Charlene tagged me on her blog, Needle in Hand, to post 7 things about myself that people may not know, following the rules below. So I'll start with my seven weird or random facts, and then tag my fellow bloggers.
1. I love rocks. I love to collect them, and I have a favorite rock on my desk. I also have several small jars of interesting pebbles, larger jars filled with pebbles that I use for bookends, and a small jar of polished minerals and semi-precious stones that I keep on my desk to help me focus.
2. I don’t particularly care for vegetables, though I do like broccoli and eggplant. I prefer vegetables to be very browned (grilled, roasted, etc.) I won’t eat asparagus, or anything asparagus has touched. I do not eat iceberg lettuce or the ribs of romaine lettuce.
3. I fall asleep in the passenger seat of the car. As a consequence, I really have no concept of how long it takes to get somewhere or how far away things are.
4. I don’t like Halloween. Neither does my husband, so we make it a point to go out to dinner that night. (Mostly I don’t like children coming to my door demanding things).
5. I love rearranging furniture and organizing things. I will come to your house and do it for free
6. I think physical comedy like Jackass is hysterical. But I don’t think the Three Stooges are funny.
7. I have over a thousand books in my house, most of them in pristine condition. I am obsessive about the condition of my books and rarely lend them out.
And now, the rules....
THE RULES:
1. Once you are tagged, link back to the person who tagged you.
2. Post THE RULES on your blog.
3. Post 7 weird or random facts about yourself on your blog.
4. Tag 7 people and link to them.
5. Comment on their blog to let them know they have been tagged.
Since I just tagged a few people for Making My Day, I'm going to pick 7 different people that I haven't tagged before. And now the 7 bloggers I'm tagging:
Chiloe
Laurel
Monique
Patty
Courtney
Linda
Janaina
(If you've already done this, you don't have to do it again, but let me know if you do do it so I can come and see!)
Saturday, February 16, 2008
How to Organize your Printed Freebies... and other charts
Based on some of the comments on my last organizational post, I started thinking about how to organize printed freebies, and it occurred to me that a method I used for planning our wedding would work just as well for printed freebies.
Instead of being buried by an avalanche of wedding magazines and spending lots of time flipping through endless advertisements to find what I wanted, I started tearing out what I liked and filing it in a binder. (What was left over of the magazine I passed on or recycled). By using page protectors, tab dividers and a sturdy 3 ring binder, I was able to eliminate a lot of clutter and keep all my useful things in one place.
First things first - gather up all the stuff you want to file. You can do this with printed freebies, charts you haven't stitched yet, charts you've stitched, whatever. This method will work for all printed charts. Round it all up and go through what you've got. This is a good time to weed out what you no longer want or need and duplicates. Set those things aside to give away or sell, then start categorizing what's left in a way that makes sense to you. Do you want to sort by designer / publisher (Just Nan, Bent Creek, Little House Needleworks, etc.) or by theme (Christmas, Quaker, animals, baby, etc.) One set of labels will not work for everyone, so choose a system that works for you - you'll be more apt to follow it.
Once you've got things sorted out and categorized, you'll need supplies - at least 1 large 3-ringbinder, page protector sheets and tabbed dividers. How many binders, sheets and dividers you'll need depends on how many printed patterns you want to sort. I recommend getting a sturdy binder - any color or ring size will do - use your own judgement.
You may also want to use smaller binders and use one per designer. It's up to you and your storage space. However, you may want a binder with covers large enough to completely cover the page protectors and dividers when the binder is closed as it will help keep things neater. (I recommend taking a sample page protector with you when you go binder shopping).
I prefer top load page protectors as the charts and pages are less likely to fall out and are easier to access than side load page protectors. Check a warehouse club like Sams or Costco - they're usually cheaper there.
I also use extra wide tab dividers so I can still see the tabs once I put the sheets in between - remember that page protectors are wider than a regular sheet of paper, so regular tab dividers are going to be too small and the tabs won't stick out.
Put your printed freebies into the sleeves, making sure they're labeled appropriately with designer, website, etc., then file them according to catagories in the correct binders. You can also do this with your regular charts as well.
