Three years ago I made a
photo backdrop. This year, I did two, since it was just as easy, once the process starts. And I couldn't decide between cool beige and warm beige.
Parks & Recs have a great dance program here. Every season they take pictures of the youth in their dance costumes. The photographer is the husband of one of my VT ladies, Sister Sarah. She is the head dance teacher. She runs the whole dance program. I asked what she needed done, service-wise, and she gave me less than a week deadline, and said she didn't want to ask for it, but since I asked, this is what she needed:
A beige/ivory/creamy backdrop.
I felt blessed to find the perfect price/size sheets that afternoon, and started work.
First, I undid the top hem. It wasn't quite wide enough for the 2" pvc pipe back-drop holder. Re-sewed it and sewed two sheets together. One backdrop is 2 fulls, and one is 2 kings-sized flat sheets.
The paint process is my favorite. I use spray bottles with watered down paint. And paint stir sticks flicked in all directions after dipped in thicker paint. When the spray bottles clogged, I used the spray wand to flick paint. Also tried pouring paint into my hand and sprinkling, throwing...Messy and fun. I have to do it out on the front lawn for the space and the mess. The grass doesn't seem to mind the colored drinks (I haven't killed it yet from painting outside on it). I let the backdrops dry hanging on the front bushes, for air circulation underneath, and so it doesn't glue itself to the grass.
We live on a corner opposite the exit driveway for the middle school. Where the dance classes are taught! It is a very public place to paint, with cars exiting from dance class. I am that crazy lady in paint clothes and no coat, wearing her husband's flip flops and madly dashing paint around in the air, walking around two huge rectangles of fabric...Sarah drove by and saw the backdrops as I worked on them, and was really excited! "Those are for me!"
After drying for 24 hours I set up my ironing board on the front porch and ironed the reverse side to set the colors. I didn't want hot paint fumes in the house, and it was really pleasant outside. The heat softened the stiffness out of the sheets from the paint.
The paint patterns reminded me of marble, cool stone.
This was not sponged on. All drips and sprays and splatters.
The catalog pictures Sarah ripped out for color reference for me. "Beige" is one of those tricky colors to describe. She did not want it golden, or orangey, or pinky, or too greyed down. I did use some black paint that ended up looking very grey, and some light browns that went purple-looking and others that went green. My biggest struggle was trying to get enough contrast, with over-all lightness.
Fun project!
wallpaper (I think I found this through Christine Design blog?)
...and quilt this for your bed...
If you can get to NYC within the next two days, this quilt exhibit is worth it. Celebrating her 80th birthday, Mrs. Rose's quilts fill the armory. It took my breath away. Stunning. I loved the way they were shown, some 5 quilts tall, back to back, suspended magically in spiralling circles...
My absolute favorite.
Loved the quilting, loved the ric-rac large graphic. Red is appliqued onto the white.
....and us, a couple photo from that night.
Remember these entertainment doors I finally finished? French-looking in style.
Here is the final piece. Everything black, except the TV, the table, and the photo frames, I painted this week. Ralph Lauren "Ebony" is a nice, dark, perfect black paint.
The things I love and FIT organized. I could close my wardrobe door for the first time in years...The choices are an interesting color palette.
John asked, "Where is the orange?"
John has thinned down, lost 25+ pounds recently. Looking handsome!
Here we are at a pancake dinner fundraiser. Grandpa bought the tickets. We show up, stay until all the grandparents are done eating. John's 90 year old grandma was there, getting kisses from nearly everyone who passed our table. I think we were strategically sitting near the exit. This is what it is like living in the same town for generations--five generations for us. Everyone knows you, recognizes your family. You have to be careful.
Lots of people asked about our children--and our missing two in college (not shown).
200 amazing singers from all over Maryland. We've been spoiled by Maryland State Boychoir concerts. It was striking to hear the women voices-a different sound then soprano boys clear sound (Girls vibrate more, I've heard it explained. It's just different.) These guys sounded good, but only had Friday-Saturday-Sunday intense rehearsals together.
With only 4 children at home, we can eat dinner "together" if John & I sit in the kitchen at the island, and the children line up down the breakfast bar. It is a little tall, better for standing at and eating--or I need taller stools?
Max made peppermint fake-oreos-from-Aldi's truffles, on his own, because it was Thursday=dessert day (we've limited it to Sunday's and Thursdays, trying to be healthier as a family and so Sam didn't ask for ice cream every night).
The paint patterns reminded me of marble, cool stone.
This was not sponged on. All drips and sprays and splatters. 
The catalog pictures Sarah ripped out for color reference for me. "Beige" is one of those tricky colors to describe. She did not want it golden, or orangey, or pinky, or too greyed down. I did use some black paint that ended up looking very grey, and some light browns that went purple-looking and others that went green. My biggest struggle was trying to get enough contrast, with over-all lightness. 
Welcome to BYU-Provo for Maxwell! This is him, wearing the $1.50 Banana Republic floral GUY'S shirt I found at the thrift store, and clicking "YES" he will attend in the fall!
Front door with sheer IKEA fabric curtain cut and fabric starched to glass door. Soak or spray the starch onto the fabric, smooth onto surface. Works on smooth walls, too, and holds. Great way to change a wall/window if you are renting and can't paint. I once covered a whole powder room with giant popcorn fabric! Loved that.
9 Mile Canyon-one of my favorites of him!
Picnic at BYU!
