be in a good mood when we start.
it doesn't work well to start a craft with kids if i am not mentally ready.
but we pushed through my mood and we did it.
hopefully they will want to make crafts with me again someday.....
i chose a painting project from Pink and Green Mama's site.
she taught it to first graders....Georgia O'Keeffe inspired flower paintings.
first we looked at pictures of her paintings to notice the details.
then i gave a pencil to draw their flower having the petals touch all four sides of the paper.
then a sharpie to go over the pencil.
then watercolor paint.
the petals different from the middle and different from the background.
i lost sean at the very start when i said "i want you to draw a flower"
he said no.
he drew a cactus, didn't like how it turned out...threw it away and went to swim in the pool.
oh well.
the girls finished.
they loved it.
both so proud of their work.
i felt more relaxed than i did all day when i was painting mine.
annie's rainbow flower.
talby's sunflower.
my purple cone flower.
so that is it.
craft thursday.
one down....ten more to go!!!
how pretty they turned out!I love the colors. Can I send London down next week :)
Posted by: Jenn Thomas | May 28, 2010 at 11:30 AM
These are great - are you going to frame them? I can't wait until I have little ones old enough to create and I can have a house full of art! :)
Posted by: Laura Wilder | May 28, 2010 at 11:32 AM
that is so cool! i love the way the all turned out, but talby's sunflower is really awesome! i love the color combo. it feels really summery.
Posted by: Heather | May 28, 2010 at 11:36 AM
You are really inspiring me! Just finished a "summer plan" for us. You're brave to do crafts...I have to be in just the right mood ;) Have a great weekend.
Posted by: Petie | May 28, 2010 at 11:38 AM
sweet. talby's is my fav.! but all of them look super-flowery! ;-)
Posted by: leslie | May 28, 2010 at 11:40 AM
...i want to come over on craft thursday! pretty, pretty colors!
Posted by: amy d | May 28, 2010 at 11:54 AM
Thanks for sharing! Today was our last day of school & I'm excited about the fact that you're a week ahead of us & we can borrow your ideas for Craft Thursdays at our house...
The flower paintings are fabulous, I love those bright colors! :) Did you just use normal paper or was it extra thick? Have a super Memorial Day weekend! ~Jaime
Posted by: Jaime Melcher | May 28, 2010 at 12:02 PM
You always come up with the prettiest crafts! (maybe it's because we have all boys, but everything cool ends up brown or something in a war with something else!)
Posted by: Shelly | May 28, 2010 at 12:07 PM
Those are beautiful. I look forward to when my boys can draw flowers like that. However, they probably would prefer to draw a cactus or Lego man. That is a seriously cool craft, I might do it by myself. In fact, I think I will.
Posted by: AshleyAnn | May 28, 2010 at 12:22 PM
LOL.....NO!!!....:D......the paintings are lovely!!!! really nice work girls!!!!
Lynda
Posted by: Lynda | May 28, 2010 at 12:25 PM
I love this craft-the flowers are so colorful and beautiful!
Posted by: Tam | May 28, 2010 at 12:37 PM
Very cool! These would make an incredible collection to display.
Posted by: citymouse | May 28, 2010 at 12:38 PM
I love this.... when we start our summer vacation in 3 weeks, I will be doing this one with my girls. Thanks for the idea.
Posted by: Nancy | May 28, 2010 at 12:41 PM
ALL I CAN SAY IS... SIGN, DATE, AND FRAME THESE !
HUGS FROM MAINE
Posted by: Lisa Currie-Gurney | May 28, 2010 at 12:47 PM
absolutely beautiful!!! I would so frame these and display them! Gorgeous!
Posted by: Dina | May 28, 2010 at 12:47 PM
Soooooo pretty!!!! I'm thinking about doing another art camp this summer ... might put this one in the idea pile!
Posted by: Julie K. | May 28, 2010 at 12:56 PM
They all turned out so beautiful!
Posted by: Nicole Q. | May 28, 2010 at 01:06 PM
SUCH a great idea!! I love Georgia O'Keefe...I am totally unartisitic (its pretty sad) I have many mnay empty walls right now...BUT I have 5 children who ARE artistic...hmmm.....You have inspired me!!
