One Stitch At A Thyme

This week's SBQ was suggested by Rachel and is:

What is your cross stitch weakness? (i.e., What do you have to have when you see it, even if you are supposed to be on the Wagon?)

The permalink to this post is:
http://blog.blondelibrarian.net/archives/2008/02/sbq-stitching-weaknesses/

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That’s an easy one. Anything designed by Teresa Wentzler. Even if I don’t stitch them all, I have this compelling need to collect her designs.

Greetings everyone two posts in as many days the mind boggles. ;-)

Well I managed to get to Wal-Mart today and there were no mini rose bushes to be had. So I hoofed it across the parking lot to the Home Depot Mega Store and lo and behold they still had a dozen left by the front entrance for $5 each. White, deep red, pale pink, and something that looked like bright pink tipped in orange. I got one 4 inch pot of the bright pink tipped in orange.





I had a friend of mine take pictures outside of his house to day. He cut off the bottom of the picture so you can't see my hand holding the bottom of the pot. I don't know what's up with that yellow bud in the bunch. Next.....

RADCON a Sci-Fi and Gaming convention was held this Friday, Saturday, and Sunday at the Red Lion Hotel in Tri-Cities, Washington. One of the fantasy authors I read, Patricia Briggs, was going to be there this weekend but not in an official capacity.

As I live in the Tri-Cities I wanted Patty to sign the six books I have of hers. Problem - what if I'm not able to find her during the 3-day convention after shelling out over $30 admission fee.
Solution – Patty is good friends with the owners of the local new/used book store "Book Worm" and took the time to visit both branch stores and signed every new book they had on hand. Huzzah!!!

I missed her for a personal signing at the "Book Worm" because of a doctors appointment on Friday. But I made it over to the larger of the two stores before they closed that same day and picked up an autographed copy of each of the 6 books I wanted. Some of her earlier novels were there but I only had $50 with me at the time so I could only get the 6 I really needed. Yeah, I know $30 verses $50. But I figured I'd spend more on a sure thing, and get a second set, than to risk $30 and come away with nothing. Anyway here I am grinning like an idiot at my book acquisitions. The one in my hands is the anthology "On the Prowl".

Yes, definitely a late but still happy V-Day even if I had to buy it myself.

One Last Thing:
eHarmony.com sent me spam a couple of days ago saying – come take our personality profile test and check your matches for free this valentine’s weekend. So on a whim I did it today. I answered all the questions truthfully and the final outcome of all this was….. Soooo sorry but we can’t match you. They basically implied that I’m too old, too fat, unattractive and set in my ways. THANK YOU so much eHarmony for letting me know I’ll never find a husband, die an old maid, and never have sex with anyone for the rest of my life. That’s what you get for telling the truth….I should have lied through my teeth and been happy. ;-p [snicker]

Well it looks like I’ve gone and fallen behind again with updating my Blog. The only new thing I have to report is, that after going back to work at my temp job in January and managing to work the entire month. I’ve now been laid-off at the first of February. It’s been two weeks now and no phone call, so I have a feeling I’m going to be off for the entire month. Hopefully no longer than that.

I hope everyone who’s married or has a Significant Other had a happy Valentine’s Day. For me the week came and went just like any other. No flowers, no card, no acknowledgement from anyone. Not having a boyfriend really sucks during certain times of the year. Anyway, I dare say I was temped to buy myself a single rose, then I gagged at the price they wanted. Maybe I’ll head out to Wal-Mart tomorrow and see if they have any potted miniature red rose bushes left, hopefully they’ll be on sale.

I’ve gotten tired of reading paranormal romances for the next few days, so I’ve decided to pull out and do the finish work on an old project TW’s Dragon Needle Case. I’ve finally stitched a back for it and now all I have to do is sew the front to the back, line the insides and sew in the felt pages. Maybe if I can muster a little enthusiasm I might put it together in the next week.

SBQ - February 6, 2008

This week's SBQ was suggested by Kathryn and is:

Are there other crafts that you have tried and abandoned?
Why do you like stitching better?

The permalink to this post is:
http://blog.blondelibrarian.net/archives/2008/02/sbq-other-crafts/

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Abandon seems like such a harsh word, I think I’ll say temporarily lost interest in. The crafts that came to mind when I read this question were crocheting and knitting.

My grandmother taught me the basics of crochet and I eventually inherited her steel hooks. The projects – a circular Pineapple Sunburst doily 15 inches across and various baby blankets for cousins, and a couple of queen size blankets for me and mom were the bulk of my interest. I moved on to knitting and taught myself the basics - making your standard knit 2, purl 2, winter scarf. From there I jumped in the deep end making a long sleeved, hooded, with pockets, Irish cable knit sweater. As I recall it had 3 different types of twisted cable designs and I made it without a single problem save one. It was too small for me. So I ended up giving it to my sister. Everyone oooh’d and aaah’d over it, and even my dad whined about making him a sweater. But my interest in knitting had petered out by then - that was over 20 years ago. Although, last year I had the urge to make myself a simple knit cap for winter. I bought myself a set of double ended needles and found a free chart on-line. Just like the last time it turned out perfect except for one thing - it was too small, again, so this time I ended up giving it to my mother. You’d think I’d learn by now.

Anyway, I can’t exactly say why I’ve settled on counted cross stitch. Maybe because it looks more like art work. Or maybe my packrat gene, which I inherited from my mother, leans more towards cross stitch charts, embroidery floss, and evenweave fabrics. In any case, I’m happy knowing that I’ll be leaving something of myself behind after I’m long gone.



SBQ - February 13, 2008

This week's SBQ was suggested by Loretta and is:

Do you have any projects that you have scrapped and started over?
What made you start over from scratch?

The permalink to this post is:
http://blog.blondelibrarian.net/archives/2008/02/sbq-starting-over/

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The only project I have ever scrapped and started over was Camelot Sampler by Teresa Wentzler. I had finished the center sword block and had gotten 75% of the Guinevere block done, when I decided I didn’t like the look of the over-one section of the face. It seemed too lumpy and contorted. That and I didn’t like the count and quality of the fabric that came with the kit. So I special ordered a half yard of 25ct. evenweave Lugana [Mushroom] and started over. It will be 7 years come this November ’08 and I’m still working away at it.