One of the hardest things to learn is when to stop.  I often go overboard missing that critical moment.  Then I remind myself that I wouldn’t know what was too much if I didn’t push too far now and again.  The key is to have the discipline to just sit right down and make another (valentine, pot, marble sculpture (ack!!) knowing what too much felt like and attempting to stop yourself a bit earlier.   And then doing it again, and again, and again.  Sometimes then I can go back to the first one and decide that it WASN’T too far, that I was just too close to it.  My husband calls this an ability to to talk myself into thinking that I’m always right.  Whatever works I say.  In any case here’s one that feels decidedly over worked with too too much stuff, but I had a most fabulous time riffing ideas back and forth with my 9 year old, Reid, who made the next one.  He was much wiser than I and remembered to “step away from the pot.”  I like his better.   It lets the purple and red have a chance to just say “purple” or “red” without something else on top of them.  The colors by themselves have a chance to breathe!  And he cuts better hearts than I do.  Then there’s Miles who is 11 and is, well, Miles!

Elaine's Vtine

Elaine's Vtine

Reid's Vtine

Reid's Vtine

Miles' Vtine

Miles' Vtine