Electric woes

Well, DH blew out my power strip mowing the lawn (don't ask), and I'll be darned if I'm going to crawl under my sewing desk every time I want to iron something, so my machine is persona non grata for the time being. That said, I'm getting lots of fabric painting done!

Painting is WAY less of a pain in the @$$ than dyeing is - no soda ash solution, no rinse baths, and the colors that I mix up don't require breathing masks, and don't go bad in three days! On a lark yesterday, I stuck some still wet piece up to my backdoor window with my brayer - it worked GREAT! Now I am looking at all of the really large (yard plus square) windows in my studio and living room and am imagining light pouring through my stained fabric windows! It even puts a nice super-smooth hand on one side of the fabrics! Who needs irons! Maybe I can plug my sewing machine in after all! ;)

In other news, it looks like I am employed after all! 2 of the students who had signed up for my cancelled class are interested in my tutoring them for decent pocket change, and one of them is a definate. Hurray! No walking around, and an air conditioned library to boot, although it will be a brand new prep (new book, no sink, let alone lab!), and I have to buy my own supplies and haggle with parents over getting paid. At least I am no longer having to scrounge the want ads, and will still hopefully have time/energy to get some serious work done in the studio and on the house this summer, along with the money to fund it all!

BTW - Melody has company. I hereby officially announce my Hall of Heroes! Melody still gets the seat at the top of the dias, but Robbi Eklow now gets a nicely carved and upholstered seat of her own, and all for sharing so many of her little tricks of the trade in her new book. Never before have I actually seen anyone *explain* things like how to get the bobbin thread up to the surface of the quilt, or how to avoid those little thread nests. Plus - she tells some 'don't give the judges anything to complain about' tips that are just terrific. Hurray! Thanks ladies!!!

More pictures coming, and soon! I promise!