Summer is here with the month of June nearly over. In Northern California the weather seemed to go from winter to summer, some how forgetting about spring. Earlier this month if it wasn't for the daily reminders in magazine ads, television commercials and Facebook posts that Father's Day and school graduations were rapidly approaching I might have thought it was still March, or at least early May. Since I live where nature surrounds me the flowers and the budding trees have been a reliable indication of the time of year. Similar to sundials and constellations my flowers have always indicated the time and season. Well, just like a cloudy day or starless night confused navigators and ancient folk, our cold rainy snowy spring confused my springtime iris.
I have always called this flower my Mother's Day Iris. The actual name is Yellow-Leaved Iris or Iris Chrysophylla of the Iris Family. About six inches tall the delicate creamy-white flower with pink and yellow highlights usually blooms the first week of May. Preferring slightly forested areas this iris blooms for about one week scattered over the hillsides in groups or individually. Definitely a delight on springtime walks.
Well, this year, my Mother's Day Iris appeared mid-June, nearly six weeks later than usual, still beautiful but no longer an indicator of the season. I might rename it my Father's Day Iris!!
This flower relates to KITCHEN ART as a reminder to slow down and appreciate each moment. Whether blooming early May or mid-June this flower is still beautiful and still brings pleasure. Simple activities with your children and grandchildren also always bring pleasure and joy. No need to race to the toy store when you have KITCHEN ART projects available.
Rain or shine, sweltering heat or cool afternoon breeze KITCHEN ART presents a few projects to celebrate summer and the joy of simple pleasures!
BUBBLE ART
Bubble blowing will fill a lazy afternoon with hours of fun as you watch the iridescent rainbow balls vanish with the breeze. BUBBLE ART will also fill a lazy afternoon with hours of fun, but the end result will be beautiful, delicate, permanent designs.
INGREDIENTS: dish washing soap, water, food coloring, four straws, paper
TOOLS: four small bowls, measuring cup, spoon
INSTRUCTION: Bubble solution: 1. Mix 1/2 cup water, 1/2 cup soap. 2. Pour into bowls. 3. Add several drops of food coloring (red, yellow, blue, green--one to each bowl). Mix. 4. Put straw into one color, blow to make a mound of bubbles. TIP: careful to exhale only! Repeat, using one straw per bowl. MAKE DESIGN: 5. Carefully place paper on mound of bubbles---pressing gently to get bubble imprint. Continue to collect imprints so all bubble colors are on one piece of paper. Use as stationary or frame and hang on the wall.
ADDITIONAL IDEAS: Use strawberry baskets to blow bubbles onto paper. OR: lift mound of bubbles with a straw and place on paper---carefully so they do not pop in mid-air!
SALT DRAWING:
SALT DRAWING is similar to BUBBLE ART as it can become either a kinetic sculpture, as the mound of bubbles were, or a permanent painting.
INGREDIENTS: salt, glue, recycled paper bags, food coloring, heavy duty paper cups, long recycled twist tie, tape
TOOLS: scissors, paint brush, muffin tin, glue brush, recycled jar lid, hole punch
INSTRUCTION: There are two ways to approach this project, permanent or non-permanent---but the initial set up is the same. 1. Punch two holes on either side of the rim of a paper cup and attach twist tie as handle. 2. Using scissors, poke a small hole in the bottom of cup, cover with tape and fill cup with salt. The size of the hole makes a difference in the accuracy and shape of your design. NON-PERMANENT 3. Place large flattened paper bag on table, hold cup above paper and carefully remove tape. Now swing twist tie gently, creating patterns as the salt falls. PERMANENT: 4. Squirt glue into jar lid. Make glue designs on flattened paper and try to repeat the pattern in the air with you swinging salt cup. Dry and shake off excess salt (save to reuse). Put food coloring in muffin tins and paint salt designs. Hang and admire!
ADDITIONAL IDEAS: Dye your salt with food coloring allow to dry. Fill different cups with colored salt to create colorful patterns for both permanent and non-permanent designs.
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