Sunday, June 29, 2008

Stitch N Pitch Haul

It's only been over a week and I owe a post on what got brought home in three goody bags.

1) set of 16" wooden knitting needles size 19
2) set of 10" metal knitting needles size 8
3) two skeins of Willow from Trendsetters Yarn - that more than enough for a scarf
4) two luscious skeins of merino sock yarn from the Neighborhood Fiber Co.
5) four knitting patterns - these will be recycled to my SIL who is a knitter
6) one crochet pattern for a Euro bag - a string type market bag - I've got plans for this one
7) five "freebie" cross stitch patterns
8) one hardanger pattern
9) one Mosey 'N Me "Willie Stitches"
10) one Val's Stitchin' Stuff "What a Wonderful World"
11) one Carriage House Samplings "Only One Ewe"
12) one Stitchy Kitty "Lives to Stitch"
13) two Prairie Moon Designs - Halloween designs #7 and #8

plus three more red bags with the curly W of the Nats

Not bad.

Friday, June 27, 2008

The Plus Side

This is where I confess to being a great mother. Because every week for the next month, I am a passenger in a car being driven by my son who has a learner's permit as we head south for 60 miles to his school so he car take and pass a statistics class in order to attend school in the fall. Then 2 hours later, it's 60 miles home again.

We do this four days a week.

At the end of this time, ideally, he'll have a full-fledged drivers license and a suitably passing grade.

And I will be stitching quite a bit in those two hours.

So far this week, I've stitched on my over one BoInk mystery SAL.

Spent a little time with my Monkey Works "In the Sea."

Made my crystal bling bracelet.

Even put in a few stitches on When life hands you lemons, ask for tequila and salt.

A month plus of this and I should have a ton of stuff finished.

Wednesday, June 25, 2008

Crystal Bling



This was our EGA class this morning. And I finished mine at 2:45 p.m. It's all bicone crystals and delicas. I didn't have the best clasp for her method of starting and faked it. Because it went so fast, I may redo this one, i.e. cut it apart and do it again. This time I'll line the beads up differently.

In the Midnight Hour


This is a progress pic of my Laura Perin, which some may know as Amethyst Dreams.

You'd think I was constitutionally opposed to purple, but actually I love it. It just doesn't fit into my decor.

I was trying to kit this with blues. But ended up with the black/gray/silver working for me.

The canvas is, I think, French blue, which is a very gray blue. In this photo it just looks gray. The canvas won't really show at all when finished.
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Tuesday, June 24, 2008

P.S.

Note:

It's marshmallow, people, not marshmellow.

You'd think you would run names through spell check before marketing something.

Ah Blogger

Notice the new RSS feeds?
If you're on blogger, you can add them, too!

It was easy. Or they wouldn't be here.

I will keep adding more every day.

I exhausted the needlework books in the UMW library in about one hour. Though there was one unexpected find. A book published in 1859. American stitchers were already into some "modern" looking things by then. Canvaswork was starting to come into play. Of course, the Berlin work was huge popular. And quilts were starting to be appreciated as more than just a frugal way to deal with leftover fabric.

Monday, June 23, 2008

Ah the Weekend

I'm sitting here trying to wrap my brain around everyone's schedule - one leaving Alaska for Massachusetts. One heading Illinois. One needing transport back and forth to school - one hour drive one way - four days a week. Now let's plan a vacation. And see if we can coordinate this with school ending, summer internship ending, and one needing to go to California.

I'm so confused.

But I did spend the majority of yesterday afternoon working on my Laura Perin piece. I've done all the required work before we meet again next Saturday and started moving ahead. Because I can. I am wishing I had made different choices about my waste knots. But I think I can live this. I finally gave up stitching in the 11th inning of Red Sox/Cardinals game. Which we won in the 13th.

Now what I've got for the next four weeks is two hours of driving four days a week with two hours of time to kill at DS's campus and surrounding community. I plan on putting this time to good use. I figure if I bring stitching I can hang in the library. Maybe some days bring the laptop. And I can get in a little bit of shopping maybe? Dinner time is about to get interesting. By rights we should get home a bit after 4 every day. But experience has shown that I-95 can turn into a parking lot at weird times.

