Tuesday, November 30, 2004

Still Stitching

WooHoo for me!
I turned on some music, turned on all the kitchen lights, made myself a cup of tea, sat at the kitchen table, and...got out my stitching!

Finished one flag. Decided to stitch down to the bottom on the right hand side of this piece (eagle exemplary - sheepish designs) because I'm stitching in hand. Today Rhodes stitch over 16 threads. I'm already looking forward to it.

But first.
Went to gym with darling son yesterday after school. I was doing just fine. I was already to leave, but he wasn't yet. So I decide just one more machine. Now I've got some muscle twingeing (sp?LOL) in my back. Today I was going to drag in the tree and the decorations from the garage across the street, but now I don't think so.
Tomorrow is supposed to be a super rainy stormy day and I'm chaperoning a bunch of high school students on a trip to a college conference on psychology anyway. Maybe I should just go Christmas shopping instead...

Monday, November 29, 2004

Stitching Again

If I had accomplished nothing else this weekend I would be happy just to be able to state I picked up my stitching on Saturday! About time. I had my Sheepish Designs exemplary 106(?) on the top of my pile and took it into the kitchen and turned on some music and happily stitched away for more than an hour.

I returned to this project yesterday morning only to get distracted by a movie. By the time the movie was over, I had come up with another plan. I want to attend a scrapbook crop in a few weeks, and needed to reorganize photos and plan ahead. I knew my negatives were organized spottily - some years I was great, others terrible. This whole thing took my nearly 7 hours. And I'm only halfway organized. I know I've got photos I need reprints for and I was trying to identify them.

On the down side, one of my nieces needs back surgery to correct her scoliosis. I'm imaging my SIL will be a wreck when the time comes.

stitching bloggers QOTW 11/29

Do you know it all or is there something out in the stitching world you still want to know how to do?

I so don't know it all. I've done a tiny amount of expirementing with Brazil work. I'm just starting to master blackwork - I like it - it's like a puzzle, but occasionally frustrating to my non-linear brain. I would love to learn about Mountmellick work. There are tons of needlepoint stitches to try. All great reasons to belong to the EGA, where not only do I have opportunities to learn new things, I get to be inspired by the incredible things others create.

Tuesday, November 23, 2004

Holiday Thoughts

Not trying to be USA centric or anything, but facts are it's where I live, and it's time for the holiday known as Thanksgiving.

It will be my DD's last Thanksgiving dinner while living at home (unless something terribly strange happens. We are not planning on allowing our children back in after they move out for college. Get a life. Live it.) I'm happy that my in-laws are coming to share it with us.

Pressure is on me. I pick up that fresh turkey tomorrow morning and bring it home and will brine it. I'm known as a good cook, that means I have to come through with good food. There's a part me right now that's thinking - what if I don't make my own rolls? LOL

Ah fuggetaboudit.

I will survive. Always do.

Remember to take a moment (or several moments) to be thankful for what you have. Stay out the stores on Friday - the deals are not worth the stress. Take a walk outside.

Last year on Thanksgiving morning, bluebirds passed through eating the berries off a tree in our backyard. I'm hoping they come back this year. It was the only day we saw them.

Monday, November 22, 2004

stitching bloggers QOTW 11/22

I'll be 73 when I get to type today's date as 11/22/33....

Hand-dyed fabrics - love 'em or hate 'em? If you love them, what kind/colours do you have?

I can take 'em or leave 'em. Feel kind of neutral about them. I tend to not follow the fabric recommendation from patterns anyway. Usually just pick something I like.

I do have hand-dyeds in my stash and have used them. Usually just saw something I liked and bought it. Most of it is probably R & R.




Thursday, November 18, 2004

Yesterday

It would have been a perfect stitching day yesterday. But when I sat down in the recliner to watch Crafters Coast to Coast, I fell asleep. LOL I hate when sunlight starts disappearing from my life. Makes me all depressed and tired. Need to get out walking more.

So when I woke up at the end of the program *heavy sigh* I decided to get out of the house. Drove down the mountain to Kohls, where amazingly I couldn't really find anything we needed in terms of Christmas presents. Did buy myself a bright (really bright) pair of isotoner gloves. Will look good with black jacket.

Couldn't find anything I needed in Linens and Things with a coupon. Wait. Not true. I found curtains that I liked hanging up on display but of course they didn't have any. I've been toying with redoing kitchen curtains on glass doors before in-laws arrive next week. Guess I should fabric shop instead.

