We Have Pattern

amy! came over last night and we made a pattern for the Ott-lite carrier. Well, she made a pattern, and I watched. I did steal the oversized paper from work and buy the t-square. She's a genius when it comes to thinking shapes and math and stuff. Of course, she does have that degree and all. I, on the other hand, am kind of like the guy in Flatland who can't get his mind around the idea of three dimensions. Of course, I live in a three-dimensional world so I should have a better handle on it. When it comes to rotating shapes in my head, I'm hopeless. When I'm using a map, I have to turn it in the direction we are going. And there's the whole left/right problem. I'm always telling my beleaguered husband to turn right when what I really mean is left; didn't he see my hand pointing?

At first we were going to make the carrier smaller than the ones we saw so the light wouldn't be rattling around, but then we figured they probably have the insides padded up the wazoo, so we left the dimensions alone, and we'll be inserting foam into the finished piece. We did consider lining it, but then figured it would be easier to wash if the foam could be removed. I'll let you know how it goes when my mother tries it at the end of April.

No stitching progress.

Stitcher's Five: Starting to Stitch

1. When did you first start stitching?
I used to do crewel (I mistyped it as cruel!) kits when I was small—maybe seven? But I didn’t start cross-stitching and doing other counted needlework until after college.
2. How long have you been stitching? Depending on the sort, between 15 and 30 years. I didn't do much stitching between the bargello incident of 1978 and college when I switched to counted thread.
3. Did someone teach you or did you teach yourself?
My mom taught me to do crewel and bargello. When I took up cross-stitch, though, she had never done it and I taught myself. More complicated things like hardanger and other cutwork and pulled work, I learned at SOXS.
4. Describe your first project (if you can remember!).
Well, for the crewel it was a piece that said “My Room” and was stitched in rainbow-colors of wool, it was recently unearthed. For the cross-stitch, it was my friend’s wedding sampler—it was from a Better Homes and Garden’s book called America’s Best Cross-stitch. It was stitched one-over-one on 22 count fabric. It’s not half bad even though it’s no longer displayed (that would be because of the divorce).
5. When did you first realize that stitching was for you?
I think when I was buying the materials for my first project. There was so much cool stuff. And that was at Ben Franklin--when I went to my first dedicated cross-stitch store I was weak at the knees! And when I went to the Spirit of Cross-stitch Festival I nearly fainted. This is kind of a good story that MB and I were reminiscing about in Tulsa. We went to SOXS in Valley Forge and she had a class when the stitching mall opened, but I was free. I was just supposed to take a peek and meet her back at the hotel to go over together. When I got off the bus I was beaming! I kept telling her how awesome it was, but she didn't really believe me. She agreed though when she saw it. It was amazing. I don't think any shopping experience has been that good--none of the other xs shows that I've been to have quite managed to have that many stores. (Then again, when I think of how many stores have gone out of business in L.A. in the past 10 years, I can see why.)

Afghan report

I managed to stitch the whole of the outline of the hydrangea, and if nothing else gets done it is now recognizeable as a hydrangea. I did get quite far with it--I finished at least three of the many colors in it.

For the first time, I've had to blow up a chart. There are so many color changes that I was getting frustrated trying to read the jumble of symbols. I increased the 8.5x11 page to 11x17. I made two copies--one so that I can highlight what I've done and the second so I can read the backstitching symbols. I am blaming it on the pattern and not my increasing age. It can't be my eyes. I'm not even 40!

Pattern Wanted

Twice in one day! Have you seen those OTT-Lite Carriers? They have them at The Stitchery (Item #: T30317) and at Hug Me Co. But they cost more than the OTT-Lite! Because I am incredibly cheap--okay I'm not that cheap, but I'm not spending $70 on a carrying case for a lamp--I'd like to find a pattern. Or, if you know someone who's selling them at a discount, please let me know.

Nine Days and Counting...

I have finished the jasmine pot! I am going back to the hydrangea so that the whole afghan will look done from far away, then I can see how much backstitching I can get done. If I can't finish everything for the April 4 deadline, I can always give it to my mother when we descend on Alexandria, VA to babysit my beautiful nieces. That's later in April, so I will have two more weeks to backstitch if I really need it. I'm going to try not to need it because there are other projects I'd like to/have to work on.

zine

I'll admit I haven't been working on the afghan--and with only days to go! Instead, I've been working on a zine. It's called "The Stitchy and Crafty Show." With all props to Matt Groening. My husband didn't like either "Crafty Bitch" or "Stitch Bitch" or "Stitchy" (I was going to give props to Jen). He said I should have more self esteem than to call myself a bitch, but he doesn't realize I like it...

