TadLaFleur

Dreaming

2012-01-22T23:01:00.001-08:00

“Don’t dream your life, live your dreams” ~ Anonymous

I found this quote last year and I was going to use it in a post but i never did. This weekend was both a balance for everyday life and dreaming.

I accomplished a lot of of errands and checking things off my list this weekend. . During a break on Friday I wrote down a list of things i wanted to get done over the weekend and for the long term. I won’t bother you with the long term ideas. Some of them were spurred by the books below, some where just thinking of things that needed to be done.

A few of the errands and projects were:

- change bed. - oh my gosh i fluffed up my feather cushion and my 3 coverings and it now feels like heaven

- get knee highs.. – i like to sometimes dress up for work and i haven’t had any knee highs for a while and I miss the dressing up.

-return pop bottles. I didn’t get this done. There is a whole stack in the garage. This will have to wait for another weekend.

- Bennet House Cross stitch – write down all the thread I still need. I bought my self a Christmas present but the shop did not have all the thread I needed. I needed to write down what i did have versus what I needed so i could stop by one day after work as it’s closer to work then home.

- buy a couple cheap pair of flip-flops. Do you know how hard this is to do in the middle of January when you don’t want to go all over town and you don’t want to spend over 2 dollars a pair. Its for a function at work and I found some at the dollar store that will just have to do Tomorrow is National Feet day per my coworkers so we are are using that day to tie in with the concept of Word of the Year. We are giving all our coworkers paper cutouts of flip flops to put down a word or “feat” they want to accomplish at work or in their personal life. We thought we would get a live pair of flip-flops to pass out to the team leads to use as recognition when someone on their team accomplishes a grand “feat" in their department.

Well tonight I feel very accomplished. I got almost everything checked off my to do list. I didn’t start any of the long term goals. but i have a plan in mind to get them done.

But the heading was about dreaming. I did a lot of that this weekend to. Both in sleep ‘:-) and in day dreaming.

I have been in the mode of reading of self help books lately. Wait let’s not use those words. I think exploring new ways of thinking is a better phrasing. I needed something to be adding creativty and light to the gray days of January. The ones I have been reading are.

When I read these books I of course take them with a grain of salt. I try to get a feel for the things they are saying. They all have a common thread it seems. Being positive and believing in what you want. In fact they are very old ideas but it’s always refreshing to think of the ideas in new light. The Books give me new ways of how to apply the ideas to my own life. The hindsight these books have brought have helped me realize this actions have been occurring in my life and I hope to continue to use them as I strive to grow every day. I can honestly say that I have seen awesome results of putting the ideas into motion in my life in the past two years and even in bits and pieces from years before that.

Dreams.. This is where I started this post. I dream all the time. I dream of how i want to decorate, how i want to quilt, to design fabric. How i want to live in a beautiful old house by the water. How I want to travel. How I want to have a delicious Italian dinner in Italy surrounded by Italians and savoring the food. I dream of what I want to be when i grow up. I dream all the time. I dream in color when i sleep and i dream while sitting in freeway traffic. I dream when i write and when i sitting quiely working on stitching.

Another thing the books talk about is live your dreams. Work toward your dreams. I am striving to do it this year. I am always reminded about the lady who always saves her “pretty” things for a special occasion and when she died her children found things still tucked away and not used for years because daily life wasn’t special enough. I want to take things out and use them. Both physical things and my dreams. Every day is special and we are special and we should celebrate every day by using our “pretty” things.

P.S. while out running errands this weekend I found this. Doesn’t it bring joy?

Shall we explore a new series?

2012-01-22T22:05:00.001-08:00

Enid Blyton

UFO # 5 for January

2012-01-14T16:18:00.001-08:00

I am so excited. I finished my UFO early.    At this point in my life I am considering completion to the flimsy as completing my UFO. Perhaps next year I will consider UFO’s from flimsy to complete.
In 2006 I participated in a block of the month exchange at the Shop Heart to Hand. I received 13 squares. The pattern was A Fathers Journey – which I think was an original design but I might be wrong. I would occasionally take them out and try to figure out what to do with them but always came up empty.    At one point I even bought coordinating fabric to tie them all together. A green, a goldish tan, a burgundy red flora and a dark blue.
Last year I could not get them out of my mind and I finally decided to do something out of them. I went through them and really looked at what I had. All thirteen had the same piece of medium blue fabric in all of them and they also had a mixture of dark blue, light blue, tans and one had red and a few other oddities thrown in.   I can’t remember the original count but I determined that what I needed was 5 dark, 5 light, 3 red and 3 neutrals and i had to do some resewing. So I got to work and tore some of them apart, added other fabric that coordinated and made sure that the one fabric was in all of them. I think i did 14 of them and then had two more complete ones to sew up.
Last September I was house sitting and I brought the project along. I sewed the final two blocks and then started measuring the others and found they were not very accurate and the seam ripper came out.
This is what I ended up with .

Then I was stuck.   What was i going to do next? I laid them out in all different order but could never find a good balance. I tried out all the fabrics as borders.   Nothing seemed to work. Then inspiration struck.
i came up with a 5 set on point in a square.

I then I layed the remaining ones around the square but I had a couple of problems. One. I was a square short but did not have any more of the fabric that was in all of them. That was okay- I used fabric that was in many of the others and hoped it didn’t stand out.
This is what it looks like.

The next problem was the square in the middle was slightly smaller then the outside square. Inspiration left and i put it back in the box. I took it home and asked my mom to help me deicide on borders. Still no decision.
Then I put it down on my UFO list and it was pulled for January.
I am house-sitting again so I brought it back out and I set down on Thursday night and put in a 4 hour session.
I was able to figure out a way to showcase the difference between the two “squares”.   I then held it up against myself and it was too square and wasn’t long enough to use on the couch. So I added another row on the top and the bottom of a neutral.
I then cheated (wink) on the last border. I had borders already cut from another quilt that wasn’t used. All I had to do was use two of them and just had to cut the two long sides.
Tada!!! Sorry about the bad lighting it was at night.

Intentions – The listing

2012-01-14T14:25:00.001-08:00

As you know I have picked Intentions for my word to live by. When I picked the word I wasn’t exactly sure what “Intentions” i wanted so I have been thinking about it in the past few weeks. I want to live my life by these intentions not just this year. I want to mold my life to be what I dream. I am going to list my Intention and then list a goal to achieve it for this year. So let’s begin.
1. I want to be a Quilter and sew beautiful quilts.

I have always been a quilter – since I was 18 years old. This year I want to take it to a new level.
Goal: Participate in the UFO challenge from Patchwork Times and complete the Block of the Month from Quilting Delight.

2. I want to be healthy and fit.

I struggle with my weight. Last year I was diagnosed with diabetes. I did really well and lost 45 lbs but then the holiday came and a bit of the weight creeped back on.
Goal: Go to the gym at least twice a week.
Goal: During the summer months (May though Sept) – Go on a hike, walk or bike ride weekly.
Goals: Lose 5 lbs a month.

3. I want to enjoy the monuments.

Life can get very busy and you can lose people very easily. I know because it has happened to me. I want to enjoy the moment.
Goal: I don’t have a quantifying goal – but just to remind myself to take tame for myself either through reading, sewing or enjoying the beauty of everyday life.

4. Be Queen of my home home.

Currently I live in a condo with my mother. I want to move out and have my own space. I have had to work through a lot of anxiety in the last year on the fincial front. It’s finally possible to do it again and I am scared to fail. The worst that can happen is fail and I have done that before and I have survived.
Goal: Look at apartments. The more I put it out in the universe – I know it will fall into place.

5. Always Dream

I am always dreaming. I dream about quilts i can make, things to sew, books to write, furniture to remake, rooms to decorate and ideas to create. I never want to stop dreaming.
Goal: Write the outline and the first chapter of my book.
Goal: Paint a piece of furniture.
Goal: Design a quilt pattern.

I really do believe in the power of goals. These last few years have shown me how awesome I am. This boasts me as I self doubt my self and I should know that I deserve all the happiness that I can make. I have also learned the power of hard work and the results it can lead and I love how my life is so far.

What’s in the Stars?

2012-01-08T12:52:00.001-08:00

Every year as a new year starts I like to read my “Horoscope” Many years I have printed them out and put them in my journal book. I would then through out the year read over them to see how well the fit my life. Some times they reflected what was going on but many times they don’t or it’s very vague but it always gives me a kick.
This year I decided to record them here. I have included the Yearly and the January predictions for love, work and a general overview. Do they fit so far as of the 8th. They do a little.
It’s all in good fun – so enjoy!!!

Year 2012 Overview

This is the year to come out of recent hiding, Aquarius. Saturn, your traditional ruler, will be making its way to your sector of fame and recognition this year, so get ready! Your standing in the world takes on great importance, especially during the latter half of the year. The total solar eclipse in November in your career sector is another huge catalyst to boost your professional status. Being born under the sign of fame, this spotlight is in keeping with your destiny, darling. It's time to come out of humble reclusion, and let yourself shine!
Jupiter spends the first half of the year in your home and family sector, placing the focus squarely on family dynamics and other long-buried issues. You'll gain many philosophical insights during this period about not only your roots, but your role in your family. This is a chance to expand your viewpoint on past events that have shaped who you are today. You may also find yourself in a more introverted and introspective space during the first half of the year until Jupiter enters your romance and pleasure sector in June.
Perhaps the best news is that foggy Neptune is finally leaving your chart in February, allowing you to see clearly - especially in your relationship to yourself. After perhaps suffering some serious disappointments and disillusionments over the past few years, you have started to doubt your ability to read people accurately. However, you'll no longer be under the influence of Neptune's illusory powers, so you'll be able to get back on track. But beware: Neptune will move into your money sector, potentially obscuring your ability to be spend within the bounds of your financial reality. The upside is that Neptune in your financial house could bring an inspiring and soulful means for you to earn money. The arts - film, dance, photography or painting, in particular - could play a bigger role in your income than in years past
Jan Monthly
There is a lovely, crackling kind of electricity in the air, as the year gets going on the 1st and 2nd. You have the sense that you're on the edge of a discovery, that you're ready for a new kind of internal freedom. Wow! What are you going to do with this wonderful energy? Sit down and write? Go out and jog? Paint a picture? Call a friend? Whatever you decide to do, you're going to make the right choice. You're in a deeply intellectual kind of place on the 7th. And somebody finds your intellectualism very, very attractive. This could turn into an awfully romantic moment! Just make sure you aren't getting in deeper than you can handle. Business deals must be handled with kid gloves on the 13th and 14th. If you don't have any kid gloves, warm wooly mittens will do. You can pretty easily bring people together on the 19th -- even if they have completely divergent worldviews. You can't be beat on the incredibly awesome 24th and 25th. Any dreams you've been nursing are sure to come to fruition now. Prepare your acceptance speeches! You want to help others on the 30th and you should go with that. Embrace the weird and the strange on the 31st. It will embrace you back!

Year 2012 Romantic

Your romantic sector can expect plenty of planetary action in 2012, bringing an abundant supply of love and pleasure. Venus will be visiting this corner of your chart for an extended stay between April and August. During Venus's retrograde period between May and June, you may enter a period of reflection and reconsideration over recent romantic developments; you may also encounter unexpected reunions with lovers from your past. In any case, you'll be revisiting sweet memories of love to remind you where you've come from - and help direct you where your love life is going!
The new Moon solar eclipse in mid May will make a strong imprint on the love sector of your horoscope for the duration of the year. The effects of the eclipse will be revealed as an unfolding of events during 2012's second half, all having to do with romantic matters. Current relationships could develop quite quickly, causing a bit of a whirlwind in your heart. When Jupiter joins your love house in June, this will only amplify the power-of-love theme.
Although you often pride yourself on being rather detached and objective, you could find yourself swept up in the drug of love before 2012 is finished with you. But with two of the most benefic planets blessing the romantic house of your horoscope during the second half of 2012, how can you go wrong? Enjoy your fate as a hopeless romantic without having to suffer the tragedy of unrequited love. If anything, you'll be the one turning down offers!
Jan Monthly
A super hot affair is potentially in the works for you as the year gets going on the 1st and 2nd. Did your eyes lock across the dance floor as midnight struck? Or did you notice each other at the coffee shop? Do they have that special something that you just can't resist? Are you available? Did you get their number? Oh, my! What an exciting start to the New Year! You're using your brain on the 7th. How's your heart doing? Be very, very careful as you conduct any romantic negotiations on the 13th and 14th. After all, everybody's got a hungry heart. If you don't have what it takes to feed theirs, let them down easy. A casual get-together could turn very romantic on the 19th. You're irresistible on the 24th and 25th. And they wouldn't resist you if they could! Pay attention to your dreams on the 30th. They might be a big help in sorting out how you really feel about everything that's going on right now, romantically. Try something way, way off the beaten track when it's time to choose a spot to have dinner on the 31st. It will pay off!

Year 2012 Career

This promises to be a stellar career year for Aquarius - your star is clearly rising! You've been in a bit of a gestation period for the past few years, but now you're getting ready to unveil your genius. Though 2011 may have felt like a bit of a stalemate for you, you'll soon realize that you were simply collecting experiences, ideas and dreams that will all be put to good creative use this year. Saturn will be sitting strong at the zenith of your chart for the next few years beginning in October. Under Saturn's tutelage in your career house, you'll be applying the proper focus, discipline and follow-through necessary to make things happen. Your time has come!
While Mars is retrograde until April, you may still be holding your cards closer to your vest as the incubation period continues. But with Mars powering up your sector of resources and other people's money for such an extended period (the first six months of the year), you should have no trouble asking people for backing you might need to get your larger-than-life plans off the ground. You'll be highly resourceful during the first half of 2012, so take advantage of your innate networking skills - they will most definitely pay the bills!
Come springtime, your projects will go off the charts. November's total new Moon solar eclipse in Scorpio will further trigger amazing events in your career house over the latter part of 2012. Themes of death and rebirth - as well as a total transformation of how you approach your career - are certain to emerge, and you'll be required to possess much more power in your chosen field. Do you see yourself as a key player, a leader and a pioneer? Hopefully so, because you're about to be called upon to step into the biggest shoes of your life. No playing small! This is your year to see and be seen, Aquarius
Jan Monthy
Discovery is your keyword on the 1st and 2nd. There's electricity in the air and your brain is working overtime! You need to keep your eyes open for whatever it is that the universe wants to show you this month, then be alert to ways in which you can use that information! If you think about it and decide that what you really want in your career is the opportunity to help people, then get to work on that on the 6th. Approach your boss with your thoughts on the 11th. You'll really make some progress on the 13th, and that will make you feel good! Get in a jog on the 18th. Think it over carefully on the 20th: What's your biggest goal? Why not focus a bit on the bread-and-butter of your career on the 24th? Is it time to think about taking a special class? Learning another language? Gaining a new skill? Sounds good! On the 30th, you're feeling pretty charitable, again. Go ahead and think way, way out of the box on the 31st. That unexplored territory is where you'll find everything you need to make a real go of your wackiest, most out-there ideas.

New Years Day Sewing

2012-01-01T15:57:00.001-08:00

They say what you do on New Years Day you will be doing the rest of the year. This year I decided to get some sewing in so I cut out the squares I need for my Provence Quilt. I am trying a new way to post the photos. I don’t know if i will do it every time but it’s fun to experiment.

