Isn’t this paper beautiful? I love pink… and Melissa Frances does it so well.

Layer 3- only a few more to go. I think that was my favorite one to do- this piece was from a sleeve, I think. Love the new Melissa Frances paper underneath. All I had to do was lay this on top and it just fell nicely in place. I hot glued the buttons in position and it was so much fun going through them and wondering where they came from and who wore the clothes they were part of.

I think about that too when I am addressing wedding envelopes for clients. Some people have such interesting names- you wonder what they would be like to meet them.

Since we have not heard otherwise, we assume Chris arrived safely. I asked him before he left what Trinity thought about the whole deployment thing. He said he sat her down (she’s 2) and said, “Now Trinity, Daddy is going to leave soon and he will be gone a very long time. So I won’t see you for a while.” To which she replied cheerfully, “OK!” and went off to play. Wish I could do that…

https://www.eileenhull.com/2009/03/layer-3-only-few-more-to-go.html

Time for the next layer! This one is made using my favorite Melissa Frances paper from her Thankful collection www.melissafrances.com. I kind of cut this freeform following the pattern of the lace and beads. I was afraid that they would go flying all over the place with my first cut, but I think this was a very well made garment because each bead was securely sewn on the the lace. I used vintage (found in a box I got at some auction years ago) mini rickrack in pink and white to decorate the top and pink and blue piping for the bottom. So I cut the strips of beaded lace and laid them on a big piece of cardboard and spray adhesived like a maniac on the back of it, then carefully laid it all around the sides then pressed down to secure in place. This has stood up well through all the traveling so again I renew my love for spray adhesive 🙂

Today was the Logan www.logangraphic.com mat cutting class at AC Moore which was a lot of fun. There were four students and they did great and were so enthusiastic, it inspired me!

Some sad news yesterday which I am still trying to deal with… Chris (my 27 year old in the army) called and said he had gotten the phone call telling him he was leaving for Iraq on Wednesday. In my mind, I know he has been waiting to hear since January and that this should not come as a shock. But I was hoping that somehow they might forget that he was there or that something would happen where they’d say he didn’t really have to go- he has a 2 year old for heaven’s sake! It sounds ridiculous even to myself when I read this- but now the day is coming very soon and my heart hurts when I think of him going off again. Please pray for us all, my friends.

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https://www.eileenhull.com/2009/02/i-was-looking-through-some-photos-today.html

This is a project I did for a CHA Designer Challenge. It was kind of fun because I do not draw at all. But I went on line and found a very basic clip art drawing of a sewing machine. Then I converted it into a 3D rendering that translated into a pattern to make with foamboard using the proportions

Well, it’s time to take all those photos, favorite layouts and artwork out of the closet and get them up on the wall. While the weather is still cold, snuggle up some night while you’re watching TV and make a list of all the projects you want to mat and frame and where you’re going to hang them. I recently found out that a major chain in my area sends all their work out to be matted, at a minimum cost per piece, of $42.50. For that, you could buy a Logan mat cutter (www.logangraphic.com) and a class on how to use it for what you’d spend on just 3 mats ordered from the store! Plus you then have it for all future projects. For me, there’s no question that’s the smarter, most economical and creative way to go.

If you are interested in learning more, please sign up for my class at the AC Moore in Fairfax, VA scheduled for February 28 from 1-3 PM. Cost is $35 and all supplies are included. Contact me for more information. Hope to see you there!

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So here’s a section of the booth I shared with Lorine Mason in the License & Design Section at the Craft and Hobby Association show held in Anaheim, CA last week. I am hoping the VIP’s that walked through are interested in licensing some of my three dimensional projects so I have some work to do to get it ready but the response has been very encouraging.

Now that our heat has been restored and life is settling back down to an empty (excpet for the boxes that remain in the garage) nest, I am looking forward to spending more time with Hayward. Looks like we are headed out somewhere in the RV this weekend! Maybe to the auction in PA- I hope…

Hope you all have a great week!

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Ahhh… CHA is now a memory. It was a good show. All that remains is to follow up and start cranking stuff out. My luggage made it there and back fairly well, I got to visit with Jessica and saw a bunch of designer friends and spent some fun time with them. The show did seem a good bit smaller but the License and Design section had fairly good traffic. Our neighbors on either side were really interesting and fun to talk to, both doing way different things but willing to share their thoughts (and tape) with us. I returned home to find our heat is not working and my daughter is moving into her apartment this weekend so went right back into reality…

I’ll post a shot of our booth tomorrow. I was elected to the CHA Designer Council and will serve as secretary for the next 2 years. I look forward to it- there are a great bunch of people I’ll be working with, including Katie Hacker (www.KatieHacker.com) who lent me $20 for dinner when I thought I’d lost my wallet. Turned out it was back at the hotel (thank the Lord!)…

So now it’s back to work… had 2 orders from military posts so will be working on them this week and then 2 wedding invitation jobs and a calligraphy job. The fun never ends 🙂

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Have been on a roll with projects and think they might possibly get done for CHA after all! Well, most anyway. While I do enjoy my night time (I work from 10PM till 3-4 AM), I find that when I get out and visit with people or do something different, my “craft” mind is still on the job. It seems to resolve whatever questions I may have and when I come back to the project, I know what to do! Thankfully…

On Tuesday I have a bride and her mom coming over for a consultation for “Save the Date” and possibly wedding invitation options. So tonight I will rustle up some samples and see what she thinks… I am so lucky to be able to do this for a JOB!

BTW, was talking to a friend at a party last night. She said her 3 daughters dragged her and her husband (home visiting from Iraq for 2 weeks) to Bride Wars. Bill described it as “painful” and Patty did not disagree. Another example of great trailers and a disappointing movie. Oh well…

https://www.eileenhull.com/2009/01/have-been-on-roll-with-projects-and.html

Tonight I finished up a project for one of my favorite local stores, Zazu www.shopzazu.com. They change displays often, have some great Open Houses and it’s always a fun place to visit. I do calligraphy work for their customers that want the special touch for their wedding invitations, formal affairs and anything else they ask me to do, basically. This customer sounded really interesting- her wedding will be at Disney Land so she went with the sea theme- so cute. The only thing I regret is that I don’t always get to meet the customer. Of the ones I have met, we have gone on to exchange emails and talk after the event is over. You really become part of it sometimes. The photos here are their table cards and placecards. I included a shot of the blank ones because although I love this paper- hard to tell but it’s very thick and shimmery- I have to line each one by hand. On light colors I can use my lightbox and don’t have to take the time of lining them, inscribing, waiting for the ink to dry, then erasing the pencil lines. Also since each card was different I had to eye each card to make sure the name and table name would fit. Think I need to raise my prices now that I think of how much time this took me! I hope that the bride and groom have a great wedding and many happy years together.

Aside from that, I had all day to work but when I look at what came out of it, not so much… Maryanne is still home on winter break, Hayward had off work and Pam was working from home on the computer all day.

I tried to take some photos of my project for the Green Gallery but the weather has been bad for the last 2 days and it is a big mistake to take paper out into the rain to photograph even for just a minute… So maybe tomorrow! K- back to work…

https://www.eileenhull.com/2009/01/tonight-i-finished-up-project-for-one.html