It's Finally Raining

After a week of maybe we'll get rain, um. Sorry, no rain. The remains of Fay have finally arrived. And nicely woke me up at 3 a.m. I had the bedroom window open and what was that sound? Nothing, but a nice steady rainfall. I went downstairs and watched Project Runway on the DVR and then started to watch Shear Genius, but realized I was falling asleep and switched over to local news. Someone called DH this morning while he was eating breakfast and that woke me up. Nice new ringtone, honey. I don't know what I thought that was, but I didn't think it was a phone.

Yesterday I finished my Color Tiles III except for the beads. Will try to get to the bead store this morning and get them attached and take a photo and get it posted here.

Because tomorrow we leave for the big drive north to NH. Only going to have two days there, then have to do the turn around trip home. Lvly. Once more - LABOR DAY WEEKEND - what are they thinking? This is going to hurt.

DD did well at starting her first canvas piece. It took her a while to get all five star waffle stitches in the right place, but she succeeded and came home and did her first Jessicas. Way to go, girl!

Hook, Set, Reel 'em In

I've had the pleasure of (finally) setting my DD down the stitching path. To the point where she has her own stash now. Even after swearing she'd only do one pattern at a time. LOL

But this morning I'm taking her to my EGA meeting where we're going to work on a canvas piece.

Yes. Got her started. Got her hooked. Now to show her the endless possibilities and take her totally over to the dark side.

And for those of you with younger children, I'll tell you that I tried to hook her on sewing years and years ago. It was only at 20 that I finally got her. When her friends at school were knitting, she decided she needed to learn, maybe crocheting? But counted cross stitch beckoned with pretty patterns and fibers and fabric and even beads.

It's all good.

One Down, One to Go

Yesterday we took DS back to college. That's the one down.

Will leave for New England on Friday with DD. That's the one to go.

So this week gets filled with her final errands - she's about to spend $$$ on sunglasses. Lunch and shopping at Ulta with friends. EGA meeting. I'm going to try to make Thursday morning stitch-in, but DD will probably stay home to pack. Because it's Labor Day weekend that we are traveling on, I will be leaving VA at 0 dark thirty, i.e. 4 a.m. or so.

The real reason for celebrations though is that today is our 24th wedding anniversary. How many of you started out your married life by:

1) honeymooning at a resort town frequented by gay men (DH was the one getting checked out when we walked into the restaurant for dinner)

2) spent the day after the wedding at a huge (I mean huge) family reunion where you got to be the newest member of the family

3) moving in with DH's 3 male college roommates. Yup. First 9 months of our married life we had 3 roommates.

Because of timing, etc. we will actually be celebrating this anniversary later in September after I get back from NH. The place we wanted to go is closed this week :-(

Stitching Jubilee

I must be out of touch as this one nearly slipped by me.

Stitching Jubilee set for Valley Forge in October.

Anyone going?

Nice Tutorial

Check out the latest addition to my blogroll - Ivoryblushroses.

She's got a great tutorial on making a pin cushion out of CDs.

And Now for the Bad News

Two kids getting ready to leave for college and this morning my laundry room sink overflowed with backed up water from the washer.

Fortunately it's not a busy time for plumbers and someone should be here shortly.

But that's still a PITA!

SBQ

If you had to choose, would you rather spend money on overdyed floss or hand-dyed fabric?

I'd spend it on fibers rather than fabric. Because you can use the fiber on more than one project, but the fabric is just one project.

For example: I found 22 of 25 fibers I needed for my Color Tiles canvas piece that I was kitting up with my own choices rather than what was called for. Left that store thinking I'd need to go to another store on another day to find the final three silks. But I wisely checked in my stash and found three that suit this project beautifully. Two of three are partially used skeins. I love when this happens.

Mishmash

List it all? or ramble?

I like rambling so let's do that.

DH finally got his official job offer - he's trading up from private contractor to gov't job - essentially taking his former boss' job. I think he's pretty darn tickled with himself. Only took three years. I'm pretty darn tickled with him, too. Still. After almost (next week) 24 years of marriage.

DS leaves to return to school this weekend. I'm sorry that TS Fay has lingered and is causing flooding in FL, but am happy to see it didn't follow it's original track that had it squarely in our way on Sunday. Was not looking forward to moving in to a dorm in torrential rains and winds.

