Paint in My Hair

The Beans (Spilled) and a Giveaway

First, I should tell you guys that I'm giving away a pack of cards at Funky Finds.  The pack contains five cards, each with a different painting, signed by yours truly. 

But wait.... what's that in the background.  Look closely.  Squint.  Turn your head side-ways.  You might see a glimpse of what I've been up to.   Nine paintings.  Months in the making.  Finished yesterday.  Soon to be boxed up and sent to Japan.  What's in Japan, you ask?  Well, you can read about that in Kathy Miller's blog.  Are we getting warmer?  Kathy Miller (of Michael Miller fabrics)  has been traipsing all over Asia, meeting with Fabric mills.  Japan, she says, has the best.  So there you have it (the spilled beans that is.) 

As a life long sewer, and lover of beautiful fabric, I am ecstatic about having my paintings on fabric.  As a painter I have often been inspired by fabric (I've already confessed my blubbering adoration for Kaffe Fassette.)  So I feel like this is coming full circle for me.

In celebration of my announcement  I'm going to give away a pack of cards here too.  but unlike Jessica's  giveaway, I'm making you work for it.  Share something embarrassing your kid has said.  You know, like when I was at the grocery store and Lily asked in her loudest little voice, "mom, why does that lady have a beard."  If you don't have a kid, use a friend's.

I'll give another example for your amusement.   I was on bed rest after finishing up in-vitro.  We were new in the neighborhood.  A neighbor came to the door. 

neighbor, "can I talk to your mom."

Lily, "She's in bed making a baby."

Neighbor, confused, "where's your dad?"

Lily, "He's upstairs with my mom."

Dave had to rush downstairs and straighten that out.

That's it then.  Ready set go.  {Wow!  Thanks for all your funny stories.  We have a winner--my next post}

"H" is For Harris

Do you remember a million years ago when I said I was helping Shannon with her nursery.  My mom did this brilliant "hanger slip cover."  And I did a bunch of stuff with raw wood and paint (so inexpensive.)  Well, here are some belated photos of said nursery.  Little Harris is a happy boy in his nest.  And Shannon is moving on to her bedroom.  Last Friday group one of my "Jobs"  was to brainstorm ideas for her room.  Ahhh... she tempts me again.  She knows by now I will lay awake at night thinking of ideas.

Meanwhile, I am sooooo busy working on a soon-to-be-revealed, top-secret project. I'm very excited about it and will probably spill the beans in a few days. 

Don't Eat the Mushrooms

Have I told you about my daughter's love of vegetables.   Real conversation at the grocery store: 
Lily, "Mamma, can I please have this bell pepper??"  (You can also insert mushroom, radish, or carrot)
Me, "Well...... if you are very, very good."
Lily, "I will be, I promise."

I do not exaggerate.   She loves them raw, boiled, fried, whatever (with the exception of canned tomatoes.)  Here is Lily's favorite pasta (notice no tomatoes.) Soooo easy.

1 pack mushroom, sliced
1/4 lb Italian sausage
fresh garlic (minced)
1 small onion (chopped)
one of those little  boxes of cream (can you tell I'm getting this from my head)
2-3 tsp cajun seasoning
pasta

Sautee the mushrooms, sausage, onions, and garlic in a little olive oil.  Add cream and cajun seasoning.  Simmer a few minutes. poor over cooked pasta.  Sprinkle with Parmesan for even more fattening goodness.

You'd better serve this with a salad (and a light dressing).  :>)

   

Tweet Tweet

I got a lovely little email from an old friend with this photo attached.  Hey, there's my bird!  I love how the blog keeps me connected with friends and family.  And seeing how Faith used my bird was almost like having her over for a little craft day.

P.S.  I'll get to work on that blind cover tutorial.

The Cover-Up

Thank you Friday Girls! They struck again last week. Kim and Shannon organized my cupboards. (Ahhhhh.... my kitchen needed a little left brain influence). Michelle put shelf paper on my shelves. And Colette brought my little curtain idea to life:

I didn't want to remove the plastic blinds in the kitchen because they would be tricky to replace (between the metal door and the plaster walls.) But I didn't want to look at them either. So we slip-covered them. Michelle and Colette were skeptical. But went along with me anyway (they're good sports). Well, it worked!! They are totally functional. You use the same string to pull them up and down. Hurray! No more ugly plastic blinds. And, with my 40% off coupon at Joanne, it only cost 8 bucks.

While the Friday Girls slaved away for me, I added straps to my beloved antique hi-chair. Now luke can eat smushed bananas in style.

What My Brilliant Sister Is Up To

I just have to show off what my brilliant sister is up to. She is making her own line of children's clothing and I think it is, without a doubt, the coolest thing out there. It's like if Anthropology were to start a line of children's clothing. Except that each piece is one of a kind and hand-made. Cooler still: they are made from recycled sweaters. She started them with cloth-diaper-ers in mind, but I am personally begging for some for my little plastic bummed boy. And she is doing all this with 5 kids! FYI she sells these puppies within a few hours.

As you can see, Rachel can sew circles around me. But I have some bragging rights: I taught her to sew.

Friend Frenzy

Happy 2008.  I am just about recovered from all the fun and frenzy of the holidays.  The decorations are down, the chocolate is consumed, and I've even been doing some Pilates.  It was truly a great holiday.  I believe it was our first year without any family for Thanksgiving, Christmas, or New Year.  The withdrawl was softened by some of the lovliest friends a girl could want.  As mentioned before, we had a oodles of friends with their oodles of kids for Thanksgiving and Christmas Eve, followed by a quiet Christmas morning with just the 4 of us.  We finished off the celebration with a trip to Nashville to visit our beloved friends: Rachel, Jason and munchkins.  Lily was in heaven with their 2 1/2 yr old Jacob and promptly decided we should move to Nashville.  As you can see, Luke also had a playmate (Yes, I confess: I did give Luke just a tiny trim) And all the children were happily content as grown-ups gabbed, ate,watched movies, played games, etc.  I must say, that Southern Hospitality is alive and well in Nashville.  I was amazed by how friendly and polite everyone was.

I also saw some inspiring shops and artwork that left me itching to paint.  Most inspiring of all was my visit to Anna Maria' house.   She has done so many exciting things with her walls and furniture.  Most of all, I loved her beautiful paintings.   And of course, Anna is always fun to talk with. 

I came home from Nashville rejuvenated and inspired and ready to paint.  I've been a bit enamored with seed pods these days.  Here's my first shot at them.