About That Reply

About the online needlework show and Anna's comment about maybe we're getting jaded.

I can identify two factors that contribute to my lack of excitement.

1. Though I haven't reached full capacity for stash enhancement, I am aware of personal limitations. And mostly that would be the limitation of time. I have more stash than I can stitch in a lifetime. At least I think I do. I know my speed limit and how much I can accomplish. For a design to enter my stash, I must feel compelled towards ownership. It must sing to me. And it can be a silly song or a serious one.
2. These days I am entering into a period of design it yourself. I've enrolled in the EGA's Master Craftsman course for counted thread work. I've got a couple of quick and easy classes I've been developing. And suddenly I am seeing this world through a different set of eyes. If there's something I need, I can make it myself.
   

Phew! I Made It!

This should be my thousandth post! I started in September 2004.

Browsed the online needlework show this morning. Saw some interesting things. But nothing that is compelling me to shell out $$$. Check out the Scarlet Thread page - that's my LNS where I hang out. Quite a bit. No seriously. I have a problem. My car can't quit driving there. I'm lucky they tolerate my presence. And I don't spend money every time I'm there. Or we'd be broke.

Warm and Sunny

I should go put some polish on the toes as it's definitely sandal weather today. Though technically I've been wearing sandals for the past week. I prefer barefoot to shoes, but I do love my shoes.

I was so bummed that I found a pair of Chucks at Marshall's that were covered in white sheep with one black sheep near the heal and they were two sizes too big! I wanted those shoes. Darn. Ah well. Sometimes I get lucky and sometimes I don't.

Totally cleaned DS's room yesterday. Went through everything except his dresser. Much to the kitties chagrin I removed several pillows from under the bed and tossed them in the garbage. Bought a new curtain. New sheets. New pillows. New lamps - one of the old ones was rather finicky about when it would work - a consequence of the move from Colorado to NY several years ago. Found some of our music and some of our DVDs. Realized that someone still has all his plastic soldiers and matchbox cars. Of course all the dust made my allergies go off even while I'm taking Zyrtec. I should have used the neti pot and rinsed out my nose. Now the room is ready for visitors.

As for the toy thing. I've got plenty that we plan on keeping. Lots and lots of Legos. Playmobil. Brio. American Girl dolls. Barbie dolls. Micro machines. It's ridiculous.

ah the garden center

Which is where I spent way too much money.

Even bought new gardening gloves, which weren't cheap. But they are strong, yet thin so I don't constantly feel like ripping them off and flinging them to the ground.

I bought a couple of fuchsia geraniums for the balcony.

Some more flat leaf parsley and mint - some of which survived the winter here even in pots.

Oregano, sage, chives and fennel. And some pansies to brighten up the front until it's time to plant annuals.

So I had a good time playing in the dirt yesterday afternoon. Even cleaned the windows to the balcony and this morning with the sun shining everything is all bright and sparkly.

I found some dark brown fabric and felt guilty for it being made in China, but it was the only solid brown in cotton in that store. That will pair with this cigar print fabric I bought like 2 years ago thinking I'd make a valance for the bar. But last fall we hung red satin drapes in the bar which really adds to the man cave vibe.

Nothing New

This photo is from last May? most likely as the azaleas have their dead buds.


Our dear BIL is coming for a visit, arriving on Sunday. At a family gathering, this 50 year old suddenly voiced his jealousy of his wife's weekends away with the girls - she goes away with her sisters and sister-in-laws or her knitting group. The family was astounded that he felt that way and immediately told him, then he should go somewhere.

We're honored to be his first "long weekend" away without wife or kids.

I've got a bit of cleaning and some sprucing up chores to do. I have this fabric and was thinking of making a new curtain for the bedroom he'll be staying in, but realized even doubled this fabric permits too much light to pass. So I'm off this morning to hunt for some dark fabric to back the curtain.

And to purchase a few plants? The warmer weather has me thinking of planting. But I'll just be putting things in pots as it's too early yet for planting in the ground. I'm sure my nice looking nails will soon be all yucky as I can't resist putting my hands in the soil. I'm not a huge fan of gardening gloves unless I'm dealing with poison ivy or some other hazard.

Genealogy

I already had the genealogy box out as I was looking to see how far back to the British Isles we have gone. I can make it to Elizabethan times.

But that means it was easy to see my "found" cousin's birthday and he's 18 years older than me! I had forgotten that the children in this family were spaced out over 15 years. Big spread for 3 kids.

Had fun exchanging e-mails and updating family stuff.

See. The internet isn't just for porn. (I love Avenue Q!)

Plus the internet is great for athletic results:

Our son's boat won the men's varsity Knecht Cup race for Division II/III schools. Impressive.
You'd think he'd call and tell us stuff like this...

The Internet Is

The internet is a strange and wonderful thing.

I just "met" my cousin's wife on a sampler group on yahoo. I noticed when she joined that she lived near my hometown. Sent a message. And when she replied that's when I noticed her last name.

Too funny.

I don't think I ever met her. Her husband is my mother's first cousin. He's about 10 years older than me, I think.

We've been exchanging mail as we figured out who we were.

What to Do?

What do you write when you've got nothing on your mind and you're trying desperately to make sure you reach 1,000 posts in April?

LOL

Let's see. I could tell everyone that 3 samplers at EGA Headquarters in Louiseville will be featured on the Antiques Roadshow on May 5th.

Or I could highlight a new exhibit at the Textile Museum in Washington D.C.

It's called "Blue." A few years back they did "Red."

from their website:

The exhibition features blue textiles ranging from Greco-Roman and pre-columbian tunic fragments to installations by internationally renowned artists. Hiroyuki Shindo, a Japanese artist who grows and processes his own indigo to produce innovatively patterned textiles, as well as Maria Eugenia Davila and Eduardo Portillo, who raise silkworms and dye threads with natural dyes in Venezuela, highlight the ways that artists around the world are embracing this ancient dye to create works that speak to their own experience.

I'm looking forward to seeing that exhibit given my recent exploration with color. I think I've checked out every book on color and color theory from our library. And coincidentally there is a book called "Blue: The History of a Color "
by Michel Pastoureau which was very enjoyable. I hadn't realized that there was no word for the color blue in the bible.

Looking for

I'm looking for the following design for a friend. If anyone has this in their stash and are willing to part with it, please contact me.

Title: GRADUATION DAY (Leaflet #12)

Designer: Jeanette Barney Rees, trading as Jemini Designs

Publisher: Symbol of Excellence, Birmingham, AL, 1994

Yesterday's Purchase

Colors didn't come out as nice as I'd like.

But the pattern is Tequila & Salt by the Sunflower Seed.
She's a got lovely pattern called the Awakened Soul which would be perfect for someone who has
lost a pet.

The fabric is Winter Wren by Crossed Wing.

And due to my current dislike of Weeks, I changed the threads to Carrie's Creations: electric blue, key lime, gold twist and mardi gras. Ordered smaller buttons as the fabric is 28 ct rather than the called for 18ct.

Even put in two threads worth of stitching last night while watching the Red Sox beat the Tigers.