(such a) Fickle Stitcher

Once again, I will try to successfully complete NaBloPoMo…

Today is, of course, also All Saints Day, a day my mother loved… based on the idea that all the righteous were honored on this day.

And it is the Día de los Inocentes – or Día de los Angelitos – the first day of the Día de los Muertos. I hope someday I can be in Mexico for this celebration. 

This year I’ve spent the day with the younger generation of my family, celebrating a little of my own private joy, and knitting a beautiful capelet with Lana Grossa Luxor, a yarn I purchases last January (or maybe December).

And now to sleep ( … perchance to dream). I wish good, restful sleep to all those dear to me who are struggling for the same.

 

After a less than appealing “complimentary hot buffet breakfast” at the hotel, I at least had a good coffee from the JavaWerks bus before dropping DH off at the Mississippi Forge Council meeting. Then, finding Ross’s not yet open I wandered in Kohl’s for a bit — pricier than I was willing to indulge for new clothes. Fortunately Ross’s provided much better prices and I found good deals.

I am notoriously slow at shopping for clothes. I don’t really like shopping for clothes in the first place. I was so long at it this morning, I had to leave my cart, go pick up DH and return to look through the suits. My goal was to begin to establish a more professional wardrobe for myself. I did find one black pantsuit, and another black & white tweedy skirt and jacket. The skirt has to be altered, as do a pair of black slacks. I want, however, to find a navy suit, also something gray, and maybe brown.

Also I snagged two more pair of the Bill Blass blue jeans, which I love. A few more shirts and sweaters and I’d done quite a bit of damage to my bank account. All for a good cause though.

I manged to be *just* in time for our EGA chapter meeting, and delighted to find four members already at the library when I arrived. We had no planned program, but a fun afternoon of stitching and chatting! Cass worked on a beautiful cross-stitched sunflower design; Ann was stitching a canvas geometric, while Gloria and Cathy continued to stitch the silk ribbon design Rissa taught a few months ago. We were all pretty surprised how quickly 3:30 arrived, and we had to put away our stitching. Oh, I was knitting a dog sweater which is becoming sized for a very large dog!

What then? Well, I felt good enough for that Mexican dinner tonight: carne asada y camarones diablo — a large meal which DH and I share. Then, of course, a trip to Hudson’s where I found a few more shirts/blouses and sundry other goodies.

We were late heading home, but DH didn’t want me to spend the money for another night at a hotel. Thanks, hon! I even managed to stay awake for most of the trip home.

~~written on the road; posted at first Internet opportunity~~

I believe I may have written before (but probably on my other blog) about how I often feel like a different person in the EGA enviroment than I do at work or school enviroments, or even at home. It’s very difficult to describe, but I left Birmingham following the region meeting with that same feeling. I guess it just comes down to taking on a different role in each situation.

Tennesse Valley Region is the third EGA region in which I have participated in regional meetings, the other two being Mid-Atlantic and South Central. It is interesting to see how even with the same goals and functions, each have their own unique character. I’m glad I volunteered to chair the SAS 30 seminar committee; I am enjoying being part of the regional “machine” again… and making the new friends that come along with that level of involvement.

So, we have a working budget, our seed money, a theme, a logo (pending National approval), and a full committee for SAS 30, and are looking forward to faculty selection in early 2009.

Tonight DH & I are back in Jackson, again driving Interstate 20 in the afternoon and enjoying the fall color. My lunch did not settle well, and so tonight instead of a rich supper at our favorite Mexican restaurant in town, we had a light supper of salad, soup, and sandwich — and delicious pumpkin cheescake — at McAlisters. It was close to the hotel, quick, and quiet. I was feeling better, so we stopped at the bookstore for DH to get his magazines. I was sorely tempted to get a copy of Gregory Maguire’s new book, A Lion Among Men (3rd volume in his Wicked Years series), but I will just wait for a library copy to finish it (I read the first portion online at browse.harpercollins.com where one can also read the full-text of the first volume, Wicked).  For now I’ll just have to be content with my current reads.

~~written on the road; posted at first Internet opportunity~~

Regarding yesterday’s post… I emailed and heard back from Karen at RoyalHare.com about the yarn for Waves of Grain (I inquired about additional colors) — so, I’m still in the same dilema about choosing a color, but she would do the dying and I’d sill have my white Zephyr for something else.

The drive from Meridian to Birmingham was delightful, if somewhat longer than expected. Usually it is very early in the day when we make that drive, arriving for lunch, not supper… the afternoon light set on fire the beautiful colors of the fall leaves. Those who say there is no autumn color in the South, should have made that drive with us.

{insert beautiful autum photo} 

But, Silly Me forgot to take any photos I was so busy enjoying the color.

Tonight was my first official meeting as seminar chair for the 2010 TVR Share-A-Stitch event. It was wonderful to talk out the plans and receive feedback from the other SAS committees and our RD. The logo committee brought two lovely graphic ideas for our logo! I’m anxious to get the chosen one approved by the National committee and begin to use it. Best of all, I feel more connected with the other members of the SAS 2010 committee! Already these ladies have worked hard and shown themselves to be extremely creative, as well as willing to work together to make this even a success.

