quiet

I feel like I've been living my life out loud for awhile now. Craig and I were cleaning up my computer and doing a major Backup (of over a million files...yikes!) and I found this photo of me and my kids when they were just in preschool. It's funny how it seems like so long ago that they were this little yet it also seems like they are exactly the same two kids who I was sitting between on the couch last night, cuddling and watching tv. When this picture was taken, I was involved in some little projects but I never would have guessed that I'd be blogging someday (we were barely on the internet at that point) and that I'd have friends all over the world! Then when I started Hatch, I met more wonderful people. I think I've reached an overload mode... too much interaction for this introvert! I didn't even have enough time to keep up with everyone on my blog and even when I did want to write, my energy was gone. Is gone. I see all these great posts by others listed and my heart sinks because I know I need to rush off and get ready for another class or get home before the school bus comes. And it's not like I don't want to do those things... I just don't have time to be spontaneous and explore the world like I used to. I'm lucky in that I have a husband who understands that about me. He reminds me frequently that to be happy, I need to have freedom to create, to learn and to explore. And that also means being quiet occasionally and not be a part of the whirlwind of life that I seem to be a big part of right now. I know if I say I will stop blogging, then I'll be on here more! That's the way it always seems to work. I know I'm writing this for myself, but I just needed to express this and let myself just accept that fact... that I am quiet and I need that. After the death in Craig's family and Nathaniel having the flu, it forced me to take a break and I finally felt like myself again. So, I'm hoping this fall that as the holidays near and Hatch closes, that I start working in my studio again and embracing what truly makes me happy. I wish that for everyone.

Zambian Art and Craft Project

Hatch Studio & Gallery is excited to share bags with you from the Zambian Art and Craft Project! I will have these here for a very limited time... Pati Frey who founded this program along with the Murray family from Lititz who are currently living as Missionaries in Zambia, Africa are helping these women support their families by selling their bags here in the United States. Most of the women are supporting their own children on less than a dollar a day. Selling their craft is helping them move towards independence in earning a more decent income to provide food, shelter and education for their families. 100% of the money for each bag goes back to the artist who created it. The bags are all unique and are made from recycled plastic bags... all colorful and well constructed. The plastics are actually crocheted into all different styles and sizes. As I was walking through the rain the other day, I realized that these bags are perfect because water doesn't harm them! Here are the ones I have at Hatch and I'm offering for sale. If you do not live in the area, I will ship it to you. If you are interested in sharing bags with your own friends, you can contact Pati at PATIGOINGFREY@AOL.COM. Please let me know by Wednesday, October 21st if you'd like one... they sell quickly! Thanks for taking a look!

A. Large Black & White w/Confetti Color Tote 16" x 19" $25 SOLD

B. Blue & Green striped Purse 6" x 8 1/2" $15

C. Green & Blue with Red Handles Purse 5" x 8" $15 SOLD

D. Red, Blue, Orange & Green Purse 7" x 9 1/2" $15 SOLD

E. Long Red & Grey Bucket Purse (18" strap) 9" x 6" $20 SOLD

F. Red, Grey, Green & Blue Purse 7 1/2" x 10" $15

G. Red & Grey Purse 7 1/2" x 11 1/2" $15

H. Green & Grey Purse 8 1/2" x 12" $20 SOLD

I. Black with Multi Colors Purse 10 1/2" x 13" $20 SOLD

J. Black with Orange, Green & Blue Striped Purse 11 1/2" x 15" (18" strap) $20

K. Blue & Grey Purse 10 1/2" x 13 1/2" $20 SOLD

L. Sea Green & White Purse with fabric lining 11" x 13" $25

line work

I had to show you this drawing that Liam did on Saturday! We were learning different types of line work: hatching, cross-hatching, scribbling, and variety of line darkness and thickness. I had given the kids a photo of an animal and they were to try the four different types of lines in each box. Liam is in second grade and he didn't quite understand to do different lines in each box but he did try different lines within the squares and I was really impressed with the variety of textures this drawing has. It is so exciting to see an awareness of this in a drawing by someone so young. Week after week I am always surprised and delighted by the work that children do. I also am sorry that a majority of kids never get to experience these type of lessons... you just never know what brilliance is waiting to be communicated!

I was also very lucky to get downtown this afternoon to Lancaster's Art Walk and see my friend Matthew Cherry's latest series of paintings. He is extremely talented and photos do not do the colors justice. I got to see some of his drawings too... the contour work, the line variety... all the things I was trying to teach my own drawing students! When I see line work that is raw and immediate and just perfect... it's so beautiful. His paintings are huge... they make me want to take out my paints and go large. I finally feel like I had a Sunday where I could just enjoy the day being inspired. Craig and I are hoping to work with Matthew in the nearer future on something.

Hope you're having a good weekend too!

free pattern and sale

Mia over at Owlishly is having a pattern sale and if you buy $18.00 worth, you get 20% off, PLUS the first ten people get a free pattern for this adorable turkey boy. Follow my link for more details! Mia has been a great part of Hatch and is brilliant with her crochet amigurumi patterns!