So I stitched a cover, and I've got to chart one design and make another. Then it will be a very small zine (8 pages) that I might distribute if people are interested. It's really a work project. Since we had that zine making workshop, I wanted to show scans of people's projects in the newsletter. So, now I have to make it!

Thirteen Days and Counting...

I've almost finished the jasmine pot--just one more color and some backstitching. Then, it's on to the hydrangea which is the last flower before I try to finish the backstitching.
But enough about that. More about me!
1. Where do you stitch? - describe your stitching area.
I stitch either while stretched out on the couch or in my comfy chair near the window (northern exposure). By the chair, I have a small table that is covered with my supplies--an ort bag (that I haven't emptied in 10 years!), scissors (three pairs at this writing), floss, the Ott light and the doololly. There are other miscellaneous things there as well, like an archival box filled with DMC floss number stickers, a couple of packs of needles, and a few skeins of floss that need filing. If I can get the couch before the s.o., I stretch out with the flosses I'm using strewn about the back of the couch and the supplies on the coffee table--except the ort bag, it lives where it lives. In the event that I am stitching on the couch, the orts go on the coffee table. I usually stitch in hand, though with the afghan, I've been using Q-snaps, and I've developed a habit of stitching with both hands (one hand manipulating the needle above the fabric and the other below).
2. What time of the day do you usually stitch?
I work a regular 9-5 so I stitch in the evenings; on the weekends, I stitch all day if I can--especially with the deadline looming.
3. Do you stitch by yourself or with someone else?
By myself, but I really enjoy talking while I stitch. I wish I had more stitching friends.
4. How long do you usually stitch for?
During the week, I only put in a couple of hours. On the weekends it's longer. For example, last Sunday I stitched between 7-9 and then 12-5 and then 7-9 again.
5. Do you listen to music or watch TV/DVDs when stitching or do you prefer quiet? I prefer to watch TV or a DVD while I stitch.

Comments are Back!

It's been so quiet around here (spring break) that I've taken some time to add comments. If I get more ambitious, you'll know...

SEX at camp
I am sorry it has taken me so long to report what I bought at camp. This should have been one of the first things I did!

Pine Mountain, Tooth Fairy Pocket Pillow (because someday my 4 year old niece will start losing her teeth!)

Erica Michaels, Pocketful of Posies

Hillside Samplings, Folk Art Thread Keep

Blackbird Designs, A Fine Collection (oooh, a slide show!)

Sisters and Best Friends, Chilly Willy and his Best Friend Nick

Twisted Threads: Woolies, Kind Heart

Little House, Willow Tree Inn

Sampler Company, Floral Sampler

4 My Boys, Pumpkins 3 for 3 (this one's old and I can't find a picture anywhere)

I also bought an Olde Colonial clock for a stitched piece that will become a wedding gift and a small set of Q-snaps for the afghan.

When I was checking out, the woman helping me commented that some of the things I bought, didn't seem like "things you would buy." I guess some of the stuff is easier than others, but I do it all. I need all the variety. And sometimes subdued colors catch my eye and sometimes I prefer wild stuff.
How about you?

Stitcher's Five: Fabric

Will I ever do these on the day they are released?
1. What is your favourite fabric to use? (e.g. aida, evenweave, linen etc)
linen
2. What is your favourite count (e.g. 14, 28, 32 etc)
32
3. Do you collect fabric "just to have" or do you buy it with a design in mind?
I have a big fabric stash, but I think I acquired much of it thinking I was going to do something with it. I also buy it when it's on sale. But it's not so much a collection as I have very good intentions.
4. What is your favourite colour for fabric?
natural, but I love the hand-dyeds too, like the meadowlark from Birds of a Feather that I am using now.
5. If you were heading for a desert island, and you only had one choice of fabric to take with you, what would you take?
Natural linen 32 count! And a bottle of bleach and a dye pot so that I could scavange around the island for plants and things with which to dye the fabric.

Camp Report

I did mean to post last week to remind you that I'd be off to Camp in Tulsa this past weekend. But my flight left at 6:30 AM which meant I had to be up at 3:45. Everything I planned didn't get done.