I usually use page protectors to keep my charts clean while I am stitching, and when I'm done, I file stitched charts in binders. Sometimes I stitch from an original chart, sometimes it's from a working copy (especially if the original chart is on cardstock or a stiffer paper). If my page protector is in bad shape by the time I am done, I file using a fresh protector.
I put any documentation in the page protector along with the chart - color cover sheets (I sometimes make notes on mine as to when and where I bought it, what I paid, when I stitched it, etc.). If I am filing a kit, I put in any left over threads that came with it (unless it's a threadpack like LHN, then those threads go into my regular stash.)
Instead of being buried by an avalanche of wedding magazines and spending lots of time flipping through endless advertisements to find what I wanted, I started tearing out what I liked and filing it in a binder. (What was left over of the magazine I passed on or recycled). By using page protectors, tab dividers and a sturdy 3 ring binder, I was able to eliminate a lot of clutter and keep all my useful things in one place.
First things first - gather up all the stuff you want to file. You can do this with printed freebies, charts you haven't stitched yet, charts you've stitched, whatever. This method will work for all printed charts. Round it all up and go through what you've got. This is a good time to weed out what you no longer want or need and duplicates. Set those things aside to give away or sell, then start categorizing what's left in a way that makes sense to you. Do you want to sort by designer / publisher (Just Nan, Bent Creek, Little House Needleworks, etc.) or by theme (Christmas, Quaker, animals, baby, etc.) One set of labels will not work for everyone, so choose a system that works for you - you'll be more apt to follow it.
Once you've got things sorted out and categorized, you'll need supplies - at least 1 large 3-ringbinder, page protector sheets and tabbed dividers. How many binders, sheets and dividers you'll need depends on how many printed patterns you want to sort. I recommend getting a sturdy binder - any color or ring size will do - use your own judgement.You may also want to use smaller binders and use one per designer. It's up to you and your storage space. However, you may want a binder with covers large enough to completely cover the page protectors and dividers when the binder is closed as it will help keep things neater. (I recommend taking a sample page protector with you when you go binder shopping).
I prefer top load page protectors as the charts and pages are less likely to fall out and are easier to access than side load page protectors. Check a warehouse club like Sams or Costco - they're usually cheaper there.
I also use extra wide tab dividers so I can still see the tabs once I put the sheets in between - remember that page protectors are wider than a regular sheet of paper, so regular tab dividers are going to be too small and the tabs won't stick out.Put your printed freebies into the sleeves, making sure they're labeled appropriately with designer, website, etc., then file them according to catagories in the correct binders. You can also do this with your regular charts as well.
I usually use page protectors to keep my charts clean while I am stitching, and when I'm done, I file stitched charts in binders. Sometimes I stitch from an original chart, sometimes it's from a working copy (especially if the original chart is on cardstock or a stiffer paper). If my page protector is in bad shape by the time I am done, I file using a fresh protector.
I put any documentation in the page protector along with the chart - color cover sheets (I sometimes make notes on mine as to when and where I bought it, what I paid, when I stitched it, etc.). If I am filing a kit, I put in any left over threads that came with it (unless it's a threadpack like LHN, then those threads go into my regular stash.)
Friday, February 15, 2008
Friday Feast #179
From Friday's Feast: A Buffet For Your Brain
Appetizer: Name one thing that is unique about you.
I collect kangaroos (not live ones) and deck prisms.
Soup: Fill in the blank: My favorite _________ is __________ but I like _________ too.
My favorite dessert is anything chocolate with raspberry sauce but I like lemon meringue pie too.
Salad: What type of wood do you have for your home’s furnishings?
I prefer darker, finer grained woods like walnut and cherry. I do not care for oak.
Main Course: Who do you talk to most often on the phone?
My husband
Dessert: What level of responsibility do you have in your job?
I'm kind of a big deal. :-D
Thursday, February 14, 2008
How to Organize your Freebies
Many of us collect freebies online. Unfortunately, it's hard to know what you've got if you're just looking at file names. Sure, if you have a couple dozen files, you can probably guess but I had no idea what I had collected. And without some kind of inventory, I just kept collecting hundreds of files and never stitched what I had.
