Silent Auction Item: Dave Camden Pottery Piece valued at $90

Dave Camden has donated a beautiful and unique pottery piece. Get those pencils ready for a silent auction battle!

Silent Auction Item: Handmade Rocking Horse - solid wood!

Silent Auction Item: Handmade rocking Horse - solid wood
Donated by a Gandy family, this rocking horse is so sturdy, it can hold a grown man.

Silent Auction Item: Painted Tile Table

Silent Auction Item: Painted Tile Table
This was an after school workshop project. The kids used glass paint to paint tiles donated by Taylored Floors. The Elves baked the tiles to harden the paint and tiled a donated table.

Silent Auction Item: Modern Painting - a study in stripes

Silent Auction Item: A Study in Stripes
This was an after school Art Workshop Project.

Silent Auction Item: Vertical Flower Painting on Glass

This is an After School Art Workshop project. The kids used glass paint to create a whimsical flower painting. Simple and beautiful.

Silent Auction Item: Flower Glass Painting with Old Frame and Glass

Silent Auction Item: Flower Glass Painting
This was an After School Art Workshop project. The kids used glass paint to draw a simply wonderful flower picture. The frame was donated by Bell, Book and Candle. Look closely at the glass and you can see waves - this means that the frame and glass are very old!

Silent Auction Item: Shabby Shic Arm Chair with Fresh New Fabric

Silent Auction Item: Shabby Shic Arm Chair
This chair was donated by Jill Johns of Transformations by Jill. The Elves painted it white and gave it a shabby shic look. The yellow, white and blue fabric is fresh and fabulous.

Silent Auction Item: Black Chair with Japanese-style fabric

Silent Auction Item: Black Chair with Japanese Style Fabric
This chair was donated by Rebecca Cline and Darcy Inge of Caring Transitions. It was delivered with a broken leg, but the Elves fixed it, painted it a glossy black and added this wonderful Japanese style fabric. Martha Stewart would be so jealous!

Silent Auction Item: Geometric Puzzle Sculpture

Silent Auction Item - Geometric Puzzle Sculpture
designed by Eve Torrence,Professor of Mathematics, Randolph-Macon College

This handmade sculpture/puzzle is an abstraction of a geometric shape called a Small Stellated Dodecahedron. Purchase of this object includes a session with Prof. Torrence in which she will explain the geometry and teach you how to put together the puzzle. Valued at $50.

Flower Paintings

After School Art Workshop with Ms. Parfitt

Ms. Parfitt invited a group of her best art students to create flower pictures during an afterschool workshop. The school is buzzing with excitement over these wonderful pictures, to include dogwood flowers, water lilies, sunflowers and more. They are framed and ready to hang!

"Good Vibes" Vase

Ms. Parks’ 4th Grade Classroom Art Project – “Good Vibes” Vase
A large clear vase turned out to be a great object to share “good vibes.” The students were asked to think of positive and affirming words. The Elves etched them onto the vase, and brought it to the classroom. The students were asked to string beads onto wire, curl it in different ways and attach it to the vase. You can feel the positive energy when you are near this vase!

Funky Mirror

Ms. Keeling’s 4th Grade Classroom Art Project – Funky Mirror
Donated anonymously, this mirror was the perfect object for a classroom project. Using special metallic plastic, Ms. Keeling’s students cut out miscellaneous shapes, layered them and put them in a toaster oven. The Elves painted the mirror silver and attached the pieces to the mirror with strong glue. The result? A mirror fit for a princess!

Painted Wooden Chest

Ms. Kahl’s 4th Grade Classroom Art Project – Painted Wooden Chest

Donated by Darcy Inge and Rebecca Cline of Caring Transitions, this chest was neglected and needed repair. After the Elves got it into shape, Ms. Kahl’s 4th Grade students painted designs on the planks in colors of white, orange and red. A big thanks to Henry Michalak to putting the final coat on it. Now it is a unique and fresh chest with many potential uses.

