Thursday, December 27, 2012

Last night's work session...

Sometimes we forget the good when it is overshadowed by the bad.I missed several helpers who promised to come yesterday.

Thanks Mónica, Alejandra and little Sasha for keeping up the spirit to help enhance Carnival Charlotte 2013 with outstanding decorations.
It was unfortunate that Carmen Hilton had to end up in Urgent Care due to a bad fall caused by slippery pavement. 

Alejandra helped with much patience and ingenuity to complete a head I had started, while Mónica used her imagination creating an outstanding head (the only one of the night). 
No, not really the only one, Sasha kept working on her creation; as you can see below the face has eyes and most impressive eyelashes now!

There is hope that a few will keep working and continue to be selfless helpers for a cause so close to my heart!


I hope that everybody is having a wonderful holiday season! 

The January 2nd work session is  cancelled and from now on until we finish, feel free to call if you are interested in helping; there will be no schedule to work on the remaining eight heads...

A reminder for all: the year is coming to an end, I encourage everybody to grab the change you have in your pocketbook and give it to LAWA; every penny counts and the IRS rewards you also...

Until next year my friends! 

 





Friday, December 21, 2012

We have created ten centerpieces... Ten more to go...

We have created ten centerpieces... Ten more to go...

On Wednesday, December 19th we had the most wonderful work session at my home. There was creative energy in the room when Carmen, Maria del Carmen, Ana, Alejandra, Mónica and Anneliese dug into fabrics, pearls, pipe cleaners, shiny silver and gold styrofoam heads to continue preparing centerpieces for Carnival Charlotte 2013!

Every morning my granddaughter is working on her own creation. She is well on her way to become the third generation volunteering for LAWA!
 

None of us works alone, more than two hands are needed to complete the task of draping the fabric, by using the glue gun,and pinning  fabric unto styrofoam.




I found an old curtain and I thought it would make a nice creation. I starched it, Ana decided to wrap it around a head, Alejandra held the head while gluing. The final product is the most beautiful princess straight out of a fairy tale!



María del Carmen uses her magic hands while Carmen holds the head cheering on! 


I hope you enjoy this blog; please talk about Carnival Charlotte 2013 to your friends, LAWA needs your support!


Tuesday, December 18, 2012

Preparing for tomorrow's workshop...

Preparing for tomorrow's workshop...
Geometry was not my most favorite subject in high school; I did not understand what it was all about. When I moved to North Carolina and started working on patchwork and quilts I was surprised how angles, triangles and squares were extremely important for my creations. 
While my mind is full of ideas now, I realize they all start with basic drawings like the one you see below



My project is not finished, but you can see pieces of it on the table full of fabric, paper, feathers and glitter...


I added yellow feathers, more glitter to the figures, and soon I hope to show you a beautiful Carnival headpiece. The golden bonnet will become a gorgeous hat...

I am looking forward to work with LAWA volunteers tomorrow, women who understand what it means to build a strong community. They are giving of their TALENT and TIME to support the Latin American Women's Association fulfill its mission by helping young people succeed in school.

More things ready to decorate

The (plastic) grapes will be part of "Bacchuss", Krylon is the spray paint we used, the glitter will soon become a beautiful head dress ...

Any comments? any questions?



Sunday, December 16, 2012

Ostrich Farms around Charlotte NC


Ostrich Farms around Charlotte NC

We had two very busy days working on our Carnival Decoration Project.
Yesterday, we decided to continue looking for ostrich feathers... that's right I promised to tell the whole story. 
Ostrich feathers are very much part of carnival and Mardi Gras, and after searching online I found a farm near Mooresville, NC; click Bird Brain Ranch for  the  address. On a beautiful sunny day, and after I did not hear from the owner, Carmen and I decided to go anyway and find the place.
We got there, found a grey farmhouse, windows full of spiderwebs, half broken small buildings around, no person and no dog, which was a bad sign. We got out of the car and there they were, the most beautiful birds, tall (6 to 9 feet), and curious, at least 2 dozen of them parading  gorgeous huge feathers. I used my cellphone to call the person in charge, nothing... Finally we decided to visit the neighbors and they told us that the wife was working at WalMart and the husband had taken a job away from home. The helper that feeds the ostriches (they did look hungry!) had been let go...

That was the end of our expedition that day, but I found  Oakridge Farm, this time in Gastonia. I called and left message asking if they indeed would be at the Farmers Market yesterday Saturday, as advertised, but again I did not hear from them. Off we went anyway to scout out the Farmers Market. While we started buying tomatoes, Amish Honey, huge zucchini the woman from the farm called, she had just left the market and promised to be there next week, BUT there are no feathers. According to her the feathers are damaged when they kill the birds and the only possibility is to buy Ostrich feathers for a price we are not willing to pay. 

Still, it was interesting to learn about ostriches, emus, meat and eggs; I am planning to look at the painted and carved eggs for Easter!

The rest of the afternoon we went to Mary Jo's and had a wonderful time. We bought remnants for our head decorations, and a small piece of fabric with imitation ostrich feathers; they look fabulous on a head I made up last night. Sorry, no photo , you need to come to Carnival Charlotte in February to see that production.

Today, Carmen finished painting primer on all heads, I worked on two new projects, we had a good cup of coffee with German Christmas Stollen by candlelight and felt relaxed, and very happy unleashing our creativity... 

Below is a picture of our friend tracing eyebrows, eyes, and mouth on a head. We had fun adding earrings, necklaces (thanks Ana!) and a hat. You'll see this one when you come to Carnival Charlotte 2013...



 That's all for today, more after Wednesday's workshop!



Friday, December 14, 2012

Sealing and spraying 20 styrofoam heads


While our enthusiasm for Carnival Charlotte 2013 is overshadowed by the immense tragedy in Connecticut today, Carmen Hernandez and I had a very productive work session.
First, we purchased 18 styrofoam heads, brushed with two coats of  primer (picture below), and sprayed each head with silver, gold and even terracotta. (for a special project!)

Click on pictures to enlarge



I think they look spectacular, heads are for now decorating my kitchen and crowding, shelves, tables and flower pots!
If you have not seen the printed Carnival invitation that was sent to LAWA members, sponsors, donors and friends here is a copy.




Click on pictures to enlarge
 
We are looking forward to continue working on decorations  Wednesday 19th from 4:30 to 9:00pm. There are enough helpers for the two sessions in December, but feel free to sign up for January or come by any time. Your ideas, your talent, more ribbons, beads, etc. are welcome , just give me a call and send me an electronic message to make sure I am home.  

This is all for today, this weekend we are planning to go on an excursion, still looking for feathers from live ostriches and emus, (I promise to tell that story later) 

Sunday, December 9, 2012

First decoration meeting


At Carmen's home with Carmen Hilton, Ana Lemley and Anneliese Horst, and after enjoying tea and pie, we started our project to decorate 20 styrofoam heads for  centerpieces at Carnival Charlotte 2013.


I had prepared three heads with primer and gold spray. Decoration was prompted by the material we had gathered. In about an hours time, with much laughter and great conversation sprinkled with original words from Mexico, Peru, Spain and Chile. we completed our first obras de arte!



The enthusiasm has grown, Ana brought a bag full of costume jewelry, beads, etc. and I have made a cute little hat with glitter, gold and fabric


That's all for today. Our next work session will be held at my home on Wednesday, December 19th from 4:30 - 9:00pm. Anyone interested in helping may come. Carmen and I will have painted heads (gold and silver) ready for you to decorate. You may bring ribbon, beads, feathers, shiny material, and above all, ideas and willingness to complete at least one head

Feel free to leave a comment and ask questions...