Here are more of the Pointless Sister blocks. This is an arrow, in black and white. In case you couldn't tell. One result of having seen a lot of other blocks (with a lot of detail) is that I'm wanting to go more toward simple and graphic blocks. That's more my style anyway, but I think it's pronounced as I try to make sure my blocks are different from the ones I've seen.



Here's a pear in gold and purple for Rita. This is unfinished so that bottom quarter inch will come off and the block will look better, I think.

This is a "vase" block in purple and kiwi. (We had quite a discussion over what, exactly, "kiwi" was and how it differed from celery, lime, etc.) Anyway, I chose this fabric.

A star, in blue and yellow. I love Wonder Under. And I think of Jane Sassaman every time I satin stitch to a point and narrow the stitching down toward the point. She made me aware of doing that and although my points aren't as lovely and perfect as hers, I'm improving.

Remember that quilt block project for my art quilt group, the Pointless Sisters? (You can read about it here.) Well, I'm on my way. Here's one...This one is "intersecting lines" in the required colors of orange and blue.

Here's "curves" in blue and fucshia.



This is triangles, in purple and blue. (I love this block. It's reverse applique, then zigzag stitched with monofilament.



This is the number 4, for Gerrie. She chose lime green and turquoise.

I have more blocks done, but I'll post more tomorrow. I'm on a roll now!

Procrastination, It's a Good Thing!

I've always been a procrastinator. Or so my mother tells me. Me, I happen to think that I just use time very efficiently. My sister is the same; we aren't at all troubled by impending deadlines, and in fact find that they motivate us quite usefully. It's a bit odd to find that Caroline, my daughter, is of the opposite inclination. She wants to start her school projects early and get them out of the way, and she hates to have to do anything last minute. She simply can't have learned that behavior from me.

I've come to the conclusion that procrastination, and the resulting need to work under pressure to finish various tasks, is a useful skill. Imagine, if you will, those poor souls who never procrastinated and never learned how to pull of a great project at the last minute. They must fall apart when life throws them those unexpected curve balls! Those poor folks don't know the joy of starting to sew a Christmas gift on December 23 and finishing at 2am on December 25!

No, I've trained myself well. I've been known to hem a dress while wearing it on the way to an event (a feat which made my mom nuts in high school). And I'll note that my life as a litigation attorney didn't help. In fact, the litigation process encourages procrastination. Sure, you can propare your brains out for an upcoming trial all you want, and rack up all sorts of billable hours...but then more often than not, the case settles and all that work is for nothing. And you've incurred all those costs for the client for nothing, too. Those people who never learned how to cope with deadlines? Well, I've worked with a few...and they've been the guys screaming at their secretaries, freaked out by the stress of having to do something right up to a deadline. They just don't seem to learn that that level of anxiety isn't helping anyone get the job done faster.

So, fortunately, I'm not phased by upcoming deadlines, even when they're rushing toward me. Which is a good thing, as I have a quilting deadline approaching now. My art quilt group undertook a very fun group project, and I have to have my blocks done by Tuesday, January 25. I've made 7 of my 18 blocks, and truthfully, I'm not the least bit troubled. I know I'll get them done on time.

The project is this: each participant chose one shape and two colors. I went for simple, and chose a square, and black and white. We have a master list of each person's shape and color choices. And each of us will make a 10-inch block of original design, using the person's chosen shape and made in the person's chosen colors. The goal is to use the experience to try different techniques, experiment with design. And at the end (a week from Tuesday) we'll all swap blocks and end up with 18 blocks with our chosen shape and colors.

We started this project last summer, I think, maybe even March or April. Some people rushed and started making them like crazy. One woman is heard to comment (at almost every monthly meeting) how designing these blocks is taking up all of her quilting time and she can't wait to be done so she can get back to her own stuff. Another friend, a mother of an October bride, finished all of her blocks before October so she could relax and deal with the wedding in peace.

Me, I made a few and had a grand time doing them. But I didn't slave over them, and I certainly didn't spend weeks designing and stitching them. I'll admit to keeping a sketchbook of ideas for them, and I'll focus on one from time to time and jot ideas and scribble design possiblities, but I've not let them get in the way of working on other projects.