Meanwhile I have to call my sister and tell her we won't make the 4th of July party. But we will show up at the end of July instead.

Saturday, June 21, 2008

Stitch n Pitch

We went into extra innings - 14 to be exact. My family left after 2/3rds of the fans had already left, in the bottom of the 14th. This meant the Metro was not crowded at all. Nats won.

Got some good stuff in the goody bags. Will detail later.

Did not stitch anywhere near as much as last year.

I did not see a single reference to Stitch n Pitch during the game. Maybe I missed something on the large screen.

Whatever. I'm exhausted. We got home at 12:45 and the cat woke up us this morning quite early demanding attention and food.

Books and the Ice Bath

I just gave myself an unexpected ice bath when I picked up my glass with six ice cubes and water and dropped it in my lap.

What strange neurological sign is this? It just slipped right through my hand once I had the glass over my lap. Fortunately I was alone and no one saw. Instead I come here and tell the world. But the boys in my life do not know.

The past two days have been about acquiring used books. Here's what I got:

Hip to Crochet by Judith Swartz. I think I'll try the slippers and maybe even the tank top.

Blackwork by Marion Scoular, an old Leisure Arts pamphlet. How old? It's number 82. And it has the original unused transfers.

Creating Historic Samplers by Grow and McGrail. Can't find an image for this one. But it's the first edition published in 1974.

A Stitch In Rhyme from the Scarlet Letter. A very interesting reference book for me.

American Samplers by Bolton and Coe. Hmmm. I've been looking and this is apparently a hardcover reissue of a previously published softcover from the 1920s.

Jacobean Embroidery and Traditional Designs by Penelope. I see this one on Ebay for $48.50. Definitely not worth that. I paid $2.

Stitchery, Needlepoint, Applique and Patchwork by Shirley Marein. I was interested in her chapter on designing.

and lastly,

Embroidery Magic on Patterned Fabric by Parker and Martin. I'm not finding a photo of this one either. I find this one extremely interesting. Find a patterned fabric you love and add to it to create one of kind designs.

Friday, June 20, 2008

Stitch N Pitch

Tonight is our turn for Stitch N Pitch at the new Nationals Stadium in Washington D.C. This year we get an interleague game as the Texas Rangers are in town.

This means I've set the DVR to record the Red Sox pregame show and the game as St. Louis is coming to Boston for the first since the 2004 World Series and we all know how that series turned out. Plus the Red Sox will be saluting the Celtics Championship team.

Ah. Baseball.

And in stitching news:

I've picked up my Monkey Works project - In the Sea - for the first time in a year and chose it as my project to bring to tonight's game. I, of course, changed the colors and will post a progress pic sometime this weekend.

Also spent 2 hours yesterday afternoon outside with my newly rechristened "in the midnight hour." (Which for those not paying attention is Laura J. Perin's Amethyst Dreams.) I've got like 80% of my divider lines stitched. DH thinks it looks weird. Okay. Whatever. Will look beautiful soon.

Wednesday, June 18, 2008

BoInk



These are my choices for BoInk, the mystery SAL by Tracy Horner. I'm stitching this over one on 32ct. Country French Latte with a selection of floss from Anchor, GAST, and Carrie's Creations. I haven't gotten very far, but I've been busy.

Organizing



Photo could be clearer. Oh well. But this is one of the eighteen cases project cases I bought. This particular project is a little bag to go over a small magnifier. The stitching is finished. Now I need to assemble it. For the record, I do not recommend stitching over one with DMC's Light Effects. It can be done, but if you've got to frog, it abrades the fabric and leaves little fuzzy patches.

Latest Canvas Work


Not the best photo. Oops. But you get the idea. This is Laura J. Perin's Amethyst Dreams. You can see I've left the purple far behind and have gone for a mix of grays, silvers, and black. The Watercolours and Waterlilies are called Midnight. So henceforth, this piece shall be known to me as "In the Midnight Hour."

A Little Finish

This is a needle nanny that is a joint kit put out by Twisted Oaks and Dinky Dyes. There's a magnet inside to hold your needle. Very cute.
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Tuesday, June 17, 2008

Organizing is Fun!

or What I Bought at the Container Store.

