Just fun stuff

Trying hard to focus on getting things sorted and organized in the studio. Aside from the temps inside being uncomfortable right now (saving up for an AC unit), it is a fabulous place to work or just hang out. Once I get everything moved and put away, it will be so nice to work out there. I have discovered that I am going to need some additional shelving added close to the ceiling for those items that I seldom use.

Over the weekend, Beth dropped this off in the barn. Look at the font that the words "photograph album" are written in. Any idea about where I can find this font to add to my computer? Loving this.

More fun stuff. I am adding ribbon spools to that cabinet. Performing a sort of inventory as I go. Putting duplicates in that bread tin and marking the matching one in the cabinet with a note saying that I have duplicate spools in the box. Maybe I won't have the urge to buy so readily and then have duplicates that I don't need.

As I have sorted and put away, I have found and combined several collections. After putting a few heart shaped brooches in a small basket, I decided that I wanted to be able to see them readily. The lace that I glued around the perimeter of the box provided the perfect spot for this display. Look at my hearts - above and below - all gifts from online buddies and/or local friends.

Since I have decided that all MaggieGrace art will have a heart motif included, this is a very appropriate collection for me. I do love being able to glance over my shoulder and be reminded of love and blessings.

Now, about the picture below, this was a fun rediscovery. Forgot I had these, but aren't they pretty in all their pastel goodness. I set these to the side so I can find a clear gallon jug to store them in. I want to see these colors for a little while. Just so very pretty.

I can see me adding these to a Rebecca Sower style piece

Having a difficult time wrapping my head and heart around the events this week. I have found myself aimlessly staring and just being still and quiet as I process all of this. The studio move has been a welcome distraction.

Many years ago everything I worked on was dark and moody, but for the last several years I have seen my work go to a lighter and more positive format. I can feel the urge to create some darker stuff again. Does everyone have the "mood swings" in their work or am I the only crazy one in the bunch?

Have a wonderful day.

Doing her own thing

Blue shorts - a 1999 soccer shirt - a red stretchy belt - and some orange thing tied in her hair. Paint in a bowl - and sitting on the floor of the studio. The mix cd includes - 80's rock - 70's disco - some 50's wonderful harmony - alternative music - and a couple of her Uncle Johns renditions of some popular music. She quite happily drives a vehicle older than she is. Prefers cute little flats over heels any day - and at damn near 6 feet tall and a size 5 - can wear anything she chooses rather well.

What do you do with this bohemian personality? I choose to love her and tell her over and over how proud I am of her. She is an individual and I am so freakin proud of her and the softball princess. As different as night and day, but they are close to one another. I watched them a lot over the weekend - especially at the hospital - as they snuggled in a chair together.




People notice them both. Boys look at them (a source of fear in the man at my address's heart). They have no idea how much they are going to miss one another this fall. The graduate is beginning to be clingier as the time approaches for her to leave - reality is sinking in. The softball princess has staked full claim on her room and is picking out paint colors and new furniture arrangements. Friendly competition over room rights - a full blown battle over the wardrobe. We asked the softball princess if she would be helping us move Molly into her dorm room - her answer - "oh yes because I'll need to make sure she didn't take any of my clothes or shoes." Too funny.

The softball princess has one more travel tournament (which she will not be playing in) this weekend. She gets the pins out of her hand next Tuesday. Let me brag on her too. The only practice she missed was one that coincided with her surgery follow up appointment. Despite not being able to do any thing at practice, she has been up early and at all her workouts and practice. She is chomping at the bit to be back on the field. She has not chosen to lay around and feel sorry for herself, instead she shows up and is an encourager and inspiration to her coaches and teammates. I love that quality in her.

MaggieGrace has to appear here. Another goodie from my Mother-in-Law. She teases me about loving this old junk. Oh well - lets say that i am true to myself and yes I do love this old stuff. A tin bread box - this thing was nasty - I scrubbed it up last night and left it open to dry. I'll be stuffing it with ribbon spools that will not fit on the ribbon box I repurposed.

Tonight I move those ribbons and some more stuff out of the brown cabinet - confession - there is no way all this is gonna fit. I also have to complete some of the butterflies to take with me on Thursday.

