You say, "Ninja Star!" I say, "Origami!"...

Kyle and I are homeschooling this year. When this semester began, I announced that we would make a more concerted effort to include art in our days. This was met with a big, theatrical sigh. Kyle loves art, but he is 10, so the sigh was not a surprise. Our first week back, he made himself a reptile and mythical creature journal (melt my heart) and this week, he is making "ninja stars" that transform into the wreath shape you see above (so enemies are unsuspecting that you have a deadly weapon in your pocket). Ok Ky - you want to make weapons out of my floral and patterned, many-colored origami papers? And you want to do this for hours? You win...no art, only weapons today. 

I have been making journals like crazy these past two weeks - just haven't been photographing them for some reason. There are fresh batches of my books at The Novel Neighbor, Flowers to the People and Maven. 

Happy Weekend! xo

zentangling + atcs

I love zentangling (the process and the word itself!). Today I'm working on my kids' party agenda (my business opens in six days...hooray!) and I wondered if zentangling on a full sheet of card stock to then cut into artist trading cards would be a fun idea.

Using regular cardstock and a felt-tip marker, I started with hearts, on purpose because I'm going to paint those (traditional zen tangling wouldn't start with a graphic, but I'm thinking kid-friendly).

Then I divided the page into segments. (See my pen pointing to an imperfection? It never matters...)

Next, I started filling in (doodling)...

And filling in some more...

When my shading was done, I painted in my hearts (next time, I'll use colored pencils for better texture).

I cut the page into artist trading cards (2 1/2 x 3 1/2) for someone else to finish.

Yes this was very fun! But no, I wouldn't include this in a party because it takes a really long time to complete. This would be a great project to send home with someone. It will definitely be on my list when my kids are home for the holidays. The process is indeed meditative.

Are you interested in trying it? The shading takes a bit of time, but many people zentangle with just a ball point pen and do little to no shading - check out these! Usually, when I make a zentangle, I have a much smaller piece of paper (half of a junk mail envelope for instance) where I scribble while something is cooking, or while waiting for soccer practice to end. You can make a 1 inch x 1 inch zentangle!

For artist trading cards, I'd just start with a card and keep the design small - this way it takes fewer than 10 minutes to complete. 

Ahhhhhh....there are plenty of how-to videos about zentangling on youtube. Just be careful - they can be hypnotizing. Happy Tuesday! xo

Teaching children about phototropism

Phototropism is when plants follow their light source. Sunflowers are known for it, but if you're interested, here's a super easy way to witness it firsthand with your kids. First, buy a small pot of oxalis or "false shamrock" - it's easy to find. Plant it in a pot that's a bit too big, because these plants, while beautiful at home, are actually weeds and will grow as such.

See these great flowers? But (sigh) they're facing the wrong way, and I only have the word "bloom" on one side. Mark your pot easily with an "x" or fun word, or with a complete work of art on one side only.

What gorgeous blooms...if only they would face us!

When the day is done, notice how the flowers close for the night.

Now turn your pot around so that your artwork/word side is facing out, and your blooms are facing in. (The blooms are facing in...it's just hard to see here.) And go to sleep!

Viola! When you wake up, your flowers will have turned to face the morning sun, and your plant now can be photographed with your beautiful pot!

But of course, they'll turn again as soon as your turn your word/artwork back to face you. Oh well!

Parents - this is a sure thing! The flowers will always turn, and kids who are interested in this phenomenon will always be delighted to see that their flowers have changed direction! Oxalis also is a great plant to have for all of you who claim to not have a green thumb. It is so prolific and it blooms year round.