What a blast! Although I was initially skeptical when I saw the mean snoring woman (to distinguish her from the smelly snoring woman) in the airport and I got that sinking feeling that I wasn't going to enjoy camp, I shouldn't have worried. It's sometimes easier to get a long with other stitchers than I remember. If you had sent me the bios of our little gang, I would never have believed we'd get along as swimmingly as we do. MB and I are way more progressive than the others, who, for example, were shocked when I said the Democratic Party wasn't liberal, but we tried to stick to safe topics. Our discussion of farting was politically neutral enough. And we had a lot of fun trying to make up the "typical day" at camp for an SO who was curious. It included lots of nude pillow fighting; I mean, really, who can't imagine what stitching camp is? It's all stitching, as long as you can take it! We laughed the whole weekend and mostly we managed to stitch the 3 projects (plus an optional lesson in punchneedle embroidery).

Our projects included a Cross-Eyed Cricket 4th of July acorn (although some of us are modifying it because we don't know what acorns have to do with U.S. Independence) done up in Silverneedle SNN fuzzies/sparklies. I'm giving it to my grandmother who likes patriotic. We finished a Trail Creek Farm pillow "spring". I'm going to design a set and velcro it to the pillow so they can be switched out and I won't have to buy more of those expensive pillows. We also did a flat fold garden piece. I was so excited to learn the flat fold because I have more than 40 pieces that need finishing. I just wish my hand sewing were better (there is something ironic about that). My tablemate DH did my sewing, and I fixed her mistakes on the stitched piece. She's only been stitching for 18 months, and she does a lot on aida so her linen skills aren't what she would like. People kept saying that I got the fuzzy end of the lollipop on that one but I was pleased with the exchange. I'm planning on finishing three pieces as flat folds. I know that hardly makes a dent in the finishing pile. . . I may have convinced Lindy to add a pre-camp on finishing. I can't be the only one with a pile of stuff to finish! Now I have to figure out how to finish the punch needle project. That may be beyond me.

The food was way better this year if you stayed away because you thought you'd starve.

I got a long way on the afghan jasmine pot. I'm off until Thursday so that I can work on the afghan. After this, I may do the backstitching before I move back to the hydrangea.

Stitcher's Five: Favorite Designer

Stitchy Jen has given us some stitchy memes:
1. Who is your favourite designer (just one sorry!).
I had a lot of trouble with this, and then I picked someone who's not even in that --> list: CA Wells of CA's Eclectic Collection.
2. How many of their designs have you stitched?
Two, a "button pocket pendant" and a Christmas ornament.
3. What makes them your favourite designer?
Her designs are different and elegant. They are complex so the stitching is challenging but fun.
4. What would you like to see them next design?
I lack imagination today. I'd like to see her design a website so we can keep track of where she is teaching.
5. Would you collect all their patterns just to have them all? No! I'm not one of those people that likes to have collections for the sake of the collection. But you knew that based on how much I hate Cherished Teddies and Precious Moments. I'm much more likely to collect themed charts (for example, a bunch of different designers' interpretations of willow trees).

Afghan report

I have completed the sweet pea--at least for now, we'll see what we'll do about the mistake. I moved on to the signature block because I thought I could finish it last weekend. The old ball and chain went to a chess tournament (to play, finished T4th for his division, yay he-who-hasn't-played-competitive-chess-in-15-years), so I thought I would have lots of time to work on it. Only I was interrupted by the L.A. marathon. The race completely blocks in my neighborhood (we had to park the car in a different area so the hubster could leave for the tournament on Sunday morning). But I managed to distract myself by: 1) watching the race--it's so cool to see the elite runners glide past. Makes me think about taking up running. 2) making lots of birthday and St. Patrick's Day cards (to keep up the New Year's resolution). 3) walking to a restaurant for lunch. Despite the end of the grocery clerks' strike, we haven't been back yet. 4) heading to Pearl to see if they had a 1" or 1.5" square punch. (They didn't.)

So I didn't finish the signature block but I am close. I have three corner motifs and the line "by avs for mas" to complete. Then it's just the jasmine pot and the rest of the hydrangea. . . and hours and hours of backstitching.

Jen, I'm going to get to your memes, but Monday is for the afghan and I was out of the office on Friday. Keep them up!

the magazine business

I was trying to think of something to blog about to take my mind off the afghan mistake. Okay, I'll tell you about the mistake and then I'll talk about what else I thought I might talk about.