Last Friday I bought 10 plastic project cases at $3.99 each. Went back yesterday for more.
They have handles that can fold back out of the way and are just deep enough for Q-snaps. Perfect for a project plus fibers. I even put 2 projects in some of them.

I searched the website for them, but don't see them listed. Hmmm. Maybe I'd better go buy more before showing them off to my friends at the LNS.

Monday, June 16, 2008

Making Up Is Hard To Do?

Totally copied from the Stitch Bitch:

This one is making the rounds. Make-up is sort of a constant battle for me because I am an old-school feminist from a fashion-forward family. Even my sister tries to get me to wear more make-up.

Foundation
: If I think it's necessary, Bare Minerals.

Mascara: I swear by the green and pink tube, but lately there have been some new products with better wands.

Day Cream: Qu'est-ce que c'est? Day cream? Quoi encore? Maybe perhaps referencing what, if any moisturizer/slash spf containing product do you use? Olay Regenerist line if that is the question. I've been using something with an spf of at least 15 since age 25. I'm wrinkle free other than around my eyes.


Favourite Make-up Product: mascara - favourite? Did this thing originate in the U.K?


Perfume: Guerlain's With Love and something I picked up from the Gap last year which smells great.

Nails: medium length. Never used acrylics. Clear polish except when I feel like color.

Hands: Are going to betray my age and the fact that I like being out of doors. I've got age spots a-coming.

Feet: I am trying to work up the nerve to go for a pedicure. I have extremely ticklish feet. Touch them at your own peril. Got a pretty peachy pink polish on the toes right now.

3 Products to bring to a deserted island: Sunscreen, chapstick, good conditioner

Women I admire for their beauty: Maybe this should be women I think are beautiful. Because I don't admire any for their beauty.

Women with the best sense of style: This question supposes that I care. Nope. Don't care. Don't watch any of those stupid entertainment shows. Don't read any of those magazines.

My ultimate dream: To be a movie director? I might like that. Other dream remains unspoken.

How do I define womanhood: argh! Is this what comes after girlhood?

Favourite fashion publication: Got none. I guess the thing that comes closest would be reading the style section of the Washington Post.

Friday, June 13, 2008

Hey, If Anna Can Comment, So Can I

LOL

Too much stuff to say to just comment in the comment box.

So the new releases at the Hoffman website:

Bent Creek - gotta agree - something is up with that mouth

Brittercup - I like these. Amazingly enough.

Crossed Wing - pretty design. Absolutely stitched on the wrong fabric.

Fire Wing - There's room for different dragons. After all, not everything has to appeal to everyone. Which is why I'm not commenting on Cross Stitch Antiques.

Needlemania - Marc has made to Hoffman. This is good.

Nora Corbett - I find the letter C attractive enough because it looks Art Deco.

Not Forgotten Farm - why is there a house in the sewing basket? or am I looking at this incorrectly?

Samsarah - WAY TOO SIMPLE

Willow Hill Samplings - I so want to like this Cinderella design. But there's too much open space to be compelling.

Wednesday, June 11, 2008

What I Was Doing

I've just been organizing my bookmarks in my Stitching Blogs folder. I've acquired quite a few. And anything that hasn't been posted in more than 3 months, is out. I should probably organize them further, but this has taken long enough already.

If you go to Monsterbubbles blog she is looking for opinions on how to attract a young crowd to the world of counted stitching. It's in her post about the past weekend's TNNA market.

This is something that needs serious attention.

I've made some efforts here. Introduced younger people to this world. But I feel that it's wrong that at 48 I am one of the youngest members of my EGA chapter. How seldom one sees a younger person in my LNS. The knitting people managed to attract a younger crowd, but even they seem to be losing ground. With economic slowdown, we may see more people going back to handcrafts. Rambling. I know.

Saturday, June 07, 2008

Bang a Right

A quick survey of people not from New England showed that they were not familiar with this phrase.

It's in the Urban Dictionary.

Googling it leads shows it occurring most often in NE based stories/blogs.

