Wrap up

January goals:
1. Finish and send rr Despite my inability to do math, I was able to put something in the allotted square!
2. Dolly Mama Kitty--due 1/21 And finished as a pillow for my niece's Scooby Doo pajama party. Yes, I went in my pjs. Still working on getting a photo of that project.
3. Work on the marquoir I haven't worked on it since the 20th.
4. Attend to the Tree of Life UFO -- I did a little, a very little.
5. Start something new Started the Tall Flowers sampler. Love working on it!

February:
1. Dolly Mama Poodle--due 2/15
2. Continue to work on the Tree of Life UFO
3. Work on the marquoir. Try to finish part 2 by the 16th, so I can start part 3 before part 6 is released. Did you get all that?
4. Continue working on the Tall Flowers sampler
5. Hope I receive the next RR so I can finish in time for camp (3/8)

A Bored Person is a Boring Person

I'm so bored right now. And I noticed you people aren't updating your blogs, so no help to me in alleviating the boredom...and then I noticed I hadn't updated mine. I've only stitched a little bit of late, and Google hasn't sent me any interesting stories about stitching. I got nothing.

I've done a tiny amount of stitching on Tree of Life. When I picked it up on Sunday, I thought I was so clever to notice that the stitching was off. So I ripped out a whole column of stitching. Then when I restarted, and I was stitching it correctly, I noticed that I was stitching right in the old holes. So, apparently, I'm an idiot. It's a little upsetting to have such a setback on this piece. I'm sure I'll get over it.

I have been thinking about sewing and my goal to learn to do it better. I ordered the two back issues of Sew Simple, and I investigated this company to see if I could find someone to teach me to sew. They do not have representatives in my area but I can order the video. Trust me, if I am looking for a person to help, it's because I need a person to help. It's kind of like the tax software commercials where the guy is asking the box what to do about an audit. Who am I supposed to ask when they say things I don't understand, which will be inevitable? I have also investigated Joanns and the sewing machine repair company in my town. Why do people think if I want to learn to sew it's because I do not work? Why are all the lessons scheduled for midweek mornings? Why are all the Saturday lessons for kids? Why do people hate working women? Why do they hate freedom?

Ultimately, I would love to have a woman who would come to my house each week and we could work on finishing projects I've started. Learning things that way would be ideal. If I hadn't been such a stubborn teenager, I would have learned these things then. But my mother was the seamstress, and we spent a lot of time butting heads. A lot of time. Time that would have been put to better use if she had sent me off to learn to sew. But not with a lot of other people. I did that in home ec and that did not go so well. I wish I had some pictures of my awful home ec projects. Perhaps it's better that they have gone unrecorded...

Of bobbins, pins, and screaming banshees

I haven't written in a while. I haven't stitched much. I had been trying to finish a present for my niece, but then I got a cold. I just couldn't motivate myself to work on it. Or much of anything. On Friday, I finally broke down and took the day off, in part to recover, and in part because the birthday party was upon us.

I was going to finish the pillow by doing a sort of patchwork around the stitched piece, but I didn't like how the black fabric I bought went with the lime and pink striped fabric. So I decided to applique it. I also decide to make an envelope pillow with trim.

Let's just stop to contemplate the stupidity of the task: three new techniques at the very last minute.

I had been studying my copy of Simplicity Simply the Best Home Decorating Book, and I knew I needed trim, stabilizer, and iron on fusing. So I lolled around on Friday until it became imperative that I get to Joann's. I bought my supplies, had lunch, and sat down to the sewing machine at 2:00. I practiced the applique on a spare piece of aida and the fabric I chose for the pillow and found out that you don't need to have a matching bobbin thread to do applique. Good thing because I had already looked around for spare bobbins, and--how does this happen?--I had none. I had used the iron on fusing but had no idea where to put the stabilizer. So I just didn't use it. It probably would have made things easier, but I was under a little pressure. I cut out the pieces for the pillow and then had to look up the very first instruction--make a double hem. Double hem, double hem, you'd think these books wouldn't use so much jargon. I basted the trim on...backwards...then upside down. I have to leave at 6 pm and it's past 4:30. I finally get the trim on and go to pin my pillow together only to discover...I have no idea where my pins are. I look in the obvious places, then in the not-so-obvious places, then I'm looking in the vegetable bin because you never know. I take a deep breath and decide I can hold three pieces of fabric together while I sew. It starts off okay, but then I'm swearing at the sewing machine. Next, I'm yelling at myself. Then I give myself a good talking to and take a deep breath. The next thing you know, I've sewn around the edges, and at 5:15, I turn it inside out and...it actually looks pretty good. I stuff in the pillow form, wrap it in tissue, and stick it in a gift bag.

