Creative Summer

I have finally finished classes for this semester and am really looking forward to trying to jump start my creativity again. Looking back at one of my previous posts on this same subject, I realize that it had some good advice! So as I clean up, unpack and restructure my downstairs space I am going to carve out my creative "studio" space. I have a lot planned for summer projects -- fall will be hopelessly busy with classes four days a week so I want to have the house unpacked and my creative self in a routine!

Here are my plans. First I have a christening gown to make for Oliver Matthew Grim. The Bernina has been taken to the shop for a tune-up. The electronics guys who checked everything after the fire said it was in working order, but I still want it serviced so it will hum along as I work on the gown. I have narrowed the design down to two. Fabric and lace have been chosen and will be ordered when I make my final design choice. The christening date will be sometime late July or early August. My hope is to break my usual routine and have it done early.

Jenny gave me a wonderful "roll up" piano for Christmas last year. I asked my musical friend Caryn what book would be good to use as an adult for self teaching piano. I really have a basic understanding of music -- due to the really good music teachers I had in high school. I can read notes and scale, understand timing and know the difference between a sharp and a flat. With this book I hope to be able to play a simplified version of Fur Elise by Beethoven by the end of the summer.

One thing I have always wanted to do is draw/paint. Jenny has given me pencils and books to get me started, plus I have some of her 'left over' art supplies (c: I am going to unpack those and start sketching even if I am terrible. Practice makes perfect...right? So, I thought I would start with one of my favorite things...Dragons! It will probably be way out of my realm of talent, but I am going to try them and maybe even Fairies.



If I want to be able to keep up my creative endeavors though my fall semester I am going to have to be proficient in math. So proficient that I don't have to worry about what we are covering in Math 106, 'Quantitative Reasoning.' So I will have to be spending time with this book too!

Then there are cookbooks, SciFi/Fantasy, philosophy, classics and a myriad of other books that are calling my name. Hopefully I will be able to enjoy some of them too.

Oliver Matthew Grim

This sweet boy was welcomed to the world on April 11, 2010 at 4:37 am. He weighed in at 7 lbs. 1 oz and was 20 inches long.





His mother Beckie was wonderful and let me hold him before he was 24 hours old. I will have to get busy making his christening gown!










Of course being the photographer I don't have a picture of me with Oliver ... so one of Merle holding him will have to do (c:

My Pursuit

Keep it in the middle of the road.

Still Awake

Ever close your eyes
Ever stop and listen
Ever feel alive
And you've nothing missing
You don't need a reason
Let the day go on and on

Let the rain fall down
Everywhere around you
Give into it now
Let the day surround you
You don't need a reason
Let the rain go on and on

What a day to take to
What a way to make it through
What a day to take to a wild child

Only take the time
From the helter skelter
Every day you find
Everything's in kilter
You don't need a reason
Let the day go on and on

Every summer sun
Every winter evening
Every spring to come
Every autumn leaving
You don't need a reason
Let it all go on and on

What a day to take to
What a way to make it through
What a day to take to a wild child

Wild Child - Enya

Photo from here.

Peter's Christening

Leigh Ellen sent me these pictures of Peter's christening. What a sweet child.

Ok…I admit it…I ordered one.

For all the many years that I have been working on this degree, I told myself that when I hit Senior status I would order a college ring. I was always a jewelry person. Over the years I have become a little less fascinated with baubles and have come to wear classic jewelry that I already have or some interesting inherited pieces.

This fall my transcript and time ticket for registering for class finally said – Senior Status. I have projected that I will graduate in Spring 2011 (quite a ways from the Spring 2002 start). A month or so ago I stopped by the bookstore and Balfour was set up with their display of rings. I looked several times during the week, tried a few on, found out about prices – but nothing jumped out at me. Everything was light weight and just had no charisma for me. I don’t know what I was expecting . . . a divine revelation? I finally decided that I would rather have airfare for a trip and quietly put the brochure and price list away.

Through the windows of the book store this week I saw a ring display set up again. Even as I bought a Blue Book for my Tuesday night exam, I didn’t pay much attention since I thought I had seen them all. But yesterday I ducked into the Barnes and Nobel to wait for the rain to slow down before I dashed back to my office. I found myself in front of the rings again. After speaking with the woman behind the table I realized that this was Herff Jones not Balfour. As I glanced at the rings I saw some ‘fashion’ rings – not as many as Balfour had, the normal collegiate rings with stones, and a nice selection of signet rings. My eyes rested on one – the Viscount. It was perfect. The right size for my hand, not as small and light weight as the others I had previously tried on. I had one question – can I see it in white gold? As soon as I slipped the white gold version on my hand that was it! I ordered it on the spot.

I feel a little foolish – a little guilty – for spending the money. So much will have to be bought in the next few months with rebuilding of the townhouse and the replacement of lost things. My husband tells me that I deserve it – and will wear it proudly. It will be here in January.

Peter Mitchell Baca

My friends Leigh Ellen and Mike Baca have a beautiful baby boy. He was born July 17, 2009 and is being christened today. He is truly a miracle. I had promised Leigh Ellen a christening gown as she was waiting for a pregnancy that would make it to term. Needless to say, everyone was thrilled when Peter was born healthy and adorable at 6 pounds 12 ounces 19-3/4 inches long.

As usual the christening gown was delivered Friday evening right before they left for Pennsylvania. With all of the christening gowns I have made…this is the first time I have documented the making of the gown.


The gown is made of white swiss nelona with French Val lace and Swiss Embroidery insets. I also made a slip out of Martha Pullen's Favorite Swiss Batiste edged in small French Val lace. Since all of my christening gown patterns/designs are packed up somewhere because of the fire, I used a pattern that Leigh Ellen had in Handmade Baby Gifts by Teresa Layman.

The front of the gown took the longest to put together--of course. I have never had the patience for pin tucks...but I think it turned out well. I really like the pin tucked panel that runs from neckline to hem through the front bodice of the dress.




The sleeves will have satin ribbon that runs through the beading between the lace edge and fabric of the sleeve.

I didn't take a picture of the back of the finished gown. It is very plain with only the lace band at the bottom. But in a southern tradition I used 'beauty pins' instead of buttons on the back of the gown. This makes the gown more sizeable as it is used for different children.



Here is a closer look of the band constructed of French Val lace and Swiss Embroidery that makes the hem of the gown.

The finished gown! The sleeves are missing their ribbons that will draw them up into a softly pouffed sleeve. I gave Leigh Ellen white, blue and pink ribbons ... that way she had a choice for this christening and hopefully future ones!