Friday, December 07, 2018
too fussy. too neat
Things are too tidy. I need to loosen up. I'm thinking there might be text. Something raucous, bawdy. Sprawly.
And today, this happened. We have been without a decent TV for some time. Set this one up right in front of the fireplace that never gets used.
I really, really want to see Bruce Springsteen on Netflix next week. For now, this video of a Yule log will warm us.
Monday, December 03, 2018
actual stitching!
It's nice to fool with my own Dirty Thread. As you can see, I've kept some of the tastier ones for myself.
This one seems a perfect fit for this project. But what did I say about going slow? After the first length was used up, I got hasty and tried to use all six ply + two strands of bright blue rayon (wayward shit on a good day). Snag city, each stitch a pain in the ass.
So back to splitting the six and doubling each half, adding in whatever silly business I can cram through the needle's eye as the mood moves me.
and don't forget a slash of Thread Magic. Strange and wonderful stuff.
This one seems a perfect fit for this project. But what did I say about going slow? After the first length was used up, I got hasty and tried to use all six ply + two strands of bright blue rayon (wayward shit on a good day). Snag city, each stitch a pain in the ass.
So back to splitting the six and doubling each half, adding in whatever silly business I can cram through the needle's eye as the mood moves me.
and don't forget a slash of Thread Magic. Strange and wonderful stuff.
Sunday, December 02, 2018
Better
I turned off that part of the brain that plans, plots, nags, and worries. Took my medicine and stayed in bed. Mostly. The cold realized that I was an inhospitable host, packed his shit and left.
while I was laying around trying to ignore the cobwebs hanging everywhere, I pulled some cloth and thread from the river basket.
After a few false starts, I think I have something that speaks to me. Time will tell.
It's been a long time since I've built thread. Slowly is it the key. It didn't show up in this picture but there's a gold metallic in the mix to keep me in line.
while I was laying around trying to ignore the cobwebs hanging everywhere, I pulled some cloth and thread from the river basket.
After a few false starts, I think I have something that speaks to me. Time will tell.
It's been a long time since I've built thread. Slowly is it the key. It didn't show up in this picture but there's a gold metallic in the mix to keep me in line.
Saturday, December 01, 2018
Cold comfort
In bed with a cold. Just examining things.
What sucks about working from home is, if you can't drag yourself to the chair and log in to the system, you should be in the hospital.
I'm not thatsick . It's only a cold, so come 3:30, I'll take another round of Alka Seltzer for colds and be in that cottony place for a few hours.
Right now, feeling the comfort of the familiar. Cloth, thread, and Meet Joe Black on TV.
What sucks about working from home is, if you can't drag yourself to the chair and log in to the system, you should be in the hospital.
I'm not thatsick . It's only a cold, so come 3:30, I'll take another round of Alka Seltzer for colds and be in that cottony place for a few hours.
Right now, feeling the comfort of the familiar. Cloth, thread, and Meet Joe Black on TV.
Wednesday, November 28, 2018
the box fort
I think his Dad just blew Christmas out of the water with this one. When I got there this morning at 6:30, he was inside working on the walls with crayon. Happily, he did not sleep there.
Monday, November 26, 2018
turning
It never fails.
I always opt for the easy way out.
The cloth.
I'm supposed to be doing a lot of other things.
Friday, November 23, 2018
black friday
Nope. Can't go there. Haven't in years, but I have shopped online when there was something artisan made that can't be found elsewhere.
Any Dirty Threads or Fat Baggies ordered by Sunday will get shipped Monday morning.
I honestly wish there was a living in make blog banners!
Any Dirty Threads or Fat Baggies ordered by Sunday will get shipped Monday morning.
I honestly wish there was a living in make blog banners!
Thanksgiving...
...was very quiet and low key this year. Colin and I both had to work so we had to pass on an invitation to join the family at the mountain house. Since there was no school this week, Charlie and I were partners in crime for two whole days and a sleepover. It was sunny out so we spent a good time in the park working off some junk food.
He was great company. Taking care of a four-year-old requires that you stay the hell out of your own head; good for me this melancholy time of the year.
I got a turkey meal cooked after he went home and we'll eat off that sucker until the weekend. Maybe.
After I got all the dishes done this morning, there was time to make that pie which turned out dangerously delicious.
Since it was just me eating in front of the TV, I forgot the Tablecloth.
