Mural Archives Continued

 
 
 
 

Animal room (many continents represented smushed) and skeleton/castle/dragon/pirate rooms.

Archiving Murals

 
 
 
 

Time for more old murals, paid client stuff. This was a planet and stars room. Clients painted background the color I suggested (I gave them 3 different swatches, told them any would work well). Fun to do, huge planets, thousands of glow-in-dark stars on ceiling. This was the first time I used the super-douper glow paint I ordered on line. Glows for hours. Expensive. Plus I applied glitter BenMoore paint for galaxy dust. The family told me (repeat customer) they camp in their sleeping bags as a family on the floor in this room and ohh and ahhh and look for falling stars!

Happy Birthday Brother John

 
 
 
 

First the song: Are you sleeping, are you sleeping Frere Jacque? Three of our children are in French classes this year. We are thinking about starting to read The Book of Mormon in French as a family, to get ready for our future LDS couple mission! Belgium, Tahiti or Jamaica could be on the potential list...whoohooo, c'est formidable!

The reason for this post: I have a brother John, a husband John, a son John, a grandpa John and grandpa-in-law John (both recently died), a father-in-law John. So I call them Brother John, Johnny, Stewart, Gpa Jack and Gpa Stewart, and John-Dad. If son-Stewart continues the tradition of first born son naming in juniors, I could have a grandson John someday!

It's my Brother John's birthday this Sunday. He is a great brother and uncle, father and husband, cook (he once made me a pie, said "I made you an apple pie!" and waited until I took a bite and told me it was zucinni. It was really good, but that explains a little of his personality and creative kitchen experiments!), wise-pun-cracker, furniture refurnisher, saver of tool parts and bits and pieces just in case, cyclist, chicken-owner, raspberry farmer, and he looks a lot like this ancestor--Great ____ Gpa _____. Sister Jen would know. She is the family archivist and photographer! Good thing that Jen married her John so THIS Jen and my Johnny can torture nieces and nephews with double aunt and uncle names!

The juxtaposition of years: STILL SMILING!

 
 
 

Couple #1 (my birthday sister!) married in February. Couple #2 (me!) engaged the day couple #1 married because my husband was only days back from his LDS mission. Black and white photo features my sister in the high chair and me standing next to her. We are beautiful when we smile.

Happy Birthday to my sister today!!! And I love her!

 
 
 

How do you explain how much you love a sibling? We had moments growing up when it wasn't nice. I was older, meaner, more competitive, bossier. The broken arm is NOT my fault. The barbie doll that broke when I hit it over her head, yeah, I'll take credit for that one now. I distinctly remember a year in seminary when the song from "Gates of Zion" pierced me to my soul: "Why do I hurt you..." were the lyrics. It made me realize that I needed to be nicer to my sister.

Today it is easy to be nice. We are both adults, have families. Our husbands like to hang out together. Daughters that went off to college at the same time. We have more in common with each other than I have with other friends. We are experiencing some of the same things even though we live hours away.

I look forward to sister gatherings, when we giggle and eat and watch chick flicks and talk about memories and future. It is easy to relax and just be me with my sister. I know she knows who I am. She knows my weaknesses and the things I am working on. No pretense. No impressing. Just being.

She has a talent for writing. Someday you will see her work in print, guaranteed. Come to me for autographed personalized copies of your future favorite novel.

She has a talent for parties, making up fun games and themes that stretch to cover every detail.

She has a talent for teaching. I listened to a relief society lesson she gave that taught me things I still live by.

She has a talent for perserverance. I am not saying she is stubborn, but the Scottish non-intimidated fiesty heritage we have is strong in her.


 

HERE is the famous future author picture! I was ready to be done for the day, but wanted you to see how beautiful she is.

Barter Job

 
 
 

I would rather paint than anything...Well, or sew, maybe. Cathy would rather sing. We swapped. She taught voice lessons to Max, and I painted her daughter's room, using the magazine inspiration she found. She did the basecoat, too, which really helps. I love prepared clients, who know exactly what they want, and are willing to make it easy for the artist.

More quilts from 2006 Show