Jewelry

Ms. Hanneman’s 4th Grade Classroom Art Project – Jewelry

Using specially formulated clay, Ms. Hanneman’s students created beads in various sizes and shapes and added “bling” to some of them. The Elves then baked the beads, glazed them and strung them into lovely pieces of jewelry.

Fun Antique Metal Tray with names and beads

Ms. Walsh’s 3rd Grade Classroom Art Project – Fun Antique Metal Tray with names and beads
Donated by a Gandy family, this antique tray was a rusted mess until the Elves cleaned and painted it back to life. A perfect memento for Ms. Walsh’s class, this tray includes all of the student’s first names in colorful ink and is beaded to funky perfection!

Metal Tray with Favorite Words and Golden Swirls

Ms. MacPherson’s 4th Grade Classroom Art Project – Metal Tray with Favorite Words and Golden Swirls
When asked what their favorite words are, Ms. MacPherson’s 4th grade class came up with words like “compromise,” “hope” and “responsible.” The students carefully wrote their words on the pre-painted tray with an artist’s paint pen. The Elves added golden swirls and round feet, and then lacquered the tray. What a great addition to any family room and a wonderful reminder to make good choices in life.

Mirror with Flowers

After school workshop - Mirror with Flowers
The students made flowers out of a special clay that was later baked and glazed by the Elves. The mirror was donated anonymously and the Elves painted it white. Gandy parent, Kathy Abbott, glued the flowers on and then painted the leaves. Viola! A gorgeous mirror!

Drip Painting in Large Gold Frame

Ms. Smith’s 5th Grade Classroom Art Project – Drip Painting

Jackson Pollack was known for his experiments in paint, including his famous drip paintings. We gave Ms. Smith’s class different objects containing black paint and a step ladder and they went to town dripping paint on a large canvas. Thanks to the Chambers for donating the terrific gold frame! This is a fantastic piece of art!

Self-Portraits in Ink

Ms. Santasiere’s 5th Grade Classroom Art Project – Self-Portraits in Ink

We asked Ms. Santasiere’s 5th Grade Students to draw their own face in ink. This is a challenging project for most of us, but they took it on with excitement. We encouraged the students to think about their unique features, like curly hair, eye glasses, wide eyes, hair cuts, etc. The result? A perfect piece of art representing the unique beauty of Ms. Santasiere’s class!

Kandinsky-inspired Painting

Ms. Ferment’s 5th Grade Classroom Art Project – Kandinsky-inspired circle painting

Using modern artist, Kandinsky, as an inspiration, we asked Ms. Ferment’s 5th Grade students to paint imperfect circles on masonite tiles. To start the project, we asked them to draw circles with their eyes closed. The result, a wonderful combination of circles in a study of color. Let your eye wander from one beautiful circle to the next. This painting would be beautiful in any home!

Fun "Old-Style" Student Desk

Ms. Bower’s 5th Grade Classroom Art Project – Fun “Old-Style” Student Desk

What’s old is new! This old style student desk was stored in the attic at the Hanover Arts & Activities Center for many years. It has found a new life, thanks to the students of Ms. Bower’s 5th Grade Class. The students poured through magazines clipping pictures and words to decoupage onto the desk. They loved finding inspirational words and pictures. We even left a piece of ABC gum. Can you find it?

Watercolor Fish

Ms. Blackmon’s 4th Grade Classroom Art Project – Watercolor Fish

Ms. Blackmon’s students were asked to use three colors (green, black and red) to paint a fish on watercolor paper. They were also told that there were NO RULES. Using watercolor paints is very tricky, and the kids did an amazing job. No two fish are alike. This is truly a one-of-a-kind piece of artwork!

Outdoor Lawn Ornament

Ms. Sander’s 3rd Grade Classroom Art Project – Outdoor Lawn Ornament – a One-of-Kind Cement Column
Generously donated by Class & Trash, we are guessing this cement column weighs at least 150 pounds. We are not sure how Alan Abbott managed to single-handedly transport the column to the Gandy Café. It must have been a feat of strength! Voted the MESSIEST classroom art project by the organizers, the children enjoyed putting on gloves, picking out fun and funky things to jam into the bonding cement while trying to avoid stepping in the wet mess. Look closely and you will see forks, knives, earrings, buttons, seashells and other crazy items! This garden ornament will make a wonderful and unique centerpiece for your garden.

