Frequently Wrong but Never In Doubt

Surfing - can you tell?

2009-06-29T17:34:00.002-06:00

I NEED one of these!

Herb & Dorothy

2009-06-29T14:45:00.000-06:00

A must see on my list:

Herb & Dorothy Selected Clip #1 from Herb & Dorothy on Vimeo.

Sigh - Pop culture has a bad day.

2009-06-26T11:21:00.004-06:00

Ok, I wasn't going to do it - I hate blogging on "pop" topics and in fact except for a few deaths - almost never have. However, Farah Fawcett passing away (yes, I tried DESPERATELY to have her hair do) - which was sad because of her valiant fight against cancer and a pretty interesting career.

Michael Jackson - sigh. Sad. I think I agree with several commentaries that say he's almost like Elvis in his "early" career verses his later craziness, plastic surgery, and personal issues. I like his music - always have. I liked him as a child star and watched as the music got better and better. Anyway, it's sad to see what popularity does to some people and I think he's a good example. It's almost like he was fighting a disease like Farah in the end.

So, as a tribute and because they were a source of giggles in a news day that was more than a bit depressing here are some funny spoofs of thriller - the first straight from Bollywood and the second a prison yard version from the Phillipines! Enjoy!

Mail love and my rearranged office

2009-06-25T16:15:00.000-06:00

Yay! I love the mail and especially when it has checks, Piecework magazine and FACES from Leslie (if you aren't already familiar with her from Crazy Quilt International then pop over and say hi - she sells these faces!)! Yay! Aren't these faces fabulous!! I'm sort of afraid I'll mess them up with dye, so I'll sit and fondle them in their current state for a while.

Speaking of Piecework - I'd love it if you all go buy it. I wrote kind of a nasty (perhaps I was a bit PMS'y) letter to the editor and told her I HATE that so much is knitting - MORE EMBROIDERY and lacemaking, ooo, beading and other stuff. So, first, get a subscription, then urge them to at least move the knitting and crochet into an equal ratio with the other artistic areas.

Oh, and because I was there, I decided to take a photo of my new office reorg - this is my side (Rex is behind me) - I like this arrangement and despite it being June, the light is on because it got all dark and dreary with a rainstorm.
Well, geeking out and watching "Meet the Robinsons" which is one of the most fantastic geek-kid movies ever!

Piggy progress and a bit of interlacing

2009-06-22T06:15:00.004-06:00

So, I played with some interlacing:

It isn't quite like the stitch I was trying to replicate, but I found that was a bit chunky for this delicate stitch (you can click on the picture and zoom in if you're curious). I like it - and my daugher is proud that she picked the colors (she said the giraffe needed green around the edge).

Then! Progress on my crazy quilt pig - which is my "big" project for the Rocky Mountain Crazy Quilters this year. the colors didn't turn out in the picture at all - it's a lime green with yellow and some other pinks and blues. It's not exactly what I wanted originally (I was doing ALL green) but I like the inserted embroidery animals. So, we'll see.

Eventually it will be a stuffed piggy - should be cute!

Other than that, we had a busy weekend, birthday parties, Street fairs and a lot of computer games. Fun! However, it's almost relaxing to get back to work. Happy Monday!

Lace, Lace everwhere!

2009-06-19T07:23:00.003-06:00

This is a quick and fun read if you're into women's relationships, historic needlework, crafting or fashion (totally up my alley!).

Kate Robinson is a fashion designer who's mother has just died of cancer, who's boyfriend just dumped her. So, she leaves the mess of her life behind her and heads on a pre-planned trip to Ireland. But her carefully planned trip schedule takes a turn when she wanders into Glenmara a fading Gaelic village full of characters who are fun to like.

The book weaves Irish lore and superstition in with the modern day tale of these struggling lacemakers. The descriptions of the lace are lovely and it's fun to see how the lace and the workmanship that goes behind it makes a differenc in the women's lives.

I could give away more, but if you like Sandra Dallas, or Jennifer Chiaverini and you love Ireland I'd definately pick this book up.

And if you're interested in lacemaking, this combines nicely with this month's issue of Piecework Magazine which is all about lacemaking.

It all really makes me want to try it - I've been doing interlaced embroidery stitches - I wonder if it's much harder? :)

Anyway, enjoy the book! It's great!

Now THESE are storm clouds!

