Exciting news from the
Coffee Artists! ™

June 11, 2006
The local grocery store is again having an art contest in which the participants are asked to create a work of art that reflects our community. The requirements are that no more than fifty paper grocery bags may be used, and their logo must appear at least once.

Last year if you remember, I created a Viking ship and won second place.

In a bid to avenge my loss from last year's Cub Grocery Bag contest, Angel and I summoned the magic of the gnomes to help us win the contest this year.

Since we had some good working knowledge of creating a gnome sculpture, we thought that it would be a fun project to work on together. We found a round base that I had been hoarding for a long-forgetton art project and some 1x2's to create a sturdy skeleton for our gnome. We sketched out some ideas on how we would like him to posed and then agreed that him holding the bag and waving would be a friendly gnome-like posture.

It was nice to start off with a strong base and the attaching of paper bags went along smoothly. As the bulk of the sculpture developed the real paper mache process was underway. The paper seemed to attach itself to the mass, and began taking life on its own. It wasn't until the facial features that we saw the character coming through.

After a full night of drying out, it was time for the paint. As soon as the first pigment of red touched his hat, we knew that it was going to look fantastic! As an added touch, we added a little bluebird on his shoulder. So, as we painted, we were singing "Zip a dee doo dah!"

Mister Bluebird on my shoulder
It's the truth, it's actch'll
Ev'rything is satisfactch'll
Zip-a-dee-doo-dah, zip-a-dee-ay
Wonderful feeling, wonderful day!

Then he was finished! We now had to deliver him to the grocery store in time before the deadline. We thought we would able to place him in our car with the seats folded down, but we worried that he might be damaged if he was laying down. So, we called Angel's brother to come to the rescue! He has a Jeep and we thought he would fit better in that. Sure enough! With the top down, the gnome was riding in style. You should have seen the looks, smiles and laughs as we drove him to the grocery store. It was the greatest!

When we carried the gnome inside, the workers turned and said "Wow!" to our arrival. We hope that it is a good sign. We will find out later this week on how the judging fairs. Cross your fingers!

Oh, the title of our creation is called:

"And he ate happily ever after...."