Posted by: kathy eller | May 28, 2010 at 01:09 PM
cool idea. i think i am going to bust out water color paints today for the girls!
Posted by: melissa | May 28, 2010 at 01:15 PM
Wow! Those are great. I was planning a still life session for myself and my 11 year old girlie, but I think I like this flower idea better!
Posted by: Kristi | May 28, 2010 at 01:53 PM
I love all the colors, I would totally frame them and hang them in my house. The sunflower seems particularly amazing to me.
Posted by: Courtney | May 28, 2010 at 02:01 PM
stunning! you will have a gorgeous gallery by summer's end!
Posted by: kristine | May 28, 2010 at 02:12 PM
you could probably throw those on etsy and add to the college fund! :)
Posted by: kristine | May 28, 2010 at 02:13 PM
These are absolutely gorgeous!
We will be painting these this summer for sure!
Thanks for the inspiration!
Enjoy the day!
Posted by: Cindy | May 28, 2010 at 02:24 PM
So i think i could do this....if you get the chance, email me and let me know if you used posterboard (i'm assuming you did, but being the FARTHEST thing from an artist, i could be wrong). My girls would be ALL OVER THIS! I will think of you if we ever pull it off (and i will think of you many other times even if we don't:) ) Love ya!
Posted by: Taryn | May 28, 2010 at 02:55 PM
ohhhh these are beyond deligthful!!! These rich vibrant colors are just begging to be displayed. Maybe at the end of the summer you could put on an ART show with all these beauties!? AND I see your kiddos take after YOU-- crazy artistic! :)
Posted by: katherinemarie | May 28, 2010 at 03:13 PM
All 3 are gorgeous! Great idea!
Posted by: Krista | May 28, 2010 at 05:19 PM
So cute. It got me thinking of my own summer with my kids. Keep the fun ideas coming!
- Tracy (www.liveitupalittle.blogspot.com)
Posted by: Tracy Fisher | May 28, 2010 at 06:29 PM
great idea! Gonna check out that website.
Sarah
Posted by: Sarah Keith | May 28, 2010 at 08:17 PM
im very impressed!
Posted by: Robyn | May 28, 2010 at 08:20 PM
Wow...those are just wonderful!
We are pretty new...stop by sometime! (We aren't all about our jewelry...really!)
Suz
http://katsuijewelry.blogspot.com
Posted by: Suz Reaney | May 28, 2010 at 08:24 PM
Those are really awesome!! Great work! You are a good Mom! Maybe the ideas will rub off.....hmmm.
Posted by: traci in virginia | May 28, 2010 at 08:34 PM
Just beautiful!
You have inspired me.
I helped my 8 year old Daughter and her friend make snow flake fairies yesterday (with lots of glitter!) while my other three were out or occupied.
They had so much fun.
Now we can try the flowers next.
You are such a great Mum Meg :)
Posted by: Kat | May 28, 2010 at 08:46 PM
Those are BEAUTIFUL!!! Kelly
Posted by: Kelly | May 28, 2010 at 08:47 PM
Meg, I have a request.
With 4 young children, I look at your blog and get a bit disheartened about how to find time to decorate my house on limited funds and time, or just have time to do any more than just live each day doing the practicalities.
I would love to hear about the realities of day to day life when your kids were younger please.
Could you maybe take us back in time to when your kids were closer to the ages of mine so I can have a reality check please? ;) (My kids are just turned 8, 51/2, 31/2 and 18 months.)
If you have time, that would be great! :)
Posted by: Kat | May 28, 2010 at 09:20 PM
the paintings are so pretty and summery. I am looking forward to seeing next weeks craft.
Posted by: dianereeves | May 28, 2010 at 09:51 PM
I so love your honesty, Meg! I am putting together crafts for my four babes this summer and to be honest I really am worried that they are going to careless about any effort that goes into planning. Thanks for the reminder that it is not about that...its about love and your kids knowing that they are worth the effort regardless of how they feel about it! You are a virtual best friend who I know, knows exactly how I feel sometimes! I pray for you, Meg!!! Loves!