And the kid liked it! My cousin, who is an extraordinary sewer--and as a mechanical engineer, very precise--says it looks like I've been practicing my sewing, looks very nice. Of course, I think she missed the fact the trim is not even, a portion of the flat part of the trim is hanging out on the left side... Still, it passes muster and it was finished on time. But not with enough to spare that I could take a photo. I'll see if I can get one on Sunday.

Just to be clear, it's the seven year olds who were the banshees. Their favorite game at the party seemed to be running up the back stairs and down the front screaming at the top of their lungs. And people wonder why we don't have kids!

New! New! New!

SFist has a report about the National Needle Art Association (TNNA) meeting in San Diego. They show a needlepoint Nano case by AMH Designs (note, they don't have the new design on the website yet). When I first saw these I thought, I WANT THAT!

But just today, I found a pattern for a Nano case on wikiHow. So I think I can manage to make my own and not wait for the kits to be available--but how cool that AMH is gonna bring the kids to the stitching?

Besides my Nano hasn't worked since I got it, and my mother hasn't sent the receipt so I can't return it. So, no rush.

Lee, I am stitching the marquoir in hand. I had to gussy it up so I ironed it. I was taking a photo for a different purpose--turned out they didn't use it--but I had to restore the family pride by making it presentable.

Tall Flowers Update

This is a psuedo-update. I took this picture yesterday, in the daylight, and on my bus ride today I put the first flower on a stem. So this isn't really an accurate representation any longer. Sigh. Winter bites with all its bad lighting.

I do love the colors, though. They are so happy, with any luck they can get me through the dreariness of winter.

That said, I think it's about time to switch over to stitching the Tree of Life Window so I can get some time on that before the end of the month. Am I already talking about the end of the month? Why can't time slow down like it used to when I was a kid waiting for a big event, like Christmas or my birthday? Can I get some of that time back?

Melissa wanted to know what colors I am using on the marquoir. The answer is black and DMC 921, a sort of pumpkin color that matches the paint job in my dining room. Yup, just regular ol' DMC.

Marquoir Update

Leah asked how I was doing with the marquoir. I'm still working on part two, even though five parts have been released. This is almost exactly where part two begins and ends. So you can see I've only managed the easy bits!

I haven't had as much time with this as I would have liked this week, and this weekend isn't going to yield a lot of stitching time. We promised the kids special days for Christmas, and today we are taking one to the art museum. It's going to be great fun! Tomorrow is The Big Game--one I really didn't expect the Patriots to be playing. I had really hoped to see LT crush the weak Indie defense, but I don't get to write the script. Anyway, where there is Buffalo chicken dip, there is no marquoir.

For scale.

No Left Turn, No Right Turn, What Do You Do?

Tonight I was supposed to go to a meeting at 7:00 at Barnes and Noble, but I showed up at Borders. Apparently, I'm a complete idiot.

Fortunately, I never let an opportunity to browse craft magazines go by. I saw the magazine Sew Simple which billed itself as "basic skills for successful sewing." I thought, "yeah, right," when I picked it up. But I opened right up to a section on making gathers. It explains why you would gather fabric, what it does for you and the fabric, and then it gives two methods for making gathers, one for making short gathers and another if you're making, say, a dust ruffle. That was it, I was sold!

Upon further examination, I was right to buy this. Under the techniques section, they discuss sergers, rotary cutters, and machine quilting. Fashion focuses on sprucing up a camisole, making a broomstick skirt, and rescuing items by remaking them. There's a home section that had some decorative items like pillows, blankets, and curtains. The final section is called "extras" and has a variety of items like pin cushions, journal covers, and a purse. The projects seem simple but worthwhile, attractive. Most importantly the directions are very thorough which makes me think I could actually tackle them. I will give a full report when I manage to make one.

And for $4 each, I bought a couple of calendars: Extraordinary Chickens so we can keep track of our comings and goings--the dude did not see the humor that I saw in that one. I also got a copy of Pattern-a-Day Cross Stitch calendar. Even if I only end up keeping a quarter of the patterns, I will come out ahead.

Highland Cows

I was over at Redwitch and saw the Highland cow bookmark she made for her s.o. I asked about the designer and she sent the pattern to me! So sweet. And, for reasons that cannot be explained it arrived here in two days (Monday was a postal holiday) whereas it took over two months for my stuff to get to the UK. (Okay, I sent it by slow boat, but that's a really, really slow boat. Couldn't I have swum there in two months?)

