It's finished...

If you thought I was going to say my studio, so sorry. Haven't touched the mess except to sort out the stamps. Why? Because I have been so busy with Harry. I admit to being a bit obsessed with the Wizarding World. I went to Barnes and Noble at about 6:00 PM Friday night to get in line for my wristband. Ended up in group 11. I could tell how serious I was because when they kicked everyone except groups 1-10 out of the store, I was pretty adamant about staying right up at the front, because group 11 was next. I may have been a bit vocal about making sure the employees knew that group 11 was right near the front, as I sort of rounded up everyone near by that was an eleven so we were a forth to be reckoned with. Normally, I am so not pushy, but Friday night was different. Our store did very well, I was back in the store by 12:05 and had my book in hand by 12:15 and was home by 12:30. I started reading about 12:45 and continued until 3:30. Would have just kept on going, I was that into it, but the company picnic was at the local amusement park and we "had" to go. It was my kids' first time and they enjoyed themselves. I couldn't wait to get back home. We were home by 8:45 and I was reading by 9:00. Kept going until 2:30, slept for a while and was finished by 10:00 Sunday morning. couldn't get over the feeling that I had missed something, so I read it again. I don't think it is my favorite installment of the seven, but it was a great read.
All of the commentary that is out there about how many people hated it just seems so far off. I think they are reacting out of stress to the feeling that it is over. I admit to missing some of the information JK Rowling said would be there. However, she has made up for it in the information that has come out of her Today show interviews with Meredith Viera. I'd share but if you haven't read the book, I don't want to spoil it for you.
It's been a week and I've decided to reread the whole series to see if I can't catch all the hints and clues that I really missed the first dozen or so times I've read the books. I really don't know how many times I've read them. I do know that knowing how it ends does not take away from the entire story and if I didn't have to go clean bathrooms, I'd be reading.

Cards with Microglaze

The three cards pictured here all started with a MicroGlaze from Judikins resist. I love that you can stamp with the Micro Glaze. Smear a bit with your finger on a piece of acetate and then "ink" your stamp. After you've stamped, you can really bring the resist alive by going over the background with watercolors or dye ink. I love the Twinkling H2O's and used them for the Friendship card and the Thank you card. I made the leaves background by applying the micro glaze with a bit of paper toweling and streaking it across the background. I used DTP with Marvy inks (jungle green and ochre), then stamped using Staz-on Jet Black. Staz-on is the ink of choice because the micro glaze will resist other dye inks.

The Mess 2

Posting those unbelievable pictures was supposed to help keep me accountable. I was to scurry around, get it all cleaned up and post beautiful pictures. You'll notice there are no progress pictures because there had been NO progress. My really bad! I haven't even wanted to come to blogland because I've been avoiding the issue. One "good" point is the customers who've come into the store and told me that I've made them feel so much better about their stuff. I'm glad I could help and I'm being only a little bit facetious here.

Potter Countdown

Well, as evidenced by the crazy countdown timer, the movie has been released. I admit to seeing it only twice so far. It was my first midnight viewing and that was so much fun. It is exciting to be with a huge crowd all excited by the same thing you are. It was touch and go today as I was ready for a third viewing. I feel that the movies only get better with more viewings because there is so much to see and catch. The two gripes I have about the movie are that they changed the way (SPOILER) the dementors looked and that the discussion after Harry and Dudley had been attacked was incomplete. I was looking forward to having Petunia mention "dementors" and admitting that she knows about the wizarding world after all these years of "no such thing."

I am so looking forward to Friday night and the release parties. We are actually going to two: an afternoon one at the library, and then the evening one at Barnes and Noble. The kids won't stay until midnight, but only because - to my great dismay - the company picnic is at the local amusement park on Saturday. I will read away a good portion of the night but not all night as is my custom. I have made sure that my family understands the great sacrifice I am making for them. My husband just laughs. Oh, well. I will have it finished by Monday morning.