REALITY?: Why I’m the Christmas Grinch

Just got out of the shop and I’m waiting for one last customer to pickup.  Been working since 8 am, and worked on these pieces after a loverly rib roast dinner last night.

Here’s the figurework for cutting 25 openings in a mat (x 7 because I needed 6 and one is always likely to get screwed up):

Now what the above represents is a facing image of the openings which I convert to reverse because the matcutter is used on the back of the mat.  The other thing is that while I have a starting point of let’s say 2″ (the side width) and can set that for the left margin, the right one may be at 7 3/4″ but the cutter will be set as 1″ on 8 3/4″. So the far margin, or right one will be 2″ on 35″, and the left margin for that opening will be 29 1/4 (for a photo 5 3/4″).  Same with bottom margin and top; the scale is set for the correct figure for the bottom, but the top margin will be x on x.

I know this is fascinating for you all, but since it’s how I spent the last two days on these pieces alone I’ll show you more.  Here’s the matcutter at work (each window opening set and cut by hand–though I often do a couple at a time on each of the 7 mats):

And of course, the dates under each photo, which I did on computer and put strips of ATG Acid-free tape, cut them out and pasted them on:

And the final product:

I’m sitting on the couch now under a blanket, with my feet up because they’re burning and my back rubbed well with Tiger Balm so I’ll be able to move tomorrow. At least to crawl up to the tree and look for presents.