2009-06-14T15:37:00.004-06:00

So, I was excited by this storm - now THESE are storm clouds!! Before the rain, I took the kids out and showed them what real "pre-tornado" clouds look like - really fluffy and tornado like. We usually don't get them that look like this in Denver.

So, about 20 mins and a downpour later we see this:

There was a tornado warning for north-east jefferson county, but not us (we're nw Denver). Then the warnings started coming. Makes me wonder if it had been a faster moving tornado if that warning would have been a bit late? Anyway, sirens went off and we headed to the basement.

Very exciting.

Crafting for human rights

2009-06-14T09:44:00.002-06:00

My goal today is to clean the house and then create. We'll see - I've had these hopes before. I was "inspired" (if that's the word) by a link to this post on Pat Winter's blog. As you may know (read old posts?), we just got back from El Paso and I was appaled on so many levels I was never sure where to start:

So, if you're interested in Human Right's issues (particularly women) - go check out this post. I'm not sure "inspired" is the correct response, but I feel some need to respond, so maybe I'll do that today.

Banksy has style

2009-06-13T13:05:00.000-06:00

Love him or hate him - Banksy has style. I'd LOVE to go see this!

Sleep under a cardboard box so a homeless young person doesn't have to.

2009-06-12T06:22:00.007-06:00

A large proportion of the proceeds from the Le Clochard duvet cover go to SZN, the foundation for homeless youngsters in the Netherlands. The income is used to fund housing projects which prioritise supporting young people in finding work or continuing their education.

Click here to go visit the site (hopefully the english one).

Cool eh?

Just a quick note about feet

2009-06-10T07:26:00.003-06:00

For anyone who has read my blog for long, you'll know that while I love computers and needlework, this does NOT translate into a love of sewing machines. I use them when I have to and my knowledge is - well, lame.

However, I just ran across this fabulous write up on sewing machine feet (which have always been a HUGE mystery to me). So, this is probably more to bookmark this article for me than for you - but maybe of you expert sew-y types can pass it along to a sewing "challenged" niece or kid or something!

I'm such a princess!

2009-06-07T17:24:00.004-06:00

So, this weekend was interesting. I was SO excited to finish piecing my pig, work on my student piece for Susan Sorrel and generally geek out in the fiber/beading/embroidery world and I froze. Ugh.

I totally do NOT understand Sulky, Stabelizer, anything that washes out, anything that should transfer (do I need to go on?). So, I was all excited to do Susan's class project and FROZE! Ugh!

I was going to piece my pig and the light was wrong (this is where the princess kicks in?) and I didn't want to do it.

So, I walked down this evening and pulled out a piece of fabric, a wonderful little giraffe I bought at the last craft show and put together this:

The picture was taken with my phone, so it's a bit washed out, but I LOVE it! I'm going to edge the giraffe and do - well who knows what with it? But it's so me and so totally cool!

***and now that it's up on my blog I realize it totally matches my blog! Cool eh?

Oh! So, I posted that and forgot to post this adorable project! My son printed out the material for this on Nick (and of course I can't find the directions anywhere now):
Isn't it cute? (oh, this is also an opportunity for the Grandparents to see his new haircut! It can be spikey! which he loves!)

Now that's a "scream"

2009-06-05T08:56:00.002-06:00

This cracked me up from Feeling Stitchy this morning stitched by St. Lucy Belle:

WoW! A voidwalker - cute even if you don't know what that is!

2009-06-03T16:22:00.004-06:00

Isn't this cute? Even if you don't play "World of Warcraft" (we all know we're geeks!) this voidwalker is just TOO cute! Hmm, thinking about picking up the crochet needle again!

I have a clever friend!

2009-06-03T08:05:00.001-06:00

Yay, My friend Ren was on "That's Clever"! Yay!

Summer begins!

2009-06-02T08:06:00.002-06:00

And so we have been thrown head first into summer - and it's raining! :P Ha ha!

Oh well, that's ok, we're going to spend the day signing up for the summer reading programs at two libraries - and then after a work out (thank heavens the kids love 24 hour fitness) we'll come back and start organizing rooms and trying to get rid of some stuff!

On the crafty front - I'm working on my pig (pictures to come) and I've signed up to take Susan Sorrel's "Fertile Earth" - I guess which is good timing with all this rain AND I got my garden planted.

