Playing Hookie & Handmade Papers

Today was the first day of both of my kids being in school all day, as the youngest will be 3 days a week, and I had big plans. Those three days are for work work work on my designs, as I have a couple of big shows coming up, plus I can finally spend more than half an hour at a time being creative.

The oldest was safely on the bus and the youngest was dropped off, but I didn't head back home, I headed for Ann Arbor. It was time to reward myself for surviving the summer with young children! Our friends Dave and Mary own Everyday Wines and Everyday Cook in Kerrytown, and I hadn't seen the kitchen store yet. Plus, I could always use more wine. (At this moment I am drinking a yummy French Voignier from EW) Oh, and Hollander's is in the same building, as is Found, who is having a Sally Jean weekend that includes a trunkshow and workshops (!) that I wish I had been organized enough to register for...

Anyway, I happily fondled handmade papers for about an hour at Hollander's and made my pile. Here are some close-ups of them, just waiting for me. The striped ones are some of my favorites, as they tear beautifully.




Then it was back to Everyday Cook a birthday present for my brother, who is a much better cook than I will ever be, and a really fabulous lunch. Chicken, bacon, asparagus, polenta, yummy... I was very impressed and getting hungry again just thinking about it.

I didn't get any work done in my studio, but I got a lot of creative stimulation and a lot of inspiring papers to play with tomorrow, when I will get back to work.