Lawrence Arts Center Souper Bowl 2015

 Here's the backstory:  Many, many years ago I was very single and very bored.  I was always trying new hobbies and adventures and once upon a time, I decided I wanted to learn to tap dance.  That's right...tap dance.
In my mind, I think it was going to be like this

When in fact it was more like this

I had found a pair of tap dance shoes on the clearance rack at WalMart.  Sadly, they were more like little girl flat tap shoes with a ribbon shoelace.

I signed up for a beginning tap class expecting the other students to be women-of-a-certain-age like me...

BUT...they were all University dance students who were "brushing" up during a school break.

I could not keep up.  At all.  So I didn't go back.  *sad face*

That was my intro to The Lawrence Arts Center.

Over the years, I've gone to several events that are held at LAC, but never the annual Souper Bowl.

This year, we made it a point to attend and we were not disappointed!

Here we are getting ready to get in line.  We got there nearly an hour before it started and there were already a ton of people in line. 

The people in front of us talked about how they have been going for years and have amassed  quite a collection of handmade bowls.

Finally, the doors opened at 11.  We had no idea what to expect.

There were about 10 or 12 tables in the gallery room with bowls  and small plates on display.  You pretty much have to grab what you like that you see and carry it around with you until you make your ultimate decision.  Some people were carrying around 10 bowls at a time and would set down their "rejects".  But trust me...none of them are actual rejects.  They're all so awesome it's really hard to decide which to choose!!  I think I went thru 7 bowls before I made my final decision.

There was quite the crowd!  This would be a great place and way to get some Christmas gifts!

I got to see a lot of people that I know  :)

This was the line to pay and they had a bunch of volunteers who wrap your bowl with great care.

Chad picked a bowl that was $15, mine was $20 and Linda got two $10 bowls.

After you buy your bowl (they range from $10-$30) and get it wrapped up, you go back out into the main area where there is a variety of soup, bread and beverages that was included with the price of your bowl.

I had Garden Vegetable and a herb roll.

The blue bowl is Chad's.  Mine is yellow, cream and a beautiful lavender.

 They had other events going all day!

Souper Bowl Info
http://lawrenceartscenter.org/

I highly recommend attending in 2016.  We loved it!

Lawrence Public Library Read Along 2015 and Yarn Bomb

Read Along Books for 2015

The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood

I think I first read this book when I was in my early 20s.  If you've never read it, it's worth checking out.  Haha!  Literally and figuratively!

Participate in our yarn bombing project for Read Across Lawrence 2015! We'll be decorating the trees surrounding the library in red yarn to relate to themes of this year's book, "The Handmaid's Tale" by Margaret Atwood. You can also participate by yarn bombing trees in your own yard! Free yarn is available to pick up at the library on a first come, first serve basis, made possible by our friends at Yarn Barn of Kansas! 

All the details found here: http://www.lawrence.lib.ks.us/2015/01/yarn-bombing-installation-and-directions/http://www.lawrence.lib.ks.us/2015/01/yarn-bombing-installation-and-directions/

I had been following the facebook group for Knit Lawrence and happened to see that they were coordinating a yarn bomb for the library and I was thrilled!  I've always wanted to be part of a yarn bombing!!

I'm making eyes that will hang from 4 or 5 trees in the garden by the Young Adult entrance.

I signed up for a tree to bomb with red yarn.  Still trying to get an inspiration for what to do with the tree.  I'm Tree #1 on Kentucky street.

I need my piece to be 5 feet tall and 7 inches around.

If you've read the book, hopefully you'll recognize what this next photo represents.  

They're supposed to look like scrabble tiles...

These are flowers that will be stuck down into the grass near the entrance.

Knit Lawrence has met to make Yarn Bomb plans for the past couple of weeks.  

 The Yarn Barn, our LYS, has provided a ton of free red/red-ish yarn for anyone participating.

 Thank you, Yarn Barn!!

Isn't this piece gorgeous?!?  It's a knitted component by a woman in Knit Lawrence.  

If you're interested in participating, contact the library or contact me and I'll get you in touch with someone there.  Installation is Sunday, January 25 at noon.  It will be on display through the month of February.