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Happy New Year

2012-01-01T11:44:00.001-08:00

Hope everyone has an awesome year. I have goals and wishes that I want to accomplish in 2012. We will do it!!!

2012 – Word of the Year

2011-12-30T23:14:00.001-08:00

In 2011 I started to find a word that I could use to incorporate into my life. Last year I was a bit late in choosing it but I found the word of Encompassing. while I was posting daily going through the alphabet. I will be return to summarizing my year in but let me first tell you my word for 2012.

My Word of the Year for 2012 is Intentions. This word was sparked by reading the book Mastering Life’s Energies – Simple Steps to a Luminous Life at Work and Play by Maria Nemeth, PhD. The line that inspired me was from page 39.

“I use the word intention in a specific way: intentions are the purposes or aims that lie in our hearts and give us a sense of meaning.”

The book goes on to say how instead of resolutions you should set intentions of how you want to live your life and then set goals to reach the intentions. An example they use in the book is

Life’s Intention: To be a creator of beauty. Goal: I plant a rose garden.

In some ways i am still I am trying to figure out who I want to be (or should I say pinpoint who I want to be) and setting intentions is better than resolutions. Intentions don't have the guilt trip if you stumble and are more of a way of life. I am still working on what those intentions are and have not even started the goals but I will be taking the month of January to really think about it.

www.oneuniversalmind.com

I have thought of a few ideas so I will put them down here so I remember them.

Intention – Be Queen of my own Home!

Intention – Make beautiful Quilts!

Now for a review of my last years Word of the Year. My word was Encompassing. I found my word when I was looking at my personal mission statement. To quote:

I want to be a women who passionately lives life to it’s fullest while encompassing love, laughter, creativity and inspiration in whichever way life leads me.

I think i did encompass all of the things i listed and more. I had an awesome year. The biggest part is I have been happy. I can’t tell you how long it’s been since I can look back on the past year and say I was happy through the majority of the year. I like where I am right now. I feel creative, I feel appreciated both and work and with my friends. I feel like I have found a path a can journey along again. For a couple of years I felt lost with no direction in many aspects in my life. I haven’t had any major curveballs thrown at me this year and for that I am grateful. I have lost weight. Almost 45 lbs ( just don’t ask me about Christmas week :-) ) I have signed up for another BOM and have gotten all of my Quilt UFO’s in order. Encompass has been a good word for me.

What do you think your word will be?

UFO Challenge 2012

2011-12-29T12:41:00.001-08:00

I have decided to get organized with my UFO’s. I pulled them out of my closet to catalog them on and listing them here in no particular order. I have each on in an ArtBin box. They are the bomb. I went through and put in a sheet with it’s working name, a sheet where i could write down the progress of each row or month if it called for it and tried to put everything pertaining to the box. As i pull them out I will inventory it and see where I am in the process what i have to do get each one done.
This list is a work in progress and I will be updating as I go along. I am also going to try the UFO challenge from Patchwork Times. I can’t guarantee I will finish them all but it’s a great goal.

#1. 2003 Floral $5.00 Monthly Quilt from Quilting Delights. I did not participate in this monthly quilt but I found all the parts in the sale room at Quilting Delights for one third the price and I picked it up. It has a country feel. I don’t have finishing instructions but have fabric for each of the 12 months. I don’t have a photo of it right now but will take some of the fabric when i open it up.

#2. 2006 Row By Row Quilt April 2006 – October 2006. Heart to Hand This has 7 rows. I have done the first row but got stuck on the second one on how to do the sailboats. I am just going to do it like the pattern says so i can complete it.

#3. Kaleidoscope of Kolor 2008 BOM Quilting Delights - Dot’s version Below is a photo of how this BOM should look. My version is a deep pumpkin color, which is in the second photo.

#4. Kaleidoscope of Kolor 2008 BOM Quilting Delights - Pat’s version My friend Pat did this BOM with me. She loved her background in the beginning but as the months went on she got busier and didn’t finish it and by the end of the year she wasn’t so in love with the fabric. When she moved to Tennessee she gave me her quilt to finish up.

5. 2006 June Block of the Month Exchange A Fathers Journey Heart to Hand When i was dong the Dotty BOM at the shop Heart to Hand they had a monthly exchange where many people turned in blocks and they drew names. I have reworked the blocks and added more and here is where I am at.

#6. Cherry Hill Sampler panel I bought this panel at a quilt shop because i loved the flavor of it. I have gotten it out a bunch of times to try to design a quilt and keep getting stumped. Today I found a pattern on the internet that might just help me as a starting off point.

#7. Pink Roses and Purple Quilt. I started this one out as a table runner for a class I took. I didn’t like how it was turning out so I changed it to be a small quilt I am in the midst of working on converting it to 16 squares.

#8. Kenny’s quilt and figure out fabric for Tass’s quilt. I made a quilt for my oldest nephew and niece. I now have to make one for my two youngest . I have the fabric for the boy. But in looking at them it might work for the girl. I will now have to find material for another one – I will make this one and then decide who to give it to once i find the fabric for the second one. Here is a really bad photo of the first two. I have learned so much working with my camera since then. Its a pattern of my own design.

#9. Mary Engelbreit Baskets of Flowers Panel from 2008 I have some coordinating fabric to go with it. I found these photos of the panel on the internet so you can see what they look like. I think i am going to make a pillow for my couch on with the tree bottom squares.

#10. 2012 Block of the Month – Quilting Delights. I am currently participating in this and doing it in a red color way. So this one is ongoing and actually hope to have it done at the end of the year.

#11. Complete any flimsy to a full quilt
#12. Complete any flimsy to a full quilt

Something to think about......

2011-11-07T06:48:00.000-08:00

We all struggle day to day in figuring out what makes us tick. Below are questions we can ask ourselves to make sure what we are doing is what we want to be doing.

1.What are you passionate about?

2.When you wake up what do you wish you could be doing?

3.How do you want to spend your time?

4.What REALLY turns you on?

5.What’s fun for you and not work?

6.What activities do you like to do?

7.What gives you a sense of fulfillment?

I found these questions from a blog. who is asking herself these questions she found in an article in the Costco magazine. It's always interesting on where a person gets their inspiration for change.

What I made sitting on the porch!

2011-09-05T00:31:00.000-07:00

I took the day off on Friday to have a long 4 day weekend. Everyone needs one of those once in a while.   I went out with my friend Kim. She does scrap booking, holds the title of a ceramic maker proudly and is a fantastic cook. She is the one I took the cake decorating classes with. She is a great inspiration for my crafty goodness. She is currently into making dog collars and leashes. She can do anything she sets her mind to and does it well. Our styles are so different but I let her passion for crafts motivate me.

We went out to lunch on Friday and then we were off to the Quilt stores.   First was Quilting Delights where I signed up for the 5.00 block of the month that is now costing 135.00.   I wrote about it in my last post - so check it out.  I have been going there about 8 years I think. On and off.   I first heard about the store from a temp that worked in my office for 2 days. That's when I signed up for my first Block of the Month and it really got me back into quilting. I never saw that temp again.. So i always have thought of her as a guardian angle. The store has 30's prints, bright colors, and big quilts.There is a lot to choose from of a wide space.

Then on to Pioneer Quilts.   A totally different store then the first. It's small and cozy and is full of wool patterns and quilts, some Kaffee Fasset bolts and civil war prints. This is the store I found the Farmer Wives book way before the quilt-along blazed a trail through the Internet. I was looking at their classes and they have a group that meet monthly to work on wool quilts. I might just have to look into that.

While we were there I picked up a pattern for a cute pattern to store my sewing tools when traveling or whatever.   After stopping at Joanne's to pick up some batting, Kim and I went home to sit on the poach enjoying the beautiful day and spent the rest of the afternoon sewing up the pattern. We alternated between talking outside and going inside and sewing on her Brother Embroidery Machine. I loved it. I want one. ;-)   Now if I only had enough money for everything I want.   That's another blog post.
Here are photos of my attempts. We gave our selves new names. Stupid 1 and stupid 2.   lol    We shared the sewing machine but were using different colored thread so we took turns. Well I got to the completed stage first and when I went to turn it inside out guess what happened?   This:

Yup, I sewed it inside out. All of the pockets were on the inside. So then there was a lot of this going on.

Yup ripping. But I reread the directions and then this happened.

Yes. a completed carrier!!!! ;-) It has 3 pockets and flap that comes over the top.
When my friend tried turning hers out the first time she thought she made the same mistake but it turns out she just had the pocket turned inside out and once she fixed that it came out awesome. Forgot to take a photo of heres. When mine was completed it just felt like it was missing something. What I did then was play with my friends machine. I got into some of her cute stitches and ending up putting a half circle bunting stitch on the front of the flap. The perfect touch.
We then looked around her stash and found some neat fabric and we made another one. By the time we were done with that one it was dark. So no photos of those. Good thing to - because I was trying to be fancy on the stitching and guess what. Yup.. back to the seam ripper. So I will post the completed on another day.

What I will be doing monthly for the next year.

2011-09-02T23:36:00.001-07:00

Well I did it. i went over to Quilting Delights and signed up for their Block of the Month that starts in Nov.

The store goes back and forth between a quilt the shop owner designs and one they get through Maywood Studio’s. This year it is through Maywood Studio. The quilt is below and we have 4 color options.

The first is in black and pinks and whites that has long stemmed pink roses and black backgrounds. I have tried to find photos of it but I can’t find a photo out on the web and i can’t remember the name of the line. The next three are color variations of the Memories of Provence line. The color ways we had were black, red and blue. In the photo below its the second,, third and fourth in the stack to the left.

I chose the

RED

of the Memories of Provence line. It just spoke to me. I am so excited.

Here is a blog that describes another blogger starting the quilt. That is where I also got the 2 photos above. Thank you Open Gate Quilt Blog. I had trouble getting on the Maywood Studio website so I used the two I found. Dang virus protectors.

It’s been 2 or 3 years (or has it been more?) since I have participated in a Block of the Month. i did get a little burned out but I also was at a time in my life with school full time, graduation, then losing my job, having no money, looking for a job and then finding one but trying to impress the company so I would get hired on from my temp status that I didn’t sign up for one.

I start on Nov 10th but the store said that in a few weeks I will be getting the fabric and a cutting list so i can set up my little packets for each month with all my cut up fabric. I can’t wait!

Today I also bought a cool pattern and made a cool little satchel to hold sewing supplies. I will update you soon.

Have a wonderful day.

needlework

2011-07-17T15:15:00.001-07:00

needlework, a photo by Tadlafleur on Flickr.

designing a peice.. i hope to have a series using my initals.

Special Fonts

2011-07-11T23:22:00.000-07:00

o you like this?

found it at this site.

http://www.dailydropcap.com/

Kaffe Fassett

2011-06-19T11:08:00.000-07:00

I love this designer... In fact it is a connection with my Aunt. When she died my brother and sister gave me her knitting statsh. In it I found articles on Kaffe from the 80's when she lived in the San Fransico area.

http://youtu.be/ZktTHOFv_mY

A Sunday note.

2011-05-29T21:22:00.001-07:00

Things are going on in my life...

I am house sitting again. 3 minutes from work. It is so nice to leave work at 3:30 and be sitting on the couch working on my needlepoint by 3:45.

I have made great strides on this lately. I am on the bottom 3rd. Of that, the two corners are a light apple green and white check. I have finished one corner and just have the white checks to finish on the other side. Still have the middle portion to finish. I feel so soothed when I stitch and it makes me think of my fathers sisters who are great needle workers. I am so excited to start my next project when I am done.

I finished my cake decorating class Here is the final product.

Do I love it? No. I don’t like the size of the cake I used, it didn’t turn out like I had it in my head and I had so much trouble baking it. I made it in the kitchen I am house sitting at. Let me tell you there is nothing like missing your own kitchen. I had to make two versions. The first one had one disaster after another. First I couldn’t not find any oil or Pam to put in the pan so I gave up and made it anyway. In checking it when the timer went off I discovered I had turned the oven off and had to cook it longer. When it tried to get it out of the pan it fell apart and half of it stuck to the bottom of the pan. On the second one I decided to use butter to powder it with the flour I finally found but it turns out it was rice flour and I lost one of the ends when I took it out of the pan. But as I told them in class I was learning – and I learned so much.

This is my friends cake. It turned out awesome. She went ahead and made one out of the book. Of course perfection.

We have signed up for the next class.

The Flowers and Cake Design class.

We will see how it go’s.

I have been watching some good series lately…

Watched In the middle of

And just started and have on the shelf

I am reading

and also found another series in which I have read the first one.

Still working on collecting all of the DMC threads and working on my design books. Quilting is not at the forefront on being worked on but it’s never far from my mind.

Well it’s getting late and I will update you again soon.

My library adventures

2011-05-15T14:33:00.001-07:00

In one of my quests to save Money and to also quench my thirst for books I take advantage of the Multnomah County Library. The have many branches and it is one of the most used libraries in the nation. I have intersts in a wide circle of things. Currently I have 28 book/things checked out and I have 11 items on hold.

Today I will be returning a few: Let me list them.

A Knitter’s Home Companion – A heartwarming collection of stories, patterns and recipes by Michelle Edwards
I Remember Nothing – and other Reflections by Nora Ephron
Hook, Loop and Lock – create fun and easy locker hooked project by Theresa Pulido
The Vintage Home – Clever finds and faded treasures for today’s chic living by Judith Wilson
The Pioneer Woman Cooks – Recipes from an Accidental Country Girl by Ree Drummond
Shed Chic – Outdoor Buildings for Work, Rest and Play by Sally Coulthard
Brava Valentine – a novel (audio book) by Adriana Trigiani
ReKindled (audio book) by Tamera Alexander
October Road The complete first season
Run Fatboy Run
A Wrinkle in Time (2003 Disney)
Little Big Town by Little Big Town
Stripped by Christina Aguilera
Corinne Bailey Rae by Corinne Bailey Rae

The things i have checked out that I still have in a pile next to my bed are:

Summer of the midnight sun by Tracie Peterson
Whispers of Winter by Tracie Peterson
A summer in the Country by Marcia Willett
A week in winter by Marcia Willett (halfway through)
Big Stone Gap (Audio Book) by Adriana Trigiani only have a few cd’s left to listen to on the commute
Commander in Chief. Part 1 (DVD)
The big book of cross-stitch designs: over 900 simple to stitch decorative motifs
Crating a home by Kathryn M Ireland
Sister Parish Design: on Decorating by Susan Bartlett Carter and Libby Cameron ( I love Sister Parish – she is so into chintz.)
Color schemes for the flower garden by Gertrude Jekyll - thought it would help on color theory.
October Road: The complete second season (DVD)
Live by Design: 6 steps to an extraordinary you by Tom Ferry with Laura Morton I am pouring over this one as it is hitting home with me and plan to work with it some more.
Gunn’s golden rules: life’s little lessons form making it work by Tim Gunn, with Ada Calhoun
Thrifty chic: interior style on a Shoestring by Liz Bauwens and Alesxandra Campbell

Currently I have 11 on hold with two ready to pick up.

