Painting Plates at the Library

Everyone kept telling me I needed to check out the new Kaukauna Library. It turns out that Kaukauna library is just as far as Neenah library or even the Little Chute Library. I thought it was more than 15 minutes from home. With the Kaukauna Library being relatively close, it gives me another library to enjoy adult programs at.

The first program that caught my eye was a spring canvas painting but that wasn't until April. then I saw plate painting.. Oh wait.. dang.. Like many adult programs it is during the day... HELLO.. I work.. I can't just take off because I want to paint plates. Weelll, it turns out I could take off to plate paints. The hubby and I wanted to go to the train museum in Green Bay and it wasn't open on Mondays, my preferred day off when working Saturday, so I planned on taking Wednesday off instead.

Since Danielle was off too, I registered both of us. It's always more fun with someone you know even though I suppose I could use opportunity to meet new people. She wanted to know the cost and I was like "Free... the best kind.. and since when do I library programs that aren't free??"

After entering the library from the basement and followed the signs upstairs, we attempted to find the plate painting. The sign said the board room but the board room was dark. While we were standing around figuring out our next move another lady showed up for plate painting. Danielle went to find out where plate painting was. The lady at the front desk directed us to a "back" corner of the library. Without signs or directions, I would never have guessed that it would have been in a corner... a very bright and sunny corner with high tables. It was actually a great place to meet. The set-up reminded me of a coffee shop.

I actually planned ahead and made a stencil of the Wisconsin "W" so my plate would go in my kitchen. I knew I couldn't freehand the "W". I just printed the "W" onto cardstock and cut it out with an Exacto Knife. The librarian was impressed.

Plate painting was really misleading. We didn't paint our plates. We used oil-based Sharpies to draw and color our plates. However, plate coloring doesn't sound all that interesting.

The process was quite simple.
1. Buy a plate at the Dollar Store
2. Clean the plate with an alcohol wipe
3. Draw a design on it with Oil-Based Sharpies
4. Bake your plate at 150 degrees for 30 minutes

If you make a mistake just wipe it off with the alcohol wipe. We were provide a packet with various designs it for inspiration but I already knew what I wanted to do.

After cleaning my plate, I used a thin black Sharpie to trace the "W".

Then I used a fat red sharpie and colored in the W. I really just kept tracing the "W" around and around until my lines started to meet and then I color the remaining parts.

The last step was to use a fat black to add the black shading on the W.

I think it took me 30 minutes or so to do.

Danielle made Gavin a "healthy" dinner plate that she found in the guide.

Once I got home I baked my plate at 170 degrees because that is the lowest my oven went for 30 minutes.

I really enjoyed this program. I like the crafty-type programs. It looks like Kaukauna offers a weekly crafting session for adults that kids are welcomed for. Once a month it looks like they offer a kid free event with some of them during the evening. I guess I will be adding Kaukauna Library to my bookmarks so I can stalk their calendar too.

Craxi At the Movies: Beauty and the Beast

When I heard that Disney was remaking Beauty and the Beast as a live-action move, I was skeptical. It is my favorite Disney movie and I wasn't sure if it would be ruined if they made it live-action. Then I found out Emma Watson was playing Belle and decided I wanted to see it.

Image from imdb.com

My movie-going experience did not start well. After paying through the nose for a bottle of water ($4.25... heck I can buy a whole case for that price and my movie ticket was only $5), Erin and I had to stand around waiting to get into the theater as they were still cleaning it... and it was 10 minutes before show time... Then by the time the previews and announcements were finished it was nearly 20 minutes AFTER the time the movie was supposed to start.

The movie, however, was REALLY well done but I still prefer the animated version. I'm glad they stuck to the original story.. a tale as old as time.. Sure they were a few differences but they were minor and added to the movie. The way the explained the snow at the castle was most beneficial.

Emma Watson was amazing as Belle. However, it is sad that a whole new generation that will know her as Belle and not Hermoine. I didn't even realize she could sing. The animated beast is so much better looking than the new beast. I really didn't like the horns. I wouldn't say he was scary but he definitely was more beast-like.

