{WSC50}

Here's my take on Beate's Weekend Sketch Challenge. It's very simple with only ribbon for embellishment, but I didn't want to spend too long on it. I really like this layout---it's one that I will use often.






I used score lines as some "embellishment" on the stamped piece. I don't have a scor-pal, so I just used my trusty Fiskar's cutting tool with the scoring blade. It worked just fine. I also stamped the horizontal piece with the little circles that are on the present, but they didn't show up in the picture. Thanks for looking~I need to go mow the lawn before it gets too hot---yeah, YUCK! When is David getting home??? :)

Have a great day~
Kathleen

Recipe:
Stamps: PTI-It's a Celebration
Ink: PTI-Sweet Blush, Spring Moss
Paper: PTI-Pink Patterns DP, Sweet Blush, Berry Sorbet, Spring Moss CS
Accessories: Sweet Blush Grosgrain Ribbon, Dimensionals, Slit Punch--for scallop

{Just Rite Thank Yous}

One of the sweetest things about being a teacher---especially a "Specialist" of any kind is that you teach all of the students in that school. I teach Lower School Music at my school so I feel like I have about 160 extra children! I love them---they make me smile---most of the time. Today was the last day of school (YEA!!--on so many levels, but one of the big ones is more stamping time!) Anyway, at this time of year I always need a lot of Thank you notes. I was inspired by Taylor VanBruggen's Fine Stationery post here. OK, I copied them!!! They were so fast and easy. I didn't do the lovely box and seals---just the note cards! Check out her blog---she's one of my favorites!

The monogram on my card is made with the Just Rite DIY Manual Monogram Stamper. (You can buy all of these at Taylor's store, too.) Taylor used a Papertrey Alphabet & Borders & Corners set, which I own and have used, but I wanted to see how this new monogram stamper would do. I used a wooden mounted set and I loved it. All 10 of my cards/notes took me less than an hour to make---and that includes the normal 7 year old boy interruptions, which I won't go into right now! Anyway, if you need some quick cards for yourself or a friend. I HIGHLY recommend these---they were so simple and fun to do!

ETA: I had another set that I must have deleted in the processing--so, here are two of the three! I made 10 total.

Thanks so much for stopping by!

Kathleen

Recipe:

Stamps: Sassy DIY Manual Monogram Stamper

Ink: Sage Shadow

Paper: SU Whisper White, Sage Shadow CS, Basic Grey Romani DP

{SFYTT}

Hello~as I've mentioned before, I have been trying to use people's sketch challenges because I'm not very good with the layout of a card. So, here's a card using Jen Del Muro's Sketch For You to Try. She does one every Saturday---and usually I have a little time on the weekend to try it.

I always need birthday cards---even though, any family that is reading knows I rarely send them---and if on the rare occasion a card appears in the mailbox it's always late.....what is that? I used to be so good at it---I think it's kids---yes, that's what I'm going to say---Having children makes me send cards late----sounds....uh......reasonable. ANYWAY, here's a birthday card that I could send to a party for one of Joshua's friends.

I used the set Crab & Company----I think it works for kid's cards---and, I already have it, so I don't have to spend anymore money! I remember thinking when I first started stamping how much money I would save if I made my own cards.....yeah, well, how's that going? NOT SO GREAT! But, it's fun and keeps me occupied when I should be cleaning or cooking, so that's a good thing....in a twisted sort of way! BACK TO THE CARD---

I used Prismacolor pencils and baby oil---I don't have any Odorless Mineral Spirits and I have seen that some people use baby oil instead, so that's what I did. I think it turned out OK for my first try---I definitely need to keep working on it--At the last minute I decided to add the hat to the card---it makes it look more like a birthday card---I was too lazy to photograph the whole thing again, so I just took another closeup---truly lazy!!!