Drawling lab for mixed-media artists: 52 creative exercises to make drawing fun by Carla Sonheim
North and South. The complete collection (DVD)
Big Love. The complete fourth season. 87 out of 297 on hold
The Kids are all Right (DVD) 19 out of 207 on hold
The book of Stillmeadow 1 of 2 on hold
Doo-wops & hooligans by Bruno Mars 188 of 240 on hold (have had on hold since March and I am only up to 188)
Once and again: The complete second season 1 of 1 holds but on it’s way
Big Cherry Holler – A Big Stone Gap novel by Adriana Trigiani 1 of 1 holds but on it’s way
A wrinkle in time (audio book) by Madeleine L”Engle 4 of 4 holds
One Tree Hill. The complete first season. 1 of 1 holds but on it’s way
A year on Ladybug Farm by Donna Ball 1 of 1 holds

Mamma Mia

2011-05-15T13:09:00.001-07:00

I am going in Aug to see this with my Mamma, my friend Rob and his mamma and sister. Rob and I saw this on Broadway and have seen the movie lots of times. I also have both the soundtrack for both the movie and the London production.

Cake Class

2011-05-15T11:24:00.001-07:00

I am takig a fondant and gum cake class. Yesterday I went over to my friend Kim’s house to make our “flowers” for our final project. Below is what I made. I didn’t have a set plan when I started but it all came together – I think. I looked at a couple of choices that they listed in the back of the class book and I started from there. I didn’t “love” anything so I took bit’s and peices from all the designs. I was first making circles with circles cut out and then I moved on to the flowers. Then I added the leaves. I don’t know what I am going to do with the little balls as I had one idea of putting them all around the edges but I don’t know.

My pink is not what i wanted. I wanted more of a red. I wanted to do a red and aqua colored cake. I couldn’t get the colors deep enough. For the purple/blue I tried to match the colors on her kitchen wall. I kept holding it up to her wall. She was giggling at me. She painted her house from the colors from the Disney line. She is a Disney fanatic.

I have made too many pieces but I wanted choices. I still don’t know how it’s going to be decorated but I will post photos when i am done.

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While we were doing this we made Cinnamon rolls from scratch. YUM YUM! She is such a creative and crafty person. She gives me so much inspiration. Our tastes are not the same but her continuous effort at cooking, crafting, thinking up new ideas motivates me to push my self. I say all the time I want to do this, or that and never get around to it. She says it and the next thing i know is we are doing it. I want to be like her when I grow up.

A romantic vision.

2011-05-01T09:38:00.000-07:00

I stayed up all night watching the wedding. I was in love with the way she looked in the blush veil. I was reading blogs on Friday and someone said that the dress reminded her of Marie from the movie Sound of Music - I can see that. I can also see how it reminds them of Princess Grace. Two grand ladies to be compared to. What do you think?

I liked watching the pageantry and the tradition. I loved it.

Sorry I have been gone so long.....

2011-04-22T21:25:00.000-07:00

Did you wonder what happened? I just got unmotivated. I was house sitting and posting daily felt more like a job then a creative movement, I got behind and then I just stopped. I have been in an uncreative movement for a while as I was working lot's of overtime but it has settled down. What a wonder only working 40 hours a week is again.

Lot's has happened since January.

I got hired on at the company I have been temping for. I start on Monday. I am making the most money I have ever made since 2001. For some people it's not enough but for me it's a nice treat and an accomplishment. I have either been unemployed or working a temp job with no benefits for two years. I will have to get use to being paid only twice a month now. That will be odd. At my prior job i got paid every other Friday. It was like that for almost 7 years.

I have decided to buy every color in the DMC embroidery line. I have about 1/3. It is so fun looking at all the colors in my plastic thread holders. I will take a photo and post my collection but here is a sneak peek of one i found on the Internet.

In looking for the above photo I stumbled across this awesome craft idea...

What else?

I want to decorate. It's a combination of a romantic country, shabby chic, lots of flowers and wood and white and color and soft lines with strong lines ... They say the more you put it out in the atmosphere the more you will get it. These are a few of the looks I love.

I am taking a class on fondant and gum paste at my local Michael's. It's beyond fun. It's awesome. I made a beautiful rose. I took photos so I will post soon.

Won't be so long between posts!!!!

L – Day 12

2011-01-12T19:55:00.001-08:00

Today I was thinking of words that start with L. I was blank. My coworker came up with love. That’s a good one. Then after coming back from lunch… it hit me lunch. I should have taken a photo of my lunch but it wasn’t that memorable. Then I looked at my mission statement which I have posted on my wall at work.

It made me think of laughter and life. To enjoy life. But those weren’t the right words either but reading the statement with a new slant got me thinking. I still haven’t picked a word to live by this year. I think I have found it. Encompass. I wrote this mission statement my first full year at Portland State. A good friend helped me but through the bull***t to really figure out what I want to be. As I have been living life I have really tried to remember who I want to be. I have tried to live with passion, to laugh, to be creative especially through my struggles in the last few years – good and bad. I am finally in a good place I hope and I know that the words above have helped me.

Back to my L word. I think the word for today is lists. I am not normally a list person, I make a list for special dinners and for trips but I don’t live my life by lists but I am finding I do in one area. I have made lists of books I read, books I want to read, movies i have watched and ones that look good to view. A couple of years ago a friend ( the same one who helped me with my mission statement) told me how he keeps track of the books he has read in a little notebook. That seemed so intriguing that I decided to do it. I went to a book store and found a journal that had quotes from Jane Austen and little drawings of the era. I loved it. Since then I have kept of all books I have read. It’s so cool to go back and look at how many I have read in the last 4 years or so. I have also started an excel spreadsheet of authors and all the books they have written to help me keep track. I have many many on there. I love going through and checking off ones i have read and ones I can search for. Another L word. Love. I love it!!!!!!

K – Day 11

2011-01-11T21:56:00.001-08:00

Key's

1. keys, 2. Tower of London Keys, 3. The stroke of a key, 4. Key to the Past, 5. Keys, 6. Keys Set 2, 7. key, 8. Key To My Kingdom, 9. key

http://bighugelabs.com/mosaic.php

J – Day 10

2011-01-10T22:41:00.001-08:00

I own a blue corduroy jacket. I have had it for a long time. It is just heavy enough to wear when it’s cold and light enough when it’s in the 40’s or 50’s. It is a casual jacket but I love it. It is like an oversized shirt but is a very comfy corduroy. It has worn very well over the years.

I remember being out shopping with my friend Sherry. We went to the Dress Barn and I saw a wall of jacket’s that I fell in love with but I was short on money that month. She was such a dear friend and bought it for me. This was at least 15 years ago.

It is very simple in style and I am always wanting to jazz it up a little and add embroidery on to it but I have never figured out what I want. I wear it to work a lot so I don’t want it to casual but I would like to make it a unique piece. Also I don’t have an embroidery machine so I would be doing it myself and I don’t know if I could do it as professional as I would like. Also what would I put on it? Something that wouldn’t go out of style would be my first thought. I would probably put flowers on it. The next question is which one?

I like the 4 above. The first two could be cool. The third is so like my own drawings but I think would be too plain. The fourth one just intrigued me.

What color would I do it in? One color or many colors? This is why I haven’t done it. Too many choices and afraid I wouldn’t like it once I made a decision.

I – Day 9

2011-01-10T22:21:00.001-08:00

Sunday was so busy. I headed home and took down all of the Christmas decorations and put them in the corner until next weekend. I then went out to dinner and a movie with my sweetie. We had the lightest battered fish and chips and then then went and saw True Grit. Both of us have seen the original but we don’t remember much but a few scenes. In watching the new version ( which we both liked) it would seem familiar but then not. Needless I didn’t get to post so I am posting tonight.

I don’t know what to reflect on for I. I tried looking up words for I on Google and I found the following which I thought was interesting.

20 Adjectives that Start with "I"

Idiotic- selling your friends bogus stocks in an attempt to make money to cover up bad investments.
Immoral- see above
Indigenous- native to a certain area.
Illogical
Irrelevant- not pertinent, like mentioning Pokemon during a golf game.
Indigo- the color on the electromagnetic spectrum between 420 and 450 degrees in wavelength, placing it between purple and blue.
Improper
Icy
Irreconcilable- differing beliefs that cannot be brought to agreement.
Inferior- lower in rank.
Impeccable
Intelligent
Inert- unable to move, like a rock right before it is thrown into a river. Does it begin or end its journey?
Incredible
Interesting
Infernal is like all things that are of the netherworld of the dead, hellish, like small child howling in a nice restaurant.
Irate describes someone who is really, really, really, mad.
Ironic - meaning the opposite of what is expressed.
Integral- something upon which all other components are based.
Inconceivable describes something that cannot be imagined by natural means.

I like the examples.

H – Day 8

2011-01-08T23:34:00.001-08:00

For some reason I thought that the letter was F today. So I took a photo of the fireplace. But I think that House-sitting will suffice.
I am house-sitting for the next 10 days. Today I sat in front of the fire and watched a repeats of Project Runway.i admit I might have dozed for a bit. The house-sitting has turned into a nice way to make a little bit of money to pay for getting my hair done or that unexpected bill.

G- Day 7

2011-01-07T20:32:00.001-08:00

I am in love with the Glee Soundtracks. I listen to them over and over. I have bought 4 albums off of I-Tunes and the others i have borrowed from the library.

They are

Right now I am obsessed with Glee: The Music, Volume 4. I am listening to the songs Valerie, River Deep, Mountain High and I Want to Hold Your Hand. They are my favorite tracks. I listen to them over and over again while at work. Some of the other songs are better than others but I like them all. The get me motivated and give me confidence. It’s old school but at the same time modern. Sometimes I like the Glee version of the song rather than the original artist.

I also love to watch the show but nothing beats the sound of their voices in your ear.

F – Day 6

2011-01-06T19:58:00.001-08:00

Freesia – i love them…

E- Day 5

2011-01-06T18:56:00.001-08:00

An old English proverb says:

Early to bed, early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise.

I am going to take that advice and head to bed early. That is my word of inspiration today. Early.

I did a impromptu survey of my friends at work for a word or subject that starts with E. What is interesting is many people first said excellence. That is is a good word to strive for and I have it in one of my quotes at work but what can you say about that?

Another subject I thought I could talk about is Embroidery. But where to start on that subject. I was listening to Pat Sloan’s podcast of her radio show on TalkNet radio. I They were talking about the old style iron on transfers of embroidery patterns. It made me think of Rodgers – a local 5 and Dime store here in the NW but is now closed. You could find anything and everything there. They had an old wooden cabinet that held old fashioned candy. You could also get the coolest embroidery pieces their. They were the blue ink on white fabric. They also had the black looking sick that my sister made into pillows for my 3 aunts. It was always fun to go look through them as a kid. I wanted t \this one or that one but my mom wasn’t real crafty so we didn’t get to buy them very often.

Today I love to sew pillow cases and even tried my hand in designing the pattern of the thread detail but I haven’t gotten very far.

Getting late. Off to bed.. Night NIght.

Thursday – I guess I didn’t post this but I did write it on Wed night.

D – Day four

2011-01-04T23:32:00.001-08:00

Darkness – that is what I think of when I think of the letter D. It seems like I have been surrounded by it.

This fall and now winter I have been going to work in the dark and returning home in the dark due to long hours at the new job. I only see the sunshine, if it shines, from the window of the office. Even on the weekends it’s either gray skies or i am doing errands at twilight. It has made me restless and tired.

Maybe I am looking at it all wrong.

A man must dream a long time in order to act with grandeur, and dreaming is nursed in darkness.

Jean Genet

C – Day Three

2011-01-03T21:43:00.001-08:00

Cooking is the inspiration for today. I made spaghetti and garlic bread. It was good but could have been better.

B – Day Two

2011-01-03T00:42:00.001-08:00

Well today is the second of January. So that brings up the letter B. I have thought about this letter as I was doing chores today. Words that came up were blood, blogs, books, buggers, blue, boyfriends, babies beach and many more crossed my mind. Side note, I confess I started this post at 11 but now when i am posting it’s more than half past 12.

I think I will write about books. I love books. I love the feel of them in my hand. I love to curl up on my bed among all my pillows and get lost in the story. So many times books have kept me company when people have not. I have learned so many things, discovered so many worlds and they have led me on journeys outside of the stories because something I have read has peaked my interest and I want to learn more about it.

When I learned, I learned quickly. I wasn’t a child who learned before school but learned when I was in kindergarten. For my first four months of kindergarten I went to a city school. There kindergarten was more centered around fun. In January we moved and I started at a school in the burbs. There they taught me to read. My classmates started in September but I started in January. By the end of the year I had caught up and by passed a lot of the students. I will always remember the yellow books and taking new ones out of the bins. I don’t remember stumbling over words as I learned them, once the window was opened I grabbed hold and have never let go of such a treasured gift.

One of the books I remember when I was a child was a story on Clara Barton. I remember having to do a book report on her and copying the front cover of the book for the cover page of my report. I was back at the burb school so it was between 4th and 6th grade. Another book I remember from that time was a book on learning to make Ukrainian eggs. I was captivated by the book that taught me how to put the wax on and then dye the eggs and then put another layer on. The method is called Pysanka. My parents even got me a stylus to use to put the wax on. I have loved the art of it since but have never gotten back into it. Melting the wax was hard. I wonder if I still have my stylus?

The summer between 6th and 7th grade ( or somewhere in there) I can remember being crazy about a book where the girl went to camp for the first time. I so wanted to go to camp like she did, do what she did. I just remember reading it over and over again. I was heading in to middle school and it was a huge step and I think I lost myself in the simplicity of the girls life. I wished I remembered more, but all that comes back to me are snippet's of her going to the camp store or of her cabin hiking somewhere and spending the night under the stars. I loved that book and still think about it occasionally remembering the sensation of anticipation to read the book, more so than the story itself.

When I look back at the books I read in High School I can’t believe what I was reading or that my mom even let me. I have a feeling she never knew. I was reading romance books – not even having a clue on what I was reading but loving the “love” stories.

I have always had a book with me. I even buy my purses with the thought in mind… Is it big enough for my book? Sometimes I even have 3 or 4 going at once. I have no problem keeping them straight (at least most of the time) but sometimes I struggle with reading one because I so want to go read the other as it has captivated me.

I have a confession to make. I will read ahead and also will read the last few pages to see who ends up with who or who did the crime. Some say that is a terrible thing, but for me it makes the reading of the book so much enjoyable. Now that I know kinda of what happens I can focus on the story rather than looking for clues for what is going to happen next. In the last few years I have been listening to Books on Cd – let me tell you not knowing how it will turn out just kills me. lol.

I have a hard time reading the classics. I like stories I can releate to. Sometimes when I read classics or even new books if I don’t understand the feelings the characters are having or the “voice” of the book I have a hard time finishing it. I get board easily and can’t finish it. I do try though, and will continue to try because sometimes books capture you and you don’t even know why but it can take a bit to get into it. I am the eternal optimist that I will always like the book and find it very hard to concede defeat and not finish it. So I always give it a chance no matter what book it is.

I don’t think I will ever be a convert to “The Nook” or “Kindle” or any of the other hand held machines. I love going into bookstores. I love the art of picking out a book, do you go with the cover or the description on the back? I love holding it in my hand when I read, the action of turning the pages, the musty smell that can drift up from the pages when you turn them. To me reading a computer screen does not match up to that feeling of a paper based book will give me. Seeing the notes in the margin or the turned over corners set by the people who read the book before me is irreplaceable. Looking at your bookcase and seeing all that you have read, it’s like they are old friends. That is what books are to me. They are my friends. I don’t want to lose that friend.