Then ran over to TJMaxx - where I bought myself a turkey cookie jar. Yes, I'm the one who has been running all over buying the English china turkey plates. I've got 6 Spode ones, and 5 Churchill ones, 8 bowls and 5 salad plates. Don't know why I love them, but I do.

It's off to weigh in at WW this morning. Do you think I lost anything with my haircut that I got yesterday? LOL Not losing, but not gaining. I consider that a moral victory.

Wednesday, November 17, 2004

stitching blogger's QOTW 11/15

Do you find that having another distraction (music, movies, people totalk to) while stitching helps you make progress or make mistakes?

Movies, music, books on tape - I can do all those while stitching without a problem. I can usually talk, too.

I feel when I get distracted it is more of an inner thing. My fingers, eyes, and brain somehow seem to get out of sync. Sometimes I'm aware when it's happening and I can bring my attention back. Sometimes I can't seem to control it, and that is a good time to put my stitching down before I make too many mistakes.

Tuesday, November 16, 2004

Got My Catalog

I got my Fire Mt. catalog yesterday. A thousand pages of adventure. Wow. It's as big as the old Sears wish books. Color me impressed.

And a little bit lost. So many ideas. I don't know where to begin. Time to go back to those magazines I've been buying to search for recipes on how to use this catalog.


Monday, November 15, 2004

Beads, Beads, Beads

It's all about the beads.

That's it. Now I'm hooked.

Because of my success making my peyote stitch bracelet in less than 2 days, I've been inspired.

On Saturday went thru my various jewelry boxes. I'd been planning on doing this anyway, but now had added incentive. Pulled out earrings that I never wear and gave them to DD who has been saying she's lost so many she doesn't have many pairs left.
Pulled out some old stuff and set aside for next spring's yard sale. Emptied the largest, oldest, ugliest jewelry box which is now history. Then scavenged thru the rest for bits and pieces that might be of interest to me. I knew I would never wear this fresh water pearl necklace and bracelet set that someone gave me. But if I rework it, I might. I restrung a rose quartz, garnet, and hematite necklace that I haven't worn in the 10 years since it broke. I fixed a bracelet for my daughter. I need to buy some real gold findings to fix a necklace for son.

Ah the fun.
So I started peyote stitching a choker. For me.
And got sidetracked (ADD anyone?) by an old cheap beading loom. Decided to see how hard could it be? Turns out, not hard at all. I threaded the loom, went thru my supply of Mill Hill seed beads, and made some quick decisions. My goal was a beaded name tag. My accomplishment would be a beaded name, that I can apply to fabric and embellish with more beads and stitching to make a name tag. Was easy - the directions were terrible and will go off hunting more advice here on the 'net.


Sunday, November 14, 2004

Beading

I worked on my EGA petit project peyote stitch bracelet and finished it on Friday. Looks lovely. Has 2 mistakes -both noticed after I had changed threads. I'll be a little more careful next time. But for a beginner, I think I did just fine.

Of course, this meant I had to drive to the beading store on Friday. And it started to snow. Was lovely to look at, but I'm driving the car that has the best gas mileage now, not the one with 4 wheel drive. Got a little bit dicey coming home at the the highest elevation point, but I made it.

So I bought more miyuki beads. Some for peyote stitching. Some triangle ones for a project in one of my mags, some cube ones cause I thought they looked neat. Some bicone swarovski crystals. Some more needles. Some more Nymo in different colors. Some more rose quartz and hematite to fix an old necklace. Ah the fun.

There is still a little snow on the ground which is kind of interfering with our neighborhood clean-up. Nothing like raking in the snow.


Thursday, November 11, 2004

Not Dead Yet

contrary to the lack of posting, I'm not dead yet....

Just busy.

Learned peyote stitching last night at EGA meeting. Okay. Got a new thing to buy supplies for. But really - now I see the difference between the correct beads and trying to do this with round seed beads. Will be beading today. And tomorrow.

Tuesday, November 09, 2004

There Go the Leaves

the neighbors are once again
visible through the trees
the grass is still green
though no longer broccoli dropped in boiling water green
it is mottled with patches of dead yellow fuzz
and spotted with camel leather brown leaves
that are waiting for the wind to carry them down the hillside


Pathetic. I used to be good at this. Am forcing it. Off to search beading sites.

Monday, November 08, 2004

Off to Rummage

I'm off to rummage through my stitching bag. I've got one or two things that need finishing.

Time for some sunlight and stitching. And tea. Definitely tea. Typhoo here I come.

