Summer Has Begun

Here is Courtney from her 8th grade honor night last Wednesday. She got 6 academic medals, 4.0 all three years and the scholar athlete award. Whit got the same awards last year. Courtney and McKenzie Isom were the only 2 eighth graders with perfect attendance all three years. What else do they have in common? They are both the children of art teachers. Please God, Anywhere. Anywhere but home with an art teacher.

We are very proud of her. And she looked cute.

Thursday was the last kid day. I don't think anything else happened. Friday, on the other hand, was busy and sad. We had a retirement lunch for my dear friend and colleague, Janice Cain. I hate thinking of our art teacher meetings without her next year. She is always a voice of calm and sanity. I had to close down two art rooms and organize all my materials for next year. I brought home an empty plan book. It would be so cool to start the school year will all my lessons planned.

Saturday and Sunday - regular days. No win for Danica. I did think there might be a throw down after that guy hit her. We'll make a redneck outta her yet! I don't like the other girls for some reason - Sarah and Milka.

Monday - today - I spent the morning disturbing earthworms and rearranging rocks to get the right amount of fung in my schway. I dug up a perrennial bed, got rid of some things, added some new, transplanted some stuff from other places in the yard. In my containers, I went color wild this year - hot pink, red, lavendar, orange, yellow - all together. Then we went to Bloomington. Michaels first - I FINALLY HAVE SOME FLOSS AND HOOPS SO I CAN STITCH SUBLIMELY!!! I bought a bunch of hoops so the girls can get in on the fun, too. I want to start one tonight. Then TJMaxx, Old Navy and Kohls - the girls wated new swimsuits. Both found one that looks really cute. It's easy to look good in a bikini when you are 15 and have a six pack.

We finished up at Sams and Kmart and bought a darling flatscreen for the family room - only 26" - but a good size for the room - with a dvd player. Kind of a present for the girls for doing so well in school this year.

Arrowmont is only two weeks away!

Good Book

I had read about this book a couple of times, but did not intend to buy it. It sounded silly and I do not need another diet book to join Jorge Cruise, Dr. Phil, Dr. Ian and Bob Green on the shelf. THEN I found the Craftsanity podcast on Itunes. I listened to lots of episodes before listening to Janice. I didn't want to listen to a diet show. Boring.

And what if she was right?

I finally listened to her. Janice Taylor is funny, bright, kinda irreverent and right on the money. I got the book. Our Lady will never see Dr. Phil's book shelf. Every diet book I've ever read makes sense, but they never resonate with me. That's because I've never read a diet book written by an artist.


Visit www.ourladyofweightloss.com for more info.

Me & Allison

I did it. Yesterday I made an Alison Willoughby skirt. I didn't started until about 2:30 yesterday afternoon, but once I got into it, I was on a mission. Friday was Courtney's 8th grade trip. She had to be at school by 5:15 on Friday morning. They went to Cincinnati to the Aquarium, a museum and a Reds game. She did not get home until a little after 1:00am Saturday. I was pooped. Slept in until 8:00 Saturday morning then had to run a school-related but boring errand. Court got up just before noon and we all went to the shop about 1:00. By the time we get there and I talk to JR and get things organized, it was 2:30 when I went upstairs to the studio.

In the book, which I have studied at length since my mom got it for me in Chicago, Allison does not do a great job of explaining the closures she uses. All of her skirts are wrap-arounds. From the instructions in the book, it looks and reads as though she ties a lot of them closed, with long ties attached to the ends of the wrap. No mention of making a button hole in the waistband and running one tie through it and then tying to the other - this is my idea of a wrap skirt. In some photos, you can see a sort of hook and eye closure hold the overlap into place and she has a section on closures, but I can't see what she means. I sent her an email with some specific questions about my skirt. One thing - one some of her skirts the embellishment is thick all over. Do you account for the overlap somehow? Seems like two layers of the "stuff" would be bulky and me booty doesn't need to look any bigger. I sent the email weeks ago and never got an answer. I get it. I know she's an international textile arts superstar and really busy. So I had to improvise.

I took my black and white polka dots and hacked out a simple a-line shape. I did not measure. I hacked away. I check it for length ( the skirts in the book are mid-calf. Mine is about knee-length) and sewed one side seam together. Then. I drew the biggest circle my compass would allow. I sketched a couple of concentric rings larger. I wanted the Explosion to be running off the skirt. I took a strip and started sewing, making the pleats as I went - no measuring or pinning - just pinch and hit the accelerator. It was helpful to draw a sewing line for myself for each row. I had started the button thing with about 100 buttons. I stitched it into the middle before the next to last row. The last row - a kiss of Kaffe - couldn't resist was stitched over the raw edge of the button fabric. I filled in with a ton more buttons to hide the seam.