(yes, I’m reading Gregory Maquire! Finished Wicked about two weeks ago, Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister right after than, and hope to finish Son of a Witch tonight) 

Way back in August… seem ‘way back’ anyway… I went to Atlanta for Japanese Bead Embroidery classes. I took lots of photos, but it’s not appropriate to post most of them because they are of copyrighted designs; you can see a lot of the projects and designs on the Japanese Embroidery Center website. So I’ve sort of delayed in posting here about the work. Also, I have an article to write for publication and don’t want to duplicate my words.

I can show the classroom setup, and the instructor. The petite woman on the right in the photo below is the instructor, Ms. Reiko Matsukawa of Japan, known to her students as Matsukawa-san.  To her left is the young woman who translated for her (and us);  whose name totally escapes me at the moment! How embarassing!

Matsukawa-san may be a small package, but she is a fount of knowledge of her art and shares generously with her students.

The closest seat in the photo below is where I worked on Monday and Tuesday (my days 4 & 5). Most of us in this area were working on Phase III or IV.

Below is a photo of the back of the classroom, and gives you a good idea of the spaciousness of the room (even if it is a little crowded with a full cadre of students).  The light during the morning is somewhat dim, but lovely later in the day — still, it is essential to use the individual lights on one’s work! (This was actually taken the day before the previous photo; again, my seat is the most forward in the photo.)

Finally, here’s a close-up of the first flower on my Phase III project.

 

I keep my frames in a back bedroom, out of sight for now. I want so badly to work on them that I would leave even more classwork undone if I had them nearer. Soon, my pretty ones, soon… oh yeah, ’cause I’m planning to return in 2009 for the final two phases.

. . . didn’t quite work out like I’d hoped, but at least I didn’t walk there. My little Kia, I’ve named here “Gobi,” averaged about 43 MPG over the whole trip, thanks to driving only 60 MPH.

The hotel (Hilton Memphis on the east side of town) was lovely, a circular glass tower with wedge-shaped rooms. Since DH was with me, we reserved a king-size bed — uh, that sounded odd… a room with one bed which happened to be a king — the rooms were well appointed, with single brew coffee pot, furniture that looked “real” not “hotel” and even a large flat-screen TV. To say it was comfortable is an understatement. Next time, I’d rather not be on the pool side, however.

The event (Tennesse Valley Region of EGA Share-a-Stitch XXVIII — my first), was delightful, even though I knew only a handful of the 100-plus people in attendance: my fellow chapter members, Rissa and Lisa, our teacher, Barbara Jackson, a few TVR board members, and an old friend from Mid-Atlantic Region who was also teaching at the event, Debbie Stiehler.

What didn’t work out was doing any sight-seeing while in Memphis, on my first trip of any time more than just passing through on my way somewhere else! No Beale Street, no blues, no Elvis look-alikes, no Graceland, no BBQ! (That last is my fault, however, for I chose to go to Carrabba’s Grill our one night with dinner on our own – we had BBQ at the banquet,  but that’s just not the same as going to a BBQ “joint” IN Memphis!)

Unfortunately, on Friday night I could take away only long enough to go get dinner from working on the bibliometric proposal submission for my summer class, which was due by midnight! (Got my grade today, and though it isn’t bad, the professor wasn’t much happier with one section than I was!) I tried to work Saturday night after the banquet to finishi another assignment — due midnight on Sunday — but it just didn’t come together, so we needed to drive straight home after the seminar ended at noon so I could work.

I posted in-progress photos of my class piece, Cherry Tree Cottage over on Crewel Intentions. Please go have a look. And I’ll just plan to return to Memphis some weekend in the future for BBQ, Elvis and Blues.

Oh, yes . . . I volunteered to chair the seminar committee for the Share-A-Stitch in 2010.  Probably a crazy thing to do, but I miss being involved in seminar planning, and the acquaintances throughout the region it brings.

It was pointed out to me that I haven’t posted in a long time . . . only six weeks, though I’ve posted three times at DMLA . . . I haven’t stitched in about that long is why! Only during f-2-f EGA chapter meetings: April I substituted for Rissa teaching stumbling through silk-ribbon embroidery using an old project of mine, Nosegay Pin. I can’t even remember the last time I picked up my knitting, again, except at f-2-f EGA chapter meeting in May while everyone else learn to make silk ribbon irises from Rissa!

But, I do have something new to show off . . .

This is my new transportation, a 2008 Kia Rio XL in “Cashmere Beige” — hah! there’s OKC for ya! I’m averaging about 36 MPG, driving carefully, and under the speed limit. Any one who gets peeved at me about it isn’t paying my gas, so there. (And if any one in the general Hattiesburg, MS, area is shopping for new cars, please go to http://dmckia.com and check with Lanny Lee!)

