The Last Saturday of the month ArtSmart. The little flags were eye catchers.
Just setting up, we had 4 artists, for the first time out. It was a lovely, perfect day, with lots of people out walking.








Michelle Benton, Christy Howden, Jean Canavan, and me.

A Flip Book, I made it at Running With Scissors. Kate Lebowsky taught the workshop. It was so much fun, I plan to do it again soon. Number 163

The beginning of a new project.

Red Embers, number 162.

Green with Flowers, number 161.

Another one, Purple Haze, number 160.

A small trivet, about 5" by 6" Number 159

Here are the three mirrors I showed you, now they are grouted.

See below for the unfinished one.

The grout makes a big difference.

Aqua Mosaic Mirror, number 158

Pastel mirror, 157. Both of these will be grouted.

Red and Green mirror, number 156

Green Chili, 155.

Fruit Punch, 154.

Gold Nuggets, 153.

Today I went to a lecture on Golden products. They make acrylic paints, as well as many other art products. It was so much fun! I learned so much I never expected. I want to try about 15 different things now. This was a great way to spend a couple hours. We saw how to use fiber medium, interference paints, how traditional pigments differ from modern ones, the characteristics of types of acrylic paints, how and what to use in mixed media, etc....
I am planning to host the lecturer at Two Twelve Art Center in January. I believe every artist there will learn something wonderful.

Fruit Nugget, 152.

Orange Lozenge, 151.

Chili, number 150. I am not counting the pair of earrings I made with each necklace.

Mini Confetti, number 149.

Crystal necklace, Harlequin. Number 148
I am going to be in the first ArtSmart outdoor artists market, on May 29th, from 9a.m. to 1 p.m.
It's in Saline, a block south of Michigan Ave. (U.S. 12), at the main intersection, Ann Arbor St. The ArtSmart will be the last Saturday of the month in May, June, July, and August. The Farmers' Market is there too, so come get your fresh food, and fresh artwork too.

Crystal necklace, Water. Number 147.

Crystal necklace Confetti, number 146.

I will be attending a class for using Golden products this weekend. I hope to learn fun things to do in Art Salad on June 7th. Check this space for ideas on Monday.

Number 145.

Number 144

Number 143.

Number 142

Number 141

I have made several new necklaces this week. Number 140.

Night Blooms, a tropical quilt. Number 139.

A new mirror mosaic. It will look better when the glue is dry. I made the face from Fimo, several years ago. Number 138.

Rick calls this the Zombie quilt. I think of her as an art goddess. Just finished, my hands ache from all the hand stitching. Number 137.

Yesterday Rick and I went to see the Through African Eyes exhibit, at Detroit Inst. of Arts. This is worth going to see. There are plenty of pieces to look at. In some, you can see the way Europeans were being mocked. In others, how the chief gained prestige by having contact with the white people. And there is other social commentary in some. But I liked it best for the fascinating images. And on Friday, entrance to the special exhibits is free, with paid admission to the museum.
The cafe in the DIA is very good. We got the salad bar, delicious. But there are many great entrees. As long as you're there, see some of the rest after lunch.

The picture is washed out, but the grouting is done. Despite the mini flies that kept buzzing my face as I worked, it is done. And since I can't find any pictures of these counted, the number is 136 for the year, so far.

Deb and I went to a dress rehearsal of Tosca, at the Detroit Opera House on Wednesday night. All the people were seated in the balcony, which is huge. We, and a few others were in box seats. The opera was wonderful. I loved the costumes, Deb loved the story, the music was beautiful. It was a fun night.

I think you'll enjoy this film about Hummingbirds. It shows heliconia flowers too.

This is Deb and Patrice, with the face quilts we made today.





This is me and Patrice. The workshop we were going to take was cancelled, so we did our own.

What I did Monday: This is me, hard at work. I really did a lot. The whole dirt area in the next picture, used to be a huge bush. I cut it all up, hauled it to the fire, and burned it. There are about 9 more piles of logs bigger than this one to be burned yet.

Today I prepared 27 fabrics for use in tropical flower quilts. They are nearly a rainbow of colors. You'll see them in use soon.

Heliconia, one of the Tropical series. Number 132. I think this makes 18 Tropicals.

This is Deb' entry for the Chicken Challenge. It's called The Five K Chicken Race. See more of Deb at Life in Stitches.

It's early, but here is my Chicken Challenge. I used the color chart we chose, which included pink, yellow, green, violet, and gray green. This pillow is about 20" by 23" Number 131.

Good News! Two of my quilts are accepted into the International Quilt Festival! Wahoo!

The latest Tropical Flowers, number 130.

This is the group that went to Hobby Lobby today. We had 2 hours to have fun, and we did it. Origami paper, fabric, oil pastels, charms, books, way cool trims, etc., made the trip home.