This one has the lowest common denominator waistband - elastic. It's easy and adjustable. I am still trying to get it just right. It needs to be tight to support the weight of the Explosion. I want my skirt to stand up when I do. I wore it to church this morning with a black tee and a plain denim jacket. And my red patent peep-toes. It makes a noise when I walk.

This project would be rated N, as in Not for Beginners. The pleats are a challenge to make and this is complicated by dragging, pulling and muscling all that fabric under the needle. I will make more Allison-style skirts. I want to have that "art teacher" wardrobe for next year. You will never see me in a polo and dockers or a jumper and platter collared blouse. I heard Rice Freeman Zachary say once that when she got into her 40s she started wearing whatever she wanted. I think I'm there.

Nineteen - I think.

I think this the nineteenth weekly six-inch quilt of 2008, which is my fifth (and last?) year of doing Art Every Day. It's no secret that I have stru ggled with this year's daily assignment. I am not proud of what I am producing in this venture. Everything else,my real art, is fine; I am making stuff that I dig. There's the problem, right there. I view my daily art as different than my other art. The daily art is a dare to myself to look a daily challenge in the eye and refuse to blink. I ain't blinked in over 4 years and my mind is beginning to wander.

I liked both the ANTM finalists this time. Glad Whitney won, though. My girls are hooked on that show. MTV runs a marathon of some season every Saturday and they manage to watch at least a few epis. Our David Cook is looking into the abyss and I fear he will win. I thought David A was picked from the gate to win, but now there's all that stuff with his dad. Hmm. Did you see that Survivor last Thursday when those girls chewed Erik up and spit him out and he never saw it coming? It was a beautiful thing.

I still haven't stitched submlimely. Maybe this weekend? IDK - One of my most favorite art teacher colleagues is retiring this year and I am making her a paper doll set with a bunch of crazy costumes of things she might like to do now that she is free - like ballet and riding a Harley. I need to get that done and make a cute case of some sort. AND THEN I want to finally finish my Allison Willoughby skirt in time to wear to the honor program on the last day of school. FIve more kid days, six more teacher days.

New high school soccer coach for the girls. Conditioning starts June 9. That is a good thing. I have a major project planned for myself for summer break, too. I might keep it to myself; I might tell you. We'll see how it goes.

Gas is 3.95 here. HATE that.

Thank You

Thank you You-Tube for making it so much easier for me to waste time.

Check out "Charlie Bit My Finger-Again" and "Star Wars According to a Three-year Old"

Courtney also found a darling Korean toddler singing "Hey Jude" that we have watched about 47 times.

Good Press

http://www.tmnews.com/stories/2008/05/09/news.nw-389276.tms


Courtney is quoted in today's Bedford paper. Yesterday her middle school did a 5k - the whole school, about 700 kids, plus teachers, aides, cooks and the principal. JR and I volunteered to be course pointers.

When Court got to me on the course, about a mile in, she was all torn up, bloody and muddy. Her arms and knee were drippy and she was in pain. She told me she fell down.

After the race, I got a closer look. I guess things got hectic at the gun and some kids who did not belong at the front of the pack gummed up the works and Courtney wound up on the ashphalt. There is a foot print on her shirt and it ain't hers. Her left forearm and hand are chewed up and so is her knee. She has other little hunks taken out here and there. It probably cost her the race, but she got up and kept going, so I count that as a victory. She doesn't want to wash the shirt she had on - she is too proud of the skid marks and blood stains.

Oh yeah - Whit's high school had the end-of-year academic convocation yesterday. She is in the Top Ten of her freshman class.

I guess we ain't ruined 'em yet.

Thinking of Penland

Yesterday was a terribly rainy day. Mid-afternoon, I opened my classroom door to the outside and looked towards the hills to the west. The trees are a juicy green now and a little bit of a misty fog hung over them. It looked like June 2004, Penland School of Craft. I haven't set foot in North Carolina since then.

I was 37 when I went to Penland. I went to take a class called "Spinning, Carving, Paring" taught by Dan Essig, Jim Croft and Shanna Leino. I have not seen any of the three of them since then either. I got there on a scholarship, with a recommendation from the mack daddy, Dan, himself. I did not belong there. I was not 22. I was not trying to decide between RISD and SCAD. I was married and, therefore, not interested in the cute guy teaching iron. I am not a vegetarian. I don't have my BFA. I have kids. I spent most of the two weeks I was there asking myself what I was doing there.

