May28

Our Imaginations! Groovy Buttons!

Posted on May 28, 2020 by marion

Groovy Buttons in different shapes and sizes

Read: Pete the Cat and His Four Groovy Buttons by Eric Litwin.

“Pete the Cat puts on his favorite shirt with four, big, colorful, round, groovy buttons.”

But one by one, the buttons pop off and roll away. He realizes that he doesn’t have any buttons on his favorite shirt:

4 – 1 = 3

3 – 1 = 2

2 – 1 =1

1 – 1 = 0

Pete the Cat’s button less shirt opens up and what does he see? His belly button!

What can you do with your buttons?

Project:

Use buttons to decorate…anything! Use your imagination!

List of things to decorate with buttons:

Journal cover

T-shirt

Sneakers

Picture frame

Sunglasses

Book bag or any kind of bag

Materials:

Glue

Lots of buttons

Needle and thread (if you know how to sew)

Alternative Project: Make your own buttons

Materials:

Modeling clay in different colors

Pencil

Make small balls and flatten them. Poke four holes in the center with the pencil. What will you do with your handmade buttons?

*copyright Art work by Marion Constantinides 2015

May18

OUR IMAGINATIONS! IT STINKS!

Posted on May 18, 2020 by marion

OUR IMAGINATIONS! IT STINKS!

WHAT CAN YOU DO WITH THESE SUPER STINKY SNEAKERS??

Read:

Stink and the World’s Worst Super-Stinky Sneakers by Megan McDonald.

In this book, Stink and his friend enter a contest to win the prize for the world’s smelliest sneaker. Stink meets someone

who actually works using his nose at the competition. He asks Stink to be one of the judges! It means that

Stink can’t enter the contest but he accepts. None of the judges knows whose sneakers are whose. It’s a surprise to all

the judges especially Stink about who has the World’s Super-Stinky sneakers.

Project:

Everyone has a pair of stinky sneakers (including adults)! Challenge your friends to a contest to see who has the

sneakers that stink the most! First, read how Stink and his friend made their sneakers the worst ever and try to come up

with ideas of your own that are better than theirs! Then using the materials you assembled, make your sneakers stink!

Materials:

A pair of old sneakers

Substances that will make the sneakers stink (Use your imagination but NEVER use anything that is dangerous!)

A fence or wall to display the sneakers entered in your contest (ask an adult for permission to use the fence or wall)

One or three judges (an odd number is best so there are no ties in the voting)

A trophy or similar prize for the world’s worst stinky sneaker

Paper

Markers

Make fliers to announce the contest and hang them up all over the neighborhood.

Then, make your sneakers the ones that stink the most! Bring them to the place where you will hold the contest. Make

sure the judges write their choice of a winner on a piece of paper so that the judging is secret. When the contest is over,

display the sneakers for everyone in the neighborhood to see. If you use a chain link fence, tie the shoelaces on the

fence and let the sneakers dangle. If you use a wall, keep the pairs together by tying the shoelaces together.

Wheew! Displayed together the sneakers really do stink all over!

Additional reading:
Want to know what else you can do to a sneaker or shoe?

Read: Pete the Cat: I Love My White Shoes by Eric Litwin and James Dean.

May3

WHAT’S IN A NAME, ANYWAY?

Posted on May 3, 2020 by marion

WHAT’S IN A NAME, ANYWAY?

Entering kindergarten for an immigrant child in 1955 wasn’t simple or easy, especially when her parents brought their regional differences with them to America.

My mother, Eugenia Pagonis, arrived from war-torn Greece in the winter of 1947. Her siblings, who had relocated to Pittsburgh PA, during the Depression, had pre-arranged a marriage contract for her with a Greek Cypriot.

Eugenia Pagonis married Andrew Savvas Constantinides on March 7, 1948 at St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church in Pittsburgh.

One custom my parents brought with them declared that the firstborn child was to be named after one of the father’s parents.

So I was to be named Myrofora after my paternal grandmother. Myrofora is a Greek Cypriot name and is not common in other parts of Greece.

My maternal aunts and uncles didn’t like Myrofora, nor did they like the English-language version of my name, Myra. They wanted something else –whatever that might be.

Dad insisted on tradition. So I was alternately Myra or Myrofora for the first five years of my life.

I entered kindergarten in September, 1955 and my father had to decide what my American name was going to be. It was certain that I was going to be made fun of if I was to be called Myrofora.

Most first- and second generation immigrant kids wanted to be as American as possible. I was no different.

No one liked the name, but Dad decided that Meriam was the best alternative translation for Myrofora.

On the first day of kindergarten, he told the teacher my American name. She was an older woman who, it turns out, was hard of hearing. She recorded my name as Marion. Dad didn’t pay attention until later, but by then it was too late to change it again.

In the end, neither my parents not my aunts and uncles named me. My kindergarten teacher did!

It wasn’t until third grade that Dad noticed that my last name was also misspelled. He marched to Holmes Elementary School and demanded a correction. He had had enough.

What’s in a name, anyway?

Plenty! I’ve always hated the “o” in Marion!

