Still Life

Still Life with Goblet and Fruit by Jan Jansz van de Velde

Go now to the North Carolina Museum of Art and see the exhibition of still life paintings on loan from the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston!  The exhibit is only here until January 13, so I'm glad I was able to see it.  Still, I feel like going back, because I was needed to give a friend a ride home from the airport, and so didn't have much time to spend looking at all the paintings before I had to leave.

The title "Still Life Masterpieces" is correct, because most of these paintings are true masterpieces, including this one by Jans van de Velde, of blackberries and a glass roemer.  This electronic reproduction does it very little justice.  It is by far one of my most favorite paintings ever, because when you stand in front of it you think you can reach out and actually touch the juicy berries, or see your own reflection in the surface of the clear glass goblet.

The exhibition includes masterpieces by Renoir, Cezanne, Gris, Peto, and many others, almost all of them a pure visual treat.  I highly enjoyed seeing these paintings, and recommend this exhibit to anyone!

Zipper Pouches Galore

I've been home from work today, trying to tackle items on my to-do list, but it's hard to stay focused when I have a brand new smartphone for the first time in my life.  It's like being a kid and knowing that cartoons are on TV all the time!  I have to constantly check my work email and facebook.  I'm suddenly addicted.  Plus, there are treats in the kitchen from holiday-cheer-giving friends (cookies, chocolate, stollen...) and my husband to distract me as well.  I got some dress-sewing done, and then we took a break and went to Chapel Hill to look for fountain pen cartridges and fancy soap.  Then the day was pretty much over, because it gets dark so early now!  Still, I got a few zipper pouches made.  They are fun and easy.  Tomorrow I will make even more!

My To-Do List

Ahh, it's that time of year again!  Time to wish I had started making Christmas gifts a long long time ago.  But oh well.  If I can just get a few of them done, I'll be happy.  Here's what's on my To-Do List.  I'll check it after Christmas and see how much I actually got done!

• Finish making my temple dress (this needs to be done by Tuesday.)
• Finish making a quilt for my brother and his wife.
• Make 40 small zipper pouches (gifts for my employees.)
• Buy gift cards for the FedEx guys and the mailman at work, and the cleaning people.
• Finish crocheting a blanket for my nephew.
• Make skirts for my nieces.
• Send Christmas cards out.
• Crochet hats and scarves for a few people on my gift list.
• Get a Christmas tree and decorate it.
• Make slippers with leather soles for my husband.
• Go shopping for everyone else on my list (which is long).

When I write it down it doesn't seem so bad.  But I'm too tired to work on anything right now.  I won't think about it today.  I'll think about it tomorrow.

P.S.  I can blog again because I have a hotspot!!!  So excited.