I decided to create that visual inventory, and this is how I did it. I used Microsoft Picture Manager (usually included with Office) and Windows Explorer. (Note that I work on a PC - Mac users may have to modify). These instructions assume that you have or can get the software, and know how to use it.
1. Corral all your freebies from your hard drive. Discs too, if you have them. Get them all into one folder using Windows Explorer. You need to round up everything you've got so you can see what you're working with - and delete duplicates. Don't start deleting yet, though. You want to make sure you don't have 2 different files with the same name. (Rename files temporarily if you have to).
2. Start sorting. Create subfolders for categories as needed, but try not to make them too specific - the more folders you have, the harder it is to sort, file and manage. The categories I use are these: Alphabets, Altoid Covers, Angels, Baby, Biscornu, Blackwork, Bookmarks, Borders & Corners, Cards, Celtic, Dollhouse, Family, Flowers, Foods Gifts, Hearts of America, Holidays, Ideas, Miscellaneous, Months, Motifs, Needlework Tools, Pattern Scans (More on that later), Samplers, Scenic, Seasonal, Sports, Wedding and Zodiac. You can change them to suit your freebie collection, but that is what worked best for me. You can also sort by designer or website, but I would think that would make things more complicated if you're looking for a certain theme.
If you don't know what a file is, open it and rename as necessary. Keep going, adding categories and subfolders until you have every single file categorized. Depending on how many freebies you have, this may take a while and you may get sick of looking at them. Take a break. Don't start throwing things in folders because you don't know what else to do with them.
3. Create your Visual Inventory. Every file should have a visual representation that can be viewed in a picture manager such as Microsoft Picture Manager. As you can see (I know the
picture is a little blurry, but I made it small to save on space), there is a filing system on the left and a visual representation on the right. All of those pictures represent a file that contains a freebie, and I can quickly look over my inventory and see what I have without opening all those files.
Getting to this state is the not-so-fun part, which is why I would recommend working with a folder or two a day, going through it and organizing your files. Don't try to do this all at once, unless you have just a few dozen to look at. Work on it in small chunks, or you will run the risk of frustrating yourself and abandoning the project.
Freebies that are in GIF or JPEG format are easy. They will show up automatically in the Picture Manager.
PDF and PC Stitch files are a little harder and will require you to create jpeg or gif files to represent them. You can do this by opening the file and capturing a screen shot, which can then be cropped and resized in your graphics software. (With PC Stitch, I'd recommend using View --> View Pattern to view the file, then capturing a screenshot without the grid.)
Alternatively, you can use Google and Yahoo image searches to look for pictures of the stitched pieces online. I try to do this whenever I can because I like to look at stitched examples rather than screenshots. I save screenshots as GIFs and convert JPEGS I obtained from the web to GIFs because they take up less space. You don't need a super crisp, clear picture - you just want the gist of what the file is in the least amount of storage space.
Files should be renamed so that the PDF or PC Stitch pattern has the same name as the picture of the piece. That will keep them together as files when you sort them alphabetically and allow you to open the correct file that corresponds with the picture. For example, I have a file called blackwork snowflake.pdf, which does not display in the Picture Manager. The file blackwork snowflake.gif, however, does display, and when I want to stitch Blackwork Snowflake, I open the PDF file.
If you have a chart in jpeg format (chart.jpg), but find a picture online that you want to save, either save the picture as a GIF with the same title (chart.gif - the extensions prevent the new file from overwriting the old) or as chart_pic.jpg. The files will still stay together, but you'll maintain 2 separate files. I do not recommend converting actual charts in JPEG format to GIFS because the chart itself may become blurry and unreadable.
4. Properly credit your sources. This is something wasn't as conscious of until I started blogging, and I can't stress the importance enough. If you use someone else's work to make something, please respect their copyright and give them credit for the design. Designers work hard and provide complimentary charts out of their own generosity. If we as stitchers want them to keep supplying us with these goodies, the least we can do is recognize their efforts and generosity by giving them proper credit.