No idea what image I'm going to work with, but it should be fun! It's funny that after knowing her for this long and posting lessons for her (I do her website) that I would finally take a class.

But my class with Robin Atkins kind of broke my "no new projects" rule - I think I've resigned myself to the fact that I'm just NOT going to finish things and I need to move forward. Who knows, maybe by making that resolution, I will finish stuff! (less pressure?).

Anyway, back to work...which is interesting with the kids home this summer...they're going to be in a rec center camp 5 hours a day and I feel a bit guilty, but money is money, eh?

Stitching and back to "normal" life!

2009-05-23T07:57:00.002-06:00

This is the stitching I worked on throughout the trip to New Mexico. I have NO idea why I'm finding this fun, but I am. I love the crewel (it's really forgiving) and I'm liking this plant a lot! The worst part is the whole area that's finished had had the pattern worn off, so I had to work out where everything was supposed to go.
Anyway, kind of fun to finish a 20 year old UFO - and just follow directions for a change.
I've made some progress on my CQ pig, but not enough to show - so maybe next post?

We returned from New Mexico and ran straight into "end of year" activities including field day. Here's Missy C who refuses to wear her ribbons because they are ALL SECOND PLACE! (like that's the end of the world?) But she was PO'd and so wouldn't wear them. NO idea where she gets this competitive streak. It's kind of funny.

Then there was Matey Moo (who just celebrated his 7th Bday - YAY!) and as usual, he's just happy to be there! What a happy guy!

My inlaws leave on Monday - so life will sort of be returning to normal (NO Idea what that is) and then on to summer - which - cross your fingers - I think I have figured out! :D

Picture heavy - because it was "alien" and "diner" day! :)

2009-05-19T07:26:00.004-06:00

Yesterday was "alien day" - we started out the day at Roswell! Yay! What a fun place and where we dropped most of our money! ha ha!

For your reference, here is an "Alien Identification chart"

Here's a shot of the inside of the museum. It really is fun. But the best part was the "stuff"! :)

On our way to Albuquerque (that is the LAST time I'm spelling that!) we went through Vaughn and ate at Penny's Diner - apparently it's a chain in small odd towns. Good food and cute decor! Fun!

Here's the fam!

Oddly, we ate at the "Owl Cafe" for dinner - also a Diner! It was in the parking lot of our hotel - and the story is that some "prospectors" who ate there, helped the owner to invent the green Chili Cheesburger - these "prospectors" turned out to be some of the scientists at the Trinity site and who worked at the White Sands Missile Range.

So, that's the end of "Alien Diner" day! :) It was fun and today we're heading home - after letting the kids swim one more time in the hotel pool! By the way, THIS was a decent motel - the Sandia Conference center. Older place, but well run and clean and NOTHING broken.

So, tomorrow, "back to reality" - and I ran across this adorable idea on Craft. I guess it's time to think about summer, eh?

Just a quick post - Day 3 New Mexico

2009-05-18T08:57:00.002-06:00

This day passed in geeky style - we went to the White Sands Missile range and went through a bit of a MAJOR check point (military base) but the results were worth it - it was a really interesting museum!

Then on to White Sands - GORGEOUS! Amazing this is in the middle of the US, eh? The sand is made of gypsum - which is water soluable - which gives you an idea of how dry it is here. But it didn't stop anyone from enjoying the sand "beach style"! :D
Spent the night in Ruidoso Downs - and yuck! The hotel was NOT nice! But today, off to Roswell - may the aliens be with you! :)

On the road....in New Mexico

2009-05-17T07:21:00.003-06:00

So, Day one passed and really we just got down to Santa Fe - via an interesting Volcano in North New Mexico, but that was about it.

Day Two - we spent the night in Santa Fe at "The Sage Inn" and as web designers - ha ha - it was one case where the website FAR outranked the hotel. All in all a fairly crappy experience - all just little complaints (including the NON cheery hotel staff) but the breakfast was pretty decent.

We packed up, found a spot in a public garage downtown and spent the morning and lunch in Santa Fe. It was great! They had their normal Saturday Festival - completely with really cute Latino dancing girls - adorable and the music was fun!

If you want a sample of the dancing, I've posted a video here.

Here are the kids and I with a "living statue" behind us! Great fun and a great day!