The recipe is below--have a great day~
Kathleen

Recipe: Stamps: Crab & Co.
Ink: Jet Black Stazon, Creamy Caramel
Paper: Black, Ruby Red, Cameo Coral, Pumpkin Pie, Creamy Caramel CS, Watercolor Paper- SU!
Accessories: Spots and Dots CB Folder, Dimensionals, Prismacolor Pencils, Baby Oil, River Rock, Double-Stitched Ribbon

{WSC49}

Just a quick post---this is an unusual baby card---but I really like this Berry Bliss paper, so I used brown with my pink! This is another sketch challenge---this time it's Beate's Weekend Sketch Challenge 49.

I hadn't used my So Many Scallops (Sale-a-bration set) yet, and I wanted to ink it up. I wasn't crazy about the pink ink---it's just soooo subtle that I think it's a little overwhelmed by all that brown! I also didn't notice how crooked that piece of Close to Cocoa was until I looked at the picture---not too happy about that, but, such is life!

Joshua and I are here alone since everyone else is in Turkey. We are planning to do some planting tomorrow and then just hang out---a nice relaxing day at the end of a school year....just what the doctor ordered (not literally, of course!) Well, I'm going to run---I have some things to do. I hope you have a great Memorial Day!

Hugs~
Kathleen

Recipe:
Stamps: So Many Scallops
Ink: Pretty in Pink
Paper: Pretty in Pink, Chocolate Chip, Close to Cocoa, Berry Bliss DP (SU!)
Accessories: Cuttlebug, D'Vine Swirlz, Photo Corner Punch, Scallop Punch, Blue Marvy Scalloped Circle Punch, 5/8" grosgrain ribbon, Paper Piercer, Mat Pack

{TECC17}

Taylor VanBruggen has the greatest blog and every Friday she issues a "Cupcake Challenge". This is my take on it for this week. It's not QUITE right because I used a square image and not a rectangular one, but I stayed pretty close to the rest of the sketch. It's also not a very "cute" card, but I really like how it turned out.
I doubled up on the dimensionals so the focal point stands up a little higher. I sponged all the white cardstock with Creamy Caramel to make it look aged. I used the D'Vine Swirls Cuttlebug Folder, but you really can't tell in the picture. I was trying to get a picture of that when I got this "dimensional" shot, but I think I forgot to focus on the embossing---just believe me--it's there. The recipe is below, so if you don't want to read my blah, blah, blah, just skip down to that! Anyway, I know this set is an ancient Stampin' Up! set, but I'm a music teacher---I have to have some music sets!

I made this card for the Upper School Choral Director at school. She's leaving this year to pursue a new career. She has had a HUGE impact on my daughters and myself over the years. She's been at Trinity since it's inception and has filled ALL sorts of roles. That's what happens in a new place--everyone just pitches in and does whatever is necessary to make it work. I have worked very closely with her these last two years since I have been back at Trinity and I was affectionately known as her "choir slave" for years before that. (I just volunteered to help her---I said "affectionately"). She's much more than a colleague, she is a friend and I am so sad to see her go. She's not moving away and I know she'll still be active in the activities of the school as she is able, but she won't be there motivating our students to love singing, love each other and love this great God that we serve. She will be missed.

I have only had occasion to use this stamp set a few times---and I know at least 2 of them have been for her, but she won't care---the sentiment says a lot, "Where words fail, music speaks."--I'm going to type up the words to Irish Blessing and put them on the inside. Our students (current and alumni) sing an arrangement of this song at every graduation and it's lovely. It says what I want to say to her.

Irish Blessing
May the road rise up to meet you.
May the wind be always at your back.
May the sun shine warm upon your face.
May rain fall softly on your fields.
Until we meet again, may God hold you in the palm of His hand. Amen

Enjoy your Sunday!
Kathleen
ETA: I'm not sure what's up with the strange things on my blog today, so please forgive me and this novice will try to figure it out so it doesn't happen again!
Recipe:
Stamps:Musical Manuscript
Ink: Black Stazon, Creamy Caramel
Paper: Black & Whisper White SU Cardstock, Basic Grey-Scarlet Letter, both Pious & Rapture.
Accessories: Cuttlebug, Nestabilities Square Scallop, Slot Punch, Hole punch, Black brads (SU!), Black organdy ribbon from Michael's, Sponge

