Yellow Park

Today's postcard

Nora calls the schoolyard park in her neighborhood the yellow park. This was a fabulous spring day, so Aunt Tina and I took her and Aaron there. Note to family: look at that happy face and those straight feet.

Family First Saturday - Totally Textiles

Today's postcard

This was Family First Saturday at the Cincinnati Art Museum and the theme was Totally Textiles. Nora and I went, on one of the first really pretty spring days. (Pretty hair courtesy of Aunt Tina.)

One of the art projects was weaving - the yellow yarn was already attached to a cardboard tray. Nora said she'd never woven before but she picked up how to do it right away. Maybe it's a kid thing.

Then there was string painting, with a piece of sticky cardboard and pretty strings and pieces of paper and fabric to put on top.

The folks at the museum do a wonderful job of having the art projects well thought out and ready to go. The strings were even cut in short lengths.

There was a stop at Graeter's on the way home because, as Nora reminded me, it's been a long time since we've been here. She was loving her strawberry chip ice cream, but, healthy eater that she is, she decided she liked my raspberry sorbet more.

As we were heading for her neighborhood, Nora said, "I'm not ready to go home yet." On we went to the mall and we spent a very long time at the play area and a short time riding the escalator at Kohl's. She can tell you that K-O-H-L-S spells Kohl's. Driving out of the mall she saw the store from the outside and said, "Oh, no, I wanted to go to that Kohl's.

Then on to Bob Evans where she predictably ate her order of broccoli and a smiley fry or two.

I am so blessed to have this little grandgirl.

Back To The Shape Again

Last night in Bellevue I looked in the window of a frame shop and noticed a striking circular painting. I've been thinking about that circle ever since.

The good thing is that we can audition this. Which one? Sarah and Steph, you're both in Asheville. Vote, please. Anyone else?

Rainy First Friday

Today's postcard - the last of the heart exercises

I'm still wet from walking around in Bellevue for First Friday - there was a nice crowd despite the rain.

This little tea room always looks so welcoming and charming. I can picture taking Nora here when she's a little older. Grandma Janice, want to come?

Here are a couple of lit-up store windows with cool stuff.

The jewelry store wasn't open, but I like the way it looks in the rain.

That's All?

Today's postcard

I went up to my studio this morning, sure I had a large pile of scraps from the trimming I did on my quilt last night. And this is all there was. I guess my imagination grew during the night.

Here's an Aaron story. His mom left Tuesday for an audiology conference in Charlotte. The doctor had said that he thought Aaron's gums felt like he would be getting teeth soon and Steph hoped he'd wait to get his first tooth until after she came back. She's been gone two days and the little blue-eyed guy has two teeth.

And a Nora story. I took her to Target last night and she asked if we could get donuts, so we got a bag of the mini ones. She came home and ate three, then took her bath. (The donuts had an unfortunate end - we left the bag open and the dog Cosmo, normally well behaved, devoured them.) I tucked her in bed and she sat up and said, "I'm hungry, I didn't have a snack." I reminded her that she'd eaten three donuts and she said "Oh, was that a snack?" and popped her thumb in her mouth and got ready for sleep.

Hey, Sarah, Are You There?

Today's postcard

Hey, Sarah, are you there?

My daughter Sarah always gives me good artistic advice when I need it - and I need it. My quilt needs some help in the form of a little shaping, but shaping's tricky - too much and there's nothing left. Sarah, what do you think?


A few hours ago, I was in the hatin' it phase, then I cut a little more, and it's a little better. I don't want to put it out for class discussion because the instructor told us to not try curves and of course I did. It's not my fault - I had my angular design all ready but the quilt said it wanted to be curvy. Yelled, actually. It also said it wanted to be free motion stitched, which surely wasn't my first thought. This quilt has a mind of its own.

Sarah said try this.

And then this. I appreciate the technology that makes this back-and-forth possible.
Doing the cutting is nerve wracking. But the quilt looks better now. Thanks, Sarah.

Changed Directions

Today's postcard

Just a short entry today - I made some stripes and and decided to change the design of my quilt from angular to curvy. I held my breath and cut, and it's going to be ok. Hopefully you'll see the completion tomorrow.