold on tight. My hands went numb and I was sure I was going to splat all over the pavement. My back ached from trying to keep myself upright. ....So today my DH wanted to go on another ride - this time all the way to Lihue (about 40 minutes) and back. I didn't want to go...I pleaded, made up lots of excuses - it was just too nerve racking the time before. But he conned an d cajoled me into it anyway, and I reluctantly went. I tried not to think about my fears and apprehensions - and after a while I found myself daydreaming, getting lost in my thoughts, watching the clouds whip by as a domed reflection in his black helmet. It was a GLORIOUS day. It rained a bit, a cool refreshing rain, and over the course of the ride, there were 3 (yes THREE!) beautiful rainbows, cobalt blue ocean and white ginger fragrancing our path. We stopped for lattes at Starbucks and headed back home. It was an incredible ride, totally exhilarating! We hope to make it an early morning Sunday tradition!

It was a lesson for me - I don 't like risk and and I especially don't like stepping out of my comfort zone -

But the rewards of acting bold can be so worth it!

Tomorrow is mow day. Back to the grindstone!

Digital Photos - don't look if you don't like naked

I have been playing with Paint Shop Pro. I have paint shop pro 7 and decided to upgrade to 10. But 10 is not similar enough to 7 for me to be able to figure it out. it came with a book - but i prefer to navigate on my own, crash get lost and eventually, out of desperation, i will ask for help. For now, i have just gone back to Paint Shop Pro 7, because it will do what i want it to do. So much for upgrades. Here are 2 digitally altered photos - my style of course!

This one is called "moonlit butte"


...and this one is "3 moons at dawn"
I am going to print this one out and try to paint it!

I'm home ...and some exciting news......

I'm home - finally! I spent the last 10 days at my dear dad's house. Together with two of my sisters, my nephew and his girlfriend, we moved the packed boxes of my mom's memorabilia and collectibles into storage. We also cleared the clutter and cleaned my dad's house so he can now put the house on the market. He has found a wonderful "air force" retirement village in Fairview near Travis Air Force base. It is a gorgeous place with an incredible restaurant and lots of things for him to do.

....on another note, remember that PMC Extruder contest I entered? Well PMC Supply emailed me that they were not announcing the winners until Oct 3rd, when the winning pieces would be pictured in Art Jewelry magazine. Well the 3rd came and went and I heard nothing. So I figured since they hadn't emailed me anything, I didn't win. Also, my DH said nothing came for me from PMC Supply. (I was expecting at least my piece to be returned to me) I went to several places in LA to try and find the magazine, but i wasn't successful. When I came home today, I found a small package from PMC Supply. It was my returned spider (thanks for the info, dear husband!) ...with I note -

I WON FIRST PRIZE! $300 in supplies from PMC SUPPLY) and...

I'm NOW PUBLISHED!

I am so excited! I still haven't found the magazine, but I will go to Borders tomorrow....

Here's the pic they sent me on a disc:

FLYING GECKO...more adventures with my wild and crazy DH

CH701 "STOL Aircraft" (short take off/landing)

Various pics of the plane we want that others have built
My DH has recently become interested in a small sport aircraft you build yourself. (yes, the motorcycle mania has worn off - on to newer and more dangerous things...who'd have thought?)It seats 2, is all aluminum can take off in 50 ft, land in 90 ft and cruises at 90 MPH. It also has an emergency parachute that brings the plane down at 10 MPH. It requires a "sports" pilot license, which is 20 hrs instead of the usual 40, plus ground school. He had decided he would wait until we moved to the mainland to purchase the kit and to build it at the factory's Calif outlet/hangar, where they rent
you space and lend you the tools. ...and then.......

He tripped across this little beauty,
just newly built with only a few hours of flight time - it was in its beginning process of being certified. The talented gentleman and his wife, who built it, are forced to sell their baby for financial reasons. The wife is an artist and the idea of a "flying gecko" came to her in a dream. It is sold, but the seller informed us yesterday that the new owners still haven't paid for it, so the deal might fall through...
.........and if it does, the "Flying Gecko" (how appropriate for us is that?) will be ours!
Keep your fingers crossed!

The completed Project....

This is the finished purse for Lorri:

Front and Back


CLOSER....

....Side
Yeah! All done!

Jericho is over....and a project almost finished....

