Lit and Laundry

WIP Wednesday: Henrietta

noreply@blogger.com (Threeundertwo) — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 18:03:00 +0000

Today's Work in Progress is my "Henrietta Whiskers" quilt. Here are the mostly completed blocks up on my design wall:

Most of them have a little sticky note reminding me what embroidery and buttons I still need to add. Please excuse the mess on my sewing table below. See how I carefully hide my Costco-sized tin of Almond Roca under some quilt blocks? Now you know where my candy stash is. You can also see my wood plaque with my favorite motto above my design wall.

This is the next block. The wool pieces are pinned on and ready to applique. I accidentally stitched the chimney a little wonky because I was watching a particularly exciting moment in Downton Abbey at the time. Then I decided I liked it that way. (Or I was lazy - you guess for yourself). Who lives in this house anyway? The squirrels? The big acorn in the lower left of the quilt also has a door (and will have the word "Home" embroidered on the cap) so I don't know who lives here. I think I spend too much time trying to analyze the story behind these scenes.

WIP Wednesday is hosted by Freshly Pieced

Epic progress

noreply@blogger.com (Threeundertwo) — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 20:21:00 +0000

I was asked in the comments last time if I could reveal what my epic project is. It's called "Snow White Discovers the Cottage" and it's part of the Disney Dreams collection. The finished project will look like this:

Clicking on the picture will take you to a site where you can purchase it.

Here is my progress so far:

I'm working my way across the top and will fill down so I can roll the piece on my stretcher bars. This is the first time I've gridded out a big piece like this and it really makes the stitching go faster.

Billions of color changes keep it interesting but it requires a lot of concentration.

Meanwhile, Jungle Boy is continuing to do auditions for ballet summer programs and everyone in the house is taking turns being sick. I've been lucky so far on that score!

Totally Useless

noreply@blogger.com (Threeundertwo) — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 21:56:00 +0000

Today is a new moon so it's also time for the first check-in of the year for the Totally Useless Stitch Along. This is the internet sewing bee where instead of showing our amazing progress on our projects, we show the little thread ends that we've saved up for the month as we worked on projects. I've started a new jar for this year, and even though I've been stitching away like crazy, it barely shows.

I didn't even show the whole jar because the pile looks so puny at the bottom there. The Totally Useless Stitch Along (TUSAL for short) is hosted by Daffycat.

I got a new camera that I'm having fun playing with. My old camera was just giving me sadder and sadder results. This one has more features than I will learn to use in a month, but so far I'm really happy with what I've figured out. Every time I get it out and start clicking Hestia comes to investigate, so I have a lot of pictures of her.

She looks sort of mad in that picture, but it's hard to get a cat to look right at the camera and not blink.

Hope you're doing something totally useless today. It's good for the soul.

Setting the Record Straight

noreply@blogger.com (Threeundertwo) — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 01:09:00 +0000

A few days ago Jungle Boy decided to watch Star Wars again. The original. So he put on the DVD and I watched it with him while I sewed.

"What a great movie! It's so old but the special effects and everything are so great!"

"You're kidding, right?"

And then it hit me. This is the only version of Star Wars he knows. The doctored up, edited, "enhanced" messed up current version. Not the beloved version I saw in theaters a dozen times when I was a teenager.

"You know, Han shot Greedo first actually. This version is just wrong." I explained the whole thing carefully, but Jungle Boy didn't see what difference it made. I felt like a complete failure as a parent. Why oh WHY did I get rid of my old VHS version?

So today I stopped by the thrift store, where they had numerous VHS versions. It was an interesting game trying to figure out which one was probably the oldest. I spent all of $2.50 for this trilogy. Tonight I'm looking forward to a bowl of popcorn and the original, grainy, shoddy blue screen version without all the extra cgi characters and effects.

