Deadlines Done – (Almost!)

Thanks to everyone who left such nice comments about our biggest mistake ever –  I always enjoy reading about your take on things.   Several of you asked if I would share my paint colors.  I would, if I could.  I always start by picking a color off of those little swatches you get at the paint store.  I put some up on the wall, hoping optimistically that this time I will find a color I like  – straight out of the can.  Never happens – I always end up trying to custom mix just the right color.  It drives my husband crazy!  I will have four or five swatches painted on the wall, then ask him which one he likes better.  As if he cares!  Then I’ll start painting the room, often times remixing my color shade as I am working.  By the time I’m done,  the color is totally different than the swatch on the card.  Please don’t ask my how many times I have repainted my living room since we’ve been here.  Okay – it’s just four.  Sounds normal, right?  Not obsessive at all.  Several of you also asked about the quilt hanging over the couch in the living room – It’s Pinwheel Chain, from the book Fat Quarter Cottage.  You can view the cover under the books tab.

 

I just turned in the books, patterns, and brochure to the printer.  That means that most of the work is now behind me.  I just have to wait, patiently, for the printed copies to arrive.   I’m so happy to be free again!  So, on Wednesday I took the day off.  What did I do on my day off?

Well, regular things.  Things I haven’t done in a while – Like clean the house.  I hate to tell you this, but time for cleaning becomes a luxury when there are book deadlines.  Please don’t try to come over and visit me just before a book deadline.  I can write my To-Do lists in the dust.  It’s that bad.

 

I also babysat my little niece.  We played Peek-A-Boo

 

We spent time outside.  It was finally nice out, with temperatures in the mid-sixties.

 

 

It was Joel’s Birthday, so he got some extra attention – from Addi – of course.

 

I cut down my flowers and raked the leaves out of the flower beds.  Addi helped by sitting on my lap and picking up leaves.  Then we put out the lawn furniture and watched the ice melt.

I am almost as excited about the ice melting, as I am about finishing the books.  It means that winter is finally over!   This is early in the day and there are a few birds on the edge of the ice – which you can’t see in this photo.

 

 

By the afternoon, it looked like all of the birds in the area had gotten the memo for the free buffet over on Nest Lake.  The edge of the ice was just lined with birds.  They were quite noisy, but I don’t mind.  Just another sound of spring.

 

The next morning, I woke up to this – the ice had just disappeared.  Amazing!

 

 

 

I’m getting ahead of myself.  Back to my day off –  I also finished up a new fabric line that I need to have turned into my design director at Henry Glass and Co (by Thursday).

 

It all started with a few sketches –

 

Then I mixed up some paint colors –   You guessed it – Lots of mixing!

 

This time I did my painting on canvas.

  

I used my new quilting pencil by Sewline to draw on the canvas.  If I didn’t like my sketching, I simply got it wet, and it disappeared.  It it works this well with marking fabric, I’m gonna love it!

 

I’ll  share more later, when I get the cads back from Henry Glass.  By the way, I didn’t do all the painting on my day off.  I just put the package together for my design director.  Now, all I need is a name.  Any suggestions?  I could really use some help with this.  I absolutely hate naming things.  My mind just goes  _________   blank.   If only I had a name, my day off would be complete. . . . . . .   (I’m certainly willing to offer up some quilting related items for the name that’s chosen)