DD gets one more week at home before she returns to school. Can you imagine? I have to drive the northeast corridor on Labor Day weekend? Hello. Who made up this schedule?

Last night I taught my Baseball Biscornu for the second time. (Anna, I will get around to mailing you a copy sometime next week. I promise.) I had a lovely incipient migraine which kind of interfered with my teaching style. Eventually I put down my own stitching and just kind of sat there. Not my best performance. Woke up with that darn headache this morning, but finally medication seems to be working.


Finally I bring you the Enchanted Garden at the Edgar Allen Poe Museum in Richmond.


There is a Poe bust in the covered portico at the rear of the garden. I may have to go to the library or the used bookstore. I haven't read any Poe in few years.

my daily dose of fun

more cat pictures

The Movie Quiz - Answered

All the answers are in except the first one - She was bad. She was dangerous. I wouldn't trust her any farther than I could throw her. But... she was my kind of woman.

If you had looked at my profile, you would have seen the answer. My favorite movie is the Bandwagon starring Fred Astaire. Love this line. Gives me the visual of Fred trying to throw Cyd Charise.

Thanks to everyone for playing!

and I can't believe I left out Some Like It Hot. Best last line is a movie ever -

Jerry: Oh, you don't understand, Osgood! Ehhhh... I'm a man.
Osgood: Well, nobody's perfect.

And Finally for Today

I bring you the broken Olympic Stitching vow.

I lasted one week. I just can't bring myself to stitch on Celtic Christmas or In the Midnight Hour at night. So here are the threads I chose for Michael Boren's Color Tiles III. He used Glorianna and Princess Perles. I chose Splendor, Grandeur, Waterlilies and Impressions. It's just Norwich crosses. Twenty five of them.

Back to Olympic Stitching today...

Next We Have Chinese Athletes Who Stitch

Oh how I wish there were photos accompanying this article.

So why would a top-level athlete look to a craft requiring so much patience and concentration to pass the time?

"Satisfaction," said weightlifter Liu Chunhong, who won the women's -62kg gold medal on Wednesday. "It provides great satisfaction and excitement when you finish an embroidery. I cannot tell you how much it satisfies me; you will understand when you do it yourself.

There you go. Do it yourself!

Let's Start with a Video

The name of the band is Architecture in Helsinki.

The song is Like It or Not. This link is to the video on youtube.

And no, I'm definitely not offtopic.

The Movie Quote Quiz

brought here courtesy of Sweet Pea Stitches:

I spotted this fun little quiz on both Mindy and Dianne's blogs, so I played along with theirs and made up my own. If you know any of them, leave a quote in the comments.

The rules are as follows:
1. Pick 15 of your favorite movies.
2. Go to IMDb and find a quote from each movie.
3. Post them here for everyone to guess.
4. NO GOOGLING/using IMDb search functions.
5. Strike it out when someone guesses correctly, and put who guessed it and the movie.

If you don't know what IMDB is, definitely check it out. It's one of my favorite sites!


Here are the quotes:

1. She was bad. She was dangerous. I wouldn't trust her any farther than I could throw her. But... she was my kind of woman.

2. If we bring a little joy into your humdrum lives, it makes us feel as though our hard work ain't been in vain for nothin'. Singing in the Rain - answered by Zoomcity

3. I've often speculated why you don't return to America. Did you abscond with the church funds? Run off with a senator's wife? I like to think you killed a man. It's the Romantic in me. Casablance - answered by Anna - I had to pick one of the less obvious ones for this movie.

