Master List

I made a master list of the 6 biggest priorities in my stitching world. But I still need to decide which is the biggest priority. Right now they all seem to carry about equal weight. Which probably means I haven't thought about it enough. I guess these two things: recharting a chart on my newest graphing software and the teaching of a biscornu that I have in my head, should be one and two. Then comes a gift that I can't discuss here, but involves designing and stitching and has a deadline like the first two. Number 4 should be working on my Mastercraftsman project for the EGA. And 5 & 6 which I apparently find the most fun, are at the bottom of the list.

The truth is any progress on anything on this list is a huge positive. So the list is going to stay here by my elbow on the desk. As long as I'm typing, I'm not making progress. (Or doing housework, but who cares about that?)

Alas, Coni. Woodlawn's needlework show doesn't involve tons of technology. The best they have managed is that this year there is a list of the big winners on the Woodlawn website. Some of us enter in the spirit of competition. And some of us enter just because we want to see our work hanging in a historic and beautiful location where people will pay money to see it. The lesson I have learned is if I want to enter something, I should be working on it now for the following year. LOL

Verified

Yes. That is a second place in canvaswork on my In the Midnight Hour. I don't even mind losing out a first place 'cause it was to someone I know and her piece was technically harder with those Jessicas and woven Neon Rays. I didn't stay long as I am going to the demo room next Monday and to luncheon with friends there next Friday.

The sampler competition continues to baffle me. And the overall best in show this year was a blackwork piece. Apparently the docents are spending oodles of time explaining to people why this won. The back is exactly like the front. So what I heard one woman say. She didn't like it. At all. I think the quote was, if I don't like the front, why should I like the back. Too funny.

The canvaswork category had lots of strong entries. Saw some beautiful original crewel pieces. My favorite room is still the room with all the animal pieces. Makes me smile.

Dreaming

I think I spent the entire night dreaming of Quakerish southwest America designs. I know that what was going through my head at 12:55 a.m. when I woke up. I know I was still dreaming it 1/2 an hour later when I woke up for real and started to read. I know I was dreaming it when I woke up just before DH got up at 6:00 a.m. And I was still dreaming of designs at 7:45 a.m. when I actually got up. This is a sign that I had a successful day of putting things done on paper yesterday.

Of course, I also walked into my kitchen yesterday morning and had an absolutely brilliant idea. So brilliant that when I told my shop owner friend her eyes got big and she said OMG you have so got to do that.

All this means is that the things I have to do are being shunted aside by the things that are calling to me from some strange, creative recess in my brain.

Am going in to work in the shop for a bit this morning and will consider second idea some more. Maybe look at fibers and fabric even. Then maybe a quick dash down to Woodlawn to the needlework show.

I hear I won a second place in canvaswork. But I need to see it. That old 80s slogan, trust but verify.

I Hate Time Change

Why do we subject ourselves to this twice a year? My brain is currently not functioning optimally. And I have the grand task of taking a PDF file and altering it. I wish I had the original file, but I don't. That makes life fun. DH provided some assistance on this yesterday so I should be good to go. But I can't seem to jump start the brain cells. Fell asleep on the couch last night. And when I woke up I could hear someone upstairs snoring like a pack of lumberjacks so I shut my eyes and stayed where I was.

Had a fun weekend of shopping at the D.C. Big Flea in Chantilly. On Saturday DH and I bought two oak plant stands to use to hold our rear speakers in the living room. On Sunday I went back and bought an oak rocking chair for the cat. Yes. For the cat. Now I have two IKEA chairs I can sell on craigslist. That should almost cover the cost of the rocking chair. Then I found a Marx tin barn:









My sister has the house. Will continue to look for this stuff. Harmless past time recreating your childhood toys.





Then I went to the nursery to purchase some cactus soil to send to DD at school. And of course some plants followed me home to those oak plant stands. Such fun! We've got a great nursery here complete with free popcorn. I wandered around and wasted a lot of time just soaking in the beauty of the plants.

Brideshead Revisited

I was fortunate enough yesterday to have lunch with a friend and when I mentioned my evening's plans included watching Brideshead, she whipped out her i-phone and shared her pictures of Castle Howard with me taken on her anniversary. Such a beautiful place. And oh how I love this show. Last year DS and I were listening to Brideshead Revisited being read by Jeremy Irons while we were doing a lot of riding in the car. And as much as I love his voice, he couldn't begin to capture the magic that is John Gieguld as his father. Rapture.

Meanwhile I've been browsing my collection of Sampler and Antique Needlework Quarterly looking for Quaker things. And instead I am finding dozens of other things I want to stitch. I shouldn't buy anything else and just start stitching my way through all 50+ issues of this fine publication.

Handy Dandy Link

Ever need perle instead of floss? Well, here's a place that shows you how to make your own. Handy for those of us doing Hardanger and canvaswork.

Make your own perle.

I Admit It - I Bought Something

Couldn't help it. This pattern just followed me home. In a red bag. Didn't bring any fabric or floss with it. Quaker Gone Tropic. Okay. The color reproduction is not the best as this is stitched on L & L 32ct Lemon Ice. That's right. The fabric is actually yellow.

Anyway. When I saw this I kind of had an idea. And while dropping something off at the Scarlet Thread today, I picked up some fabric and fibers to do something else a la Quaker. I guess because I've been working on Tsunami Charity Sampler by Martina Dey I definitely have Quaker on the brain.

Girls have started the return trip home. DS leaves today to take the train south to visit a friend before returning to school on Sunday. All will be quiet again tonight. And then it's on to watching Brideshead Revisited. Ah, Jeremy Irons' voice. Love. Love. Love.

Elvis

Aw. Isn't he cute? Elvis sunbathing.

Quick Update

Been hanging with the college kids.

Yesterday we celebrated darling daughter's 22nd birthday. She requested an orange cake. Okay. Orange cake it was with chocolate/orange frosting and a Tinkerbell candle.

Today they go off for more touristy things in downtown D.C.

I have a problem with my Night Flight. I started stitching the interior of the bird that is silhouetted against the moon. The canvas is a blue color, the thread is a single ply of Watercolours Midnight. The stitch is straight. And the canvas is showing through. What to do? Any suggestions?

All advice welcome. I'm thinking of changing the stitch.

Snow!

This is the most snow we've had here in two years. Now. What great timing. College kids have decided to stay in and work today. Me, I'm stitching on Amybear's Night Flight. Got some issues to work out. But I'm getting on track.

I went out and shoveled the walkway and sidewalk. About a 6 inch total accumulation.