Homeschool Art @ The Purple Glaze Studio

I know, it looks like a cake.....

but it is a rather large mixing bowl.

A few weeks ago, our church youth group went to

The Purple Glaze Studio to make ceramic crosses to

decorate the wall in the youth room.

 Regan finished her cross and got started on

some dragon goblet.  Of course, she

didn't finish before it was time to leave.....

which meant we would have to make a

return trip to The Purple Glaze Studio.

 Well, if you know me well, you know there

was NO way I was going to just sit and

watch her paint.

I've done this before and was really not that

impressed with how my ceramic piece turned out.

If you don't get EVEN painted layers, they will look

faded in certain areas on the piece.

 The sweet young worker girl showed me EXPLOSION

PAINT.  You just paint 2 coats....it has chunks in it

that will EXPLODE when heated and create

a 60's style effect on the pottery.

 Now THAT excited me enough to want to make an

ASHTRAY.....yah, you heard me right...and ASHTRAY.

No, I do not smoke nor allow anyone to smoke in my house.

I thought it would be way cool to have a 1960s looking ashtray

in my office to

prop my paint brushes on when painting!!!

GREAT IDEA RIGHT????

 Well, that is what I had planned on making when I got there....

until a HUGE bowl kept calling my name......

I think I have a mixing bowl fetish.....

So, I picked up the lonely bowl and picked my paint.

Since my kitchen cabinets are guacamole green,

I choose one that was going to be white with

green specks.

I slapped my two coats of paint on.....

and TAH DAH!!!

 I think it is UH MAZING!!!

This project cost me $25.19....

AND IT ISN'T MADE IN CHINA!!!

 See how I like to keep my bowls at arms reach in the kitchen.

I use mixing bowls all the time.

I just realized that one is actually missing in the picture....

I have a vintage turquoise print one as well.

I know you were worried I wouldn't show Regan's

goblet...well, here yah go!!!  She did an awesome job

on her project and earned an "A".  I'm the

teacher and I can do that!!!

Route 66 Tulsa, Oklahoma - A diversion from the Office/Studio Makeover...

Sorry I do not have an office/ studio update for you...I am waiting for the electrician to put in some extra plug-ins on one wall....

Soooo, I decided to show you what we did after going to take Regan for a reading proficiency test. In Oklahoma, before a child can get their driver's permit, they have to prove they can read on an 8th grade reading level.

If your child is in public school, they can just take it at school.

Since our child is homeschooled, we pay and take it at a community college.

I am happy to announce that Regan reads on a COLLEGE LEVEL!!

WOOHOO...GO REGAN!!

After the test, it was lunch and since we were in the area...well, actually nowhere near the area....we decided to make it a history lesson too.

Since we homeschool, we can do things like that....LEARNING NEVER STOPS!!

We headed to the original Route 66 area and ate lunch at Tally's Good Food Cafe.
See that guy?
He is Tally!
Tally is very nice and even offered to take a picture of our group....since we weren't doing too hot of a job by ourselves.


Here is Missy and Shelby....Shelby proved she can read too!!
Missy looks all relaxed here....but let me tell you this woman needs to get to Tulsa more often....or ride with me more often.....she stresses too much while in the car...or should I say RIDING in the car WITH ME!!!
You can't see it...but, if you look carefully at her right hand...I'll bet there is a door handle clutched in it....yah!



Just call me Traci Three Chins....ewww....I am only putting this on here because Missy is going to be calling me to say that she can't believe I actually put that pitiful picture of her on my blog.....which, it is NOT a pitiful picture!!!

Tally took this picture for us....I just thought he was some random guy that came out of the bathroom.

All I am thinking in this picture is....Did this guy wash his hands? I might have to sterilize my camera after this!

Oops, I almost forgot to get a picture of our FOOD!

I had the Monte Cristo...sue me if I didn't spell it right.

I didn't even see it on the menu....I just saw the people next to me getting one and it looks AWESOME!!