Anyway, once again, PDFs are the easiest as they usually include the name of their designer and other copyright info right in the PDF. JPEGs and GIFs can be modified in a graphics program to add credit information. Simply add the credit text to an unstitched part of the chart and save the pattern. For PC Stitch files, use Tools --> Pattern Properties to indicate the designer, the website, etc. If all else fails, create a text file with the same name as the graphics file and enter the credit information there.
Take the time to note the designer or the source when you save the pattern, and you'll save yourself a lot of aggravation later. Trust me, make a note - you will NOT remember it later.
5. Follow your system. Once you've done the work and sorted out what you had, take a few seconds when you get a new freebie and label it properly. Make sure you have the source and the designer's name and a visual representation for each freebie before you file it, and file it right in the folder it belongs in. If you label and file properly as you collect, you won't have a long and painful sorting process down the road and you'll have easy access to the files you already have.
Other Tips:
I decided to create that visual inventory, and this is how I did it. I used Microsoft Picture Manager (usually included with Office) and Windows Explorer. (Note that I work on a PC - Mac users may have to modify). These instructions assume that you have or can get the software, and know how to use it.
1. Corral all your freebies from your hard drive. Discs too, if you have them. Get them all into one folder using Windows Explorer. You need to round up everything you've got so you can see what you're working with - and delete duplicates. Don't start deleting yet, though. You want to make sure you don't have 2 different files with the same name. (Rename files temporarily if you have to).
2. Start sorting. Create subfolders for categories as needed, but try not to make them too specific - the more folders you have, the harder it is to sort, file and manage. The categories I use are these: Alphabets, Altoid Covers, Angels, Baby, Biscornu, Blackwork, Bookmarks, Borders & Corners, Cards, Celtic, Dollhouse, Family, Flowers, Foods Gifts, Hearts of America, Holidays, Ideas, Miscellaneous, Months, Motifs, Needlework Tools, Pattern Scans (More on that later), Samplers, Scenic, Seasonal, Sports, Wedding and Zodiac. You can change them to suit your freebie collection, but that is what worked best for me. You can also sort by designer or website, but I would think that would make things more complicated if you're looking for a certain theme.
If you don't know what a file is, open it and rename as necessary. Keep going, adding categories and subfolders until you have every single file categorized. Depending on how many freebies you have, this may take a while and you may get sick of looking at them. Take a break. Don't start throwing things in folders because you don't know what else to do with them.
3. Create your Visual Inventory. Every file should have a visual representation that can be viewed in a picture manager such as Microsoft Picture Manager. As you can see (I know the
picture is a little blurry, but I made it small to save on space), there is a filing system on the left and a visual representation on the right. All of those pictures represent a file that contains a freebie, and I can quickly look over my inventory and see what I have without opening all those files.Getting to this state is the not-so-fun part, which is why I would recommend working with a folder or two a day, going through it and organizing your files. Don't try to do this all at once, unless you have just a few dozen to look at. Work on it in small chunks, or you will run the risk of frustrating yourself and abandoning the project.
Freebies that are in GIF or JPEG format are easy. They will show up automatically in the Picture Manager.
PDF and PC Stitch files are a little harder and will require you to create jpeg or gif files to represent them. You can do this by opening the file and capturing a screen shot, which can then be cropped and resized in your graphics software. (With PC Stitch, I'd recommend using View --> View Pattern to view the file, then capturing a screenshot without the grid.)
Alternatively, you can use Google and Yahoo image searches to look for pictures of the stitched pieces online. I try to do this whenever I can because I like to look at stitched examples rather than screenshots. I save screenshots as GIFs and convert JPEGS I obtained from the web to GIFs because they take up less space. You don't need a super crisp, clear picture - you just want the gist of what the file is in the least amount of storage space.
Files should be renamed so that the PDF or PC Stitch pattern has the same name as the picture of the piece. That will keep them together as files when you sort them alphabetically and allow you to open the correct file that corresponds with the picture. For example, I have a file called blackwork snowflake.pdf, which does not display in the Picture Manager. The file blackwork snowflake.gif, however, does display, and when I want to stitch Blackwork Snowflake, I open the PDF file.
