Stitching Up a Storm in Alamo City

Struggling with concepts

I took Maddie to daycare a couple of hours ago.   Once I got home, I took a long shower and washed my hair (novel concept when you have baby in the house) and started preparing a couple of meals I could take to a friend of mine who had surgery yesterday.

In the midst of things, I looked at my Facebook page, which I started a few months ago to keep up with my children and grandchildren.   It's been fun.  Most of my Facebook friends are either relatives or friends of my children.   Until yesterday.

Two requests "to be friends" came from people I haven't heard from in years -- one, oh, uh, about 35 years ago -- the other maybe 15.  

So I'm pondering the contrast between blogging and "Facebook-ing" (or FB-ing, if I were cool).  On one hand, people you don't really "know" (well, most of them don't know you, anyway) and who live in countries you've never been to check to see what you're doing every few days.  And on the other, people who you've really known -- like done all those embarrassing things in high school making a total geek out of yourself or not having a cool date to the prom or WHATEVER -- find you after 35 years.

What is up with all of that?

I guess it's called technology.  Thank you, Al Gore :>)  (Or whoever you are.)

I'll get back to stitching soon.  I promise.

Love, Mimi

Making Martha (sort of) proud

I've had it on my mind for a few weeks, and finally this morning I tackled the chore of straightening out a hall closet that happens to be the place where I store my needlepoint threads.  I've been using these flat boxes that have movable partitions in them for most of my threads, but they weren't labeled and were a pain because I'd end up pulling out 6 of them to find the one I wanted.

Anyway, once I found out Mark, who is very neat and tidy, had recently purchased a label maker, I was off and running this morning.

Before you become too impressed, I have to confess that the REAL closet I need to clear out is the one I keep all my WIPs in.  All those plus books, linens, family photos, all things crafty.   UGH.   It will be a long time before I take a picture of that closet for you.   I actually clear it out every now and then but  it is destroyed rather easily.  

Oh, well.   One thing at a time.

Happy stitching (and organizing).
Love, Jane

More on the August Santa

For someone (me!) who said she didn't like the August Santa, he's gotten a lot of press!!

I'm down to a few bits to finish but started the background today anyway.  I know that many of you do the background first and I understand that, but I usually don't.   I may experiment, but I almost always keep it until last.

First I tried the woven stitch and didn't like it -- too busy.   Then I tried David's backgrounds stitch, which was the stitched specified.  It was ok, but I needed something that would FLOW better. 

I pulled out 2 books, one of which was Amy Bunger's Cookbook of Stitches and happened into the Darning Chapter.   Decided right away that one of her stitches in that chapter looked like the heat coming off pavement in August.  

So take a look and tell me what you think.  It will be a compensator's nightmare, but if you promise not to enlarge the image and then count too closely, I'll do it.

Happy Stitching.
Love, Mimi

August guy is growing on me

I worked a bit yesterday and made another modification to him. I had stitched the bag in the light grey that was painted, and didn't like it.   It's  too light -- it just fades into the background.  So since I had already determined the hat would be darker --  VOILA  -- matching hat and bag.  Sort of.  

My genes and instincts say that everything should match, but I know that's not trendy anymore.  I'm thinking his hat will be light and dark and the bag just dark.   I've already stitched the dark part of the hat and need to go back over it with the lighter tan. 

After that, I have a bit to do on the pineapple, the straps on his flip flops, his shorts, the rest of the red rectangle at the bottom, his cheeks and beard and then the background. I guess I need to get busy.   He's not as close to being done as I thought.

But, I do like him a little better now. 

Happy Stitching,
Love, Mimi

Getting ready for Halloween

Maddie B has already been to the pumpkin patch.   She went over the weekend.  With her teeth coming in the way they are, she's going to be her own little jack o lantern for the occasion!   The red hair  doesn't hurt the ensemble either!

Her parents are going to be gone over Halloween, so Papa and I will have Maddie and will hold down the fort at the front door as best we can.   I think she's going to be a little ballerina.   Trick or treaters are sort of spotty in our neighborhood.  Sometimes we have lots - other times not so many.   I'm thinking I'll put some luminaries out to lure those little monsters up the driveway.

I'm still working on the August Santa -- I'll post him later.   Slowly, but surely.

Happy stitching.
Love, Mimi