Forever ago, when I was cleaning houses for people, a lady gave me this kit. A huge linen tablecloth, printed with this design of flowers, leaves, and butterflies. And, a ton of ecru embroidery thread which I promptly threw out. Oh well. The x's were well entrenched by then so they stayed.
There were some instructions. Threw those out too. I think I was hoping the blue stamped design would wash out. It didn't so I dipped into my own embroidery threads and just went wild. After some time I discovered that those tiny x's were places that I was supposed to have snipped out. This was a cut-work kit from Macy's, circa the late 50s.
And, of course, my own personal touches were added as life moved us along.
He was great company. Taking care of a four-year-old requires that you stay the hell out of your own head; good for me this melancholy time of the year.
I got a turkey meal cooked after he went home and we'll eat off that sucker until the weekend. Maybe.
After I got all the dishes done this morning, there was time to make that pie which turned out dangerously delicious.
Since it was just me eating in front of the TV, I forgot the Tablecloth.
Forever ago, when I was cleaning houses for people, a lady gave me this kit. A huge linen tablecloth, printed with this design of flowers, leaves, and butterflies. And, a ton of ecru embroidery thread which I promptly threw out. Oh well. The x's were well entrenched by then so they stayed.
There were some instructions. Threw those out too. I think I was hoping the blue stamped design would wash out. It didn't so I dipped into my own embroidery threads and just went wild. After some time I discovered that those tiny x's were places that I was supposed to have snipped out. This was a cut-work kit from Macy's, circa the late 50s.
And, of course, my own personal touches were added as life moved us along.
Thursday, November 15, 2018
Picked the last of these today. We are going to have a freeze tonight.
I keep looking around this house, this life and wondering what I'd grab if I had to go with just a moment's notice. It's a terrifying prospect that so many are contending with.
These are inescapably sad days, this piece of November. The days when we sat by Jimmy's bedside and he slipped away from us a little at a time. Five years, five minutes. My heart can't tell the difference.
It's good that my day-to-day is consumed, starting at 5 in the morning. Getting Charlie off to school is most often the high point. He's such a piece of wonderful work that I'm grateful for. From there I go to the library for a few hours of concentrated writing. More about that here.
I still pick up the cloth from time to time. Turn it this way and that. Dream about what goes where, but the "why" of it eludes me. I took a load of scraps made cloth and from the cloth a very serviceable gown. mumu. schmata. You'll call it different things depending. A floor length garment that you probably shouldn't wear in public. No pictures. Pure comfort.
My back seat driver:
and me, half asleep in the car, waiting for the library to open.
I keep looking around this house, this life and wondering what I'd grab if I had to go with just a moment's notice. It's a terrifying prospect that so many are contending with.
These are inescapably sad days, this piece of November. The days when we sat by Jimmy's bedside and he slipped away from us a little at a time. Five years, five minutes. My heart can't tell the difference.
It's good that my day-to-day is consumed, starting at 5 in the morning. Getting Charlie off to school is most often the high point. He's such a piece of wonderful work that I'm grateful for. From there I go to the library for a few hours of concentrated writing. More about that here.
I still pick up the cloth from time to time. Turn it this way and that. Dream about what goes where, but the "why" of it eludes me. I took a load of scraps made cloth and from the cloth a very serviceable gown. mumu. schmata. You'll call it different things depending. A floor length garment that you probably shouldn't wear in public. No pictures. Pure comfort.
My back seat driver:
and me, half asleep in the car, waiting for the library to open.
Friday, November 09, 2018
Update !!Grace & waiting
Grace & Tribe are safe. Checking in at the Gridley Fairgrounds!
And here in Georgia, we continue to wait to see if the GOP is going to steal the election. There has been so much blatant voter suppression, it ultimately has to be considered criminal.
I feel like time is grinding to a halt and we jump from one indecency, one horrendous act of depravity or stupidity, to the next, with no time between to reflect or resolve anything.
This venerable purslane awaits its end as the temps begin to fall. I just don't have a container large enough for it and research says that if they overwinter inside, they won't bloom again. Sweet short lives. I have lots of seeds from this one and will start it again in the spring.
And here in Georgia, we continue to wait to see if the GOP is going to steal the election. There has been so much blatant voter suppression, it ultimately has to be considered criminal.
