Happy New Year! We had a quiet evening, reading princess stories to our little fairy princess. I cooked up a pot of Cajun styled shrimp and veggies with tomatoes I froze from our garden and we stayed in for the evening. Yes, very tame, but very pleasant. I had time to think about the past year and the new one that starts today, and come up with a few resolutions.

1- just like last year, I want to USE the good stuff in my artwork, not  hoarde it! This is a hard thing to make myself do, and even though I kept the resolution last year, I think I need to make it again this year so I don't backslide.

2- paint more, and incorporate hand painting into my collage work.  I made this one last year too, and kept it on a so-so basis.  I could do better on it this year.

3- complain less, act more.  I guess I mean, that instead of complaining, I should DO something about what bothers me.

4- say NO sometimes.  Ooooh, that is a really tough one for me. 

5- expect more from my sons and not treat them like kids.  I find myself irritated and picking up after my grown sons and nagging at them like a mom, instead of talking to them like a fellow adult who shares the same home.

6- draw more.   Kind of like the Paint More resolution, but not really.  I love to paint, drawing can be hard work.

7- don't watch as much junk on TV.  I should rent DVDs of full seasons of good TV shows, not just watch whatever crap happens to be on.  (You did notice that I didn't say I was going to watch any less TV, that would be impossible for me!)

8- shall I be a bit cliche and say I'll lose that 10 lbs that I found this year?  I'm not much of a dieter, so I guess not. Maybe I should say I will go for walks with Sugarwings and Twinkle more, take the baby to the indoor pool, and plan to add another section of garden to my yard? That should be good for getting rid of a few pounds over the year. 

9- more how- tos on my blog. I like doing them and I think people enjoy reading them.

10- spend less time browsing blogs and keep up my paperwork better.  (like that one has a snowball's chance in hell)

 

Did you make any resolutions for the year? Good luck with them if so. 

Now, onto the Surprise Giveaway for December- ta da! It is a photo album, or scrap book, or art journal, or whatever you want it to be, Kathryn,because you are the winner for December.

Today starts a new giveaway for January.  I'm not sure yet what it will be, but all comments still count for the drawing.

 

Remember the project I mentioned yesterday, that I wasn't sure I had time to do? Well, between the couple hours I had while waiting for Sugarwings to come over to play and her afternoon nap time later, I ended up with plenty of time to get it done!

 

All year long, I have been saying I want to do something special with my best wallpapers so I can always have them out to see and enjoy. So, I decided that I could not let the year end without finally accomplishing the task.  Here is a how-to, if you want to do something similar.

1- I cut (not measured to fit, I just cut off a large bit of each) and ironed a few pieces of the prettiest papers I had on hand, then laid them out on the floor in a pleasing pattern. Trying to balance the colors, and not have all the blue ones together or the rose patterned ones next to each other.

 

2- My technique was far from perfect. I measured the soffit length (17 1/2") then cut each paper to that, with scalloped edge scissors.  I didn't want to have to act like a professional wallpaper-er, and cut exactly with exacto knives and match patterns. I wanted it free and easy and quick, (remember, I was very short on time, with that baby coming over to play and 2008 coming to an end!).

I figured that if the edges were scalloped, and not perfect, it would be charming (and easy to do!).  And I discovered that my measuring was a bit off here and there, but that didn't bother me at all. I liked it that some were a little longer, some shorter. 

 

3- Wallpaper paste was applied to the back of each square with a wide paint brush, then the square was slapped up on the wall and smoothed down with a wet wash rag. Now, sometimes old papers are hand painted, so you have to be careful not to wash off or smear the paint.

4- The first square was lined up in the corner, the second overlapped it and was pasted up next to it. Now, I am sure that the proper way to do this is to use  a plum bob and straight edge, but I was eye balling the patterns of the paper to make sure they all seemed straight. If one was looking a little crooked, I just slid it over a bit while the glue was still wet.

 

My plan was to use the bigger patterned pieces (in the width they came in, I didn't cut them all the same) on the wall.  Then, with the little vintage frames that Beth gave me, I hung the smaller patterned pieces over it.

  

My all time favorite wallpaper went in the center of the wall in a large frame.  

 

Of course, I didn't measure the wall to find the center, once again I eyeballed it.  But I wanted the small frames to be even, so instead of doing complicated math, I hung the first small frame to the side of the large, center one, and then marked the spot where the nail went on a piece of paper.

After that, all I had to do was hang a picture, then hold up the piece of paper to mark the distance to the next nail. I nailed right through the paper to save time, no pencils or measuring, just a piece of paper, a hammer and nail.

At this point, Sugarwings was up from her nap, so it was her job to hand me the hammer and the next frame. 

 

My studio is pretty, uhm, busy, but I like it this way!  And I know that 2009 is starting off right, with a beautiful view of my favorite papers to keep me inspired while I create.