New Projects and cleaning up UFO's

Hi everyone, summer is racing by and when its too hot to be outside I love to hideaway in my studio. I am working on some great new projects and cleaning up some of my unfinished ones too.

 I find that by setting small amounts of time aside to do some of the UFO's that I am getting through them! I have made myself a list of all the things. You might want to do this too, its empowering. Go around and make a list or gather all your UFO's and make a list. In a box next to the UFO give it a number from 1-10 on how much you love it. Now give it another number based on how quickly you would like to finish it. Based on your totals you can prioritize your UFO list and take out one, finish it and cross it off the list. Now your on your way to getting those projects out of your closet and into the hands of friends, family or selling them!  Oh, time for a watermelon break! I need some refreshments after all that work! PHEW!

My list was fairly extensive and I am tackling it!!! How long is your list?

I also am working on new things as my head is full of things I want to move on too also. Another list and some time and things are getting done. I have to set the time aside to sketch, paint, sew, work on fabric, if I don't I find that things get in the way and my time disappears. Here is a few pictures of what I am working on this week. What are you guys up too? I will be posting my background tutorial and some recipes too in the next few days, keep your eyes open! My Newsletter is on its way tomorrow too!

New fabric, hopefully

This is Chloe in Fabric, used fusible applique, inktense pencils, ink, paint and now to do the background and some thread for more details and she should be done!! 

Keeping everyone afloat!

Today I had all the grandkids over for the day. When school let out I got some crazy idea one day that I could help the two older ones with their poor grades by working with them during the summer. I have had them about 2 days per week now. I don't know what drugs I must have been on the day I decided to do this, like I don't have enough happening! I want to know which fuse in my brain is short circuiting that causes me to not only agree but outright suggest that I take these kinds of projects! After all, I raised my kids already, this is crazy. Then I slap myself and then tell myself ," Be quiet you dork, you already agreed."

I went out and bought some learning DVD's, pencil's, paper. Since I don't have my teaching degree I need to look organized and prepared. I even took them to the library and got them all library cards and we checked out books!

They had never been to a library!

"What's a library card, Nana?"

"It's a card that lets you check out books"

"For what?"

"To read"

"Wow, look at those books over there, they say WORLD BOOKS across all the books"

"Yeah, haven't you ever seen World Books before?"

"NO!" What are they?

"They are encyclopedias!" I used to love to read them and every year we would get a new one.

"Wow, Nana, whats an encyclopedia!?"

Looking totally perplexed and feeling 7000 years old I responded with " It is like the internet in book form"

I have my work cut out for me!

We have cooking lessons, ediquette training, and lots of swimming practice! As hard as it is I have loved every minute with them. I usually take Mikey and Kylie together and then take Nathan, the two year old, on another day. As with most two year olds, life revolves around them and their needs. Today, everyone was here and something amazing happens to kids when they are all together, trouble and chaos! And why is it that when boys get together they are constantly belting out announcements of all the body noises they like to make. Like we all don't know what just happened. I don't know if I can really control chaos, it just happens!

And then, in the middle of the madness, there are moments that speak for themselves, those moments when all is right with the world.

Summer Peaches

There are a few things that mean summer is here! One of them is eggplant and fresh tomatoe sandwiches (to die for!) and the other is fresh picked peaches on Bryers Natural Vanilla Ice Cream! Oh yummy.

We moved both my apricot and peach tree during the construction this last year and I was sure that I wouldn't have much fruit. But to all of our surprise the tree, happyin their new location, set tons of fruit. I watched the apricots start to turn a beautiful orange and as I got ready to pick the birds got every last apricot! Oh no! I swore that this wouldn't happen to my peaches! Its amazing how the birds just know when the fruit is ready and they come in and get them right before picking time. I have done everything from nets to CD's hanging off the branches at our old house to try and beat the critters to the fruit. So I was getting ready to cover the tree when I noticed that the fruit was ready, so I ate some just to be sure, perfect! So I picked a bowl of them, we ate them over the next few days and I went back out to see if there were any left and to my amazement, nothing was touched. This repeated itself twice again until now I am down to a few left to pick. The birds for some reason haven't touched them, makes me wonder whats wrong with them?

I took tons of pictures to paint so I can thoroughly enjoy my peach season through out the year. I then bought some new watercolors to help inspire me!