{MFT Journal}

Both of our girls are traveling this summer---Caitlin to Istanbul, Turkey for 5 weeks and Hannah to Turkey for 3 weeks and England for 10 days----WORLD TRAVELERS! I wanted them to have a journal to keep their thoughts in---I had this beautiful plan--the little Target notebook, like Emily Giovanni is so great at. I had planned to follow her tutorial here. Well, after looking at numerous Target stores to find the perfect notebook for this idea, it was looking pretty grim. I can't find them here anymore---I don't know if they have stopped making them, or what, but in desperation with only days before they were to leave, I ended up buying composition notebooks---not at all what I had envisioned. I was thinking small....something they could carry in their purse---oh, well---I do have only a limited amount of time (and gas) these days, so I just settled for this. I had to really change what I wanted to do and it still didn't end up quite like I had envisioned, but that's OK---they were fun to work on anyway.

I had a terrible time photographing these, so please pardon the shadows---I have done this 4 different times and I was sick of it by this morning! Caitlin leaves today, so I needed to be "finished" and move on! I wanted some "map" paper and finally found this Frances Meyer paper called "World Map" at AC Moore. I ended up cutting it wrong---TWICE, so I had to use different paper on the back---does this ever happen to you? I read all these blogs and I just don't think any of these incredible ladies ever have this sort of thing happen to them---or do they just always buy extra sheets of whatever paper they want to use so they don't get stuck? I think I'll choose to believe this---it will make me feel better! On the back of the journal, I used the same paper that I had used to paper piece the girl's dress.





















Here's a close up of the actual focal point---with all the extra space I ended up having, I decided to pull out my Just Rite monogram stamper. I got this the other day, but I hadn't had a chance to use it. The page was so blank, so I decided to add a monogram.

I just chose to ink it up myself instead of using their pads. I haven't chosen my reinker colors that I want to use yet, so I used the mount from one of the other sets, so I could just stamp it myself. I think I will really enjoy using this to make personalized stationery for friends and family. My circle nestabilities are still on backorder, so I ended up using my old Creative Memories circle cutter---hey, it still works--no scallops, but my girls don't really care!

Thanks for stopping by! I hope you have a great day---I have to CLEAN, CLEAN, CLEAN! My house still hasn't recovered from last week!

Hugs~
Kathleen

Recipe:
Stamps: Going Places-My Favorite Things
Ink: Black Stazon, Chocolate Chip, Ruby Red, Old Olive, Creamy Caramel, More Mustard, So Saffron, Rose Red, Taken with Teal, Always Artichoke Close to Cocoa (SU!)
Paper: Chocolate Chip, Watercolor Paper, Frances Meyer-World Map, BG Mila-Urban Couture, & BG Among the Ruins-Scarlett Letter
Accessories: Composition notebook, Blender Pen, Just Rite Monogram Stamper Kit

{Trinity Field Day '08}

Do you remember Field Day growing up? I do----I remember it because it was the one day of the year that I could "compete in sports" and not feel like a total loser! Now before you start really feeling sorry for me, I had a great childhood---sports just wasn't my thing! My oldest sister was a great athlete---I ended up going to a different high school than she did because of all the "bussing" that was going on at the time. (Do you remember "bussing"?) I remember when the Volleyball Coach at McCallum High (my high school in Austin, TX) heard that an "O'Chester" was coming to her High school she was thrilled...I'm sure she just assumed that the athleticism was in the genes! So, I thought, hey, I'll try out for Volleyball. I had watched my sister play it for all those years---I couldn't be THAT bad, could I? Yep---I was. That poor coach kept me in the try outs far longer than she should have---she hated telling me that I didn't make the team, but hey, I stunk---seriously. I look back now and giggle at that whole thing!