Hope this finds everyone having a wonderful day.

July 4th weekend -

While it was a productive weekend of accomplishment and gathering with friends, it was also a terribly sad weekend as well. A class mate of the girls and her boyfriend were killed in a car accident on Friday the 4th and we lost Max - our brother-in-law on Sunday.



Max fought for several years against leukemia. His blog remains open for notes of sympathy and prayers for the family. We will miss him and are heart broken about his death.



I found a wonderful little gift in my studio late yesterday afternoon. I am assuming that thanks are in order to you - my neighbor and friend. The paper is perfect for the back ground of a project I am working on. Sorry you found the studio in such disarray.






Speaking of the studio, the interior hard structure is 98% complete. The man at my address worked so very hard this weekend to make that happen. Now I have hours of painting to complete.



I came home on Thursday to find ants in the house. In the clean clothes. In the beds. Everywhere, except where you would expect them. No ants in the kitchen. We have no closets and one of the plans for the studio move in is to use some of my craft cabinets for extra storage in the house. I'll be adding cedar filled bags to try and keep the ants out of those cabinets. Anyway - full speed ahead on moving into the studio.



Way back when - I posted a cabinet that I was painting, etc. It is now hanging on the wall in the studio and things are put away in it.



Note there are also goodies hanging outside - from Vallen and Jen. Those louvers will soon hold many more things as I am putting things away and on display.





I spent hours wrapping ribbons and fiber bits onto small pieces of card stock scraps. I also made some bitty bits themed kits that you can grab and use as embellishments for things. Those bitty bits include short pieces of fiber, ribbons, fabric, a few buttons. As I add to them and complete them, I'll be sharing them here.



I carried stuff from the house to the barn by the arm load and tried to put it away as I went. Slow going. But it is working out nicely.

I found the graduate working out there this weekend. Even she thinks it is a wonderful space.

Friday night found us eating home made ice cream (my mama's recipe) and brownies at the fireworks display - loads of fun with some really good friends.

Below is a very scary picture of the barn eave on the front before my weekend. Sealed up but UGLY.

I dug through some recycled gift wrap - cards - scrap papers - and college recruiting booklets (note everyone of them has some gorgeous images for collage work) I grabbed the wall paper paste and spent several hours doing this. Grown up cut and glue.
The result - an insulated and better looking area. Every image has some meaning to me. Freinds and family are represented. This will serve as inspiration as well as the decoration it adds. It was fun and relaxing to work in the silence and ponder the sadness of the weekend. I found myself revisiting old wounds of losing my dad and praying for Max's girls as I know what they face. I really missed my Dad a lot this weekend.
We saved many bits and pieces from things as I found them. The barn has offered me some opportunities to use these odd bits of metal. Instead of a flat plate to tie these boards together, I found an old keyhole plate to use. These will be fun for someone to discover later.

I miss my Dad. My heart is broken for Lynda and her girls. My heart is broken for the family of those teens. Feeling incredibly blue today. Corey Amaro has put my feelings perfectly into words with this quote "How do you hold a broken heart? What do you do with the many pieces?"

I find myself pondering relationships today. Thinking of blessings. Things that should have been left unsaid and things that should have been shouted out loud. Mistakes and forgiveness. Love and loss. I have to work this weekend. I can see that the time away will be needed. A mini mental health break of sorts. A few moments in the evening to take care of me.

Have a wonderful day everyone.

Collections

I love the hunt. I love the thrill of the discovery. I love the feeling of spying something that fits and that look to see if anyone is watching who might try to take it away from me. Fellow thrifters, junkers, antiquers - you know exactly what I am describing.

When Mama Norvan passed away, I became the proud owner of a single plate in a needlepoint floral pattern out of her stuff. I have no idea why there was only one plate. But that is how this collection started.

In all honesty, I got the plate because I am the cross stitch (crafty) one in the family. Also, I thought it would be fun to build a set - a little at the time.




I now can have a small gathering using this china. Yes it is mis-matched. But it all works together. I have bought single pieces for many years now.

Note the basket patterned salad plate does not exactly match the creamer pattern. Some have fluted edges, some are plain, some silver, some gold.