If you have a chart in jpeg format (chart.jpg), but find a picture online that you want to save, either save the picture as a GIF with the same title (chart.gif - the extensions prevent the new file from overwriting the old) or as chart_pic.jpg. The files will still stay together, but you'll maintain 2 separate files. I do not recommend converting actual charts in JPEG format to GIFS because the chart itself may become blurry and unreadable.
4. Properly credit your sources. This is something wasn't as conscious of until I started blogging, and I can't stress the importance enough. If you use someone else's work to make something, please respect their copyright and give them credit for the design. Designers work hard and provide complimentary charts out of their own generosity. If we as stitchers want them to keep supplying us with these goodies, the least we can do is recognize their efforts and generosity by giving them proper credit.
Anyway, once again, PDFs are the easiest as they usually include the name of their designer and other copyright info right in the PDF. JPEGs and GIFs can be modified in a graphics program to add credit information. Simply add the credit text to an unstitched part of the chart and save the pattern. For PC Stitch files, use Tools --> Pattern Properties to indicate the designer, the website, etc. If all else fails, create a text file with the same name as the graphics file and enter the credit information there.
Take the time to note the designer or the source when you save the pattern, and you'll save yourself a lot of aggravation later. Trust me, make a note - you will NOT remember it later.
5. Follow your system. Once you've done the work and sorted out what you had, take a few seconds when you get a new freebie and label it properly. Make sure you have the source and the designer's name and a visual representation for each freebie before you file it, and file it right in the folder it belongs in. If you label and file properly as you collect, you won't have a long and painful sorting process down the road and you'll have easy access to the files you already have.
Other Tips:
- You can use pre-fixes for grouping charts together. For instance, I group Lizzie*Kates together by using LK_ in front of the file names. All files designated with the LK_ are grouped together, but still maintain their individual file names after the prefix.
- Keep folders to a minimum. Don't make a new category for every file or you'll drive yourself nuts. Try to keep your categories broad enough to encompass as many designs as possible. For instance, you don't need to have Christmas Ornaments, Tree Skirts, Christmas Samplers, etc., when one "Christmas" folder will do.
- Pattern Scans - I often borrow books from the library for pattern ideas, but it's hard for me to stitch out of a book. Usually I scan the patterns I am interested in and make a digital copy that I can either print out or transfer into PC stitch to create my own patterns or make modifications. Also, it helps me get the book back to the library faster so that other stitchers can use it as well. I note the designer and the book these patterns so I can credit them when I go back later.
Monday, February 11, 2008
Life Playlist - a Musical post
Inspired by Patty's post on music, found here, I'd like to share a survey I came across a while back, one that made me think about music in a new way. I also badgered all my friends and my husband into making their playlists. Some resisted at first, but they too found it to be a cool experience. (and now I have some nifty playlists for my iPod). I also really loved seeing what they came up with - they confirmed some things I already knew, but I learned some new and surprising things about them as well.
To get you started, I've provided the list I did for my own life playlist. I know technically you're only supposed to pick 1 song, and believe me, that's harder than you might think. I forced myself to limit it to two songs for this list, but for my own personal playlists, I have as many as 15-20 songs for some of the categories. (I can't help it - I'm obsessed with music and lists).
I'd also like to note that the song lyrics don't necessarily need to reflect the situation. If you have any song that evokes memories of a particular situation on the list, go ahead and use it, even if the lyrics don't seem to fit it. And if you do decide to do the Life Playlist, let me know so I can come see it. I'm always on the lookout for a new playlist.