Stitching Stuff

I'm working in the shop this weekend. Yesterday was darn quiet. I'm not sure if this is the aftermath of the big storms we had here on Tuesday, or if gas prices are finally keeping people at home. I spent most of my time hanging overdyed cottons and silks. There were so many, I didn't finish the job. I want work as the person who comes up with the names. Carrie's Creations is getting my vote as having the single most creative name - Moose Drool - which is a beige like color.

Friday, June 06, 2008

New Englanders say funny things

So I'm listening to my favorite public radio station in the car yesterday and I'm not really listening to the people on the program until I hear this woman say "And we bang a right."

Oh how I miss home sometimes.

I think I need to further disseminate the use of this. Usually it's used in the imperative by the non-driver of a vehicle to direct the driver. Alternative phrase - hang a right. But I like bang better.

ARGH!

Can't access google.mail this morning and I've got communications to do. Come on, people. Fix this. I've got to leave to work at the shop soon.

Meanwhile for those who are interested in bio students experiences in Alaska, I bring you the Stickleblog. For best effect, scroll down to the bottom and read chronologically.

Thursday, June 05, 2008

Oh The Fun

from the Stitch Bitch who got it from Hip to Be Squared:


What is in the back of your car? A Go Army, Beat Navy blanket and an atlas of Fairfax County

What color is your toothbrush? blue and white and lime green

Name one person that made you smile today? son

What were you doing at 8 am this morning? dropping son off at new job at Target

What were you doing 45 minutes ago? driving to Target

What is your favorite candy bar? Payday - you can tell I'm not a chocolate freak

Have you ever been to a strip club? No

What is the last thing you said aloud? What do you mean you're discontinuing the sun-dried tomato schmear?

What is the best ice cream flavor? any type of coffee

What was the last thing you had to drink? coffee

What are you wearing right now? Oh I see where this is going...

What was the last thing you ate? green chile cheese bagel with plain cream cheese

Have you bought any new clothing items this week? 2 pair khaki's and one red polo shirt for son for job at Target

When was the last time you ran? LOL. Seriously?

The last sporting event you watched? Red Sox beat Tampa Bay last night 5-1

What is your favorite flavor of popcorn? regular

Who is the last person you sent a comment/message on Myspace? I don't do Myspace.

Ever go camping? Yes.

Do you take vitamins daily? Try to.

Do you go to church every Sunday? Not currently.

Do you have a tan? Arms and hands only at the moment

Do you like Chinese food over pizza? sometimes

Do you drink your soda with a straw? I don't drink soda.

What did your last text message say? Where the bleep did you go?

Are you some-one's best friend? Certainly.

What are you doing tomorrow? Working at a needlework shop.

Look to your left, what do you see? Window and cat staring out of said window.

What color is your watch? I don't wear one.

What do you think of when you think of Australia? I want to go. Someday.

Do you use chap stick? Yes. Often. In many different variations.

What is your birthstone? Amethyst

What is your favorite number? 7 - how pedestrian

Do you have a dog? No.

Last person you talked to on the phone? daughter in Alaska

Have you met anyone famous? Sure.

Any plans today? Go to printers and print first publishable chart, go to morning stitch-in, pick up son from work, make jambalaya, watch Red Sox game, do laundry

How many states have you lived in? six

Ever go to college? Yes.

Do you dye your hair? No. I support the environment by not dumping chemicals down the drain.

Biggest annoyance in your life right now? Long story.

Last song listened to? R.E.M. The End of the World

Can you say the alphabet backwards? Yes.

Do you have a maid service clean your house? No.

Are you jealous of anyone? No. I don't have envy.

Is anyone jealous of you? Don't know. Don't care.

Do you love anyone? Yes.

Do any of your friends have children? Almost all.

Do you eat healthy? No.

What do you usually do during the day? Work, write, stitch.

Do you hate anyone that you know right now? No.

Do you use the word 'hello' daily? Maybe not.

What color is your car? Mojave Gold.

Do you like cats? Yes. Have two.

Have you ever been to Six Flags? Yes.

How did you get your worst scar? having a cyst removed from my arm

Tuesday, June 03, 2008

Anyone else jealous?

This is where my daughter is working this summer. Six weeks in Alaska.