A New Year

2011-01-02T00:00:00.001-08:00

They say that what ever you do on the 1st day of the Year you will do the rest of the Year. If that is true I am going to have a drab year. Today I slept, watched movies and helped my mom who is confined to her bed as she is depilated by back pain. Encouraging her to walk to the bathroom, doing her laundry and fixing her meals.

That is real life. Enough of that.

Let’s live in the life of Tadlafleur.

I have been giving my blog a lot of thought this week. In fact my whole creative life. It has been null since I started my new job at the end of Aug. Working many over 50 hour weeks with a 45 minute commute each way has eaten up the time. I haven't even blogged very much or much of anything other then work, eat, sleep and start the day over again. Hopefully that has calmed down and we are caught up and I actually get hired on as a real employee not a temp. - but that is for another day, another post.

I have seen many blogs that are talking about having a word to inspire you through out the year. I still haven’t sat down to find that word for 2011. I want to find a word that inspires me in creativity, work, life, love and every other way that counts. What it is I don’t know. I have to find some quiet time to come up with what I want this year. This is where I want to start to get my creative flair back on track.

One of the things that I thought would inspire me is to blog everyday this month. I wrote out in my inspiration journal that I take almost every where with me the numbers 1- 31 for the month of January. Then I was stuck. Today I really wanted to blog but I didn’t have a theme to carry out through out the month. I kept putting if off as I didn't know what to blog. Lying here today watching the movies it came to me. Why don’t I use the letters of the alphabet. A-Z that will get me through 26 days. I will come up with a theme for the last 5 days. It shouldn’t be too hard as that will be my birthday week.

So that is the plan – I plan to blog everyday with the letter for the day. Some days it might be inspire me to write a blog , post a photo, post progress on a craft or even just a quote. But do something everyday. I don’t think many people read my blog but it will get me doing something.

Review of the last year..

Quilt wise – I feel very disappointed in my progress last year. I think i only completed one quilt top. You would think with all the time off I had before September I would have made more progress. I think my goals were 2 tops in each half of the year. Didn’t even come close. I have so many UFO’s that it could keep me busy all year. The one quilt top I did do was a UFO. In 2008 I downloaded the BOM Appliqué by SuzGuzDesigns. Read more on my A post. Next year I hope to do better and perhaps join a group somehow that can give me quilters companionship and support.

Craft wise. Finished my cross stitch tablecloth that took 15 years. Yahoo!!! Started to design some embroidery patterns. Stopped when i started this current job but didn’t like the direction it was going any how so will try to get back to it. Made some really cute invitations for a party I had from my group of friends called the Faith Ladies.

Movies- Boy have I taken advantage of my library. I have rented so many movies and have found some really good series. Big love (watching season 2 right now), Joan of Arcadia (both seasons) , Everwood (season one) and Once and Again (season one) . In my own “library” i have all of the series for Avonlea, Gilmore Girls, The West wing and Emily of New Moon. Any other good series I can watch?

Books- I have read a ton of those too. I have found some wonderful series by just searching the library shelves. I listened to all of the Cedar Cove series on CD on my commute. I loved them. I just found a series called Sweetgum Knit Lit Series. She has only written two books but i hope she continues this cast of characters. I need to read her other books.

Work. - Was placed as a temp at a growing company. Have made myself invaluable I hope so that they will hire me on permanently. And who knew I would care about my job again. It’s refreshing and invigorating. The culture at this facility has really boasted my spirits and confidence work wise and has given me some of my happiest work experiences.

Well i didn't know this was going to be such a long post. Once I got started this evening – i haven’t been able to stop and that is why it’s posted on the 2nd not on the 1st. And I can’t leave a post with out a photo – so here is one from the beach in Rockaway in the Summer of 2009. I wish i was sitting in that sunny weather with the sound of the ocean rather than in 20 degree weather with the sound of the heater in the other room. Happy New Year.

A- Day One

2011-01-01T23:59:00.001-08:00

There were many ideas I had for A. Aspire, attention, appliqué, apple, application, advise. Even used a word generator website – came up with Atoned, Agreeable. To be truthful I don’t know what word I would want to write about.

Maybe even about. That could be the word. As I sit here in the dark, almost midnight I can think of so many words to describe the state I am in but a word that starts with a is being difficult.

When writing my New Years post – i started writing about appliqué. I haven’t done much of it. The few pieces I have done have not been that great. So let me start my new goal writing about my current appliqué project I completed.

The one quilt top I did do was a UFO of 12 inch square appliqué pieces I had been working on my breaks at my job in 2008 and 2009. In 2008 I downloaded the BOM Appliqué by SuzGuzDesigns. I had 2 fabric charm square packets a friend gave me of Moda fabric. I can’t remember the line’s name but the color ways were soft yellows, blues, pinks and greens. The patterns were flora's, stripes, checks and tone on tones. With some other fabrics from my stash I decided to use it as my project to hand sew at work. I cut out the 12 background pieces I needed and then tackled each month at a time. I think i prepped the first 4 months one Sunday at Jim’s. School was out for the term or I had no homework that day. I just remember him sitting in his chair, snoozing on and off while we watched Nascar and I worked on prepping the pieces. I used the fusible web method on many pieces and then the stitch the wrong sides to the web and turn inside out for the hearts so that they would have a bit more depth.

Above is an example of April. I worked on the pieces when I could during lunch or breaks. I kept the project in a cute photo box on my book shelf. I got the first 6 months done and then completely messed up the 7th and had gotten the appliqué pieces cut out and half way prepped for month 8. To be truthful – on many of the pieces for that month I ironed the wrong side to the fusible.So I was going to have to do it again.

I used the blanked stitch as my appliqué method. I had also found some really cute thread at Joanne’s that melded into the colors of the quilt. You could definitely could see an improvement on each piece but since then I have learned tricks for the fusible that would have made my pieces work so much better. But the goal was to gain experience and that is what I did. Work and school and life got to busy and I never got back to it.

This fall I decided to complete a UFO and this was the one I chose. On Sunday I decided to not finish the other months but just to use the good six one’s i had left – so I put sashing around them and bordered them with a light green and then a piano border of the 5 inch charm squares I had left. The finished look is just what I wanted. Romantic,soft and blending into each other. I have cut out my binding and now will finish it in the new year. I also took the hearts I had made for block 8 and will randomly place them on the borders when i complete the quilt. Maybe even on the back.

I don’t have any current appliqué projects on the back burner or even in my list of things i want to do. I like doing it but i haven’t come across something that has made me “crave” to jump into a project. I would like to try needle turn and will continue to be inspired by projects but I think at this time I am more drown to piecing or other types of needle work.

My squares.

So I have found something for A. Tune in tomorrow for something with B.

Give this a read through....

2010-11-23T21:38:00.001-08:00

Have you read more than 6 of these books? The BBC believes most people will have read only 6 of the 100 books listed here.

Instructions: Copy this into your NOTES. Bold those books you've read in their entirety, italicize the ones you started but didn't finish or read an excerpt. Tag other book nerds. Tag me as well so I can see your responses

1 Pride and Prejudice – Jane Austen
2 The Lord of the Rings – JRR Tolkien
3 Jane Eyre – Charlotte Bronte
4 Harry Potter series – JK Rowling
5 To Kill a Mockingbird – Harper Lee
6 The Bible
7 The Tin Drum - Gunter Grass
8 Nineteen Eighty Four – George Orwell
9 His Dark Materials – Philip Pullman
10 Great Expectations – Charles Dickens
11 Little Women – Louisa M Alcott
12 Tess of the D’Urbervilles – Thomas Hardy
13 Catch 22 – Joseph Heller
14 Complete Works of Shakespeare
15 Rebecca – Daphne Du Maurier
16 The Hobbit – JRR Tolkien
17 Birdsong – Sebastian Faulks
18 Catcher in the Rye – JD Salinger
19 The Time Traveller’s Wife – Audrey Niffenegger
20 Middlemarch – George Eliot
21 Gone With The Wind – Margaret Mitchell
22 The Great Gatsby – F Scott Fitzgerald
23 Bleak House – Charles Dickens
24 War and Peace – Leo Tolstoy
25 The Hitch Hiker’s Guide to the Galaxy – Douglas Adams
26 Brideshead Revisited – Evelyn Waugh
27 Crime and Punishment – Fyodor Dostoyevsky
28 Grapes of Wrath – John Steinbeck
29 Alice in Wonderland – Lewis Carroll
30 The Wind in the Willows – Kenneth Grahame
31 Anna Karenina – Leo Tolstoy
32 David Copperfield – Charles Dickens
33 Chronicles of Narnia – CS Lewis
34 Emma – Jane Austen
35 Persuasion – Jane Austen
36 The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe – CS Lewis
37 The Kite Runner – Khaled Hosseini
38 Captain Corelli’s Mandolin – Louis De Berniere
39 Memoirs of a Geisha – Arthur Golden
40 Winnie the Pooh – AA Milne
41 Animal Farm – George Orwell
42 The Da Vinci Code – Dan Brown
43 One Hundred Years of Solitude – Gabriel Garcia Marquez
44 A Prayer for Owen Meany – John Irving
45 The Woman in White – Wilkie Collins
46 Anne of Green Gables – LM Montgomery
47 Far From The Madding Crowd – Thomas Hardy
48 The Handmaid’s Tale – Margaret Atwood
49 Lord of the Flies – William Golding
50 Atonement – Ian McEwan
51 Life of Pi – Yann Martel
52 Dune – Frank Herbert
53 Cold Comfort Farm – Stella Gibbons
54 Sense and Sensibility – Jane Austen
55 A Suitable Boy – Vikram Seth
56 The Shadow of the Wind – Carlos Ruiz Zafon
57 A Tale Of Two Cities – Charles Dickens
58 Brave New World – Aldous Huxley
59 The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time – Mark Haddon
60 Love In The Time Of Cholera – Gabriel Garcia Marquez
61 Of Mice and Men – John Steinbeck
62 Lolita – Vladimir Nabokov
63 The Secret History – Donna Tartt
64 The Lovely Bones – Alice Sebold
65 Count of Monte Cristo – Alexandre Dumas
66 On The Road – Jack Kerouac
67 Jude the Obscure – Thomas Hardy
68 Bridget Jones’s Diary – Helen Fielding
69 Midnight’s Children – Salman Rushdie
70 Moby Dick – Herman Melville
71 Oliver Twist – Charles Dickens
72 Dracula – Bram Stoker
73 The Secret Garden – Frances Hodgson Burnett
74 Notes From A Small Island – Bill Bryson
75 Ulysses – James Joyce
76 The Bell Jar – Sylvia Plath
77 Swallows and Amazons – Arthur Ransome
78 Germinal – Emile Zola
79 Vanity Fair – William Makepeace Thackeray
80 Possession – AS Byatt
81 A Christmas Carol – Charles Dickens
82 Cloud Atlas – David Mitchell
83 The Color Purple – Alice Walker
84 The Remains of the Day – Kazuo Ishiguro
85 Madame Bovary – Gustave Flaubert
86 A Fine Balance – Rohinton Mistry
87 Charlotte’s Web – EB White
88 The Five People You Meet In Heaven – Mitch Albom
89 Adventures of Sherlock Holmes – Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
90 The Faraway Tree Collection – Enid Blyton
91 Heart of Darkness – Joseph Conrad
92 The Little Prince – Antoine De Saint-Exupery
93 The Wasp Factory – Iain Banks
94 Watership Down – Richard Adams
95 A Confederacy of Dunces – John Kennedy Toole
96 A Town Like Alice – Nevil Shute
97 The Three Musketeers – Alexandre Dumas
98 Hamlet – William Shakespeare
99 Charlie and the Chocolate Factory – Roald Dahl
100 Les Miserables – Victor Hugo

Someday.....

2010-11-13T20:56:00.000-08:00

Inspiration from My Sewing Serenity.

Someday I want to crochet a rug like this. Maybe even make a braided rag rug. Someday I also want to hook a rug.

This is a cool one for inspiration.

English Romance

2010-09-01T20:23:00.001-07:00

English Romance by dotmatrix30 featuring beach handbags

Mojo is back..

2010-08-09T22:08:00.000-07:00

I started this as a quilting blog but I have not been doing much quilting since I was laid off last year. You would think with all the time off I would be doing one a week or once a week but I have been focusing on finding that job.. which is a job in itself and haven't taken the time to get any of them out.
Today I wanted to sew. I am going to participate in another bazaar in the fall. Maybe this time I will get some things done and not disappoint my friend. So today I devoted to cutting the project. .
I cut out the piece of fabric I need for one project from a fat quarter. I had 19 fat quarters that I got in the clearance bin from a quilt shop on the West Side. Then I got ambitious. I decided to cut up the left overs into blocks of 4X4 and rectangles of 3X6. I even got a couple of 3X3's due to misreads of the ruler. lol I don't have a plan for them but I am going to set up containers holding them and continue to do this with leftovers.

Below are photos of the process.

The stack of fat quarters.

The cutting.

The squares and rectangles.

For my project.

I have also started a label for another quilt I did a long time ago. I like to embroider my labels. This quilt has a yellow tulip in the middle that I got as a kit at a local shop that is no longer open. I then did a piano border surrounding it with scraps that I had from the 80's and other scraps from other quilts. I then took that completed square to the Sisters Quilt Festival and found the green border. I love it and had it hanging for many years in my cube at work. I decided to call it the Golden Empress after the yellow tulip. (side note to myself... that could be a good title for something lol) I made the quilt around 2000 but I can't remember when and I am just now getting the label done. Bad quilter.

I am still continuing to work on my needlepoint pillow. Here is a shot of the yarn.

That is what I was working on today. It felt so good. I need to do it more. Happy Quilting.

Playing with pink..

2010-07-25T21:44:00.001-07:00

My creation
Originally uploaded by Tadlafleur

I was playing in Flickr tonight. and with this heat we are having, I was inspired by all the pinks I was seeing. I am wishing there was a cool breeze blowing and I was sitting on a porch listening to the night.

Sunday musings - seven

2010-07-24T23:36:00.000-07:00

Just living is not enough. One must have sunshine, freedom, and a little flower.

~Hans Christian Anderson

I was looking at Habit tonight and I fell in love with this photo. Between the quote and the photo is the philosophy I want to have for this summer.

I am house sitting again and I can't wait until I get my own place. Dreams abound. A step in the right direction might have been made this past week after a roller coaster of emotions. Keep your fingers, toes and eyes crossed for me.

To see more Sunday Weekly Words to live by go to Notes from a Cottage Industry!

Sunday Musings - six

2010-07-18T09:58:00.000-07:00

http://www.flickr.com/photos/sridhar_v234/555492833/

Knowledge comes, but wisdom lingers.
Alfred Lord Tennyson

I am still looking for a job after being laid off for the third time in a year at the end of April. Since then I have had my ups and downs. This week was for sure a roller coaster. At the beginning of the week I was so discouraged as the direction of jobs I am applying for wants 2 to 3 years experience. How do you get out of the cycle when you have the knowledge but not the experience, and how to get the the experience when the only jobs out there want the experience?