Lest you think I'm completely lax as a parent, be comforted that I did get Jungle Boy this little hard-to-find gem for Christmas:

The original Return of the Jedi soundtrack. With the original Ewok celebration song at the end. Because before there was a sullen teenage Anakin Skywalker pasted into the scene, before the snooze-inducing prequels, there was a glorious victory song. Sung by an Ewok chorus. This scene should just never have been messed with.

I may have made some mistakes as a parent, but letting my children have the wrong ideas about Star Wars isn't going to be one of them.

Crossing Fingers and Toes

noreply@blogger.com (Threeundertwo) — Sat, 14 Jan 2012 19:20:00 +0000

This weekend Jungle Boy starts his series of auditions for ballet company summer intensive programs. Joffrey Ballet today, American Ballet Theatre tomorrow.

Last year he claimed he wasn't nervous, and I got nervous. This year, now that he knows better what the stakes are, he's really nervous. I'm just trying to keep breathing. It's amazing how we can take on our kids' fears.

Resume is done, head shots are done. Ballet shot is done. In the ballet world, audition hopefuls have to submit a first position arabesque pose in addition to a headshot. Here's his for this year.

I was going to post his pose from last year but I think I'll spare him. Trust me, this is an improvement in form. He even has a sore hamstring right now so he's happy he got a good extension.

Wish him luck! More auditions coming every weekend in January. We'll look at all the offers he might get. We'll know by early February where he'll be spending his summer. Exciting times!

The Epic Begins

noreply@blogger.com (Threeundertwo) — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 20:50:00 +0000

I am going to stop my Finished for Friday posts for now. I finished up so many of my unfinished projects that I don't have new things to show with great regularity. So what does a crafter do when they start to get caught up? They take on new, bigger projects. In this case, it's enormous. Epic even. Behold my new beginning:

This is a massive cross stitch project. I spent 3 days just putting in the grid. Each of those boxes is 100 stitches. There are 638 boxes total.

I've completed 10. Go me! That's 1.5% of the way there.

I hope all of your projects are proceeding nicely. Have a great weekend. And if you're going to do a project - do it BIG!

MP3 Monday

noreply@blogger.com (Threeundertwo) — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 22:13:00 +0000

Welcome to the new year. I've had quite a vacation. Now I have a lot of blogs to catch up on and it's time to get back to my own. I've still got luggage to unpack and laundry to do. Lots of pictures to upload.

While I'm doing all of that though, I've also been feeding my ipod a few fun bargains I've found. I thought I'd let you in on them too.

Today only Amazon is featuring the new album by Ladysmith Black Mambazo for $3.99. This is a double album of 30 tracks featuring a range of collaborators. I was listening to it today while doing housework and the track with Phoebe Snow just stopped me in my tracks. Where has she been? What a voice. Very upbeat, interesting music. A few of these are going in my favorite playlists.

If you want to go classy for less than a buck, download "250 Minutes of Bach" for 69 cents. Heck, at this price, you should download it even if you think you hate classical music! This is great music to play in the background while you read or take a bubble bath. Even a 4 hour bubble bath.

In keeping with the "bang for your buck" theme, my final suggestion is this collection of 66 Spanish Guitar Masterpieces. At $2.99 right now, this is a steal. Get it for the iconic "Concierto de Aranjuez" then close your eyes and listen to that second movement. Aaaaah. There is quite a variety of styles of music including a few tangos, if you feel inclined to put a rose between your teeth and dance. And who doesn't feel like that sometimes?

Always check the current price before hitting that "buy" button. Some deals don't last long. Amazon music can be uploaded to the Amazon cloud, and/or you can load it into iTunes. There is a simple little uploader utility to install on your computer.

Let me know if any of these work out for you and Happy New Year!

Finished for Friday: A Million Cookies

noreply@blogger.com (Threeundertwo) — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 01:12:00 +0000

OK, maybe not a million, but it feels like it. Saturday is my annual cookie party so I've been prepping with lots of extra batches for the exchange. Have you ever made these peppermint candy canes? They're delicious but a bit labor intensive. Usually Wasabi Girl helps me roll them out but she's been sick for a few days.