I had the full support of my husband. He and the girls were fine. I felt stupid and old. There were four students in the class older than me, but they were old enought not to care, like 50 or 60-something.

Dan, Jim and Shanna - geniuses, all three. Convicted of their work, passionate, brilliant. They are my book icons, idols, heroes. I know I will never be there. They see clearly and communicate. I am working thru smugded glasses with one eye shut and I haven't learned my whole language yet. I am 40.

This is one of the forty-two books I made during the two weeks at Penland.

From the other side of the Finish Line

Okay - I did it - all 13.1 miles of it. In 8 less minutes than last year. I had hoped to take off more time, but I had a couple of problems that slowed me down (I mean other than that I am a slow runner). JR got me a pair of fancy Thorlo running socks and the toe seam kept grinding on the end of my left big toe. I had to stop twice to take off my shoe and fix the sock - grr. The other thing was a cramp in my left calf that kinda crept in and out. Oh well - I live to run another race, I guess. Saturday I felt pretty bad. My plantar facsitis was completely riled up and my head was pounding. Sunday was still bad on my heel. Today, I feel fine, only a little bite in my hamstrings.

Last week sometime I ordered those embroidery patterns from Sublime Stitching as a present for myself, a reward for doing the Mini. If I hadn't finished it, I would have had to give them to somebody else. I got them today! So cute! Can't wait to start! I went to the supercenter after school and art lessons to get some bleached muslin and an embroidery hoop. I told you they stopped carrying floss. Well, they didn't have a hoop either. What in the world? So now I can't stitch sublimely until I make a trip to Bloomington. You better belive I am going to stock up on floss and hoops! I wanted to do one on my next 6" quilt that I start tomorrow. Should I jump in without the hoop?

This is the quilt I finished today. It is made properly. The stamped images (Teesha Moore) were appliqued and then embroidered onto the brown and black check fabric. Then I made the sandwich with the backing fabric - a purple and orange tie dye - and batting and then I quilted it by hand. The binding is just a buttonhole stitch. I like it. Pretty much.

I want to talk about meaningful things here, but I seem incapable at the moment, and have for many moments.

It smells so good in my yard right now. All sorts of things are budding and blooming. The trees are full enough that I don't have to look at my neighbors' houses and it really feels like we are out in the country. We have less than three weeks left in school. And then it's official - I am the mother of two high-school students.

Why did that cute boy marry Mariah Carey?

Gut Check

The One America Mini Marathon is less than twelve hours away and I am having serious doubts. I am on the verge of a panic attack - the one where the bones in my arms dissolve. What if I forget and leave my timing chip at home? What if we have car trouble or a wreck on the way? What if we can't find a parking place? What if I don't beat my time from last year?

I am reminded of last year's race. I called my mom afterward and told her I was done. She asked me if I was in the hospital.

David Cook For Third Place

Okay, Amurica, it's time to vote. David Cook MUST go out third. Third is the AI Sweet Spot. You're not Clay Bacon, I mean Aiken, AND you don't have to give all that cheddar to the Simons. Archuletta - I don't care if it's spelled right - can win. Rat's Nest Boy (Jason) can have second.
The Indy Mini Marathon is THIS Saturday. Last year I had no idea what to expect, so I was nervous. This year I know exactly what to expect, so I am nervous. Wha? Now, you gotta know, I am a slow runner, but I have taken two minutes off my mile since I started running in January '07. That's progress. A little bit, anyway. I have a certain pace in mind as a goal. When I get there, I am training for a marathon. I am thinking it will take me two years from now to get there. How's that for a longterm goal?

I had a couple of disappointments last week - nothing major, just a crack in my

heart, not a full-fledged break. I haven't really talked about them to anybody much. For a couple of reasons. I don't want anybody to tell me I deserved them and I don't really like to share this kind of thing with people. I'd rather be the Happy Art Teacher.

In case you were wondering, I got an A in creative writing. Here are a couple of my latest quilts. The green one is my favorite so far. I am in love with Kaffe Fassett - his fabric anyway.

Have you seen www.sublimestitching.com? THE best, most unlamest embroidery patterns EVUH. I'll give you the skinny when I get my patterns next week. The only downer for me is that my local craft store - the Supercenter - does not carry embroidery floss. I will have to go to Bloomington or Mitchell. Can I afford to embroider if driving is involved?

