June Jewelry Show and Sale.

I am so pleased to have my jewelry showcased at the Oceanic Free Library in Rumson for the month of June.  My dear friend  Michelle Renee Bernard was nice enough to mention to the library that I create unusual jewelry and  thought that my jewelry would be a perfect fit for the library.
 

 I spoke to Theresa from The Oceanic Free Library of Rumson and she said that I would be the artist for June 2013...and that was over a year ago......

 

Theresa was so lovely and such a big help.  It's funny because we had met before at the Art Alliance of Red Bank and I love her fiber art.....she is a very talented creative artist, and a doll to talk to.

There are 4 display cases and I am Lucky to have the entire 4 cases to myself.  I have been very busy creating new items to fill all these cases, and happy that I worked so hard over the past several weeks because the cases look beautiful...

I have a great month to be featured in the Library because the jewelry I have displayed  is all about flowers, wonderful colors, and the beach.....perfect for this time of year.

It didn't take to long to display my items once I got there because I must say I practiced setting up at home several times to save time once I was there.

If you have the time, take a ride to this charming Free Library,  check out my displays and the art show,  20% of all sales goes to the Library, and any little bit will help.

 

some of my new pieces,

hope you can stop by and enjoy the show....

                                                             

Hope for Oklahoma

 I am so sadden by the news of the devastation in Oklahoma, can't believe the pictures, and can't imagine how in a few minutes your life can be totally ripped out from under you.  Those poor people, to hear the stories of all those effected by this storm....just breaks my heart.....I was touched by so many stories... the pet stories and the stories of the teachers who  put their lives on the line and saved so many students in their school, really touched home for me.....being a teacher myself..... 

they are true heroes....

 I loved this story I heard today on the news, how one teacher huddled with her students in the corner of the class room and asked them to sing.....and as the  tornado got closer and noisier she asked them to sing LOUDER!!!!!the song "Jesus Loves Me" and they did! following the direction of their teacher....what an awesome idea..to think of something to distract their little minds at a horrific time of fear was totally amazing..... I want to do some research and find that teacher  and tell her how amazed I was at her braveness..... she totally rocks!!!!!!

I found out about this amazing project "Hope for Oklahoma"from my friends Jenny Holiday and Aaron of "Everyday is a Holiday".

 This auction is being organized and facilitated by Heather Ales. Heather is so kind and sweet to run this auction that has grown so large with awesome artists who are donating their art to help those in need.....

Feel free to visit her at www.heatherales.com or send me a friend request! :)

 

 I knew I wanted to be part of this project 

and do whatever I could to help those in need in Oklahoma.........

We have been hit so hard here in New Jersey from hurricane Sandy and we all were so thankful for what ever help we could get and we were also so happy to help so many in need in our area.  I was excited to find this wonderful cause "Hope for Oklahoma" and was so happy to participate and donate an item for auction.I donated my vintage fabric flower in hopes that it would lift the spirits of so many who have lost so much!

 

There is a   face book page "Hope for Oklahoma"so please like it and share it with your friends, for this worthy cause.  You can have fun bidding on some wonderful artwork! and help so many in need at this time.

Heather lives in Texas and  is going to make a few trips to Oklahoma to bring the monies collected from the sales of the artwork to those in need.

I have contacted Heather and she is also going to bring "Cards of Hope" that my art students and I are making to help lift the spirits of the teachers and students effected by such tragedy.....

 

So many artists from the art blog community have contributed pieces for this worthy cause.... 

 We are hoping to raise as much $$$ as possible for those in Oklahoma.

If you are interested in helping here is some info to

help you in making a donation and getting some awesome art in return...

                 

                          

The Auction will take place on the home page "Hope for Oklahoma"

Monday May 27th at 7pm CST and end 

on Friday May 31st at 7 CST.

You can go to the page and check out the preview of some amazing work from  some

 very talented and caring artists...

So if you can find it in your heart and your wallet to help out, please follow along and bid on your favorite items to help the people of Oklahoma.....

Thanks Heather for running such and awesome event......

another dreary day........

it's the start of the summer and we have another dark, grey and dreary day in store and also for most of the weekend.....I just made it home from work and was able to snatch a few blooms from the garden before the heavy rains came.....and so happy I did....because I have these beauties to help brighten up our home......

hoping you are able to bring some outdoor beauty indoors this weekend......

Garden Love

today was a hot humid kinda gloomy day.......not much sunshine......matter of  fact we had some heavy rain....

when I came home from work and spotted my peony's in the garden

I was so happy to see that they bloomed!!!!and on such a dreary day!

 

I so LOVE the color, the scent, the shape..... everything about them is so pretty.....

then I walked around to our backyard and found the roses starting to show off too!!!!!

love how this turned out to be such a colorful day!!!!!

Sharing some of my students Art work...

I am a middle school art teacher in the town that I live.  I am always on the hunt for some interesting lesson plans......Here is a few of what we have been busy with this year........

