Ah the Beauty

of spring break. I actually slept till 8:00 a.m. something I never seem to be able to do anymore.

DD's hair turned out wonderfully. It's like looking at another person. Me. Well I am reminded of an 80's shag, only better. I will now begin to figure out what I can do with it. Hair is not my strong suit. I never know whether to be impressed or apalled by anyone who spends major time fixing/fussing with their hair. I am just basically a wash and go kind of girl.

Got in my 2-3 threads worth of stitching over the weekend. Met my minimum requirement, but no more. Today is laundry, cleaning, etc. It is raining and yucky outside. Good day to be a duck. I guess if I'm going to try to stitch at all, I'll have to dig out the Ott Lite.

Where Have You Been?

Swiped from someone else...

Bold the states you've visited; underline the states you've lived in; and italicize where you are living now.

Alabama / Alaska / Arizona / Arkansas / California / Colorado / Connecticut / Delaware / Florida / Georgia / Hawaii / Idaho / Illinois / Indiana / Iowa/ Kansas / Kentucky / Louisiana / Maine / Maryland / Massachusetts / Michigan / Minnesota / Mississippi / Missouri / Montana / Nebraska / Nevada / New Hampshire / New Jersey / New Mexico / New York / North Carolina / North Dakota / Ohio / Oklahoma / Oregon / Pennsylvania / Rhode Island / South Carolina / South Dakota / Tennessee / Texas / Utah / Vermont / Virginia / Washington / West Virginia / Wisconsin / Wyoming / Washington D.C. /

Huh. Not bad.

How

did a whole week go by without posting?
I feel like I fell down some rabbit hole or something...where did the time go?

Let's see.
Monday was a luncheon. Tuesday was gorgeous weather (but only for a day - it snowed Wednesday night and the whole world is white again.) Yesterday cable was out till mid-afternoon because of snowstorm.

Did not accomplish a lot apparently. LOL

Going to beauty salon today w/DD. She got her haircut yesterday to up above her shoulders. Her hair hasn't been this short since 1994. We're going back today. Decided she needs highlights and the hairdresser talked me into a body wave. I have not had any type of permanent since 1984. This could be interesting. If it doesn't work out, it's off with the hair.

Last week I had one six-hour day of stitching and made tremendous progress on project for DH. Since then I've managed to put in an hour or two every day. Soon I'll reach the halfway point. Which means I need to go buy some more Anchor 1036 - 'cause I changed a color and need 2 skeins. Will bring small JBW Designs photo pocket with me to the hair salon today. In the middle of all the eagle stitching, I did my design for our needlebook finishing class. Found a pattern by Samplers and Such. Changed the colors from white on red linen, to the Lavenders by Silk N Colors on lambswool. Found a white overdyed by Weeks to do the nun stitch around the edge. Looks quite charming. Then went shopping for fabric to finish the piece. Found some, but will go thru fabric stash just in case there is something better lurking there.

ah - and news rant

I've gotten about 10 hours of stitching time into latest project and I may 10-12% finished. I'm gonna love this. It looks fab which is great incentive to keep going.

But I will have to interrupt my progress to stitch a little something to make into a needlebook for a finishing class at next EGA meeting. I found some lovely monkey w/hat and palm tree fabric that I'd love to use to back it. And I have a wonderful little chart of palm tree on an island and I just need to add a couple of monkeys - and voila - magic.

My search for monkeys of the appropriate type has led me all over the place, only to come back to examing my own stash for Noah's Ark patterns. Too many monkey patterns are cutesy-poo!
Yuck.


Legal stuff on news:

Okay, Martha's outta jail.
Robert Blake is not guilty.
Scott Peterson is on deathrow.
Can we please, please get MJ out of the news too?

None of the above is actually news. Why are we bombarded with it? Who are these people who are allegedly fascinated by these stupid celebrity (or in Peterson's case - the trial made him a celebrity) trials? Everyone I know is sick to death of it. I feel sorry for Amber Frey for having the bad judgement to hook up with a sociopathic murderer. But I'm not going to read her book. Or see her movie. Nor do I care what Amy Fisher is doing now, so why does Oprah?

Can we please have some real news? how about some in depth analysis of something vital like Medicaire? or the environment?

And what is up with Headline News? What's up with the new line-up? "On February 21, Headline News launched "Headline Prime" an all-new, prime-time lineup, featuring "Showbiz Tonight," a live entertainment news show; "Nancy Grace" a legal news and debate show and "Prime News Tonight," a nightly, national news program. Before and after the new programs, Headline News continues to provide you with top stories, business news, sports, weather and entertainment news around the clock." Has anyone else stumbled on this and thought they'd hit the wrong button on the remote?

Where the hell is the news?

Oh yeah.

That's right.

Reminder to self: donate money to NPR and Public Television.

You There, Yes You

You know who you are.

Please stop reading immediately.

I'm trying to hide something from you.

It's supposed to be a surprise.

Don't you like surprises?

Please I'm begging you, go no further in this blog, dear.

I really really really want this to be secret.

Okay.

Deal?

Deal.

Please....

new projects

I took longer than I thought to decide on fabric and floss for my new projects.
But eventually...

I knew I was doing the Stuck Collection, Museum of Columbus's "Peace Eagle" next. But the fabric I originally bought for this project back in 2001, had a piece missing. When did I do that? Oh well. A search for new fabric led me to choose a 28ct natural linen. But because the color of the linen is grayer than my original fabric which was warmer, that led me to change floss, too. I was never that fond of the teal that goes with the red and gold anyway. So I found a blue that's not quite navy, not quite true blue. Eh. Started and have already worked in my first mistakes.