Anyway, our PE teacher at Trinity is so wonderful. She picks the best games to play. There are winners and losers, but somehow it just doesn't hurt very much---there are lots of "class competitions"---and even a teacher water balloon toss---which the kids seem to like! There are a field of volunteers and we all have a great time! Everyone gets a ribbon at the end of the day---it's a memorable day in the Lower School at Trinity Academy of Raleigh!! Here are some pictures---now, I was manning a station with another faculty member, so I didn't get around to any other stations, but here are some highlights of MY day!

The "winner" of our game going through the "winner's tunnel".













Joshua and his good friend, Jacob at the "Opening Ceremonies".











Joshua and his good friend Justin at lunch.








The sack race. The older girl on the left is one of our 6th graders. They helped out with every class. Here she is cheering Hannah on to victory as she hops down the race path.









Finally after a long day~POPSICLES!!! What a great day~

{Caitlin's Birthday}

Well, we celebrated Caitlin's (my oldest) birthday yesterday. She's 19! How does this happen? Life goes by so fast. I know some of you with preschoolers are doubting the truth of that statement right now, but it is so true. It really has flown by. Her first year of college was the "fastest year yet"! She's leaving the country on Wednesday to go to Turkey for five weeks. Her birthday is actually Saturday, May 24, so we needed to find a time when we could celebrate together before she left. Here's the card I made for her. I meant to upload it yesterday because I used Taylor's Cupcake Challenge Sketch, but I just forgot last night. As I look at this card uploaded, I realize that it probably isn't my best shot of the card---but, it's past the contest time anyway and not many people stop by, so, if you are stopping by, I apologize for a blurry card!

For anyone who is interested, my younger daughter's soccer team did lose their first game in the State Tournament this year. It was sad, but almost a relief at the same time. They have so much going on right now, that it was one less thing to stress over! The team that beat them did go on to win the whole thing, so that makes it a little easier---until they realize that they had beaten them the week before in the Conference tournament final. Ah, well, such is life!

For the card, I used some crystal effects on the window and windshield of the truck to make it look at little more "glass-like". I love this set---I used my blender pen to color with SU! inks. I'm working on something else to upload, but I'm not quite finished. I hope to finish tomorrow.

We had field day at school today. I hope to post some pictures of that---what a fun day that was. I think Joshua will sleep well tonight (and so will I--I'm worn out!)

Hugs~
Kathleen

Recipe:
Stamps: Loads of Love
Ink: Jet Black Stazon, Ballet Blue, Pumpkin Pie, Old Olive, Rose Red, More Mustard, Going Grey, Blush Blossom, So Saffron
Paper: Pumpkin Pie, Rose Red, So Saffron, Watercolor Paper (SU!), DP---I only had a little and I don't remember it---I'm so sorry!
Accessories: Nestabilities Squares, CB, So Saffron & Pumpkin Pie Ribbon, Crystal Effects

{Defend}

Today the Trinity Academy Girls Soccer Team begins the journey down the road to defend their State Soccer Title---the road they have been given is a hard one. I guess that happens when you are ranked # 1. Today they play the team they beat in the Conference Championship. That game was not a pretty one---we do have the advantage of playing at home. Trinity has the better team, but everyone has to show up---I'm sure they see what's in front of them and they will be ready to play today.

Between this week's games (we hope that's plural) and my Spring Concert on Thursday, I'm not sure there will be a lot of time for stamping----the summer is for stamping.....the summer is for stamping!

So, I hope to be back by the weekend with something beautiful besides my daughter (in the glasses---no, not during the game) and her friends!

Go Tigers!

{Mother's Day Funny}

One of the pastor's at church did a sermon on Proverbs 31---

He started off with this funny. I had read it and meant to link you to it----I hope you enjoy it as much as I did---this is a good blog to read---in all your spare time!