My job is finally coming to an end! Wednesday i prep for an all nighter 2nd unit shoot on Thursday into Friday. I should be done around 5 am Friday, and I have a 10 am plane to Sacramento. There I'll spend about 10 days with my dad, boxing up and photographing things of my moms. We're going to post all of my moms stuff on line so all of my sisters and my brother can decide what they would like to have. The rest I will pack and store.
....and then, i get to go home to my DH, our dog Chalupa, and my ART!
Yeah.
I have one more project due - one that my fiber artist friend Lorri Scott is sponsoring. Lorri asked for volunteers to take a packet of trims, buttons and fabrics that she has put together and is selling, and to turn them into a piece of art and then send it to her to use for her display at Art and Soul, etc, where she will be selling the packets. In return, she sent you a second packet to use for yourself, later. I was going to turn my packet into a doll, but my friend Joanne had already done that, so I decided to make a purse...something I've never made before. My biggest obstacle was that I was not at home, and I had no sewing machine in Los Angeles.

These are some of the elements in my packet. Actually the pic just shows some of the cut up leftovers from my project. I didn't have the sense to photograph the packet with all the pieces together and pretty before I started. There were also buttons, a beautiful piece of black etched silk, more trims and squares of black and white printed silk - but I used all of those pieces in making my project.

This is the purse lining, the pocket, side panels and the strap

...and this is the purse panel. The big eye is the front and the eye vines are the back. The center of the eyes all get swarovski crystals, but i haven't added those yet. There are swarovski crystals on both sides and lots of machine stitching.....yes, i couldn't stand it any longer, i broke down and bought a $75 "shark" sewing machine at Target. Whoever heard of Shark? But it has a 25 yr warranty and it worked just great. I'll leave it with my son for the next time I am in Los Angeles...I always seem to have a project that needs a sewing machine .... I'll probably put some pink embroidery on the front panel. Then the furry pink and black trim goes on the edges, and then i have to sew it all together....oh, and all of the eyes have crystal "tear" beads...as in laughing so hard they are crying..... Here's a close up of the back:
So as usual I sort of over complicated the project. DJ Pettitt makes it all look so easy - she can do one in less than a day! I, on the other hand mess it up and then have to improvise solutions to fix it, which make it more complicated and then when I'm satisfied I do something like use acetone to clean some glue which puts a purple spot on the black acetate, which i then I have stain black, but my black doesn't match the acetate's black, so then i embroider over it and when i iron it, i make a hole, so I add a striped patch, etc etc. Ever had a project that went like that? It just seems endless because I keep screwing it up.....
I will post the finished project as soon as (HAH) i finish it.

...time marches on....

My Uncle died last week. Friday was his funeral. My Uncle Bobby was one of my mom's younger brothers. Funny, I always thought he was wayyyy younger than my mom, but I guess they were just 4 years apart. He sure looked really young, even up to last year, when I saw him last, before he got sick. My mom always told the story of how Uncle Bobby returned from the war and his arm had been injured and was paralyzed and they wanted to cut it off - but she wouldn't let them. Low and behold, after her massaging it daily, several months later he was able to use his hand and arm again...not perfectly, but it worked.

Uncle Bobby was really really handsome. He was an impressive dancer and was full of the dickens. He and his older brother, Uncle Richard, loved to pinch our cheeks and say "ay, chula", and we always squirmed and made faces when they did it, but we loved it! He was also an amzing cook- no bar-b-que was complete unless Uncle Bobby had a hand in it!

I was only able to attend the Catholic mass part of his funeral, where his family was given plaques from the Knights of Columbus in honor of him. It was in a huge church - and the church was packed! Later, at the gravesite, he was given a 21 gun Salute, for his heroism in WWII.

He will be deeply missed.