See? Here's where my great experience at procrastination will pay off. I'll buckle down, focus on them for a few days, and have a great time getting them done. And if I'm done by 9pm on Monday night, it'll be fine with me! Watch for pictures of them coming (it's been a bit dry of photos here lately, I"m sorry).....

I made no progress on any quilting today. We'll leave it at that. I did make a great turkey meatloaf for dinner tonight, courtesy of a recipe in The Barefoot Contessa Cookbook, but I'd hardly call it art.

However, given that we're heading into entertainment award season, I thought I'd recommend a favorite blog: "Go Fug Yourself." "Fug" is apparently derived from "frightfully ugly," and this blog will treat you to very funny commentary on celebrity wardrobe choices. Move over, Mr. Blackwell.

Support Your Public School

I didn't want to go to the PTO meeting tonight. I was feeling tired, and somewhat cranky, but I'm on the PTO board, and there are some big things going on in our local public school district.

Frankly put, the district -- like many in California -- is in a financial crisis. It's not the result of any one problem or mistake or situation. It's the confluence of a host of factors: a dismal state budget, federal "Leave No Child Behind" mandatory requirements that are totally unfunded (thank you, George W.), rising property values in the community so that fewer families with young kids can afford to buy homes here, with resulting decreasing enrollment numbers...those are just a few of the issues. The result is that our district -- smack in the middle of a wealthy community, with luxious homes, successful tourist-based business like high-end restaurants and wineries, and tasting rooms -- is in dire financial shape.

Meantime, there has been a heated discussion appearing in the small, weekly local newspaper about why people choose public school over the various private school options in the area. It has touched a lot of sensitive spots -- and in fact, there have been so many incensed letters-to-the-editor written by friends and neighbors with the result that my next book club meeting (5 private school moms, 4 public school moms) may well be a bit tense. The issues are right at our doors, affecting our children, and they implicate the most fundamental of our values.

Me, I'm a big public school supporter. I was lucky to grow up in California when the public schools were at the top of the rankings, and I attended public schools through college and was able to hold my own when I ended up at an Ivy League, top-10 law school. I got a great education.

But more than that, I came away with the strong belief that public school is a vital element of a democracy. The diversity and breadth of education --not just academic -- is integral to a thriving community. As a result, I spend a lot of time volunteering at the school. I work in my daughter's classroom. I'm on the board of the PTO. I run the school's twice-yearly book fair (which satisfies my fantasy of running a book shop--I get to do it for 2 weeks a year and I'm glad to pack it all up and send it away.) I'm on the school board's communication committee, and I'm active in an education foundation that raises money to benefit all the schools in the district. And, to be honest, I feel like I should do more.

I don't begrudge any parent's choice of school, and assume that they're making the best decision for their child and their family. But I do begrudge people whose kids are out of school, or whose kids are in private schools, complaining that they shouldn't have to support the public school systems with their tax dollars. What about those kids whose parents don't speak English? (My community has quite a few of them.) What about the families who can't afford a private school? What about the kids whose parents, for whatever reason, don't or can't put that much time on maximizing their kids' educational opportunities? Who'll make sure they get the best education they can get? The community must do it, for the good of the community.

Oops. I'm ranting. But here's the upshot...my district's situation has arisen because of a ton of small things, and it'll be solved by people in the community like me participating in small ways to make a big difference. It's hokey, but I believe that it's the only solution. So, if you have a public school in your community, whether or not you have kids, do what you can to support it. Send $10, even, if you can. There is nothing more important than the kids in our communities. Give them your help, in whatever way you can.

Stepping off of soap box now....

Instant Gratification does not always pay off

So. When I went to bed last night, I had my wedding ring variation quilt on the design wall, with a layout I really like. (I think I"m going to call it "Variation of a Variation," but we'll see.) I concluded I needed a bit more of a lovely, mellow aqua dot fabric to complete my vision, and I was pretty sure I'd bought it at Pumpkinseed Quilts. So, I figured that a trip there today was in order.

But when I woke up this morning, my vision had changed. Instead of using the aqua dot fabric, I decided to piece the bits where I was going to put the dots. Which meant that I didn't need to buy more fabric. (That's one of those thoughts that is sort of a relief and a disappointment, all at the same time.)

