Parenting

Crafts: Eight is Enough!

by admin on February 6, 2008

Friends,

Today, my house was bustling with eight children (three teens and five children)! Soleil, my 17 year old hung out with two of her friends while Eliana, my 7 year old, had her four cousins over (Jourdan – 10, Camrynn – 8, Ashlynn – 7, and Jasmynn – 5). I had a busy day. Whew!

The day began with a meat-free lunch (today is Ash Wednesday – no meat for Catholics) of bow-tie pasta topped with tomato basil sauce and grated ricotta. Here are the kids getting ready to eat (right to left – Eliana, Camrynn, Jasmynn, Jourdan, and Ashlynn). Say cheese!

The Kids Meal

The teens refused to let me invade their lives with my digital camera, so no pics of them. You have to pretend they exist. After a delish dessert of chocolate cake with peanut butter-chocolate frosting, we started Valentine crafting. Here is Ashlynn, hard at work. Can you guess what she is gluing?

Ashlynn hard at work on her bead heart

Yes, that’s right! left-over Mardi Gras beads! We were making Valentine hearts. Eliana shows off her finished product.

Eliana’s bead heart

Now that’s what I call a work of “heart.” Then we began making Valentine shakers. Here are all the kids with their shakers.

The Kids with their Valentine shakers

A close-up of the Valentine sh-sh-sh-shaker.

Eiana’s Valentine shaker up close

We had fun playing games, singing, and shakin’ our shakers. But boy, am I exhausted! Between the teens and the tots, I spent more energy than I do with a group of 300 students at a performance! LOL

I don’t know how the Brady Bunch did it. Oh yeah, I do. It was TV!! Where is Alice when you need her?!!

Until next time… Happy Tales to You!

Warmly, Dianne

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Soleil, the Artist

by admin on February 1, 2008

Friends:

Soleil, my 17 year old, is a senior in high school and applying for art school. Schools she is considering include Louisiana State University (in state but low on her priority list as she wants to move out of state), Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, New York (her #1 choice because she is in lust with New York), Rhode Island School of Design, and Savannah College of Art and Design (my husband and I are leaning toward this choice – in addition to art school, it’s a college and set in the beautiful Southern town of Savannah). Ultimately, we have to see where the $$ falls… We’re hoping for a great scholarship/financial aid package. Soleil has the grades, test scores, and school involvement (she is fifth in her class with a 3.63 GPA, received a 28 on the ACT, and is very involved in school). Okay, yes, I am a proud mama!

We have been working hard on getting her art portfolio together. Here are samples of her art pieces. This piece, done in graphite, is called “I am Woman; Hear Me Roar.”

I am Woman; Hear Me Roar

This next piece, rendered in ink, is called “Lone Wolf.”

Lone Wolf

This next one is called “Slave to Fashion.” I love the concept of this piece. It was rendered in Prismacolor colored pencils.

Slave to Fashion

The following piece is a photograph of her sister, Eliana (who was 5 years old at the time), that Soleil took and developed. It is titled “Sleeping Beauty.”

Sleeping Beauty

This final piece, done in ink and water colors, was commissioned by me for my Kamishibai story, “The Magic Pot.”

The Magic Pot

Soleil wants to be a children’s book illustrator. I think she’s well on her way.

I have had so many people make comments like, “She’s so smart! Why are you encouraging her to go to art school?” As a successful “artist” (performing and literary, not visual) myself, how can I not?! I believe that if you are passionate about your dreams, then you should pursue them. Because Soleil has grown up with me as the model of artist entrepreneur, I know she understands how much work goes into establishing a successful career in the arts. I also think that she has the drive and determination to create a successful career for herself.

Life is too short not to try to live your dreams. Where there is a will, there is always a way. Soleil, in the words of Henry David Thoreau, “Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you’ve imagined.”

So friends, find your way and go in the direction of your dreams. You can do it!

Warmly, Dianne

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