My Reading-for-Fun Brain has recovered. I read all of Paula Deen's memoir Sunday and Monday. It was good. I liked the part where she talked about writing her first book and how nutty it was working with editors and having to really measure things and write it just so. I could relate. Mixed media art is a lot like cooking.

You'll soon see just how similar they can be.

Creative Writing

My creative writing class is over - HALLELUJAH! One of my classmates shared this poem with me and it is too good not to pass along:



Introduction to Poetry

Billy Collins

I ask them to take a poem
and hold it up to the light
like a color slide
or press an ear against its hive.

I say drop a mouse into a poem
and watch him probe his way out,
or walk inside the poem's room
and feel the walls for a light switch.

I want them to waterski
across the surface of a poem
waving at the author's name on the shore.

But all they want to do
is tie the poem to a chair with rope
and torture a confession out of it.
They begin beating it with a hose
to find out what it really means.

Earthquake!

And a happy Friday to you, too! What a rude awakening we had this morning at a little after 5:30. My husband said, "What was THAT?" And I'm like, "It's an earthquake." Totally calm. Nothing damaged.

I am in complete disbelief that Chicago was an entire week ago. The Series of Fourteen and Accompanying Display Piece is almost done! I keep coming up with more and better ideas for it. Need to quit and call it done. Maybe begin on the 2.0 version. Nope. I have a few other projects to chew thru first. Speaking of projects, I haven't been showing you my dreaded 6" quilts. Not into it. Still doing it, but not into it.

The Series of Fourteen has really challenged me to create content in the books. I used to think that my books had to be transcendent on purpose...that I had to come up with some Grand Truth and share it. I have recently decided that it's not the case. I have decided to say whatever I need to say without worrying over it's importance. It will resonate with some, not with others. Some people like Nicholas Sparks; some people like Henry James.

My hills and hollers have started to wake up green this week. I took a few snaps for one of the books. The next photo is a limestone bench. I love the swag and tassle detail. The last picture is the "logo" for a retirement party. I made it for the centerpieces, t-shirts and buttons for the guests. They are two ladies I teach with. They plan to do a lot of shopping in their newfound free time.

Back

I'm back from Chicago! My mom and I spent a whirlwind two days at the Donald E Stephens Convention Center. I taught at CPS's MIU and demo'd in Open Studios and my mom made friends with everybody there. I saw some familiar faces from last year and met lots of new, sweet people who said very nice things about my work. That always completely humbles me and I appreciate every kind word more than you know. My class was full and everybody produced a canvas book. I hope my students enjoyed it as much as I did. That hour flew by! I also taped a little seggie for Pokey's TV show. I was a nervous wreck, but I think it went okay. Here are the fabrics I bought, all fat quarters. I was a pretty good girl, considering the amount there was to choose from. I also bought some super fine glitter and a bunch of fibers. My mom bought me the Alison Willoughby book and I cannot wait to get started on some skirts. A great book and the skirt pattern is included!

Since I gave you a snap of Whit at track, here is one of Court high-jumping.

Track is wack!

Whit's first high school meet was Tuesday and it was fa-reezing! She didn't own navy compression tights. Could not wear her blacks because of uniform color. She did 4 events, was a nervous wreck and had a mini meltdown. My feet did not feel warm until 5:30 Wednesday morning.

We spent Wednesday evening searching Bloomington for the above-mentioned navy blue compression tights, size extra small. I was NOT going to have her suffering cold again! Found 'em finally, with one small problem - they only had mens. The extra small worked okay and Thursday night's meet went much better!

Today, all three of us ran a 15k - 9 point sumthin miles! The girls were fast and I was faster than usual. I take that as a good sign for the way things will go in the upcoming week.

Art Show Monday - set up all day, visit with parents in the evening for a few hours. Assorted track meets and practices, a couple of soccer trainings and two matches.

CHICAGO FRIDAY AND SATURDAY!!! I am getting all my kits ready for my MIU class and scrambling around, but I know it will all get done and everything will be fine.