4. Uh, we had a slight weapons malfunction, but uh... everything's perfectly all right now. We're fine. We're all fine here now, thank you. How are you? Star Wars - the original - answered by Jenn

5. It was a run-by fruiting. Mrs. Doubtfire - answered by Jennifer

6. So what? They're here. Every April, they're here. At 1:05 or at 7:05, there is a game. And if it gets rained out, guess what? They make it up to you. Does anyone else in your life do that? The Red Sox don't get divorced. This is a real family. This is the family that's here for you. Fever Pitch - answered by Anna

7. Relax, all right? Don't try to strike everybody out. Strikeouts are boring! Besides that, they're fascist. Throw some ground balls - it's more democratic. Bull Durham - answered by Kathryn

8. You do an eclectic celebration of the dance! You do Fosse, Fosse, Fosse! You do Martha Graham, Martha Graham, Martha Graham! Or Twyla, Twyla, Twyla! Or Michael Kidd, Michael Kidd, Michael Kidd, Michael Kidd! Or Madonna, Madonna, Madonna!... but you keep it all inside. The Birdcage - answered by Jennifer

9. [whining about his various health issues] I have shifted into a state of entropy that is progressing geometrically.

Entropy. Geometrically. Danny, you talk like a bad textbook.

You think that because I'm quirky I don't hurt? You've got it backwards. I'm quirky because I hurt. The Four Season - answered by Zoomcity - Carol Burnet annd Alan Alda - what's not to love?

10. Hey everybody, we're all gonna get laid. Caddyshack - answered by Jennifer

11. Over? Did you say "over"? Nothing is over until we decide it is! Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor? Hell no! Animal House - answered by Kathryn

12. I was a stand-up tomato: a juicy, sexy, beefsteak tomato. Nobody does vegetables like me. I did an evening of vegetables off-Broadway. I did the best tomato, the best cucumber... I did an endive salad that knocked the critics on their ass. Tootsie - answered by Zoomcity

13. You've got to remember that these are just simple farmers. These are people of the land. The common clay of the new West. You know... morons. Blazing Saddles - answered by C. Michael - I almost included the quote "Non," but even though I love Silent Movie, it really isn't one my most favorites

14. Oh. Where you going?... . Oh, you men are all alike. Seven or eight quick ones and then you're out with the boys to boast and brag. YOU BETTER KEEP YOUR MOUTH SHUT. Oh... . I think I love him. Young Frankenstein - answered by Zoomcity

15. He's not the Messiah. He's a very naughty boy! Life of Brian - answered by C. Michael - Welease Woderick!

No Stitching For Me

Yesterday we drove DD to Richmond so she could spend a few days visiting a friend. We arrived early and had some time to spare for lunch and a tiny bit of exploring.

We found Poe's Pub where we had a delicious lunch. Next week Dick Butt Kiss and the Tightends are playing there. Nothing like band names that reflect the mentality of an eighth grade male.

Then there was this construction going on that prevented me from going the way I wanted to and suddenly we found ourselves right in front of the Poe Museum and Gift Shop and there was this empty parking spot. Now I have a new pencil, a new beer glass - "the taste is Poetic," and a new cookbook - "Food to Die For." Somehow I think we now need to go visit the other Poe city, Baltimore, and complete the cycle.

We didn't get home until shortly after 6:30 and I made some curried chicken salad from a leftover roast chicken. It's hard to believe but it was actually cool enough this week for me to light the oven and roast a chicken. Watched the Red Sox complete a sweep of the Rangers - that was an interesting series, watched Misty and Kerri in Beach Volleyball, watched Michael Phelps do his thing. And then had a great night's sleep due to the fact that my vampire daughter wasn't in the house with any lights on.

Today. House cleaning. Laundry. And Olympic Stitching.

Public Service Message brought to by the letters EGA

Do you stitch in public?

Presenting a perfect opportunity to demonstrate your beautiful needlework:

September 3, 2008

is

National Stitch in Public Day

We are commemorating the 50^th anniversary of the founding of the Embroiders’ Guild of America

by inviting everyone to show off their skills and make new friends

On September 3^rd, stitch on a plane, train, or bus

Stitch in a mall, bookstore, or park

Stitch in a coffee shop, a waiting room, at the DMV

Call friends and invite them to join you

Go anywhere and enjoy yourself while you

Stitch in Public!

Olympic Stitching and New Shoes

Outside I went yesterday with my stitching and with DD with her computer. I eventually put in the earphones to listen to my MP3 player as I had last loaded it with two new Bossa Nova albums which I find to be pure joy. DD retaliates by putting in her earphones. And we are sitting there quite contentedly when suddenly I have an Ah-Ha moment which causes her to rip her earphone out of one year to hear what I am saying.