I started cutting triangles, and put them up on the wall. I liked it very much. I thought I'd sew a few while Simply Quilts was on. Hmmm, very nice. In fact, I was having such a fine time that I sewed all the way through Eleanor Burns' show, and I can't stand her. (Do you think she talks that way ALL the time? How does she sound when she's cranky, do you think?)

So, no need to drive to Pumpkinseed. But I realized I did need to head south in that direction to do some post-Christmas returns (clothes that Princess Caroline found too scratchy) and to trade the two damaged red chairs for two pristine ones at Crate and Barrel. So, off I went, despite threats of rain.

I will digress here to add here that part of my need to get out of the house was related to the fact that Roger, my husband, is a college professor who has been home on vacation since December 16. I love him dearly. It's nice to have him around. But not ALL of the time. He's well aware (and won't be surprised reading this) that I have a strong need for alone-time, and that I start going stir crazy toward the end of vacations. I think he was grateful for the time alone, too.

Anyway. Since I was driving by San Rafael anyway, I figured I'd stop at Pumpkinseed and see what they had. (And maybe pick up more of that aqua dot stuff, since I love it and now know from searching the internet last night that it's not available.) I was good and parked 6 blocks away from the store, figuring that the walk would do me good. I hiked up the street, feeling virtuous...to find that Pumpkinseed is closed on Mondays. Sigh. I briefly entertained the thought of walking another block to Dharma Trading, to see the yarn...but I restrained myself. Aren't you proud of me?

Well, I had a good time anyway. Accomplished returns (imagine, a shopping trip where you come home with more money than you started with!) , and even remembered to use my "free merchandise" cards at April Cornell before they expired, so I got a gorgeous scarf for NO MONEY AT ALL.

And I treated myself to a gingerbread latte at Starbucks while I sat and read "The Lovely Bones" by Alice Sebold. (Now, there's an engrossing novel...About a high-school aged girl who is murdered, and narrates the story while looking down from heaven. It's lovely, creepy (for those of us who have kids especially, I'm thinking), poignant, thought-provoking.

I can't wait to sew the rest of my quilt together.

Hunting, anyone?

Can you guess what this is?




I'm rather proud of this contraption, actually. It's a home-made bird-catcher. That big colorful thing? That's a pool-floaty thing. It's crammed onto the end of a collapsing pole (normally holding a duster, for reaching high places). And that's a pillowcase pinned onto the floaty thing.

Why, pray tell, did I construct thing? Well, tonight a bird flew into our living room. It was apparently resting happily in the fresh pine wreath from Maine that has been on our door since we received it from our friends Eric and Diane for Christmas. I had one startling moment the other day, when I opened the door and a bird flew out of the wreath, brushing my shoulder as it headed off into the sky. But tonight, when Roger opened the front door to check that our cars were locked, the bird shot out of the wreath and into the living room. And we have a VERY high living room ceiling.

It was a rather comical scene. First, we tried turning off all the lights and opening the door, thinking that maybe the bird would fly toward the light. No luck. Then we tried turning on all the lights (after running around the house shutting doors...all we needed was for the bird to fly upstairs somewhere, or worst of all, into Caroline's room where she was sound asleep). The poor bird was getting tired, landing on windowsills out of reach, and trying to land in the two ficus trees we have. Meanwhile, our cat Willow followed the bird from the ground, looking rather deighted that wildlife had appeared in our boring house.

So, unable to find Caroline's butterfly net, I made this "net" to try to catch the bird when it landed on upper windowsills. As it happened, this was not the mechanism of capture, however. The exhausted bird flew into the ficus tree and Roger was able to grab it in his hand (gently of course) and let it go outside.

I'm thinking that the poor bird will be resting happily in some tree tonight!

Dotty dots...Where are you?

I've had a happy evening rearranging blocks on the design wall. THIS is much more satisfying than moving piece by piece.

And I have an arrangement I really like...but suddenly I have a need for a fairly large hunk of one of my fabrics, and I don't have enough.

I've searched on the internet. I've found the fabric in periwinkle blue, pink, yellow, even lavender...






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...but not the delicate turquoise I need.