Inspiring - Inventive -Indianpolis

We went to the IMA yesterday to see this show. It was SO good. Lots of designers I don't know and some from the usual suspects :Gaultier, Versace, Dolce Gabanna, Vivienne Westwood. This demin dress was my very favorite thing. I was plesantly surprised at the amount of repurposed fabrics turned into dresses and suits. The denim is all recycled. As for the rest of the museum, the girls wanted to start on the third floor - Contemporary Art and work our way down thru Asian and African on level two, then European and American on level one. Courtney was DONE by the time we got to European Decorative Arts. She practically ran thru that gallery. Neither one of the girls much cares for contemporary stuff. They caught me studying a 4' periwinkle square canvas and had a fit. But really, they love a musuem and a book store, so I can't complain too much. Speaking of book stores, we visited the museum gift shop and they had loads of books. I looked at the Allison Willouby skirt book and was impressed! She's like a sister, y'know - An Interweave Press sister, that is.

The last dress here has a paper skirt. We had such a great day.

Today, Whit had a date at 8:45 am - Conner took her to run the Habitat for Humanity 5K in Bloomington. Last night I dreamed she beat him by 10 minutes. They ran together in real life today. I guess he's okay as a first boyfriend. I had to get in 8 miles today. I did it and then was ruined for the rest of the day. Too tired to get any good work done in the studio. I felt like I would have wrecked stuff instead of making good progress. I'll get some things tonight that I can continue on tomorrow. Back to school on Monday, for something like 7 weeks. It will fly. The girls have track meets, I have the Big Elementary Art Show, Chicago and training for the Mini, which is only 5 weeks away.

Happy Spring Break!

1. We are watching the most frightening show on TV - JOHN AND KATE PLUS EIGHT. Why doesn't this show have one of those viewer warnings at the beginning? Something like:

The following program contains graphic images of a control freak mom, her Swiffer and her brood of eight in various stages of potty training. Scenes featuring the dad may incite rage in otherwise calm individuals. Viewer discretion is advised.

Tonight they went to the Crayola factory. They went to the hands on part of the factory where the kids could make projects with Crayola crayons, markers, clay and stuff. Kate told them they could only do crayon things. No markers or paint or other "crazy" stuff. She told those tiny littles that they had better not get anything on their clothes. Whoo hoo - fun mommy.

And the dad? Not exactly a ball of fire, that one.

2. It has been snowing on and off for the last two days. Winter backlash.

3. Got the Studio Ish of CPS today. Kim Sherrod has a lovely article in there. And I live in Indianapolis.

4. Went to Bloomington today. Hobby Lobby has HPP and I needed to get a couple of things for some step outs for The Book. The girls found a few spring tops at the mall - all cute and on sale.

5. The latest Courtneyism- we were at Burger King and she was reading her cup. It has a long essay on the back about the wonders of choosing your own drink, blah, blah, blah. I heard her say "top secret fascination" . What?

She was reading a sentence that says something about..." you can have your top securely fastened or go without a lid..." .

6. The Book is on Amazon. It's real. It's happening. Cheryl and I have not been on the premier episode of "Punk'd: Mixed Media Style".

7. Yesterday, I tried to read a book for fun. The Secret Life of Bees. Could not do it. Creative Writing has eaten the reading-for-fun part of my brain.

8. I have not had a Spring Break Starbucks yet. Maybe tomorrow. The girls are working at the shop the next few days to make some $$ for IU soccer camp. Tomorrow is Big Cleaning Day for me. I have this fantasy that I can get all the step out artwork done by Wednesday afternoon and in the mail. Maybe it's a dare, not a fantasy. Hmm.

9. That is an old picture. I am cold and it is about New Mexico, which sounds warm to me.

Fourteen In Progress

The Series of Fourteen is in full swing and I find myself stealing every odd moment I can to work on them. I was so distracted by the thought of these books lying idle that I got up an hour earlier than I needed to this morning to get a little done on them before church. I snapped this pic when we got home. Creative Writing homework due today, so I have to get that done before I can play books this afternoon. My goal is to have seven of them done this week and then get the other seven and the round display box done over spring break, march 24 - 28. We aren't going on a trip. The girls have soccer a couple of times and Whit has track practice three times - and the Crane sisters do not miss practice. The girls and I are planning a Day of Culture, however. There is a special fashion exhibit on loan from LA at the Indianapolis Museum of Art so we're going there and having lunch at Pannera (Panera?) whichever. And I want to clean and clean. The time to really clean - scrub baseboards, clean out closets, get rid of stuff - that's a real luxury to me. I am in that mood to get rid of all that is unnecessary in my life. Less distraction from the really important things, less to clean or launder, less to dust. My eyes long to see clear, empty space with no disorganized piles scattered here and there.