The peanut butter kisses cookies - I have to stand guard over these so the family doesn't eat them all before guests arrive.

Benne wafers. These are tasty - full of sesame seeds and brown sugar for the most part. Rather delicate and they cooked unevenly. My oven apparently doesn't heat evenly ever since the door was blown off.

What I don't have available for pictures are the hundreds of gingerbread cookies I'm about to roll out. I wanted to get this post up so you could join in. Just picture lots and lots of cookies made from these:

Still lots of Christmas projects left to finish - how about you? Link up and show us what you've been up to.

Why We Don't Visit Santa

noreply@blogger.com (Threeundertwo) — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 21:42:00 +0000

We rarely made it to Santa's lap when the kids were little. Long lines, crankiness (usually mine), lack of cute outfits - whatever the reasons, I only have a few Santa pictures from the past.

While visiting the tree lot this weekend I remembered why we have so few.

There's the kid who lounges around and sits sideways.

The kid who tries to pick Santa's nose. (STOP THAT!)

The kid who whines and cries for no reason at all.

I say she's just faking it. What do you think?

What goofballs. This is what I get these days when I point the camera at them. Hope your family pictures turn out better than ours!

Finished for Friday: Peppermint Latte

noreply@blogger.com (Threeundertwo) — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 07:24:00 +0000

I just put the last stitch in this one, so forgive me that it's still in the hoop. I'll make it into an ornament this weekend but I wanted to get this much done for Friday.

This will be Wasabi Girl's ornament this year, since she has discovered her love for tasty coffee drinks. It's adapted from a design in Just Cross Stitch magazine. I think it looks yummy. I may have to reward myself with a peppermint latte of my own tomorrow.

What have you been up to this week? Sign in and let us come visit. I especially want to see those handmade Christmas presents!

Way Back When-esday: The Truth Revealed

noreply@blogger.com (Threeundertwo) — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 18:50:00 +0000

Wasabi Girl and I were sorting through some of our old piano music last weekend, including stacks of student workbooks and theory sheets. Look what I found carefully folded between the pages of one:

I had to smile. The one who wrote this? Spends a lot of time writing music now. Times change.

I'll stick to my guns and my opinion that every young person needs a basic knowledge of music. It's just another form of literacy and they'll use it their whole life. As parents we need to guide them through those less-than-enthusiastic periods.

Way Back When-esday is hosted by Cheryl at Twinfatuation.

Needlework Tuesday: Christmas Cookies

noreply@blogger.com (Threeundertwo) — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 16:00:00 +0000

Don't these look yummy? The sugar cookies are going to get lots of seed bead sprinkles and the gingerbread men will get buttons down the front and embroidered smiles. These are going on a delicious Christmas quilt which might even get done in time.

Also working away on ornaments for the kids. So glad most of my shopping is done early this year so I have more time to listen to carols and sip hot chocolate and stitch. I love the holidays.

Makes My Monday: Muppets

noreply@blogger.com (Threeundertwo) — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 18:04:00 +0000

I thought it would be cute. I thought I'd get nostalgic.

I didn't imagine I would laugh so hard, or even get a little teary-eyed.

My husband says he's never laughed so much in his life (and he's not a laugher, I can tell you). Jungle Boy says it's the best movie ever - better than The Matrix. I can't think of any possible higher praise. You have to know how much he loves The Matrix.

We came home singing the songs, retelling the jokes. It was a magical family afternoon, just like I used to have with my family on Sunday nights long ago.

Don't miss it!

Makes My Monday is hosted by Cheryl at Twinfatuation

Finished for Friday: A little yarnbombing

noreply@blogger.com (Threeundertwo) — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 17:44:00 +0000

I'm all for adding a little bit of silliness to Christmas, so when I saw this pattern I knew I had to make one for myself.