Have a Happy Mother's Day~
Kathleen

{Happy Mother's Day}

Happy Mother's Day to all you mama's out there! Here's the card I made for her yesterday---I finally pulled out those nestabilities. WOW! What great tools. I didn't have a lot of time to get things done, so I made this very simple. I just noticed after I uploaded it that I forgot to put the sentiment on the front---that's how fast it was....maybe that's a little too fast! I'll put it on before I give it to her! I'm still having trouble with Photoshop, so I think I'll unload it and reload and see if that takes care of it---I had all of the extra "white space" taken out of this picture but then it wouldn't save, so I think I just need to reload it. (Hopefully that's all it is!)
We are going over to my parents house this afternoon and planting my mom's Mother's Day gifts. She has wanted some new plants so I decided that I'd just buy the plants and put them in the ground for her this weekend. Just a little about my mom---my Dad was a pastor---for 50 years, 34 of them at the same church in Austin, TX. (If you know anything about the pastorate, you know how unusual that is and how blessed I was to not have to move all over the country every year or two.) My mom was a fabulous wife and mom and a great example of a godly woman to me. I have told many people, I honestly don't remember her EVER raising her voice to me. I KNOW my precious children will not be able to say that. She supported me in what I did and she prayed for me---often. Not just daily---but often during the day. She still does and she's a prayer warrior for my children. I'm so glad I have happy memories of my childhood---I know not everyone does and the older I get, the more grateful for this I am. There's so much I could say, but I have little time. I love my MOM---everyday---not just on this weekend.

So, I call my Mom "mama"---what do you call your mom? I need to run---my own yard needs attention---I still have my fading pansies from October in my pots and beds and that just WON'T DO!! I hope your Mother's Day is a blessed one surrounded by friends and family that are most important to you~

Hugs~
Kathleen
Recipe:
Stamps: Doodle This
Paper: Watercolor Paper, Chocolate Chip, Close to Cocoa, Berry Bliss DP---all SU!
Ink: Stazon, Timber Brown, Certainly Celery, Pretty in Pink, Close to Cocoa
Accessories: Nestabilities, Cuttlebug, 5/8" ribbon-SU!, sponge, Blender pen

{Graduation Gifts for Girls}

Do you need a graduation gift for a girl? I have an idea for you! Caitlin was given one similar to this when she graduated last year that had the NC State logo on it. The lady had two daughters in college and HIGHLY recommended Caitlin use it when she went to school. Caitlin LOVED it, so I'm recommending it to you.

It's the Vera Bradley Zip ID holder. It is very affordable---I bought mine at a local Hallmark store. Obviously wherever you can buy Vera Bradley products, you can get one. The great thing about it is you put your student ID in it and then put your room key on it and that's all you need to take when you leave your room--ID= food, key= entrance to the room. Make sure you don't buy the luggage tag---I nearly did that---the zipper is important to carry your ID, money if you need it, etc. And the key ring is for the room and/or car key.

I have numerous Nugget tins left over from Christmas, and I decided the ID holder would fit nicely into one of those. I had to make nuggets, too--- you can't send a nugget tin without Hershey's nuggets, now can you? Anyway, I tried to make cards/labels to match the colors in the ID holder. I did the joy fold card---because I love it. I used Beate's tutorial here.

I actually made four different ones, but I figured two was enough for you to get the picture! They look a little different--rounded corners, different ribbon placement, but you get the idea from this!
The recipes for the cards are below---

I had fun making these---buy some for the girl grads in your life. You can add a giftcard to it and make it even more fun for her....my girls will just have the gift and chocolate :) I'll add ribbon after I write in the card before I "present them" to the graduates~
Recipe:
Stamps: Tassle Time (SU) PTI-Holiday Treats, & Ambassador Monogram Edition
Cardstock: River Rock, Ruby Red, Tempting Turquoise, Wild Wasabi, Ginger Blossom & East Coast Prep SU! DP
Ink: Ruby Red, River Rock, Tempting Turquoise, More Mustard, Wild Wasabi
Accessories: River Rock & Wild Wasabi Ribbon, SU Markers, Clear Buttons, DMC Thread, Corner Rounder, Ticket Corner Punch, 8160 Avery Mailing Labels, Nugget Tins

ETA: I'm having trouble with my picture placement--it shows up very different in my "preview", but then when I publish it, they are all in a line---I'll try to figure that out!
Have a great day~
Kathleen