I then decided to confer with an advisor of a job group I belong to. I was looking for positive encouragement and a point in the right direction. To sum it up the advice and criticisms she gave me was just not what I had approached her for. My advisor was not wrong in what she was saying it just was not the direction i thought i needed and she told me all the things that I was doing wrong. I am sure from her point of view it was how she thought she could help me but I wasn't in the frame of mind to come away with the same thought. I just came home discouraged and put the job search on hold for the rest of the day.

I woke up on Wed with a new attitude and did some of the changes she suggested. I tried a new avenue for jobs. I found one that I would be perfect for and called the recruiter... just not applying online but cold calling, it surprised even me. The call got me into see him. He loved my resume.. We had a good repartee. Even though the job had closed and he does not specifically fill the jobs I am focusing on, he gave me some positive advice and gave me a referral. By Friday he had called me on 3 jobs and I applied for one that is somewhat what I am looking for and could give me experience and I have a two week temp job starting next week that has nothing to do with the direction I want to go in but it's more money then unemployment and I am not locked in for a long time.

One good thing i have learned in the past week, is that there are still a lot of people looking for work but instead of 500 people applying for the job like last summer, it's down to about 100 people. So that job is out there. Just need to keep looking.

So what does my quote have to do with my week? Well after sitting back and taking emotion out of the situation I learned wisdom this week and that wisdom will stay with me as I continue to look for that job.

To see more Sunday Weekly Words to live by go to Notes from a Cottage Industry!

Turn the page Tuesday.

2010-07-07T10:08:00.000-07:00

I am a reader and some times I am reading up to 5 books at a time. I stumbled upon the blog Some of a Kind in which Adrienne lists the books she has read in the last month and other people link up via Mr. Linky. I thought for kicks and giggles I would list some of my books I have read recently. Below is the books that are currently in my "library bag" to be returned.
I am on a big Amish kick recently and this past month I read these books.

A Man of His Word and An Honest Love are about the Byler family in Middlefield, Ohio.
In A Man of His Word -Moriah's husband leaves the faith and then dies in a horrible accident. Her husband also has a twin brother that is also in love with Moriah and the story is about the fallout about her husband leaving and the developing relationship between Moriah and her brothers' twin.
In An Honest Love the series moves on to Elizabeth and her working at her brother in laws blacksmith shop and her encounters with Aaron. The book also centers around the girls brother Lucas and his burgeoning relationship with Anna who has recently opened an Amish gift shop.
I enjoyed the series, it's lighthearted and there are a lot of characters that are continuous through out the two books.
Hidden is about a Anna who is an Englisher who leaves her abusive boyfriend and flees to her good friends family's bed and breakfast in Pennsylvania. She is also a quilter. I loved reading this book.. Two of my loves are reading about people who quilt and people who own bed and breakfasts..

In the last year or so I have discovered Maryjane Butter. I now read her magazine which I love both for the visual layout of the magazine but also for the articles and the going back to nature and living the simpler life. Maryjane has also written books and Maryjane's Outpost is the 3rd of these. I love reading about the artists,crafts and ideas that she introduces the reader to. It is filled with good information and her books are laid out visually so that you find information everywhere in the pages. In this book she gives you the inspiration to set up a bathtub in the outdoors to really enjoy the experience. She also talks about camping in Streamline trailers and introduces you to people who write about it and inserts photos from the past. It's made me dream so much about collecting old quilts, blue enamel cookware, some sticks of wood and heading out to camp in a field to enjoy the stars.

When I get in the car I am also listening to the Cedar Cove series by Debbie Macomber. I started with the 16 Lighthouse road and have just recently completed 44 Cranberry Point. I love listening to books on tape. I am always looking for an excuse to drive. lol I am very lucky because my library has purchased the series that has the same reader, reading each edition so it the books just flow together. I am an avid supporter of listening to books being read out loud. They add so much more imagination for anyone who is listening.

That is just a small sample of what I am reading. Happy reading this month.
Dottie

Decorating...

2010-07-05T12:21:00.001-07:00

I spend many of my days dreaming about decorating my space. I look through magazines, read blogs and watch HGTV.. In my travels I have changed my decor preferences but I have always been attracted to country. I think I have defined my preference as shabby chic country cottage.. Now if that is not a mix up of many genres.. But i like to be unique.. I like big squishy furniture covered in white slip coverings.. I love big white moulding. I love the look of black furniture too but I also love white. I love quilts, needlepoint, flowers, china, candlesticks. Right now where I am leaving I don't have the ability to decorate like I want using the furniture I am using. I just can't wait until I have my own space.

http://www.cottagehomedecorating.com/cottage-decorating.html

Magizines I love to look at are:

http://www.chichomeblog.com/2008/09/19/mantic-country-rachel-ashwell-and-shabby-chic.aspx

I love Country Living

Home Companion which is now out of print but I fell in love with it and have stacked in my room all the editions I have.

http://cozyyourhome.com/2008/10/31/master-bedroom-re-do/

That is a few of what I like. I will post more as time goes on. Have a Happy 5th of July. ( Everyone wishes you a Happy 4th.. i like to throw curve balls. lol )

Cool things...

2010-07-01T13:09:00.001-07:00

Sometimes you find the coolest things. I found this from Alica on Posie Gets Cosy.

They are called chef's medallions and she connected to the website How do people find these cute things. I love it.

Trying to design..

2010-07-01T00:21:00.000-07:00

http://www.dreamstime.com/purple-isolated-flower-vine-image2049581

Today I was trying my hand at design. It's a struggle. I picked up a set of white pillowcases at Goodwill one day. It's been in the back of my mind ever sense that I wanted to use some type of embroidery on it. I have seen one's designed by Jack Dempsey, Bucillia, and even Mary Englebert but wanted to try my hand at it. I have the idea of using the words 'Sweet Dreams" and then some sort of flowers somewhere. Or even not even using the words but just using flowers. While I was sitting in the car waiting for my niece to get her All Star photos, I started to design.

I had my pencil, the words printed on paper in a cool font I found, graph paper, a couple of flower ideas I found in clip art and other sources, a rough estimate of the size I have to work with and my ideas in my head. I do have a kind of signature flower that I have designed in the past few years, but I wasn't sure if this is what I wanted to use for this project. It is too modern and I want something light and free flowing. I had the idea of using a vine with different flowers and leaves coming off of it and in my search had found a circle vine that is used for quilting applique that I thought I could use for inspiration, so I started. I am not a good drawer I quickly realized but I am trying to improve. I am also struggling to get the ideas from my head to the paper. In some areas of my world I have made great strides but this was the first time I had tried drawing designs.

I first drew the vine and then tried to kind of sketch in some flowers coming off. After drawing and then erasing and trying again, I was finding I was drawing the vine too thick and the flowers just weren't working like I wanted. They didn't have a natural feel. I was struggling. My mom was in the car also, so I asked her for some guidance. She gave some good ideas but it wasn't quite what I was trying to reach. When my niece was done we went out to a pizzeria. She reminded me that she has some drawing abilities so I tried to explain to her what I was trying to accomplish. She was having a hard time figuring out what I wanted because she has never thought about drawing vines or flowers. She is only 12 and I guess I forgot that 12 year old girls are not obsessed with the thoughts like their aunts. lol So we then started brainstorming for other ideas. A picket fence with a simple bird I have designed in the past.? But would that wake you up with it's noise? lol How bout sheep jumping over the fence? With numbers going backwards like 49, 48, 47 or would it go forward? Well then how would you draw sheep that you could embroider? lol.. Some quick sketches were getting some good giggles and laughs between the three of us. Then the pizza came and I put away my graph paper.

Long story short is I don't have a design yet. I will try some more. It will come to fruition.. it's just going to take longer than I thought. But isn't what they say.. you have to wait for the best?

Have a great day.. below is something I found online on how to draw a sheep. Maybe that will help me. lol........

Dollhouse envy

2010-06-16T23:16:00.000-07:00

I have been finding blogs and creative people who are building doll houses. I bought one many years back from Joannes and I think (or should say hope I have it in my storage. I want to work on one now. There are so many possibilities of design I could do. Another dream on my list.

Sunday Musings - five

2010-06-05T23:19:00.000-07:00

"It is one of the blessings of old friends that you can afford to be stupid with them."

- Ralph Waldo Emerson

To see more Sunday Weekly Words to live by go to Notes from a Cottage Industry!

Sunday musings- four

2010-05-28T10:26:00.000-07:00

Life is an opportunity, benefit from it.

Life is beauty, admire it.

Life is bliss, taste it.

Life is a dream, realize it.

Life is a challenge, meet it.

Life is a duty, complete it.

Life is a game, play it.

Life is a promise, fulfill it.

Life is sorrow, overcome it.

Life is a song, sing it.

Life is a struggle, accept it.

Life is a tragedy, confront it.

Life is an adventure, dare it.

Life is luck, make it.

Life is too precious, do not destroy it.

Life is life, fight for it.

Mother Teresa

This past week I attended a funeral for a catholic priest. I knew him all my life as he was a friend of the family who then became part of the family as he adopted us. During the service, the man the priest community described is not the man I knew but wish I did. My interactions with him limited to family situations and I did not see his love of serving the community and his compassion to help people with their problems. Isn't that what happens, we think we know someone and then we hear how they touched other people and our perception of them is changed and in this instance I admire him even more.

He knew for a very young age that he wanted to be a priest and that his passion in life was to serve the Lord. During the homily his best friend told the story of an incident that happened when Father was 5. There was a strike going on in the town he lived in and he wanted to participate. His father gave him permission and helped him make the sign. When he asked what his son wanted on his sign, he said to put on it " This guy is going to be a priest"

Cherish your friends and family, live life and enjoy each day!

To see more Sunday Weekly Words to live by go to Notes from a Cottage Industry!

sums up the last year perfectly...

2010-05-27T20:00:00.000-07:00

When God closes one door, he opens another--but it's hell in the hallway!

Sunday Words - three

2010-05-23T12:55:00.000-07:00

“Life is full of beauty. Notice it. Notice the bumble bee, the small child, and the smiling faces. Smell the rain, and feel the wind. Live your life to the fullest potential, and fight for your dreams.” Gail Devers

Found

The other morning when I woke up I was so excited for the day that I stopped to really appreciate the moment. I was laying in bed under a quilt I made, my head was on pillowcases I found at the thrift store, cool and crisp under my cheek. Next to me sat a pile of books I was anticipating on tackling. The book laying on top had kept me absorbed till all hours of the morning the previous evening as I didn't want to put it down. I looked out the open window and the morning light was hitting the tree and making the green leaves pop against the clear morning. I could hear the birds singing their morning song, chattering to each other as if they also felt the special feeling. The air was cool but smelled so clean and even though it was only May if felt like an early morning before a very warm day. I love that time of morning, when it feels like the world is on the brink of waking up. Life was beautiful and I was ready to jump out and start the day.

If you like this post go see more at Notes from A Cottage Industry "Weekly Words to Live By"

Checking in...

2010-05-23T12:14:00.000-07:00

Found
It has been forever since i have posted. I have been laid off again so I am busy looking for the dream job. We have had another death in the family so I am helping mom in her part of it. My car went into the shop for over a week and had major, I mean major work done. Too bad my car isn't the one above but I can dream can't I. It sure made me appreciate the freedom my car gives me.
This weekend I am house sitting and I am working on my tablecloth and watching tv shows On Demand.
I brought myself up to date on
The Good Wife,
9 by Design,
and watched the western Broken Trail.
I have always loved Robert Durval and I was excited to see Thomas Hayden Church. I didn't know it was a true story so will need to research more on that. I missed one of the episodes from The Good Wife but I was easily able to catch up. I missed the episode or episodes when the husband comes home and she has her "moment" with her boss. I had forgotten it was back on after it's break so I love the fact I am able to catch up. 9 by Design is a new show on Bravo and I loved the mixture of design and family but the show makes it seem like they plan more then they work but that could be just how they cut the episodes. I will keep tuning into both of these shows.
I am also excited on the progress I have made on my tablecloth after working on it for so many hours yesterday. As of this moment I have to cross stitch the last color on 3 holly's, finish two more holly leaves, finish some lettering and then all I have left is the berries. There are quite a few of them but it should take no time at all. I left them til the end as I wasn't sure how the stitch was done but I have since learned it and it is easy as pie. Another UFO accomplished.
Have a wonderful Sunday.

Sunday Words - two ... seeing what is right in front of us

2010-03-28T10:26:00.000-07:00

We did not change as we grew older; we just became more clearly ourselves.
Lynn Hall, Where Have All the Tigers Gone?, 1989

In my days of growing older I find this quote so true. Everyday I get to know my self better. I love this photo. The sunset was so pretty through the rain even through all the traffic. A perfect desciption of life. Look above us and appreciate what we see.

Inspired by the wonderful Tracy at Notes from a Cottage Industry!

A new adventure

2010-03-28T10:01:00.000-07:00

Hi,

I have been thinking alot about my blog lately. I am going to jump on a new adventure with it. I have two ideas. I need to get the motivation to post. I look at it a lot and think, I need to post. But i don't have the inspiration. I have been sick with a cold on and off for the past 3 weeks (it's dreadful) and I haven't been motivated to do any crafting. I have even sat down to do cross stitch and i just can't do it and go back to bed. lol

My ideas:

1. Make a post about the letter of the alphabet. A through Z. Now would it be crafting influenced i don't know I have so many interests i might just do it on what ever interests me. i think some of the letters might be hard like Q. But then quilting popped in to my head so it might not be as hard as i thought.

2. Take a photo sometime during the day for a month. I know I could do this. The hard part would be downloading it.

3. Write a story in continuous parts like Louisa Alcott use to do for the papers.

4. Write reviews

5. Write a mystery quilting pattern. First I would need to start quilting again.. lol

I am going to think about this more today and i will be back with an update.

Dottie

New movies to remember

2010-03-08T22:12:00.000-08:00

Cocco before channel
Bright Star
Ice Castles
An Education
The Inviciticus - matt damoen rubgy player

Thrifty Saturday..

2010-03-07T00:46:00.000-08:00

Today I stopped at my local Salvation Army store to look at a dining table. It had caught my eye on Thursday as I was driving to work. The curls on the ends of the legs remind me of the curly curl on the end of elf shoes. lol.. I have dreamed about it the last two days - on how cool it would look painted it white. I forgot to take a photo when I got out. I looked it over and I decided not to buy it. One reason is the price but then I found it was 40% off. That would have made it better but I wasn't in love with it up close. Two - was where would I put it? I am saving for my own place. There are just a few things I need. A dining room table, a double mattress and a few other things. I have stuff in storage that will fill up an apartment - just if i could afford it. lol.. Where I am staying now there is not really a place to work on it. Third - I didn't like the kind of wood it was, it didn't seem to be good quality. I haven't worked on too many pieces but I didn't know how this one would work.

I did go in though and look around. I read where someone found an old copy of Julia Child's cookbook so I am always on the lookout for that. Didn't find one but I did find a really cute glass candy dish that is footed. It has the cutest flowers on it. I fell in love and brought it home with me. I will post a photo soon.

When I walked away I thought of a present my family can get me. A sander. lol

Till later..