Sort of like yarnbombing my own car. If you haven't heard of yarnbombing, google it and look at the images. Some of the pictures are amazing and just hilarious.

If you want to make your own, you can find the free pattern at Ravelry. Site requires free registration.

What have you been up to this week? Link up and show your handiwork. Thanks for joining in!

Is it too late?

noreply@blogger.com (Threeundertwo) — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 19:58:00 +0000

I've started decorating for Christmas. So fun to pull out the ornaments I've made over the last few years. So many of them were made for family members. I put their name and the year on the back of each.

Which suddenly reminded me - I may have neglected to make everyone ornaments this year.

But I'm ahead in my shopping, and I've ordered the Christmas cards, so will there be time? Maybe? Yikes. It'll be close.

Any links to quick free designs would be appreciated.

Makes my (Cyber) Monday

noreply@blogger.com (Threeundertwo) — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 17:58:00 +0000

The Turkey is all digested, the memories of Disneyland are still flowing in my brain and downloading from my camera, and everyone in the family is out the door to school, work, and Drama Girl is off for a week as a counselor for outdoor education.

That leaves me here with a mountain of laundry, a house full of Christmas decorations to finish putting up, my volunteer work to catch up on and my dear laptop, who is about to get a workout today.

Only 26 days to go until Christmas and I only have a handful of presents finished. Every year I swear I'll get done early so let's see if I can actually fulfill that promise to myself this year.

Do you shop online? Are you like me, and pick up one or two items for yourself during the Christmas season? What are your favorite sites?

I can resist everything except a really good sale.

Coffee and credit cards are ready. Let's go!

Makes My Monday is hosted by Cheryl at Twinfatuation. Go join her and see what's making people smile at the start of their week.

Finished for Friday: Retro Christmas fun

noreply@blogger.com (Threeundertwo) — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 02:47:00 +0000

I confess I'm one of those people who can sometimes spend huge amounts of time just looking at stuff on ebay. I particularly enjoy looking at vintage needlework patterns and kits. When I saw this needlepoint switch cover as a kit I knew I had to have it. Vintage 1978. I love the fuzzy stitches in his mustache and hat. I love that it called for sequins - lots of sequins. I cut back a little. I also love that it shows Santa with green mittens. That was his best era I think. You don't see him wearing those much any more.

The instructions didn't explain how to stick it on the switchplate, but I'll figure out some kind of sticky thing.

My new fascination with Pinterest has led me back to my love of crochet. I found this pattern and had to make it. The moment I finished it and took a picture Wasabi Girl grabbed it and took it to her room. Guess she couldn't resist having a giant peppermint pillow. So easy I might whip up one or two more. Do you think anyone would want one for a gift? hmmm...

What have you been up to this week? Link up and I'll visit as soon as I can. In a few hours I'm jetting off to Disneyland and family in Southern California. Hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

Finished for Friday: Generous Squirrels

noreply@blogger.com (Threeundertwo) — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 03:00:00 +0000

I've worked on several things this week, but the only one that I can call "finished" is this block for my Henrietta Whiskers quilt. This free pattern is available from Bunny Hill Designs. Wasabi Girl came up with a whole backstory for this block; the big squirrel is giving the small squirrel the acorn, but the small squirrel has a whole pumpkin to give back as a gift. Not sure if that's the intent of the block or not, but it's cute.

My local quilt shop is offering this as a block of the month. I bring in the completed block the following month and they give me the fabrics for the next block for free. I only paid $5 for the first block. This might be one of the most economical quilts I've ever made! Makes it even more fun.

What have you been up to this week? Link up and thanks for playing along!

Monsters in the Closet

noreply@blogger.com (Threeundertwo) — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 20:58:00 +0000

Oh look, my son has arranged all of his old stuffed animals on his closet shelves...

Wait a sec...

One of them moved!

The cat jumped up there himself to take a nap. He's never done that before. I guess he thought he belonged with all of the other furry monsters.

