Tag: Stitching

zibaldone | 10.26.22 …

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  1. Ten. 10. X : Over the past month or so – and occasionally throughout the past several years – I’ve attempted to document the day by creating/documenting ten things that have inspired (or sometimes annoyed or encouraged ) me throughout the day. My aim is to create this list as my nearly “last action” of the day. I don’t always succeed – but that’s OK. I enjoy the process and am finding it is a good way to capture and review the day.
  2. I first ran across the inspiration for the list from Alisha Sommer’s blog, finding it both fascinating and intriguing. She created the blog inspired by an interview she heard Krista Tippet conduct with author, Marie Howe. This overview from Good Reads is a great intro, if Maria is new to you as she was to me.
  3. Lately, since my July trip to Sisters OR, I’ve been enamored by and re-engaging with slow stitching – stitching by hand. I find it relaxing, inspiring and rejuvenating. The seasonal switch to autumn: changes in temperature and colors and slower pace invite this type of activity.
  4. To that tune, I saw a class, offered by the Sisters OR Stitchin’ Post featuring Rosalie Dace, a quilt instructor, from South Africa. Autumn, 2017, I attended a week long class in Sisters with her. This current class is also being offered via Zoom this weekend. I wish I’d known this sooner and was free for I’d have seriously contemplated signing up for a Zoom seat…
  5. I’ve made considerable progress with my AmaZe writing project; to date, I’ve digitized nearly 230 vignettes- I’m not a typist. My plan is to make a photo storybook.
  6. The other day I had a grand surprise: I discovered 62 stories that I wrote in 2012 that I also need/want to include. More typing practice for my M- F…
  7. The London Writers’ Hour, offered 4 times a day. I join the M-F, 8 AM EST Zoom session; it has played a big role in helping me focus on the AmaZe project.
  8. I am a big fan of Gretchen Rubin and her weekly Wed podcast, Happier, with her sister Liz, is my fave morning walking companion. Their October 19 episode was the 400th. I suspect that since winter’s soon to arrive, I’ll be switching to PM walks…
  9. I received a mug I’d forgotten I’d ordered and it makes me “happier, ” indeed. I’ve yet to indoctrinate it for my MSQT (morning solitude and quiet time) and Writers’ Hour sessions. I’ll start in November.
  10. A thought: perhaps I’ll choose Happier for my 2023 word; hmmm…

tgif | 1.14.22

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thinking: how lovely the day has been – weather and time/task wise. we’re having a brief respite from the cold that greeted us at week’s beginning, tho’ that’s to be short-lived, perhaps accompanied by snow Sun and Mon. In these parts, time will tell… if you look closely, you can see the beginnings of January’s full Wolf Moon, to appear Monday evening…

gratitude: yesterday morning I went “grocery shopping” at 8 am; hadn’t been at that time since the pandemic began in 2020. t’was a good time of day, limited shoppers, traffic and for the most part, shelves were stocked. for the drive home, I treated myself to a decaf hot latte – pretzel spice. didn’t much like; I’ll choose a different flavor next time…

inspired: this “cozy quilt embroidery sampler” strikes my fancy. it’s a stitch-along designed and created by Celeste Johnson of Lemon Made Shop. Tho’ the quilt along is already underway this month, I just discovered it today. Looking over the supply list, I have scissors, needles, a needle minder, probably an embroidery hoop and possibly muslin or Kona cotton. No doubt my mother had some of the supplies; I imagine they are still here…if not, I’ll get (any excuse to go shopping, even if it’s only virtual). I am adding to my 2022 to be stitched list that I am thinking will be my focus for the 2022 #the100dayproject that starts February 13…

fun: for nearly two years, I’ve joined Daily Pages, created by rukristin of the awesome ladies project; the photo is the page I made today. the photo of the salad is what inspired me…especially the statement on the salad. and yes, I am thinking seriously about a vegan diet…moving into it slowly.

Have a good weekend.