Busy week!

Busy week at home and work...didn't have much time to post anything here.
Wedding:
A week ago we attended the wedding of one of Chad's friends from college.  The wedding was at Liberty Hall in Lawrence.  This year marks the 100th anniversary of Liberty Hall.  I've only been twice to see movies.  We saw The Artist there this winter and it was the perfect venue for a silent film.


Since it is a movie theater, the wedding ceremony took place on the stage in front of a gorgeous gold curtain.  The guests were seated in the balcony.  It was really cool!

After the ceremony, everyone went downstairs for the reception.  I didn't get photos of the ceremony, but I did pull out the camera at the reception!

They did a thumbprint guest book (I ♥!)

Jacinta and baby Joaquin

Jill and I

The guys

Their invitations and programs were so pretty.  Silhouettes are coming back...seen some on pinterest.

And did I tell you about the food?!?  It was incredible.  So many fresh fruits, numerous types of cheese, salami and so much more.  I adored their food!!

The bride's gown looked vintage.  Lots of pretty lace :)

Birthday:

My good friend, Jeinny's 22nd birthday was this week.  I had seen these cupcakes on pinterest and thought I could tackle the project.  I was surprised at how easy...and fun... they are to make!

Chad was convinced they really looked like hamburgers.  He was expecting them to TASTE like hamburgers.  

So really they are just yellow cupakes with brownies as burgers and frosting as condiments.

Here is the tutorial I used to make them:  Burger Cupcakes

Crafts:

I've been crafting quite a bit after work.  Some people think it's silly, but we all know that I go a little overboard...

I love holiday decor!!

That's a patriotic wreath for the front door.  But it's sort of boring.  I'll have to play with it today to see what I can come up with.

Been trying to use mostly items that I have in the craft hoard.  So I've spent very little for any of my 4th of July decorations.

I have my entry table set up with items.  The wall looks so bare...but there's a project that might be perfect for that spot!

There are so many yarn wreaths online.  So I just winged it and came up with a simple pattern.

My grandma had a cute little jelly jar with the mason jars she gave to me last month.  So I put in red, white, blue and a yellow button.

Bought this guy at Dollar Tree a couple of year ago.

USA tutorial link   The tutorial I used was for glitter letters, but I decided I liked them better matte.

The frames are from Dollar Tree, the scrapbook paper was super cheap and the letters were something like 50 cents each.  And I love them!!!!

Ribbon was on sale at Hobbly Lobby last week.  I used thick flag ribbon, medium thickness red polka dot ribbon and a thinner width navy ribbon.  Let me tell ya...this take a lot of ribbon.  I ran out quickly.  But my styrofoam ball was pretty big.  It's supposed to be a topiary, but the bottom of the ball is empty until I get more ribbon.

This is what inspired me:

The ceramic stars are from a garage sale...The yarn was in my stash...The flag was Dollar Tree and so was the basket.

This might be my favorite item:

SO easy!!  I want to make more to put along our picket fence in the front yard.

I used duct tape to make the stripes and I cut out stars from scrap paper and taped them to the burlap.

I did have to buy 2 cans of spray paint, but there are other projects they can be used for, too.

http://www.brownpaper--packages.com/2012/06/stars-stripes-bunting.html

Here's the other spray paint project:

Bottlecap Flag

I didn't have white spray paint.  Will have to grab some today to finish.

Went to St. John's Mexican Fiesta last night with Chad, Linda and Kaelum.

Chad and I had not gone for a couple of years.  So it was fun.  Ran into Nick and sat with him to eat and to hang out.

Totally forgot to take photos of my dinner.  Real enchiladas with potatoes and peas (yum!) and a tamale.

So to make up for the lack of food photos, here is me digging into a slice of peach pie:

The women of the church make hundreds of confetti eggs and the kids go crazy with them.  The empty eggshell is filled up with confetti and then they put a strip of tissue paper over it.  The point is to crack the egg over someone's head and have confetti spill all over them.

Kaelum got his grandma!

Early in the evening, they have kids dancing on stage in wonderful costumes.

And here are some random photos of people I know...and people I don't know.

Good times!