It was AWESOME...which you can tell since most of it is GONE!

Regan had the 4-Way chili!!!

Shelby had the chicken fried steak!

Missy had a cheeseburger but the skinny minny had it all gone before I could get a picture!

Why? Why? Why? Can skinny people eat like that and and not gain a pound?

Here are Kelsie and Erin.

Kelsie and Erin are from Connecticut.

There are in Tulsa for a horse show and doing quite well at it!

Of course I have to apologize to Kelsie and Erin because they picked the hottest time to come to Oklahoma...we were in a major heat wave.

They were very ready to get back to their COOLER state!

They even said they were tired of SOUTHERN COOKING!

You are forgiven Kelsie and Erin... :)

I hope you have a safe trip back home and thanks for letting me make you all famous and put you on my BLOG....'cause you know I am famous, right?

Look! Mr. Tally gave us one of his famous cinnamon rolls!!

That thing was the size of a small CAKE!! That is a BIG takeout container...big enough for a complete dinner!

Also, at this point, I need to thank Missy for buying our LUNCH!!!

You are sooooo sweet and I am sooo glad we are friends!!

So...Exactly How Does a Homeschooler "Graduate"?

First, we start by finding a really pretty dress!

Then we borrow a cap and gown from a public school kid....we especially score big when that public schooled kid has an honor sash....

Hopefully, you realize I am just kidding....

The sash is for National Technical Honor Society.

We buy our own gowns and caps and tassels.

We are in a homeschool group and all the parents of seniors work an entire school year planning the graduation.

All seniors design a special display of their life for all the guests to "ohhh" and "ahhhh" over.

Sydni's has the pizza hat at hers because she has been employed in the pizza industry since she was fourteen.

There is a girl, Sprite, yes that is her name...so, she used SPRITE cans in her theme.

Here they all are looking pretty for their OFFICIAL picture as a class.

Then we take a goofy pictures wearing 2010 glasses....

The seniors made a banner for the reception area...

each grad had their own section to decorate as they chose.

Sydni likes PINK.

Reception table....for some reason, I didn't take pictures of the reception area.

Believe me when I tell you it looked spectacular!

Sydni gave the opening prayer.

Since this is a Christian homeschool group, we can do things like that....

A 5 picture slide show is shown of each graduate....here is Sydni's baby picture.

While the pictures are showing, Mom and Dad pre-recorded a love letter to their graduate. Yep, it is a true snot slinger!

Here is her Senior picture....my how time flies!

Another special moment is when Dad gets to hand the diploma to his daughter.

Sydni gave me a rose.....

We even had a great speaker, Joe McGee.

All in all, the ceremony lasts almost 2 hours for our 18 graduates.

Then we head home for the PARTY!!

My sister, Terri, is ready to TAKE CHARGE on the pink bike....MY PINK BIKE.

For some reason, she kept getting it confused with her NO BIKE.....yah, she has NO BIKE.

The manly men use a mother of all grills to cook up about 100+ hamburgers.....

We have a special cake made...well, this is really the 2nd special cake SINCE THE LADY GAVE OUR CAKE TO SOMEONE ELSE!!

Yah...seriously...so, she gave us a smaller cake to go with the big cake in hopes that it would smooth everything over.

It did not.....but it sure tasted good.

We got the yard decorated and prepped for the visitors....

We lit the fire pit....and made s'mores!

The kids played FREEZE TAG....yah, I loved it. We didn't have to wonder if they were sneaking off and drinking or doing things they weren't supposed to do....they just played a mean game of FREEZE TAG....LOL.

The adults and little bitties...enjoyed the FIRE PIT!

The night ended with a special dance for Sydni and Ryan...her fwiend. Did I mention he is her 'pecial fwiend?

Everyone was gone by 11:15 and we took some time to just go sit by the fire before retiring to bed.

We couldn't have been blessed with a more beautiful day and turnout....thank you to all who helped make Sydni's day very special indeed.