Cheers~

unraveled wednesday | 9.23.20 …

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this second day of autumn has been a real treat: perfect temps – just cool enough for a lightweight shirt; bright sunshine; crystal blue sky; a soft breeze to caress one’s cheeks. and just before the sun sets, the moon.

last thursday I took a quick trip to Barnes and Noble and bought a few books – to add to my ever growing TBR pile. Among them: Marie Kondo’s newest : Joy at Work or how to organize your professional life. I don’t have a professional life but I do like to read books on productivity/time management – sort of a palette cleanser, I suppose. I also purchased Yaa Gyasi’s Transcendent Kingdom, Gretchen Rubin’s next #happierpodcastbookclub selection.

speaking of podcasts, on my walk today I listened to Brene Brown’s “Unlocking Us” on which she shared her feelings about RBG. and yes, I can totally relate…as I’m sure many us can and do.

I am slowly finishing Knips (knitting in progress-or not- projects) – it’s easy to pick them up when watching tv* … and provides good warm up practice for when I return to reknitting the Afghan block I goofed up on a while back.

joining Kat and friends for unraveled wednesday

Cheers~

*watching tv is hazardous to our health…and a reminder: next Tuesday, 29 September is the one little word link up.

sometimes monday| 10.14.19 …

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October’s full Hunter Moon at 7:20 am today

…comes on the heels of a busy, busy weekend that began Thursday:

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…Hostess Hilary of my Thursday Stitching group served us “high tea,” inspired by our afternoon the  previous Thursday at the movie, Downton Abbey…

… an unplanned trip Friday to the Honda dealer to have my car’s lane signaler checked – it wasn’t working…fortunately, all things checked out A-OK. The dealership provides a courtesy shuttle within a 5 mile radius so I went to IKEA and had breakfast while I waited…

… Saturday, Cissy  (my niece/namesake) and I went to the opening of the Met Live in HD 2019-2010 season, Puccini’s Turandot; c’est magnifique …

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… Sunday, Friendstitchin’ day, a tad early this month. We celebrated Margaret’s birthday with a delicious brunch: shrimp + crab salad; a huge assortment of cookies, made by our resident cookie baker, Michelle. And oh yes, champagne for the occasion. Despite all the good food, each of us was also productive…

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… slowly, the leaves on the maple trees are changing colors. I think it’s really Fall, yall …

Cheers~

unraveled wed | 9.25.19 …

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I’ve not added any new TBRs … On the log cabin front: the green is about 12 rows from done and I’m deciding which shade of blue to use for that last square. In one of my weekly Döstädning bursts, I discovered a few needlepoint canvases from days long gone; this one was nearly done so I finished it Sunday during Friendstitching.  Just in time too ~ Christmas is 3 months away… Just sayin’…

I am now real ... well, almost.  This morning, I went to DMV to renew my driver’s license. After standing in line for an hour, then sitting for another hour (not to mention gathering documents and filling out forms before I even went), my number was called. 15 minutes later, all the information was collected/documented and I left with a temporary paper license, good for 45 days … the real one expected in 15 days. I hope so!

We’re having deliciously cool fall weather, ’cause as Dee sez: It’s Fall, Y’all! Lots of oak leaves on the ground but color changes seem slow – or is it just my impatience? Norman’s off on a walk and I’m headed to my sewing studio to stitch more wonky stars.

Joining Kat and friends for unraveled wednesday.  How’s your day shaping up?

Cheers~

 

unraveled wednesday | 9.18.19 …

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  • Two Things on my Bucket List

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  • No less than 12+ years ago, attending a library pre-conference, I took a class on paper making. I enjoyed the class and promptly added to my bucket list: take more classes.  Fast-forward to yesterday, 9/17/19: Sorting through old family photos, I ran across the paper and booklet I made plus
    • not only  a photo of me making the paper,
    • but also an article in the March 2015 Washingtonian: The Great Washingtonian Bucket List: 50 Things Every Local Needs to Do!  Some of the items on the list I’ve done, some I know I never will, e.g., “ride through Rock Creek Park on horseback!”
    • There is one thing not on that list but is still on mine: take more paper-making  classes. And that jogged my memory: less than 5 miles away there is a book-making center that offers classes on making paper! Can’t get better than that, agreed?

