Most Embarrassing Thing to Ask For?

I am home. John is still at the hotel, training goes through Friday. This is us in his hotel room. He had class this morning, and I went on a walk-about. After I asked room service for this: (not something I would think to pack!)
I found the "Moon Tree" in Washington Park. The seed was taken up to the moon with astronauts, and then planted in the 70's. It grew. And it doesn't seem to be doing so well.


Tomb for the unknown Revolutionary War soldier in this same park.

Overnighter

John has training up in Philly all week long for his third part-time job (still no benefits, sadly). He is being super-frugal, saving his per diem and eating sandwhiches. Instead of taking the train up, I am driving with him, spending the night (!) and home again after playing in the city.

Max will be in charge here. Of a huge household: his siblings, plus two cousins, plus our favorite toddler! No school day for teacher inservice. They have some library videos to watch, plenty of hot dogs and top ramen to share. I don't even care what state the house is in when I get back-as long as nobody goes hungry or gets hurt. Simple goals.

I hope to come back with some fun photos to share.

Goldilocks Photography: Too Dark, Too Light

We don't have a super-duper camera. That one is on my wish list, for family history purposes! Ours is a Fujifilm E550 digital 5+ years old? Yes, it has night settings, and we tried that. It has been mostly reliable. It took us through the daily couple-shot year plus!

Last Friday, we went as a ward to the DC temple. Nice to be there with friends.Too dark.
Too flash bright.
Playing with the colors & lighting here in my computer studio. Picasa is my friend.

A nice patron walking to her car saw us and offered to help. Some distance between us and the camera seemed to help the most.

Thank You, 9-Patch Nurse!

If I started with a clean slate, endless budget, and could make color/size/style choices independent of inherited, thrifted, and free furniture, it would be different.

My in-laws think it is kind of funny how often I change our furniture around. Sometimes it is a monthly thing. Coinciding with the moon. Other times, a new item changes everything, like dominoes falling down. One thing different affects another thing. Juxtaposition matters to me. How things look in their environment is important!

So the quilt up on the wall inspired a new coffee-not-in-this-house table recovered by some damask fabric. Process is pretty simple: center fabric, cut leaving enough room to staple gun along bottom edge! Corners can be folded and overlapped like sheets, or the same way you stretch canvas on a frame (google it!).

Our sitting area is hugged up to the fireplace-as-the-focal-point. Cozy.


Table from 9-Patch Nurse's collection of de-cluttering cast-offs. We love it!

Re-Dos

Started with a plain black pair of man-made-non-leather pumps. Comfortable. Got them for free. Cheeky little bow came off easily with scissors.
Turquoise & rust National Geographic Aztec art modge-podged on...
...and taken off. I did a layer of Pinocchio black and white words, instead. Still not happy with it.

Client of 2 sketches of 2 days ago wrote this morning saying it was "my call" on making characters size that I think would work well. More re-dos.

I understand the need to change. Sometimes you think something will look really cool, and then you change your mind. Again. And again.

I am trying really hard to think positively about the process and not be irritated.

Re-dos are a good thing.

Really. Do I sound convinced?

I'll show you the shoes when I figure out what to finally do with them. Ha! And they might change again after that!

And this mean-mighty-mural is going to be incredible!

Black & White Houndstooth

I designed and pieced this for the "So You Think You Can Quilt" competition on Brown Paper Packages blog. Finally found a place to hang it. You don't need to know that we moved the bookcase that has been in the living room for 3 years and the paint color behind it did NOT match current color. This quilt was the perfect size...Normally I would leap into action at a chance to paint, but I couldn't find the right white and in the middle of client projects, so my house needs to wait. Shoemaker's children having holes in their shoes saying applies here.

Painting Professionally

Park bench research: (hard to paint what you don't know. Look for the bench in the sketches!)
First sketch:
2nd sketch:
Often I want more than one thing. I am a people pleaser. I want others to be satisfied with the work I do for them. I internalize stress, and swallow disagreements, rather than voice my opinion. When I am trying to be professional--it is tough.

Thank you to an attorney husband, who wrote up a contract for me to use. It only helps when I remember to print it out and USE IT! I have to point out that I will charge for each change made in the plan.

I went out to Havre de Grace to do some research for another client. It was below freezing-very cold out by the bay. Always something to paint!

I told another client--an OB-GYN, that when I feel overwhelmed with work I consider making a career change. She told me she feels that way, too, sometimes. Work, is hard work. We endure, we keep at it. Pay the bills after paying tithing...


And enjoy the peaceful, beautiful things around us.