Sunday Words - one

2010-03-06T23:34:00.000-08:00

“What we do today, right now, Will have an accumulated effect on all our tomorrows.”
By Alexandra Stoddard
I have been following Tracie’s Sunday inspiration posts on her blog “A Cottage Industry” since the weeks were in single digits. I like how her posts seem to reflect what we know of her bliss and sometimes helps us reflect on the times in our lives. I am including a quote by Alexandra Stoddard, as she is someone who has inspired me through the years. The photo above is two quilts I made for my niece and nephew... The photo is a bit blurry as it was from a couple of camera's ago and I have gotten much better as a photographer.

Reading habits...

2010-03-05T23:01:00.000-08:00

I am sorry it has been so long since i posted but i would get caught up in the Olympics in the evening and those dang facebook games... lol

I have been reading around my favorite blogs lately and they have reminded me about some fantastic books and authors.

The first is the Betsy and Tacy stories at Progressive Pioneer . I can't remember how I found the books but it happened in the last 10 years or so. After I found them, I read every one that the library had. Last year I gave the first 4 of the series to my niece Francine for Christmas. I don't know if she fell in love with them like I did, I should ask her.

There is also a wonderful review of the Little House on the Prairie series on the blog. I loved the books and the TV show. Which reminds me of a cute story. I live in Oregon, kinda of near the Oregon Trail (but not really) and along the valley of the Columbia River. When I was a kid I was enthralled with wagon train stories and living on the prairie. In my mind the two kinds of adventures were one in the same. One day I was riding my bike up and down my street and I decided that one of the narrow ruts in the pavement up the block was a rut left by the wagon trains on there journey to the Oregon Territory. Everyone tried to convince me that it was not..... but I wouldn't believe it, I knew it would be true. Looking back it is a bit silly but there is still a little part of me that still believes that the wagon trains really rolled down my street.

The second writer is Alexandra Stoddard. I first found her books in a little antique/flower store in downtown Tigard, Oregon during a lunch break. It was sitting on a chair in the setting with flowers all around. I can't remember which book it was but I think it was her "Creating a Beautiful Home" Her writing just attracted me instantly. I have stared for hours and hours at the cover of the book as I loved her living room. It is still my style. I have continued to read her books. Buying some, checking some out of the library, and even found one at Anthopologie in The Pearl and then went across the street to Powell's and bought a used one for half the price. I was so excited when she was the writer in residence for Victoria Magazine in 2008/2009. She has developed into a philosopher and I do enjoy reading her words. They are refreshing and helps me bring myself back to center and to know what i really want. I recently read in her book "Things I want my Daughters to Know" about never spending more than 5 hours with friends and family. This was a statement that really made me think. I could see so many instances where this is true and would be healthy for all, but on the other hand what about those times where you are have game day or some other event and you need to spend more than 5 hours together. Is this such a bad thing? Even just writing this out for you I am seeing her idea from a different angle and has me rethinking my first reactions to it. But isn't that awesome that someones writings can inspire you to really think what matters to you.

Well it's time to wrap up. Thank you blog friends for being so much inspiration to create, contentment and joy to my life. Everyone, keep your head up high and smile everyday as life is so precious.

i love movies... days off... and working on stitching....

2010-02-15T13:39:00.000-08:00

Hi, This weekend I have watched 4 movies... and have 4 more to go.. that's what happens when they all come in at once.... lol. I watched Songcatcher, In America, Searching for Debra Winger and 84 Charring Cross Road.. The four I have left are Two Lovers, Gideons Daughter, The boy in the Striped Pajamas and The Golden Bowl.. In the last few years I haven't been able to see many movies what with school and everything else going on.

I still find it so intriguing that you find one movie and the actor will lead you to another and then you realise that you also found another actor you like in it. It fills me with joy at the discoveries.

I have also gotten a lot of suggestions off of blogs that I read. That is how I found Songcatcher. I found a reference to it in the blog Coldantlerfarm , which I found by reading the book "Made from Scratch" about going back to living and shaping a small farm , which I found via a reference in MaryJane Butters book "MaryJane's Ideabook, Cookbook, Lifebook: For the Farmgirl in All of Us ." What a journey.

I loved the movie . What drew me to it was that it was about Appalachian music and cataloguing it. I love the sound of the music from that area of the country. It says something to me. A few years ago when i was getting my associates degree, one of the classes I took was intro to country and blues. I fell in love with the early country music. It started with music which was old time songs brought over to America from England and Scotland. Which can be found in the Appalachians. You should have seen my teachers record collection. It taught me so much. I just love it.

I have today off so I am eating homemade lasagna, working on my tablecloth and watching movies.. What shall i watch next? I think Two Lovers. It's the last one that Joaquin Phoenix worked on and I love Gwenneth Paltrow. Twta.... Dot

New look..

2010-02-07T20:42:00.000-08:00

Do you like my new look. Worked on Gimp today.. I made.. or i should say.. i improved the flower i drew a couple of years back. I put the borders on. Still along way to go on the design front and learning the program but I am having fun.

A weekend with joy and loss.

2010-01-31T21:30:00.000-08:00

I lost a great friend this weekend. He died early sat morning, which i will never forget the date as it was my birthday. I went over to the apartment today to spend time with his partner and we laughed how i was probably half in love with him. Which is probably true but the qualities of which i loved him were of a kind man who I had stimulating conversations with and was gentle and caring. A big teddy bear of a man. He brought so much wisdom to our friendship and to life and to so many people he touched. There has been such an outpouring of love for him and his partner regarding his sudden death it's been a wonderful thing to see.

We first met just under 12 years ago when we worked together downtown. He became fast friends with another one of my friends but then he and I found a deeper friendship that has lasted all these years. We were very much alike. Lunches spent with him and two other friends helped me find myself and become comfortable with myself that let me explore the world with out being scared. He and I had conversations about art, electronics, games, photos, computers. He could understand my excitement on finding a new author or a new quilt design even though they were not his interests he understood where i was coming from. We had many conversations where he would see a point of view from one angle and I from another angle and we both learned from them. He could get me excited about things i knew nothing about and when i left him I would wonder how he did it. I will miss him when i get a new "toy" and can't call and tell him what i got. I will miss him when i need advice on relationships. I will miss him when i go to text him good morning. I will miss spending Friday night "dates" with him at tower books and records when we were both single. I will miss the sparkle in his eye. We didn't spend much time together these last couple years.. We both were so busy... both in relationships.. but he was the kind of friend that the moment we talked the time apart just faded away.

I am too young to have had 3 of my best friends die. First Matt Matt, then Jimmy and now David. I hope is that the three of them are looking down on me ,with the other family members i have lost, and are helping guide me through this maze of a life. I am sitting here with tears streaming down my face not so much out of sadness but with the knowledge that the world has lost a wonderful man and a wonderful friend whose life was cut short too soon. I love you David.

A Better Day...

2010-01-11T23:11:00.000-08:00

Well after posting that post at the library I headed to work and had a better day then I expected. Sometimes just getting out of the house will do that. Walking in the wind( hopefully not that cold east wind) will also help. It seems like it just clears the cobwebs out. This morning I also texted a friend during break and the message got me giggling. Unfortunately she read it the wrong way and thought i was even more in the dumps then i thought and called to check up on me. I gotta remember to write lol.... after some of my statements so that they can see the teasing of the words. Her birthday is 15 days before me and i was telling her that i didn't like being left behind.. ha ha.. i meant in birthday years.. We have teased each other about our birthdays forever and last year she playfully but seriously told me to quit referring to her being older so i have really tried hard.. but today i just had to tease her .... specially since we are going to see our friend perform at Darcelle's on her birthday. It should be fun. Boy i went there 20 years ago.. I have changed so much since then.... Her and I should always do something special for our birthdays as 2 years ago we went to LA to be on "The Price Is right" Well i am going to go watch the original Grey Gardens.. Thanks for putting up with me readers... Dottie.

the funk again....

2010-01-11T10:27:00.000-08:00

I am in a funk again. I sleep, sleep, sleep. I don't know why. My new job is not that taxing. But i am so tired in the morning. I am not being very creative either. There are many times when i could be keeping my hands busy but all i do is sit there and either watch TV/movies or cruise the Internet. I have some many creative goals and wishes in my mind but i can't get them to come out. Well off to work again. Maybe tonight will be better. I gotta figure out a goal in the mornings to get me up so that i have a couple of hours to be creative. bye bye..

What will the new year will bring?

2010-01-02T22:16:00.000-08:00

I have been contemplating in the last few days my goals for 2010. I see so many people putting them out on the web. I am not sure what mine will be. I know I want to be happy. Even with all my ups and downs the last year I have been happy, I know that for a fact. I don't have many "set" goals.. Maybe more of wishes.

One of the things i have decided is a goal is to walk the 5 mile sponsored by Kaiser for the Portland Marathon. My hair girl is running the marathon. I am not up to that and will probably never be as I am not a runner but I do enjoy walking. I will do that. I need to go to the gym. I keep saying that but I have no reason not to. I know it will make me feel even better. It is on 10-10-10. A goal to look forward today.

I want to save money to get my own apartment. That should be a goal for 2010. Get my own place. Be a grownup and be my own women.

Find a job i am happy to do in 2010. I think that I have found a good temp job and we will see if that can help me get on with the company.

Crafts and Crafting. So many goals in that area... I want to finish my Christmas table cloth. Finish my two needlepoint projects. Work on that needlepoint Christmas project and the siloute idea. Finish at least two quilts to the floppy stage by June and another two by the end of the year. I want to completely finish two quits. I don't care if they are "quilted" or tied.

Books. - just keep reading.

TV - watch as little as possible...

Movies.. watch as many as possible.. getting them from the library..

Have some craft parties, have some cooking parties..

Save money and pay off debt.

In total what i want to do is be the best I can be.

Christmas presents...

2010-01-01T14:53:00.000-08:00

Aren't these cute? I had found a pattern on line and I bookmarked it. I bought the fabric, elastic and handles. I then put it away to work on when I had time. Well I never got in the mood to get my sewing machine out. Well the deadline was approaching. I didn't have my computer with me as it was at the house I was house sitting at. So I winged it. I think they turned out well. They are to hold your plastic bags from the grocery store. I made them for by brother, sister and mom. I told them to report back to me how they work. Next year I have some grand plans. I should finish up the Christmas pillow cases I bought fabric for last year, i want to make needlepoint initials for everyone and to make cameos of people. We will see how that works out.
Off to pick up a friend to watch a movie and eat leftover Christmas Eve dinner (which we celebrated on New Year's eve...) oh.. i am always forgetting to take photos.. Happy New Year..

Snowing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2009-12-29T16:43:00.000-08:00

I know much of the country has gotten alot of snow this month but this is the first snow fall in Portland. It's so fun to watch it fall. I get so excited. Got off work early so I am able to sit here and watch. Love it.

Merry Christmas

2009-12-25T09:44:00.000-08:00

Have a Merry Christmas from Dottie

I love this duet......reminds me of my dad...

2009-12-22T10:42:00.000-08:00

days events..

2009-12-21T23:19:00.000-08:00

Ran downtown today.. Boy is there alot of people out there. Blonde me thought that since it was Monday i could beat crowds.. yea right.. gotta remember it's Christmas week. Tried to go to lunch downtown at the Red Coach Cafe. Couldn't find a parking place. Then tried the Horse Brass. English Fish and Chips sounded so good. The parking lot was full of state workers from next door and it is a no parking on the street in front.. so ended up at Panda Express. It was very good.
Got a call today.. have another temp job starting on Christmas Eve. I am surprised of the start date but it will be nice to have the work.
Have been reading up a storm so updated my book list. Well it's almost midnight. Gonna go read. Dottie.

Holidays..

2009-12-19T14:42:00.000-08:00

Well it's the Sat before Christmas. Why am I not more in the mood? I slept hard until 10:30 this morning and then crawled back into bed and to read and then fell back asleep. I have been reading blogs that make me want to get in the mood but then when I try I don't have the motivation. I need to get up and do something... What shall I do. Right now i think i will go read the last 30 pages of my book. 12/21 I finished it and finished another one. Happy Holidays.

Hurrah!!!

2009-12-17T23:43:00.000-08:00

I have cracked the code. I was able to do 4 rows of crochet... They are not very good but I think I have gotten the basics down. Still need lots of practice... but at least I am understanding it. I am still a bit baffled on where the hook goes in on the base part before the first crochet of the stitch. I know how it is supposed to go but not sure of which hole. I will watch more videos so I can get it down. I have just done one crochet stitch so far. Double and Triple will be in a while. My goal is to make granny squares .... like the ones on the left. I will do it... Off to bed as a White Elephant and Christmas Pizza party tomorrow. Dottie

Restless tonight...

2009-12-14T01:00:00.000-08:00

Many blog posts and I have changed my blog template. I was getting tired of my old one. The photo in the heading is one I took when I was in New York. It surprised me when I was looking at it tonight. I love the way i set it up. A mistake probably but it turned out okay. I need to figure out how to make it smaller but that it still is the width of the blog. I tried making it smaller but it cut it's width down too and that just looked funny.

Enjoy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!11 :-)

Christmast Table cloth

2009-12-13T23:59:00.001-08:00

Christmast Table cloth view I
Originally uploaded by Tadlafleur

Here is my Tablecloth that I have been working on at work. I will work on it this Christmas season but i don't know if I will get it done by Christmas. I love it. If you want to see more photos follow this link. Sorry about the light. It was a December day that was clear and cold and I had the window shades open but was the light I had to work with.

Progress is being made

2009-12-13T23:57:00.001-08:00

Progress is being made
Originally uploaded by Tadlafleur

Here is my needlepoint project. I am making progress. I finally uploaded the photos. Can you tell? lol. I am loving this project. I eventually want to design my own needlepoint designs based on the influences of my Aunt's Jennie and Smay. Or like Kaffee Fassett. Look at my flicker page for more photos. I will update photos as I progress

Almost finished

2009-12-13T23:55:00.001-08:00

Almost finished
Originally uploaded by Tadlafleur

I don't think I ever posted a photo of my little cross stitch project. Here it is. I just need to put it in frame. I might have a little time this week. lol

Walking.. or maybe running???????

2009-12-13T23:43:00.001-08:00

I think i have talked about how since I graduated and losing my job I have really had no big goals. I am lost. I talked with my hair dresser on Sat. She runs marathons. I was telling her thaI had been talking to someone how I wish that I had the discipline to train a marathon. I said I didn't want to run.. lol... but i wish I had the self control and the single mindedness. She jumped on it and said I should train for one. I said "Hold On!".. I said i might walk but I am not a runner. But maybe I could train to walk one and maybe 5 miles. lol. She said we get together in January and put together a plan for me. The idea is growing on me. I did have a goal in 2008 to walk one but life was just to busy and too many things happened. It's growing and growing. I am seriously thinking of it. A glimmer to hold on to. Even going through the emotional upheaval this weekend this little nugget kept popping up. I am 90% admitting to myself that I want to go for it. What do you think?

A rollercoster of emotions......