"Flower Power" Glass Vase

Ms. Hutt’s 3rd Grade Classroom Art Project – “Flower Power” Glass Vase

This two-part piece includes flat backed marbles with wire petals and tissue paper flowers. Some of our parents will remember creating tissue-paper flowers by fanning them, tying them in the middle, then opening them up to their grandeur very carefully so as not to rip the tissue paper. It’s a lot harder than you might think! The vase can be used for many purposes, including a container for magic markers, pencils, pens and even seashells!

Window Valance

Ms. Davidson's 3rd Grade Classroom Art Project - Window Valance

Inspired by an art project from the Seven Hills School in Richmond, we asked for donations of small metal objects and beads to create a one-of-a-kind window valance. Each student carefully strung their chosen objects on a fishing line. Each string represents one student…Ms. Davidson even did a string! Look carefully and you will see old watch heads, grandma’s earrings and funky beads. Perfectly wonderful for a kitchen or bathroom window!

Garden Chair with Pansies

Ms. Noakes' Third Grade class - Garden Chair

We asked the students to cut out shapes from Friendly Plastic to form flowers. The kids loved watching their creations melt into lovely and funky flowers. The Elves glued the flowers to a chair, then removed the seat and planted flowers where the seat was... Voila! A Unique Garden Chair!

A "Color Form" Pet Bin

Mrs. Williamson’s Third Grade Class – A Color Form Pet Bin

An anonymous donation of a wooden bin with a lid inspired a “Color Form” Pet Bin for Ms. Williamson’s Classroom Art Project. Many parents might remember working with magnetic geometrical shapes to form people, animals, buildings and other creations when they were younger. The students were asked to create animal shapes with primary colored paper. The result? A wonderful assortment of critters, including a sting ray, dogs, turtles and more! Use this bin to hold dog bones, pet food, leashes… anything for your pets!

Thumb Print Critters on an Old Children's Chair

Ms. Dixon’s Fifth Grade Class – Thumb Print Critters on an Old Children’s Chair

History of the chair: This is an old wooden child’s chair from Jim and Lorie Foley.

Project: We repainted the chair a fun green color. Then, we asked the children to create bugs and animals on the chair by stamping their fingers and thumbs in ink. The kids then added embellishments to their critters with permanent markers.

After drying, the chair was lacquered to a perfect finish!

Weaving Project for an Antique Rocker

Mrs. Lott’s Third Grade Class - Weaving Project for an Antique Rocker

Bruce and Eve Torrence donated this antique rocker for the Gandy Art Auction. The caning on the rocker’s seat was broken.

History of the rocker: The rocker came from Mary Ruth and Bob Lancaster of Howard Street in Ashland. Mrs. Lancaster was a Librarian at Randolph-Macon College for many years. She was also an avid gardener known for sharing her Hardy Orchids with friends all over Ashland. Mr. Lancaster worked for Life of Virginia and was amateur Historian who loved Hanover history. The rocker came with the Lancaster’s house when the Torrences bought it from them 15 years ago.

Project: We ripped lots of 2 inch-strips of fabric in various patterns and colors. We had two wood frames – one for the seat and one for the back of the rocker. We knotted the long strips to the weaving frames, and then weaved in the crosswise strips of fabric.

After the weaving was complete the Elves re-enforced the rocker and attached the “weaved” pieces to the rocker.

Moroccan Tiled Table

Mrs. Kouri's 5th Grade Class - Moroccan Painted Tiles on a Table
Using a Moroccan design as inspiration, each student used glass paint in four colors (gold, black, red and blue)to paint their tiles. Their designs follow a basic pattern of 4 petals starting from the middle and reaching to the 4 corners. After the tiles were painted, the Elves baked them in a low oven to harden the paint to a permanent sheen. Put together, the tiles make a beautiful pattern. Their creativity was amazing!