I feel like time is grinding to a halt and we jump from one indecency, one horrendous act of depravity or stupidity, to the next, with no time between to reflect or resolve anything.
This venerable purslane awaits its end as the temps begin to fall. I just don't have a container large enough for it and research says that if they overwinter inside, they won't bloom again. Sweet short lives. I have lots of seeds from this one and will start it again in the spring.
Thursday, November 08, 2018
self care
Be good to yourself first so you'll have enough gas left to give others a lift.
Or something like that.
From now through the end of this year - these difficult, contentious times - all Fat Baggies will include one, randomly chosen 10yd. skein of Dirty Thread.
email me if you have any questions. these are the fabrics I'm picking from right now.
and no, you can't have my scissors. :)
Monday, November 05, 2018
traditions
Charlie and Maddie. Best buds. The kids in Pre-K got a lot of mileage and candy out of Halloween this year. Costume day at school all day Friday, party after that evening, then, the real, door to door old-fashioned trick-or-treating on Halloween.
Me? Another year hiding in upstairs in the master with all the lights out.
We've taken up a new tradition. Keeping in touch with those who have passed. The crepe myrtle grove up near my mailbox is where Karma, Voodoo, and Orion are buried. The trees have not been pruned in many years, but come January, I'm going to cut back the lower branches to make headroom. Want to move the lawn chairs up there, maybe get a bigger bird bath, some bug candles or a small firepit. I found out that if you are burning stuff in the yard and someone calls the cops, they are fine with it if you have some sticks and marshmallows or hotdogs. It's a nice place to hang out and see the neighborhood.
Sunday, November 04, 2018
giving comfort
My brother's new addition enjoying one of my first quilts, c. 2001. Made during my graveyard shifts at AT&T.
Conference tables made great workspaces.
I had a thing for gaudy commercial cotton prints.
see below.
This post from April, 2005!
4.27.2005
the Run for the Border
...the North Carolina border, that is.Today Jan Thompson and I made our annual pilgrimage to MaryJo's in Gastonia, NC like a team of Sumo wrestlers descending upon the local Chinese buffet! Disturbed to find that MJs no longer provided grocery store style shopping carts to it's patrons, we shanghaied an empty one from one of the folks reshelving the bolts we were pillaging wildly. Jan's Corvette made the ride a joy and the envy of every trucker through three states and I think she only broke a few laws. Something about low-flying aircraft maybe...This is Estelle, our ever-patient cutting Wizardess at MJ's - "ALWAYS worth the ride!" should be their motto. See the luscious batiks over Estelle's right shoulder. They are even tastier tucked into my stash but they will have to wait until I get back from a dash up to NY. The plane leaves at 6:30 tomorrow and I am not yet packed. Back next week with new stuff in the works and NY adventures to report.
FLASH! MARYJO'S HAS A "HELP WANTED" SIGN POSTED IN THE WINDOW!I had to stop and consider the ramifications of a 6 hour daily commute.
FLASH! MARYJO'S HAS A "HELP WANTED" SIGN POSTED IN THE WINDOW!I had to stop and consider the ramifications of a 6 hour daily commute.
Friday, November 02, 2018
Thursday, November 01, 2018
Outside in
Not waiting for a surprise cold snap. Mr. & Mrs. Wilson, the swedish ivys were totally out of control. Bits of them have taken hold in the outside window boxes and can't be brought in. They look burly enough to stand a mild winter, but the cactus and tropicals come in.
There's another geranium and a huge purslane still outside that I need to find pots for soon. Of course, I picked a gray tree frog off the carpet the next morning. He was dry and covered with dust fuzz so I washed him and put him outside so he could go about his business of hibernating, or whatever it is that they do. I'm sure I'll find a lizard or two soon. They can stay in. I have spiders galore.
That's Louie, the Diff. A wedding gift from our friend Donald in 1977. Life persists if you give it half a chance.
There's another geranium and a huge purslane still outside that I need to find pots for soon. Of course, I picked a gray tree frog off the carpet the next morning. He was dry and covered with dust fuzz so I washed him and put him outside so he could go about his business of hibernating, or whatever it is that they do. I'm sure I'll find a lizard or two soon. They can stay in. I have spiders galore.
That's Louie, the Diff. A wedding gift from our friend Donald in 1977. Life persists if you give it half a chance.
Wednesday, October 31, 2018
Read something good!
