Silly season

Winter took me by surprise this year.  I think Mother nature got caught sleeping too.  The leaves are still on the trees.  Many of them simply refused to change this year.  Then the snow started flying. The real disappointment of it is that the snow sticks to the leaves and brings down branches with it's weight.  Anyway, with the advent of the first snow storm, I find that I wake up every morning with a little tummy ache from the guilt of not being superhuman.  It's a familiar feeling - as I've had it every year since I started framing.  I spend extra time at the studio making sure I'm not forgetting someone's treasured Christmas present and have to stomach the guilt of not spending more time with my family.  If I spend time with my family, I'm overwhelmed with the guilt of not getting my framing done.  I'm sure you all know how it is.  I willingly beat myself up for a couple of months knowing that things will be a little calmer in January.  Anyone who has worked in retail will understand the craziness that happens right up to the end of December and then the wierd quiet that follows in January.  I guess that's why we framers refer to late autumn and early winter as "Silly Season".  We're all a little nutty by the time it's over.

This week I'm adding a page.  I've had many requests to frame the "Birds of a Feather Mystery Sampler" by With Thy Needle that I thought it would be fun to put them all (so far) on one page to make it easy to compare and contrast.  I've been amazed and pleased with the individuality of each piece and we have taken special efforts to make sure each one is finished to not only suit the needlework but the needle artist as well.  Be sure to check out the Mystery Sampler page.

Midge and Gidget are well.  The snow brings out Midge's puppy antics while Gidget turns into a little Yoda - walking around like a little grumpy old jedi.

And in other framing news...
Most of you are familiar with my amazing packager Kelly.  Well, maybe not with her exactly, but certainly with her skill and making sure your treasures make it home safely.  This week I want to show you a print she created while taking art courses at the University.  She has a natural eye for design to be envied by most.  It would do my heart good to see her continue to pursue her artistic endeavors.

And now the other things I managed to finish up this week.  Tom Turkey was a collaborative project between me and Mindi B.  She brought him in with a clear idea that she wanted me to paint bittersweet on the mat.  I was unfamiliar with bittersweet so I did a little research.  I'm sure glad I did.  It's lovely!  It's a kind of shrubby bush that in the autumn has these bright orange-red berries exploding from hot yellow tri-lobed pods.  Perfect for an autumn theme.  Thank you, Mindi for teaching me something this week.

And the rest of our endeavors...

Until next week.  Stay warm and content.  Jill