Designing in Life

The Weekend

I pulled my sewing machine out to hem some pants and do a little bit of repair work this weekend.  I don't have a designated spot for sewing, so I use the dining room table, which of course means I have to clean everything up when I'm finished - but truthfully, it's still on the table!

Nick is working on the faces for the drawers, but for now this is what they look like.

We went to Lowes yesterday and purchased a tub surround for our upstairs bathroom.  It seems like we should be concentrating on the downstairs bathroom, because it's gutted, but I do think that installing the surround will be a good temporary fix, before it is also gutted for a redo!

I'm going to Jersey City on Wednesday night after work (coming home on Saturday) to give Jim a hand with Chloe and Phoebe while Beth is in San Francisco.  Any opportunity that arises that involves spending time with them – well, sign me up!  Oh, it will be nice to see their dad too!

Working on Designs

Sorry, no real post tonight, but I promise one for the weekend.  I'm studying a technique in Illustrator on tiling a design.  If you'd like to see it, here is the link.   Hopefully I'll have a design some time next week to show you.

Nick and I are searching for shower surrounds for our upstairs bathroom.  Hmm, another project getting started and those drawers aren't done yet.  Looks like I've go work cut out for me this weekend.  Wish me luck – I'm going to need it!

Bunny Trails

Easter is getting close, so I thought I'd give you an Easter card to print and show you a few Easter designs. Last year one of my "seasonal" designs was made into fabric for ties at work.  Creating designs is not one of my jobs, however, I'm capable of doing it.  The problem that was encountered was an "agreement by consensus" one.  Because I was the designer and not an outsider, it got redesigned by committee.  I wasn't particularly happy, but since I was getting no credit and no monetary compensation, I suppose it didn't really matter.  Here are the ties:

What made me unhappy was the amount of blue background that was showing through.  The original design had another layer of eggs which mostly covered the blue, although there was still a bit that was showing.  I listened, and moved on, which is probably the best thing to have done.

So, here are two cards you can print out for Easter if you'd like.  As usual, cut in half horizontaly on the line, fold in half vertically.  And it's a pdf so it will be opened in Acrobat, which is the free version that most of you have on your computers.  Download Easter

 

Notice that the letters are cut from the original egg design, which is mine to use however I please.  And I'd just like to let you know that if you haven't had any jellybeans yet, it's certainly time to start.

Spot On

I 'm trying to keep up with the new English language.  I got a nice thank you card from my niece,  who said the gift was "spot on."  I'm hoping that's a good thing.  Now, I actually know that AWGTHTGTTA (when texting) means "Are we going to have to go through this again?"  I also know that ROTFL means "Rolling on the floor laughing."  I have never texted anyone, and probably won't – ever.  Not that I don't have the capability to do so with the cell phone that I have that I seldom use.  Actually, my son-in-law gave it to me because he insisted I have one that works.  I know it works because I've misakenly called him from within my purse when I've left the phone on not realizing it. But really, I'm just trying to keep up and not be left behind in that last century.
Speaking of keeping up, I am working on some designs in Illustrator.  I've taken classes, but as you know, if you don't continually work on something, you forget a lot of the details.  So, I'm trying to do one small design using some of the tools each day.  Here is what I did today:


I'll try to post some of them so that you can comment.  Just try to use the English language I know so that I can understand just what you're saying.  TLK-2-U-L-8-R

March or January?

Just a small rant on the weather.  Yesterday it snowed – hard, even though it was 40 out.  We were in the middle of a squall that lasted about and hour or so.  Here is what it looked like when it started.  Notice the tree branches to get the full effect of the wind.

There was about an inch or so of snow on the ground when it was over, but it was gone by the end of the day.  Today was a different scenario.  It never got above freezing, the wind blew so hard I had a hard time concentrating - or was it because when I got into the office, it was 59 degrees.  Nothing better than starting your Monday off wearing your puffy down coat and a scarf and wishing you could type with gloves on.

Last night our friends Martha and Roger, came for dinner.  They've been in Puerto Rico since January, so we had a lot of catching up to do.  It sure was great seeing them.  Oh, here's a picture of Martha.

Uh, no picture of Roger because he was laughing too hard.  I knew I missed her for good reason!

For dessert we had some whipped cream with a few strawberries and a little bit of lemon pound cake.  Speaking of which, I think there's some left and I'm heading in that direction – maybe a little less strawberries and cake, though.

Tomorrow, designs and new drawers...almost!

Happy Spring!