La Trav

So the opera singing was great. The orchestra was great. But I had issues with their costume choices, sets, lighting, and stage direction. Guess I didn't like the director. Oh well. Just makes me want to see it performed in a historical manner.

But Violetta's voice was a piece of heaven. I found myself closing my eyes and just listening.

Kids appreciated it for what it was. Though I don't think it turned them into total opera buffs.


stitching bloggers QOTW 11/8

What project has been a WIP/UFO the longest? Or what project tookyou the longest to complete?

Hmmm. I actually had a UFO from 1978 that I recently threw away. I finally bowed down to the fact that I was never going to do the finishing on this piece. It was a needlepoint wreath done with yarn. The finishing directions sucked. I do have at least 3 cross stitch pieces that date to circa 1988. One is a table runner that's mauve - no longer matches anything. One is way too country. And the last is a wedding piece that I modified as I was stitching to change the size. I mean to finish this one someday. But I'll have to count very carefully. The last two are both on Fiddlers cloth or Fiddlers Lite.

Sunday, November 07, 2004

Weekend Blogging

I've noticed a lot of the blogs I read regularly aren't posted to on weekends. Probably like me, you're fighting for access with other family members.

Or like yesterday morning, when DH was sitting in the chair looking over my shoulder. I guess I should have written a nasty gram about people who do that while he was there. But I just gave up and let him have the 'puter.

Saw the movie, Ray, yesterday. We've always been Ray Charles fans at my house. This role should get an Oscar for Jamie Foxx. If it doesn't, there is definitely something wrong. I saw Ray once at Logan Airport in Boston, back in the early 90's when he was shilling for Diet Pepsi. Had on a great sequinned Diet Pepsi jacket. The man was an amazing talent.

Today we go to see La Traviata. Taking the teenagers too. Their first opera. Can't wait to see what they think of it.

Friday, November 05, 2004

Winds a Blowin

It's trying to blow us right off the hillside today. I fortunately had paid attention to the weather forecast and moved my swing and outdoor furniture on Wed. I've got toys in my yard (not mine) and I figure they are just passing through. My neighbor's beautiful patio awning is upturned - hope it's not broken.

But best of all - I spent this morning outdoors at the sectionals for cross country. And DS didn't even run. Stayed to suppport the team though. First 3/4 of a mile was running headlong into the wind that's blowing at 40-50 m.p.h. No one breaking any course records today. Temperature about 45-50 degrees Fahrenheit. Boys came in 4th. This was the race we won last year. But we had the state champ on our team last year. And due to injury and people deciding soccer is more fun, we're down to one female runner. Last year she qualified for states all by herself. She may have a shot to do it again today.

Thursday, November 04, 2004

No Election comments except

I am totally amazed at the voter turnout.

WTG, America!

Tuesday, November 02, 2004

on a nicer note

From Sunday's NY Times Op-Ed page comes a wonderful article written by Susanna Clarke.

The New York Times > Opinion > A Work of Halloween Fiction: Antickes and Frets¹

A charming work of fiction about Mary, Queen of Scots and Elizabeth I.

Officially Creeped Out

Live on a military installation.
Just got a call from housing maintenance about a work order to fix a light.
Told the guy that today wasn't good for me.
And he said, "That's okay. You don't have to be home."

WHAT!!!!!!!!!!!

I'm sorry. Did I give up way more rights to privacy when we moved in here than I thought I did? Off to call housing customer service line...

Monday, November 01, 2004

Finally a Few Days

This morning I must type up a mailing list, but everything else is completed for my meeting today. Yeah!

This means that I have checked my calendar twice for this week and I actually have a few days without obligations. Finally a few days to myself. Wow. I'm sure something will pop up, like it always does. Children have no school tomorrow - election day. Maybe I can talk them into going Christmas shopping or something.

Next week, things get crazy again. But at least cross-country season will be over with for my son.

Looks like we're having guests for Thanksgiving. DH wants me to invite more. Okay, honey. Whatever you say. Sanity check here. Did I just say I've got nothing to do?

stitching blogger's QOTW 11/1

What would you do if stitching was banished by law? (...inspired by the movie Equilibrium)

First I would sell some stash on the black market. LOL Depending on prices and ease of selling without getting caught, I would probably sell the majority of it. I assume hiding a stash would be difficult (especially a large stash.) And it's not like I could just burn it. That would hurt too much.

A project or two or three would be carefully hidden away in order to preserve the art for future generations.

And I'd be doing a lot more scrapping and rubber stamping. LOL