(such a) Fickle Stitcher

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.

I’ve stayed up way too late watching the election returns… I’d say more, but this is supposed to be a stitching blog.

Looking forward to the Tennesse Valley Regional meeting in Birmingham on Friday, though I’m nervous that I’ve still not seen even a draft idea of the logo for Share-A-Stitch 30, our theme being “Gathering Pearls” (in honor of the 30th anniversary of the event).  Chairing a seminar committee with members strewn all over the region, with varying comfort zones in e-communications is challenging. But, I have every confidencen in those with whom I have already interacted, and know that no matter what it will all get done and in the end it will be worthwhile. I look forward, as well, to my master’s program ending and being able to put SAS 30 in the main portion of my “plate.”

~~ fighting the urge to sing “bye, bye, Miss American Pie…”

(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.

A while ago friends were posting about their EGA “bling.” I took some photos, but never got around to posting.

Lower right-hand corner of this nametag is the EGA President’s pin with the bar below engraved with the dates I was president of the Hagerstown (MD) Chapter (1993-95). Clock-wise is a Red Dress pin, Mid-Atlantic Region pin  (new design), 1988 Mid-Atlantic Region Mini-seminar (hosted by Hagerstown Chapter), 2007 National Seminar (Chicago), EGA 40th Anniversary pin (1998), 1994 National Seminar (Williamsburg), 1993 National Seminar (Des Moines), 2000 National Seminar (Orlando), a gold-wire pin of my name, 1991 National Seminar (Greensboro), 1996 National Seminar (San Francisco), EGA 50th Anniversary pin, Cyberstitchers Chapter pin, Golden Gala (50th anniversary seminar fund-raising pin), 1989 National Seminar (Newport Beach), 2006 National Seminar (Williamsburg), 1997 National Seminar (New Orleans). Along the side is a large golden needle pin with a disc engraved “5″ — purchased at the 1993 National Seminar when I’d been in EGA for five years; I obviously need to order a new disc from National.

Not pictured above are: Heartland Region pin; old design Mid-Atlantic Region pin, EGA Past president’s pin, Counted Thread Society pin, SAS XXVIII (2008 Tennesse Valley Region seminar (Memphis) — see left photo below. What’s missing: EGA Group Correspondence pin, Muchos Manos Chapter pin, Louisiana Lagniappe Chapter pin, Hagerstown Chapter pin (traded or given to someone/sometime/somewhere), some Mid-Atlantic Region seminar pins, and my 1998 National Seminar (Louisville) pin, apparently, and so sadly, lost!

Shortly after this year’s National Seminar in Louisville (September), I moved most, including the 2008 seminar pin, to a new chatelaine (left), and a few to my old one:

I enjoy looking at the pins now and then; they bring back lots of memories, memories of  roommates, traveling companions, teachers, and classes… and unfinished projects!

It’s a joyful day: my husband returned home last night from a three-week visit with his daughters/neice, grandchildren/neices, mother and sister! (And nothing super serious failed/died/broke/happened while the Man of The House was away!) I saw him for about 10 minutes then fell asleep. I look forward to a nice supper with him tonight.

I want to show off the Inchies which I put in the mail yesterday to a friend in France. (We had a swap at CyberStitchers EGA, and she sent more than everyone else, so I made up the difference — only it took me ages to get them finished and in the mail to her!) I basted wool felt to some muslin and stitched the crewel motifs with Heathway wool and Pearsal’s silk threads (from Tristan Brooks Designs).

The motifs are from a variety of in-progress projects by Barbara Jackson. My original intent was to complete all nine squares, but then I thought I would leave four for Virginie to stitch and have as a completed design by both of us… we’ll see what she decides to do with it.

. . . 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.

Years ago, perhaps even before my sons were born, my FIL gave me a punchneedle kit for Christmas. I think he bought it at a kiosk in the mall. I was gracious, but not interested and put it away. I thought I had given it to my DSD, but she doesn’t remember it. Anyway . . .

When I went to The P is for Primitive (Canton) last fall for a rughooking class, I saw lots of cute little punchneedle items; also when I was in the stitching shops in Asheville (NC) there were lots of PN kits. So, it really wasn’t surprising that when we had a bit of our TVR education grant left over from Rhonda’s embellishment & Barbara’s crewel workshops, punchneedle was a choice that fit the bill — literally!

Last Saturday our EGA chapter got together at our regular meeting place, the Flowood library, not on our regular chapter meeting day and Rissa got us started, and once we all got going, she spent the afternoon giving us hints and technique tricks.  We all had a loverly day chatting and laughing and learning something new!

Tonight, I finished my “practice” piece. It was to have been only the three leaves on the blue background . . . but, . . . DH piped up with, “It’s poison ivy!” After he left the room, I decided I would add the white berries to make it so and surprise him.

I’ve placed an order with PunchneedleMarketplace.com for additional needles in all the other available sizes, and can’t wait to start another design.

Just goes to show, well, two things actually:

Everything old is new again and again.

Never dismiss a technique out of hand; you might just be missing out on a joyful experience.

 Not only must I have two left feet, but quite a few right ones as well. It would be just plain frustratin’ to say nothing of borin’ to run through the list of things happening the last couple days (expecially today) . . . but when I got home there was a nice surprise –  beside my sweet DH –

 I received one of the Legacy Scholarships* from the Embroiderer’s Guild of America!

 The funds provided I will use for the Phase II Japanese Bead Embroidery course to be held mid-summer. Actually, I’ll take Phase III as well, as they are offered as a combined class. (Last year at the EGA National Seminar in Chicago, I took Phase I; haven’t made much progress, however.)

(*What’s really wonderful about it is that last year, Lisa, friend & fellow MSNA chapter member, received one of the awards.)