Eileen Hull

Three dimensional art... with heart

While in Maine, I was able to make 2 trips to my favorite store, Marden’s. It’s kind of a cross between Big Lots, Ollie’s Outlet and heaven. They have everything there, the prices are great and the staff is amazing- complete with that authentic Maine accent. Last time we went 5 years ago, we bought a bunch of fleece on the bolt for our Family Fleece business (once a year, my mom, 2 sisters and I head to Saugerties, NY for the Garlic Festival and attempt to sell handmade fleece hats, scarves and baby items. Mostly Mom does all the work and we goof off, go buy fudge, etc). Anyway, this time, they had gigantic bolts of one sided fleece for ONE DOLLAR a yard! Well, I just bought it up- great colors and such a deal! I cut some samples up to send to Mom and Janet so they can be shopping their local sales of patterned fleece to coordinate. Used the wavy blade on my rotary cutter and after I stacked it I thought it looked like a beautiful fleece sandwich so had to get a shot of it. Are those colors not amazing? So if you ever happen to be in Presque Isle, ME, make sure you stop in at Marden’s.

Worked on my Green Gallery project tonight and think it is finished. Sometimes I wait till morning just to be sure I like it. Then I’ll take some photos to send on to the company that supplied me with their soon to be released new papers and see what they think.

https://www.eileenhull.com/2009/01/while-in-maine-i-was-able-to-make-2.html

You may wonder what all this stuff is. I am working on a project for the Green Gallery for CHA. 30 designers have been selected to show a piece of their original work to be displayed in the lobby of the Anaheim Convention Center. The stipulation is that 25% of the project must use recycled materials. All of these cool old sewing items are part of my finished project which features a beaded top I found in a thrift store for $7 and cut up to create a whole new project. Some of the papers I am using have not been released yet so can’t put up a finished sample until CHA but even my 20 year old daughter came down to see what I was up to and liked it. And 20 year olds are quite the tough critics…
Tonight I am trying to get the mojo fairy to pay me a visit so I can get back in gear. Or maybe tonight I clean…

https://www.eileenhull.com/2009/01/you-may-wonder-what-all-this-stuff-is.html

Christmas in Maine was great. The weather cooperated, the RV did not have any technical difficulties and my family was most entertaining. We did a lot of snowmobiling, sledding and shopping. Trinity is adorable and it was so good to see Chris and Dawn. I am sick thinking about Chris leaving for another deployment but hope and pray that he will come back to us again safely.

And now, time to get to work. CHA is fast approaching!

https://www.eileenhull.com/2008/12/christmas-in-maine-was-great.html

Well, last minute shopping and wrapping did not get done today! We went to our friends’ annual cookie party and basically stayed all day talking and eating. People drop by, mingle, decorate some cookies and are on their way. I think this is the 22nd year they have had it. It’s always a festive event. Last night we were at another party. Thankfully we are going out of town before I am not able to fit through the door.

Tonight I had to get all the niece’s and nephew’s gift cards ready to give. Instead of putting them in plain boring envelopes, I made little matboard folders. They aren’t real fancy but they were quick and easy. And fun! That’s all for now…

https://www.eileenhull.com/2008/12/well-last-minute-shopping-and-wrapping.html

HEYYYYY! I just saw that some of you have posted comments! Thank you (Jenn, Kim and Priscilla 🙂 I am sorry to say I have never gotten into this blog thing enough to actually think anyone might read it! So imagine my delight to find that 3 people had AND they left me notes too. Such a nice surprise- thank you.

Kim, I owe you a thank you note for your beauutiful birthday present- it’s hanging in my studio- I love it. And Jenn, hope we can get together again- maybe Monday? I’ll email you. And Priscilla, can’t wait to meet you at CHA too!

2 posts in one day- it’s a miracle…

https://www.eileenhull.com/2008/12/heyyyyy-i-just-saw-that-some-of-you.html

Hayward bought me a camera for Christmas because my other one had a problem keeping the memory card in. It was to the point where I had to hold it in with my finger and shoot the photo at the same time… not working too well. I had it for 5 years and loved it. But it was big and I never carried it with me because of that. So I got another Kodak- it’s tiny and so cute that tonight I took a piece of embossed felt and made a little case for it. However I had some technical problems because I sewed on some velcro to keep the case closed which was adhesive backed and then went on to gum up my sewing machine big time… so it’s not the neatest job but it should do the job.
I was fiddling around with the Melissa Frances winter papers tonight and made this gift card holder out of mat board- came out pretty cute- think it needs one more thing but can’t figure out what. So for now, there it sits where I will continue to ponder this.
Did you ever get a smell in your nose and then it just doesn’t go away? And I can’t figure out what it is… OK, back to work!

https://www.eileenhull.com/2008/12/hayward-bought-me-camera-for-christmas.html

I have been going crazy lately… wanting to be creative and not feeling it. But a few nights ago, the mojo kicked in and it has been fun. Now I just hope it lasts long enough to get what I want done. This little tree was put together for the Barn Sale but never made it out there.

