This is Just My Own Humble Opinion

Not many pictures in this blog entry.  I've been thinking about this for awhile and I've decided that I am going to go ahead and write about it.  It's sort of a pet-peeve of mine.

A lot of you don't use pictures as your icons.  I've noticed this.  It bothers me.  Some people use art, some people use animals, some people use avatars or cartoon characters.  Some people use dogs.  Now you all know that I am a HUGE dog lover.  But when did it get so bad that we had to use a dog picture to represent us?  Do you remember that saying back in the 70's "She looks like a dog"?  None of us ever wanted a boy to say that about us.  And yet, some of us are using dog pics instead of pics of ourselves.

Now, I'll be the first to admit that whole "She looks like a dog" thing could be said about me somedays because I'm a stay at home mom and when I stay home and no one but my family has to see me, I will generally decide not to wash my hair or shave my legs and wear sweats.  But, when I go out I will take the time to do something with myself.  That something doesn't always work out and I have learned to live with that.  Usually involves some big zit in the middle of my forehead, something like that.  I am not what I call a pretty woman.  I was an art major in school and so I have a tendency to look at people as if I were drawing them.  I have been known to say to my husband or a friend - "look at her, isn't she gorgeous?" pointing at a pretty woman.  Sometimes friends have thought this was a little weird.  My husband knows I am doing an empirical analysis, not oogling.

But I digress . . . I had to put a picture of myself on facebook.  Initially I chose the one that I use on this blog (the ABOUT ME picture).  Then I decided that I was going to change it up every so often.  The next one was this  . . .

I thought that having someone go up the staircase and take the picture while I looked UP would hide the fact that I have about five chins.  And while the picture does have a dog in it - I am not using a dog to represent me.  Oh, I also wanted to show that I have gray hair.  I earned every one of them.  What I did not realize was just how many!  This picture disturbed me in so many ways that I finally reverted to the earlier one.

I am fat.  Overweight.  Probably Obese.  I think I am going to have to worry about high blood pressure and cholesterol really soon.  But here's the thing - I have only myself to blame - and only myself to dig myself out of THAT hole.

Back to the pictures.  I went for this one next . . . 

Better haircut - you can see less of the gray.  I was going to one of my DAR functions.  In the end I reverted back to the "Lady in Red" shot.

The point is, they are all pictures of me in my not-so-perfectness.  I want you all to know ME.  I'm not judging you, but I'd like to get to know YOU (not the chihuahua) - even if it is just a tiny half inch by half inch picture of you.  This is ME - and I'm not big on the pot calling the kettle black - so show me YOU.

OK, off my soapbox now - and hoping I haven't offended all of you!  Best regards - Katherine

These Colors are AWFUL!!! GAK!!!

I've been working on Anniversaries of the Heart - Snow Garden.

Progress January 9

And, like a lot of you, I am NOT in love with the colors that were chosen.  But then, when you think about it, the garden does look very sorry at this time of the year; all brown and gray and parchmenty.  Since it is the block for January, which is when I was born and so the block will have MY initials - and, since it really IS all about me anyway - I decided to tart it up a bit.  The top and side flowers - which I think are the old-style Dutch carnations ( and they are the January flower) - I did in WDW Garnet and Lancaster Red.  I think that those are colors that are actually used someplace else in one of the other months, so it should not clash.  AND, garnet is the January birthstone, so it all sort of goes along.  I think I'll definitely be done by next weekend.  Which means I'll have two more stitchy weeks in January.  I can fill one by doing one of the Lizzie Kate double flips on Christmas Rules.  I figured if I do one a month, I'll be done for next Christmas.  Then I'll have to figure something out for that fourth week each month.  Hmmmmm.....  maybe some actual work on my finishing?

Speaking of being done, done, done with something . . .

Finished 1

Here's that shadow box I got at Michael's for $4.19.  And inside is Spirit of America.  Sorry for the poor quality of the picture, but I just couldn't get myself to do a good one of this piece.  Also, finished this weekend is Spirit of Christmas Stitching (in another super cheap shadow box!)

Finished 2

And here is the 3D effect you get inside the frame  . . .

I am really pleased.  I especially like the way "Christmas" looks in her frame.  While I'm not so happy with the way "America" looks in hers, it's good enough and I'm just so happy to have something completed.  Now on to that wedding gift!  Hope you enjoyed

Follow Up on Mt. Vernon Visit

Two things that might be helpful . . .

