It's their party, and he'll cry if he wants to
Happy birthday, Schack Art Center!
The kids and I went to the Schack's first anniversary celebration this past weekend, and like all good parties there was something fun for everyone.
A collage table for kids and adults...
... a print-pulling center...
... even the little guys like TwoBoo could color masks.
The art gallery featured some incredible masks from artists worldwide, both traditional (like the Baule mask from Ivory Coast)...
... and contemporary (by Margo Grothe and Marita Dingus).
But no birthday party for a one-year-old would be complete without a meltdown.
TwoBoo was happy -- well, not happy AT ALL -- to provide this service when I informed him it was time to go. I was just terrified he'd knock something over. Wood, clay, glass... so many choices.
Have I ever mentioned when he commits to a tantrum, he really commits? For about 45 minutes? As I carried him out kicking and screaming, one person joked TwoBoo is destined to grow up to be an artist. Personally, I think The Boy is already the artist...
... while TwoBoo, on the other hand, will be the agent who screams until the art gallery agrees to pay Rembrandt-level prices for The Boy's work. Plus TwoBoo's commission, of course.
Miss Lucy's debut
Isn't it time you had a little more steampunk in your life? Of course it is.
Let's join Miss Lucretia "Lucy" Pettigrew, relaxing in the garden in full Steampunk Sally gear, shall we?
Originally I was going to set the watch face, surrounded by copper tubing, on her chest. But it just seemed a bit much. Then I remembered, hey -- I have a ball tea strainer that would make it look like a pocket watch!
A green tag from my stash contrasted better against the rest of her clothing color palette. That tag turned into the base for a necklace hung on a chain of safety pins.
You might remember I said Miss Lucy's a bit of a firebug. She keeps a match within easy reach, in a bottle at the end of another safety pin chain woven into her curls. (Not gonna be easy to explain that to the authorities.)
And the goggles... putting them together from rubber scraps was so much fun I recommend making your own.
Miss Pettigrew will be joining me at the Artists' Garage Sale in mid-June. So if you'll be near Everett, Washington next month, come see us in person!
Faux mercury glass: fake it when you make it
Finally, a dry spring day on one of my days off! Time to try out the faux-mercury glass tutorial I found via Pinterest.
Anna of Take the Side Street beautifully lays out each step, so I'll leave the details to her. I tried out the technique first on some vases, to get the hang of it before I attempted it on glasses.
Kids, if you're an impatient person, this game is not for you. You'll have to wait a few minutes between spray paint applications -- the agony! -- otherwise the paint runs. Oh, and you'll also need gloves.
No, really. Your aim is not as good as you think it is.
Also: gloves when you're wiping away the diluted vinegar spray to create the aged look. You could forget the gloves off, but if you like your manicure... well, take a look.
Whoops.
Still working to get things the way I want them. When I have another dry day to spray, I'll do more show & tell.