Eileen Hull

Three dimensional art... with heart

Weed or flower? It’s all how you look at it…

Time is flying by… this is our last week with Trinity and it has been so much fun to have her here with us. I never really understood what people meant when they said “It’s so much more fun to be a grandparent” but now I can see why. When mine were little (and there were four fairly close in age), it seemed most of the time was spent with maintenance- feeding, changing, baths, school, driving, sports and activities- that there didn’t seem to be time to just ENJOY them. But this has been a month full of enjoyment. She really is a delight, not that I am biased in any way…

So, at night, after I kiss her angelic little cheek, I come down here to my really messy, fun studio and see what trouble I can get into. I had sent proposals for what I KNOW is a really cool idea for a book in to two different publishers and was rejected by both (nicely, but still…). I’m not giving up yet… Also put myself out there with an idea for a regular feature in a craft magazine, so who knows… All they can say is no 🙂 The good news is the new product is coming along beautifully and can’t wait to be able to tell you all about it!

Today I planted. $168 worth of flowers from Lowes have been sitting in the back yard for a week and a half but it has been either raining or buggy or humid. Today was cloudy, about 74 and perfect. Trinity and I suited up- on went the gloves, bug stuff, comfy clothes and ponytails- and went out for a few hours to put them in. And now I think why did I wait. It was really fun. Of course I need a lot more…

In front of Giant every year, there’s a lady who sets up a flower stand and I usually visit her a couple of times. Now I have waited so long it’s buy one, get one free! So tomorrow Trinity and I will hit her stand and see what’s left. I think my favorite flower is the tuberous begonia- they flower continually and require minimal maintenance- what’s not to love? The photo above is something I saw on the way down the driveway to get the mail- have no idea what it is but love all the wacky strands popping out everywhere…

Royalties baby!

There was a great surprise waiting for me in the mailbox the other day- a royalty check from Logan! Right when I had kind of put the whole book writing experience out of my mind…

On Sunday, Trinity, Maryanne and I were on our way to Lowe’s to buy some flowers. I called Dawn and put Trinity on speaker. While they were talking, Chris beeped Dawn. Somehow she hooked up a 3 way call so that she, Chris and Trinity all got to talk together on their 6th anniversary between Iraq, Cape Cod and VA!

Forgot to put in a plug for this great fabric store I went to the other day. It’s called Web Fabrics located in Purcellville, VA. It’s quite large, is very well organized and carries all the latest stuff… very fun to see. It almost makes me want to sew more. Pretty funny because my machine is a 1951 Singer that only does a straight stitch. But it’s about my speed.

Tomorrow we are headed out to plant the flowers. Trinity can’t wait. My back can…

Cupcakes, anyone?

Is Trinity not the cutest child you have ever seen? My friend invited her over today and here she is proudly walking up the path to show me the cupcakes they made. Lorine is following with a box of dolls and clothes that Trinity is borrowing. Tomorrow we are headed out to Purcellville to check out a new fabric store. The fun continues 🙂

I am working away- this has turned out to be one of my busiest months ever! Today I mailed out an emergency gift order to my friend Charlene at Ft. Bragg, the last batch of wedding invitations have been finished, did three sets of graduation announcements, and am more than halfway done with an order for 600 magnets. Tonight I am finishing up some single orders. I am framing our NY house neighbors’ 50th wedding invitation as a surprise. As we were driving up to check on our rental property in upstate NY last weekend, we stopped at 11:30 PM for gas. Much to our dismay, the RV would not start. So we spent the night in front of the gas pumps listening to announcements telling us to turn off our vehicles while pumping gas, while we slept in our bed! We rented a car to get the rest of the way and our neighbors welcomed us into their home, since we had no RV to sleep in the next night. I also found some beautiful faux lemons in the thrift store- that’s Toni’s latest favorite thing to collect and think she will love them.

So life is good.

Handmade wedding invitations

I’m baaack! My granddaughter Trinity and I have been adjusting to each other’s sleep schedules and a balance has been (mostly) achieved. After she goes to bed, I run downstairs and attempt to get caught up on work, allowing me 6 hours of sleep till she is telling me, “Wake up Mimi! It’s morning out!”

Tonight I am working on 70 custom wedding invitations which are due this weekend. The bride really liked a design that involved a pocket envelope so I am cutting them all myself since they are not a standard size. All I can say is, thank goodness for my Logan mat cutter! I set the paper up in a assembly line process to cut, score and fold them all into envelopes and they are coming out perfectly square! Now I have to figure out a way to punch a circle in one corner consistently so an initial logo may be seen from the inside. Matching up everything has proved quite tricky but I am persevering…

I would ask all of you to keep our military serving overseas (especially my son Chris, Trinity’s dad) in your thoughts and prayers this Memorial Day weekend. The sacrifices they and their families endure for our freedom is truly above and beyond.