Mt. Vernon has a "new" Visitor's Center - it's actually called an education center and museum, but my brain can only remember it as a visitor's center.  It is WAY cool and SO worth the trip if you haven't been there in a while.  They have three movies (four if you count the orientation movie you can see when first entering).  I surprised my husband by taking him to the "experience" movie on the Revolutionary War.  While they tell the story of those 8 years, the cannons boom (lights flash and the seats rumble) and when they tell the story of the storm and fog that Washington escaped New York in,  a fog machine creates a fog bank near the bottom of the stadium seating.  Then, when they tell the story of the Crossing of the Delaware (in caps because that's a cool story) and Valley Forge - a SNOW MACHINE - blows snow over the audience.  My husband thought it was WAY cool and I expect kids think it's pretty neat too.  There are lots of things in the museum, including poor George's dentures that you can see close up - displayed much like the Hope Diamond at the Smithsonian.

Mt. Vernon in Gingerbread - Roland Mesnier

Secondly, the Grist Mill and Distillery aren't on the Estate-proper.  During the "season" they have a shuttle bus that will do the driving for you, but if you go, it is south (of the Mansion and Museum) on the GW Parkway between Route 1 and the Ft. Belvoir gate that is on the Parkway.  It's on the north side of the Parkway.  Sits next to Douge Creek.  The funny thing is that I used to commute that way everyday when I lived in Woodbridge and worked for a law firm in Old Town Alexandria.  The "Guy" yesterday said that the mill isn't the original one (the original burned down about a century and a half ago), but it is a reproduction that was built in the 30's.  It was privately owned then, acquired by Mt. Vernon in the early '90's.  But still, it was there when I was commuting and I have absolutely NO RECOLLECTION of it at all.  Of course, that was when I was in my mid-twenties and more interested in boys than mills.  So, I probably drove by there every day, twice a day, and didn't give it a second thought.  But I did get pulled over for speeding on the Parkway once by a motorcycle cop who just looked so HOT in those boots they wear - we just had to go out for coffee!  Oh, my, those WERE the days!  Told my husband that story yesterday - he said "so, little girl, would you like to see MY boots?"

Speaking of Mt. Vernon reminds me of Woodlawn.  I've already read some stuff about people preparing to go in March to the Needlework Show there.  Here's the link.  I think I'm going to get my stitchy gals to make a day trip out of it.  Oddly enough, I was raised in Fairfax County and spent a good deal of my adult life there too - but have NEVER been to Woodlawn!  SHOCK!  I know!  It's about time I went, don cha think?

Follow Up on Spirit of America

Blu asked me about the gold stars on the Spirit of America piece.  She wanted to know if they're glued, stitched, etc. to the front of the piece.  I told her that they attach to the strings and the strings hang freely in front of the woman.    Then I decided to elaborate on my answer here.

The designer's preference for completing this project is that it be stitched on perforated paper.  That's how she shows it done on the picture that accompanies the chart.  However, I'm not exactly sure what you're supposed to do with these wonderful women once you've stitched them on the paper.  The instructions tell you to back it (to cover all your stitching) with fabric or felt; so I'm assuming it's supposed to be some sort of ornament.  My problem with that is that ornaments turn - so you will be lucky to see all that stitching you've put such effort into.  Remember the witch I did?  I did her like an ornament and ended up not being happy about it.

So, when I decided to do "America" I stitched her on linen (which the designer also says can be done in the writing accompanying the chart).  Stitching the piece on perforated paper really gives it a 3-D look which is very appealing.  I wanted to retain as much of that 3-D feel as I could while still stitching on the linen.  I'm going to frame her in a shadow box frame.  When I went to Michael's they had them, on sale, and I was fortunate enough to have a coupon that would give me 40 percent off, even on a sale item.  Framing her in the shadow box will allow that string of stars as well as the gold bows at her wrists to stand out - framed under glass in a regular frame they'd all be squished under the glass.

Hopefully this weekend I'll be able to get her into the frame and show ya'll a final result - actually completely finishing a project!!  YAY!  That will  be a big step in the right direction.  Thank you all so much for your kind comments - and keep those questions coming!


