Spring Fever Hits the Slackers

Friday morning was so warm and sunny, I looked forward to a wonderful day. It exceeded all expectations!
Hubby went downstairs and got us a cup of coffee and when he came back up he said that #1 Son was in the backyard.
I asked what #1 was doing and he said he had a hoe in his hand was cleaning the sod overgrowth off of the brick path! What?
I asked him if he said anything to him and hubby replied 'Good Morning'. He said he didn't want to rock the boat.
I agreed and relished in the thought of someone else actually working in the back yard.

A few minutes later I was dressed and went down stairs and #1 announced that he was going to build a new arbor for the wisteria vine that has eaten the shed and demolished the old arbor.
I quickly replied, "Okay, do you need me to do anything"? He said he didn't he just wanted to hang out and play in the dirt.
I think he must have fallen and bumped his head!
Soon after his sister woke up and joined him in building the arbor. They trimmed limbs from the cedar tree to use in their construction of the arbor, and it has turned out to be quite sturdy.
This is their first attempt at cooperatively building anything, and while it is certainly not perfect, I am so happy with the thought and the attempt.
I love the crude twig furniture style, and I think that the arbor will look beautiful when everything starts greening and the wisteria comes into bloom.

Watercolor Classes at Worcester County Arts Council

Worcester County Arts Council is pleased to offer the following watercolor classes instructed by an award winning local artist, Barbara Doyle Schmid.

Still Life – Friday, February 13

Values and Landscapes – Friday, March 13

Flowers – Friday, April 10

Each class will meet from 9:30 – 2:30 pm. at the Worcester County Arts Council’s Arts & Education Center located at 6 Jefferson Street in downtown Berlin.

Award winning artist, Barbara Doyle Schmid, takes you on a watercolor adventure where you learn watercolor techniques which will help you on the journey to beautiful watercolor paintings.

Step-by-step demonstrations and a relaxing style promise you a fun learning experience in an encouraging and supporting atmosphere.

Come and enjoy this class and let your creativity soar!

Space is limited so please call the Arts Council to enroll: 410-641-0809

Cost of each class: $30.00 Members of WCAC receive 10% discount.

Supply list will be provided upon registration.

For more information about classes and workshops, please visit our website at www.worcestercountyartscouncil.org

The Almost Finished Mural

As I mentioned last week I rescued a friend who got over her head with a mural she was volunteered into doing. The Mural is on the side of a cinder block garage, that has window and a door on the side of it. Originally the Mural only contained a beach. During one of my dips in the pool to cool off and get a faraway perspective of the painting it was bothering me that there was window floating in the middle of a beach scene.
So being my bossy self, I told Kathy I was going to paint a Tiki Hut around the window. Thank goodness she liked the idea. Actually the homeowner is going to turn part of the garage into a pool house, so if they put a counter under the window both inside and out they could actually use it as a bar window. I hope the homeowner takes the suggestion and puts a couple of stools in front, and make use of it.

Painting Murals

Kathy called me frantic saying she wasn't able to get a handle on this mural that Alwyn had kinda talked her into. Being that it was Thursday, it was Farmer Girl Day, I couldn't say no!
The Mural is out by an in the ground pool and we painted the garage wall that faces the pool in a beach scene complete with tiki hut and palm trees.
It was perfect work for the week as the temperatures were high and it was a great reason to bring the 9 year old with me to hang out and swim.

Kathy doesn't like to work around people, her creativity flows when she is alone or with one or two other people, but the first day we were there I think I counted 15 most of them being kids.
The second day was better only Kathy the 9 year old and myself.

We hit a few stubling blocks, but overcame them and the mural actually turned out quite good.

The bad news is that now the 9 year old is really sick with a temp of 102.5 this afternoon and 102.1 tonight. After doses and doses of tylenol, motrin and lots of ginger ale he spent the night puking his guts up.

I'm really hoping he's better tomorrow, and he doesn't get the swimmers ears started, I remember when I was a kid it would start like his is then I'd be a mess a few days and ready to get back in the pool again as soon as I could.