I put my fabric on scroll rods and started stitching in the upper right hand corner. But then decided it would be better to stitch this piece sideways - well... this means I have 6 threads stitched w/the top cross laying one way and the rest going the other way. Duh. How could I have been so stupid??? For the moment, I've decided to leave it as it is. I've got the entire rest of the piece to decide how much this bugs me. I also made an extra stitch that for the moment I've left in. Once I found it, it was literally too late to just back it out. Again, I can always correct it later.

And my stitching in front of DH piece/travel piece is JBW Designs "Photo Pocket." I've had the linen banding for this piece for nearly 2 years along with the thread. Which is just red anchor. Of course, I decided to change the fiber. I mean, the red is what drew me to this in the beginning. But now it's GAST Black Raspberry Jam. Mmm, yummy.

two finishes in one week!

Wow. Maybe I rediscovered my motivation.

Last week I finished my Sheepish Designs 106th exemplary

And yesterday I finished my Shepherd's Bush Bee Scissor Fob.

It only 2 days to do the whole thing. And to think I've been carrying this little thing around with me in my stitching bag for 4 years! I've tried taking a pic w/digital camera, but they aren't coming out very clear. I may have to use film camera on this one.

ah somedays

well for whatever reason - blogspot won't let me access the comments right now

But

I need to thank Lynn of With Needle Plied for the heads up on the Catherine Agnes by Indigo Rose. That's where I saw it first!

quiet weekend

We didn't do much this weekend. Went to the mall to eat at Cheeburger, Cheeburger where I am most likely the only person who asks for no cheese on her burger. It's not that I don't like cheese. Just not so much on my burgers and sandwiches.

My DD and did manage to find her a prom dress. Of course, everyone else was on the same mission. Tons of girls and mothers all looking for that perfect dress. The store where DD loves all the clothes had some beautiful to look at dresses, but upon closer examination some of the workmanship was lacking. We found a gorgeous yellow dress, but on all of them, the front middle part of the bodice was ripping apart. We found dresses with tons of missing beads, straps that have already parted company with the body of the dress - it was so disappointing. (PS Yellow is appently going to be a big color this year - and all the sherbet colors.)

Amazingly we found her a gorgeous dress in Filenes. Of course there was this other dress she fell in love with, but being as it was strapless, it really wasn't for her. And her shoes and purse from last year work quite well so that's all taken care of.

The only purchase I made that day was a package of 99 cent colored staples at this new Japanese store called Dori.

A side note to this would be noting that Barnes and Noble are carrying fewer and fewer stitching mags. It's depressing.

On Sunday I watched an old Gene Tierney movie, Dragonwyck, with Vincent Price. I moved right along my Shepherd's Bush scissor fob - the 2001 Bees one. It's more than halfway finished.

Okay

I know I said no new projects, but oh my!

I have fallen hard for the release of Indigo Rose's Catherine Agnes. This was originally a teaching piece. Stitched with what 7? different colors of Waterlilies. With many speciality stitches. I see an order in my future...https://w105.securedweb.net/silversites/www/indigorose-catherineagnes350.jpg

stitchy thoughts

Due to cold weather, there was not a large turnout last night at my EGA meeting. We had a short informal meeting, then just started talking while stitching.

Unfortunately we were talking about the state the stitching and membership in guilds. How do you get new people interested in this craft of needlework? DMC is trying. They have started a mentor program which you can check out here - Cross Stitch Classes with DMC Cross Stitch Mentor Program

I've signed up for this program. Over the years, I have started more than my share of stitchers
on their way. I've given away my own supplies (we all know that means you could just buy more!) I've shared knowledge, techniques, tips, etc. I stitch in public and willing answer all questions.

I've set a goal of starting at least one person on the stitching path before I move away from our current location this summer.

It was easier in the past for me to find stitching buddies. It seems that scrapbooking has taken precedence among my Army wife friends and that there are fewer stitchers out there. I scrapbook, too, but haven't allowed that to take over totally. There is something meditative about stitching. Good for relaxation and meditation.

happy dance for me

I finished my Sheepish Designs 106th exemplay last night at my EGA meeting!
Yippee!

Now I need to figure out how to plug camera dock into back of 'puter so's I can take a pic!

Gack!!!!

Felled by an another awful terrible cold. Feels like someone is blowing up a balloon inside my head - not good. My ability to stay upright is compromised, my ability to concentrate is non-existent. Good thing kids are capable of making dinner.

So with that in mind, I did not get a single thread stitched today. And I'm getting so close to the end of my exemplary. Shoot.

legal

DD got the chance to use her new age right away and signed off on a liability form for herself! Good for her. And I bought her a couple of scratch tickets and told her from now on she can legally buy her own! (only won $2.)

I felt badly for feeling so sick on her birthday. And today I still feel sick but need to make her cake and birthday dinner. Fortunately she's asked for easy stuff. Nothing gourmet or strange. Though for a moment she did ask if I could make a purple cake...but we settled on chocolate everything.

Phawww

Now here I was congratulating myself and all on not getting that cold that passed through my house 3 weeks and wham! Now I've got it or another horrible version of it. Feel like I have a fever when I don't. Congested, headache, sore throat. Ah misery.

Enough whining.

I had to go out in my sickened state yesterday and shovel out the mess the plows left in order to free the car from the garage. I would have stayed in and stayed in bed, but today my DD turns 18! And I still have shopping to do!

Fortunately for me, she's doing dinner with the Academic League to celebrate their wonderful season, so at least I don't have the pressure of preparing her birthday dinner.

And what does an 18 year old without a drivers license want for her birthday? a plane ticket to visit friends of course. Hey. That's easy.

I have been plugging away and plugging away at my exemplary. This is definitely a snail's pace. But I am making progress and will finish with a flourish soon.

Need to plug camera dock back into 'puter so I can document progress. Technologically impaired here. I can do it, but I don't like it...