Paint Your Art Out...

is a local Art Studio where I live.  It's an interesting concept.  They apparently have open paint time (not sure what that means), but they also have classes.  You sign up for a particular painting, show up with your favorite beverage/snacks of choice, and paint said painting.  A "teacher" instructs you, you are provided a canvas on an easel (with the picture drawn onto the canvas), paint, paint brushes,  paper towels, and water cups.

I went with a gal pal of mine to try it out.  She is hoping to inspire her creative side.  I just thought it sounded like fun.  And we both enjoyed that the hubbies were watching the kids.  :)

Here is the end result:

Would I do it again?  I dunno.  The expense for me wasn't necessarily worth the end product as I enjoy to more let my creativity flow than to make a set painting.  But, I had a good time with my friend and it was a fun environment.

Basket Weave Play Quilt

To complete Nicki's order I made her baby this fun little play quilt.  It's a very simple design which makes the colors and patterns really stand out.  I used her solid navy, her boyish stripe, a green circle print from my own stash, some solid white (also from my stash) and a green with white pin dots for the binding.  But, just wait for the back!!!  :)  The quilting is a simple parallel stripe that I freehanded.  So it's not perfect which I think makes it even more wonderful.  Makes it homey rather than manufactured looking.

To put on the binding I tried a new strategy from the fabulous Elizabeth Hartman book "The Practical Guide to Patchwork."  If you are a quilter or are looking to get into quilting this is the BEST book out there, and her binding strategy was soooo much better than the "old fashioned" way.

 Now for the backing.  It's a cozy soft flannel.  Perfect for baby!  I also did my first pieced back bringing some of the fabrics from the front to the back of the quilt.  I like it!  :)

Patio Problem

Hi.  I'm Amanda, and I have a patio problem.  I'm not afraid to admit it.  It's messy.  Things are shoved in corners just so the dog won't eat them and even that doesn't save a lot of it.   The storage/coffee table has a broken leg, and a bit of it got melted once by a mosquito smoker, and the dog has eaten parts of a chair and the loveseat.  But, I'd like my patio to be a place I enjoy going to while I play with my kids, or maybe even shut off the TV in the evening and have a glass of wine out there with my hubby.  :)  Isn't it nice to dream about?  And then, back to reality...

 A delicate balance needs to be struck between the kids stuff and the functional items.  I'd like to add some potted plants, but until the goat dog learns how to control her chewing more I think we'll wait on those.  You see she has a problem:

Now I'm thinking about just trimming that mess off, removing the legs from the current storage/coffee table that is shoved in a corner so it won't tip over and injure anyone (read: the baby, or toddler who loves to climb things) and then priming and spray painting everything.  I would really like to get new stuff, but I figure that's a later date type of thing.  Maybe when I can trust the goat dog more.  Then I'm thinking, when I have time (HA!) I'll sew up some new cushions.  Yes, these used to have cushions.  Can you guess what happened to them?  ;)  Well, it's a work in progress.  In my mind at least.  Ideas and suggestions welcome!  I'll have to gather some thoughts and inspiration on Pinterest.

Johanna, a.k.a. Life Saver (or Photo Saver) ;)

Johanna -

I just wanted to write you this post to THANK YOU!!!! for telling me to use Picnik!  I had looked at it a loooong time ago and it was very much like photoshop at that time.  But, it is so user friendly and now!  I'm glad I have Photoshop for those times when I want to get super detailed.  But, lately time is of the essence and Picnik is my new best pal!

I took this simple picture of a fabric pile for Nicki's custom order and did some Picnik magic on it to make it really yummy to look at!  :)  And I just love working with this simple color palate.  I have NEVER put plain solids into a quilt before (I tend to get print happy) and it's nice to do something that isn't so busy.  Not that busy is bad, but it's nice to do a little of both.  Can't wait to surprise Nicki with the finished product!

Ugh...photography

Normally I enjoy taking pictures.  Pictures of my family that is.  But, taking pictures for my shop leaves me wanting to pull my hair out.  Either the lighting is off, or the walls are too dark.  Or I'm just not set up for it.

For example...I took pictures of the custom bumper I completed:

There's nothing fabulous about this picture.  (Well, maybe other than the bumper. ;))

And the thing is...who knows how long I'll actually even have a crib in this house.  If my daughter continues to be as adventurous as she seems to be...she may climb out earlier than her big brother did (and that was too early for my tastes).  I'm thinking finding a way to hang a white sheet on the wall and making a neutral white crib sheet is the way to go.  And then maybe another way?

I also need to become more efficient at Photoshop.  I shy away from it because I'd never get anything done.  It's all just so frustrating.  I know that a good picture can help to sell your product.  Now it's just getting that good picture.  I'll take just 1 for each project!!!  lol