2009-12-13T23:26:00.000-08:00

Having one of those weekends. My temp job ended on Friday night. It ended over a month early. I had a bad reaction to the news on Sat and Sunday. I I knew in my mind the end was coming for the temp job but when it actually happened I am surprised on my response. I didn't even react this emotionally in June when I got laid off. Part of it was proably a delayed response to that one. I still have friends who are still temping there and all I could was think of the self doubt on what I did wrong... but in my heart I know it wasdone for business reasons and low call volume. . Sat I just felt empty. I remember laying on my bed and just staring at my dresser just not thinking of anything. Life seemed so empty. I just laid there and then vegged all evening. As I said before I felt lost and this just hit me hard. I couldn't sleep very well last night either. I kept waking up. Today I though I was better but today it came out as sadness. I talked to my mom about my situation and she gave me some advice. This advice made me think.. what do I want? I still don't know.. I don't even know if I want to go after what we talked about because that might be settling and I want to choose what I do for a job this time (or choose the best I can). It was good advice but i can't decide if it's good for me. I came into my room and I just started to cry. I called my boyfriend and he just listened. We eventually were able to just talk and I was laughing..a good thing.. and then i found myself crying again. During it.. i came to realize it was just a reaction in releasing emotions. I needed to let the emptiness pour out. When I got done talking with him I felt lighter. For all the doubts when we are apart .. the frustrations that happen on my end to the status of it. ... his concern and scared to hurt the kids on his end.... he can heal me. He supports and cares. I love that about him. I should tell him that more often. Just hearing his voice can soothe that. I never knew that about boyfriends until the last two. They have been awesome men who have given me so much. Real relationships. Real partnerships. I am been very privileged to have both men care about me so much.

What fasinates me now..

2009-12-13T00:40:00.000-08:00

Hi,
On the previous post you see my favorites that I have found on flickr. This is new for me. I have found so much inspiration from the groups and all the photos. I never knew that it had so many things i would like. It has also been eye opening to figure out how to post it to this blog. Lots of hoops to go through and definitly a learning curve..
Enjoy.

My inspirations

2009-12-13T00:39:00.001-08:00

My inspirations
Originally uploaded by Tadlafleur

1. Granny squares in progress..., 2. weekend work :)), 3. My thread box, 4. Embroidery Candy, 5. Trini.Chic Accesories, 6. Kaffe Fassett needlepoint, 7. Christmas gift - Zinnia, 8. Big Ben, 9. Life is Good. Enjoy the Little Things., 10. Embroidered Floral Napkin, 11. Hope * Love * Faith, 12. Untitled, 13. Needlepoint works in progress, 14. rose themed display, 15. Finished!, 16. My sewing/craft/photo cabinet--lots of art junk!, 17. Where the crafting happens Trois, 18. Traveling Threads block for Spinster Sister, 19. 80, 20. BOM-5009, 21. One tiny raindrop left, 22. A Sea of Purple, 23. Fisherman's hut, 24. Anne of Green Gables, 25. Cut a rectangle to size

My day..

2009-12-09T23:11:00.000-08:00

I had today off. In fact I was home alone all day. It was nice. I was going to work on a Christmas present but decided not to. I ended up watching 2 movies and Top Chef finale. All that time I worked on my needlepoint. I got a lot done on it. I have a delima. The pattern that is on the canvas is not straight. So I started on the right side top of the pillow and I am going by that. The 4 corners are 9 stitch blocks of green and white. I made sure all of the squares were 9's. When I did the first border I found that the color moved off of the x point and went up one hole. I decided to keep stitching a straight line even though the color changed. When I got to the green and white checks on the left side I started two lines down from where the "paint" was but it's lined up with the other side. I hope this is the right thing to do.

I am still a bit lost in my life. I don't know where i am suppose to be. I am so tired. I am tired of having to deal with problems. I am just tired. I don't know how to define myself anymore. I wish I had the gumption to stand up for what I want and not feel guilty or worry about hurting someone feelings. For twenty years I have had fake nails. Last week I removed them one day and part of me what's to keep them off. Help redefine me but then I feel guilty and didn't want to hurt my nail girl and made an appointment when she called. I don't want them really. I guess I feel envious of other peoples lives sometimes and wish my life was more like them. Well I guess not really but i just feel so lost that I just don't know what direction to go. It is so ironic because in some areas I am so happy but then in other areas I feel like I have stopped caring. I don't follow through. I just want to stop being tired. I hate the fact that as I get older, time is moving faster and faster. I have all these dreams of how i want things to be but a lot of the time I don't have the knowledge or the know how to get them. I hold myself back as I feel people have expectations for me.
Well that is enough about me tonight. Off to read my book in my cozy bed.

Books....

2009-12-09T13:54:00.001-08:00

As well as being on a movie kick i am also on a book kick. I have found so many books lately that I want to read.

The Lakeshore Chronicles by Susan Wiggs. I am currently reading the 3rd one of the series. I love the characters. 12/21 have read the 4th now
Beth Pittillo books
A quilters Holiday by Jennifer Chiaverly I can never spell her last name. But I know what it is when i look it up Quilters Apprentice and it gives me it. have put on reserve
The Beach Street Knitting Society and Yarn Club - Gil McNeil have put on reserve
Unravelled - Robyn Hardin.
Barbra Bretton
Monica Ferris
A tread of truth - Marie Boswick
Summer on Blossom Street.. Debbie Macomber. - reserved at the library. 12/21 reading as we speak..
Blue Sky Hill Series, Lisa Wingate
The Knitting Circle Ann Hood
A Drunkards Path Clare O'Donuhue
The rest of the Covington Series Joan Medicott
Happiness Keys Emile Richards have put on reserve
Beverly Nichols
Ann Ripley - mysteries
Janis Harrison.. the ones i haven't already read
Quakertown -Lee Martin
Loving Frank -Nancy Horan
Scoop - Fern Michaels
Cross Creek the book and movie
The Lumby Series Gail Fraser
Virgin River Series Robyn Carr
Lake Emily Series -Tracie De Pree
Knit the Season- Kate Jacobs have put on reserve
The Prairie girls guide to life- Jennifer Worick
Mary Jane Butters (i can't read my writing but the Mary Jane from the farm) 1 put on reserve, MaryJane's ideabook, cookbook, lifebook : for the farmgirl in all of us
Blogging with Bliss -T. Frey have put on reserve
Aimmee Ray
Jenny Hart
The Bridal Quartet Nora Roberts series

Boy.. that is quite a list. It's not in any order either.. Just books i found in my wanderings one day. I copied it directly from my hard copy journal. some of the authors names might not be spelled right. I couldn't read my handwriting. But with a little research I will find them. lol. Quite a list isn't it. You know how you find these list. You find a book on Amazon.com and then look to see what other books people have looked at or bought and it introduces you to books you have never run across before or new books by authors you have loved. I love doing it this way. It has introduced me to some wonderful authors, movies, books and even bloggers.

I recently checked out a book by a writer based on the fact that i had loved one of her books before hand. I just couldn't get into this book. I liked the idea of the story but for some reason the book was boring to me. I made the decision to not finish it. I wrote down the name of the book as I might go back to it someday. It was a hard decision of if i should stop reading the book. At the time I had two other books i wanted to read so bad but i was forcing myself to finish the one I had in front of me. I was getting no satisfaction out of it - so I decided that it just wasn't the right time for the book. I am so glad i made that decision. It felt like so much was lifted off my shoulders. Its such a trivial thing but made my life so much more enjoyable.

I don't know how long it will take to get through this list. The is no timeline, or time limit. I just wrote down books I want to explore. I am sure there will be many more in between that will somehow come up. Some I may never get to but it's a place to start.

Happy Reading.

Movies..

2009-12-09T12:26:00.000-08:00

I have been on a movie kick lately. One of the blogs I read, Posy Gets Cosy asked her readers what movies they love or watched that have featured London. I got my idea list from there so I have been having a bit of a movie fest. I had seen some of them but some of them I had not and those led me to others. Trying to keep the expenses down so I am getting these through the wonderful Multnomah County Library.

I have watched :

Mrs. Palfrey at the Claremont. It was such a sweet performance it made me cry at the end. I love Rupert Friend and now I want to watch The Young Victoria. I didn't realize he was in Pride and Prejudice. I need to find that song by Rosemary Clooney. She did sing beautifully didn't she.
Nick & Norah's infinite playlist. Yes it was about high school kids but i loved it. The music was even good even though and made parts of the movie. The extras were good to.
Sliding Doors. I have seen this many times before but felt like re watching. Loved it just as always.
Possession. I love this movie. I love all of the main actors. This time around I was very impressed again by the costumes. They were quite lovely. The costume designer is Jenny Beavan. What I found out is she has done costumes for many of the movies I love. Cranford, Sense and Sensibility. Check her out.
Keeping Mum. I loved Patrick Swazye in this one. He looked so good and I loved everyone else to. It was ironic that my friend Jessica had just watched it to.
Wondrous Oblivion This was a good movie.. Made me understand cricket a bit more.

I also just got from the library Happy-go-lucky. That was another recommendation.

Some of the movies they suggested that I have already seen ---alot of them recently on the telly

Holiday
Notting Hill
Four Weddings and a Funeral
Bridget Jones 1 and 2
Matchpoint
Last Chance Harvey
Pride and Prejudice both the movie and the mini series.. Oh Mr. Darcy...
Beatrix Potter
Love,Actually
North and South
Remains of the Day
Little Women
Plus others but i got tired of writing them. lol

I have also put some other movies on hold that they have recommended or that I have found.

Two lovers
Sunshine Cleaning had on hold but didn't want to have it on my list as there are over 300 holds on it so i will reserve it another day....
Liberty Heights
Penelope
Billy Elliott- have seen but want to see again
On a Clear Day always have wanted to see this. I am glad they reminded me.
Scenes of a Sexual Nature

Have run out of room on my hold list so add these....

Brick Lane
84 Charing Cross Road
Widow's Peak
Shadowlands
Brief Encounter
Mrs Dalloway
Truely,Madley, Deeply
About a Boy
Starter for 10
Under the Greenwood Tree
Jack and Sarah
Doubt
The boy in the stipped pajamas

I will need to go back to that blog post and see what other movies I want to see.* Well I went back and this post has become so much longer than I intended.

My friends David and Steven also gave me the Grey Gardens collection. The original documentary and the HBO movie by Drew Barrymore. I need to watch that this weekend.

There there are my standbys. I am on the 5th season of Avonlea. I just love this series. I love this time period. I also have the 7 Brides for 7 Brothers series. I found someone who had recorded it and i got it from them. It's quite grainy but that is ok. I just like watching it. It shows a young River Phoenix.

Ones I want to watch but not at the library yet.

Run Fat Boy Run
The Young Victoria
Breaking & Entering
Career Girls
Scoop
'high hopes'
This Years Love
Imagine Me & You
Martha meet Frank,Daniel and Lawrence

Anybody else have any recommendations?

Well till later.

Changed the name of my blog..

2009-12-06T20:20:00.000-08:00

I am going with Tadlafleur for the moment. I like it and it seems to flow a bit better. What do you think? I am trying to find an "identity" that I will be happy with. The Agnes Dorothy.... was just to much of a mouthful. It's still a thought process and you never know.. I just might tweak it again. Back to work.
Dottie.

Christmas Exchange.

2009-12-02T23:41:00.000-08:00

This Saturday a group of 10 ladies I belong to are having a Christmas get together. They are having a present exchange. This year to keep costs down they are going with homemade gifts. I don't think any of them read this but if you do… keep the surprise please. lol … One of the items I am giving them is one of my pin cushions and today I was inspired on making a felt ornament. I had searched the internet for some ideas and after contemplating bells, candy canes, a ball or mittens I decided to go with a stocking. This is what the photo looked like... I had picked up some

burgundy red felt at Fabric Depot today and also some more white. I knew at the time I had a huge stack of felt left but I didn’t have any of that shade of red. I am glad I did. They are making the cutest stocking. I found a pattern I liked and enlarged it just a tad and I am off and running. I did a couple of test runs with my other red and once with blue embroidery thread. It looks good but not what I wanted today. Oh, while at Fabric Depot today I also bought some magnetic embroidery thread in silver, gold, 2 shades of red and 2 shades of green. I was thinking of using that in a button stitch but the six strands are too hard to work with for such a large part so I am doing embroidery stitching on the white cuff. I am using black to go around it. I love it. I will add in a photo when I get them done and when it’s daylight.

As I sat there tonight looking at the first three... I couldn’t believe I had done it. I actually was able to see something in my head, get the supplies, make it and have it turn out just as good or better then I imagined. For some many years I could never get the idea out of head, my creations that I produced did not look like I wanted it to. No where near or even the quality of a good crafter. I t just amazes me that I finally can do it. YEA!!!!! I can’t tell you what a breakthrough this is for me. It has built up my confidence so much. I know that this kind of happened with my pin cushions but for that I followed a pattern. For this one I used a pattern for the shape but everything else was my idea.. Just wait for the new things I can and will try. Maybe I will reach my dream of somehow turning this into my job or a business...

Off to bed... Night Night!!!!!

Monday reading

2009-12-01T10:06:00.000-08:00

Hello....
Yesterday I did something that I haven't done in a long time. I read a whole book in a day.

I started it at noon yesterday and had it read by 8 pm. I guess I read it fast as it was 530 pages long but i really enjoyed it and it felt good to read. The phones rang a lot yesterday but i was in a comfy chair and i seemed to close out the world when I was reading. I have started the next one in the series but I haven't gotten so into it but it is good. Not sure what I will do today but probably sew on my table coth.

Ta Ta

Working on a another project.

2009-11-29T16:51:00.000-08:00

I am feeling so creative lately. I love it. I am also trying something new. Rather than putting things off I am working on them when I am inspired. So I am having many projects going at once rather than just one. It is helping me get through all of them faster. Odd but true. I don't get bored so easy and I get motivated to work on all of it instead of do nothing. So today I brought a different project to work on - that I actually kind of started in July but got sidetracked as I wasn't sitting at a table doing it but on my bed watching a movie.

There is a side note to my project today. Over the last 5 years or so, in my act to become more creative ,I have fallen in love with certain magazines and I would buy them every month to fill my creative and dreaming fix. The number I buy each month has been dwindling as different magazines are closing. Magazines like Home Companion, Cottage Living, Country Living, and a few others. I still can get Victoria and Romantic Home. I always buy Quilters Newsletter and assorted quilting ones that catch my eye. Another one i am grieving is Mark Lipinski leaving Quilters Home. I can't find their latest version where he is not part of it. I am curious and just want to see it. Victoria- that has inspired me in the literature world and has introduced me to some wonderful writers and artists i.e. Tasha Tutor, Alexandra Stoddard and Madeleine L'Engle to name a few.

Well let me tell you the stacks keep falling over I have collected so many because I don't like giving them away. I am running out of room. I had to par down as they were collecting dust and I wasn't looking at them like i thought i would. I didn't want to get rid of them because they inspired me. I decided to do an idea that my friend David J. told me about. Make a "Dream Book" or and "Idea Notebook" full of my influences as that I could look through for decorating and quilting ideas and anything else I wanted to be inspired for. I first determined that there were a few magazines that I still wanted to hang on to. Like my quilting magazines, Home Companion, Victoria and I think Romantic Home. I divided them up earlier this year. The others were the ones I was going to go through and cut out pages or photos or whatever tickled my fancy and glue them into the book and then recycle them.

When I was at Freddy's one day I got Strathmore Sketch book. that is 100 pages thick and 9 x 12. It is heavier than basic notebook paper and it's perfect to glue magazine paper to.

In July when I started the project I thought if I could just do about 4 a day or at least 4 a week, I could get through the "get rid of stack". Well when I sat down on my bed the first day to work on it, the flow wasn't there and I didn't get as much done as I had hoped. At the end of the movie, I put all my cutting into a hanging folder and filed them away till the next time and I figured out what I was going to do.

