The Ants Go Marching...

Claire's Birthday Party

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Asian Swap Artist Trading Cards

Just finished the ATCs (Artist Trading Cards) for a swap related to the Asian New Year. I decided to make them all different this time (I typically make ATCs for a swap all the same). Some of these I like better than others. Plus, I made an extra that I can keep for myself... not sure which one I want though :)

The backgrounds of all the cards are the same - I used a Korean text wrapping paper (from a gift from one of our Korean "daughters." On top of that I included bird and foliage images cut from Japanese rice paper napkins that are very delicate.

Year of the Tiger - 2010, I used the tiger from a Chinese "red envelope" that Claire got at school as one of her classmates shared her Chinese heritage.

I like this ATC a lot, even though it is not complex in its design. The dragon comes from some cool wrapping paper I have used in other artwork. The tassel is Korean and one we purchased when in Korea.

For this card I used "sea glass" found on Milwaukee area beaches on our annual Father's Day walk on the beach. Although not Asian (I wonder if sea glass washes up on Asian beaches too), the green color was a nice complement to the bird picture and adds some dimension to the card.

Seol Nal - Korean Lunar New Year 2010 - Year of the Tiger

Here is the annual picture from the Seol Nal - the Korean Lunar New Year Celebration our Korean adoptive family event. Claire is wearing a new hanbok this year, as her "baby" one didn't fit any longer. Jaden will need to get a new one next year.

The kids enjoyed the various crafts and activities - as always. Here they are making spinning tops.

The kids and I, posing in front of a beautiful tiger painting done by one of Mrs. Min's friends, just for this occasion.

Beauty in a Snowstorm

We are in the middle of a winter storm warning- 24 hours, 12 inches. Saw this little guy watching me, very resplendent surrounded by the white snow.

Valentine Swap

Here is the valentine I created for a swap. Looking forward to getting one back that was made by another artist. I'm not overly pleased with mine. There were a number of requirements: a button sewn on, doily, lace, use of the color red, addition of music/notes.

New Photos of the Family

Jaden participated in his first Boy Scout Pinewood Derby Car race this past week. Jim and him took weeks in making this beautiful car that won 3rd place overall out of 34 boys and their creative cars. We were so proud of him (and Jim) for the work he did. Grandma and Grandpa came and cheered him on as well.

Claire and me at the Milwaukee Admiral game on Friday. We went along with Jaden and Jim and his cub scout troop. Even though it was mostly the boys and their dads, Claire and I had a fun time. You also get to see Claire's new haircut. She had been begging for bangs for months. Finally we had them cut and we all think she looks so cute (and older too)!
Jim and I went to the American Club this past weekend, in Kohler, WI. It was a Christmas present I gave to him - a "five diamond rated hotel" in WI. We had a fantastic time. The grandparents stayed with the kids and we enjoyed time together, just the two of us. This picture is of us at breakfast - didn't think you'd want to see the picture of us in our robes and slippers in the cool Kohler designed bathroom with whirlpool and heated towel bar - even though it is cute too :)

Holiday Jammies

Couldn't Resist Posting

This is a picture Jaden recently brought home from school. He said it was from kindergarten. Maybe it was something his last year teacher found and sent home with him. However it got it home now, I was tickled when I saw it. The translation for the words... "I want to go upnorth." It was nice to see his plans for the summer and that he loves upnorth-the place we go for a week each summer. The two main components of the picture (besides his family) are the cottage and the fire pit AND the wood wagon we use to get the firewood from the woodpile down the hill to the pit. How cute is this that he included this! The yellow light is coming from a big round sun that didn't scan. But I loved how the sun goes into the house and illuminates it as evidenced by the yellow in the windows! This picture provided a little light into who he is and what he loves. I love it.

Making Salsa

My wonderful gardnerer neighbor Bob, gave me a load of his beautiful tomatoes - all kinds and colors. To use these ripe little guys before the fruit flies overtook them, I made salsa. Here is the process...


First, the tomatoes - lemon boy, green, red plum and lovely orange. Fresh flat leaf parsley and a bit of fresh basil.




The tomatoes, cut up and oh so beautiful...















All the ingredients mixed in - including garlic, a bit of onion and a splash of fresh lime juice.

Delicious.

101 Posts and Latest Korean Drama I'm Watching

I now have 101 posts on this blog! Kind of a celebration, I think.

I am watching a Korean drama online (no more buying these expensive DVDs any longer!) now that I have found a site where I can see so many! This one has my favorite Korean actor/singer - Rain or Bi. He is so young in it. It is called, Let's go to school. I like that the episodes are broken down into 2 or 3 sections of about 20 minutes each. Just enough - during lunch break or for a short mid afternoon break!

Our Korean Daughters - All Grown Up

Here is a picture Kyung-Yeon sent from Korea. It shows our three lovely (and oh so missed) Korean daughters. Yoona, Kyung-Yeon and Eun Yeong!

Me and My Kids

Jim and the kids took me out for brunch downtown on Mother's Day. Here is a picture from that day. A nice one of me and the kidlets!

Our Ballerina

Happy Ballerina


















Silly Ballerina

Easter Blessings

We had a wonderful Easter yesterday. It was low key, as planned. The kids were up by 6:30, anxious to see if the Easter Bunny had come. He even put some eggs with candy in them upstairs and in the bathroom so of course the kids found them as soon as they were up. J peeked in the tub and found his Easter basket right off the bat.