Robert A. Maria
1926 - 2007

Robert A. Maria, 81, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, Sept. 5, 2007, at his home, surrounded by his loving family. His warm and generous spirit will be missed by all who knew him.
Bobby was born on April 4, 1926, in Oxnard, where he was a lifelong resident. Bobby's charm was legendary. As a young man, Bobby loved to dance. In 1944, Bobby was working as a longshoreman in Port Hueneme when he was drafted into the Army during World War II. He fought in the Pacific Campaign and at 18 received the Bronze Star in the battle for Okinawa and the Silver Star for heroism in the battles in Saipan. On June 14, 1945, he was awarded the Purple Heart for wounds received in action.
He worked 16 years for the Construction Laborers Union, Local 585 and retired after nearly 30 years as a longshoreman from the ILWU, Local 46 Port Hueneme.
Bobby met the love of his life, Angie Revelez, through a mutual friend. They were married at the Santa Barbara courthouse and spent 45 wonderful years together. Always sentimental, Bobby never lost track of how many years they had been married. He presented Angie with a rose for every year until she convinced him that she could not carry so many roses. Together, Bobby and Angie created a warm, loving home for their three children Michael, Richard and Monica.
Bobby was an active member of the Knights of Columbus in Oxnard for many years, donating much of his time to cooking for many events. He took great pride in his avocado and fruit trees. Always lucky, Bobby enjoyed gambling in downtown Las Vegas and Laughlin. Every week he bought his Lotto and scratcher tickets and usually won enough to keep him buying more. He was a loyal fan of University of Southern California football and a proud member of the neighborhood wine society.
Bobby Maria is survived by his loving wife, Angie Maria; children, Michelle Salinas (husband Buddy), Robert J. Maria (wife Dani), Michael Maria, Richard Maria (wife Cyndi) and Monica Torres (husband Francisco); grandchildren, Sean, Katrina, Serena, Robbie, Michelle, Robert, Billy, Alix, and Nicholas; 12 great-grandchildren; sisters Rose Duenez, Sally Bustamante, Alice Carswell, Josie Caudillo, and Kathy Romero; brothers Richard Maria and Peter Maria; and several nieces and nephews.
He will be dearly missed by his walking partner and mother-in-law, Julia Revelez, whom he fondly referred to as Mama.
Bobby was reunited in death with his beloved parents, Pete and Annie Maria; aunt, Josie Soto; sisters Betty Merrill and Maggie Rinaldo; brothers Frank Maria and Tony Espinoza; and cousin, Ray Padilla.
Visitation will be from noon to 6 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 13, at James A. Reardon-Payton Mortuary, 511 North A St., in Oxnard. Rosary will be recited at 7 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 13, at Santa Clara Catholic Church, 323 South E St., in Oxnard. Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Friday, Sept. 14, at Santa Clara Catholic Church in Oxnard, with burial immediately following at Santa Clara Cemetery.
Robert Maria's family would like to thank the offices of Dr. James Hornstein, Dr. Danny Lai and Dr. Rosemary McIntyre; Kathy Lenz and Yolanda Lopez of Livingston Memorial Visiting Nurse Association and Hospice. A special thanks to the Maria girls, the daughters of Frank Maria. Y gracias a Licha.

GET OUT THERE AND VOTE!!!!!

***VOTE****VOTE***VOTE****
voting ENDS 9/19/07.......that's WEDNESDAY!
My youngest son Skylar wrote a song for the Star 98.7 song writing contest, and he needs your vote! it's called "Long Distance" by Skylar Adams and this is the link to vote!
http://www.star987.com/pages/10kslcd/
or
http://www.star987.com/main.html
or you can put "star radio los angeles" into google and the website will come up. You can enter one time for each email address you have, and please feel free to pass on the info!
If you want to hear him singing his song, it is on page 22 of the contest website. I tried to upload it here, but i need help to figure that out so I'll try tomorrow.
....feel free to send this request to your entire email list - (i have no shame!)
Thank you for your vote!

L.A. weather SUCKS boulders....and a few "Up To The Deadline Projects" completed...

Well- the weather here in Los Angeles has been HOT HOT HOT! On Friday night, after a long day at work I came home to a dark and roasting house. The power was out and was not restored until late Sat afternoon. It was miserable - and I couldn't use my printer or scanner or wash clothes or iron. I could only go to the cool mall and shop and play with my computer at Starbuck's. ....heh, heh
- i am so spoiled..........

Work is still going. I'm on my last episode - so i should see the balmy shores of Kauai in about a month...3 weeks here and a week with my Dad. .....i can't wait.....LA is just NOT my city anymore - but I have had a blast with my son Sky.

I've been too tired to be inspired to do much artwork, but I had 2 "Carnivale Mystere" Tarot cards due - so here they are:




THE 4 OF BATONS

The 8 of Pentacles
...and these are my Skyline Houses. Basically they are all the same, just hand tinted different colors. The backs are hard to see, but they are cockroaches. I called them "Tacky Towers" as the street address.

Well, I've got a busy prep week ahead of me ....and then back to gun battles and blowing up things!


Fronts



The Back

Family Reunion and other such things.....