This past week I have just haven't been able to get the project off my mind so guess what I pulled out this morning. Yes you are right. My cuttings, my sketch book, a glue stick and about 6 more magazines. I sat here for 4 hours putting the cuttings on to the pages. Time has whizzed by. I plan now to cut from 3 more magazines and try to glue them in.

Hope everyone had a wonderful Holiday Season and thanks for reading.

Another venture.

2009-11-28T14:39:00.000-08:00

I am starting an outline to write a book. At this moment I am up to 3 pages. I have written main characters, other characters, stores, business, etc and have outlined what the town looks like in my mind. I need to still come up a name for the town. Any ideas? I have names for the business or at least the main ones. I have a history of the town and the main house that I have somewhat thought out.
It is so exciting. I still have a lot of parts to figure out but I can already see cross stories, and potential sequels. I just need to figure out what this main story is going to be about. I have dreamed about this town before. I have written small stories set in this town as a beginning, I think I am going to be setting it in current times but have set up scenarios for the ability to be able to go back in history also. I am not sure of exactly what state it's going to be in but I know it's near the coast and the town is on a bay. Quilting and other crafts will be a part of it. Some of the details might change as I go along but the basic features I think will work. As example. names have changed while I am transcribing onto the computer the pages I have written by hand. As time goes along I might find more appropriate things then the ones I am making up now...
This is also a long time dream. Writing a book. I know it's just not a fly by thing. I know it will take hard work. I also know that I will struggle with words. I know that I might not finish it by tomorrow but hopefully in my lifetime. lol But it is a project, an adventure and the best way to reach the goal is to work on a little bit each day.

A new project....

2009-11-22T23:27:00.000-08:00

Hi,

Well i haven't quite finished my cross stitch project all the way. I have painted the frame i just need to sand it a bit and but the piece in. Will do that when i have time as I feel like all I do is work and sleep. lol

Last week i bought a new needlepoint project. I have had the urge to do it again. My Aunt's Jennie and Smay do them all the time. This is the one I found at Joanne's for 9.99. I got two. I hope to use them in my new apartment on a slip covered couch. . Not bad in price as I saw them on the Internet for over 23 dollars. It's a Bucilla pattern # 4904.
I also had to buy a new frame as I never did go get my first one out of storage. When i tried it on my days off the canvas was too big
for the frame so i tried folding the sides. It didn't work. It wouldn't slide into the slots on the dowels. Lol.. nothing was working that afternoon - check out my post on crocheting to see what else didn't work that day.. So I took it to work today and ended up cutting off about an inch of the canvas on the sides. It slid right in. I wrapped it up and then next separated my thread. Did you know that this pillow has light dusty pink, medium dusty pink, dark dusty pink and dusty pink. Who thinks up these things? lol Well understandable for shading but hope iI identified them right. After that was done I couldn't help myself and i worked on the checkered corner. The green is really a yellow green and it's paired with a cream. It is lovely. I love it. I plan to have this as my home project and work on my table cloth at work. I did work on my table cloth today. I had my thread got tangled up like 5 times and I had to cut the thread and pull out the thread and secure it and start again 3 times. The other times i was able to get out the knots. A couple of times the tread just broke. Not my day on that piece. lol

Work is slow so i was able to do alot but then we had a little rush at 8 pm. Who would of thunk after such a small amount of calls throughout the day.

Well off to bed to read until midnight to wait out the "public service" shows on the radio so i can fall asleep to music. I plan to get up early in the morning to work on "projects".
Hope you had a great weekend.

Frustration....

2009-11-18T19:10:00.000-08:00

I have tried to crochet today. Frustrating.. I could get the first line okay.. but then moving on to the second line i pulled it out 5 times. I just don't understand it right now. I have looked at the videos and looked at still photos. I just can't get it.. Will try again tomorrow.
I even tried to knit.. I can't do that either tonight. I might go buy some nicer yarn. Then i will try again.

Dottie.

My Promised photos..

2009-11-18T13:30:00.000-08:00

The first is the items I found at Goodwill. I scored a bargain for the book for 3.99. The second is my completed project from a few posts before and the frame I found for it and the paint I want to paint it.
The third is my threads. Both my threads for my cross stitching and my knitting/crocheting.

Update on projects..

2009-11-18T08:06:00.000-08:00

Good Morning ;)
Update on projects. Today i have the day off so i thought i would update you on my projects. Photos to follow later today as i hope the light to be better.
I have finished my Pretty Posies cross stitch pattern. I haven't put the black border on for two reasons. I ran out of the black thread as I used two strands instead of one but i prefer the heaviness of it. Also i wasn't totally sure i wanted it. I plan to frame the work and adding that border would square it up. That is not the look i am going for. I found a frame for 1.99 or was it a dollar at Goodwill. Boy i found a couple of good things there. More on that later. Today I am going to paint the frame with a blue base and then white and then will sand it a little bit. Should be cute.
With the temp job i have now i have time to sew on my table cloth. I have made so much progress. I can not believe i have been working on it for over 10 years. A bit here a bit there but it's so time consuming and it's not even very big. I have finished all the cross stitching round the sides and the center. I just have the red berries to do and the strings of the harp. I am working on the last big section. Yahoo... I probably won't touch it today as what else would i do at work?

I have gotten a new craving. Doing some crocheting. I have been looking on YouTube and Flicker on how to make granny squares. This morning i wrapped into a ball some yarn i used from the family reunion. It's in primary colors that are variegated. I am going to practice using that. It should be fun. Hopefully I pick it up pretty easily.

Quilting you ask. That is always with me but i am taking some time to explore other passions. I have set up my machine on the desk so it won't be hard to remove the few things on there and sew. I just gotta get my fabric out and play with it and start sewing. I will get back to that.

Things i need or want to do.

Buy a DMC floss holder (those plastic containers ) to put my left over thread from my projects.
Buy the 4th season of the quilting show.
Explore cool yarn shops to get an assortment of colors for my granny squares using Attic 24 and Jane Brockett colorways as inspiration. Check out Jane's sock colors.
Just have fun!
Get out pumpkin Amish and start sewing blocks.
Mark my tumbling block chocolate pieces so that it can be my next project at work or should i work on an applique project. Decisions, Decisions.
Should I get a new cross stitch project after the table cloth is done? Something to ponder. If so what would it be?
Make up a needlepoint project and use up the webbing i got. Something in the vein of Kaffe Fassett. Gotta get the holder out of storage.
Take on the world.
Finally find a full time job as the option of not working is not an option financially . lol

Have a great day everyone.

Wasted time...

2009-11-17T10:42:00.000-08:00

Since i started my temp job - i work noon till 9 at night. I love so many things about it. I am able to sew all day. I am working on my cross stitch Christmas table cloth. I have been working on it forever and i am on the last big part. It is soothing my soul by getting so much sewing done. The answering the phone is not too taxing which is nice. I have met some nice people.

My problem is the mornings. What should i do? The options are limitless but guess what i choose to do. I choose to sleep. I don't need it but you can't make me get up before 9 and today it was 10. It takes me 40 minutes tops to do my morning - make myself beautiful and get ready for work routine. lol... so what else is there? not enough time to watch a movie. I guess i could read but that makes me sleepy. I am sewing all day so that is not needed to be done right now. Look for a regular job i suppose but i get distracted on the Internet. I could play my games. but it just wants me to snuggle under the covers. I can't paint in the house on my new pitchure frame and it's been raining lately. I could go to the gym to lose that weight. But the motivation is just not there.. i worry that it will never be there.

I am very blessed that this is my biggest dilemma. Maybe in a way i am fighting a bit of down in the dumps situation... I know.. I could blog. I could write that book i have wanted to write. I could ... i could.. i could.... see so many possibilities..

well it's almost time to leave and i have to dry my hair... i get to sew with the color blue today.. !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! yea.... !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

another idea name...

2009-11-05T14:44:00.000-08:00

I found it on my new project..
Jolis petits bouquets de fleurs des champs. or pretty posies.. I never knew i would be so attracted to french words and i am so excited my mojo is back.
Dottie

A new project

2009-11-05T14:39:00.000-08:00

I am in the mood to do needle work. I found this little project in my stash. I was going to work it during the summer but i didn't have a small enough hoop. I then got distracted by my new toys, my pin cushions and looking for a job. Well now i have a temp job so my time is a little b it more free and i have reached the deadline for the bazaar.. I have done just a bit and can't decide if should use my glasses. I can't tell if it helps.

Off to do my needle work and listen to pod casts.

Dottie

I reached the deadline!!

2009-11-04T21:37:00.000-08:00

Hello Everyone!!!
I am back to work. It's a temp job having to do with the N1H1 virus but it's something to do for money over the holidays and it might get my foot in the door.
Needless to say I won't be able to attend the bazaar at my local church that I was helping my friend out. I now work weekends and noon to 9. After 20 years working 8-5 and weekdays it should be interesting.

So what was the deadline? It was making my pin cushions. I have posted a few i did at the beginning. I ended up doing 52. Well really 55 but the first two i made are not decent to sell and the third extra one is not up to par either so i keep that one for my Xmas needlepoint project bag.
Here is the box of them. I just love how they look. All 52 of them put in a photo box. And a few of the last ones i did. I even took a video of them by mistake.. but it gives you a view of the whole box. I might have to post more of these videos. It was fun.

Even though it wasn't a huge pressure it felt like i had to get them done. I didn't know how many to do and it felt like i was working on them all the time but only having 50 done I guess not. I definitely got faster as the weeks went by but they still take time. We will see if they sell at all. I might have 49 by the end of Saturday. lol

So what is my next project you ask? I don't know.. but i think i hear the gym calling my name. Too much Halloween candy. lol

Ta Ta!!!

Inspirations....

2009-10-27T15:26:00.000-07:00

It comes at the oddest times.

A couple of weeks ago I was doing a volunteer job and part of it was listening to writers read their work. I looked down and was inspired by the carpet for a quilt block. As I was sitting in the next session I got out my handy notebook and copied it to the best of my drawing abilities. Which let me tell you is not at all perfected. So the scale is off but i know that the pattern is there.

Today while reading the blog Bunny Tales she was talking about knobs she had found at Anthropology. I had never been exposed to them. I am in love. lol.. because they are so beautiful. As many of you might know i currently live with my mom in a retirement community and have all of my stuff in storage. I have an antique dresser drawers and makeup table that i want to paint white.. somewhat shabby chic. I have found my new pulls. I am so excited. I am also currently out of work and have some leads on some jobs that pay enough that i should be able to get my own place. I can't wait. So talk to the one above that it all works out for the best.

So that is my life right now. Looking for a job. I am struggling on being inspired to do anything creative. I am even having trouble to be able to go to the gym. But yesterday i told myself that i have to start doing those things again. So keep checking back for postings and thank you for reading.

Dottie.

Are you content?

2009-10-02T09:44:00.000-07:00

I was just reading a blog where the writer was describing how content she was with her life. She had not blogged in awhile as she said she was content in her life by reading, sewing and snuggling down and watching movies and didn't find the time to blog. For me the thoughts that the word content invokes are comfort and happiness. Maybe i am too much of a romantic but the feelings are softness, fluffy clouds, the smell after the rain and a beautiful day with the sun sparkling on the water.
Even though i am in the process of job hunting - i have the same feeling. I am content with my life. Yea.. i wish i had my own place i could do stuff to and a job. lol but i am the happiest i have ever been. I have money for a while... (not having a lot of it causes me to be creative lol) i have my books from the library, I have my sewing (with so many more projects in my head) and a boyfriend that makes me happy. I love the feeling of my room at the moment. I am sitting here on a fluffy bed (still in my pj's today but usually dressed) listening to some music and a cool breeze coming through the trees in front of the window You can't ask for much more.
In this time of unemployment i have purchased some toys. ( Why do you ask spending money on worthless things but it is so much more that the money to me.) One is the Sony PSP. I have been addicted to a game called Puzzle Quest. Just enough game and enough puzzle to make me love it. I can see my experience growing every time i play. I never thought i was a gamer but i am so enjoying it. I also bought an IPOD touch. I have wanted one for a while and finally found a used one at about half price. I only got an 8 GB at the time but i am having so much fun. I think i will need to buy a bigger one for all my music i have stored away. Both toys can get online so it has been and adventure trying to figure that out but i have been successful in my connections. I am having so much fun. Can you tell?
This week has been devoted to applying for jobs. No calls yet but they will come right? I sure hope so. Today I am going to play a game or two and then sew. I am going to put in a good movie and snuggle down and watch it. That sounds good.
Happy Friday Everyone.
Dottie.

Checking in..

2009-09-27T22:25:00.001-07:00

Sunday night and i am ready for the week. I still haven't done any quilting. I miss it. Life has just been busy. I volunteered at the local quilt show this week. It was a good thing as it forced me to really study some of the quilts. I wanted to come home and sew. Well i didn't. The show is in a h all with concrete floors and i came home and laid down as i got cramps in my legs. I was a white glove lady and i never realized how much heat is held in by gloves. I went to two classes. One was making large pin cushions in the form of a sundae. It has given me so many ideas for mine. I also went to a seminar by Bob from Superior threads. I have seen him on quilt show so it was fun seeing him in person. He looks so tall on tv but he is my height. So interesting.
Well off to bed to play on my new PSP. This is another reason i have not been sewing. My geekeness has come out on playing these games. I called it the Dotster..
Till later.

3 trips to the beach, 2 projects started and one job call

2009-09-14T19:32:00.000-07:00

Hi,
It's been a while, hasn't it. Been busy going to the beach working on hand projects and had only one call about a job. It is hard out there.
Dinner is now ready so i will post in a bit of my adventures..

Dottie

Checking in ....

2009-08-13T00:43:00.000-07:00

Hi,
It's after midnight and I can't sleep. I am sitting here at the computer. I have the old old show "Password" on from the 1960's on The Game Show channel. I am also researching new books to get from the library. In the late eighties or early nineties I remember reading a monthly magazine article "From Thornhill Farm" by Dee Hardie. I loved reading about her country life. I swore it was in Country Living but i might be doubting that memory. I loved her style of writing. Recently I rediscovered her writings in the book "Hollyhocks, Lambs and other Passions." I love it and have been cherishing the stories in the book. Tonight i searched for more of her writings and i found another book for 2.00 on Alibris. So i ordered it and Hollyhocks. I am so excited. In reading her book I have also discovered another writer Angela Mackail Thirkell, Dee Hardie collected her books. I am going to give her a try. I found one of her autobiography's in the library and ordered her first book in one of her series. She wrote in the 30's to 50's about the English country side. I hope I enjoy them. The book I bought was only 2.00 so i am ok with buying it. They have other's at the library but I wanted to start with the first one. See how it started.
The show is almost over so i am going to bed.
Night Night
PS - no sewing this week. too buzy with other stuff and taking long naps. will start up next week on both quilts and pin cushions...

Two good workshops

2009-08-05T22:23:00.000-07:00

Well on Monday and today I went to workshops at the Employment office. I was surprised I learned as much as i did. Today was the interview workshop. It helped answer questions i have always had. I know the basics of course but they gave me some good tips. I am glad I stumbled on to this program. Still sewing away but also relaxing and reading. Watching the Top Chef Masters and then off to bed.

Night Night.
Dottie.