When the dude was a little boy, his mum tells me, he was fascinated by the Highland cow. So much so that a few years ago, she sent him a Highland Cow calendar. Don't you think he needs a Highland cow bookmark? I do. Because I see now how he developed his personal grooming philosophy.

I would have told you this all sooner, but the dude took over the computer last night. He was entering his games from his recent chess tournament. He's moved up in class since his last tourney (the World Open in Philadelphia) where he finished in the top 4% in his section. This time, at the Liberty Bell Open, he finished in the top 20%. So he's still doing well, just not as well as he'd like. So anyway, he had to tell Fritz which moves he had made so he could see what he could have done better. And since he's so cute when he's posing as a Chess Dork influenced by Highland Cows, you just have to let him have the computer...

I have been working on the Tall Flowers Sampler by day and I finally got back to the marquoir last night--good thing too because it was the 16th and part five has been released. I'm busily stitching part two and hoping for a good ice storm or blizzard so I can stay home and work on it!

Kitty

Figuring my cousin would appreciate a change in sentiment (my niece is 6 going on 16), I substituted her name for the "you're not the boss of me." I changed the color of the outfit since her room is pink, of course. I need to get some black and white check fabric to complement the pink and green stripe, then I'll make the pillow. The party is January 26th. I also got her a rabbi rabbit fur muff...because I always wanted one when I was seven!

You're not the Boss of Me
Dolly Mama's by Joey
Start: December 28, 2006
Finish: January 14, 2007

Murders and Executions

Shay Pendray's Needle Arts Studio has been acquired by Interweave Press the company that brings you PieceWork and Interweave Knits. Ms. Pendray will continue as host through 2007, and will be involved with the show until 2011 on and off the air.

So, um, wake me in 2012?

I think I've seen the show once, and it was on needlepoint. I seem to remember it was like watching paint dry which is unfortunate for both PBS and needlework.

In other news, last Saturday at the hairdresser, I sat stitching as usual while I waited for the dye to take. The salon owner, Nicholas Sebastian, who is not as gay as that sounds--in fact, he's not gay trust me--comes over to me and says, "Needlepoint is getting hugely popular. You're not the only one I see doing it in here anymore." Since I've only been going there for just a shade less than a year, this "anymore" takes on a new dimension. At least he's used it with the negative--using anymore with a positive spin is one of the most perplexing regionalisms in the English language. Lots of people do it. And it still confuses me.

Ohhhhhm

In an article on stress reduction, Kim Ode talks to experts who explain how cross-stitch helps you de-stress:

If this all sounds a little too loopy, consider that everyone who has a hobby employs just this sort of focused concentration, [Judith Lies, who teaches stress reduction techniques at Seeds of Mindfulness in Minneapolis] said. "Whether you play the piano or do cross-stitch, it's that experience of having 20 minutes to spare but ending up doing it for 40 minutes because you've let go of all the stimuli and expectations and drudgery and allowed yourself to just be."

Ah yes, that’s why I didn’t get anything crossed off the to-do list, I sat down to stitch for twenty minutes and just became…

Stitches are Forever

Britain's Quick and Easy Cross Stitch magazine will reportedly feature Daniel Craig as their celebrity cross stitch pattern. My own celebrity fantasies notwithstanding I have got to meet the women (girls?) who are wasting their time stitching pictures of celebrities. Really. I’m ready to hop a plane to England to visit them.

Shod!

Yesterday, I put a normal sneaker on my left foot and walked around like a normal girl for a whole day! It was very exciting while it lasted. Unfortunately today it doesn't fit. At least not with the extra sock I have to wear. I'm hoping I can burn the compression sock on Wednesday after I visit Dr. Bonecutter. Next time, before the surgery, remind me to get a couple of pairs of those so my foot doesn't stink so bad the dogs try to eat it.

I finally finished and sent my New Year's cards, which means everyone has been properly saluted this holiday season.

I worked on the Dolly Mama kitty for my niece:

And I started Tall Flower Sampler for me. Although I thought it might be an inspiration piece for the craft room--I'd paint the walls DMC3347, I'm starting to think I might go with periwinkle. Would it clash too much with the aqua bedroom across the hall?

PS: I'm very pleased I was able to provide diversion for so many with my fantasies. Now stop drooling on your linen and get back to work!