Special congrats to my friend who became a grandmother a few days ago! Love you Kimmie 🙂

Have a safe and relaxing long weekend!

I am a Guest Blogger!

I’m home! Traveling with a 2 year old is an exhausting business for someone who is not used to it… But we all survived 🙂

Juse a quick note tonight to say that while I was gone I had an email from my friend Kathy Peterson, telling me that my post was up on the new Craft For Health website. Check it out!

Speaking of health, I need sleep- the day will start early and I need all of my faculties! More later…

First Communion gift

It’s that time of year for big events- First Communion, Confirmation, baby showers, weddings and graduations. I will be featuring some of my original designs here throughout the next month that are available for personalization. The first design is a simple but classic First Communion memento, available for $25. Includes a whitewashed frame and comes in pink or light blue. Let me know if you are in need of one!

Happy Mother’s Day to all of you! I’ll be with a daughter, daughter-in-law and granddaughter on this day. What more could I want?

Mea culpa

Are you on the edge of your seat wondering what I am doing in reparation for the biting fiasco? (see previous post) I am sending this magnet in with my daughter who has a cleaning in the AM. Get it- chewing? 🙂 Well, he’ll get a laugh anyway. That and some delicious oatmeal butterscotch cookies. If there are any left.

Today was rainy again but I had a lot to do getting ready for my trip. Finished two projects and instructions for a new magazine I’m in, have one project left to finish and can send a book proposal in that I have been working on for quite a while, AND had a great phone conversation with my peeps about new product! What a day…

Will try to post while I am gone but things might get busy. Hopefully. Enjoy your weekends, everyone!

Today I bit my dentist…

I didn’t mean to… it was early, I hadn’t had breakfast and he stuck a gloppy impression thingy in my mouth and said something. I chomped down obediently. And then he yelled. I don’t think he said, “Bite”, when I think back. He did say some other things though. Under his breath. Oops.

By the end of the appointment 2 1/2 hours later, we parted friends. He still had his finger. I had my tooth.

Now I am thinking of what kind of peace offering I can bring him…. tune in tomorrow to see what I make him!

Quick and easy jewelry rack

Today I just fiddled around working on some Illustrator stuff although there are a million other things I should be doing. Think I will tidy up down here tonight to further lengthen my procrastination tendencies.

I wanted to share a great way to store a lot of jewelry. I have been collecting shutters for quite a while now because they intrigue me and always can be found at the curb. Until recently, they’ve been patiently hanging out in a corner of the garage waiting for inspiration to strike.
It struck about a month ago when I dumped a whole tray of jewelry all down the side of my dresser. I have tried several methods of storing earrings but none ever really worked well. Till now…
It’s such a simple idea. All I had to do was clean them. The painting on it is kind of shabby chic (messy) but it works fine for me. I just took all of my dangle earrings and looped them in pairs over each louver! I store mine in color order because it looks pretty. They are easy to get on or off. These shutters also have hinges on the side and theoretically you could screw this into the wall and fold it closed when you were done. But right now I use the hinges to hang my necklaces and bracelets.
Hope you find good use for the treasures that come your way!

Day in the life of a craft and hobby mogul :-)

Some exciting news- I have been asked by my friend Kathy Peterson, a TV personality and fellow craft designer, to be a guest on her new blog! I don’t have an exact date yet but looks like the end of next week.

Just wanted to update about the demise of the hot tub. It was delivered on Saturday to it’s final resting place, the landfill. My husband was bereft, but there was just too much that had to be put into it- parts, labor, time…. I’m hearing talk of a new one… stay tuned.

Today was rainy and cool. Makes me so glad I went out yesterday and photographed the beautiful peonies that came out this weekend. They are huge white blossoms (they almost look like crepe paper) on this skinny dead looking bush, but every year I get another couple of flowers blooming on it. I counted 12 yesterday. The rain makes them look horrible.

Today was spent getting caught up with projects, sending out estimates for 2 wedding invitation jobs, did a little more on projects for my book proposal, along with the usual emails and various other joys of tending your business. Went to an interesting seminar last night on Email Marketing put on by the Loudoun Small Business Development Center.

News from overseas… did I mention Chris called during the craft show on Saturday? He said they’ll be out of touch for possibly a month so I am very glad I answered. Said the place where he is is packed with people so they are stuck in a tent with rows of cots really close together. The AC was on the fritz and he had spent time waiting in line to talk to Dawn and then there was no answer. But he still sounded pretty upbeat and OK. He has an address but says it might change so not to give it out yet. I am testing with a letter to see if it goes through before I send a box. It was so good to hear his voice… all prayers are welcome for a safe deployment!