I’m looking forward to driving it to Memphis for the Tennessee Valley Region Share-A-Stitch in June . . . well, actually, DH will be driving it . . . then perhaps to Louisville with Lisa for the crewel master class with Judy Jeroy in July, followed by beading class at the JEC a few weeks later. (If I can get them to answer me about registration for class! LOL) Woo-hoo! When I went to get the link for JEC, they have finally put up the beading class registration info!

So… now I’ve posted. Heh, heh, heh.

(I wish I knew how to show here when my Dancing My Life Away blog is updated, or feed it into a page here . . . I really prefer to post things like this there.)

I won’t post about Tibet any more on this blog (only at Dancing My Life Away), but if you are a member of Ravelry, IndiaJoy, who is currently in North India in a Tibetan settlement, is posting as regularly as possible about the situation there and what news they are getting from Tibet in a discussion thread at Minful Knitters forum.

 

(May 2007)I am in tears this morning: “Eyewitness accounts from Lhasa.
Our friends live very near Ramoche.
More reports here.

We wait and pray.

pardon the interuption from stitching . . . this is so important, and so tragic . . .

Poor little blog! So woefully neglected!

First it was one thing, then ten others…

Right after my last post, we took a quick trip to Tennessee to visit friends (and yarn shops). We left on a very unusual Mississippi day: a snowy day! For a while on Friday, I wasn’t sure DH would make the trip… not that he won’t drive in snow, we just don’t have the tires for it that we had when we lived farther north.

We got into slush about 25 miles north of our home–and saw four accidents before we got to Hattiesburg, where the slush turned to snow while we had breakfast at IHOP. From then/there until just after we reached the Alabama state line, we felt like we were back in Maryland!

(click on the photo to go to an album of snow photos from that morning)

My friend in TN kept calling to tell us that CNN and the Weather Channel were reporting accumulations very hazardous for driving and specifically advising people not to drive on Interstate 59 — and we kept waiting to reach it, but, there was NO snow, nor even much evidence of it, all the way across Alabama! We thought perhaps it melted before we got there, but the folks we talked to in Birmingham (*had* to stop for lunch at the wonderful Superior Grill, of course) said there was none of which to speak and some even bemoaned the lack.

While on that trip, I finished my legwarmers…

 

helped my friend get started on a knitting project – she’s a long-time crocheter who got “hooked” on a pattern that turned out to be knitted not crocheted! — revisited (and made purchases at) two of the four yarn shops I visted in November, took advantage of the 40%-off sale at Hobby Lobby on needles, book, accessories, and bought some sale yarn there and also at Big Lots and Wal-Marts during our daily outings.

It was quite cold in the east Tennessee mountains, and we had to delay our return trip by a day due to icy roads. Then, once home, it was quite cold here in south Mississippi! This past weekend was two of only about three nice days we’ve had, i.e., not cold, not rainy, since before our trip.

omg… at break time I’d not had coffee–forgot to give Son#1 my JavaWerks card to get it for me–so I walked to Einstein Brothers (tried to stay close because it looked like rain any moment), and just as I got there I realized the students are off for Mardi Gras and thus it was probably closed… it was… too late to walk to JavaWerks, so that meant Starbucks was the only choice… the oatmeal cookie was like a BRICK, and had NO taste, nor did the coffee! no wonder people get the expensive ’mixed drinks’ — the plain coffee is horrible… boooo on Mondays and my poor choice… and I probably walked farther than if I’d gone to JavaWerks!

What else… oh, I won a new BG meter from LifeScan: the new OneTouch Ultra-Mini in pink! There was an online sign-up last fall to ‘win’ one — they had only recently stopped just giving them to whomever came to the website and asked for one, and I don’t remember how many they were going to give away (or even if it said), but I’m betting they gave away a lot… I’m not that lucky! Anyway, timing is perfect because I had not yet mailed off the script from the doctor for strips and lancets for the other meter.

Movies? Yes, in fact, I have seen a couple of good ones. Except for the “bloody violence” in several places, Eastern Promises was quite good. Excellent story, with just enough indication of how the story would unfold, and still a few surprises.

Books? Beside boring and wordy textbook chapters, I’ve got my mind on children’s books by Pat Mora, Vicki Cobb, Gerald Hausman, Kimberly Willis Holt, Loris Lesynski, James Ransome and Will Weaver, the featured authors at this year’s Fay B. Kaigler International Children’s Book Festival. But I did manage to pick up a few 80% off books at Hudson’s on Saturday, including The Big Bad Wolf Tells All by Donna Kauffman. Haven’t read a bit of it yet, so I’m not making a recommendation; it just looked like a fun read… not that I have *time* for a fun read. What I need to do is get some “fun reads” loaded onto my iPod to listen to while I knit on the drive to and from work, and while DH watches weird stuff on TV.

That’s more than enough rambling, and lunch is over. As soon as I get the photos uploaded, the rest of the links to my finished projects (there on the left) will be active.