C was so excited running around the house loudly yelling. We got it on video. It was fun watching the kids' excitement. Had dyed hard boiled eggs for a quick breakfast.

We went to church - a beautiful service with trombones and trumpets and great hymns. Beautiful flowers at the altar - I had donated in memory of my my parents - after the service the bouquets were broken apart and we all could take some of the flowers home - our kitchen table has a vase of pussy willow, tulips, Easter lilies and yellow forsythia. Gorgeous.



Since we were all dressed up so nice (C with an Easter bonnet and matching purse) we took a family picture in the yard. The sun was gorgeous with a cold nip in the air - not even 50 degrees.


We went to the park and played ball, frisbee and climbed on the playground equipment. It was fun and good exercise for us all! Afterwards at 2:00 we had our "brunch" of Jim's awesome french toast, bacon minus nitrites and a fresh fruit salad. J then said, "I want to go outside." So we played outside in the front yard (the kids pulled out all the outside toys, including the croquet set we got Jim for father's day last year) for the rest of the afternoon - about 2 hours. Warm in the sun and everyone was happy! (Surprising since they were up so early and C didn't have her regular nap.)

At about 7:00 we watched the new DVD J got from the Easter bunny - Bolt. It was really cute. About half way through C began to lose it... she was so tired. We had popcorn (dinner) and were lucky to finish the movie and drag the kids to bed exhausted.

It was a great family day - laid back and fun, just as I had imagined it would be. I am glad we had the day together, just us. It was really special.

Some pics from coloring easter eggs the day before... tie dyed!

Weekend Getaway

Spent a few days at a waterpark with our good friends. The kids all get along swimmingly (pardon the pun). Here they are mugging it up for the camera.

Trip to Phoenix

Returned last week from a few days in Phoenix for the IRA (International Reading Association) conference. I presented on one day about altered books. Jim came along with me. It was our first trip alone since before we had kids, 6 years ago. It was a nice stress-free trip to a warm (85 degrees) place. Here are a couple of pictures.

Clean Eating

Been eating clean since the beginning of January. Here are some photos of food that I have made for dinners since then. All are officially clean! I've not been hungry at all eating clean - We all are feeling and looking better from this new lifestyle change!
First up - Polenta with mushrooms, tomatoes and spinach, Baked zucchini strips with parmesan cheese and French Onion soup.

Yummy Pizza with tomatoes, spinach, broccoli, black olives on an organic wheat crust.

Baked tilapia on a spinach, strawberry, pine nut salad. Mini bow tie pasta with peas, carrots and corn and steamed broccoli.

Korean Lunar New Year

Our family, celebrating Korean Lunar New Year - January 2009

IVLA Upcoming

Getting ready for my presentation at the International Visual Literacy Association Conference in a few weeks. Spending time putting together my powerpoint with my students' and past students' altered books. Great motivation to keep creative myself everyday!


This is a page from my student Mark's altered book - he describes what many people need to get over when beginning to alter books - or even consider the notion. Love it.

Busy Busy Summer - Now School Begins

Hard to believe summer is already over and school has begun. Here are the kids - the boy's first day at five year old kindergarten. Excited, nervous, anxious. The little girl back to the daycare, preschool, new teacher. Excited, confident and happy.

Little Girl - Almost 3

In about a week our little girl turns 3. Both hard and easy to believe, all at once. She seems much older than 3 already. She thinks she is ready to get on the kindergarten bus with her brother in the fall - and I think she'd do pretty good academically. Thought this was a cute picture of her watching Dora the Explorer in her jammies. Such a beautiful little girl, isn't she?

New ATCs - "Time" Swap

I finished 9 ATCs for a swap. All are a bit different, only in the photo I've used. Otherwise, the techniques are the same. I began with a background of tissue paper with clocks on it. Patterned paper on the left, swiped with brown ink. The ornate embellished "arch" is from a brown frame I cut apart to make at least 9 parts. Vellum vintage photo. Embossed stamp with words. Lastly - the finishing touch - tiny watch parts.

First day of Spring - Weather Warning!

I love the weather alert I received today... especially the line that reads, "A winter storm warning is in effect - heavy snow (6 - 9 inches), sleet, freezing rain - to combine with strong winds ...to cause major impacts to society."

Funny - I think it the major impact it will have on society here in the Midwest will be squashing our morale and thoughts of the weather warming up and spring REALLY coming!

Baggie Swap ATCs from Others

The ATCs from the swap I was involved with have arrived. They really are cool. I love seeing what others have done with my "stuff." I especially love the "WILD" atc - very clever use of the stuff I sent. Cool to think that the leaves are from an old placemat I loved and the animal print wrapping paper came from Julie on a present. The "Tea" atc lower right is very similar to the one I created for this person. We both used the tea flower, words and heart clip similarly. We even used a similar color scheme. Very fun and a big thank you goes out to all the women who made these: Alison, Caroline in CA, Jenny in TX and Judy.

ATC Baggie Swap

Here are the ATCs I created for the baggie swap. Looking forward to getting the ATCs made with my own materials I sent. Will post those when they arrive.