I think I got this fabric at Pumpkinseed Quilts, which is about an hour away. If they were open tonight, I'd be headed there right now. But I will contain myself, and call first thing tomorrow. And dash down there tomorrow if they have it.

I am reminding myself that if they don't have it, this may prove to be an opportunity to discover an even better solution. But I don't sound convinced yet, do I? I want the fabric I want. NOW.

I told you I'm all for immediate gratification.

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Diane

Mistress of the Curvemaster

Well, I'm pleasantly surprised. About a year ago, during a trip to Pacific International Quilt Festival, I was struck by one of those weird, frenzied buying bursts and I came home with a Curve Master Presser Foot. I was seduced by the demonstration, which made the thing look so dang easy! The idea is that with this foot, you can sew curved seams without pinning and everything magically lines up. I'm willing to believe in magic, and instant-gratification girl that I am, I was eager to try it if it avoided pinning.

Well, I got it home only to discovery that I couldn't use the foot on my Bernina without a special shank. I put it in my drawer and forgot about it.

Some months later, I was at a quilt show and I walked past a Bernina booth. Lightbulb: "I need a shank!" I explained what I needed to the saleslady and why, and she sold me the part. The next day, I gleefully attached the Curvemaster to the new shank, eager to begin sewing curves at will. But wait. I could not get the shank to attach to my machine. I tried and tried. (It was, after all, a Bernina part sold to me by a Bernina person.) I put it back in the drawer and forgot about it.

Then, I took the Einstein Double Wedding Ring Variation class, and it dawned on me that it'd be the perfect use for the Curvemaster. I made a trip to my local Bernina dealer, owned by a veritable sewing machine wizard and nicest-of-the-nice guys, Jim. I showed him the shank I'd been sold by the other Bernina folks, and he showed me that it didn't fit my machine because they had sold me the wrong part. AARRGH. I came away with the right shank, happily.

Then, of course, I got stuck in the land of "put everything up on the design wall before you sew anything" black hole which, as I'm discovering, just doesn't work that well for me. So, yesterday, inspired by having reached a design wall place I could tolerate and by Melody's comments to my whining about the design wall process, I started to sew.

And darned if the Curvemaster didn't do what it promises! It took a bit of trial and error, to be sure. And using it was complicated a bit by the fact that these pieces don't start in a matching position, so figuring out where to start sewing and have them end up right took some fiddling. I finally reached the easy solution of marking the center points, starting to sew at the center point out, then flipping the block around to sew from the center in the other direction and everything lined up perfectly!

So, a lovely time was had by all on Saturday afternoon...while I sat at my machine mastering the Curvemaster, Caroline was at my computer playing games and keeping up her constant stream of chatter, and Roger napped.

And for my diligence, I was rewarded by an evening out! Caroline had a sleep-over date with her friend Sarah, so Roger and I took the opportunity to meet our friends Matt and Laura for a drink at the new, trendy "Barn Diva" (last time I was there, I saw George Lucas). We had Blood Orange Margaritas. Delicious. Then, on to dinner at Sake 'O, our new and excellent japanese restaurant. A lovely evening. And all grown-ups!

Wedding Ring Variation, in progress

I spent some time today putting pieces for the Double Wedding Ring Variation quilt on my design board. Here it is, so far. I'm not sure if I like what's happening or not.

I started this project with a fabric I just loved, a vaguely asian print with salmon, mellow aqua, yellow, peach, and deep pinky-red. It's the fabric in the lower right corner, and also in the wide ring piece in the lower left corner block. I've taken more and more of the fabric out as I go. I'm not sure the top will end up with much of what was planned to be the primary fabric.

I'm discovering that I'm not very happy working this way. I tend to admire quilters who can thoughtfully plan every element of their quilt before they start sewing--it seems indicate such restraint, such delicate judgment, such careful planning and eye to detail. When I try to work this way, I"m frustrated. I don't find the design wall work very fun, and so I end up feeling like it's holding me back, even when the quilt as designed isn't "clicking" for me. I think I'm more for instant gratification, and happy accidents. Maybe it's more of a "go with the flow" style of making art. I'm always chomping at the bit to sew, or better yet, to fuse...to work with larger chunks and assemble that way. But it feels careless. Maybe I should think of it as "artfully carefree."