My biggest disappointment was that the castle accessories were still animated. I really though Mrs Potts, Lumiere, Cogswoth, Chip, and the rest of the gang would have been really characters as well. It does make sense though that they are animated because of the nature of the characters. Humans really don't make good household objects no matter how good the costume team is.  I also prefer the whimsical Mrs. Potts of the animated version than the more regal Mrs. Potts of the live action version.

Disney announced that LaFou is the first openly gay Disney character. My opinion: Who Cares? Now, with that being said, if Disney didn't say that I might not have drawn that conclusion. There is nothing overly obvious that he is gay. Yes, there are few moments that would make you go hmmm if you didn't know better. The final dance scene there is a moment when LaFou does give a flirtatious look to another young man but it is so brief that again if you didn't know better, you would never have guessed. I never saw LaFou dance with another man during that scene. Even though Disney introduced us to the first openly gay character, they did it in such a way that didn't detract from the movie and wasn't over the top.

Even though I prefer the animated version, I am not disappointed. If you haven't seen it, I would recommend seeing it. It is a good family movie. And yes the songs will get stuck in your head.

Would I buy it? Maybe... and that's only because I normally don't buy many movies any more.

An Afternoon History Lesson: Tunnel, Smuggle, Collect

Periodically the area libraries have author visits in addition to book festival. Most of time there are either when I am working or I am not interested in the book. When I saw that the Appleton Public Library was hosting Jeffrey Gringold, I wanted to go even though I never heard about him before. His book Tunnel, Smuggle, Collect: A Holocaust Boy was right up my alley. Although my relatives were long settled in America and not even Jewish, I love reading and learning about Holocaust, especially survivor stories.

Jeffery's father and grandparents were Polish Jews in Warsaw in 1939. Tunnel, Smuggle, Collect: A Holocaust Story is the story of their escape from the Warsaw ghetto. Before the family escaped, Jeffery's father, who was only 7 or 8 at the time, traveled the tunnels to trade goods on the black market... a baby aspirin, a nub of carrot, anything that would help keep the family alive.

As author talks go, I was slightly disappointed that Jeffery only talked about 30-40 minutes. Sure the program was scheduled for an hour but I really hoped it would go longer. What he did talk about though was very informative. He tried not to spoil the book at all... except he did say his Dad did survive. Even with the Q&A session, he didn't want to give away too much of the book. Although he didn't want to spoil the book, Jeffery did read 2 parts of the book that give you insight into the story. What he did read was very interesting and I can't wait to read the book.

After the talk, Jeffery stuck around to autograph his book which was for sale. I am one that normally doesn't buy books at these events as I feel most of these events are sales pitches to get you to buy a book. Because it was a book I was actually interested in, I was more than willing to buy it and besides all the royalties go back to Holocaust Education and research

One of the messages Jeffery stressed was to get your family's story. Talk to your parents and grandparents and get their stories. It might not be as exciting or challenging as the Gringold's story but it is still important to hear their stories. Record it and save it. You don't have to do anything with it. Maybe one day someone will have the desire to share it. 

Now thinking of what he said, I was like we have no story but as I am writing this do I really know how my parents met? What their first date was? What about my grandparents, who are long dead, how did they meet? Maybe I don't have a real story to tell but the family history story is still a story and maybe one day I will ask these questions..

Glass Icicle Fun

When we made our heart pendant last month at the Bergstrom-Mahler Glass Museum, I saw that the Mach Art Activity D ay was to make an icicle. As much as I enjoyed making the pendant, I thought the icicle project would be something I would actual use. I figured it would make a great Christmas tree ornament. I managed to snag a FAN pass from the Appleton Public Library for 2 admissions to Art Activity Day so Danielle and Gavin joined me.

We decided to avoid the initial rush and got the museum a little later than last month. We were advised that it was still crowded in the classroom so we might want to enjoy the craft activity first.

The craft activity to make pipe cleaner icicles with beads. Each of opted for different color beads and pipe cleaners.

It was a simple, fun craft but twisting it onto the pencil to make to the curls was a bit tricky.

I think used too many beads but I wanted double blue and gold. It really doesn't look like an icicle...