Marion Constantinides

Good Old Days

Volume 4, No. 4

July/August 2015

Apr6

EASTER EGG BANNER

Posted on April 6, 2020 by marion

EASTER EGG BANNER

EASTER EGG BANNER

Ages: 5 – 12 years

Time: one hour

MATERIALS:

Pink craft foam sheet

Blue craft foam sheet

Yellow craft foam sheet

Yellow felt square 14” x 20”

Dowel rod 18”

String – double the length of the dowel rod

Measure and cut the yellow felt square to 14” x 20” and place it vertically. Make a loop by measuring and folding a 1” seam and iron. Measure and fold a second 1” seam. Iron and glue the second fold. You will be inserting the dowel rod through this loop. (This felt piece should now measure 14”x18”.)

Using templates or stencils (use a search engine on the internet to assist you with this) trace and cut a large egg from the pink craft foam sheet. Glue it on the center of the yellow felt piece. Cut the double cross pattern, 5 small eggs, six small petals, and 4 large petals out of the blue craft foam sheet. Cut six small petals and 4 large petals from the yellow craft foam sheet. Cut 5 small eggs and 2 tiny circles from the pink craft foam sheet.

Glue the double cross on the large egg. Place 4 large yellow petals near the center of the top cross. Glue a pink dot in the center of the cross. Arrange 6 blue petals near the top and sides of the cross. Glue 4 large blue petals near the intersection at the bottom of the cross. Glue a pink dot in the center of the bottom cross. Arrange 6 small yellow petals near the bottom and sides of the cross and glue. Glue small blue and pink eggs in a random pattern around the central egg.

Cut the dowel rod to about 18”. Insert a loop at the top. Cut the string to a length suitable for hanging. Tie the string to the ends of the dowel rod. Decorate your home by hanging the Easter Egg Banner from a window, on a wall or door.

VARIATION: What other symbols have special meaning to you? Use them in your own Easter Egg Design.

Mar30

HOW TO MAKE HOMEMADE SOAP

Posted on March 30, 2020 by marion

HOW TO MAKE HOMEMADE SOAP

coconut-jasmine-goat-milk-soap.

How to Make Homemade Soap

We all use soap. In the old days, most people made their own. Today, we are much more likely to buy it from the store. There are lots of brands to choose from, and each brand has various formulations and scents.

But making your own soap has some definite advantages. One of the most significant is the price. We can make soap cheaper than we can buy it. Making it ourselves also gives us complete control over the ingredients, so we can create a soap in a favorite scent that’s perfect for our skin type.

Making soap is easier than you might think. It is, however, important to take certain safety precautions. Here’s a basic recipe:

INGREDIENTS:

* 12 cups lye crystals

* 5 cups softened water

* 6 pounds lard

INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Put water in a glass or plastic bowl. Carefully pour lye crystals into water, stirring constantly with a plastic or wooden spoon. Do this outdoors or in a well-ventilated area because it produces caustic fumes.
2. Mixing lye and water produces heat. When the lye is completely dissolved, set the mixture aside to cool.
3. Place lard in a stainless steel or enamel pan. Melt over low heat.
4. Allow both the lye solution and the lard to cool to room temperature.
5. Slowly pour the lye solution into the lard, stirring slowly and constantly with the plastic or wooden spoon.

Continue stirring as you add all the lye solution. Drizzle a small amount of the mixture into the pot periodically. When the soap keeps its shape for a moment before sinking into the mixture, you can add scent, color and herbs.
Pour the soap into a mold greased with Crisco. Wrap in a towel, and let set for about 18 hours or until completely cooled. Uncover and let set for 12 more hours.
The soap may now be taken out of the mold and cut into bars. Let the bars cure for 3 to 4 weeks before using.

Customizing Your Soap

There are lots of different ways you can customize your soap. To make the best soap for your skin type, you may want to use different oils. Some that are commonly used include olive oil, coconut oil, cocoa butter and Shea butter. The correct amount varies depending on which oil you use, so look for recipes online or in books until you get the hang of it.

Essential oils have therapeutic properties and add fragrance. Add oatmeal, cornmeal and other grains and use them to exfoliate.To produce the desired color add skin-safe colorants. Mix the ingredients together and add to a cup of the soap mixture, then stir into the rest of the soap mixture immediately before pouring into the mold.

Making your own soap is easy, and is lots of fun. Coming up with the perfect concoction for your skin is rewarding, and sweetly scented homemade soaps make wonderful gifts for any occasion.

Oct29

Online Exhibit: Calligraphy Works, A Show of Two Hands

Posted on October 29, 2019 by marion

Online Exhibit: Calligraphy Works, A Show of Two Hands

February /March 2020 Student examples of the Modern Calligraphy style:

Modern Calligraphy Class Community College of Allegheny County/Boyce Campus, Monroeville, PA

(There’s more! For last year’s Calligraphy works originally exhibited on this website, scroll below.)