Just a Question

HOW in the WORLD does ONE innocent little book become a series of FOURTEEN? What is wrong with me? Why can't I leave well enough alone? Do you think I am posessed?

Oh, yeah, and the series of 14 will be displayed in a round fabric box. I had to use a compass and a ruler for that pattern.

Breathing Again

I feel like I'm able to breathe again! I didn't realize how many things I had going on until, one by one, I see them ending. I think The Book is officially written and rewritten and tidied up, thanks to Darlene. We didn't email a single time today. I hope I get to work with her again. Yes, I'm saying that I want to do another book. I loved the entire process! Thinking of projects, making them for the first time ever in the world, writing the instructions; I love that stuff. It was like writing complicated lesson plans. And it's March. The month of Spring, Spring Break, Easter and the beginning of soccer season. And more light. I've missed the sun terribly.

This is the canvas book I'll be teaching at MIU in Chicago. I will be demo-ing these little beauties in Open Studios, too. I'm working on a bunch of variations. That's another thing - I am ON FIRE to make stuff. I designed and made an entire 6 x 6 x 12 fabric box in one day (Saturday) to house my year-long project 6 x 6 quilts. I'll show ya that later.

This is from a couple of weeks ago, I think. This one might be my favorite, so far. It's called "Walt Whitman" because I read something for my creative writing class where the author quoted him and Courtney was studying "Oh Captain" in literature. She informed me that it wasn't about a ship at all. So he was on my mind. "I contain multitudes" is the quote that keeps running thru my brain, like the last song I hear on the radio before I get out of the car at school. Hey, Uncle Walt, leave me alone for a minute, will ya?

I think this is the only finished quilt I haven't shown you yet. That orange, shiny thing in the middle is a leftover hunk of paper fabric -CPS Issue 1-that I made for the True Colors challenge for Chicago. I made a totally orange quilt, very Heatherette inspired. Found out Friday - I'M IN! It was one of the most fun (funnest) things I've made in a long time. It turned out better than I envisioned. I rarely like things I make. I can't show it to you, though. Sorry.

Marching in

Where in the world have I been for the last 2 weeks? Right here. Doing homework of one kind and another. My eyes have been so full of necessary words that I couldn't stomach writing anything I didn't absolutely have to . Here are three of my 6" quilts. The only one I want to talk about is the one on the right.

I know blogdom has been waiting with baited breath for my commentary on the whole Kelvin Sampson circus, so here it is:

I was worried when they hired the guy. He had been in trouble at Oklahoma for the same kind of thing - breaking rules about recruiting. But the university president at the time, Herbert, wanted him, or so I hear, so he got the gig. And big surprise, the cheater cheats. IU has a new pres - McRobbie, an Aussie, strangely enough, who inherited this mess. I think this whole episode proves that women are better equipped to be university presidents and athletic directors than men. Every intelligent woman over the age of twelve knows exactly what the little quilt says - once a cheater, always a cheater.

The ticket on the quilt is from the home game right after the allegations came out - Sampson was booed when he came out. I thought it was so hypocritical. Everybody liked him fine a week before and they knew he was a cheater when he got the job. Why is everybody actin' so high and mighty now? Hoosiers - what are you gonna do?

Cheryl and I have been eyeball deep in edits for the book, and I must say it's coming together very nicely, thanks to out wonderful editor, Darlene D'agostino. She has facilitated a great dialogue between the two of us in the book. It sounds like us talking on the phone or emails.

I'll be back at MIU this year and Open Studios at the Chicago Quilt Show. Can't wait. I had so much fun last year! I will be posting the projects I'll be demoing in the next week. Check out the CPS website for more details on Chigaco. I have dreamed about shopping for fabric in that incredible place all year! There was one fabric covered in tiny Eiffel towers that I was too tight to buy last year and I have kicked myself daily for it. This year, I throw caution to the wind...for a day or two, anyway.

Cheryl and I will be teaching at Random Arts in Saluda, NC May 30 and 31. I can absolutely promise you will laugh alot and make some fun projects. I cannot wait to Cheryl again in person and celebrate finishing The Book! Join us!

Yesterday, the girls and I ran a 10k - only 6.2miles, but 10 sounds so much better. Courtney smoked it in 48:15, Whit had a 53:11 and me...? Friday night Courtney was talking about her goal for the race. She wanted a 48 or under. She said to me, "You don't really have a goal for it, do you mom?" I informed her that I did indeed have a goal - to finish vertically. It's slow and it's ugly, but I did it. Today, she started hounding me about working harder to get faster.