My big light bulb moment? I can embroider on those pink Converse sneakers. Back in go our earphones and that's it.

LOL

I have persevered enough with the beading and metallics down one side to reward myself by moving onto the simple cross stitching on the skirt. Celtic Christmas will get finished. Maybe in August. Maybe not. But I am promising to not put her away again. I even resurrected my floor stand to hold her. And I can hear her siren call right now saying, "Come on. Red thread. Let's get moving. It'll be fun."

New Shoes

A quick trip to Target and I've got two new pairs of Converse. Not your normal Chucks, but I like 'em!

Wall Arch

Hmm. Trying to link a web photo here and blogger seems to be all wonky. Sometimes my cursor just disappears, but if I type I'm in the right spot but with a time delay of sorts. Whatever.

Anyway. I noticed on the news the other day that Wall Arch in Arches National Park had fallen. And that reminded me of a story.

It was late June 1994 and we were traveling cross country from the seacoast of NH to Fort Ord, CA. This was a tremendous opportunity for sightseeing our way across the USA. When we had been packing up the household goods in NH every day had been hotter than the previous day. We started at 98, went to 99, and finally to over 100 degrees on the day they loaded our stuff on the truck. The heat and humidity we experienced in Washington D.C. followed us across the country. But when we reached the west, the humidity dropped off, but the temperatures soared. It hit 108 the day we arrived at Arches NP.

We checked into the Apache Motel in Moab and had pizza at Eddie McStiffs. The road in to the park was incredible. Being an east coast girl, I had never seen anything like this in my life. Armed with our canteens and bandanas we walked to the Windows Arches. Then walked to the Sand Dune Arch where we took off our shoes and played in the sand. The wind picked up and made staying here rather like being sandblasted so we headed off for the Devil's Garden Trail where we walked to the Tunnel Arch and the Pine Tree Arch and the Wall Arch. We would have headed off for the Landscape Arch, but sunset was approaching.

As we head back to the trail head and our car we make an unfortunate discovery. DH had locked the keys in the car. Yup. It's still over 100. We've drunk all our water. Darkness is coming on quickly. And there is no one around. This is where we get lucky. There's a campground nearby and DH is walking to it while I sit on the ground with the kids. At ages 5 and 7, it's been a long day and it's their bedtime and they are getting cranky. He runs into a Park Ranger who bless his heart is willing to break the laws for us. He is supposed to call a locksmith, but instead breaks out the hanger for his spare uniform hanging in his truck. He tries the drivers side door, but these modern cars are meant to be hanger proof. And here is where we get truly lucky. I had not rolled my window up all the way. There was a tiny crack. And we were able to snag the door handle with the hanger and open the door! Celebrations all around. The next morning we return at 6 a.m. for our hike out to the Delicate Arch (must do this before it gets too hot.)

I've always had my set of keys with me upon exiting the car ever since this time.

(And details are courtesy of the trip journal I kept. Otherwise I'd never remember Eddie McStiffs.)

I's Gots Internet!

So the lovely FIOS people were in the neighborhood while I was away on vacay and they cut my cable line. Uh. Duh. And you people want my business? Nice way to go about it.

As for Olympic Stitching:

I chose Celtic Christmas because she really doesn't deserve to be on those scroll rods for more than ten years and I saw this as a perfect opportunity to finally make the big push towards the finish.

But once again, I'm not enjoying it. LOL That's why she's been sitting in her pillowcase all this time.

I promise to fold my arms and persevere on this one. I might earn my own gold medal for endurance of non-pleasurable stitching.

Okay. Answering the questions before they come: what's wrong? why am I not enjoying my time with this pretty thing? Because of the beading down the sides. The changing of threads. I can't stitch with her comfortably in my chair and have to stitch at the table. I'm constantly flipping to the back to anchor a thread. (Okay. It was my artistic choice to stitch the beads with thread that matches the beads rather than thread that matches the fabric - because it looks better! ) If I can just push myself to finish the beading on one side I'll let myself stitch on her skirt again. And then I'll have the beading down the other side to contend with. I'm trying, darn it.

