The project was to take a number array (a pictoral way of showing multiplication: The building directly below is made of a number array for the number 6.) The arrays start as rows of squares and then the buildings etc.. are built around them.

Some of the students took the challenge of putting things in the windows of their buildings…….

Some of them reversed the colors -

and one of them managed to cut out a window with no glue on the back.

We were running shy on things to do near the end of yesterday so instead of reading a book, we all wrote an “art response” = artist statement.  The first group of students did an excellent job. I was gleefully surprised at the maturity and thought of their responses to my simple questions. (IE: What do you like the most about your piece. Why? What do you like the least about your piece? why?)

I have completed 1 project of 15 for this years Arts Smarts work!

I kind of wish I could spend an entire year working with just one group of students. We’d have a blast, and the work they would make would be excellent!  They like me, and I like them. It’s a good relationship.

Next Arts Smarts is Mid-February.

r

It wasn’t

As a matter of fact it was a smashing success. This particular class has a lot of Large Personalities. All great kids, most with Large Personalities. I haven’t laughed that much in a long time (well except maybe Chinese New Year Feast (pork dumplings, cod dumplings in a spinach pasta, cashew chicken, veggies, salad, and blueberries and icecream) with a gang of lovely folk and games). I missed those kids. Going back tomorrow to needle felt the same crew. Should be a hoot. we did some last year with the same students, now they’re a year older and a year more capable. here’s hoping for fewer poked fingers and lots of little sculptures.

I started with this kind of stitching – and really didn’t like it.

So I moved to a running, staccato type stitch. I think this feels better.

First they start as discs I cut.

Then I roll them through the mill, and they look like this:

next is a patina, light sanding, waxing and attach ear wire!

These will be at Model Citizens soon (hopefully before the end of the month).

]]> http://rosalindford.wordpress.com/2012/01/17/more-copper-feathers/feed/ 1 rozford IMG_6660 IMG_6659 IMG_6663 http://rosalindford.wordpress.com/2012/01/12/our-gift-to-us/ http://rosalindford.wordpress.com/2012/01/12/our-gift-to-us/#comments Thu, 12 Jan 2012 19:34:27 +0000 rozford http://rosalindford.wordpress.com/?p=585 ]]> Since the Summer we both picked up drinking coffee over tea in the morning. it’s AMaZinG what a cup of caffeine like that will do for a person’s energy. I understand why so many folk are addicted.

we were drinking instant coffee… good gods what were we thinking!

then we finally switched to Bodem coffee …. which was tastier, but a touch messier than I wanted it to be for clean up.

We are now the proud owners of a Coffee Maker. Not any old Coffee Maker, but a Coffee Maker that is PROGRAMMABLE! I know that most of you who drink coffee already know this stuff exists but I’m so very stoked to wake up in the morning to go teach elementary students and have my coffee already brewed.  Sounds like heaven to me.    BUT that’s not all it does!  It’s also a HOT WATER DISPENSER!  for tea or oatmeal, or just plain old drinking hot water.

It looks fairly alien in my kitchen, but I love it all the same.    Also we invested in two – will-fit-in-car  reuasable ceramic cups. Hoping I use it enough to assuade my guilt from all the paper cups i’ve used driving all over our fair province.

I also feel the need to tell you that gifts can really stress me out.  Buying, giving and recieving them.  I have in the recent past learned to deal with this in a few ways. Myself and Jason have taken the attitude that gifts are nicer when they are not stressful, so we don’t do gifts to each other. for Christmas, we decide on what we’d like to have together and pool our cash and get that something for the both of us. This year it was a coffee maker, new teapot and reusable cups.

8 of these groups (well 6 when you consider Jason is going to teach 2 of these groups) are at Matthew Elementary in Bonavista.  I am starting to get very excited to work with the kids again. I miss them.  The teachers (organized, rigid schedules, punctual) and I (think of an ink covered, distractable, squirrel) are starting to understand each other much better.  This is  giant win.

I took some time over the weekend to do a few examples of the project we’ll be doing with the grade 2 class.

I definately had A LOT of fun making these few ( there are many more )  I”m pretty excited to work with the grade 2 (7 years old) with this.

www.Jasongordonholley.wordpress.com

my wonderfully talented partner  

has fought a long battle with websites – the tale is full of torment and demons – maybe some dark creepy night around a campfire I’ll tell it to you.

but HE DID IT!

he finally put together a space where you can go see what he is up to.

proud and happy I am.

they look landscapey.

check her out here

or from the side bar where she will live indefinitely.

A few months ago I sent in a proposal for a national group show, Boxed In! , paired between The Rooms (NL provincial art gallery, museum and archives) and the NL Craft Council.

I was scanning for the inevitable search terms; we’re sorry, unfortunately, not chosen.  But they weren’t there. and I was confused. SO I sat down and read the letter from the top to the bottom. And it said; Congratulations! Your proposal has been selected.

Wahoo!  I ran out to show Jason and our friend, Maaike, who was visiting for the holidays.  I got hugs and congratulations all round. it’s a pretty big deal for me to be chosen.  I’m pretty stoked about the whole thing. The show is slated to show simultaneously at The Rooms and the Craft Council gallery in Jan 2013.

yay me.  I wonder who else was chosen, and what they’re going to make?