HELLOmynameisHeather

Hungry Walls

My walls are disturbingly void of artwork. I just don't like most commercial artwork. It's not personal enough either. And I don't have time to scout out great pieces on Etsy or make the artwork myself. Not usually, anyhow, but I'm making an effort this month to at least get a couple of pieces started and see where they lead me. Starting with this owl.

Of course, he might sit on my drafting table for weeks, waiting to be painted. I thought work would slow down a little during the holidays, but holy cow, every licensee is looking for new product lines from me. I really need to get an artist-type on staff.

I do have two awesome birdie prints from Laura Gunn that need framing. I should go get frames, huh? — like, right now while I'm thinking about it.

If you have art to recommend, certainly post a link. I have hungry walls.

She Shows Mettle—Meddling with Metal

While crawling into bed last night, I found this note tucked carefully under my blanket. Don't tell Charlotte, but my first reaction was a big smile. Charm and cuteness go a long way toward absolution. In this case, I consider the necklace somewhat improved by the note it is taped to.

I may not be teaching Charlotte to keep her hands off my jewelry, but she is learning some honesty to go with her mischievous fiddling. That's something, at least.

Oh My Gouache!

Don't you just love when you're working along, having an normal-sort-of-day, and the postman shows up with a box of sunshine. Today I'm restocking my gouache supply. Not with onesie-twosie-tubes, here and there, but with all 84 colors in this particular range.

I'm amping up for major output this year.

In my years of ordering art supplies online from all over, I don't think I've yet seen such meticulous packaging. I tore into the bundles like it was Christmas. It took me a good 20 minutes to free the tubes.

Yum, yum. Now where to keep them? I have a little baby here who would just love to sink his teeth into each one of these tubes, take the lids off, bust open the tails and squirt color everywhere.

Come to think of it, that sounds just about right.

Are You Kidding? Of Course I Want a Sticker!

Eight years ago, on election day, I was six-months pregnant with Charlotte. I remember that day very well. I waited in line to vote for about 5 hours—on my feet. I got so dehydrated that I began to shake and cramp when I was about five people from the front of the line. I stuck it out the extra 10 minutes, voted, then headed to the emergency room once I discovered I was bleeding a little as well. I was in miserable shape. It was NOT a fun day.

Now, I always pack water, food, and a folding chair—just in case. Today there was no line though. Somehow, I hit the timing just right. I missed the enormous lines from this morning and beat the rush hour lines sure to come later on. It was a 10-minute excursion.

Tonight, we are heading to my brother's house to watch the results. Of course, it may take weeks to resolve now that the parties have discovered they can ring the voter-fraud alarm and buy more time. Ug.

How to focus then for the rest of my day? We have a big magazine shoot at the studio today and I have a print from my new quilting collection that needs an adjustment to its repeat as well. And then there are the other 88 to-dos on the list. Oh my.

BUT—the most important to-do on my list today is done—I voted.

You should too. Bring water.

Update: You must see this Election 2012 Bad Lip-Reading video above — too stinking funny. "It's like the whole world's a surfer dude and they're all chewing pencils."

Goodbye October, Hello November

I'm back from a whirlwind month, trotting here, there and everywhere. Let's see, Pennsylvania, Florida, the Bahamas, then Denver, Dallas and Houston as well. Some of these stops were lay-overs, but other stops included white sand, TV cameras, and my favorite fabric folks (Quilt Market). I've only been home long enough in between each trip to unpack, then repack again.

I returned to a desk stacked with product proofs to review and approve—the HB world kept on turning while I was away—hallelujah. Here's the color proof for my new Project Life Olive Edition album cover with Becky Higgins. Yummy, yummy olive green.

I went for a subtle, decorator-ly print with a mod bent so the album would look fabulous in its own right and compliment many of the Project Life kits. This way several completed albums can be stacked together on the shelf and make their own color statement in a room. The spines of the albums are solid green with a metal label frame.

I believe this product line will be out soon. December, most likely. But, remember, Becky's Project Lifers are seriously dedicated. You have got to get in there and grab these things up the day they go live on Amazon or you might have to wait another couple of months for the next order to arrive. I know, it's impressive—go Becky!