(and yes, that is a lot of iguana beanie babies.)

Makes My Monday: Soft Hearts in the Neighborhood

noreply@blogger.com (Threeundertwo) — Mon, 07 Nov 2011 14:23:00 +0000

I'm sorry I don't have a picture to go with this post. Just picture the calmest, sweetest golden retriever you've ever seen. He belongs to our neighbors down the street on the corner. Every day he lies in the front yard, gazing at every car that goes by. There has always been a sweet golden at that corner. There was one who lived to a ripe old age before he died and was replaced by a puppy. That puppy grew up and left home with the oldest daughter in the family and a new puppy arrived. That puppy is grown now and lies on the lawn just like his predecessors.

The owner can often be seen out there spending time with his dog and training it well. Let me tell you dog owners, good training shows. That dog is never tethered and it's a fairly busy intersection. He just sits all day.

So imagine my surprise when I drove to the corner a few days ago and that dog was not only off the lawn, he had his front feet up on the steps of the UPS truck parked in the street. The street was blocked so I had to stop. Sweet dog seemed to be looking for something. The UPS man was up at his house leaving a package at the door.

"Looks like you have an assistant today!" I joked with Mr. UPS.

"I'm just the sub on this route, but now I think I know why the driver keeps dog biscuits in the truck." he answered.

As I started to laugh, the owner came out of the house flustered and commanding the dog to get down. "He wants a cookie."

Now the UPS guy and I were both laughing. The mystery of the box of dog biscuits on the dashboard was revealed, as was the secret camaraderie between the regular delivery guy and this dog on his route.

I bet he tosses a "cookie" out to that dog every day. I would. No wonder the dog got up to look. He recognizes the cookie delivery truck when he sees it.

Kind hearts in the neighborhood make my Monday. To see more Monday makers, visit Cheryl at Twinfatuation.

Finished for Friday: Elizabeth Street

noreply@blogger.com (Threeundertwo) — Fri, 04 Nov 2011 16:31:00 +0000

Elizabeth Street by Laurie Fabiano is a beautiful book that I found hard to put down. It's an amazing, almost unbelievable story that is full of rich historical detail. While it reads like a novel, it's even more fascinating to me because it is the true story of the author's family.

It begins with a love story in Italy and follows the young midwife Giovanna who comes to America after her husband is killed in a tragic construction accident. The immigrant experience in New York is seen through her eyes. She is a very smart woman and the reader can't help but cheer for her on every page. Her new family life in America is first troubled, and then faces a terrifying crisis from the bullying they face from members of "The Black Hand," the precursor to the Mafia.

Although the author reveals the outcome surprisingly early in the book, I wont spoil it here. It's a fascinating, well-researched book. Highly recommended.

What have you been up to this week? Link up and let me come visit. Please take some time to visit the other posters too. Thank you and have a great weekend!

The Agony of Defeat

noreply@blogger.com (Threeundertwo) — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 20:13:00 +0000

This is a hard moment in my parenting life. Last year Wasabi Girl sailed through her gymnastics meets and ended up first place all around in her division at the statewide competition. She was then, and still is, team captain.

This past weekend was the qualifying meet for the state championships. A minimum cumulative score was required to qualify. She held her own until the vault - and then bobbled it. We held our breath in the stands. Every competitor gets two tries on the vault and the best score is used. But then she bobbled it again. She knew the score she had to get and even from far away, we could tell how she felt from her body language when she saw her score.

She was brave, and held it together as best she could. But she was clearly upset.

The girls sign a contract when they join the team, and right at the top is rule #1: NO CRYING. No matter what. She wanted to. I wanted to. But the rule is there for a reason, and the competition had to finish.

After every gymnastics meet, all of the girls from all of the teams gather to sit on the floor during the awards ceremony. There was the usual long delay while all the scores were tallied up and medals were labeled with winners' names. While she sat, I watched from the stands, feeling so helpless to console her.

