Treasures from my Aunt

This little metal book is only one inch, with a working hinge and clasp.

 Inside are some wonderful old photos from Europe.

I called me Aunt to find out the story behind it. She said there was no story. She had purchased it as a souvenir years ago on one of her travels.

Also, in the package was some old money that she said no longer had any value and that I could use  it in my art.

I noticed Pesos and Centavos from Japan. That was odd. So I looked them up. Those were from  Japanese Occupied Philippines during WWII.  My uncle, who is still alive was stationed there. He was invited back in 1955 as a guest of the state. My aunt said they sat on the front row and she remembered she wore a yellow dress which just happened to be the favorite color of one of the dignitaries and my aunt was recognized for wearing yellow!

 There was also money bought by my uncle's father as an investment. Due to Hyperinflation in the Weimer Republic 

...he lost all of his money.

There was even a mental disorder linked with this collapse of the money called Zero Stroke, people would just write endless rows of zeros. It is hard to fathom just how much the money devalued it went from one to one trillion paper marks per gold mark!

It was quite fascinating to research and find out some history I was not aware of, I was also glad I had the chance to talk to my aunt.

I have yet to decide how to incorporate the money into an art project. If you have any ideas please comment.

Family Painting Class

I am considering teaching one of those step by step painting classes where you complete a painting in an hour or two. So yesterday I went to Michaels and bought a bunch of brushes, acrylic paint and 11 x 14 stretched canvas.  Tonight after dinner at my sisters house it was decided that I would do a practice class. I thought it would be just my sisters that would want to participate but everyone wanted in on it! I had 7 students. From my 5 year old niece and 11 and 17 year old nephews, to my sisters and brother-in-law to my 76 year old mother! We set up a large folding table, chairs, paper towels, paints, water cups, plates for palettes and a still life. We started with the table line and went from there. It took an hour and 10 minutes. not including set up or clean up. All went well and fun was had by all!

Faith can't wait to get started!

sketching with paint

Demo

Grandma

I liked my sister Leslie's even better than my own!

Guess which one the 17 year did.

A Bright Spot In An All Around Grey Day

Today was grey in more ways than just the sky and the cold and the... well everything is grey and drab and cold. My sister called from Texas to tell me that my dad was taken by ambulance back to the hospital with pneumonia. He had only been home 2 days after being in the hospital for 7 weeks and things aren't looking good. I have reservations to fly down next Sunday, may have to change that to tomorrow.

So this piece is my one piece of brightness in the day-I already had the flowers in the frame, I collaged the frame, adding tissue paper, stickers, buttons and bows. It is for the letter F. Family, Friends, Flowers, Forever.
I am not an emotional eater but I am craving macaroni and cheese. comfort food, right?