We also popped into the Loretto Chapel. I had seen this staircase as a young kid (6th grade I think) but it's much more impressive when you understand the construction.
Then we headed south of town. Sadly, El Ranchos De Las Golondrinas (which has a tie in to one of the American girl dolls) was closed and so we decided to take a side trip to Cerrillos and Madrid (pronounced MADrid). If you happen to remember, Madrid was featured in the movie "Wild Hogs" - totally cute movie and a really cute town .

We drove into Truth or Consequences (yep, that's a town name) on fumes and checked into a really cute motel - which will be featured in a post on my Mid Century blog! Great spot and despite the simple nature WAY better than the one in Santa fe.

Ok, we're off!

Happy Mother's Day - to all you Mom's out there

2009-05-10T06:21:00.001-06:00

I hope you get to sleep in!

I still have my cold and just got up to take more meds - what do you think my chances are of breakfast in bed? :)
Have a great day all!

Pam RuBert explains how I feel

2009-05-09T06:48:00.004-06:00

Pam RuBert is one of my very favorite quilt artists/illustrators ever and so with a nasty cold this morning, I immediately thought of this:

I remember when she came out with this I LAUGHED! She's so talented. A wonderful inspiration!

Today I'm on my way over to the Crazy Quilt meeting and dragging along my Mother in Law (who needs to update her blog). I totally have redesigned our Rocky Mountain Crazy Quilt site and it needed it - it was a mess! So, pop over and check it out! In true crazy quilt form, I've filled it with a bunch more "eye candy" so you can really see what we're doing!

Oh, and if you feel flush, buy something from our Cafepress store - all the proceeds go to the group! We're going to rotate member artwork in there, so bookmark it - that way you can check back for something lovely later!

Treasure to Trash to Treasure

2009-05-02T07:08:00.000-06:00

****NOTE***** Do you ever write a post and for some bizarre reason, NOT post it? This is one of those. It's OLD (April 08) but honestly kind of a cool post and both bits of info are still interesting. So, here goes:

I think this post goes under the "really really dumb people" catagory, but I don't have one. I found this story via Penny Sanford, who wrote about these quilts. The entire story can be found in a news article, but basically a woman was making a trip to the dump with her husband when she spotted 7 vintage quilts.
Can you imagine dumpster diving for these? It's an amazing story, pop by and check it out.

The amazing Pat Winter has put together a wonderful tutorial on how to put a clasp onto a purse. I'm saving this one....I'm sure it's going to be massively helpful!

My class was fantastic...and back to Colorado Reality

2009-04-27T07:35:00.002-06:00

Ok, really what is THIS!:

What I woke up to this morning. Now look. I LOVE snow - enjoy the seasons etc, however this is beginning to screw up my spring! I have yardwork to do and I'm completely OVER snow. We had NO snow this winter at all - and now this!

Ok, vent done. Thank you all for listening.

What was cool was that I really really enjoyed my class yesterday and the shopping that followed! Yay! Here's the sampler I started in Robin Atkins class and honestly (this isn't just sucking up to a great teacher) - I think it's the very FIRST class project I will ever finish! I love it! The techniques are SO fun and I can't tell you what it's like to see all of her work in person!

I've also committed to doing the Bead Journal Project next year - so wish me luck on that one! I need the motivation tho and I LOVE beads.

I love beads so much that I didnt' even get to take a photo of my piles of purchases. However, I did spend the evening organizing them into this arrangement:

My husband thinks this is a lot of beads, and I have to tell you I really need more. The good (or bad if your my husband) thing about this storage is that I can see what I have and what I need. MORE BEADS! ha ha!

Ok, well off to work on other peoples blogs and websites today and to pretend it didn't snow. It's actually supposed to be 55 degrees this afternoon - work that one out! :P Dumb weather!

Join my Twibe! Calling all Crazy Quilt tweeters!

2009-04-25T08:42:00.002-06:00

I just started a "Twibe" of "Tweeters" for Crazy quilters - and if you think I have a speech impediment, start by signing up for "Twitter".

Then hop over to http://www.twibes.com/group/CrazyQuilts and join the group.

There are also groups for Quilters (Penny Sanford started all of this by suggesting people join the quilting Twibe: http://www.twibes.com/group/Quilters).

I'm still working out all the details, but this looks like a mighty fun place to get to know other geeky folks who love something you love!