The short, fat salt shakers are even a different pattern. I have just the lid to a serving bowl displayed in the kitchen. I thought it would fit the bowl in the picture below, but it doesn't. It is still pretty and I enjoy looking at it.

I only have one of the tall skinny shaker in the back of the pictures - the last time it was used to sprinkle powdered sugar on some desserts. It's pretty and it makes me smile to look at it.

There's even a soup bowl with a handle - only one of those and look another DIFFERENT pattern on some coffee cups.

That's a tiny hand mirror - laying there that struck my fancy. The folded paper crane is one of many made for me by the Softball Princess. The colors work and I like the effect of a nest that the bowl makes.

Oh and look - the sugar bowl does not exactly match the creamer.

Some people would be bothered by all that variety. Not me. Many of these items were gifts. Many were discovered on adventures with friends and family. Some were discovered on a day when I needed time alone just to be with my thoughts. There is a story held in this china cabinet.

There is a story represented in my life as well. My friends and family are even more varied that this collection. Young, old, many races, male, female, short, fat, single, married, divorced, I could go on and on describing them. Some are whole and healthy, some broken, some ill. Some give me so much - others need me so much. Some I get to see and hug, snuggle with on occasion -- some are newfound cyber friends that I can only hope to meet in person one day. But all are on that list of people, I call friends. And every one of them is important to me.

As the graduate moves on in her life, I know her circle of friends is about to become larger. I love her heart so much. She will open herself to friends from all walks and places in life. She will be a great friend to those she chooses and those who choose her. That makes me extremely proud of her. Right now there is a little boy in the daycare area named Conner. She may never see this little one anymore after this summer. But he touched her. He colored a picture for her dorm room. Unlike many people I know - this mattered to her. She has it in the stack of things to hang on the walls of her room. Conner may never know whether she hung it or not, but, as she put it, she will know and that matters to her. Again I say - I love her heart.

The softball princess is about to enter some of the most difficult years of growing up. She has an incredible group of friends around her - those with involved parents who are her friends as well. I am thankful for that too. She has made wonderful decisions about friends so far and seems to have her head screwed on straight. I love that too.

I am in a strange place mentally and emotionally right now. I am celebrating the variety of my friendship circle. I am watching my girls add variety to theirs. The most important thing -- I am watching my relationship with my girls become more of a friendship than it has ever been. They will soon be adding additional variety to my friendship circle and I to theirs.

And right now I am celebrating the fact that there seems to be very little in my life worthy of a Jerry Springer episode.

Have a wonderful 4th --

Winners post

So I got local best friend to look at the photo captions - per this post - and he chose Laura's caption. However - I laughed and giggled at all of them - so will the following people shoot me an email with your snail mail addy - and I will send you a small goody as well. - Karen (Junking in Georgia), Ellen, Carrie, Roxie. My email addy is available on my profile. (I actually could hear myself saying with sarcasm - Karen's comment. )



Now for goodies - the graduate has the camera so I pulled these from the stash folder on the computer. Last time we were at my in-laws - Ann sent home a pile of goodies - including this unassuming looking plastic bag.





Brown paper bag - from Mama Norvans stuff. She was the pro at recycling. She would turn the bread bag inside out and wash it to use for food storage. I think that behavior came from growing up during the depression.



Anyway - I sidetracked. The bag contains the pattern and three partially assembled blocks for what I thought was a cathedral window quilt. But this seems to be in reverse. I found a link to a lady who does wonderful variations on this pattern - go take a look - Shelly's Studio. The only thing I can find describing this variation (and no pictures at all) calls it a Secret Garden pattern.



I'll be attempting this.

I love these vintage fabrics - look at the details.

The green fabric one reminds me of an Amy Butler print.

Normally this kind of thing would be framed and displayed at my house, but for now, I'll be leaving this as is, so that I have the details in a way that I can "see" how the crap to put this together.

Looks like a great travel project to me.