But then I saw the demonstration of how beloved she is by her teammates. I don't know what was said, and nothing was overly dramatic, but one by one they cozied up to her, threw an arm around her, leaned in on her shoulder. It was a very quiet, and very beautiful demonstration of love and support on the part of these young women. One very small member of the team even came and sat in her lap.

I'm so grateful, that as she grows and ventures out into the world where things aren't always easy, that my not-so-little girl is able to attract such a valuable support system. Because sometimes rule #1 is just hard.

Finished for Friday: Which Witch's Boot?

noreply@blogger.com (Threeundertwo) — Fri, 28 Oct 2011 01:32:00 +0000

Yay! Doing my happy dance today because I got my Halloween project finished. Before Halloween even.

The original pattern is by Crabapple Hill. The inner border is supposed to be a stripe, but I couldn't find one I liked in my stash so I used jumbo ric rac instead. Because ric rac cures everything. The tinting was done with crayons and I used Cosmo floss for the first time for the embroidery. Lovely stuff.

In a classic move quilters everywhere will appreciate, I managed to run out of my orange thread with only about 4 inches of the border left to quilt. Had to stop everything and run out to the quilt shop. Luckily they had the color I needed.

Now I can sit back and enjoy the next few days until Halloween. After I make popcorn balls, help the kids with costumes, set up a party for the teenagers...

What have you been up to this week? Link up and share. Thanks for stopping by!

Finished for Friday: Revisiting Anne Shirley

noreply@blogger.com (Threeundertwo) — Fri, 21 Oct 2011 07:01:00 +0000

On a whim this week, I read Anne of Green Gables on my Kindle.

I realized that the last time that I read this book, I was probably about Anne's age - 12. I might have laughed at all the right parts and enjoyed her eccentricities. I certainly remember some of the episodes. But this week as I read it, I saw the story from the perspective of a parent, and the story was sweet and touching and new. Here is Anne at the tender age of fifteen:

And when I put on longer skirts I shall feel that I have to live up to them and be very dignified. It wont even do to believe in fairies then, I'm afraid; so I'm going to believe in them with all my whole heart this summer.

Ah, that tipping point between belief and growing up! It's a little heartbreaking to watch as they become aware of it.

Anne's wise adoptive mother Marilla echos the sentiments of every mother;

I just couldn't help thinking of the little girl you used to be, Anne. And I was wishing you could have stayed a little girl, even with all your queer ways. You've grown up now and you're going away; and you look so tall and stylish and so-so-different altogether in that dress -- as if you didn't belong in Avonlea at all -- and I just got lonesome thinking it all over.

To which Anne, wiser than her years, replies;

I'm not a bit changed -- not really. I'm only just pruned down and branched out. The real ME -- back here -- is just the same. It won't make a bit of difference where I go or how much I change outwardly; at heart I shall always be your little Anne, who will love you and Matthew and dear Green Gables more and better every day of her life.

*sniff* Hand me a tissue!

Have you ever gone back to re-read a favorite book from childhood? Sometimes a sweet simple story really hits the spot.

What have you been up to this week? Link up and let us see. Thanks for joining in and have a great weekend!

Needlework Tuesday: Which Witch's Boot

noreply@blogger.com (Threeundertwo) — Tue, 18 Oct 2011 16:27:00 +0000

I've got a Halloween project under my needle these days. This is a pattern by Crabapple Hill called "Which Witch's Boot?" It's not easy to see in the picture, but this is what I needed the box of 64 crayons for. The boot and candy and jack-o-lanterns are all colored in before stitching.

I'm using Cosmo floss, which is the new stuff everyone seems to be talking about all over the internet. It's very silky and the variegated colors are really pretty. I could make these buttonhole stitch flowers all day.

I don't know if this will be done by Halloween - there are a lot of pieced borders to make - but it is fun to stitch something seasonal during the actual season. It will be fun to display next year.

Needlework Tuesday is hosted by Heather at Books and Quilts