I've got the blues....

... and the pinks and purples.
 I am obsessed with the hydrangeas in the Atlanta area this year.
We had a wonky Spring, as did most of the US, but it must have been just what the hydrangeas needed.



My bushes are loaded with blooms. 

 

In every shade of blue, pink and purple. 

 

And happily, the blooms just keep coming.

 

 

 

I can see hydrangea blooms every direction I look from the screened porch.

Even this little rooted, first year bush is putting on a show.

These two popped into town to go to a Rascal Flatts concert at Lakewood in Atlanta last week and we took a few, quick, pre-concert photos.

They were silly but the hydrangeas looked amazing!!

I can tell you right now that I am inspired to paint some hydrangeas this weekend!

Summer Colors and the $15.00 Patio Makeover!

I'm having a colorful start to Summer. Painting everything like crazy.
On my "list" for a while has been this sign in our backyard. We call it our "M.A.S.H." sign. Remember the show with Alan Alda? It was a family favorite - we still watch it and laugh. They had a sign in the middle of the compound with places and mileage and I always loved the show and the sign. About 10 years ago - maybe longer- we made one for the backyard with all of the beaches we have visited as a family.


Well, 10 years of Atlanta weather has taken its toll and I needed to add some beaches, so it is getting a major overhaul. The signs are spread out all over the table on the screened porch and are getting fresh coats of delicious Summer colored paint.
Also, on the agenda is a little project for College Girl's new place. Yes, she is on the move again. Seriously. Last Summer it was in to the Sorority House. This Summer it is into a super cute townhouse with two of her Chi O sisters. One will graduate next May but College Girl and the other sister have vowed to stay in this place for 2 years.... I'll believe it when I see it. Five moves in 3 years of college makes me doubtful :)
We moved her in an absolute monsoon - what an experience. All I can say is thank Heaven for a certain Kappa Sig and his truck, muscles and patience.
But now the fun part - settling in. As always, it is a low budget proposition.
While all the great paint colors were out I grabbed a square scrap of exterior plywood and gave it a coat of oil-based primer and then started painting.

 

Base coat in a great turquoise blue. Outline in SW Urbane Bronze.

 

Puffy white Summer clouds.

Adding the "fun" colors. Quick, messy brushstrokes with colors all blended together on the palette.

 

 

More color.

 

 

Whooo's a colorful guy?

More boards. More summery colors. I love those samples from
 Sherwin Williams and Lowe's.

I loaded up the finished painting of the Chi O owl, a little garden table we had (and used at a place she lived year before last), a string of colorful outdoor lights that we had in a storage box, a metal Ikea lantern that I used at Christmas and my pruning shears.

I headed to college Girl's new place and...

 

... after pruning overgrown bushes, cleaning off the little patio (thank you previous tenants for a bag of trash and the largest guy's tennis shoes I've ever seen ! ) and putting everything in place we had a sweet little spot to have a meal or sit and talk with friends. All I bought was the red patio umbrella for $14.99. Instant atmosphere for less than 15 dollars.

Hopefully I'll have "after" pics of the "M.A.S.H." sign soon.

Linking up:

School's Out For Summer....

... but we painted one last time! You can thank me later for having that Alice Cooper classic stuck in your head. I can't help humming that this time of year! I Love Summer!

 

This time the project was a Sharpie and watercolor resist step-by-step painting. Sharpies are my all time favorite art supply. I have zillions- can't help myself.
For this project we used very nice heavy weight water color paper, mostly liquid watercolors from Dick Blick ( had to make my own blue and dark brown from tubes I picked up at DB) and my recycled containers. I wish schools had budgets for better brushes :) It makes a difference.
This project was about shapes and counting and mixing colors and Spring and birds and listening to directions. I drew on an easel at the front of the class while they listened, made decisions and followed along. We started with an oval in the middle of the page and then drew 3 small ovals in the center ( at this point some of them guessed a nest painting!)
 

Even though we followed along together, each painting turned out uniquely and so like their personalities. You'll see what I mean...
 

Absolutely LOVE this one... it reminds me of Shel Silverstein illustrations :) I also am intrigued that he painted a blue rectangle around his oval eggs instead of painting each one.
 

 

This one reminds me of barbed wire...
 

 

Very precise and uniform - so like the artist and polar opposite of the one that reminds me of Shel Silverstein...

They loved this project. They all turned out so fabulously and everyone felt successful

Very decorative pattern on this nest. 

 

 

 

Another favorite. It's like a nest having a bad hair day!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I would totally frame this one :)

PS. No, I did not post the pictures in mirror image. They painted those beautiful watercolors but they are young enough that several write their names backwards still.

Well, I can show you now....

Happy Mother's Day!!
Hope you have a wonderful day - I'm having a wonderful Mother's Day weekend - not just a day!!
I couldn't share this before because my little art camp friends created these a couple of weeks ago for their moms. So I guess in blog-speak, this is the BIG REVEAL :)


Basic crafts supplies - the raindrop looking sponge shapes are the only out of the ordinary craft supply. I cut the shapes from inexpensive sponges from the dollar store. I prefer Miracle Sponge but Michael's and Hobby Lobby no longer carry it and it's too bad :( 
 I love that stuff.

This is the main component of this project which would be good for Mother's Day, as we did, or a garden unit or for the end of school, or April Showers/weather unit, etc. You could work it in a lot of ways. It is simply a wooden stake from HD - they come in a bundle of 10 or 12 for less than $3.00. The circle is a metal paint can lid. ( you've seen these before in another project!) I put a nail in the center and a dab of liquid nail on the back to secure them and sprayed them green. I have to base coat projects because we have only 50 minutes once a month - I wish it was once a week :) If they could base coat one day and decorate another that would be even better. I spattered them with a lighter green cause I just like to spatter things.

 
Strips of fabric scraps and the necessary CFA large unsweet tea with lemon.

Cute little preschool table all ready to go!

Pretty flower stakes for the garden. Just for Mom. Just sponge on however many petals you want and use the spouncer to make the big yellow center.

They all turn out cute but just a little bit different - just like each child.

 
Some of the centers were two-tone. Fancy!

We tied on the ribbon or torn fabric scrap and it is ready to give to mom. The preschool classes have a Mother's Day tea and they stick the flowers in the ground as decoration and then mom's get to take them home. It's a hit every year.
There are a lot of great books to read with this project. I've used Tiny Seed and several others. If you do this in a church preschool or Sunday School then you can make a little tag with a verse on it. I've used " I planted the seed, but God made it grow."
It's a fun Spring project and I am ready for blooms and bees and sunny days!