Now - for those who may still be with me. Local Best Friend has a real name - Randy - he's on the right in this picture and today is his birthday. He is the kind of friend everyone should have. He thinks things through when asked for advice. He would rescue us off the side of the road in a heartbeat. Since my mom's stroke, I have asked for him to be the emergency contact person for both my girls. He loves his family, he loves his friends, he has a public faith statement and follows through when he feels God's nudge. He has old fashioned values that often are unheard of this day and age, his word and handshake are all that previous generations intended them to be. A genuinely good and kind person. I am fortunate to have him as my friend. I am fortunate that I took the time to listen to him one night as he talked about losing his Mom many years ago. I am fortunate to have his impact on my life and on the life of my girls. (Because he absorbs most of the bitching - they should be thankful too - mom is much more sane because of him) He never tells me "just what I want to hear", but will tell me the truth as he sees it, with integrity and no malice at all. He will encourage me, he will build me up, he is MaggieGrace's most loyal supporter, but he will also kick my butt when it's needed. He makes me think. All this and so so much more.

I respect him, I trust him, and I am glad to have him as a buddy.

Happy Birthday - my friend - may you have many more. We are so blessed to have you in our lives.

Okay MaggieGrace readers - pay tribute to a friend today. Remind them how blessed you are to have them.

Have a wonderful day.

A fun little project.

I accomplish some heavy duty cleaning in MaggieGrace World last night. Preparing for a night of painting tonight. The dripping southern humidity has decreased and it was very pleasant to be out there.

I started sorting some more things and labelling boxes and bins. I have one of those locker baskets that I am dropping cards and notes into. I'll sit down one night soon and die cut tag shapes out of those cards. I have a serious problem about keeping that kind of stuff. I will also more than likely make some of these globes from Heather's place.

I also piled the items in these pictures onto a tray and started moving them around for a quickie project for CIP ---


Okay - yes - behind - this is February's banner project and one of the items shown here will the main item for February - I do hope to have the mailer for Feb - July ready next week. Look for fun packages - CIP ladies.



I dug through my stash and found all these really fun - bright red - accents to go on the white felt - I cannot wait to see this project finished and hanging in the studio. I have a wonderful paper garland from Vallen that I'll be hanging as well.

Tonight will find me painting - again - and planning the decor for a baby boy shower at the church. I'm thinking blues and browns. Juggling - and getting lots of projects in the air - seems to be they way I live doesn't it???

Have a wonderful day everyone.

Don't forget the photo caption goodie from yesterday's post.

glorious beauty

The Family Life Center at Jones Chapel is situated perfectly on a hill to provide some of the most breathtaking views of the sunset you will ever see. Quite often, we will gather everyone together to watch.

A soon to be married young couple sealed their engagement during a sunset there on a Wednesday night. Luke had carried that ring waiting for one of those nights because he knew that would be the perfect setting to ask Cortney to be his wife. (they met at the church)

Friday night was one of those nights, but not the sunset. There was a storm coming in and the clouds against the sun were gorgeous. I tried to capture the way the light outlined those clouds, but the photos really do not do this the right amount of justice.

The grandeur of God's creation is such a gift for us all. One of the things that changed when I was diagnosed, is that I now pay more attention to these small gifts. I see so many blogs out there (from all over the world) that celebrate these small details, so I know that many of you feel as I do. Even the smallest gesture - the tiniest detail - the celebration of a kindness - a single word of encouragement - is worth the effort it takes.

Celebrate something today - encourage someone today - you will feel better and so will someone else.

Now for a funny. I took the following photo on Friday afternoon on the four lane around Athens, GA. No matter what the scenario was, I am sure the words "OH SHIT" accompanied this occurance.

Please note - there is no lake (or any body of water) in the nearby area. When I drove by - there was no tow vehicle of any variety either.

Take a look ...........

It is a pontoon sitting on the grass on the side of the road. The trailer sits about 8 feet in front of the boat. I have no idea how this occurred. I just found it an oddity worth sharing. Why make things up when life presents so many rich opportunities for fun commentary? Like "maybe some drunk redneck saw the words exit ramp and thought he was already at the lake."

Okay ladies and gents - give me photo captions for this. On Tuesday at 5pm - eastern time - I will print them out and have local best friend choose the funniest one and send you a goodie from my out of control stash. Tell your friends to come and play too.