I made one quilt where I laid every piece out, and on that quilt -- where I was working on a gradation of colors and fabric textures -- it really helped to lay out every piece and see how it all worked. So, maybe it's a question of using that process sometimes, and not when it doesn't feel right.

I'm not sure I"m happy with this so far. I've experimented with lots of fabrics and placements, and this is what I like best so far. Maybe I should follow my instinct, and assemble some blocks and then play further around with those.

Why do I resist my own impulses so much? Now, there's a question.

Guild Thursday

Today was a quilt guild meeting day. (I was gonna take pictures to illustrate how I spent my morning, but dead batteries are to blame for the lack of photos.) I am a member of the Santa Rosa Quilt Guild, a pretty active group of quilters which meets twice monthly on thursday mornings. I was reluctant to join a guild, for several years. I couldn't figure what the advantages would be, and I imagined a staid group of little old ladies who would insist that points be sharp, seams match, and everything be hand-quilted.

I couldn't have been more wrong. The SRQG is a lively group of women (and two men, think, who probably unbeknownst to them become the subject of our immature jokes about male members, long arm machines, and the like.) It's an amazing and productive group of really talented quilters. Several members (like Judy Mathieson ) are nationally known quilters, teachers, artists, and judges. Many of them have won awards for their quilting skills. And they're friendly and funny and very welcoming. I was most impressed when I visited the group a few times before joining.

I've discovered many advantages. First, and foremost, are the great friends I've made. It's surprising, at my advanced age of 40-ahem, to find friends who feel like true, bosom-buddy, I can say anything to sort of friends. So the fact that I've stumbled into a nice bunch of them through the guild is a great gift. If not for the guild, I wouldn't know them.

And, finding them through the guild means that they not only understand my obsession with quilting, they share it. They are partners in crime, essentially. When one of us wants to shop for fabric, ALL of us shop for fabric. And they'll talk quilting endlessly. And offer critiques, or kind pats when something goes awry.

The other best part of the guild, for me, is that it connected me to my art quilt group, "the Pointless Sisters." (So named because perfect points simply don't matter to us.) We meet one tuesday morning each month, and share ideas, projects, problems, and other art and quilt related stuff. It's a very fun group. We're about to wrap up a year-long group project which has been a fun stretch for all of us...more on that later, and with pictures. I promise.

Our guild also has an amazing library, with a librarian who seems to know each book by heart. It's been a great way to get to peruse those big art quilt coffee table books I can't afford, magazines from Australia and Japan, and the newest quilt books that I would like to see once but probably wouldn't use much if I bought them.

There are other marvelous advantages, too. Great programs from talented quilters, workshops at bargain prices, a room full of women to learn from or ask questions of if I need help...Plus, the opportunity to contribute to "quilting for good" (versus "quilting for evil" which sounds like the subject of a future blog...). Guild members make literally hundreds of quilts each year to be donated to homeless, children's centers, nursing homes, and other deserving places.

I'm grateful to have the guild in my life, and if you haven't become a member of one, I'd highly recommend finding one and giving it a try. (And if you don't like one, try another... I "shopped" quilds and attended several meetings of a group I didn't find comfortable at all. You just never know.)

Back to Quilting, Again

This blog thing is taking up an amazing amount of time. But I'm reminding myself (here, in front of you all) that the point of starting this was to track my quilting and creative process. Sure, it's fun to talk about other stuff, but the point isn't blogging...it's making quilts. I seem to have forgotten that lately.

So, my goal is to spend some time every day, even a small bit, doing something that moves me forward as a quilt artist.

Yesterday, (well, today, really, as I haven't gone to bed yet) I set up the Artful Quilters Web Ring. This may turn into a beast, but I like the idea of connecting those of us art quilters who are blogging. We're no competition for the knitters, but they're inspirational! (I want to knit after reading a few of the great knitting blogs, so maybe reading quilters' blogs will push me back into my studio!)

I expect it will be tiny at first, but heck, it's worth a try. C'mon in!

Artful Quilters Web Ring

This web ring is for quilt artists and contemporary quilt makers to share their blogs,
exchange thoughts about the process of art quilting,
and share other bits of life that swirl around (and get in the way of) quilt making.