SBQ 8/7/08

8/7/08: What do you do to your thread clippings? Do you just scrap them or do you use them in something else? (submitted by Outi)

I have an ort jar that is an old canning jar with the bale and glass top. I've been stuffing orts in here since around 1997. Big projects are like an archaeological dig - they are a whole layer and easily identifiable. I have yet to decide if they will ever do anything besides reside in the job and wait for someone to throw them away decades from now after I die.

No photos as I'm still on the wrong computer. I am hopeful DH can solve this problem and he arrives home tonight. Otherwise, cable guy is coming on Monday. I'm fairly certain I can call and cancel this appointment.

Had a great time yesterday at the shop catching up with friends. Even bought a couple of canvas designs - Northern Pine Designs "Forever in Blue Jeans." It will take a while to acquire the speciality threads for this one. I also bought a Michael Boren piece - it's the one on the right.
I've got to decide on this one what to use for alternate fibers as the original is stitched with Eterna silks and Princess Perle.


I was happy to find a ball of Anchor Perle 8 that matched my DMC perle 5 Variations for my hardanger piece. The question is do I already defy my stitching plans for 8/8/08 or do I attempt my picots and dove's eyes before the opening ceremonies and consider it a legal loophole that I haven't seen the opening ceremonies yet.

Oopsie. I made an error. The Michael Boren piece has Glorianna silks not Eterna. The Eterna was used in all those kimono pieces that I looked at.

Morning Stitch In

I get to go for the first time in weeks. And DD is coming with me. There should be plenty of new things for me to admire, which I am looking forward to, plus all the progress my friends have been making on their stuff.

I need to spend an hour or two reorganizing my stuff and figuring out exactly how much progress I've made this summer. Gotta stop starting new projects before finishing old ones. I think I need to go back to the I-can't-start-a-new-project-without-finishing-a-UFO rule. I'm so confused that I don't even know what my current project is any more.

So in order to bring some order to this process referred to as my stitching, I will vow to only work on two projects during the Olympics. As of 8/8/08 I can only stitch on In The Midnight Hour and Celtic Christmas. I really need to get that red lady off those scroll rods where she has been since, OMB, 1998. If I finish either of them, I have a bevy of UFOs to choose from to go next.

Drat and Phooey

We arrived home yesterday around dinner time without any incidents on the road worthy of note.

And about an hour later, discovered that the high speed cable internet connection was not working. I was too darn tired to investigate so I have no idea exactly what DS tried to do to make things work. I spent the morning trying to sort it out, even calling DH in CA, but no luck. Finally called Comcast. Did everything I had already tried again. And then when he told me to find a pin and press the reset button, I knew I had someone who didn't know this modem. There is no reset button. I'm not stupid. That's the first thing I looked for, even found the manual to make sure I wasn't blind. No reset button.

Right now I'm on DD's computer who is hogging signal from a neighbor who is silly enough to leave a network unprotected. I won't be doing that on our home desktop. So no pictures until things are straightened out.

Off to Play Reunions for the Next Two Days

It has been interesting being in New England for the great Manny trade. Of course everyone here weighs in with their opinions. Everyone is an expert. In this place, little bitty kids and 92 year old ladies can talk intelligently about baseball. Got to love it.

As for stitching.
I've been working on my hardanger, but am missing the correct color of perle 8 and can really go no further. I've got this terrific turquoise shade of perle 5, one of the new DMC variations. I had forgotton how quickly hardanger can be stitched. I see more of this in my future.

DD started a Textile Heritage piece she picked up and discovered last night that there is a shade of green that doesn't match the other shades of green. And that would make 5 shades of green in a kit that has 4 shades. She got a bit frustrated. It was funny.

So I started my Mill Hill scissor pocket, but won't go very far with this as I am without my beading mat which I love for beading.

Well, other peoples are getting up. Now to go shower and have tons of fun!

Quick Check In

I did make it to Yankee Cross Stitch in North Hampton, NH.
Seemed like there was a little bit less stuff in there than usual. Also some big holes in the overdyed flosses I was looking for.

But I did buy one or two things. Some perle cottons. A Sampler Girl chart - the Martha Washington sampler and a Forget-me-not-in-stitches of a lady slipper. Also a scissor pocket kit by Mill Hill. Pretty colors.

Not bad. Very reasonable.

Weather is not fully cooperating with us, but we're managing.