Opening credits: Porch - Pearl Jam or Rebels - Tom Petty
Waking up: Real Wild Child - Iggy Pop or Here it Goes Again - OK Go
Average day: All My Life - Foo Fighters
First date: When It's Love - Van Halen
Falling in love: Everyday (Acoustic) - Dave Matthews Band or King's Highway (acoustic) - Tom Petty
Love scene: Crazy Love - Bob Dylan and Van Morrison or Gimme Some Lovin - G. Love & Special Sauce
Fight scene: Break Stuff - Limp Bizkit or If You Want Blood - AC/DC
Breaking up: Hands to Heaven - Breathe
Getting back together: Into the Mystic - Van Morrison
Secret love: Who's Gonna Ride Your Wild Horses? - U2
Life's okay: Beautiful Day - U2
Mental breakdown: Breakdown - Tom Petty
Driving: Motorcycle Driver - Joe Satriani or I-76 - G. Love & Special Sauce
Learning a lesson: Nobody Told Me - John Lennon
Deep thought: All These Things I Have Done - The Killers
Flashback: Mother's Little Helper - Rolling Stones
Partying: I See You Baby (Shakin that Ass) - Groove Armada
Happy dance: Baby I'm a Star - Prince
Regretting: The Secret is to Know When to Stop - Tom Cochrane
Long night alone: Warning Sign - Coldplay
Death scene: Love You Till the End - The Pogues
Closing credits: I Won't Back Down - Tom Petty or Keep Me In Your Heart - Warren Zevon
To get you started, I've provided the list I did for my own life playlist. I know technically you're only supposed to pick 1 song, and believe me, that's harder than you might think. I forced myself to limit it to two songs for this list, but for my own personal playlists, I have as many as 15-20 songs for some of the categories. (I can't help it - I'm obsessed with music and lists).
I'd also like to note that the song lyrics don't necessarily need to reflect the situation. If you have any song that evokes memories of a particular situation on the list, go ahead and use it, even if the lyrics don't seem to fit it. And if you do decide to do the Life Playlist, let me know so I can come see it. I'm always on the lookout for a new playlist.
Opening credits: Porch - Pearl Jam or Rebels - Tom Petty
Waking up: Real Wild Child - Iggy Pop or Here it Goes Again - OK Go
Average day: All My Life - Foo Fighters
First date: When It's Love - Van Halen
Falling in love: Everyday (Acoustic) - Dave Matthews Band or King's Highway (acoustic) - Tom Petty
Love scene: Crazy Love - Bob Dylan and Van Morrison or Gimme Some Lovin - G. Love & Special Sauce
Fight scene: Break Stuff - Limp Bizkit or If You Want Blood - AC/DC
Breaking up: Hands to Heaven - Breathe
Getting back together: Into the Mystic - Van Morrison
Secret love: Who's Gonna Ride Your Wild Horses? - U2
Life's okay: Beautiful Day - U2
Mental breakdown: Breakdown - Tom Petty
Driving: Motorcycle Driver - Joe Satriani or I-76 - G. Love & Special Sauce
Learning a lesson: Nobody Told Me - John Lennon
Deep thought: All These Things I Have Done - The Killers
Flashback: Mother's Little Helper - Rolling Stones
Partying: I See You Baby (Shakin that Ass) - Groove Armada
Happy dance: Baby I'm a Star - Prince
Regretting: The Secret is to Know When to Stop - Tom Cochrane
Long night alone: Warning Sign - Coldplay
Death scene: Love You Till the End - The Pogues
Closing credits: I Won't Back Down - Tom Petty or Keep Me In Your Heart - Warren Zevon
Friday, February 8, 2008
Pemaquid Point
Pemaquid Point is in Maine, and is one of our favorite places. This pattern was based on a view of the light from either the rocks or the water - the lighthouse sits on a rocky cliff overlooking the ocean. This is the view you get driving up to it:
We love going here because there's an awesome little gift shop - the Sea Gull Shop - with a tiny attached restaurant that serves the best blueberry pancakes you've ever had. And the dining room is a screened in porch overlooking the ocean. You just can't ask for a better breakfast.
DH just finished this piece last night. I think he started it sometime over Christmas, and since he's not as scattered as I am when it comes to stitching, this was his only focus (which explains how he got it done so quickly!) We decided it would look nicer on the bluish colored fabric instead of the recommended white, and I think it turned out GREAT!
Thursday, February 7, 2008
Go ahead.... Make my day!
