Peach Coglo

Slowing Down Even More

Joining Amanda at the habit of being for her weekending series. . . .

Weekends come and go so quickly.  I don't know why-maybe it's having so much movement and activity in the house.

Friday we watched Gentle Giant.  I think it was filmed in the 60's or 70's.  Okay, straight up, this movie was crazy.  Once I got over an animal and a person dying in the first ten minutes (really wasn't expecting all of that), it was a nice, slow, old-fashioned movie.  Compared to most of today's kids' movies, this one moved at a glacial pace.  I thought that was awesome and the kids really enjoyed it.  There was time to just be in the movie and not get jerked from scene to scene.

Saturday was filled with more color charts.  I am loving all of the different ways to control color and mix up new colors-fabulous.  I'll share more on that in another post.

Doran was singing a lot.  This is one of his favorites.  He is an 80's boy.  Who knew he liked Freestyle?  Somebody help me.  He also took the words to this song's chorus and changed them to: "I just want some chicken."  He actually followed the tune pretty well.  Now everyone in the house is singing it.

Elijah and I took our first trip to the comic book store.  He has a sudden and keen interest in Stan Lee.  Unfortunately comic books ain't what they used to be.  I could find nothing fitting for a seven year old, until I found a compendium of old Fantastic Four comics and then a similar one on Slamazon featuring The Incredible Hulk.  Whatever happened to those old comics?  Whatever happened to Hot Stuff: The Little Devil?  I remember he looks a little bad but he didn't do much.  Besides he walked around in a cloth diaper which never seemed to burn even though most everything else he touched did.  Oh well.

Let's see; there were snickerdoodles and books this weekend.  We read more of The Four-Story Mistake and finished Heart and Soul.  Eden got a lot of enjoyment out of The Tomten.  Man is she growing up quickly.  Oh and she is also a fan of The Robot.  Between Doran's singing and her dancing, it's pretty entertaining over here.

Helena and I spent some nice quiet time together while everyone was at Elijah's tennis lesson.  This will be the last for a while as Elijah decided he wanted to take a break and start up again in the Fall.

I spent some time thinking about Pinterest.  There is a lot of talk on the web about copyright issues and user responsibility.  It's more than I want to deal with right now.  I do wish I recalled more of copyright law that I learned in law school.  Like a lot of quagmire issues, the analysis is all over the place.  It seems to me that this issue of the web use and intellectual property affects Facebook, Instagram and Tumblr in one way or another, not just Pinterest.  I do know that I don't want to get caught up in any illegalities and I want to respect the artists' wishes.  It seems that Pinterest can take an artist's product that I pin and use it for its own means-not cool.

Ugh, but on to more fun stuff.  The kiddies and I went thrifting.  That was pretty cool.  We talked about saving money, recycling and still getting useful and pretty things.  The kids loved looking around so it looks like I have four little thrifters now.  I can't wait until the flea market open up again.

I worked on my portfolio and now that's all ready.   It's interesting to see your work kind of gathered together.

Sunday evening was spent knitting my felted balls and watching Moneyball with a friend.  I think spending time with a friend, a good movie, and knitting was a nice capstone for the weekend?

What were you up to this weekend?

Clowny Break

I'm taking a break today so I can hopefully stop panicking and spinning around in circles.  At the flea market on Sunday, I found lots of old toys-some from my childhood.  I remember dragging this clown around at preschool or somewhere.

See the Jalopy Clown-how happy and relaxed he is.  Then again if you look long enough you may have nightmares.  Well it is almost Halloween.  Happy Tuesday!

Shiny New Palettes

 
As I go through my own artistic journeys, I am watching with great interest how my children learn and approach art.  I am of the generation where only the 'best' kid's art went up on the board, where teachers loudly proclaimed one child was a better artist than everyone else or that Danny was The One who could draw.  Don't get me wrong; I don't have a problem with noticing, admiring or pointing out talent or liking one child's work more than another.  However, children can become easily discouraged when broad comparisons are made without the balance of encouragement and appreciation for their individual perspective.  Thank goodness my children haven't had to experience any of that.  They are lucky to have a wonderful art program at school.  At home, I try to give them as much experience as possible exploring and making art.  This includes giving them decent art supplies.

The other day I bought my three eldest some simple, inexpensive ($2) porcelain palettes.  The kind some 'real' artists use.  The kiddos were very excited.  Now they are experimenting more with paint mixing on a palette.  I figure I will save the lesson for mixing paint on paper a little later.

The other evening Helena and Doran worked side by side on their paintings (Elijah was at a Scout meeting, and had to leave his painting for a while).  I was amazed to see how having the palettes seemed to increase their concentration - very interesting.

 

Doran and Helena even got to use my travel paints and paintbrush.  They broke them in actually.  I purchased this paint set for $9 at a tag sale a couple of years ago.  They are awesome.  Did I tell you I have a 'thing' about art supplies? ;-)

 

 

 

They also got lucky and were able to use some of my good paper.   It happened by accident or more accurately by exhaustion.  I was just too tired to go downstairs and get their watercolor paper.  They definitely enjoyed this treat, and painted for a quite a long while, a very pleasant way to spend an evening.  Now that it is becoming rainy, more chilly and dark, I am looking forward to many cozy evenings painting with the children.

 

How about you, do you have any supplies (for art, writing, everyday jobs, etc.) that make you happy?

Rocking Chair, rocking chair

 

First things first ~ thank you all so very much for your wonderful comments yesterday!  It is a privilege to share this blog, my life really, with such kind, supportive, inspiring, and fun people!  You all (I almost said "y'all") made my day.  Your thoughtful compliments, words of advice and encouragement were so needed and I appreciate every one of you!  I am delighted and quite honored that you take time out of your day to stop by to visit for a bit.  Thank you!

