Getting old ain't for sissies

Last night my oldest friend, Adele, called to tell me her mother, my "Aunt" Jeannine, had died.  Jeannine was my mother's best friend for almost 50 years and she died almost 6 months to day after my mother passed away. For many years now, I've been going home to Illinois twice a year to visit my Mother & Dad.  Always, my Mom and I would meet Aunt Jeannine and her daughter, Adele, in Princeton for a day of lunch, talking and a little shopping.  It was if we had never been apart and  the talking and laughter never stopped.  At the end of the day, there were hugs and kisses all around and plans made for the next visit.  That visit would have been this summer..  But Adele and I are both so mired in grief we've decided to cancel. And when we do get together it won't be the same - the two most important women in our lives are gone. And even though I'm almost 58 years old, I need and miss my Mom.

Fifty Shades

Okay, so I finished the Fifty Shades trilogy.  I have to admit the second and third books were slightly better than the first one.  Still poorly written and the use of British slang and some of her other word choices were terrible.  Beach reads all the way. In the event a movie does get made, I still think Ian Somerhalder is the best choice to play Christian.

I am in the middle of reading one of my favorite series, the Jane Whitefield books by Thomas Perry. The latest is called "Poison Flower".  I need to finish it before I leave for ALA.

Still haven't done much stitching.  I'm taking a project with me to California - I think I can get something done on a 5 hour flight!

Slacker

 Stitching Slacker!

That's me.  I've been a terrible slacker when it comes to stitching.  I've been finding lots of other things to do.  Going to the movies, reading books and watching my taped TV shows.  I'm trying to get through the rest of The Vampire Diaries and I have the entire season of  The Mentalist to watch.  But I keep ordering new cross stitch patterns.  I just received two Long Dog sampler patterns - who knows when I'll start those!

Yesterday.I signed up for two workshops at Bidelia's Beads, a new shop on Mt Nebo.  Like I need something else to do.

Tonight is stitch night and it's the last one I'll be able to get to until the end of July.

Needlework Exhibit

This past weekend I went with three other stitching ladies to Woodlawn Plantation in Alexandria, VA to take in the 49th Needlework Exhibit.  It was SO awesome.  600 pieces of needlework were on view in this gorgeous old house. No photos as cameras aren't allowed.   And of course, In Stitches ( a local needlework shop) was only 1/4 mile down the road. We went there twice!!  Everyone was super helpful and nice.  The shop was a madhouse with all of these women from the needlework show, being inspired by the work they saw buying all kinds of good stuff.

I saw a lot of samplers and decided I would work on one.  I haven't decided what it will be yet but I gave myself a couple of choices.

Samplers and other thoughts on a Friday

I'd like to know why stitching samplers is such a big deal?  There is  no end to the number of sampler charts available for purchase, old samplers sell for millions of dollars, and I belong to a FB group which is exclusively about samplers.  Don't get me wrong, I think they're beautiful and I can certainly appreciate an antique sampler stitched hundreds of years ago by an 8 year old.  Her skills far outshine my own. But I don't have that urge to stitch every sampler I see.  My other question is why do samplers call for 30 - 40 count fabric?  I don't want to stitch on anything over 28 count even weave linen.

I hope someone can answer my questions.  Until then -- it's stitch night at the Panera in the Galleria!  Mary is bringing me my hardanger instruction books  - oh joy!  And tomorrow is a stitch retreat, I am so excited. We have such a good time. I haven't done any stitching all week and I'd like to get a lot more done on the "Leaping Cat."

This question is from my friend, Lake Stitcher: Our Stitching Bloggers Question is all about May Flowers. *What's your favorite floral piece that you've stitched? Do you prefer your flowers as the centerpiece of the design or as an accent?* 


I don't think I've ever stitched a floral piece! Oh yes I did! Several years ago I stitched a whole row of tulips in various colors.  It was an ambitious project for me and I was really happy at the way it turned out.  I'll try to find a picture and post it here. I  have some patterns in my stash which have flowers in them so I'm thinking I should stitch some flowers.  It is spring, after all!

I am very proud of myself for finishing my name tag for EGA - so at the next meeting I will be  wearing it.  I just gave myself a pat on the back. Ha Ha.

Book talking & stitching

So this past Friday night we're stitching away and my friend,CB, says she's reading, "50 Shades of Gray".  and then she says, "I'm sure you've already read it, Denise." And I'm like, "No I haven't". but as soon as I got home that night I downloaded it on to my Nook and I read it all weekend and finsihed Monday late afternoon.  It is not and I repeat, the book is not well written and I think the author should have stuck with fan fiction.  I have no idea how it got published.  and you know what is really sad?  she ends the book making you feel like you NEED to read the second volume.  Ick! So I put it on reserve at my public library. This is the piece I am currently working on.  I guess it counts as a Sampler!!