Cotton Club: I can do "wallpaper" this scale!

This is the most recent combined sewing effort from these ladies, we each did a block. Mine is top left hand corner.

You take me out to eat, and I am going to be studying the decor. I really wish I had taken my camera to downtown Syracuse, NY, with Deb & Roger to capture the colors and faux painting and murals at the Mission Restaurant (high recommendaiton).

If you see any of these women, know that they are friends. We've been a small group for 2 years. They all own cats (at least one) and are talented quilters. I am leaving the group, saying official farewells. Laurajane has a snowman quilt that each of these women contributed a block to create. Cheryl doesn't think she photographs well, so I was determined to get her smiling!
Erin, past president of FGQG just before me. She organzied the Cotton Club, with the one requirement, everyone had to be nice!
Patti!
Pam at the head of our table (can you see her on the back of a Harley? In leathers, with her sweetie, seriously!)
Freddie & Ruth
Sheree & Lois (and look at that wallpaper background! I could paint that!)

Homemade Portraits

Samuel
Roxie Jane
Stewart
Maxwell
Suzanna




First tip was GO OUTSIDE! Unless you have studio lights and reflectors and a hair spot (I am quoting Seth H., yes, clued me into why some of the Church News mission president couple photos looked wonderful or awful).


My mother-by-marraige wants a portrait of her first born for Christmas/birthday. She still has one of him when he was 17 hung up in her house, and she wants an update. I won't count how many I have taken of him today (close to 100, seriously) and then I websurfed for some hints. Needed some help to get rid of some pesky shadows that made his hair look weird. And I love this one! His eyes sparkle, he looks like the man I married! Things I learned:
1. put digital camera on HEAD portrait icon (that's what that is?!)
2. turn on flash, so will flash every time (I had to press a button to get the lighting icon on all the time, not on A for automatically letting camera decide)
3. zoom all the way IN
4. step back enough to frame person's head/torso (don't worry about pants)
5. take lots and lots of photos!
6. the more distance between person and background, the better. You want it to fuzz out and blur background. Above settings help to do that.

Ninjas at our house!

I didn't get a picture of Max--he started it, taught the kids how to take a tshirt and make a costume with it! They got dressed up and then played hide-and-go-seek. Fun cousin memories.

One Big Table!

I love sit down, no kid table, all together, pass counter-clockwise! Missed Emma, but called her to say "Hi, we love you!" I am thankful for big families and lots of laughter and love shared!

Swimming and It's OK to Paint over My Paint...

We rejoined the club! It has been 2 years since we were there. We told the kids tonight this is our family Christmas present, and we all went to celebrate. There was another family from Church there, and the kids made a noodle train, with Max as engine, pulling their weight through the water. Stewart was in the salt pool. I was in the hot tub spa, and John took these photos!



John loves the lighting on this one.


Roxie Jane here; we all had fun!


The rest of my week has been painting busy! BEFORE of a tiny claustrobic-inducing room. Client painted ceiling blue for sky and walls green for earth, but knew it needed something more.

DURING: This is my favorite cloud view before quotes and ribbons added. THESE are my clouds!


AFTER







The challenge: take a 5 year old mural and inject some life into it. The owner wasn't sure what it needed, thought maybe some birds? She said she cried when it was done by the first artist, was never happy with it. She gave me the freedom to do whatever I wanted to...She had no qualms about how the 1st artist would feel. If someone needed to do this to one of my murals, I would not be offended. But I guess I would rather not know. It is a decorating choice. And I believe you can outgrow colors, themes. Even haircut styles need updating every few years. This is NOT my water fountain.
Not my pillars.
Not my clouds. Trying to be nice, they remind me of sheep grazing in a blue field...
Overview of BEFORE! That's Amy there in background, packing up to give me space to paint.
DURING: Consolidated columns, callmed down clouds, cypress trees added here, fountain and brick pathway are gone.
AFTER: Right side, with recycled birds on branch (see Billie's Bathroom!)
Left side, with my two favorite birds!
Long shot, final view. Whew! I had the office key and worked until 11:30 pm to finish. Much easier to work alone, quiet, no audience. Time speeds by surprising me with late hour.

Birthdays are about Beginnings

Once upon a time a BYU student from California (returned missionary) married another BYU student from Virginia. She worked, he finished school. Years later she would graduate...because the babies came first. I am thankful for the priorities my parents placed on family life! This porch saw a lot of action for photo-ops! I think my mom is beautiful! And she looks good in pink! A young mom, with a huge happy baby, and yes, that is a milk spit-up. No wonder I am smiling!
(Is this Great Grandma Davidson or Great Grandma FOX? It is labeled D, but I think it is F! Whose porch--would that help document??? Is there an F hiding behind Mom's left foot? Help me historian family members!)


I am thankful for Mom (Grandma Jane-to-my kids)and her wisdom and peacefulness. She is smart, thoughtful, insightful. She loves to read and go on shopping adventures (treasure hunting in thrift stores). When I miss Emma away at school, I think about the times I have missed my mom, living so far away. Tomorrow/Thanksgiving they will be together, to celebrate the peace and plenty we share and to sing HAPPY BIRTHDAY! Hope it is a great gathering! Love you lots!

Busy Week Already...

Billie's Green Birdie Bathroom. My bad photos making the soft sage look weirdly yellow...It was stark builder white before I started. She hasn't seen it yet, still out of town until next week, so I have time to tweak it...


And another client this week. I love word-of-mouth referrals! Before picture.
This shot shows both seagulls, name in polka dots, an island she wanted...
I was happy with 2 palm trees, but the client wanted one more. Where is my contract in place when I need it? (There is a contract clause that talks about additions after the artist is "done" and a whole section about interruptions, wandering pets, watching work-in-progress that protects my trying-to-please personality and my NOT-strongly-enough-worded-aesthetic recommendations. Each mural addition is more $ that way, instead of first agreed price covering everything possibly done, hours or even days later, until client is finally happy. Been there. I had an art teacher once explain that it is important to know when to STOP before you ruin something by going [1 tree] too far!) Live and learn and trust John's insight, go the contract route.
This girl plays on the lacrosse team with Gabby--saw her palm trees, wanted some for her pre-sponged room. I talked her into a glow-in-dark moon instead of sunrise, works better wtih the colors in her room!
Sister of Megan, same house. Preteen into sports--all of them! I should have taken a picture of her trophy wall, not just soccer, but golf, basketball, baseball, she does it all!