Wednesday, June 27, 2012

Children Learn What They Live--we all do

One of my doctors keeps this poem written on a plaque on her desk. From what I can tell, the orginal poem was written by Dorothy Law Nolte in 1969.






Children Learn What They Live

If a child lives with criticism,

He learns to condemn.

If a child lives with hostility,

He learns to fight.

If a child lives with ridicule,

He learns to be shy.

If a child lives with shame,

He learns to feel guilty.

If a child lives with tolerance,

He learns to be patient.

If a child lives with encouragement,

He learns confidence.

If a child lives with praise,

He learns to appreciate.

If a child lives with fairness,

He learns justice.

If a child lives with security,

He learns to have faith.

If a child lives with approval,

He learns to like himself.

If a child lives with acceptance and friendship,

He learns to find love in the world.




If I have convinced one child on this planet that he or she is loved absolutely and unconditionally then I have lived well.

Thursday, June 21, 2012

Sticky Rolls--AKA FLASH! Monkey Bread



My favorite recipe books are the ones lovingly compiled as fundraisers for churches and community groups. They include recipes for all kinds of dishes that are usually family friendly, easy, and frugal. I have a collection that includes my own books plus those from my mother’s and grandmother’s collections. Just browsing through the books takes me back to the covered dish suppers, family reunions, and holidays of my youth

I went to one of these books back around 1995 when we were having guests for the weekend and I needed something to serve for breakfast. I found a recipe that was submitted by one of my cousins on the Richardson side for breakfast cinnamon buns. It looked like a modified version of Monkey Bread which I had eaten before but never made because monkey bread involved the time consuming chore of rolling small pieces of dough in a sugar cinnamon mixture.

This recipe call for breaking the dough into small pieces, but then the topping could just be poured on top of the dough

Over the years I’ve stopped looking at the recipe and I just add the ingredients to fit the number of biscuits in the can. The part that never changes is how making these makes me think about my family, the novelty that biscuits come in a can, and my favorite kind of cookbook.

The view before baking

The Recipe in “you get the idea” format: 
  • Use non-stick spray to coat bottom and sides of casserole dish
  • Pull apart 10 canned biscuits and place pieces in dish
  • Melt a stick of butter in a 2 cup glass measuring cup
  • Add about a cup of brown sugar, a tablespoon of pancake syrup, teaspoon of vanilla and a teaspoon of cinnamon
  • Stir topping and pour over the biscuits.
  • Bake at 350 degrees until golden brown—around 15 minutes.
I don’t eat sweets in the morning anymore so we have this for dessert now served warm with whipped cream or ice cream.
  “Y’all help yourself now.” (that means bon appetite in southern English)




Thursday, June 14, 2012

The Guitar--My Acrylic on Canvas Adventure

Funny how thinking about other people can bring you to new places in your own growth…Okay, it’s not funny, it’s fabulous and it’s fact. Serendipity is splendid.

I wanted to share a dose of creativity with Marina and ended up opening myself to new directions as well. We went to Uptown Art http://www.uptownart.com/landing.php  in City Place and created a marvelous painting of a funky guitar on canvas with acrylic paint in about two hours.


The guitar is my early Father’s Day gift to Sir Henry, who was thrilled to see me walk in the door felling great and bringing him a present. The time with Marina was precious and seeing her glow with the joy of creativity was inspiring.

In addition to accomplishing my mission of sharing time and art with Marina I enjoyed making something for my husband and I received a welcome infusion of self-empowerment and confidence

I am taking a summer sabbatical from Anton Academy, the fabulous school where I work part-time. This sabbatical will open up new paths professionally and personally. Check out my hire me page online and let me know if you are on this path with me. Thanks!

http://www.nachattin.com/hirekNACk.html
Put me in Coach—I’m ready to play today!


Artist's notes: This isn't the first time I painted with acrylics for Sir Henry. Here's his favorite that I painted for him. It's a tribute to the cover of our favorite Eagle's album painted on what I fondly refer to as the "speaker thingy" for our sound system.


Tuesday, June 5, 2012

Postcards from the Artful Tourist


Online challenges are fun inspiration--even if you don't actually participate in the challenge. Last spring I decided to enter the "Animal Kingdom" challenge from Sunday Post Card Art. The challenge was to make a 4" by 6" postcard featuring the animal kingdom. Any art mediums in that size are accepted. When I read the preview I only saw animal kingdom, the blog challenge post on SPC actually said " furry friends from the Animal Kingdom."



I'm hoping that the human member of the animal kingdom counts if the frog doesn't....


I created my postcard in traditional collage--I'd call it scrapbook style. I wasn't satisfied with the results so I then added spray mist color and finally altered it again digitally. In the end, I didn't even enter the challenge--I just didn't feel the mojo from this project. Since I completed the postcard it's been on display in my study and now I really love it.


All 5 card stock papers used are from Paper Temptress. All but the Jelly Bean green on the frog had a shimmery finish to them.

Before walnut shimmer spray a the black & white version for another take on it.

Something to Crow About

One of my digital greetings I use on Facebook.
Happy 10-year anniversary to www.NAChattin.com!
I’m no pioneer, but at the same time, I’m not a babe in the internet woods either. My web site, www.nachattin.com has been live since April 2002

Sir Henry set up the initial account for me to create www.NAChattin.com as a showcase area for my writing and creativity coaching. The site has introduced me to so many fabulous people and places. I’ve published over 500 pages, gone through three major format overhauls, and worn out 5 keyboards.

The internet has moved self-publishing from a few ‘Vanity Press” operations to a global phenomenon. I am reminded of the colonial era when anyone with access to a printing press and an opinion could create a newspaper. Or perhaps the early days of Rock ‘n Roll when performers could grab their guitar and walk into a place like Sun Studios to make a record.


As princess of my very own unwieldy domain, I have not changed the world and I definitely haven’t made my first million. Then again, that’s not what I set out to do. I have had a blast--and that is defenately my intention as I continue forward with life as the Artful Tourist.

Thank you to everyone that has ever visited my blog since 2007 or my web site. I am honored.

Friday, June 1, 2012

How I spent my paper vacation

Beaded ornaments for a bottle of shells.



 


Every now and then, as mentioned in my knitting entry, I veer away from the paper arts to explore other creative outlets. It’s very refreshing to use different mediums of expression, enlightening to look at projects as beginner, and inspiring to meet and see a variety of new artists either online or in person.


In April, I breezed into my local bead store—Gemstone & Bead Imports on Okeechobee near Military. http://gemstoneandbeadimports.com/ . The sparkles drew me in, the colors soothed my cravings, and the sample projects lifted my heart. It was time.


I’ve done beading before; I pick it up and put it down. I venture into altered steampunk style pieces fairly regularly and I made a lovely collection of beaded crystal ornaments for Christmas gifts one year. This time—I wanted Swarovski crystals and I wanted them in clusters.


I signed up for a class called “Beaded Bead” with an exceptional teacher named Kim Leahy. Check out her web site http://estherbeadwork.com/  and blog.




Take a vacation from your primary form of creative expression and enjoy where the road leads you. Be sure to send me a post card!


The class was from 10:30-12noon and I only left at 2pm because my blood pressure had exceeded the threshold for standing or sitting up any longer. (The store is 3 minutes from my home, thank you Great Creator).

I made two beads by the pattern in class, one under gentle guidance and one with more independence. I loved that teaching technique and I want to use it more in my own classes. Essentially, she taught the whole project, gave written directions, and encouraged you to complete a second identical project while she was available but not directly involved.One of my beads has become a pendant. The other bead along with a “freestyle version” I created at home have been pulled into home décor duty in our bathroom.