Sheesh! I can't believe it's been sooooo long since I posted!

Work is actually a lot of fun....the hours have been pretty good, but the work itself is intense. For those of you who don't know, i am working on the TV series Jericho.



Talk about coincidences - when I first arrived in LA I chose to fly into Burbank. My plane was delayed an hour. Then I went to pick up a rental car, but I accidently went to "preferred customer" Avis, instead of the rental area for ordinary folk like me. The girl said it was OK, she would get me the rental car anyway. Once in my car, I decided to put on some make-up so i wouldn't be a total slob when I went to meet my friend who was letting me stay in his house. Next to me I see a man getting in and out of the vehicle next to me. When he turns around - OH MY GAWD! It's my brother in law! It turns out he and my sister had flown in from Alabama for some convention in orange County my sister had to attend. I didn't even know they were going to be in town. ....a bit more than just a coincidence, I say........

Skylar ( who I called to come and join us), me, my brother in law Frank, and my sister Marianne at a spur of the moment quickie reunion dinner at In-N-Out.

Last weekend we had a family reunion in Oxnard, Ca. We had over 150 people attend, and it was a blast. We are a huge Mexican family, but instead of the usual Mexican fare, we went hawaiian luau instead. It was catered - but we all supplied salads, salsa's and tortillas. My family(Rinaldo), the Caudillo Family, and the Romero family, and the Cervantes', hosted it. We are the "out of towners" and it was our turn. There was a jolly jump for the kids, a pinata - of course, cake walk, water balloon throw, and bingo. There was also a silent auction, raffle baskets, and door prizes!

Vincent (mine), Jameson, Jeffrey, Skylar (mine), Dad, Francesca, Joshua, Allyson and Brittany.
Lord knows where Matthew wondered off to. Other Grandkids - Jennifer (having a baby TODAY!), Nicole and Jackie couldn't attend the picnic.

My moms sisters and brothers. Top row- Aunt Josie, Aunt Hedy. Bottom Row - Aunt Siba, Aunt Rose, Uncle Richard and Uncle Peter. Aunt Alice was there, but missed the picture. Uncle Bobby couldn't attend. My mom was one of 11 children.
I won a porcelain baby doll (door prize) and a wonderful "relaxation" basket, made by my cousin.
All 4 of my sisters and my brother were there as well as my Dad.....and my son Vincent brought his girlfriend, Christina, for me to meet.

Skylar, Me, Mikie and Vincent

Vincent and Christina
Later that evening we went over to my Aunt Alice's for dinner and a surprise 50th birthday party for my sister Teresa.

On Friday, my nephew Jameson and his girlfriend Lara joined me at work to watch the filming - it was their first time on a set and they got to see a more animated side of me.

Oh - PMC Supply also notified me that I was a finalist in their PMC extruder contest, and I sent them my PMC spider for the final judging. I still haven't heard yay or nay yet.

I have done zilch art work since coming to LA - so nothing to post - I have 3 projects coming due soon, so I need to get started.....it's hard to do when you are not in your regular art surroundings.....

Woohoo! good news!

I'm heading out to LA on Sat to start a new job on Monday. Of course it means i won't be spending two weeks with my Dad, or going to Tahoe or be in Hawaii when my dad comes to visit - and I'll miss my DH's birthday...but.... it's only for 2 months, so that part is perfect!
It also means I have to hustle on some art projects I have started - and ship the rest to LA to finish!
Also, I upgraded the resolution on the pics of my pmc projects if you want to see them better.
Yikes! now i have to finish them ASAP because I have no access to my kiln once I'm in LA!

Playing with PMC.....

I have been reworking the horse on my newest painting- I hated the layout. So I made the canvas bigger and moved the horse up - I think it's much more balanced now. Alas, no pics to show yet.
PMCsupply.com is having a contest using the Makins extruder and corer. The deadline was today. I just got mine a few days ago, but decided to try it out and see if I could come up with anything. I tested all the discs and the corers with polymer clay, just to see what the contraption could do. I was impressed - way cool. Then I tool out the PMC Clay I had recently purchased, and I went to town clayin'! I made square tubes and round tubes . I twisted some, left others straight. When they were dry I cut them up into little beads. Then I extruded some PMC using a thin slit disc. I texturized both sides and added some thin thin extruded squiggles.
I also used those tiny squiggles to make a birds nest. Lastly I have had an idea for a long time called Postitive ID.. It is a necklace with a thumbprint, an eye, a DNA dbl Helix strand, and some porcelain teeth. I finally figured out how to make Photo Polymer Plates that turn out right everytime I make them - yeah! personalized molds! I also tried out my tumbler to polish all of the silver in. That was so so....I need another pound of steel shot.
So here are my pieces. They really aren't finished, but they were done enough to send in the
pics for the contest. During the next week I will finish them for real. The pics are low pixels - sorry ! i have to get the better versions off my other computer...manana!

