Notes

Just Nan, Owl Winder Pocket

Note 1: This one is mostly for me. Market finds: Freshness in the Air, Homespun Elegance; Sadie Stuart Spring Flower, Samsarah; Minerva's Mouse, Just Nan.

Note 2: For you: I have about 30 people signed up to send cards for Maggie. I did have trouble reaching Trish, the cross-stitching gardener from NC. If you could e-mail me, I'll send the address. CinDC has volunteered her stamping friends to make some cards. But we're still short of the goal of 89. If you want to help, shoot me an e-mail, or leave a comment--make sure you're reachable.

Note 3: The end of the month is approaching and my list of goals is languishing. I have not completed one of the goals. Only five more days. (I'm blaming the job search, which is a pretty good distraction.)

Needlework Show

The Needlework Show is up again. There are more designers than ever exhibiting in this forum. And this year many more "big name" designers like Heart's Content, JBW Designs, M Designs, Liz Turner Diehl, and Homespun Elegance have joined the show.

Today's picture features Cherished Stitches' "Purple Passion." Isn't it gorgeous? Of the people I hadn't heard of before, I liked her stuff and Always Time to Stitch. Always Time to Stitch has "contemporary" punch needle. I probably wouldn't do it myself, but it's very fresh.

As usual, many of the designers have derivative designs. Very derivative. Some also have what I think of as bad art: the pieces are not quite in proportion or something. And there's a whole slew of stuff that you think "Why would I buy that? I could 'design' it myself!" To each her own, of course.

Go! Visit! You may end up with a door prize!

So. . . Much . . . New . . .Stuff

I know there are more Nashville Market Reports out there, but I've read my first one and there's so much great stuff! Check out Elegant Stitch's report. As you may recall, I when I am not stitching the afghan, I have my husband's anniversary present to work on (Carriage House Sampling's Hearts and Flowers). At first I thought it would be cute to follow the "traditional anniversary gifts": paper, cotton, etc. But now I think, why not stitch a little something for him every year? (Um, because I'm *still* stitching the present from last July?) I was inspired by Good Huswife's "I Thee Wed"; Sheepish Design's "Token of Love"; and the Trilogy's "Wedding Spots". At least they're all pretty small...

The afghan is rolling along. I took a picture on Monday night, but work's been busy, and I haven't had a chance to upload it. I might have time to manipulate the picture and put it up on Friday. At the very least, the picture is taken and the progress will be documented. I had hoped to get a lot more done on it this past weekend, but the s.o. has broken some toes and because he doesn't understand the concept of rest, he's put himself on crutches. This whole ordeal has kept him on the couch far too long, and he was getting difficult, so I took him to the Long Beach convention center, rented him a wheelchair, and took him around the L.A. Times Travel Show. At least two men told me what a great wife I was. (Just what I always wanted to be when I grew up! Squeal.) We had fun playing with people, and their ideas about disability, by telling them we had hiked around Alaska on our honeymoon. (You could see the wheels spinning.) It was sort of funny to watch people backpedal after they told us there was some great golf at their resort. People.