The Mistake
Back when I was working onthe narcissus, I started to see the light at the end of the tunnel (three more blocks on the afghan). This revelation led to an excited frenzy of kitting up the flower threads. I didn't take any threads out of the hydrangea which was begun but had to be abandoned. When I got to the sweet pea, I couldn't find the medium rose, but I did find this funky sort of dark rusty-rose Ginnie Thompson thread. I thought I must have purchased the GT to make up for missing DMCFT. And I thought this dark rose must somehow substitute for the medium. So I demoted the dark rose DMCFT to "medium" and used the GT for the dark. Well, someone has kindly offered any of the DMCFTs I may need, so I reviewed what I had so I could make one request. And that's when I found the medium rose lurking in the hydrangea kit. I'm heartbroken that I have fucked up so badly. But with only 31 days to go, I don't feel like I can redo the sweet pea. The leaves are already taking much more time than I had anticipated. I'm going to show it to MB at our stitching weekend to see what she thinks, but she is a good friend so I am sure she will say it's fine. Let that be a lesson in kitting. (The big problem really was that I bought a couple of GTs to substitute for DMCFTs and I didn't write it down when I made those decisions four years ago...)

what else I thought I might talk about
The magazine thing. I promised not to blog about the afghan during the rest of the week, so I was searching for something to talk about. I thought I hadn't received a new Sampler & Antique Needlework in a while nor a new Piecework. So I dug through the magazines to find my most recent issues. As I was flipping through them, I realized I didn't remember a thing about them. It's possible I threw them into the magazine basket without looking at them, but more possible is that I just have too much to remember and I don't really need all these magazines. I spoke earlier of ebaying the Australian Embroidery and Cross-stitch magazines even though they're beautiful to look at. I've never done a single pattern from them. In fact, I've done nothing from Sampler & Antique Needlework nor Piecework. What is the value of these subscriptions? Some mystical connection with the other readers? Perhaps I'll read them on the plane next week to remind myself. What about you? Do you have too manysubscriptions?

listable

I am an inveterate listmaker. I've got lists for everything. My husband used to make fun of me, but now he's been converted to the packing list, perhaps the most important of the genre.

With the help of new pages for my Geek Book, I have reached a pinnacle (or is it a nadir?) in the trivial list: "Finished but not Framed." This list was created and formatted by Kelly. This is a great site if you're a list lover like me. I went through and listed all of the items I have finished since (about) 1995 that have not been framed (or "finished"). My list takes up more than both sides of one page:
To frame: Christmas Cake, Ewe & Eye & Friends; Acorn and Squirrel, Bent Creek; Spring, The Trilogy; Renaissance Angel, Mill Hill; Purple Heart, Ewe & Eye & Friends; January and August Monthly Mania, Heart in Hand;
To finish as a wall-hanging: Thanksgiving, Silver Needle's Secret Needle Night; Reindeer, SNSNN; Apple, SNSNN; 2002 Christmas Keepsake, Heart in Hand; Mosey and Me bunny/carrot from camp last year (scroll to bottom); Wooly, Bent Creek.
To finish as a pillow: Ho Ho Ho, Lizzie*Kate; the project from my Polish stitching student.
To finish as a hanging pillow ornament: some unidentified ornaments, probably from JCS: snowman, 2 reindeer ornaments, celtic tin top (actually that's a mistake that I'm finishing as an ornament); from two hour cross-stitch a snowflake and a silhouette of a moose; snowman, Mosey 'n' me; Heart in Hand, Noel Ornament; Santa Ornament, Mosey n Me; Spider Ornament, Lizzie*Kate; Bah Humbug, Curtis Boehringer; Jane Greenoff trout kit my mil bought me; Joy ornament, Graphs by Cheryl and Barbara; Joy; Orchid, Lilac Studio; Happy Winter, Samsarah; red heart and blue heart Sweetheart Tree
To finish in another manner: Shoes, Heinzit.
To send for professional finishing: Heart's Content: tree annual ornament, plum pudding 1997 annual ornament, hark from JCS; Moss Creek Celtic Knot; Theron Traditions Diminutive Sewing Roll and the Sewing Chest's mini pouch.

Phew!

Now remind me why I didn't pay more attention to sewing classes in home ec.

Still no pictures

I am nearly finished with the sweet pea. This is the square that has gone the quickest, even though it is not necessarily the smallest. I think I am going to move onto the signature block in a few days--that one should go quickly too. And, once I've put in the "Wrought in the years 2000-2004," that means I will have to finish before next year. That will leave me with the jasmine pot and the hydrangea to complete. Since I will have a solid week of vacation to work on them, I have become rather optimistic. And the old ball and chain has entered a chess tournament for Saturday, so I won't have to divide my attention from the project this weekend. Plus I will have several hours of flying time between the trip to Tulsa (woohoo!) and the trip to NH. My stitching fingers will be dry and flakey, but I will have the best damn 60th birthday present my mother is likely to get.