A good friend and crit partner has her debut novel out and
If you're on Kobo (or know someone who is) and you'd like a copy of Free Falling, here's the link. Grab it while the promo is still live
: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/free-falling-15
Sunday, October 28, 2018
taking a cloth breath
. |
I actually ironed some of this before I got started. I find that huck and linen have to be whacked back into 2D before you can compose.
At least my "THAT SUCKS" radar is still working.
I already see the big problem, lack of contrast. Fixing that with stitch never works.
Back to the drawing board, a little at a time. I won't even ask myself why.
It feels good. The section on the right, with the blue background, has promise on its own.
This section of the design wall is just to the left of where I sit for the day job. If the clients are quiet tonight, I may make some progress with this, but I'm going to give it time before I thread a needle.
I already see the big problem, lack of contrast. Fixing that with stitch never works.
Back to the drawing board, a little at a time. I won't even ask myself why.
It feels good. The section on the right, with the blue background, has promise on its own.
This section of the design wall is just to the left of where I sit for the day job. If the clients are quiet tonight, I may make some progress with this, but I'm going to give it time before I thread a needle.
Friday, October 26, 2018
back to winter in GA
This is how it goes in Georgia. One or two sunny, brisk days to call Fall, then the cold and damp sets in and this is pretty much what to expect from winter with the odd freeze here and there.
It was darker than this when I dropped Captain America off at Pre-K this
morning. The teacher who met us at the door was Minnie Mouse in polka dot long johns.
And yesterday, we got a jump on the mobs.
It was darker than this when I dropped Captain America off at Pre-K this
morning. The teacher who met us at the door was Minnie Mouse in polka dot long johns.
And yesterday, we got a jump on the mobs.
Friday, October 19, 2018
Wednesday, October 17, 2018
Shopkeeping
The bottomless basket has been replenished.
After picking a few choice pieces for my own (now manageable) hoard, I ripped and cut my way through the stacks of cloth that have been piling up as the summer's dye days have come and gone. Lots of color textures that are new!
There are linens, broadcloth, sheeting, flannel, lawn, huck, gauze, poplin, and some weird stuff I have no name for, only that since it took the dye, it must be mostly natural cloth.
If the day job gets quiet tonight, I'll be packing up a bunch of fat baggies for the shop. I'll be going out of town on Saturday, so last ship day this week will be Friday.
These pictures are all the same basket, I just reached in and churned it a bit. Tasty all the way down.
Saturday, October 13, 2018
Thursday, October 11, 2018
post Michael
Taken from the parking lot early this morning at La Madelaine. I was trying to decide if I needed a nap or a cup of coffee. Their coffee is really good.
All Michael brought us was an all-night rain. If there were any breezes, I slept right through them. I'm sorry for the devastation on the gulf coast. I had planned on a camping beach vacation there this week but changed my plans. I would have been in the thick of it had I gone.
The rest of this day unfolded beautifully, bright blue skies, fat scudding clouds. My house is opened up to the fresh air for the first time in weeks.
Thanks for everyone's concern. We were unscathed.
All Michael brought us was an all-night rain. If there were any breezes, I slept right through them. I'm sorry for the devastation on the gulf coast. I had planned on a camping beach vacation there this week but changed my plans. I would have been in the thick of it had I gone.
The rest of this day unfolded beautifully, bright blue skies, fat scudding clouds. My house is opened up to the fresh air for the first time in weeks.
Thanks for everyone's concern. We were unscathed.
Wednesday, October 10, 2018
Waiting for Michael
pocket repair on the dixie mink |
I fell asleep in the car waiting for the coffee place to open. I was so cozy. I wished that I had some stitching. Will have to make a car kit for if and when the mood strikes. Mending will be enough.
After coffee and writing down the bones of a new short story, I found a new, used bookstore that also sells used Lego by the ounce!
Meanwhile, Charlie weathered the early storm and a pre-K Wednesday. I own him another dollar and thank him for another morning out of the house.
Tuesday, October 09, 2018
Freaky Monday
Nana by Charlie |
We had a long day together yesterday. School holiday for something or other. I am now being corrected if I botch a lyric from "Yellow Submarine"
A grand time was had by all.
Today I joined the mobs on catch-up day at the post office and got everything shipped out ahead of Hurricane Michael, so if you are expecting a package from me, stand by!
It looks like we might take a hit this time. Too early to tell.
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