It turns out technology is my theme for this summer! (This is what happens when you don't choose a theme for your summer. A theme chooses you!) So far I've moved my newsletter and website to a new host, updated and rearranged my website, set up a way for readers to subscribe to this blog, and reformatted this blog to match the website. Whew! It took a bit longer than I expected. It's like when you redecorate your home. You think you're just going to replace the blinds in the kitchen and then before you know it, you're tearing up the floors, installing new light fixtures, and painting the walls!
On My Work (Art) Table
Those metal art pieces I mentioned in July's blog post are still sitting there on my table, unfinished. I've tried a few things, but nothing has felt right. It can be frustrating to feel like you're making no progress, but it's a pretty common feeling. I'm reminded of that quote from inventor Thomas Edison: "I have not failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work."
I did finally get a chance to test out some new white gel pens for writing on top of watercolor paint. I like these the best so far of the three types I've tested: Uni-Ball UM 153 Signo Broad Point Gel Pen. I bought them on Amazon, but you can probably find them elsewhere, too. (You can see a photo of the last ones I tested in September 2022.)
In the Kitchen
Do you follow recipes exactly as written? I usually have good intentions, but then I find I'm out of some of the ingredients and have to decide whether to forge ahead with substitutions. (I usually do!) I tried the Mocha Smoothie recipe from Real Simple a couple of weeks ago and enjoyed it. I omitted the date and substituted mocha almond spread from Trader Joe's for the almond butter. I used almond milk as the milk and leftover cold brew from Starbucks for the coffee.
What I'm Reading
I just finished You Could Make This Place Beautiful by Maggie Smith, a memoir about divorce. I really liked her poetic use of quotes and space (blank or almost-blank pages) in this book. It felt very powerful, although not exactly a light, happy read.
On the lighter side, I also read a friend's recommendation, the cozy mystery, Murder Once Removed by S. C. Perkins. It was the winner of the Malice Domestic First Traditional Mystery in 2017. (The awards are now known as The Agatha Awards, named after Agatha Christie.) The book takes place in Austin, Texas and the main character is a genealogist. I found it a quick, fun read. (By the way, if you're looking for more information on the author, I did a little research and found her next series is a regency romance written under another name, Celeste Connally.)
Field Trip
Over the weekend I made a short visit to the CSU Trial Gardens which is where they grow different varieties of flowers and other plants. It's always fascinating to see different varieties of the same type of flower like a geranium all in a row. It helps you appreciate the differences in color, height, pattern, and features you can't see like how much water or sunlight they need. I knew that with all the extra rain Colorado this year that it would be spectacular and of course, it was!
Art I Admired
Fashion can be art, right? I enjoyed learning about Altina Schinasi, the inventor of those cat-eye glasses.
Made Me Laugh
Have you seen these tags by Rainbow Folk? They're for sewing into your handknit creations and say things like "This took forever to knit."
New in the Shop
I'm busy uploading some new patterns to my Spoonflower shop. Late summer is always a weird time of year for me design-wise because I'm trying to think ahead to Halloween and Christmas but also still trying to take advantage of summer inspiration. These two new sets of fabric patterns sum up this feeling pretty well:
Ice Cream Summer
Alpine Buttercups
See you in September!