Ornaments at Earl Legacy Park

All of your ornaments are finished and the tree is decorated.

Isn't it fun to surprise people!

Did you know that it is very hard to find a short yet full pine tree in the middle of the woods? Most of the sunlight goes to the big trees in the canopy above, so the little ones have to struggle to survive. We found lots of cute lopsided trees, a few that reminded us of the Charlie Brown Christmas special, and several that were nice but leaning over the very cold brook . . . then we came across this one right where two trails meet - perfect!

Make sure to take a short hike out to see it for yourself!

The trails are located at the corner of Wallace and New Boston roads in Bedford (the entrance is off of New Boston, next door to Riddle Brook Elementary School). Directions and trail maps are available at the Bedford Cross Country Ski Club site. Our tree is on the Brook Trail, and it is only about a quarter mile round trip. Although it is listed as "more difficult" on the map (which simply means that it is not completely flat), this is an fairly easy hike for even a 3 year old - the biggest hill is the one between the parking lot and the trail entrance. Park at the warming hut/skate park then follow the guard rail down to the back side of the soccer field. The entrance to the trails is almost directly behind where the soccer goal is during the summer.

BTW - Ignore all of the funny colored plastic and wood fences. They are designed to control snow during the ski season and really do serve a purpose, despite their odd appearance right now.

If you are cautious about being in the woods, feel free to stop by between 3:30 and 5:00 M, W, & F. My husband and the ski team that he coaches will be there for practice, and they will happily point you in the right direction.

Challenge - Collage & Mondrian

Piet

Mondrian

Would you like to learn more about Piet Mondrian?

Take a look at this fun timeline. You can move your cursor over the bar at the bottom to speed up or slow down the speed of play. I liked watching it in reverse. It is interesting to see how different his first works are from his later ones, like Broadway Boogie Woogie. While you are online try painting like Mondrian at the Mondrimat.

Want to create another collage? You could even try to make one behind your back using these instructions. Do it as a game, or make it even more challenging by trying to create straight lines like Mondrian.

It is Christmas time!

Do you need a gift for someone special? Try making these super easy tissue paper collage votive candle holders. You could use primary colors like Mondrian, or red and green for the holidays!

Our ornaments are going up on the tree tomorrow afternoon! Take a hike out to the trails at Earl Legacy park and see how they turned out. It will be so fun to surprise everyone.

Baby Onesies for Care Net

This has to be one of the cutest and most useful art projects I have ever seen. Nice job kids!

The staff at Care Net asked me to tell you just how appreciative they are of your work. They especially liked the reference to Psalm 139:14. Care Net stocks a few small rooms full of items to help out moms in need, and they are constantly getting requests for help. These onesies will be really helpful to the babies.

And to any of you who dropped off additional diapers, blankets, pacifiers, and other baby necessities, an extra thanks goes out to you.

I have attached the original documents below, so that you can print your work onto your own shirt if you would like. It is fairly easy if you follow these directions:

• Get some iron-on paper (available at Staples) - unfortunately this only works with ink-jet printers
• Click on the picture with your work on it or right click and open it in a new tab (It will look backwards now, but that will change once it is ironed onto your shirt)
• Enlarge the picture to suit your own preference and print it onto the special paper
• Trim as closely to the image as possible
• Follow the directions on the package to iron it onto your shirt

Psalm 139

¹⁴ I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
your works are wonderful,
I know that full well.
¹⁵ My frame was not hidden from you
when I was made in the secret place,
when I was woven together in the depths of the earth.
¹⁶ Your eyes saw my unformed body;
all the days ordained for me were written in your book
before one of them came to be.

December - Mondrian

Hi everyone! The infant outfits look adorable with last month's artwork printed on them. I can't wait to show them to you next week before delivering them to the babies! CareNet Pregnancy Center in Manchester is such a great program. I know that they will have lots of opportunities to help others thanks to your efforts.

This month's featured artist is Piet Mondrian.

PIET MONDRIAN

(pronounced Peet MON-dree-ahn)

1872-1944

Dutch

In preparation for class please print out "Broadway Boogie Woogie" (1942-1943 Museum of Modern Art, New York) and place it where your child will see it often.

Click here for a printable version

Next week's activity will be to create a paper collage focusing on Mondrian's balance, and primary colors. We will be creating Christmas ornaments which will decorate a tree in the middle of the woods on the trails at Earl Legacy Park to surprise and delight visitors (note change in location).

This month's supply list was a bit confusing to type up because of the variety of skill levels in our group. Please feel free to contact me if you have any trouble figuring out what you need. Basically, we are going to be cutting and gluing at right angles. If you have many small children attending, you will probably want to do the cutting ahead of time, but if your children are older they can easily do this at the meeting.

You will need to bring the following supplies:

• Three 3"x3" squares of construction paper (1 each of red, yellow & blue) per person
• Three additional pieces (any size) of construction paper (1 each of red, yellow, & blue) per person
• Eight (1/2" - 1")x12" strips of black construction paper per person
• One 12"x12" sheet of white construction paper per person
• Q-tips - one per person
• Pencil (regular #2, not a drawing pencil) - one per person
• White glue
• Scissors
• Ruler
• Recommended: Paper towels &/or baby wipes

See you December 14th at 6:30!