Have a wonderful day ------

Tiny doileys

Last night we served our concession stand duties. After that we then had three hours of ballgames to sit through - I got home at close to 11.

I bought that motif book a couple of months ago and I am enjoying it so much. I made lots of a simple little flower that, once I made two, I could complete without the instructions at all. Last night I made these tiny doileys. The pattern if from the same book.

The first one required the standard learning curve stuff - read, stitch, " well crap" utterances, frog, start over. The center hole is a tiny bit small for the intended use - (I'll show that later - this is a CIP project. ) The second one went much smoother. I finished the third one just in time to pack up and go home.

These are not even large enough to use as a coaster. But they sure are pretty and easy to make. If made in a larger yarn - they would stitch together nicely for a blanket or a scarf.

Here's a closeup - please don't mind the stain - all of them will be washed and lightly starched before I use them. Or I may soak them all in coffee or tea for the weathered, vintage look.

I am using crochet cotton to make these - for the project I have in mind they will all be the same. Another version would have them in brights or soft pastels.

No work has occured in the studio this week, but we will get back to it. I really wanted to have a few freinds over for my birthday and be ready to play in there, but it's not ready for that.

Tomorrow there will be more of these babies made while I sit at a ball tournament. Sunday is a Piedmont Volleyball Social. Another busy weekend.

Hope all of you have a wonderful weekend.

Also there has been an update over at CIP today ---

Sneak peek -- and thank you......

Not revealing who this is for. Definitely a reader. And this is definitely a project that requires full attention. Counted cross stitch on 28 count white linen over two threads. An adaptation of a needlepoint project and using things I already had. Unlike crochet - this one stays beside my chair and is better for those evenings when I can sit still. (that happens a lot - you know)

This has become a way of life - the using what I have thing. Is my stash any smaller - technically yes - but visibly - not in the least? As I move things into the studio and put them away - I really am enjoying rediscovery of some things I purchased. I do have some CIP work to accomplish and several other gifties to get together. But I am still ahead for Christmas.

The graduate picked out her bedding last night so now I can plan the remainder of this dorm room decor. We will be meeting with Emily and her family next week - maybe over home made ice cream - to decide who will bring what.

The softball princess had her first followup today - we still have the pins in her thumb and no cast, but she has been allowed to throw the ball some. Not catch the ball or swing a bat - and definitely no running, but it is enough to allow her to be a little involved and that makes her feel better. The pins come out on July 15th - then two more weeks in a removable cast.

I came home last night to find this package on the kitchen counter. Fun - and yes - I added it to the stash. I am quite sure this patterned tyvek will resurface in the future.

What was in it???

A pay it forward goodie from Suzanne. Look a the beauty in that box. A bracelet and earrings in green - my favorite color.

The clasp on the bracelet is fabulous. There are even tiny grapes on the toggle. The earrings are made from those same green crystals - beautiful - I am so pleased with this. Love- love- love. You can see more of Suzannes work at her etsy shop.

We have softball concession duty tonight. The heat and humidity are horrible and I'll be flippin burgers - fun fun fun. See ya'll tomorrow.

Have a wonderful evening.

INSTITUTE OF HIGHER LEARNING.

If you read here regularly, you know that I am not the best speller, and I often use run on sentences. More often than not, I am posting between customers and co-workers - and vendors interrupting me. (MaryAnn - that would be an excuse - lol) If I process a professional paper, for any reason, I spell check, and grammer check and read and proof and get someone else to proof. I take those papers seriously.

Some of you may use a feed reader for blog reading, I am so sorry when my repeat corrections give you false post information because I went back and corrected something I discovered.