Posted by: Jennifer | May 28, 2010 at 10:48 PM
Those are beautiful!!!!I struggle with doing creative stuff with my kids (b/c it test my patience) so I signed them up for an art class and had them taught by someone else this year. What I found was that the teacher's patience was tested as well (she was still an excellent teacher and they learned!) I was glad to know it wasn't just me. :-)
Posted by: Julie | May 29, 2010 at 12:11 AM
So pretty!
I love each flower painting :)
Posted by: sarah | May 29, 2010 at 01:29 AM
I am new to your blog, and it's terrific! I'm rurally impressed with how those pics turned out. I try in vain so far with my 2.5 year old boy, maybe when he's a little older, but alas, he is a very boysey boy, all cars, trains, and the like. Of course delightful in it's own way, I do enjoy being a human racetrack :-). Anyway, many thanks for this blog, it's great!
Posted by: Alison Williams | May 29, 2010 at 04:21 AM
Love it! I'm going to the O'Keeffe museum next week. Love Georgia. I blogged about her recently on my art teacher blog. And I'll be doing a similar project with 4th grade next year so Sean will get another chance .
Posted by: Beth | May 29, 2010 at 09:11 AM
I love Sean's reaction...made me chuckle. Talby's definately deserves a frame and a prominent spot on the wall! Or sold on your Etsy shop. You can tell her I said so. :-)
Posted by: Sandy | May 29, 2010 at 11:05 AM
Always, always, always be in a good mood yourself before starting a craft project with kids...no doubt. These are beautiful! Makes me think, but I doubt I have the atience for it...
Posted by: josephine | May 29, 2010 at 11:08 AM
Those are really great. You have some budding artists in your home. My girls have been begging me to paint. Thanks for the reminder to slow down and listen. Time to pull out their craft table:) Have a great weekend Meg.
Posted by: Becky @ Farmgirl Paints | May 29, 2010 at 11:45 AM
I just wanted to say thanks for posting the how to cut a pineapple tutorial a while back... I read it then, and today I am having a tropical dinner party and bought a whole pineapple rather than pre-cut pineapple since I knew I could come back to your blog and find out how to cut it. And great craft project, by the way! Hope you frame those.
Posted by: Allison | May 29, 2010 at 01:57 PM
Oh wow! I love it. I have been a huge fan of her art for years (since High School... that was just a few years ago, right?!).
What a great way to teach the kdis about art! I love it.
Posted by: Kate @ Songs Kate Sang | May 29, 2010 at 10:23 PM
You are such a good mom. You are really raising crafty children. Talby and Annie are always willing to do something fun. Hope you have a great summer.
Posted by: Melanie | May 30, 2010 at 11:17 AM
Okay, you're getting me motivated to get my act together....I'm going to use these:
http://www.surlatable.com/product/kitchenbakeware/cookie+%26+biscuit+cutters-presses/scallop+edge+cookie+cutter%2C+2%26%23189-%26%2334-.do?sortby=ourPicks#
to make these:
http://www.taste.com.au/recipes/15033/salt+dough+decorations
Posted by: julia | May 30, 2010 at 06:57 PM
great colours! you must have great waterpaints that keep nice and bright. can you recommend a brand? I went searching and couldn't find any worth buying .....
great inspiration! my daughter will love this project.
Posted by: peta | May 30, 2010 at 07:13 PM
yay! these are GORGEOUS!
totally doing these with my girls!!
LOVE THEM! you need to frame these!
tara
Posted by: tara pollard pakosta | May 30, 2010 at 07:42 PM
So so great! I love how you can give the same instructions and get such different results. Very cool!!
Posted by: Christina-fivewalkers | May 30, 2010 at 11:27 PM
These are so beautiful! Thanks for the great idea. We made these and they turned out great. (I even made one!) I bought watercolor paper from Michael's.
Posted by: Michele | May 31, 2010 at 02:47 PM
Frame those babies - they are gorgeous gorgeous GORGEOUS!!
(PS I forgot to tell you that I have read the five love languages - good book, lots of food for thought...)
Posted by: jasmine bailey-barfuss | June 02, 2010 at 03:55 PM
Excellent!! I have got to do this! I have a degree in fine art and yet avoid it at all costs when it comes to my kids. I haven't painted or done anything serious since before I had kids. ugh. surely I could do this project. Thanks for posting it. good to meet you, hopped over from A Familiar Path.
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