Yesterday, my husband took me to Mt. Vernon - home of George Washington - for a combination Christmas and birthday present.  We had a WONDERFUL time.  I had been looking forward to seeing the Grist Mill and Distillery that I'd missed when I was there last year.  Unfortunately, they are open seasonally April to October.  I was really disappointed.  But, I asked if it was OK for us to go there and look around outside.  Sure, they said, that's no problem.  On our way out we stopped.  There was only one other car in the parking lot and a "Guy" up by the Grist Mill.  We noticed that the guy had the door open and I said 'oh, look, it really is open'.  "Guy" of course heard me, went inside and closed the door.  Oh.  Guess it's not open.  So we go about looking around outside (it really was pretty).  "Guy" comes back outside, but closes the door behind him.  By now, we're close enough to talk.  I said that we understood the place was closed and that was OK, we wouldn't bother him.  We come in peace sort of thing.  He explains he's waiting to meet someone.  I go about taking pictures.  He and my husband are talking.  Then, my husband is calling me (by now I've gone all native, walking down the grassy slope toward the creek, taking pics, etc. paying no attention to anyone else).  Annoyed, I turn back to look at my husband (who is interrupting my photographic genius)  w-h-a-t?????  and he's motioning me to come back.  Sometimes this is a good thing because he watches out for me.  I generally don't look below my knees and have walked into some interesting places (and things) while I'm busy taking pictures.  I'd probably walk off a cliff.  So, first thing I do is look to see what I've gotten myself into now, but I'm safe.  Now I'm confused.  He motions again.  Stubbornly I stay where I am.  I've walked all the way down that hill, now I have to walk back.  And I don't want to have to heave my fat *** up that hill twice.  Smart man, he realizes what's going on in my head - can see the wheels turning so to speak - so, he points.  He's pointing toward the door of the grist mill where "Guy" is standing - now with the door open and he waves.  OH!

Mill Race

I trotted my fat *** up that hill lickity split and "Guy" takes us inside while my husband says to me that "Guy" has generously offered to give us a private tour.  WOW!  It was SO COOL!!  And "Guy" was really, really nice.  He took us around, explained stuff, was very patient with my ignorance of mill operation, showed us the fine flour, the regular flour and the bran, told us about the grinding wheels (the ones for flour come from France and the ones for corn are made of native granite) and I took LOTS of pictures inside before my battery died. 

Grist Mill Southern Exposure

We ended up introducing ourselves, but "Guy" will go nameless on the off chance that he wasn't supposed to do what he did and I don't want to get him in trouble, because he was so nice.  But anyway, thought I'd share these two pictures with you on the off chance you might be interested or curious.  Oh, the distillery actually makes and sells whiskey now.  "Guy" and I had a lively discussion about whiskey (which we both enjoy) and I recommended to him my favorite 'varietal' which is Jameson's Red Breast - yum! (sadly I haven't been able to find it available in the US).  But, I digress . . .   Hope you enjoyed!

First Finish of 2011

Just finished her up this morning - what do you think of Spirit of America?

If you go HERE (the designer's website) you can see that she was originally designed to have wings.  Since the wings were stitched out of a quilt pattern (and since I had made a quilt out of the wings of the Spirit of Christmas Stitching), I decided that I wanted to make a quilt in the background of "America".  It appeals to me more.  Don't think it would take forever to stitch either.  In comparison to the figure, the background was a breeze.  Well, it would be if stitching from a chart.  It was slow going getting the pattern set, but once I figured out that the shell pink was the main pattern guide and got them all stitched, the rest fell together in about three days.

Creating that quilt from the little bit of information provided on the chart for the wings though, was a challenge.  Don't be fooled - there are several mistakes.

Some observations:  This chart called for Kreinik metallics.  I had the 3202 Catseye called for, but not the red or blue.  Was at Michael's and saw that they were carrying the DMC metallics and just so happened to have a bright red and cobalt blue.  Decided to substitute them for the Kreinik.  Colorwise, this worked out well; I don't think that you could even begin to tell that I used a substitution.  However, the DMC metallics were quite brittle and not easy to stitch with.  The Kreiniks were much more substantial and longer lasting as I stitched.  Something else, the chart says if you are going to stitch on fabric, you should use #4 braid, not the #8 braid that is used when stitching on the perforated paper.  Well, I went cheap again; I wasn't going to buy the thread in two different sizes.   The fabric I used was a 28 count.  The #8 braid passed through the holes easily.  But, I could see that if I were going to use a longer piece, there would be wear on the fiber where it rubbed on the eye of the needle.  I simply switched up to a bigger-eyed needle that would still pass through my linen without leaving a gaping hole in its path.  This seemed to work.  I would not stitch with the #8 on a 32 count linen.

I also used seed beads that I had at home instead of going out and getting the Mill Hill beads.  If you look at the bottom you can see that the seed beads I had were not uniform in size and so don't look perfect.  They work for me, but others might be disappointed.  To those I'd say, go buy the Mill Hill beads.  Now "America" will be added to my list of items that have to be finished or framed.  Going to Michael's this afternoon with my discount coupons; maybe one of these things will be "finished" soon!  Hope you enjoyed.