I also found out that I missed out on Alicia's 2009 Christmas Ornament pattern...she sold out! I got her kit last year but almost cried when I realized I missed this one! She is promising a pdf soon though, so someone please tell me if you see if come out so I don't miss that!

class news

It's a rainy, dark October day, so I thought it would be a good time to upload some photos of what's been going on at the studio lately! A couple weeks ago the drawing classes explored Positive and Negative Spaces... the shapes that are formed by the figure and the background. I made up different worksheets for the kids to see and copy the negative shapes...

Being able to see the shapes that are formed around your subject gives you an advantage when you are arranging a composition... if those shapes are interesting, then the whole picture becomes more interesting to look at.

Then we moved on the next week to Perspective and Proportion. I taught them sighting with their pencils-- looking at the verticals, horizontals and angles inside the room. They picked a corner to draw. I was amazed at how well they saw extreme perspectives! They also used their pencils to sight size comparisons-- the door is twice as long as it is wide (1:2). A lot of times teachers try to teach kids the technical methods of one-point or two-point perspective, but really their brains aren't ready to use those tricks to apply to what they see in real life. Sighting is just learning to see and compare. We don't trust our eyesight and that's a huge hurdle to becoming good at drawing!

I have been having a great time watching the progress in my watercolor class! It is always fun to see the variety of styles when people pick up the paint and explore for the first time. We always laugh at the huge differences in color and application even though they are using the exact same three or four colors! I'm so proud of how they are jumping in to learn!

This past Tuesday we braved the wind and chilly air to paint outdoors. We picked a view of a farm and surrounding trees to learn to mix a good variety of greens and also to paint atmosphere and perspective in landscapes. This is really hard stuff!

This week in my drawing classes, we are exploring varieties of texture in our lines. I gave them a photo of an animal (the furrier, the better for this) and they split it up into four segments. In the first they were asked to do it as a line drawing with a variety of wide (dark) lines and thin (light) lines...like our contour drawings we did the first week. In the second box, they practiced using hatching to create the lines and values. The third box, they used cross-hatching which is very similar. The fourth box uses scribbles to create lines and areas of grays and darks. I thoroughly enjoyed this lesson myself, but I think it was slightly difficult for the class on Wed. I'm anxious to see how Saturday's class goes. I think kids work better for me on the weekends because they haven't had to sit through a whole day of school and they seem to be more relaxed about trying new things.

I have something to share with you in my next post... off to take some photos!

~ B.

online instruction

Recently I found what looks like a great online art instruction site: ARTWorkshops.tv. You can download a video for however long you'd like to view it, in a variety of art areas. Even without downloading anything (for free), you can click on a short video for each one to see what it's like. These alone are inspiring! I think watercolor is such a different painting medium than oils or acrylics in how you apply the paint. It is so interesting to watch how professional painters do it. This is so much better than the "happy trees" shows on public broadcasting! I hope you have a minute to look at some!

autumn colors

Walking through the field behind my house just inspires me. The colors, the patterns, the textures all are so interesting. I hope these photos are inspiring to you too!

another successful ladies night out...

With all the busy-ness of back to school and new fall schedules, I didn't know if I'd have a good turn-out for Ladies Night Out this past Friday evening. Well, put the word out that we're having fun and my friends never fail to come out and have a good time with me, making things, eating and drinking, and getting to know new friends! I spend days preparing and then in a matter of hours which feel more like minutes, it's all over again. I had about 16 women at Hatch and we glittered pumpkins and explored different ways to make placecards for the holidays. My friend Sheri brought a display of things from Southern Living at Home, which is always fun to browse through! And I served fall desserts-- gingerbread cake with whipped cream, Laura brought individual pumpkin pies, broccoli spread and crackers, coffee, wine and the hit of the night- Hot Mulled Apple Cider! So, I thought I'd copy this really easy recipe here for you to

try... it's delicious!:

HOT MULLED CIDER

Serves 12

from "Barefoot Contessa Parties!" by Ina Garten

Nothing tastes as good on a cold winter day as hot spiced cider. It's easy to make and really warms your insides after an afternoon of winter sports. And nothing makes a house smell as wonderful. For a party, I leave it on the stove over very low heat and everyone helps

themselves. [I made it in a 4 Quart Crockpot.]

16 cups (1 gallon) apple cider or pure apple juice

4 2-inch cinnamon sticks

Zest and juice of 2 oranges

8 whole cloves

6 star anise

Combine all the ingredients in a large saucepan and simmer over low heat for 5 to 10 minutes. Pour into mugs and serve.

fall soccer

Nathaniel's soccer team has enjoyed winning these past two weeks. Craig is coaching again and the boys really seem to come together as a team under his direction. I love fall soccer... it just seems like the perfect sport for cool autumn mornings. But don't call me a soccer mom... I don't think I fit that stereotype at all! (do I?) I WILL brag on my son a little... he is definitely becoming one handsome young man... and the girls are starting to notice!