Once we had our pipe cleaner icicles constructed, we head downstairs to the classroom to make our glass icicles. The first thing we had to do was pick out our icicle -- oh the decisions... big, short, fat, skinny, lots of jags, no jags... I finally settled on the one I thought looked most like an icicle.

Then we used glass rods, beads, and confetti to decorate our icicle. Because I wanted to do ornament, I decided I wanted an "Wisconsin" icicle so I broke red rods into little pieces to construct the "W". Then I added red confetti to the rest of the icicle. It definitely look kind of what I envisioned. I just hoped when they fired it, the "W" wouldn't melt into a blob.

Gavin was more of all or nothing kind of guy while Danielle stuck to more of blue color scheme.

Like last month we had to wait to pick up our icicles... We happened to go to Art After Dark this month and actually got our icicles a day early.

And it turned out very cool. I can't wait to hang it on the tree this Christmas.

I really like the Art Activity Days. Maybe one day I will look into taking a class at the museum. Art Activity Day is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to glass crafts since we don't any of the fusing or fire work. I would love to learn more about glass fusing or glass bead making. Who knows maybe I will get lucky and score a FAN Pass to one of the classes.

History Lesson at the Library

About once a month, the Neenah Library and the Neenah Historical Society host a program revolving about some aspect of Neenah history. This month was a talk about the Galloway Company and the Neenah Dairy Queen. As a fan of the Neenah Dairy Queen, this one was one I really wanted to go to and the hubby decided it was something he was interested too.

Because I was already in Neenah for Art After Dark, I met the hubby at the library. The program started at 7 and went to save us seats around 6:35. I got one of the last 2 seats aisle seats towards the back. By the time the program started, it was a full house with standing room only... and most of the people were twice our age.

The program was quite interesting. It expanded on what I already knew of the Galloway Company and gave me the history of the Reiser Dairy Queen. Not only that, Jim Reiser, of Neenah Dairy Queen, and Tim Galloway, of the Galloway Company, talked about the partnership between the two companies and the company.

I learned a lot from Tim and Jim. Both men were very good speakers and even mixed humor into their presentation. It was funny to see Tim give his presentation without notes while Jim had to read from his notebook -- to make sure he didn't forget anything.

Besides supplying Dairy Queen with their "ice milk" mixture, if your dessert and/or candy bar is made with sweetened condensed milk or caramel, chances are that sweetened condensed milk was made in Neenah at Galloway. Those Rum Chatas and other cream liqueuer bases that you like to consume probably came from Neenah, Wisconsin. Galloway is much more than the family dairy that it started off as back in the late 1800s.

Dairy Queens were banned in Wisconsin until the legislature allowed ice milk in Wisconsin. Because of some law on the books, all ice cream had to be at least 10% milk fat... and Dairy Queen used ice milk which was only 5% ice milk. Jim Reiser's dad was involved in getting that changed... I just don't remember how anymore.

The Reisers and the Galloways forged a friendship that benefited both their business and personal lives not to mention the community. Although the Neenah Dairy is no longer owned by the Reisers and the Galloway Company has it's first non-family member president, they are both still big contributors to the community.

It was a great program that both of enjoyed tremendously. I will continue to seek out other history lessons at the library that we both are interested in.

Oh....

And the best part...

Free Dilly Bars.

I wish all library programs end with free dilly bars.

Fire and Art

I got a text this morning at work from Danielle

Danielle: Did you see? Fire Demonstration at 5:30!
Me: WHAT??? I like fire
Danielle: At the Glass Museum tonight -- the kids are doing a demonstration

We talked about going to the Art After Dark at the Bergstrom-Mahler Glass Museum but since we were there on Saturday and saw the exhibits, I figured I'd skip out on it since the hubby and I had plans to go to Neenah Library for a history talk tonight.

After figuring out logistics, Danielle and I were headed to Art After Dark to see some fire demonstrations. The latest exhibit at the museum featured area students glass work projects and area high school students were demonstrating making different types of glass art.

It wasn't the large scale fire demonstration with outside fires Danielle was expecting. There were several students demonstrating in the downstairs classroom how to make glass animals and one was demonstrating bead making. The only fire came from the blow torches they were using.