On Friday, Molly and I were at her orientation. They gave us tons of paperwork. As we waited in the pre-assembly area for everything to start, both of us were reading stuff. I was looking at the schedule of events and the really pretty, shiny (interpret that as expensive and professionally printed campus map) I discovered that there was no STEWART HALL on the map and that we had a meeting there on the schedule. Molly and I were discussing this and then I noticed that this map had a SETWART HALL referenced. Yup - it was spelled incorrectly. My question to Molly ---- "isn't this an institute of higer learning -look there's an error on the map?" and we laughed (giggled)

Fast forward to the minimum computer requirements section of the same meeting. We were handed out a huge and detailed packet about the IT department and rules about computers, and servers, and antivirus software, also about the school's official email information. This packet was processed in a word processing software - by the IT department - and Molly leans over to me and says "isn't this an institute of higher learning - you would think people in the IT department would know how to use the spell check function?" Are you all ready for this ------- they misspelled the name of the school. instead of PIEDMONT they listed it as PIEDMNOT. and we giggled again.

Then I went to the housing and safety meeting and they gave us these wonderful, colorful packets about dorms. The packet included the standard dorm room dimensions and I immediately had difficulty. I am in construction sales (pretty plumbing fixtures) and I can stand blueprint walls up in my head, but I could not make this happen. Look carefully at the dimensions in the picture below and tell me what you think. Notice the dimensions across the top and bottom of the page.


Finally late that afternoon we get to tour these dorm rooms and here is what the room actually looks like. See the dimensions were right, but the wall on the left was drawn coming into the room instead of going out of the room. Molly and I looked at each other and simultaneously said "institute of higher learning" followed by pee our pants type of giggles. Her new roomie thinks we are nuts.

Speaking of the new roomie. Her name is Emily and because she will be a part of the graduate's life in a big way, I am sure you guys will "meet" her soon. The volleyball coach does not want players to be roommates, but a volleyball player can room with an athlete of another sport. Emily will be playing softball. Her dad is one of my customers. She played tournament softball with the valedictorian - Molly's BFF Brittany. She was concerned about getting a roomie that was not compatible with the required discipline of athletes and demanding majors. Chris -and I were talking about it and then kind of arranged the roomie set up.

Dry sense of humour is one similarity the two share. They are calling this set up an "arranged marriage." Actually for two girls who did not know each other, they hit it off immediately. They are going to have a blast and both families are very comfortable with the arrangement.

Why post this? MaggieGrace is a family place and serves as a journal of our life. This is a funny story that I want a record of for all of us. I also thought all of you might find the amusement in this like we did.

I hope all of you have a wonderful day.

Go DAWGS!!!!!!

Game one of the College World Series Finals ------ DAWGS beat the DOGS 7-6.

Requested shot of the softball princess and her teammates -- this was last Thursday night. She is at softball camp this week - watching. You have no idea how many people tried to get this photo. She just did not want to cooperate.

Here is a shot from this past Saturday between games. I was working on a scrap baby blanket and Renee wanted to learn. Her enthusiasm waned after about 40 chain stitches.

The finished scrap baby blanket. Made from those thick, chunky, bobbly yarns. I did have to buy some to make this one big enough to be useful. I will say - it is very soft and warm.

BTW - hop over to Carries' place - she has some wonderful news to share.

Then go look at Very Mary and David and tell her just how adorable they are. A message to Miss MaryAnn - you are allowed excuses if you would like. I think my message had a different intended audience.

Now for something new in Maggie Grace world.

Jason and Stephanie Danuser are (were) our pastor and his wife. The United Methodist Church moves pastors around routinely and they are leaving us. Stephanie gifted me with two huge boxes of yarn and stuff when her Grandmother passed away. In these boxes I found an unfinished doiley and her grandmother's hooks.

I wanted her to have them back - so I sorted through all the hooks and pulled out any duplicates (I gave those back too). I piled them on a tray - ya'll know how I work and then took a close look at the doiley. It was almost finished - two stitches - (her Grandmother was working on this and suffered a heart attack) - so I finished those last two stitches.

I found a shadowbox at Michaels and used a 50% off coupon to buy it very reasonably.

I fiddled around with the layout of the hooks and finally settled on a smallest to largest alternating arrangement. I measured and taped them together to keep them in order - then I sewed each hook to a piece of heavy felt that I had placed on some fabric in my oval quilt frame.
The doiley was pinned into place with some rust proof small pins that I beaded with seed pearls. I did this so that it can be removed for a "something old" in a future wedding if needed. What you cannot see is that I also placed a pin discreetly with a black bead marking the hook that I found with the doiley.