Sorry. I couldn't resist!!! I was just looking at my Google Reader, and to my surprise and delight, the lovely Mel (Stitches with Camels) awarded me a Make My Day Award, with the instruction to pass it on to 10 more bloggers who make MY day. Well, it was hard to pick just 10 seeing as how I subscribe to so many blogs, and each and every one of them has inspired, motivated, and generally entertained me at one point or another.
One of the things I like BEST about the stitching community is even though everyone is spread out all over the world and we all come from different cultures and backgrounds, we've forged a connection through our needlework. Sometimes it spills over into our real lives, and we find ourselves with a community of generous, kind, thoughtful souls that can be tapped into at any time for a lift, a smile, advice, or inspiration. To each and every one of you, I say thank you!
But rules are rules, and I try to play by them. (Most of the time!) So these are the 10 that came immediately to mind...
If I've tagged you, and you'd like to spread the love, feel free to pick 10 blogs YOU read to give the award to. And if I haven't tagged you and you feel like doing something nice for someone, you can tag 10 blogs of your own. Sometimes, as you're plodding along in blogland, wondering if anyone is even reading the words you write, you end up getting a little surprise like this and it really makes YOUR day. It's nice to know that people are actually reading what I write.
One of the things I like BEST about the stitching community is even though everyone is spread out all over the world and we all come from different cultures and backgrounds, we've forged a connection through our needlework. Sometimes it spills over into our real lives, and we find ourselves with a community of generous, kind, thoughtful souls that can be tapped into at any time for a lift, a smile, advice, or inspiration. To each and every one of you, I say thank you!
But rules are rules, and I try to play by them. (Most of the time!) So these are the 10 that came immediately to mind...
- Kim - K: The Real Life Adventures
- Barbara - Mainely Stitching
- Cathey - Pumpkin Patch & Co.
- Kathryn - Threads of Desire
- Lee - Lake Stitcher
- Janet - 37 (stitches) in a Row
- Dianne - Dianne Rambling On...
- Monique - Inside Number Twenty
- Kim - Kim's Northwoods Discoveries
- Tina - Stitching in Texas
If I've tagged you, and you'd like to spread the love, feel free to pick 10 blogs YOU read to give the award to. And if I haven't tagged you and you feel like doing something nice for someone, you can tag 10 blogs of your own. Sometimes, as you're plodding along in blogland, wondering if anyone is even reading the words you write, you end up getting a little surprise like this and it really makes YOUR day. It's nice to know that people are actually reading what I write.
SBQ: Other Crafts
Are there other crafts that you have tried and abandoned? Why do you like stitching better? (Submitted by Kathryn)
I've always been interested in crafts and needlework from a very young age. My mother and grandmother sewed, so I was brought up around fabrics, threads, buttons, etc. I was also very involved in Girl Scouts, so there was always some kind of craft being done at meetings and camp. As a result, I got to try different things and experiement.
One of my favorite things is working with clay or modeling compound. I'm nowhere near artist level with it, but I still enjoy working with the material and shaping different things. I don't do it as much any more, but I could probably really get into making clay polymer things like beads. (I don't have the time, space or disposable income to invest though!)
I do a little scrapbooking but not in the traditional sense. I can't get into all the embelishments and fancy cutting, stickers, etc. I also don't understand doing elaborate layouts and putting one picture on a page. Rather, I use colorful 12x12 background papers and I cut and arrange photos in interesting arrangements on the page. I also use postcards, bookmarks, ticket stubs, etc. from our travels. It's more like a memory book than a scrapbook. I only work on these books occasionally - I have to work on our living room floor and it's a hassle to drag everything out.
I've tried knitting and crocheting and I don't know if I have the patience for either. My mother tried to teach me to knit, but she's not a good teacher and I quickly got frustrated with it. My grandmother in law crochets, and my husband can crochet a little (she taught him and his brother when they were very young to keep them quiet and occupied!) I have the desire to knit, and especially crochet, pretty things, but I don't know if I have the patience to learn it. Also, I am afraid I will like it too much and want to spend my resources on that!