STUDENT EXAMPLES OF THE MODERN CALLIGRAPHY STYLE:

I’ve been teaching art and writing off and on (anything from teaching calligraphy to drawing to middle school students to memoir writing to the blind and visually-impaired) for many years. Lately, I’ve been teaching calligraphy (the art of beautiful writing) at CCAC North Hills Campus in McCandless Township and CCAC Boyce Campus in Monroeville, PA:

The Intermediate Calligraphy course ran for six weeks during the Fall of 2019.

Course content included learning the Batarde lettering style, an intermediate “hand” that combines elements of the Italic and the Gothic. The Ellesmere Chaucer (a book of Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales) is a notable example of the Batarde style.

Projects based on the Batarde included designing a monogram and “illuminating” an initial, utilizing calligraphic design elements, stippling and hand-drawn designs.

Below are examples from the first-half of the class (Scroll down to see the final projects):

Instruction also included learning the Half-Uncial. A famous example of the Half-Uncial is The Book of Kells.

Students also learned how to construct Celtic Knot work designs including Knot work of Celtic, Pictish and Egyptian origin (braids, pretzel borders, circular designs, etc).

They were introduced to using free-hand gouache watercolor techniques on Fabriano, Arches or Bristol paper. These techniques were used for the background. Lettering ( students picked the hand they wanted to use) was superimposed on the paper after it was dry. Lettering with two run-in colors was introduced.

For the final project, everyone was encouraged to utilize any or all of the design techniques learned during the six weeks.

Below are the final projects:

LINKS:

https://www.tcd.ie/library/manuscripts/book-of-kells.php

liu.cwp.libguides.com/…/chaucer

Oct21

Community Garden 2019

Posted on October 21, 2019 by marion

Community Garden 2019

I’ve always had a flower and herb garden. Occasionally, I would also grow eggplant, jalapenos, green peppers and cherry tomatoes in pots. This year, I wanted a community garden plot. Thanks to Barb Martin of the Forest Hills Farmer’s Market (located in Forest Hills, PA), I contacted Hazelwood Initiative who gave me a plot in one of their community gardens. Hazelwood is only a stone’s throw from my neighborhood, Squirrel Hill/Greenfield. I grew cherry tomatoes, green peppers, jalapenos, eggplant, zucchini and cucumbers.

The butternut squash seeds and pumpkin seeds which I saved from the previous season, were eaten by the birds. I planted the onion too late in the summer.

I learned a lot about gardening organically. I used compost and cuttings from my flower garden to serve as mulch. Garlic repels groundhogs as do red pepper flakes. Vinegar poured on weeds during a hot morning will kill those weeds. Beer in a shallow container kills slugs (I didn’t have any so I didn’t use it), and noisy objects like cans hung on string will scare off animals, too.

LOCAL RESOURCES:

http://www.foresthillsfarmersmarket.com

http://www.hazelwoodinitiative.org

https://www.visitpittsburgh.com

www.growpittsburgh.org

pittsburghpa.gov/events/farmers-market

Oct14

LOYALHANNON SPINNERS

Posted on October 14, 2019 by marion

LOYALHANNON SPINNERS

n Spinners

Loyalhannon Spinners has been helping interested folks learn to spin and explore the world of fiber arts. They are active in the fiber arts community and conduct educational demonstrations in the Westmoreland County Fair, the Fiber to Shawl Contest in Washington Count and the PA Farm Shows in Harrisburg. They meet the third Saturday of the month from 1:00 – 4:00 p.m. at the Grist Mill on the campus of St. Vincent College, Latrobe, PA.

Follow them on Facebook.

Sep30

BUTLER (PA) MACHINE KNITTERS

Posted on September 30, 2019 by marion

BUTLER (PA) MACHINE KNITTERS

The Butler Machine Knitters was founded by Jackie Huff, Shirley Grossman and Ruth Schnell thirty years ago. Still going strong, membership currently totals about twenty active machine knitters. they meet the third Thursday of each month at St. Peter Roman Catholic Church, 127 Franklin Street, Butler, PA. Members come from Pittsburgh and Meadville, Ohio as well as Butler County. The group always picks a charity to help. This year, they are knitting Christmas stockings for the local shut-ins that St. Peter Church treats during the holidays. Below are samples of Butler Machine Knitters’ handiwork including the Christmas stockings.

To contact the Machine Knitters, send an email to Jackie Huff: jac@centurylink.netqueknitting

Sep8

Part V: JORDAN JULY 2018

Posted on September 8, 2019 by marion

Part V: JORDAN JULY 2018

THE DEAD SEA

The Dead Sea is part of the Great Rift Valley and sits 408 m below sea level. It’s location is the lowest point on earth. The Dead Sea is a sea of blue salt water.Dead Sea minerals and salts are popular for their skin-enhancing properties. Swimming is one thing you can’t do in the Dead Sea but the buoyancy enables you to bob up and down. Jerusalem ad the West Bank can be seen in the distance. Sadly, the Dead Sea shrinks every year. The Sea has no outlet and hot temperatures in the summer evaporate the fresh water more quickly than it is replenished. Two additional contributors to the shrinkage is the irrigation in the Jordan Valley and the potash industry.