ZENTANGLES......the art of the controlled doodle...... black sharpie markers on white paper...stunning!!!!simple and cheap..

folded BOOK ART.......... made with old books that our school would recycle

UGLY DOLLS....

LOVE  this lesson....a great story of the creators of the Ugly Dolls...students have to design their own doll, learn to make a pattern,

cut it out, sew details, then stuff it and sew it up...... I love how even the toughest of boys really ENJOY this project.......

 

our classes RECYCLED ART....displayed at our high school for the Music and Art Show.....

 

LOVE  teaching the students about the importance of RECYCLING and how you can create interesting ART using everyday household items....

  

everything we showcased was  made from RECYCLED ITEMS......

another ZENTANGLE......hours and hours went into finishing this beautiful bird house....

here's another one with added color......I LOVE when the students get it!!! and excel.......

I taught the students how to make paper beads

and then how to turn them into colorful cuff bracelets......

they really enjoyed customizing their cuffs with their favorite colors.....

 

I have one student who is always ahead with all her projects.......she is a natural.....and this is what she created with some scrap pieces of felt......

well I would have to say that my students created some awesome art work this year and I am so proud of them.....

Hoping you are planning on creating some colorful art and maybe even including your kids....they just might surprise you as to how creative they are....

Wishing all my friends who are mothers a Happy Day!

A Rainy Saturday in May

Today was the Ocean Grove town wide garage sale and who could resist a good garage sale?????
There was going to be about 40 homes participating, and that sounded really really nice......
I really don't need a thing but I am on the hunt for a mannequin...like this one that I got in Ocean Grove a few years ago.......

I got her from a garage sale in town...she was laying in the street I think she was set out for garbage and I asked if she was for sale and the woman said YES!  $5.00...so she came home with me and I love her....I use her in all my jewelry pictures and shows and I am on the hunt for another one.....

John and I ventured out and our 1st stop was to see my friend Mary-Ellen at her lovely condo by the ocean...has to be the best condo in the town with the most fabulous views of the Ocean Grove beaches and ocean...(so jealous) It seemed like Mother Nature was not going to cooperate this morning and we had some rain and heavy winds down by the shore making the temperatures feel much cooler.....

Mary Ellen said there was a special discount for me....and that was anything I wanted I could take home with me for free!!!!!!.....(free!!!:))    I always say I have the best friends   I have some plans for these goodies and can't  wait to get started..............I offered to pay but she wouldn't take it because she said that she learned so much  from me over the years in the art classes that I taught in town during the summer......... that it was her pleasure to pay it forward....well I will make her a special something for being so kind......

even on a damp, cool, rainy day Ocean Grove is so colorful and charming.....

the streets were covered with tiny pink petals...........a sign that all those pretty little flowers will be turning green real soon....

 because the weather was so nasty there wasn't too many people selling....... I am sure they are so disappointed with the weather, but they can try again come June 1st when the place will be jumping for the Giant Flea Market......

John and I continued driving south along the shore to see  how the progress was coming along after Hurricane Sandy....and it is so  sad to see the damage and what so many have lost... we saw so many homes that buckled from the storm and so many house that were being leveled.....I must say  that we are so very  blessed and lucky that we had little to no damage from Sandy where we live.....
 

This is the Seaside boardwalk... construction is going on down there along the boardwalk but then you look and see so many homes that are vacant and condemned...so so sad.... if you look way in the back you can see the top of the roller coaster that is still sitting in the water.....

they are saying that they will be open by summer...I hope this is true...New Jersey was hit so hard and we really need to have a great summer to bring some people and $$$ back to the Jersey Shore for the summer of 2013...

I am counting my blessings........

Enjoy your weekend......

I have some great friends.......

I am so lucky to have such awesome friends who know what I LOVE!!!!!

look what I got this week......(as I am jumping for JOY!)

my dear friend Mary gifted me a tremendous box filled with her mother in laws jewelry..... she said that she was a lover of jewelry and would be so happy to know that is is with someone who also has a love of jewelry.....

the box had to weigh 30 pounds......Mary said to do what you want with the jewelry and have FUN! and that is what I plan to do.....

my mind is racing with all the possibilities......I can't wait create with all these treasures.... there is so many unusual items that creating is going to be a JOY!

I ordered a few items from a very talented friend Kimberly......who has great style and a wonderful little shop on etsy....  You must check out her shop....

 

https://www.etsy.com/shop/artjoystuff?ref=seller_info_count      
  She has such a way with every little detail.......   

 she packages things so sweetly they are little mini works of art in themselves......

then today this beauty was given to me by another dear friend Jayne......who knew I was on the lookout for a doll house for an up coming project....she got this at our local thrift shop for....  are you ready.........$2.00....omg!!!!!! BIG plans for this baby.......

 

 

 

 Thank you wonderful friends......

I am so blessed to have such wonderful family and friends in my life......