The glass animals were a bit hard to distinguish initially as the students were using 2 clear pieces of glass to shape the animals. As the process continue, we were able to see the animals take shape. As their animals took shape, the students added colored glass to them.

The glass beads were quicker to make and a lot cooler to watch. The student started with a color glass rod and heated it up until it started to melt. Once it get got liquidy, she "dripped" it on a metal rod while rotating the rod.

The exhibits by the area high school students were fascinating, imaginative, and creative. There were fused glass pieces, tile pieces, glass animals and other glass tube art. Each piece was very well done. It made me kind of wish there was a glass art class when I was in school.

Once we finished watching the fire workers, we headed back up stairs. Since we already checked out the exhibits, we grabbed a bit to eat (again) before donning fun hats for a quick photo shoot.

Despite not having a massive amount of flamage, it was interesting to see how some of the pieces were created. I would have liked more flamage but since the students worked with glass fusing and not glass blowing, the amount of fire was big enough. Besides at times the flame coming off the blow torch was quite impressive. I am glad that we decided to go check out the fire demonstration as it was a fun diversion to my evening.

Silk Scarf Painting

I saw the Kimberly-Little Chute Library was offering a Silk Scarf Painting Class for free but space was limited. After checking the calendar, I signed up. I just getting into the whole scarf thing and I thought this would be a fun way to add to my meager collection. It turned out that one of the librarians took a class from Sandy Melroy, owner of Silk Sensations and thought it would be a fun activity that the library could offer. Needless to say, I wasn't disappointed and it was a lot easier than I thought it would be.

After a brief explanation of the different types of scarfs, patterns, and techniques and a quick lesson on scarf painting Sandy turned us loose. Sandy already had the scarf ironed onto freezer paper for us.

Photo Courtesy of Kimberly Little Chute Library Facebook Page

The first thing we did was to use Gutta, a solvent that keeps the white space white, to make lines, shapes, and other designs on our scarf. Once the scarf is dry and you wash out the Gutta, wherever the Gutta was "should" still be white. I decided to do circles. Then we used to hair dryers to set the Gutta and it was time to paint. However, things got delayed because too many hair dryers going on high at the same time will blow a fuse and then the librarians scramble to call maintenance to find out where the fuse box is.

Bubbles (aka Circles) in Gutta

We could pick up to 4 different dyes for our scarf. Initially I was planning on doing double blue and gold so I could wear my scarf at convention in July. Yeah, well... that never happened. I saw the chartreuse and hot pink and ended up going with Chartreuse, hot pink, Sun Yellow, and a bright blue. I started with the yellow and painted it on in diagonals. Learning my lesson, I made sure the blue was not next to the yellow to avoid it becoming green.

Instead of a very classy double blue and gold scarf, I ended up with something that looked like 60's tie-dye. It was very bright and colorful but I wasn't sure if it was a look I was going for. There wasn't much I could at that point anyways. It wasn't like I could wipe off the dye and start over. So 60's tie-dye it was.

After I finished painting, it was time to add texture to the scarf by sprinkling it with salt to make the colors bleed. The salt soaks up the dye and you end up with the colors spreading and "pockmarked". We could use table salt or coarse salt. Depending on which kind of salt you use determines what kind of color patterns you get.

Then we had to wait.... 3 days to be exact. Because we added a solution to the dye to make it set, it took longer to dry. If the solution wasn't added, we would spread hours ironing our scarf to set the dye as each section of the scarf had to be ironed 3-5 minutes. I don't know about you but I don't like ironing at all so 3-5 minutes for each 6-8 inch section of 48"+ scarf just seems a bit tedious. I'll be happy to wait 3 days.

After 3 days, my scarf got a nice bath in the kitchen sink to get out the Gutta and salt. After the bath and towel dry, I only had to iron it dry... probably like 10 minutes max.. if that.

The colors did mute some so it isn't completely 60's tie-dye but it still bright and colorful. Because I tend to wear a lot of blacks and grays, it will definitely give some of my outfits a bit of pop.