No charge Color Splash

If you haven't heard the news, Glidden is giving away a free quart of paint in your choice of color until July 2! But be quick as it's a while-supplies-last offer. I could have stared at those choices all day, but I knew exactly what I wanted. On my long list of summer things to do is to paint an accent wall in our master bedroom. Just about this shade a.k.a. my choice...


I can't begin to tell you how happy it makes me that I can take the plunge without spending a cent or worse yet standing in line at the paint counter. Who among us doesn't have a quart-of-paint-kinda-project on the list?! And PROMISE me you won't request anything in the white, cream or taupe color palettes. No worries, it's free color!

Look out Project Runway

I'm stepping into foreign territory. Another confession of a sewing amateur breaking boundaries...I made something wearable. When these pants came together I wanted to call a friend..."yeah I'm sitting here wearing pants I made...myself. seriously. oh and was that a pig that just flew by my window?"

I picked up this highly recommended book a few months ago. Right there on page 28...lounge pants. I skimmed the directions and even though I noticed alien terms like seam allowance and selvedge, the step-by-step directions made it all seem possible. I loved the fact that these lounge pants were made from recycled sheets, easy enough to score at any thrift store. With only $1 invested in material and another buck or so in elastic there wasn't much to lose.

After tackling the zipper, elastic didn't scare me at all. pleazze. I only had a moment thinking about the amazingness of the invention. You really couldn't have decent lounge pants without elastic.

Admittedly, this project required deep breaths and mental cheering...June you are smart enough to figure out "zigzag stitching a raw edge." I've never made clothing for anyone other than Barbie, so baggage was involved in believing that I could actually do it. Clothing is big. Especially pants. Pants with fancy cuffs at the bottom. Now these most certainly are not perfectly-stitched, one-leg-exactly-matches-the-other lounge pants ...

...but they are perfect enough for this. Another personal milestone. Wonder what I'll sew next.

Carving out time

The past week or so feels like a blur. I think if you asked me what I've been doing to be soooo insanely busy I would have absolutely no idea. Well besides design work, adopting a kitten, running kids to~nature camp, the pool, haircuts, dance lessons etc~ and then carving out this long overdue house number sign for some very special residents. My parents had requested that I make them a sign similar to the one I made for our house. They've been very patient...maybe even thinking their dear daughter forgot...but alas I made it a point to finish in time for their visit over the weekend.

sign specifics: I cut a piece of soft pine (approx. 12" x 8" x 1-1/2" ); pencil transferred the house numbers and freehanded the flower border; dremeled the border to add some dimension; then...

...painted with rich red, green and brown tones to compliment their house. Three layers of heavy duty shellac will protect it from the elements.

I finished just in the nick of time for them to take home when departing this morning. My Dad will be attaching hooks so that this can hang on a lamp post. Now I'm reminded that our house number sign could use a restoration job after hanging outside for 10 years. Added to the list.

It has been awhile since I've stirred up sawdust and worked with wood so it was a fun project. Now I'm eager to get back to other endeavors including finishing up a few soon-to-be published articles. Details in the upcoming months! ; )

Adding a Penny

yep. We did it. We adopted. Now our family consists of two parents, three kids and one adorable kitten. Meet Penny. Our new calico born in the back of a '55 Chevy. At least that's the place where the animal shelter said her and her litter mates were found. Just the place where you might find a penny right?

Our little Penny is the runt of the litter. She's a precious little thing half the size of her other three-month-old siblings.

What a friendly, playful, outgoing, tolerant-of-lots-of-love kitten she is. I'm pretty sure Penny has had more visitors and been held by more hands than any of my three children in their first days.

One more baby pix for now. Sweet dreams Penny. We're happy to have you.

Summer Opening: birds, flowers and rainbows

bird by Cara age 10 (collage)

flowers by Brendan age 7 (chalk)

rainbows by Nora age 4 (watercolor)

These three artists are excited to attend Summer's Opening finally happening this Friday, June 5th. After another successful year of study, they've produced an abundance of work fit for our humble gallery a.k.a. refrigerator. Ice cream and refreshments will be served. Yes, almost there...