Do you want to join us?

Member guidelines:

1. You must have a weblog about your art/quilt-related projects, ideas, processes, and adventures.

2. Your blog should be updated 3-4 times a month on average. Blogs that are found to be languishing will be removed from the ring.

3. You need to include the ring code on the blog page, so that visitors can surf to other bloggers' sites. (That's the point, so visitors can find other art quilters!)

4. You must display the "Next," "Previous," and "Random" links for easy navigation throughout the ring. The Join and List links are not required, but you may include them if you wish.

5. You must have at least 5 posts on your blog before you can join, some of which must be quilt related.

6. You must love quilts and quilting!

Click here to join this ring. You must place the ring code on your site before approval, and it must be on the main page of your blog.

Disclaimer: I'm brand spanking new at this web ring hosting thing, so please be patient as I figure out how it all works! Mainly, I'd rather be quilting...or talking about quilting, or reading about quilting, or looking at quilts.....Well, you get the idea!

359 Days Until Christmas

I saw that sign on the door of the UPS store in town. Kind of makes you want to leave the decorations up, seeing as how it's rolling around again that soon.

But too late--I spent the day putting all of the Christmas decorations away and (as Caroline says) "undecorating" the tree. Not the funnest of jobs, but I put Rosemary Clooney's double CD set "The Girl Singer" on the stereo and sang along as I worked.

Now the house looks bare, but in a restful sort of way. (Except for the pile of stuff still on the dining room table to be dealt with, but we'll pretend it's not there.)

I believe I mentioned yesterday that I've spent the last several days looking for a CD of documents from my legal boss, Bob. I'm supposed to read "Power Point for Litigators" and use the documents to fashion a brilliant and enlightening Power Point presentation for Bob to use when he argues a summary judgment motion in February. The disk kicked around on my desk for a week or two while I waited for Bob to send me the Power Point book... then, when I thought I'd start on the project Sunday, no disk.

Well, I hunted everywhere. Through my computer cd box, thinking I'd tucked it in there. Through 2 file drawers, thinking it'd slipped into a file. All over my sewing table, thinking I might of set it there and it was buried under fabric. (Ahem.) Yesterday, I decided I could only 'fess up and ask Tammie, Bob's secretary, to send another disk.

Late this afternoon, during the hour between getting Caroline home and having to leave to pick up my car from the tire place (where yesterday's flat tire was being repaired), I figured I'd actually do something relaxing and read the Barefoot Contessa Family Style Recipes cookbook that my neighbor Julie lent me (and from which I made the wonderful Jam Thumbprint Cookies discussed at the Dec. 23 entry). Hmmm, I thought, as I settled down and opened the book, what's that white thing sticking out of the middle of the book?

Of course. It's the document cd. Marking the cookie recipe place.

Somehow, in some bizarre way, this seems to illustrate my life at the moment.

On the Way to Getting Something Done

Ah ha! Monday, with the child of the house back to school! Seeing as how I've managed to lose the cd containing documents I need for my next work project (which thereby required me to grovel and ask kind secretary to make and send a second disk), I couldn't progress on the "real" work (ie, lawyer work). So, I decided that this state of affairs entitled me quilt! My goal: to make some progress on the unfinished Sylvia Einstein Double Wedding Ring Variation quilt, commenced last October.

I went upstairs, sorted through the bag containing the pieces I'd cut and the fabrics I'd sorted, and put a few pieces up onto the design wall.

Phone call. It's my sister, saying she's going to swing by to drop off a book and do I want to go for a walk around the neighborhood with her and her dog Libby? Hmm, exercise is a good idea. I agree, and off we go.

Back in my studio/office, well exercised, and ready to continue. Oops, the dryer is done. Remove laundry from dryer, load washer with next load.

Back to studio. The combination of fabrics I'd chosen, in an effort to have blocks with alternating backgrounds of aqua and pinky/melon, seems too jarring. Reposition pieces to try two different layouts, one with all aqua background, another with all pink background.