School will be starting soon, so the task for me lately is to find desks for Elijah and Helena.  We live in a small house, but every family member still needs her space.  If I organize well, everyone can have her own space, but that's the trick isn't it.  I have these fantasies about the children doing their homework peacefully at the dinner table while I tend a simmering stew over the stove.  Hmm, on second thought, they really need some desks.

I grew up using an awesome rolltop desk that my mother had used when she was a child.  It was child-sized but it looked so fancy to me.  Boy do I wish I still had it.  I felt very official and grownup when I used it.  I loved that desk even if I did attempt to paint a tiny Bugs Bunny portrait on it with red nail polish.  Yeah, I know.

Anyway, I have been hitting the thrift stores in search of the perfect desks.  Several months ago, I saw two neat school desks that I should have snapped up.  But alas I didn't, so I am searching now.  Needless to say, I haven't found my desks.  However, I did find a rocking chair- a nice solid one too!  I have been in search of one for a couple of years now.  It's not especially old or really special in any way except I that I like it.  We needed some more comfortable seating in our house.  I think it would work either on the back porch or in the basement where I sew and the kids play and do a lot of crafting.  Rocking chairs are incredibly comforting and this one will fit in our home nicely.  The kids love it. 

 
One afternoon Elijah was peacefully enjoying the chair until Eden decided she wanted to rock too.  I was trying to make sure she didn't fall.  She was trying to make sure I left her alone.  Elijah was trying to rock in peace.  Then Elijah suggested we bring out the baby rocking chair.  Genius!  Why didn't I think of that?  

This chair was a lovely gift from Mema to Doran when he was a baby.  She painted it especially for him.  Doran used it, then Helena and Elijah used it.  Now it's Eden's turn.  She adores "her chair".  She is quite protective of it.  If anyone goes near the chair, they can be sure to be scolded  with a "non, non, non!"  (Inexplicably, Eden has a French accent when she says 'no').  So at the sound of her scolding, chattering and finger-pointing, everyone scatters and her chair is left in peace.  Ironically, having her own chair doesn't stop her from trying to use the big people's rocking chair too.  ;-)

She is convinced she can use both chairs simultaneously.

So the search for desks continues, but at least I have my rocking chair (when I can shoo the kids off and get time to sit in it myself).  I am looking forward to many cozy evenings embroidering and knitting in this chair.  Bliss!

Thrift Shopping-Yay!

The other day, I went to a local thrift shop in search of some vintage linens.  I was inspired by SouleMama who always seems to find really cute and interesting vintage fabric.  It's a great way to save money and recycle fabric at the same time.  Well, I came up empty on the fabric, but found some other fun and useful treasures that won't be headed to the landfill. 

It's always wonderful to find some vintage Pyrex.  

I found some great tunes too.  I got the Sousa record for Helena and Elijah's birthday.  I was inspired by my mother who told me that when she was a girl, there was a morning radio program that played the Sousa marches for the school children.  Sousa can be so jaunty and energizing.  I love it!  Luckily the children did too.  The Copland is for me.  Well everyone in the house listens to everything, but Copland is one of my all-time favorites because his music feels so hopeful and inspirational.

This is just a sentimental favorite for me.  I received this album when I was about five.  I used to look at this cover for hours.  We didn't really have snow in Georgia so I was fascinated by its representation on this album.  I also used to think the Christmas lights were some sort of lit-up candy corn.  Don't ask why.

Now that I am looking at this cover.  It occurs to me that my love of painting with bright, intense colors may have started during my childhood.  I was so psyched when I found this album I almost fell over in the store.  The only slight wrinkle is that the Christmas album that is supposed to be in the sleeve has been replaced by a Winnie-the-Pooh album.  It's no great loss though, because I used to only listen to about three songs off this album.  Like I said, I spent most of my time with this album staring at the cover. ;-)

This is for the kiddos.  As always, LIFE has some very captivating pictures that really grab and keep their attention.

I might put a plant in this sterling silver bowl or maybe not.  I am still thinking of a good use for it after I polish it. 

These silver baby cups are for Eden.  We have the worst time with the traditional sippy cups. She isn't ready for glass or ceramic, so I was on the hunt for enamel or some material that wouldn't shatter when she launched it across the room; you know it's bound to happen.  I stumbled upon these cups, and they are perfect.  They don't break; there are no leaching chemicals; they fit her teensy fingers and keep her milk and water cold.  Miss Eden does enjoy herself a cold beverage.

I like the fact that all of these things are old (excluding the books of course) and have a history behind them.  I think the baby cup on the left was made in 1948.  Thanks for coming on my little thrifting adventure with me.  This makes me think, what is the best thing you've found in a thrift store?

The Lady with the Scarves

 
It seems as Eden has the same penchant for scarves as her sister.  I purchased some a while back from Goodwill for yoga and general playing around.  I thought they would also be good for dress up.  These silk scarves are a nice inexpensive substitute for the play silks I love.  I bought an official play silk about two years ago and Helena promptly ripped it with some serious play.  The Goodwill scarves are holding up beautifully though they are not made in the same way.  I am contemplating buying some silk material from the fabric store and dyeing my own - maybe.  Whether I make my own or not, we are enjoying these wonderful Goodwill finds.  They are the best thing I have bought for 50 cents a piece in a long while.

 

 

Helena decided she wanted to pose for a picture and this is what she created.  ;-) The wig is a Christmas present from Doran.  He may not say much, but he knows his sister loves to dress and perform.

My mother donated this scarf to the cause.  It's big and silky and quite 'floaty'.  The kids love it!

 

So now pretty much any time she sees a scarf she ever so artfully drapes and redrapes herself with it, and I could just watch her for hours.