Nan’s Workshop

I have had this post ready for a while but I had to wait until the special workshop project was

Day 11 Gifts from the Heart

Today was reminiscent, to me, of our old gift exchange at work that always happened at our Christmas potluck lunch.

Last night I pushed myself for some creative time and made 6 items; poppycock, drink coasters, magic bags for aches and pains or a cold bed. It was very nice to let these colleagues that their struggles are noticed and that I care.

It’s quite obvious that my fellow author of the calendar did not leave her gift making until the last minute like I did. Her works of art are a serious commitment of time and talent. Trust me I tried this with her and mine didn’t look like this at all. I am sure her coworkers were thrilled to receive these gorgeous gifts.

I’m lucky to have one of these alcohol ink tiles in our dining room; a Janice (rhymes with Denise) original. i would say even more blessed to call her friend.

Bernie

Late breaking update — I’ve got a little something pulled together for a group of colleagues who go the extra mile at Christmas time and become a stellar band for our party. With a little help from a generous friend we’ve baked them up a treat pack for their last practise. Gifts from the heart just give me warm fuzzies!

Heart and Soul A+

Some things just speak to your heart, encapsulating what fills your soul up. Today’s post does that on many levels.

I knew when I was given this gift that it would eventually become a blog post. I just needed the right story to accompany the message. Today I saw and recorded living proof of the words below.

If I Could

I say to my other half if I could I would paint and he had a little wry smile. Not doubt why

Seventh Heaven

I was in my version of seventh heaven for the last 4 days. Tons and tons of

Meandering

I can’t find that illusive opening paragraph that draws the reader in so perhaps I’ll just let the pictures do the talking.

National Historic Site – Laurier House

It wasn’t the kind of morning that you would drag your kids through so fortunately as

Just when you thought you’d seen it all!

Seriously just when you thought you’d seen as far as the mind (not mine) could go something tops it. Then something else jumps out and grabs your attention. Before you know it the list of weird things is longer than the list of classics. 

Why Math Matters

Or why to stay in school and pay attention. 

Despite a less than stellar math teacher I made it through high school because my best friend grew up to be a math teacher. So she’s brilliant that she could teach me then. 

My husband is also smart like that. His helping the kids with math and my helping them was like night and day. His math skills now get used in different ways but they still rock. 

Here is a practical application of math. That sadly is beyond my math skills but man I’m a good painter.

Voila — one basinett stand created by grandpa and painted by gram. 

Bernie 

Two steps back

The progress on painting the tin ceiling seems to have come to a screeching halt much to my dismay. 

There are areas of the T-bar that need to be painted which aren’t accessible by a paintbrush. These are spots where the tin had to vent be bent up or where the tin doesn’t quite lay flat despite Ron’s  several attempts to make it do so. Insert exhibit A. 



So I stopped at Rona and bought a can of brown spray paint. And then in a supremely rookie move I started spraying on the ceiling without first testing that the color was close enough. That was a huge DAH moment. Insert exhibit B. 

One evening I got out the left over tin pieces to do test patches of the metallic paint. Remember the part where we been working on that project for a while? The metallic paint was bought several years ago. So I shook it. Then I couldn’t get the lid off so I gave it to Ron. He squeezed while turning and the paint came out of the bottom of the plastic! It was just a small mess there. Insert exhibit C. 

I bought this discontinued paint quite sometime ago. I bought as much of it as was available  but Ron’s math skills reveal we don’t have enough. So the plan there is to buy a similar color and mix the batches together ahead of time to make it look like our test patch from several years ago. Insert Exhibit D.

But undeterred with the leaking painted I still wanted to do a test patch. But neither of us can remember how I achieved the look on that previous test piece. So I just went for it. Ron likes the effect and I think it’s not dense enough. Insert exhibit E. 



So feeling like winter is drawing to an end and wanting to make some progress on something I encouraged Ron to hang a newly framed painting. Insert exhibit F and a happy face! 

So now it’s off to find paint and another weekend day to work on the ceiling. 

Bernie