I've always been interested in crafts and needlework from a very young age. My mother and grandmother sewed, so I was brought up around fabrics, threads, buttons, etc. I was also very involved in Girl Scouts, so there was always some kind of craft being done at meetings and camp. As a result, I got to try different things and experiement.
One of my favorite things is working with clay or modeling compound. I'm nowhere near artist level with it, but I still enjoy working with the material and shaping different things. I don't do it as much any more, but I could probably really get into making clay polymer things like beads. (I don't have the time, space or disposable income to invest though!)
I do a little scrapbooking but not in the traditional sense. I can't get into all the embelishments and fancy cutting, stickers, etc. I also don't understand doing elaborate layouts and putting one picture on a page. Rather, I use colorful 12x12 background papers and I cut and arrange photos in interesting arrangements on the page. I also use postcards, bookmarks, ticket stubs, etc. from our travels. It's more like a memory book than a scrapbook. I only work on these books occasionally - I have to work on our living room floor and it's a hassle to drag everything out.
I've tried knitting and crocheting and I don't know if I have the patience for either. My mother tried to teach me to knit, but she's not a good teacher and I quickly got frustrated with it. My grandmother in law crochets, and my husband can crochet a little (she taught him and his brother when they were very young to keep them quiet and occupied!) I have the desire to knit, and especially crochet, pretty things, but I don't know if I have the patience to learn it. Also, I am afraid I will like it too much and want to spend my resources on that!
Tuesday, February 5, 2008
New Ornament
I'm working on some ornaments for the SALs I belong to, and I finished up this one over the weekend:
House on a Hill by Chartmakers
Compliments of The Silver Needle
stitched over 2 on 28 ct. Pewter with DMC threads
This is for my husband's cousin, who is getting married this August. I changed the original K & B initials to J and C for the bride and groom, and changed the date to 2008.
I've been working on some other things, but decided I wanted to do some finishing before I post pictures.
Friday, February 1, 2008
Friday Feast #178
From Friday's Feast: A Buffet For Your Brain
Appetizer: What is your favorite kind of cereal?
Wheat Chex reminds me of Saturday morning with my grandparents, so that's always a nice memory, but my current favorite is Special K Fruit and Yogurt.
Soup: When was the last time you purchased something for your home, what was it, and in which room did it go?
Last major purchase was probably the quilt we bought for our bed last summer.
Salad: What is the funniest commercial you’ve ever seen?
There was one a long time ago - I don't remember what it was for, but it was kids asking for unhealthy things for breakfast. "Orange juice, orange soda. What's the difference?" still makes me laugh. My current favorites include the Peyton Manning mini van commercial ("You're feelin me. You love it.") and the Microsoft Sync ("Door open") commercial. Also, most ESPN Sports Center commercials crack me up. Yes, I watch a lot of sports programming.
Main Course: Make up a name for a company by using a spice and an animal (example: Cinnamon Monkey).
Garlic Kangaroo
Dessert: Fill in the blank: I haven’t ______ since ______.
I haven't stayed up all night since grad school
Appetizer: What is your favorite kind of cereal?
Wheat Chex reminds me of Saturday morning with my grandparents, so that's always a nice memory, but my current favorite is Special K Fruit and Yogurt.
Soup: When was the last time you purchased something for your home, what was it, and in which room did it go?
Last major purchase was probably the quilt we bought for our bed last summer.
Salad: What is the funniest commercial you’ve ever seen?
There was one a long time ago - I don't remember what it was for, but it was kids asking for unhealthy things for breakfast. "Orange juice, orange soda. What's the difference?" still makes me laugh. My current favorites include the Peyton Manning mini van commercial ("You're feelin me. You love it.") and the Microsoft Sync ("Door open") commercial. Also, most ESPN Sports Center commercials crack me up. Yes, I watch a lot of sports programming.
Main Course: Make up a name for a company by using a spice and an animal (example: Cinnamon Monkey).
Garlic Kangaroo
Dessert: Fill in the blank: I haven’t ______ since ______.
I haven't stayed up all night since grad school
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