A printing storm hit Hay Loft Studio. Four kids, plenty of ink (water based of course), paper, rollers, bottle caps, string, styrofoam, corks, cookie cutters, matchbox cars, t.p. rolls, leaves, pencils, even old tractor bits, two tired dogs and me. Curiosity urged one student to count all the prints. I believe there were 46 in all! Whew! Thanks to the students for their enthusiasm and great inspirations. I neglected to take photos but here’s what I scrounged up with the help of parents:
String on block prints:

Three part printing:

Some of the printing plates:

Birch trees? Printed using wine corks:

String:

Strikingly stark:

Two tired dogs by the stove:

Spring and summer vacation classes are posted for 2013.  Click here for more information.

Beading class is under way! It’s amazing how these kids can sit for nearly six hours straight fastidiously weaving teeny tiny beads. Barely a lunch break and a brief basketball match to stretch the legs! Still, the day ends with an awww. The day flies by for me too. This is heaven for me, spending all day in the studio making art in the company of others who love spending all day in the studio too. What fun!

Some works in progress:

Tomorrow we will bead some free form animals. A cat in progress:

Spring vacation classes are posted for 2013.  Click here for more information. 

A peek: Native American Beading and Printing will be available for vacation week. I am seeking input for adult classes and open studio times. Links available on the previously mentioned page to a doodle poll.

Professor Joe says:
“You have been delinquent with your Hayloft updates”.

We’ve had quite a dose of snow this year. Much of which has melted in last week but, the chickens and the boy have enjoyed it.

Little Red approves of the boy’s nest building abilities.

Here are some deep winter Hayloft projects:
Chair caning:

The boy has taken up fencing:

Preteen sleepover’s with a donut breakfast. Two and a half hours to make. Seven minutes to eat.

Recipe courtesy of Alton Brown. I always half this recipe. Plenty for four at least. The first time made these we called our neighbors and said “Get ready! Hot donuts on the way!”
Ingredients
1 1/2 cups milk
2 1/2 ounces vegetable shortening, approximately 1/3 cup
2 packages instant yeast
1/3 cup warm water (95 to 105 degrees F)
2 eggs, beaten
1/4 cup sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1 teaspoon freshly ground nutmeg
23 ounces all-purpose flour, plus more for dusting surface
Peanut or vegetable oil, for frying (1 to 1/2 gallons, depending on fryer)
Directions
Place the milk in a medium saucepan and heat over medium heat just until warm enough to melt the shortening. Place the shortening in a bowl and pour warmed milk over. Set aside.
In a small bowl, sprinkle the yeast over the warm water and let dissolve for 5 minutes. After 5 minutes, pour the yeast mixture into the large bowl of a stand mixer and add the milk and shortening mixture, first making sure the milk and shortening mixture has cooled to lukewarm. Add the eggs, sugar, salt, nutmeg, and half of the flour. Using the paddle attachment, combine the ingredients on low speed until flour is incorporated and then turn the speed up to medium and beat until well combined. Add the remaining flour, combining on low speed at first, and then increase the speed to medium and beat well. Change to the dough hook attachment of the mixer and beat on medium speed until the dough pulls away from the bowl and becomes smooth, approximately 3 to 4 minutes. Transfer to a well-oiled bowl, cover, and let rise for 1 hour or until doubled in size.
On a well-floured surface, roll out dough to 3/8-inch thick. Cut out dough using a 2 1/2-inch doughnut cutter or pastry ring and using a 7/8-inch ring for the center whole. Set on floured baking sheet, cover lightly with a tea towel, and let rise for 30 minutes.
Preheat the oil in a deep fryer or Dutch oven to 365 degrees F. Gently place the doughnuts into the oil, 3 to 4 at a time. Cook for 1 minute per side. Transfer to a cooling rack placed in baking pan. Allow to cool for 15 to 20 minutes prior to glazing, if desired.

And finally, a sad fare well to a dear mate of twenty years. Rest in peace Clementine.

Whether it is global warming or the fates of nature, but I feel as though we haven’t had a decent snow day in a couple of years. To have a dump of snow that was not too wet nor too dry and a day off of school with my son was delightful. We have made many attempts to build an igloo in the past with no success. This year was different. The boy was finally big enough to be of great help in stacking those little bricks! The scrappy little mutt however, was determined to dig his own private entrance.

Once complete, (many hours later and much darker and colder) the boy was determined to read in the igloo before bed. Seemed like a cool idea, curling up with flashlights in the frozen tundra and reading, but there were two flaws in our plan. One being that very quickly our hot wet sweaty bodies cooled down. My butt froze in mere minutes. The second problem, in his excitement for the snow the boy never brushed his teeth. Trapped snuggled so tightly inside with dragon breath, I could not resist the gag reflexes. Yuck!

Even the chickens came out to play!

Reblogged from ⓔMORFES:

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Graphic-artist and illustrator Igor Morski has created impressive surreal illustrations with a photo-real  approach. Really well-composed, surreal mastery.

Happy new year from little Northampton Ma. first night.

Mmmm! I want in on that action.

So, here’s the plan……

Shuffling about in my cozy pajamas while I bake, oh so aromatic, garlic sourdough, the guilt is almost overwhelming. My poor girls are not so sure they like this cold white stuff. They certainly are protesting though, the nesting boxes are sparse.