{Edenton Tea Party}

Well, tomorrow is the Edenton Tea Party for the first graders at Trinity Academy of Raleigh. It has become something to look forward to in the first grade year. When my girls were in the Lower School we had at least two days every year where all the students in the school dressed up and had a "festival" of sorts---some of the more memorable for me were the Renaissance Festival, All-American Day, but my favorite was probably Egyptian Day. Hannah---my 16 year old and her classmates STILL talk about this day---and Zach's olives---one of the boys had an "Olive stand"...they all had to be vendors of some sort---Hannah was a shoe maker and we had made all sizes of "shoes" that consisted of cardboard cutouts in the shape of a foot with holes punched and strings attached for them to lace up their leg----if I were an organized blogger, I'd show you pictures, but certainly you can tell by now that I'm not! I'd have to go upstairs and find the 1999 box of pictures and dig through them to find the right ones, then I'd have to scan it in and remember, technology isn't my thing.....this is where the "ramblings" part of the "Nelsonramblings" comes in. I never intended to bring up these other days, the thoughts sort of poured out of me in a "streams of consciousness" sort of way----this is how I talk, too---just ask my friends!

ANYWAY, back to the Edenton Tea Party---Joshua is dressing up in colonial style tomorrow, May 6 and here are some pictures of him---I hope you enjoy! The costume was thrown together with the help of Ms. Denman at the last minute. It's nice to be on the Fine Arts Faculty at times like this---I'm not quite finished with it, but I knew I may not get pictures tomorrow, so here they are!

















I was excited about the "shoe buckle"----it's made from cardstock and aluminium foil. It took me about 2 minutes because I had the right tools! I have the old Creative Memories square punches---the one with 2 on each punch. I was able to just punch out the middle hole and then the "outer" hole in seconds. Then I added the large square of foil over it and cut it out from the back----simple, simple. A little sticky and I was done! The knickers were just a pair of uniform pants with a hole in the knee---I cut them off and tacked it on the inside. Then I sewed on a button and put stick on velcro to "close" the knicker---much faster for me than sewing in elastic--since I didn't get the sewing gene either. [My mom made all our dresses growing up---three little girls (again a picture in matching Easter or Christmas dresses can be imagined here--think late 60's--short poofy dresses with itchy slips). Someday, I'll be a better blogger and I'll do all that--it's too much right now!] The shirt is one that Caitlin wore when she was 6---so it's a little small. I had to take off the Christmas buttons---this shirt has been in the back of her closet(s) for 13 years, mind you--because I had made the jumper that went with it---with the help of a VERY dear friend, so I couldn't get rid of it---see, it paid off!!) He also informed me that the buttons were on "the wrong side of the shirt"---the things we learn when we play dress up---these are life lessons, no?

I'm sorry I don't have a card--I'm REALLY sorry, because I haven't had time to do much crafty stuff lately. Well, I haven't broken any of my nestabilities (these are embossing and die cutting squares of wonder---in case you don't know what they are, cough, cough KRIS)---I still haven't unpackaged them---I think the circles will be here before I can even open the squares.......the summer is for stamping! That's what I keep telling myself.........the summer is for stamping! I do have a really great idea for girls that are graduating from High School---stay tuned and I'll fill you in. Caitlin, my oldest, said this gift is a MUST HAVE for every girl going to college----and she should know, I think she's on her fourth one---but that post is for another day!

HUGS~
Kathleen

{The Spitfire Grill}

This is a Marajen Denman, my daughter's theater arts teacher, with part of the cast of The Spitfire Grill---read on for more info.
(First let me say---this is totally a family post, so if you are looking for a card, I'm sorry! you won't hurt my feelings if you move on!! I hope to stamp this weekend, but it's not looking too promising. My friends and I have decided that if you have school-aged children, May is just as bad as December. It's just crazy! There's just no break at all. I won't bore you with the details---oh, yeah, I think I will--it's my blog!