Swirl pendant

bird nest (same old same old, only this isn't wire)

Spider with a lampworked body, onyx head swarovski crystals a fine silver hallow textured legs.

Positive I.D. necklace. Thumprint and eye both need to be enameled. Indent in eye will be white and thumbprint will be black. I will also patina it with LOS. I will be adding more home made silver beads to complete the chain. The pic shows the beginnings of this.

Shibori tissue, fusings, Master Cleanse

ok here are the pics I promised. I call this "shibori tissue". It is made with techniques that my friend and very talented fiber artist, Lorri Scott, taught me at the kauai retreat, only i used tissue paper instead of silk. my examples turned out sort of glossy because the left over cheapo christmas wrap tissue paper i used had one side sort of waxy satin shiny. i liked it! i kept that side out when doing the process. I used these really cool metallic acrylic inks that I picked up - the colors are yummy- and thinned lumierre and acrylic paints. The pattern created looks like butterfly or dragonfly wing veining. It would be way cool for fairy wings, too.
here's a whole sheet

this is a close up. I used 4 layers of tissue to make one sheet - you need the extra tissue to give it strength. Note: when using metallic paints, the color goes thru, but not the metallic part. The left side is the non metallic side.

This is a sheet with acrylic glaze and fibers added. It's hard to see the pattern in this photo.
I made the shibori tissue for a technique swap i was in. Originally I wanted to use DJ's Pettitt fuse technique, with a variation of attaching the fibers and threads with bondaweb instead of tar gel. That part went well. But instead of tar gel I thought i was clever to use acrylic glaze medium. WRONG! When I went to fuse iron it, it wouldn't dry and stuck to the parchment paper. It did finally dry, and here is the result:

I wasn't thrilled with it. It would have been cut up into ATC sized pieces. This is a close up:
What an insult to DJ!So I made the shibori paper instead!

My present from my DH arrived - a beautiful heat press! Unfortunately they sent the protective platten covers separately. I couldn't use it because what i was using it for was very messy. The covers finally arrived on Friday. This is the first fusing of a painting I am working on. It is so easy to do! The tar gel fuses with the fabric and the paints and the painting becomes flat and smooth. You can throw anything on it - sequins, threads, fabric bits - most anything that is squashible. I will probably do three fusings, and then one final top paintjob. Then I will stitch all over it. This is a work in progress, and I will post as i progress.....
It is for my sister. She loves tulips and disneyland, so the castle is from a photo of the fantasy castle in Florida. It will get more flowers and a different fabric framing the picture. There is also a one legged rooster (a joke between her and I) a flying red horse (which is her) and a white owl (which is our mama). So I still have a lot of painting to go. But this layer was fused in my heat press and I LOVE that machine. SOOOOOOO much easier and more accurate than an iron. I got a Swingman heat press and the hot upper platten swings out so you can work flat. Way COOL!
This is a close up, first wash of color over line drawings. hmmmm. i may decide to turn it into a purse!

On another note - today is the 15th - the last - day of my Master Cleanse. It has been an experience - and I feel great - lots of energy! I never thought I'd make it that many days, but I had a lot of support from my DH. The next 2 days will be only fresh orange juice, then I add fresh fruits and vegetable soup......and then i can eat normal, but i need to take it slow. I also have been sleeping incredibly sound and have had amazing dreams. I feel very blissful.

I have also been working on little houses for the skyline swap - i'm still experimenting with what i am going to do, so i have nothing to show yet......

Master Cleanse and New Toys.....

