Checkmate

Not long ago we acquired a game table. I came home from work Saturday and noticed a different set of chess pieces sitting on the table than I had before seen. Debra made this set in high school art. This is only 1/2 of the set shown here.



Debra also made a board to go with the set.



Here is a close view of one piece. This is a knight.

Leslie Art

While on our summer vacation we spent many days at Julie and Clint's home. While playing a game once Leslie was sitting on my (Jeanette's) lap. She really wanted to play the game. I let her use the score paper to color on instead of giving her all of my cards. Therefore I now have my second piece of grandchildren art. Isn't it beautiful? I loved watching her make it the most. She was quite intent on getting marks on the paper. She used a lot of energy. Thanks Leslie. I look forward to many, many more wonderful pieces.

School Pictures

Lots of people may not know that I really like to take pictures. Here are some of my favorite ones I've taken here so far.

This was part of a sign I saw on the way to the library. I like photographic abstration too.




This was a just a chair I found in the garage, and I thought ti looked cool.



























I get to see this every day as I walk to school. That's my favorite part.

Hide It, She Will Decorate It

I am a very utilitarian sort of person. If it works then it is sufficient. If it tastes OK then don't put parsley on it.

Jeanette has taken to using spring clips to reseal open packages of chips or cookies. This is a very utilitarian sort of application for an office supply product.

Here is a large spring clip.



But watch out. If you don't hide it, then it will be embellished with some of the adornments that are definitely not utilitarian.



I mean -- what's with the ribbon?

Some favorite art

Some may not think that a waterbed is art, but I do. The Vance sign on the footboard was hand carved. There were some blunders in cutting the pieces to make the head, but I used the pieces anyway. I still need to put corner protectors on the sideboards. I also need to put handles on the doors on my side of the bed. I got discouraged when I made some mistakes and gave up. I could make it better, but I didn't


Here I am trying out the crib. It was a little short. The drawers underneath were on roller glides and the spindles were all square sections. I turned the posts on a small lathe at BYU's craft shop. The sideboard that is short had a panel that was hinged to match the height of the back.

I designed and created several woodworking projects. These are two of many. I have learned a lot about what I like and don't like as time has gone forward.


This project by Eric, is representative of the projects that all of the boys have done when they were Cub scout age.


It was a little difficult to get a good picture of this mirror. I made the frame, engraved the glass, and cut the mirror and spacers that went into the frame. The mirror behind gives this a three dimensional effect. I still like this piece quite a lot. It does not make a good mirror, unless you don't really want to see yourself.



I made this piece and gave it away. I have done that with a large number of the welded art I have created. Some of this type of art is outside rusting away or up in the attic. I still like to make these kinds of things, but do not do them much because I am getting lazy.


Julie is the grand master of this lighthouse. She had to create some electrical circuits for a class in school. This had switches, lights in series, and lights in parallel. I do not remember too many of the details, but Julie made this from foam filled chartboard. I think that it is no more.


I made this little "chopper" for man I home taught. It had rolling wheels, and a functional fork. It was rugged enough to hold up a person. Maybe I should have put pedals on the back wheel.


This is a Debra orignal. I like this quite a lot. Debra says she does not like it. Somebody else must have liked it. She received a ribbon from HOT fair.


A quilt. I just liked the picture. I presume it is one that Jeanette made. I also presume it is the one that went to Betty Vance. I was not too involved with doing quilts with Jeanette. I did make her some quilting stands. I made a small contribution.


Here again, Debra shows here prowess in competition. I looked at the other displays that were awarded higher awards than hers and I would have moved her up in the competition. I am not biased, just a good judge.


This is one of my pieces. I made this while i was in college for a class. The instructor had me change some things in the picture. I don't like the changes, but I do generally like the painting.


Jeanette has painted one picture -- ONE. It looks to me that she should do some more.


Another piece of Debra's. A lamp that reminds me that we need to keep oil in our lamps. Thank you Debra.


Gatha gave us this picture in the years gone.


This is one of the pieces that Arlo has created. This is not my favorite, but I like this one. I really like the old man. I will post that one at a later date.

There is more, but I opted to post only enough to fill a couple vertical feet.

Debra Art

Debra recited the captions to me and I edited them according to my own taste.



Morphing clock into tulips



My OLD science teacher. She was obsessed with cows.



Me, in water color.



3rd place in HOT fair. Made with bleech and ink. I don't really like it.



Best watercolor ever!



Some kid we had to draw in class in 5 minutes.



Symmetrical tree made of silverware.




I like this. (cardinal)



You dirty rat!




Best acrylic painting ever.



And colored pencil.