Here we go…

Happy May Day…almost! I was going to wait until tomorrow, but I had a few spare moments and some thoughts I wanted to get out.

I have written about my oldest son, Billy. Today I dedicate to Christopher, my “baby”. Chris will graduate High School in a few short weeks, so life has been kicked into high gear at our house. I’m still working on finishing & always new designs..but those are taking a back seat until June. (2 shop pieces and one magazine piece WILL get out by the end of this month!)

Anyway…if you are “friends” with me on FB, you know Chris plays tennis. He plays A LOT of tennis. Yes, he is good. Yes, he has put a lot of time, dedication and hard work into it. We have spent the last 3 summers traveling all over to watch him play in various tournaments. My husband calculated the miles we put on the car one summer…it was not pretty. Any parent of a child that plays a traveling sport understands, but tennis is a strange bird. It is a solitary sport. When you step onto the court, it is just you baby & that can be a lot for a kid.

Over the years, My husband & I have learned a lot from him and this sometimes frustrating game. We know (mostly) when to give the “pep talk”, when to give the “pull your head out” talk. Dad is strategy & numbers. Mom is feelings & emotions. (Mostly, I think that’s the harder job…) We can pack the car for a tennis weekend with the stealth & ease of a SWAT team. Many hotel staff welcome us with open arms. Tennis is our “thing”.

As he gets set to graduate, we look forward to a “normal” summer…we get to take a real vacation and, as I keep reminding him…he needs a JOB!

One chapter of our life is closing on his time in Junior tennis, but we look forward to traveling to his college meets. I have really enjoyed watching him grow in this sport over the years, enjoying great success with it & using those skills to become the wonderful young man that he is. (& I don’t just have to say that!)

I always love to get the “walking away” shot. Dad talking numbers with Chris today at the MRAC Tennis Conferences in Omaha today. It was a lovely day considering the Spring we have had…tons of snow! This meet is always so much fun!

Finally got a smile! Chris lost a heartbreaker today to a friend of his & got 2nd place in the meet. Today’s peptalk agenda: “You have medaled all 4 years you have played here, so smile!”

On to district finals next week for the last time. Sigh.

Someone mentioned to me that I have talked about all of the designs I released at Nashville but these little guys! Owl Love was….yes, I’m gonna say it…a Hoot to design! The fun colors, the “tummy texture” (thanks Monique for calling it that…too funny!). I started with the Owls in the Trees design. I have bigger ideas for that one…think illustration and story…we’ll see where that goes. I had designed all 3 owls & was going to scratch the Argyle Owl, but then decided to give him a little design all of his own.

The quilt square…I’m finally going to talk about those! I would love to have a tree covered in stitched quilt squares someday – good to have goals, right? So, with a design, every once in awhile, I will include a quilt square using the colors from that particluar design. When I have amassed enough of them, I will release them all in one pattern for those that just want the squares. Sound like fun?! I thought so.

Whoo Loves Ya Baby!

I will leave you with a May Day flower of sorts. This is a recent finish for a customer. The needlepoint blocked up beautifully & while it’s hard to tell, the Weeks Dye Works wool worked up well for the pillow.

Happy Stitches,

Cathy
Hands On Design