Caitlin is moving home---daily---so there's more and more stuff coming into my house, but nowhere to put it. Caitlin leaves in 3 weeks for a 5 week trip to Turkey to help some overseas workers there.
Hannah has a paper to finish, 2 AP exams, a paper to write for a Summer Study excursion to England (bless her heart), two soccer tournaments and The Capital Awards--which is actually what this post is about--oh, and she still has school and final exams. Oh, and Hannah leaves for a 3 week trip to turkey in just over 3 weeks as well.
Joshua---well, he's just along for the ride
David and I are both teachers---two very different institutions, but it's MAY---and that means "wrap it up"---so, LIFE IS CRAZY---but very fun!)

OK---I digress, so on to the post---Trinity Academy is where I work and my two younger children attend school. The High School has 60 students---yep, it's not a typo---60. The arts are important at Trinity and the performing arts is one area where our students can compete with "the big boys"---just last weekend our choir attended a competition at Music in the Parks in Busch Gardens in Williamsburg, VA. They have Music competitions at all of the Busch Gardens Parks, I'm sure. Here's a note from the Choral Director about the competition.

The Upper School Concert Choir competed against 5A schools from Pennsylvannia to Florida this past weekend in the Music in the Parks Festival at Busch Gardens. We were the only choir to compete in our division: AAA. (Schools are put into divisions by enrollment. The winning school was an by audition only ensemble and had over 5,000 students in the high school!) In other words, we were a David among many Goliath's!
Our little choir, comprised of only two seniors and the rest underclassman, scored the second highest score given by the judges for all seventeen of the high school choirs who competed on Saturday!
I was so proud of the sound the students made and for the heart they put into their sound.
Please congratulate our students on their well deserved recognition!

Anyway, I know I'm a fine arts teacher, so I will show a little (OK, a lot) of Arts favoritism, but here's the deal on "The Spitfire Grill".

Our Theater Arts department is made up of half of the high school. Kids choose 2 Fine Arts electives. One of the fun things about this class is two productions a year. A great thing about Trinity is that even students who aren't in drama will help to paint sets, or work backstage the week of the show. There's a real tradition at Trinity for great drama. (and I mean the stage kind of drama---not the "drama" in any high school!)

The NCT Capital Awards is a program designed to recognize outstanding
high school musical productions and performances in Wake County. Trinity was entered in this competition along with 19 other High Schools--public & private--in Wake County.
This year Trinity students did a production of The Spitfire Grill-winner of the Richard Rogers Production Award in 2000. This was an off-Broadway musical based on the movie of the same name which won the audience award at the Sundance Film Festival in 1996.

Well---here's the cool news---we have been nominated for 3 NCT Capital Awards including:

Best Scenic Design. Holly Gillon, our Upper School Visual Arts teacher worked with our Theater Arts teacher and students to come up with the set design for this year. We were nominated in this category last year as well.










We were also nominated for Best Featured Performer--
Victoria Oliver. She played a sassy postal worker and gossip and she did a terrific job.


















Well---I did say three awards, right? We were nominated for Outstanding Musical
---what? our little school---competing against major arts magnets and schools with $50,000 budgets has been nominated with "the big boys"--again! (We received 3 nominations last year as well) YES, it's TRUE.

I'm so proud of everyone involved---here are a few more pictures from the show. Many thanks to Denise Myers, one of our parents at Trinity who took amazing pictures and shared them with all of us.


The girl on the 60's crocheted shawl is my Hannah. She was actually the student director and called the show from off stage, but she stepped into this one scene. I know it's not a great shot of her---but, hey, she's my kid!!
Back to Ms. Denman---this woman is a visionary--truly. I think of myself as artistic--but she sees things that I would NEVER dream of! She drives the kids crazy(she knows it!)---as most Theater Arts teachers do---especially close to productions---but she produces AMAZING shows---and the kids ALWAYS say, "it was worth it"! Kudos to Marajen Denman---it's been a hard year this year---but I think we would all say "it's been worth it---to God be the Glory!"