Packed up a box to send to Jess for Christmas. It’s sad- her first Christmas not being with us. But the power of the boyfriend is strong…
Saw a cool show tonight about dressing the big store windows for Christmas. One had a tree made entirely of pencils- very cool. The trees were designed by school kids and then the window dressers had to make it happen.
Cleaned out a bunch of mat and foamboard because my friend is coming over in the AM for a demo of these foamboard cutting tools I keep raving about. While sorting and tossing, I found these 8″ mirrors I had been looking for forever. Yay! Have a cool recycle idea for it. Will post when I do it. Off to bed- it’s 4:45 AM- AHHHHH!

https://www.eileenhull.com/2008/12/i-have-been-going-crazy-lately.html

My 24 year old daughter, Pam, has recently moved back in with us due to a job in the area. She also brings Lexi, her 3 year old pit bull. This dog is like a baby. I have gotten pretty attached to her in the month she’s been with us. She is very well-behaved but usually if we are going out we leave her in her crate.

The other day I came home and she greeted me at the door smiling her little doggy smile. No one else was home. As I walked through the house I noticed the rugs were all flipped up and it seemed she had had enjoyed her alone time with the run of the house. Nothing too much else seemed out of place. I started a load of wash and went on about my business. A few hours later I came upon a My Little Pony laying on the floor. My youngest daughter had gotten her pony collection out for my niece who had come to visit at Thanksgiving. As I picked it up, I noticed that one of the pony’s legs had been severed and another one had some serious bite marks. Upon further investigation, I found the amputated plastic leg in several hacked up pieces.
I called my daughter at college with the bad news.
Me: Mary, you know that turquoise My Little Pony?
Mary: (screams in horror) WHAT??? Oh NO… What happened to it? (accusingly) I told Kelly to put it away! (Kelly is 5)
Me: Well, Lexi might have played with it a little…
Mary: Was it the one with the pink and purple hair? That was my favorite.
Me: I think it was pink hair. (it actually was pink and purple)
This kid is almost 20 years old! Anyway, when Pam came home I showed her Lexi’s work. She had a good laugh and then I told her of Maryanne’s reaction. I suggested that since she is a nurse. she could perhaps fashion a cast or prosthetic limb. Here’s what she did…
By the way, I scored a photo booth at an auction I went to a few weeks ago for $9. I think it does a pretty good job.

https://www.eileenhull.com/2008/12/my-24-year-old-daughter-pam-has.html


OK so the Gourmet luncheon LOOKED spectacular. The secret was supposed to be that all of the recipes were Weight Watchers or lo-cal. However in the course of the event, one oven turned off for about 45 minutes causing the meat to be way behind in cooking time. So we quickly adjusted the menu to serve an appetizer as part of the main course. Luckily, the ladies were having so much fun talking, we were behind schedule and one of the pork loins was checked and the meat thermometer pronounced it fit for human consumption! So all was well and no one knew any thing was out of order. The funny thing was I was going to post the recipe book and invitation that I made but they were all put in the file and taken to Janis’s house and I never got one! Now I have to make another one to show you how they looked! Oh well, I could probably put them together in my sleep. And Hayward loved the pork loin (one that didn’t heat fast enough- we split it 4 ways and brought it home) and Great Harvest bread that I served when he got home from work at 11PM.
Tonight I went up to Leesburg to see my friend Patty’s 2 watercolors (and my matting) that are hanging in a gallery. They have a really nice event every first Friday night. All the shops stay open- some serve food, there were carolers singing (I was so excited to kind of hum along with “Lo, a Rose E’er Blooming”- one of my absolute favorite Christmas songs) and an air of community wrapped me in. It was cold and crisp and I loved it.
Then I went to Home Depot to buy cinder blocks for the manger at church which we’ll put up in the morning. So the Christmas season is officially in gear for me…

https://www.eileenhull.com/2008/12/ok-so-gourmet-luncheon-looked.html

Tiny Ornaments


These were some fun little ornaments that I did for the Barn Sale while watching TV. Will use the ones that are left for package ornaments. Love gifts that can be used in several ways! I used glitter pipe cleaners as hangers- they were adorable.

My company is finally gone but I have so much to do I don’t know where to start. I should make a list. That always calms me down. Unless the list is too long. Then I freak out. Hmmm… Maybe I’ll make a list later.

I am a member of an International Gourmet Group (if you know me, you are laughing your head off right this minute). I love the ladies but the cooking, not so much. Well, Friday is our groups’ turn to host. Thankfully, my very nice friend Patty said she could have it at her house. So today we went out and set the tables and made final arrangements. It looks beautiful. I am trying to decide if we should put a tree up since we’ll be away for Christmas. Maybe a little one…