I'll show pictures of the mural when Billy get back from CA, he took the pics before he left but didn't download them for before he left.

Painting big stuff like a mural is sooo much fun. I hope the owners will love it when they get back from vacation.

One of the Best Art Camps Yet!

As I told you earlier in the week the Worcester County Arts Council was holding their annual Arts Camp.
Each year the week after school is out about one dozen Artists of all kinds, and talents come to Berlin Intermediate School for the week to teach our children who have signed up to participate in the program a bit of their craft.
This year we had a Scupture class, Abrstract Painting, Art of the Islands, Drama, Dancing, Printmaking and Bookmaking, Pencil Drawing, Native American Arts, Leathermaking, Jewelery making, Paper Mache, basket weaving and loom Weaving.
Each child participates in three sessions per day where they work on one or several projects they have chosen in each craft.
This years work was a stunning, as we had so many talented children to work and share with.
On Friday the final day of camp we usually have the children who participated in drama and dance camps do a performance for all of the campers and their parents. We did this again this year, with the added bonus of a wonderful musical group that is from the US but have traveled and lived all over the world studying music and different cultures musical instruments all of which they brought with them today to share with us.
The Group goes by the name of Nada Bhrama (don't know what it means) and they performed great interactive musical numbers utilizing all of these strange instruments from alll over the world and getting our kids to play with them and actually sound good.
Needless to say every child and every adult had a great time with Nada Bhrama as our grand finale they were truly exceptional.
So don't forget next year when this time rolls around again, I have a link on this site to the WCAC, and get your kids enrolled in a great time!
You can also become a member of the Arts Council and when you do you will be included on our mailing list of featured artists who will be on display at the Galleries in Snow Hill and Berlin it is a wonderful organization and one that you can be proud of being a part of .

Berlin is the Place Where It is At This Weekend!

Friday, May 2^nd: Spring Arts Night in Berlin

View local artist’s works and enjoy complementary refreshments in many of the downtown shops, galleries and restaurants. Live Jazz and Blues music will fill the air with street musicians at various locations. See the Acoustic Blues of Jon Roling in front of Victorian Charm located on the corner of Main and Commerce Streets. Victorian Charm is hosting a Vera Bradley Pre-View Sale that night where customers who make a $10 cash donation to the Berlin Jazz and Blues Bash will get an opportunity to shop before the general public the next day.

Also that night, Raquel Orsini and Phil Knight will perform on the porch of the Atlantic Hotel from 6-8pm and then host a jam from 8-10pm. Jazz and Blues musicians are welcome to sit in or perform on their own. A silent auction of several local merchant’s items will also be held at that location to benefit the event.

Saturday, May 3^rd: Berlin Jazz and Blues Bash

The all day event will feature 6 live bands performing on two stages on Main Street in Historic Berlin, Maryland. Rain or Shine! All entertainment is free to the public and they are encouraged to bring a chair to add to the limited seating being provided. The entertainment stages will be located at the intersection of Pitts and Main Street and Jefferson and Main Street. Jazz and Blues bands will perform one hour sets on alternate stages throughout the day. (See schedule) Sponsors include: The Globe, Victorian Charm, Smooth Jazz 97.1, Solstice Grill, Barrett Chevrolet, Dodge, Chrysler, Jeep.

ENTERTAINMENT SCHEDULE:

Time/ Stage Location

10am- 11am: Pitt St.: Stephen Decatur Middle School Jazz Band

11am-Noon: Jefferson St.: Stephen Decatur High School Jazz Combo

Noon-1pm: Pitt St.: UMES Jazz Band, Sponsored by Victorian Charm

1-2pm-: Jefferson St.: Tom Larsen Blues Band

2-3pm: Pitt St.: Lower Case Blues Band

3:30-5pm: Jefferson St.: Smooth Play, Sponsored by Solstice Grill & Smooth Jazz 97.1

7-10pm: The Globe: Chris English

7-10pm: Solstice Grill: TBA

In the case of rain, entertainment will be inside the Globe located at 12 Broad St.