Arbor Day-Guardian of the Woodland-A Peek-a-Boo-Project

Arbor Day is celebrated the last Friday in April. I have always loved the woodlands and spending time is forests. Some of my fondest memories are from these "thin places"  "Thin places are places of energy. A place where the veil between this world and the eternal world is thin. A thin place is where one can walk in two worlds-the worlds are fused together, knitted loosely where the differences can be discerned or tightly where the two worlds become one. Thin places aren't perceived with the five senses."-thingplacestour.com

Once while visiting a college roommate on Vancouver Island in the Town of Chemainus I took a walk in these ancient trees-Western Red Cedar, Douglas Fir, Sitka Spruce, Grand Fir, Bigleaf Maple, and Garry Oak- and was transported to a time my grandfathers spoke of in Pennsylvanian when Lumber was King, and Williamsport was known as the "The Lumber Capital of the World" I have "green men blood" in my veins.

"Walks in Woods" is a name given to me to honor my love for nature and the hollers I frequented in my childhood from another longtime friend. It is with him that I have another thin place memory. The season is winter and we are in the woods near a relatives farm, where Oktoberfest is held in Autumn. The path is snow covered and we find our way to the campgrounds and gather fallen branches dragging them back to the fire-pit. We find some dry kindling left behind and begin to build a tepee of twigs and larger branches, till we have a totem ready to set ablaze. Once burning bright we stand under the pine boughs as snow gently falls upon our heated faces and melts as teardrop flowing down onto the frozen soil. We are still and quiet knowing we have come upon a sacred space. This memory has carried us through many darken days. My interpretation of the Green Man is the inspiration for this artwork as I honor the blessing of thin places.

Supplies:  (2) Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts-Tree 2,Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts-Pine Tree Shape Set, Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts-Fern Fronds, Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts-Fanciful Elements, Scissors, Stapler, Americana Decor Deep Brown Creme Wax, Vallejo Russian Thick Mud-Brown, Thin Plastic Spatula,  Nutmeg, Chili Powder, Cosmic Shimmer Lava Paste, Paper Plate,  Peat Moss Reinker, Vallejo Model Color-Green Brown and Flat Earth, Lumiere Green Metallic Paints-Olive Green, Pearlescent Emerald, Citrine, Green Embossing Powder-Leaf Green, Forest Foliage, Green Acrylic Paint-Green Gold, Phthalo Green (Blue Shade), Florescent, Chromium Oxide Green, Titan Pale Green, Face Images with Green Eyes, Heavy Gel Matte Medium, Paintbrush, Heavy Books

1. Gather Supplies

2. Connect Two GSLC Tree 2 Together Forming a Mirror Image, Cutting off Most of the Trunks.

3. Stable these Two pieces Together Using a Stapler.

4. Begin by Randomly Painting Both Sides of Trees First with Americana Decor Deep Brown Creme Wax, Vallejo Russian Thick Mud-Brown Using a Thin Plastic Spatula.

5. Next Randomly Sprinkle with Nutmeg and Chili Powder.

6. On a Paper Plate Use a Dollop of Cosmic Shimmer Lava Paste. Adding Peat Moss Reinker, Vallejo Model Color-Green Brown and Flat Earth Paints to Tint the White Paste.

7. Use Small Plastic Spatula to Randomly Splatter the Lava Paste Mixture onto Tree Branches.

8. It Will Go On Wet but Grows When Cured With a Heat Tool.

9.Spray Everything With Cheap Hairspray Sealing It.

10. Paint GSLC Pine Shapes with Lumiere Green Metallic Paints, I used Olive Green, Pearlescent Emerald, and  Citrine.

11. Sprinkle With Green Embossing Powder I Used Leaf Green and Forest Foliage. Cure With a Heating Tool.

12. Use Green Acrylic Paint, I Used Green Gold, Phthalo Green (Blue Shade), Florescent, Chromium Oxide Green and Titan Pale Green to Paint and Layer GSLC Fern Fronds Without First Separating Them.

13. Sprinkle with Nutmeg and Chili Powder, Sealing with Cheap Hair Spray.

14. Once Fully Dry Take Apart Each Fern Frond.

15. Collect and Print Face Images with Green Eyes.

16. Use Portion of Face Images for Eyes, Nose and Mouth.

17. I Left GSLC Fanciful Elements in Their Original Form to Counterbalance the Greens and the Browns Featured in This Piece.

18. Assemble Green Man Image Layering and Adhering with Heavy Matte Gel Medium.

19. Press and Dry Completely Under Heavy Books.

20. Once Fully Dry Assemble Your 3-D Mixed Media Canvas- Ready for Any Wall Display.

Some Final Thoughts.

Two Books that are often used on Arbor Day in the Classroom Are The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein and  The Lorax by Dr. Seuss

“And after a long time the boy came back again.

"I am sorry, Boy," said the tree, "but I have nothing left to give you- 

My apples are gone."

"My teeth are too weak for apples," said the boy. 

"My branches are gone," said the tree.

"You cannot swing on them-" 

"I am too old to swing on branches," said the boy.

"My trunk is gone," said the tree. 

"You cannot climb-"

"I am too tired to climb," said the boy. 

"I am sorry," sighed the tree.

"I wish that I could give you something... but I have nothing left. I am an old stump. I am sorry..." 

"I don't need very much now," said the boy, "just a quiet place to sit and rest. I am very tired."