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This is a picture of a “Wonky Star” quilt block – I have 60+ – each a variation on the theme – that have been on my bucket list for way too long! I needed unifying fabric/s and finally found two pieces that I think will work. The multi-color stripes at the top will be the backing + binding. The other fabric( in between the block and the stripe) will be used as sashing: strips I will attach to all four sides of the blocks and then, sew the blocks together.

And with that I shall hit publish so I can proceed with stitching and also, take advantage  of today’s glorious weather, later, by treating myself to a sit-out at Zeke’s this afternoon, enjoying a pumpkin spiced latté  (I hope they have pumpkin spice) with A Gentleman in Moscow.

Joining Kat and friends for Unraveled Wednesday.

Cheers~

 

unraveled wednesday | 8.7.19 …

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~gingko leaves~

Not much on the horizon this week. I was looking over photos taken over the  past several days and rather surprised that the pickins were rather slim. I did so enjoy seeing these gingko leaves against the afternoon sky this past Saturday…as I wended my way home…

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…and this is another look at the journal. I went with an elastic band, found a small lock and keys  in my stash (who knew?) and just for fun, added them.

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I also added two bands on the inside front/back covers to help hold a journal in place…the fabric in the middle of the band is stretchy; hopefully, that will allow the cover to expand as my friend fills in her journal…she does a lot of tipping in of pages she’s culled from magazines, ephemera, etc… all which contribute to the journal’s growth.

Educated, the book and podcasts remain my faithful walking companions. I’m dipping into a lot of different nonfiction titles on habits and “unplugging” from the digital world. I’ll do a roundup soon.

Off to run a few errands before a 1pm hair appt…Joining Kat and friends for another round of unraveled wednesdays.

Cheers~

uraveled wednesday | 7.24.19 …

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I’m making a fabric cover for a journal and have hit a small, yet solvable, puzzle: how to create a closure. Could it be:

  • an elastic band, e.g., the type used on a Traveler’s Notebook? Do I have any grommets?
  • a ribbon that can be tied? Probably the easiest;
  • an elastic “frog” that fastens around a button? Can I find such an item? I can clearly see one in my mind’s eye.

I’m sure I’ll come up with the best solution. Moving right along…

On my daily walks, I’m reading (listening to) Educated by Tara Westover. It’s an interesting memoir and well narrated. I’m struck by the author’s ability to translate her vivid childhood memories  into very readable descriptive prose. I don’t normally give stars to books but if I were, I’d easily give this one 3.8 stars.

Time to take a walk and enjoy this absolutely beautiful cooler day!

Joining Kat and friends for another installment of unraveled wednesday..

Cheers~

friendstitchin’…

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A friend is a gift you give yourself ~

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Sunday was my monthly Friendstitchin’ meet-up. We have a new member, Michelle, who is a baker extraordinaire; she made each of us a small bag of oatmeal cookies – yum! and for dessert, chocolate bundt cake – double yum! In addition to the delicious sweets, hostess Theresa served mac-n-cheese with crabmeat – yum!; Pat made a delicious broccoli salad  – and we also had grapes, strawberries, raspberries and champagne. There was applique´stitching,  knitting and needlepointing going on.

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The photo above is Margaret’s needlepoint; eventually it’ll be a 3-dimensional slice of cake; you can see the mockup sitting on the canvas.

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We celebrated my birthday – my friend Pat created the above watercolor of a morning glory for me. I am delighted and plan to frame and hang in my stitching studio.

I am so grateful for my friends and our beloved Friendstitchin‘ gatherings.

Cheers~