Halloween 2013

Halloween was so much fun this year. :)
Judy asked for help decorating her car for Grace's school "Trunk or Treat."  Rob suggested a ghost because her car is white.  Here is the concept that I developed.  Judy and I put it together in 1/2 hour!

If you ever have to decorate a car trunk for Halloween, this ghost is EASY, simple and elegant.

1. Use binder clips to hang a white sheet from the trunk lid.
2. Place a couple of battery powered lanterns inside the trunk and turn them on.
3. From poster board, use a box cutter to carve out two oval eyes and a quirky mouth.
4. Use large safety pins (I strung two big ones together above each eye) to attach the eyes to the sheet.
5. Suspend the mouth from the eyes with fishing line. 

It was a bit like a mobile. The weight of the sheet and a gently breeze made it move.
We used ghost face plastic treat bags lined up under the bumper to hold the candy.  I found them in the grocery store.  It was unique!

Here are my favorite pictures from the day.

Explorations: Barron Arts Center

On Sunday, 9/22/13, I visited Barron Arts Center to see "iView: Analysis."

 Featuring 16 fiber artists and their impressions of our world, the exhibit was an amazing presentation of 64 pieces that each measured 4" x 6". The size of postcards. Each artists presented four related works representing their view of "i". Some type of rug hooking, punch hooking or Russian needle punch had to be present in at least part of one of their four pieces. Each artist created a story that brought viewers into their own visual world.

This series was my favorite.

The artist is Kim Dubay from Maine.  Here is the description in her own words.
"These hand-stitched merit badges are reminiscent of what young girls in scouts would earn. My hope is that the viewer think about these "lost arts" and realize our lives do not need to be taken over by technology!" Pictured from top left and going clockwise are:  Letter Writing, Making Things by Hand, Talking Face to Face, and Reading a Book.


And, the Arts Center was an interesting building too.  This was my first of what will be many visits.

Fine Arts & Crafts Show, Anderson Park 2011

What a beautiful Sunday morning!  Church, diner and then the fine arts & crafts show in Anderson Park, Upper Montclair.

It could not have happened on a nicer day - cool, clear, sunny.

Putting out a few bales of hay always makes me think of autumn.

This was the cutest booth!  Filled with clothes and shoes for American Girl dolls, it was filled with little girls in the afternoon.

This was unique!  I had not seen a drinking fountain that accomodated dogs before today.  I liked it and so did the dog. :-)

Fifteen minutes to relax on a bench and listen to this talented musician was not nearly enough.  I could have stayed there all afternoon!  And, I could also watch the soccer game going on in the middle of the park.

A wonderful walk, a little shopping, music, sports - this day had it all.

Then, off to the Nutley Farmers' Market to get some fresh corn for dinner tonight.

23rd. Annual Spring Fine Arts and Crafts Show, Brookdale Park

Yesterday, a fine day to be outside, proved even better with a visit to the Fine Arts and Crafts Show in Brookdale Park, Bloomfield, NJ.  After a light breakfast at the Corner Bakery to start the day, it was off to the park to wander through the stalls of crafts people from all over the east coast.