Way Past My Bedtime

Last night, I stayed up way late to get this robin done, and just as I finished, I got an e-mail from Donna telling me she's dropping out from our "contest." Pooh, I could have gotten an extra two hours of sleep! (And taken a better photo!)

In order to balance my cockeyed placement, I added the second (darker) tree. The butterfly button was included because "camp" was lined up properly with the cabin but way off center. How come I find it so difficult to do math?

I do love the little redbud tree on the right.

Cheaters

Pictured are my new cheaters. Can you see the copper crystals that match my hair? I bought them when I went to Stein Mart to attend to the Great Pants (Trousers) Fiasco.

Moving into the cheaters phase of my life while I have a face that screams "card me" when I order a drink is so confusing. But I guess that's what mid-life crisis is all about: daydreaming about running off to Monaco with Gus Hansen while wearing your cheaters. Daydreaming about running with the bulls in Pamplona while wearing your cheaters. Daydreaming about running down the Malibu coast with Matthew McConaughey, firm skin--a firm body like you haven't had since you were 12--glistening with the oils you've rubbed on each other mixed with pure sweat... Or daydreaming about running anywhere at all while you're wearing an orthopaedic shoe after your bunion surgery. Yeah, that's middle age.

I picture myself looking up over the edge of these glasses to see the distance and imagine that I look exactly like my father when he imitates my departed grandfather. I'm looking up over my cheaters and seeing my old, decaying self. (Dear friends, remind me not to wear them in front of cute boys.)

In stitching news: I'm in a race with Donna to see who can get the RR in the mail first. Of course, I have a two hour head start being as I'm a "liberal democrat from the east coast." (I say that with a little wink.)

What I Ate for Lunch

Take that Margaret Mason! I so wish I could be more like Michelle and whip up a vat of something to eat for a week. I often marvel that the dude does this when I go away. I'm much more like Cheryl. Even taking 5 days of Lean Cuisines in 5 different cuisines is too much like punishment.

I'm really good about meal planning for dinner, but I always fly by the seat for lunch, so I decided to plan lunch! (It takes a PhD, friends.) Even getting a crate of clementines (like little balls of sunshine) and a giant bag of Utz's snack packs we still spent the same amount on groceries. Have I found the free lunch?

Today I brought egg salad on a hard roll (which I won't eat again for a month or two), a handful of grape tomatoes, a tiny bag of Utz's potato chips, and 2 clementines. Think of it not so much as lunch as an afternoon buffet. Look mom, two servings of fruits and vegetables! Tomorrow I plan on having a tuna salad with tomatoes and cucumbers, a bagel, and chocolate pudding. Friday is peanut butter and shredded carrots on whole wheat, chips, and 2 clementines. (I love pb and banana but you can't buy bananas when you get a crate of clementines. Not for a family of two.) On Saturday we will eat leftovers, and on Sunday we're having baked potatoes with salsa and cheese. It's stunning what changes a little bit of effort yields.

This morning I realized how badly off-center my rr is; tonight I hope to locate some little buttons that I can use to make the empty spaces seem deliberate. I should be done this project by Friday. (Did you hear that, Donna?) I'd like to get it in the mail soon so that we all have enough time to get these robins finished by camp (March 8th). You know, and not be taking the last stitches on the plane to Tulsa. Then I can get on to the next obligation piece--the Dolly Mama Kitty for my niece's birthday. Sometime in between I have to finish my Christmas cards--now New Year cards. I have about 20 left. And someday I'd like to make my new start. I deserve it!

National Soup Month!

Here are my stitching goals for this month:
1. Finish and send rr
2. Dolly Mama Kitty--due 1/21
3. Work on the marquoir
4. Attend to the Tree of Life UFO (It's gonna take time to work up to the others.)
5. Start something new

We celebrated the ball drop with my cousin and her husband. We ate lobster and drank champagne. TL is very goal oriented so he kept asking for our resolutions. My stitching resolutions you already know, but as he kept hounding me I came up with something. Here it is: I'm going to bring my lunch from home more often. Right now I'm spending about $2500 a year eating lunch at local restaurants. (I spend about $10 compared to the dude, who can eat from a roach coach for $4.) I figure I will save money and lose a little weight; one salad at the salad place near me is 7 WW points--and it's the only one under 10. For a salad! I figure I can start slowly, bringing lunch three days a week, and eventually working up to dining out once every two weeks. Of course, we haven't been grocery shopping since before Christmas so I've got to go eat...out.

Ideas for interesting lunches gladly accepted.