Today I am on day 7 of a "Master Cleanse". Don't ask. My DH is a fabulous gourmet cook - and he does full course meals. Rich sauces, butter, lots of cheese. But alas, I feel like a slug on this type of diet. My brain turns to mush, exercise is difficult and my motivation to get anything done is non existent...and I feel bloated.
The cleanse is for 10 days, although you can do up to 20, and then you need to take 4 more days to come off of it slowly. It is based on a booklet by Stanley Burroughs. I am keeping a diary. I also joined a yahoo support group that gives you great feedback about what is going on in your body as it is ridding itself of toxins, and what to expect - what is normal and what is not. So far so good. Day 5 and Day 6, I got hungry. Otherwise I have not been. My DH still cooks for himself, and I like to smell it cooking - my sense of smell has become very sensitive and I love the aromas. He even puts away the leftovers and cleans the dishes so I won't have any temptations. I am so lucky!
Lately, because I needed to occupy myself (and stay away from the kitchen and refrigerator), I have done a lot of artwork - some backgrounds, some drawings, some experiments. I keep meaning to take pictures - but I haven't!
And my Anniversary presents arrived! I got a Swingman heat press woohoo! and an Omni II glass saw. They are both very easy to use and I have wanted them almost forever!
....but until I clear away the boxes I stacked into my glass area when I had company, I have no space to put them! ...(ay dios mio! manana!

New Art! New Job (maybe)

I have been pretty busy since Hana left, moping a lot, being morose about my mama and looking for a job.

Yep, it's that time of year. I always get very crazy and hate having to negotiate or say no to an employer or say yes, and then something better comes along. I've had several offers already, but nothing that has met my needs. Today i got a very promising and exciting possibility - so keep your fingers crossed for me - I'd really like to get this one!

I finally finished my Round 2 Diva Charms. Hallelujah! Here they are:

They are made from tiny wooden spools, swarovski crystals, mini dice and fine silver wire.

And I finally finished my first painting (since I was 10!). I had painted the bird and heliconia images and used that image in some mini charms, cards, etc, but had never finished it as a total painting. It has fabric and stitching on it, too. So here it is - it's 16 x 20. It incorporates many (ok - ALL!) of the techniques DJ taught me.


And this is my entry in the June "beach " Challenge lotto:


it's the 2nd in my "Morose Sisters" series. Sort of how I feel.
What else - I'm still working on my "tooth and nails" necklace. I decided to patina the silver and brass tooth components.
WRONG!
Really really ugly. So I am remaking them all. I used up all my silver, though, on my Diva Charms, so I ordered some more - Lord knows when it will arrive!
And I've started 2 more paintings.

And here's something silly - I love to take pictures of mouths and eyes and noses and other body parts. Hana is so expressive - what a cutie pie!

HAPPY HEAVENLY BIRTHDAY, MAMA!

2/22/22 (how magical!) - 6/09/06

Mama's favorite picture of herself.

Oh mama mama mama

where are you? Why aren't you concrete? When I was a little girl and felt lost or lonely,

I could crawl up on your lap, in desperation , so needy

and you were there, you were always there - reliable. dependable. accepting.

life was secure. .. content...and snug. the world was so much smaller ... and i fit in.

But you are gone. GONE! You are really, truly ....gone.

and still -

each night i wish i hope i pray that i will catch a glimpse, a moment , a tiny nano-tingle of your presence.

That I will see you, smell you, feel you, sense you in my dreams ... so real, so soothing.

once again you will calm me, comfort me and fill me with that love, that bliss, that only a mama can give.

i wake with such peace, such joy in my soul ... i beam! i soar! i radiate! I am silly giddy breathless.

the world is A-OK all right again.

reality sucks boulders.

Me and my Mom.

More pics with Hana.....

Sleeping Beauty
For the last two days, Hana has been all mine. We have played a lot of red light/green light (pink light, blue light, etc), hide 'n seek, fairies, as well as hikes, and more trips to the beach. We have chased the chickens and trawled the bookstore. Plus plenty of of hot chocolate with whipped cream. After play each day, Hana has been ready for what she calls "art party", where we stay up late and "do art". We made lots of jewelry and drawings. Remembering the terrific project Angie made with Max, we made this terrific stuffed doll.
This is a drawing Hana made that I transferred to fabric and made into a doll for her. Didn't it turn out wonderful?...and it was fast - took about half an hour - she drew it, I copied it to transfer paper, ironed it onto a piece of old white sheet and then we stuffed it. I sewed the stuff hole shut and sewed on the whiskers and the tail detail. VOILA! instant stuffed cat doll!

Grandpa let Hana drive the tractor

Washing the car - yeah, right!

Kisses with Chalupa
Tomorrow Hana and her mom and dad go home. I will miss her!