Ahh, Spring – the birds are chirpping, the air is warm, the grass is growing, the daffodils are waking up, kids are outside playing, kites are flying – oh, wait, I live in Vermont and the air is cold out there today, the grass is still dead and dry-looking, the daffodils are saying "No way am I waking up to this", no kids are out playing and there are no kites flying, but those birds are singing joyfully so I'm thinking something is going on out there and it must be because it's Spring!!!
One of the things that Spring reminds me of is asparagus.  As a kid living in South Jersey, asparagus was a big cash crop in the spring.  It grew everywhere.  I remember my mother making asparagus soup.  Ick.  When I was young I despised asparagus (and tomatoes for that matter).  Two abundant vegetables in South Jersey.  But I grew to love those two things and as I said, Spring reminds me of asparagus.  It is fresh and green and is available in the grocery store even though here it is not up in the garden for some time.  So to celebrate this glorious season, here is a recipe for asparagus soup.  This is a lower fat version that doesn't require cream, in case you're thinking ahead to the next season, you know, the swimsuit one.

This only makes 2 servings, so increase the ingredients accordingly if you want more.  The recipe is from Eating Well Magazine.

1 14-ounce can reduced-sodium chicken broth
1/4 cup water
1 yellow-fleshed potato, such as Yukon Gold (6 ounces), peeled and cut into 1/2-inch cubes
1 medium shallot, thinly sliced
1 clove garlic, thinly sliced
1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
1/2 teaspoon dried savory or marjoram leaves
1/8 teaspoon salt
12 ounces asparagus, woody ends removed, sliced into 1-inch pieces
Freshly ground pepper to taste

1. Place broth, water, potato, shallot, garlic, thyme, savory (or marjoram) and salt in a large saucepan. Bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce heat to medium-low, cover, and simmer until the potato is tender, about 8 minutes. Add asparagus, return to a simmer, and cook, covered, until the asparagus is tender, about 5 minutes more.

2. Pour the soup into a large blender or food processor; puree until smooth, scraping down the sides if necessary. Season with pepper.

Feel free to crisp up some prosciutto or croutons to sprinkle on the top.

 

Enjoy the soup, and enjoy Spring.

Kitchen Progress

What is this?  Why, it happens to be 2 big holes in the side of a cabinet waiting for drawers and some paint.  Actually, they've been there a couple of years waiting for those things, but whose counting?

Why look at that!  Someone is working on the drawers.  Fingers crossed that they will be done within 2 weeks and not 2 more years...but you never know, do you?

Mind Games

It is chilly and dreary out this evening.  Rain is on the way.  Weather like this is depressing and calls for a little bit of fun. I needed to get my mind off of the weather, so I got a fire going in the fireplace and decided to test my brain at psychtest  If you too are having some crumby weather, this will whip your mind and thought process into shape.  I only scored a 7, but I bet you can do much better.  Let me know your scores, oh smart ones!

Happy St. Pat's Day

I'm not Irish, but I've been told that on St. Patrick's Day there is a little bit of Irish in everyone.  That being the case, here is a little card I whipped up so that you can include it with your St. Pat's presents – WHAT? – you don't give St. Patrick's Day presents?  Well, okay, neither do I, but just in case you need a card, you can print one here Download Stpatscard

(Actually, there are 2 cards for you) Cut on horizontal green line that runs through the white bar, fold each card in half vertically and there you are.

Have a great green day!

Spring Cleaning

Yesterday I kicked into gear.  Cleaned up the basement...well, sort of, at least as best as it could be, and  then I started on two shelves in one of the cabinets.  I know each and every one of you has a few cabinets like these.  They're the ones that house those dishes that no matter how hard you try, they just won't fit together and end up a big ever-toppling mess when you open the cabinet door.  I wanted to put down the rubberized shelf lining, but realized I wouldn't be able to slide anything from back to front, and that's important when a cabinet is somewhat deep.  I thought about it and remembered I had a big roll of freezer paper.  Worked like a charm.  I put the shiny side down and figured if it was dingy and dirty in a month, I could just replace it for pennies.  I moved a butcher block that Beth gave us when she and Jim were finished with it (We seem to have several of those things in our house, but I'm not complaining.)  It  is now near the fridge next to another cabinet.  Spring fever has certainly set in.  I'm looking around the house with a new eye and see soooooo many things that need to be done.  Like getting those pesky cobwebs out of all the plants.  It's amazing what you just plain don't see in the dark, dead of winter!

I forgot to mention that along with the coffee that was won last week, a bottle of Long Trail Brewery's Vermont Coffee Company Stout. 

Now as you all know, tomorrow is St. Patrick's Day.  I will not be having corned beef and cabbage, but I'm thinking about a chocolate stout cake, since that beer is sitting on the counter.  Here is a picture of the cake and you can get the recipe for it from King Arthur Flour.

Admit it, this beats corned beef and cabbage any day!