wip

I find adding hand stitching to a piece already machine stitched to be very challenging. It really is apples and oranges so I'm taking pains with the handwork so it doesn't wander too organic or trixy. I want the lines to get along and compliment one another. no fighting for attention. After three or four false starts (hours to stitch and minutes to pick out) I've come back to the ever faithful split chain but I'm building the thread out of 4 or 5 30 wt. machine threads; rayons, cottons & metallics - so each stitch has to be guided slowly top and bottom or whacko nests ensue instantly. Where is my Thread grease?

perfect weekend

There was great pool time. Seems like I'm seeing more and more leaves on the water and I don't want to dwell on the idea that summer is counting down. Once I got that kid's quilt finished up I felt free to start poking around in the mess, finding some of the fabrics I've been creating and seeing if they have anything to say to me or each other. Looks like a start. I've been falling into a pattern of making order with the grids and rows of dots so I'm going along with that flow. So far this one is all machine stitching but there will be some handwork too as in Gate of Grace. Looks like the rain delay is over, but I'll catch this one from the bedroom. It's been a long and steamy day.

stirrings

Things are stirring in the studio - primarily a large spider who has taken up residence between my chair and the window. I will have to evict him soon. A commissioned first grader's quilt is coming together. Good thing I like her fabric choices as the making of the thing is uninspiring. There are some new beads to contemplate and I've arrived at the comfort zone with my new skill level at the office. Last night I was able to listen to a ballgame (a nilebiter, but we lost ) and do some crocheting between calls. I've been enjoying my own little go bag and so thought I'd make up a few for sale in October. These beads will figure in somewhere with the final design. I keep thinking about how my park critter would work and the moss on Judes roof made me wonder about how one encourages moss to form and what sort of surface would support it and not suffer.

doctor's office doodle & 3D thinking

Sitting in traffic on the way to doctor's office ::a snatch of info from NPR regarding Henry Moore at Atlanta Botanical Gardens::: Inching past Shorty Howell Park in the rain and I'm thinking "they could use some sheltered seating" It's really big. Shelters six strangers and a dozen close friends. Metal would make a good drum circle setting. Fiberglass would make it affordable. and toxic. Sprayed concrete with color mixed in? Those dented marshmellows are seating. My mind wanders and I forget the turn into Whole Foods. The Chinese eggplant will be waiting for me on Saturday. Diagnosis:: left trochanter bursitis & poss lumbar stenosis. treatment - PT. what fun! At HoAnns my coupons don't help. A very small pot of red clay is 17$ Now to research making paper mache with the Craft Whore. I like her approach. Can you imagine? Two kids and I never did paper mache, at least I can't remember it. Speaking of kids, Colin's girlfriend Raquel is a singer/songwriter and tonight at 10PM on MTV one of her songs will be used in a "Real World Cancun" episode!

Love at First Bite

On my first week of a low carbohydrate diet, I would have bet the ranch that a place like this would open it's door about a quarter mile from my house! One of the things we lamented when we moved to GA from NY was the lack of real pizza. Weep no more! I don't know how far you would go for a really first rate pizza but if you live in the vicinity, treat yourself. Look for the wheelbarrow growing fresh herbs out in front. So far we've only tried the pizza and it's the real deal.