Phone call, again. It's the highway patrol, telling me that they were not able to find the guy who rear-ended me last Monday. (No injuries, just minor dent to bumper. BUT STILL, it really, really annoyed me when the guy drove away, and annoyed me even more that he ignored me as I followed him down the road, honking and gesturing like a Very Annoyed Woman.) The car was sold 2 months ago, the buyer didn't register it, and there's no one living at the address the buyer gave to the seller. Looks like it's an uninsure motorist claim. Sigh.

Back to the design wall. I decide that I like the effect of the mostly-aqua background and decide to try inserting some other aqua-ish fabrics into the background.

This requires digging through fabric to make more selections. And of course, then I need to cut more pieces.

Which requires the dang templates, which I'm sure I put in some Very Safe Place. I dig around my fabric closet and other places where I tend to hide important goodies, for 15 minutes before I find them.

Gee, it's lunch time! I stop to finish off the Oakville Grocery Chinese noodles left over from New Year's Eve, and peel a juicy tangerine from mom and dad's tree. Yum.

Back to the studio. I happily cut pieces for 45 minutes, until I realize that it's time to pick up Caroline from school. But wait, Roger says he'll go, and put gas in my car as well. Lovely man. Return to cutting pieces.

Phone call. It's Roger, down the street. My car has a flat tire. How did that happen? He's bringing my car back, he'll get Caroline in his car, and AAA will be along to change the tire. Sigh. I cut a few more pieces.

Doorbell. It's AAA. (Already? If I were waiting in the pouring rain on the side of the highway, would they be there in 3 minutes? Somehow I doubt it.) Mr. AAA and I trade paperwork and I watch as he changes the tire. Fascinating. Not.

I return to the studio. Have I cut pieces with enough variety to see whether I can get the effect I want? I start placing pieces on the wall...

Oops, Caroline's home from school. She wants a snack. She needs help with homework. She has a few more Christmas thank-you's to write (which requires constant hovering by the Mommy).

I consider my studio time ended, such as it was. No wonder I'm inching along so slowly. (But, I now provide handy visual aides so you can see how far along I am on my projects in progress! The wonders of Blogland!)

Cranky Mommy

There is something about being a parent that brings out the best and the worst in me.

I had intended to spend this week after Christmas, before Caroline returned to school, doing fun and special things with her. I had great ideas: ice skating, visiting the Charles Schultz museum, going to see Polar Express, playing games, doing some sewing together, quiet reading time together...

Instead, Roger and I had terrible colds, so neither of us has been in the best of moods. We discovered that the stable where Caroline takes riding lessons was running a half-day pony camp, which Caroline was desperate to do, so Monday through Friday she was gone from 8:30 am to 12:30 pm. She was also eager to see her friends, so almost every day this week she was at a buddy's house or a friend was playing at our home with her. That worked out well for both Roger and me, as he was eager to get to his work, and I just wanted to dose myself with cold medicine and stay home and try not to cough.

Today, the Sunday before school resumed, I figured we had one last day to relax and get some quiet time together. But where did that nice mom I *intend* to be go? With my holiday rose-colored glasses off, the house seemed like a total mess to me, I realized that dirty laundry was bursting out of the laundry room, and I wasn't happy about being the only one involved in doing any tidying up. To top it off, Beth left her purse (containing vital items such as wallet, credit cards, reading glasses, cell phones, office keys) HERE when she and Tim returned to Sacramento, so we agreed that we'd meet halfway in Sonoma so I could pass it to her. This morning found me grumbling as I emptied the dishwasher, cleaned up Roger's weekly Sunday pancake breakfast mess, and picked up toys in the family room. I threatened to put everything I found on the floor into a garbage bag and give them away to some child who would appreciate them and treat them better. I pulled Roger's clothes out of the dryer, flung them at him to fold them himself, and stuffed more laundry in for a cycle. I grizzled at Caroline to stop dawdling so I could get her to her designated playdate in time to get on the road to Sonoma. On the way to her friend Sarah's house, after Caroline asked me why I was upset, I ranted about how I didn't like being the only one in the house cleaning up when three people made the mess.

So today was not a good parenting day. Poor Caroline will probably be happy to return to school tomorrow. Sigh. I guess one of the lessons of parenting is that it goes on and on, day after day, and there's always a chance to do better.

Thank god.