By: Cathy Miller, Photos of the Week

Under the guidance of Blairstown resident Courtney Butrymowicz, full-time librarian and crafts planner at the Catherine Dickson Hofman Library, eight young artists recently gathered to celebrate spring in an especially colorful way.

Courtney Butrymowicz, from Blairstown, works full-time at the Catherine Dickson Hofman Branch, Warren County Library – she does crafts at the library for all ages – she’s in school studying library science.

Sitting at long tables spread with newspaper in the library’s meeting room, each child was presented a ceramic teapot, a paper plate easel with five bright acrylic paints, and brushes. They left with baggies of soil and basil seeds to cultivate in their decorative teapots at home.

It was interesting to watch the kids pick up their brushes, dip into their color of choice, and begin to design their planters.

Identical twins Wesley and Luke had distinctly different styles to start, but by the end both their teapots shared the same moody dark tones.

Wesley (in green shirt) and Luke (in blue shirt), 3-1/2 year old identical twins, from Blairstown.

Brothers Teddy and Mark also worked differently – Mark painted his teapot on his own. Teddy directed his mom which colors to use and where, adding the finishing touches himself to the Viking ship that adorned his creation.

The young ladies tended toward polka dots or simply elegant gold.

It’s so relaxing to spend quiet time in a library, whether it’s book reading or teapot painting.

Mark Chuhinko-Blount (gray t-shirt), 4, from Washington, with grandmother Maryann Chuhinko.

The seed teapot for Mother’s Day was just one craft project offered at the Catherine Dickson Hofman branch, with much more slated for May. Check the library’s online calendar for other special events (at CDH, as well as the other three branches).

AND if you enjoy live music, plan to attend the free Gazebo Concert on Saturday, May 13 at 1:00 pm with Moss Henry & The Bryophytes – “an amalgam of veteran musicians with diverse musical backgrounds who have converged around the axis of country roots. No contemporary country/pop, just an unrepentant mix of tunes from the opry and honky tonks.” Bring a chair or a picnic blanket. If it rains, the show moves indoors. For all ages, please register in advance.

Catherine Dickson Hofman Branch of Warren County Library
4 Lambert Road, Blairstown, NJ 07825
(908) 818-1280 /// www.warrenlib.org/hofman-branch#