Here is a very poor picture of the opened shadow box (above) and one of the finished piece standing on my kitchen countertop.

It did turn out to be an amazing and touching memorial piece. I explained what I had done to complete the doiley and that everything can be disassembled if the need arises.

Jones Chapel will miss the Danuser Family - and we all pray them blessings in the future.

There has been much discussion in blogland about RAK - and while this was an act of kindness - it was not random. I am sharing it because the recipient was pleased with it - did not expect it - and gave me the permission to share it. The memories that go with all those things in that little box are important to her. I was concerned that she would find it to be "handmade" in that negative way, instead she was touch by the thought and the gesture. Reach out - if you feel led to create something specifically for someone - do it. Do not be afraid of the reaction - just put yourself out there. It will bless you in the making and them in the receiving. I dang well do not want to shortchange myself or anyone else of a blessing.

Have a wonderful day.

In charge....

I had an entirely different post in mind for today, but this woman caught my attention last night on c-span. C-span is not on my normally watched list, I would usually cruise right past it while surfing through the GUIDE feature on our tv network, but last night I could not get that feature to work for some reason and I was flipping channels the old fashioned way.



This very attractive woman was being interview by Brian Lamp on the Q & A program. Dr Renu Khator - the new president and chancellor of the University of Houston.

She is a native of India and shared many of her native cultural traditions. You can read the transcript of the show here.

Dr. Khator is well spoken and direct. I was drawn into the interview, because her massages ring true and I will not be surprised to see the University of Houston really leap forward under her direction. There was much information and inspiration in the interview for all of us. I took many ideas from the interview that I can apply directly to my career growth. Go and read it - take a look at the 100 day survey at the University site.

Every young woman needs role models and Dr. Khator is a great one. I'll be watching and learning from her.

I wrote this quote down from last night's interview. Tell me if you agree or disagree with the thinking behind this ....

RENU KHATOR: I’m very direct.
BRIAN LAMB: How do we know that? At what point, do we know you’re being direct?
RENU KHATOR: Well, I – for instance, somebody will come, and I said, well, we really need to increase retention rates. Why is it that 25 percent of the students they come in and they drop out in the first year? I said, it’s not acceptable. And then people will come to me with different excuses or this is how it has been historically and we can’t change too much. I said I didn’t ask you whether or not we can change it. I asked you how we can change. So please go back and get me my answer and bring me more than one so that it know then what’s responsible.
I push myself hard, and I just like to push my team very hard. And, I think, when you have the vision and it’s a collective vision I think, everybody is willing to walk together.

I am tired of excuses as well. Identify the challenge and find a way to change it for the better. Go for it. It may be a personal or professional excuse - your or someone else's - Don't ask if it can change - ask how it will change and then do it.

(Stepping down from soapbox now.)

Have a wonderful day....

Studio progress - and the reveal

I am so happy Miami lost the college world series game last night. Georgia plays tomorrow night and as of right now remains undefeated. Go Dawgs - and only a southerner knows that is absolutely the correct spelling and must be accompanied by a bark.

What was in that tin? The bath powder tin. MORE buttons. Just look. I have a lot of buttons.

These are horridly dirty. But I'll enjoy every moment of fondling these as I scrub them up with a soft tootbrush and soapy water.
I already picked favorites - yellow and gold coat buttons - (is there an easy way to verify that the tube shaped ones are really bakelite?) The milk dud shaped brown ones are fun and I adore the square green ones - they remind me of monopoly houses for some reason.
A detail shot of the yellow ones.

Look again at these graphics. I am so drawn to the look of these cards.

Now for the fun stuff I did last night.

Disregard the mess in the lower right corner - focus on the cabinet -

Before I proceeded with my work last night.

And after.....
A 10.00 investment in some clearance peel and stick tiles. Easy clean up - damp cloth. Almost effortless installation - meets my needs for a drying/stamping/pile crap up surface. I could have done a laminate top - but this will work and it fit the budget perfectly. I am thinking a piece of RED trim across the front then I can call this part done too. It is not an exact match - but hello - it works.

No work there tonight - softball calls - she can't play but she wants to be there.

Hope this finds you having a wonderful day....