Sunday, May 31, 2009

Amelia-isms




Scene: Driving up to Chicago. 

Amelia: Do they have bathrooms there?
Me: Where?
Amelia: In Chicago.
Me: Yes.
Amelia: Good because I will have to go sometime.

Mother like daughter, we like to think and plan ahead.

Photo: It's fun to stay in hotels because Pops let's us jump on the beds!

Wednesday, May 27, 2009

University City Lion - working hard


I've been working hard on the lion, I finished putting the pages on the face and ears last night. I was laughing to myself last week when I was decoupaging the lion's penis and balls, it really cracked me up!

Memorial weekend in Chicago


Friday Night we went to Medieval Times with Mom, Dad, Brent, Helen, Tami, John, Nic and Brian. It was a fun show the girls liked it, but Anna fell asleep the last 1/2 hour of the show, which is surprising since it was very, very loud. She can sleep through anything.
Saturday we wanted to go down town and though it would be faster and cheaper to ride the L. Big mistake, 2 hours later we finally made it down town Chicago. The L was being worked on so we had to get off and ride buses, with car parking and the L tickets we spent $38. I think it would have been better to drive. Oh well it was a unique experience. Here is Anna on the way back, asleep again.
After the car ride, the L ride, the bus ride and then the 20 minute walk we finally made it to Millenium Park and saw the Bean!
Then splashed in the fountains!

We ate some hot dogs and sat in the park a bit before heading back... walk, bus, L, and car... what a day.

Tuesday, May 26, 2009

Bob and Jess's Wedding





My girls were the flower girls for my cousin Bob and Jess's wedding in Chicago. They had a perfect day for their outdoor wedding and the girls did a great job! Anna smiled when she needed to but by dinner she was totally worn out and fell asleep in my lap at the table and she did not wake up again until morning. Amelia danced the night away until 10:00 then also crashed. We had a nice time and enjoyed visiting with all our family.

Wednesday, May 20, 2009

Kindergarten



Next fall Amelia starts kindergarten and as we were driving by the school she said...

Amelia: I think we garden there.
Me: What?
Amelia: kinderGARTEN... do we garden there?
Me: (LOL) no they don't garden, but you will learn how to read, do math, art projects and have lots of fun.

I love how kids think!

Tuesday, May 19, 2009

University City Lion - Step 3, 4 & 5



Working on my lion...
Step 3: apply gold leaf glue and let dry for one hour
Step 4: apply book pages to lion using golden polymer medium, this is a very messy process.
Step 5: apply thin sheets of gold leaf to the mane smoothing it out with a soft brush.

He looks like he has a mohawk right now but his entire mane will be covered with gold leaf.

Monday, May 18, 2009

Amelia Doll


Anna has her doll, see it here, and a few people told me it was a bit creepy, which I knew but she really likes it. Here is my second attempt, the Amelia doll, I think this one is less creepy but the concept still need a bit more work before I try to sell this idea on etsy. Back to the lab...

Friday, May 15, 2009

Greeley Art Gallery #4


We have several art gallery stations in our home:

1) The fridge, of course
2) We have a nicely framed fabric covered cork board in the dinning room showing the kids art.
3) Brian has his glass cases full of action figures in the office, o.k. maybe not art but a large grouping.
4) Amelia just created this showing in her room, her horse series.

Thursday, May 14, 2009

University City Lion - Step 1 & 2



Working on my lion...
Step 1: base coat of brown paint that will be under the gold leaf.
Step 2: tear pages and pages out of books. no photo

Photo rights to Amelia Dorsey, she is documenting my process. Pretty good photo for a 4 year old.

Wednesday, May 13, 2009

Good Morning

I love when my day starts with an "I love you Mama" and a kiss on my cheek. 

Thank you Anna!

Monday, May 11, 2009

Naked Lion


So here he is, just arrived today, a bright white a blank lion canvas. Now time for some work!

I guess he needs a name... Amelia says Sparkly, Anna says Yawnee. 

Thursday, May 7, 2009

University City Lion

I have fun news, I applied to design a University City lion, a life size lion that will be decorated and on display in ucity June 7th thru sept. 12th. This is a special art insulation celebrating ucity's 100 years. My design was chosen along with 12 others.  Yepeee!

I am doing a "Read Between The Lions" theme, where the lion will be covered with pages of books and wearing glasses. If you have seen the boston cow parade, it's the same type of thing but with lions. 

I am very excited and a bit nervous, now I really have to do this and it has to be really good... I am already stressed out...  the lion is coming on Monday, but first I need to clean the garage out to make room for it!

I will take photos of my progress, Wish me luck!

Wednesday, May 6, 2009

Take me out to the ball game



Last night we were lucky to get the Rawlings tickets and took the girls to the STL cardinals ball game. The seats are 4 rows behind the dugout and wonderful, I always love sitting there, you can almost touch the players! The girls really enjoyed the game, the people and the hot dog & pretzels. We did have to leave at the 7th inning, is was 9:30 and both girls were getting tired.  

Amelia wanted a big foam finger, so I think the next game we will get her one. I could tell Brian enjoyed watching the game with his girls. Amelia asked me if girls play baseball and when I said yes, she said that is what she wanted to do when she grew up, that really made Brian happy!

Tuesday, May 5, 2009

Pipe Cleaners


Yes, there are thousands of usages for pipe cleaners, here is what Amelia came up with.

Monday, May 4, 2009

Movie Review: Sicko

Brian and I finally watched this last night and the movie made me sicko. It is a good informative movie that shows the state of our health care compared to other countries and it REALLY upset me. Why do our insured citizens have to go broke when sick, when other countries get it ALL for free, somethings wrong here? I recommend watching this film but be ready to take a hard look at our country's heath care system.

I think I would be willing to pay more for taxes if I never had to worry about paying a medical bill!

Friday, May 1, 2009

Movie Review: Once


Looking for a good movie? Brian and I saw this Irish indy film few months ago and it is a lovely simple story with wonderful music, I am obsessed with this song.... Falling slowly. Brian and I both give it an A+