Now I'm Totally Jealous

On Saturday I participated with members of my new EGA chapter in a so-called Stash Tour.
The idea is to gain some ideas on how others handle the stuff of our chosen pasttime.

But. But. But.

The two women whose homes we visited both have a separate studio! Not just a room (or in my case, a half a closet), but a whole separate building. Both complete with attic storage. Color me green with envy.

Gives me a new goal. I don't want a room of my own - I want a building of my own! LOL

Did I pick up some good ideas? Yes. One - a Big Board. As seen here - The Original BIG BOARD Ironing Board Top 800-441-6581 What a way to iron large pieces of fabric and table linens. Fabulous idea.

Another idea - Putting each WIP in a labeled plastic container. I currently kit into bags, but I think boxes might be better. Under my current system, it's easy to put the bags aside. But boxes would confront me and make me aware of what is underway and what is demanding attention.

Another idea - actually working on my database. My own idea - start with entering any new purchase when they are purchased! Work on the backlog eventually.

Floss storage - to each their own!

Stitchers need bookshelves. Lots of bookshelves. I knew that...

Already

I have already failed in my goal to work on the darn lap rug every day. LOL

Yesterday morning spent time swapping shorts and capris for pants. Didn't even open the drawers with shirts. Maybe today. (If you are from a constantly warm climate or one whose temperature stays pretty much the same, you don't not understand this spring/fall clothing swap. Just know that those of us who live in colder climates do this. Now is time to put away summer clothes and bring out winter clothes.)

Cleared off my desk. Finally. Made some cards. Haven't done that in 5 months or more. Sorted through some photos to send some to DD at college.

Ran out in the rain to pick up dry cleaning, pick up a few groceries, mail package off to said daughter.

Then it was time to pick up DS.

Then time to head to airport to pick up DH. Gack. Just when I congratulating myself on the best drive ever to the airport - dead stop. Took me 40 minutes to go less than a mile. Eventually got him and got home.

Turns out he's got a craving for Chinese from the place we used to go to. Let's see, rush hour, rain - I took the back way - less traffic tie-ups, but more time. Got home too late to watch Jeopardy, but in time for the Daily Show and the Cobert Report. Which is when I should have been crocheting, but instead got sucked into the SuDoKu in the paper. Dangerous little puzzles.

I swear I was dreaming of solving the darn thing at 4 a.m. when the 20 lb. cat woke me up.

Wish I could stitch or whatever when I'm up in the middle of the night like Betsy Devonshire, but I can't. I'd make way too many mistakes.

The True Price of Two Buttons

So the shop had called about 2 weeks ago to tell me my two JABCO buttons where in. Total cost $2.50.

But could I stop there?

Oh no.

Had to buy Twisted Threads "Tall Turkey" which comes with fabric and button
Which meant I had to pick up a few skeins of GAST for this in colors I know I don't already have

Those 2 colors of Weeks Dye Works that they were out of last time I was there, were in stock

and then I found the discount piles
Where 2 Just Nan's Red Hat designs jumped into my arms - um, they were on sale???

And from the 50% off basket Just Nans' September Song - love the colors - but I got it to do as a gift

And a Santa silhouette (can't remember designer just now) but was done in DMC 498 but I think it would look fabulous done with a red silk overdyed (which I already have, thank you!)

Hey I'd already put back 2 sweaters that I found at Marshalls...

I have been so neglectful

of my blog. Will try to be better.

While having pizza with my son yesterday we came up with a name for a blog for him:
Dining Adventures with Teenager, (insert his name here)
We were eating one of his less successful creations - a pizza with meatballs, eggplant, and hot peppers. I nixed the onions, 'cause I wanted to enjoy the remainder of the day...

Have started Just Nan's "the promise" for my sister who is turning 50 in November. Need to go find fabric to finish this into a little pillow. I love working with these colors - pink, purple, red and a tiny bit of green.

Also got out my lap rug that I've been crocheting for a some time now. I was a teeny tiny bit worried that it wouldn't look good with new living furniture, but huzzah! It's perfect. Going to try to settle into working at least 2 rows a day.

Also contemplating building a headboard for our bed. Need to look for fabric for that, too. Something in neutrals to go up against the wall that I'm painting blue. And if it I find something with a floral that I love, I'm buying regardless of how DH feels about flowery stuff!

Fair and Balanced

Having in the past, vented my frustration online at a certain shop, I'm here to say that my first trip to this establishment in 3 years was pleasant.

In Stitches in Alexandria, VA was the first cross stitch shop I ever visited in the U.S. That was 1989. How I was treated back then is not the issue (which btw, I was ill-treated by snotty clerks.) But how I was treated between 2000-02 is. I never had pleasant experience in there in those 2 years. Which was a shame, because I was willing to part with some dough. No one would offer to assist me. The clerks acted like it was a more than a hardship to cut fabric. They would talk exclusively with each other and ignore customers. Unless a customer was one of the chosen few (apparently the people who take classes or something like that.) Or in a few truly memorable moments, when men wandered in to purchase something for a spouse, when the clerks fell all over themselves to help.

So I returned to In Stitches at the beginning of October with a little trepidation. Only to be completely surprised. Wonderful service. To include a follow-up phone call. I hope this is now the rule rather than the exception. Pleasant, personable, agreeable clerks. What a difference. Yippee! I will be returning.

Finally a Finish

I did finish my Goode Huswife "Full Moon" sampler on Monday. I am totally enamored of the white on black fabric look. It took me 2 days to get around to it, but I finally pulled the floss and fabric for Just Nan's "The Promise." I do need to rechart the words, as this is a gift for a non-stitcher. My original intent was to frame it, but now I'm leaning towards making it a pillow.

Okay, after the drought comes enough rain to drown us. Now I don't mind the rain, but I need to see some sunshine soon, before I drown in the depths of depression. I can't seem to get out of my own way whenever there is an extended gray, murky spell...

Moving Right Along

I frogged my mistake and continued on my way on the Full Moon sampler. Another couple hours and I'll be finished. Should be sometime this week.

Which means I need to pull out the fabric and floss for Just Nan's The Promise which I'm doing for my sister's 50th birthday.

ahhh

Three tickets for Serenity please.

Is this an oxymoron at a movie theater? No. But it was a satisfyingly good ride.

But please sir can I have some more????

Cinderelly

Guess what comes out on DVD today? My darling daughter's favorite movie (when she was 3!)
We watched this videotape so often we actually wore it out. Will purchase, watch, and send to her at college. Bibbity bobbity boo!

Next subject:

Gotta frog about a hundred stitches on my Goode Huswife "Full Moon Sampler." Made the mistake this summer and only got around to finding it now. Could have been much worse if I had continued farther along the border.

Lastly:

We went into D.C. on Sunday evening to visit the WWII Memorial. Firstly we saw a giant a rat scuttling along the steps of the EPA. I guess everyone's protected there. (insert joke here about rats and D.C....) Saw a smaller version on the sidewalk when we walked back to the car. Ugh.

As to the Memorial. Disappointing design. Terrible placement. And so impersonal. Somehow to me it seemed like on big glorious war thing. No real reminders of the pain and suffering of war. There is none of the humanity and sacrifice delineated by the Vietnam and Korean War Memorials. Place just made me want to rant about men and the stupidity of testosterone.

Don't get me wrong. I don't think we did the wrong thing in fighting WWII. It's the fact that it's men who start these problems. Ah the idiocy and suffering.