"Well," said the tree, straightening herself up as much as she could, 

"well, an old stump is a good for sitting and resting. Come, Boy, sit down. Sit down and rest."

And the boy did. 

And the tree was happy.” -Shel Silverstein

"I am the Lorax.

I speak for the trees.

I speak for the trees, for the trees have no tongues.

And I'm asking you sir, at the top of my lungs - that thing!

That horrible thing that I see! What's that thing you've made out of my truffula tree?"

"Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot,

Nothing is going to get better. It's Not!"

“It's not about what it is, it's about what it can become.”

-Dr. Seuss

I would add to the list the musical "Into the Woods"


Little red riding hood
Into the woods,
It's time to go,
I hate to leave,
I have to, though.
Into the woods-
It's time, and so
I must begin my journey.




Into the woods
And down the dell,
The path is straight,
I know it well.
Into the woods,
And who can tell
What's waiting on the journey?




So into the woods
The time is now.
We have to live,
I don't care how.
Into the woods
To sell the cow,
You must begin the journey.
Straight to the woods
And don't delay-
We have to face
The marketplace.
Into the woods to journey's end-




Into the woods,
It's time to go,
It may be all
In vain, I know.
Into the woods-
But even so,
I h Into the woods
Without regret,
The choice is made,
The task is set.
Into the woods,
But not forget-
Ting why I'm on the journey.
Into the woods
To get my wish,
I don't care how,
The time is now.ave to take the journey.




Into the woods,
Without delay,
But careful no
To lose the way.
Into the woods,
Who knows what may
Be lurking on the journey?
Into the woods
To get the thing
That makes it worth
The journeying.
Into the woods-




Into the woods!
Into the woods!
Into the woods,
Then out of the woods,
And home before dark!

 

 

A Different Type of April Shower-A Peek-a Boo-Project

 I've always said a good sense of humor can get you through many dreary days. Others have said it better. "If you could choose one characteristic that would get you through life, choose a sense of humor."Jennifer Jones "Life is so much easier with a sense of humor." "A sense of humor is a major defense against minor troubles."Mignon McLaughlin It is with my warped and twisted sense of humor I bring you a cheeky new take on the phrase "April Showers..." I first found Victorian images of woman with umbrellas then tattooed men. I quilted them together in honor of April, National Humor Month.

Supplies:  Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts-Layered Frame Aria, Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts-Layered Frame Felicity, Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts-Layered Frame Tulip, Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts-Frame Lavinia, Collection of Found Images (Victorian Woman with Umbrellas, Tattooed Men),Printed Images of Card Stock and Transparencies,  Double Sided Tape, Embossing Ink Roller, Red Geranium Embossing Powder, Heat Tool, Black Acrylic Paint, Lumiere Crimson and Metallic Russet Acrylic Paint, Paintbrush, Heavy Gel Matte Medium,  Scraps of Cardboard, Heavy Book, Scissors, Black Sharpie, Used Tea Bags, Matte Medium,

1. Gather Supplies.

2. Search Pinterest for Desired Images-I Used Vintage Victorian Women with Umbrellas and Tattooed Men.

3. Quilt Together into a Grid.

4. Make Copies on Both Cardstock and Transparencies.

5. Layer Transparencies on Top of Cardstock Images.

6.  Attach with Double Sided Tape.

7. Paint Base of GSLC Frames with Black Acrylic Paint using a Paintbrush.

8. Use Embossing Ink and Red geranium Embossing Power on the Top Portions of the GSLC Frames. Cure  With a Heat Tool.

9. To Add Interest and Texture Use Dry Brush Technique to Add Lumiere Crimson and Metallic Russet Acrylic Paint to the Top Portion of the GSLC Frames.

10. Use Scrap Pieces of Cardboard to Add Backs to all of GSLC Frames.

11. Carefully Choose Portion of Quilted Double Exposure Images to be Included in Each Frame. Cut Out.

12. Layer Frames and Glue Together Using  Heavy Gel Matte Medium.

13. Allow to Fully Dry Under Heavy Books.

14. Once Fully Dry add Bits of Used Tea Bags on Portion of the Images to Give a More Vintage Sepia Look with a Paintbrush and Matte Gel Medium. Once Again Allow to Dry Fully.

Some Final Thoughts.

I hope you have enjoyed my take on "April Showers!!" I think many of us could benefit from a cold shower from time to time when the stresses of everyday living get too much for us. If you are allowed the luxury a bubble bath is even better with lit candles and meditative music and sipping a guilty pleasure beverage of your choice.

"I have a knack for finding humor in all sorts of things, no matter how grim. My sense of humor is wry and a bit on the warped side. (Well. more than a bit depending on whom you ask.)"Gerri R. Gray

"Laugh as much as possible, always laugh, it's the sweetest thing one can do for oneself and one's fellow human beings" Maya Angelou  "A sense of humor...is needed armor. Joy in one's heart and some laughter on one's lips is a sign that person down deep has a pretty good grasp on life" Hugh Sidey  "People with a sense of humor tend to be less egocentric and more realistic in their view of the world and more humble in moments of success and less defeated in times of travail." Bob Newhart "You've got to have a sense of humor to keep your sanity." Lance Bass "Common sense and a sense of humor are the same thing, moving at different speeds. A sense of humor is just common sense, dancing."Clive James