Petergodijn

Greetings, Stitchers, from Hot, hot, hot Northern New Jersey. How hot is it? Well, only 100. And the humidity's not too bad...I keep reminding myself that it's like this for 3.5 months straight in Tulsa, Oklahoma (my hometown). But, enough of that, to put things in perspective, it's: • 30 degrees Fahrenheit hotter than it's been for the past 10 days. (Well, starting on the 4th it reached that mark.) • So hot that Friend Greg had to shamble over to Friend Tak's place yesterday because his power went out. Nary a cloud in the sky--so I was confused. Tak patiently explained that it's because it's hot and our power grid is old. • So hot that the 2 window units are just barely passing muster--which means the one in the bedroom will frost up (humidity's climbing) soon, freeze over and refuse to work. In conclusion, it's just Too Hot for New Jersey. I'm still amused that the NYC mayor declares a "Heat Wave" and talks of things like free city po...

Instead of letting my perfectionism get the best of my blogging, I'm going to take a page out of Staci's book (yet again!) and in tough-ish times make a nice blog to share some Happy Things. :D (Please don't compare my photography to hers though as it won't show favorably on my part! ;) Happy Thing No. 1: Marc and I have been members of the local YMCA for about four years, and I can't say that we've been regular attendees--I know for certain that that the months in which we darkened their doorstep are fewer than those in which we Stayed Home, but I still wouldn't un-join. It's a great community place with something for everyone. I've been having a great time swimming in "Adult Lap" and also attending 'Water X"-type classes for the last couple of weeks. I love the Montclair YMCA; I call their pools Legion, for they are Many. lol. I remember the YMCAs in Oklahoma were just as nice, if not as "historic" in their housing. Gi...

Well, Everyone, I hope you are all doing well! It seems like so many stitchers I know have one challenge or another going on this Idyllic June--so let's just do what we can and then stitch through it! :) You are in my thoughts and I hope we all have a greater weekend that we were expecting. Today I'm sharing pics of the Summer Exchange I participated in through the Holiday Exchange run by BeckySC. Somehow I was lucky enough to have my name assigned to Christina , who sent me an unbelievably enormous pile of treasure! Christina is a great blogger and talented stitcher who hails from England. Seriously, you all should mosey over and check her out--if nothing else because she has clear, understandable pics of this wonderful exchange! Her blog is a good stop; I love the clever title, "Whilst Iris Naps". Now, "whilst" is a wonderful word, but as an American I simply don't have the panache to carry off using it properly. I'm so glad that I can experience u...

Dear Becky has let me know that the little pyn pillow I sent to her arrived safely (and thankfully she liked it!), so I can now share it here. I took WAY too many pics of it, and I can somehow only narrow it down to eight to post here--maybe you can look through them, pick a favorite, and then pretend that you never saw the others? Thanks. :) Colors pretty accurate here. Shows the little impurity/striation in the (mop?) button at the right next to my signature. Love that brassy antiqued button! A bit of a gleam from its companion--a nice, thick mop button! Or is it no different that the above. Maybe I just love that comforter. I LOVE that yellow duvet cover. So much that it's still out. In June. Some nights it's cold, you know. Right. Down-requiring cold. I used an irregular pattern for attaching the perimeter red mill hills (3 types left over from some Christmas ornament kits). I love how the red looks on this teal/cream bedspread. Too bad I bought it rather than making it! I...

Look at this wonderful package I received from Myra in today's mail! A wonderful pouch and an autumn/Halloween LK pattern! I was so surprised when I opened the pouch and found the pattern tucked in--I thought it was a piece of cardboard included to keep it nice in the shipping! :o The back is so nice; it is really beautifully made, and even lined inside! A close-up of the yellow zipper (!!!) and zipper pull--it's a feather that wonderfully compliments the feathery leaves of the print. :) Myra, thank you so much--I am just beside myself with excitement! I'm thinking carefully on what to store in it--it's so nice that I almost can't bring myself to use it! :D Maybe a new WiP is in order, lol! And now back to cleaning and my new project, which you'll recognize from Staci 's blog, lol! I'm really enjoying putting the 115 Becky gave me to good use! :) With best wishes for your weekend, Yours, Berit

Most stitching lately has been for surprises or exchange, but I have managed some that I can show. Here's a progress pic for PS "When Witches Go Riding": I like it so much with this open circle 'cause it looks like an old "book illumination" (Imagine the circle being filled with an illuminated letter). If I didn't like the top, also, I'd just leave it. I was so tempted that I already put in the black part of the moon, before stopping due to agonizing over where to put my signature/year. Now, for Cake! This is my favorite "Cheater Cake" so named because you're cheating not only on your diet but also by using a box cake. Mix up a yellow box cake (I use Duncan Hines and add a few sloshes of vanilla extract) according to box spec. Then, break up the pieces of a Hershey's semisweet bar and arrange them thus. I poured 25-30% of the batter into the bundt before tiling them down today. I love how the squares are printed with the company log...

Happy Friday, everyone! Without further ado, let's announce the lucky winners of last time's giveaway: House Biscornu Winner: Joan Redbird Sampler Pattern Winner: Patty C. Ladies, I need your street addresses so I can get your prizes mailed out to you. :) I'm sending an email request for it to Patty via the email addy from her profile, but I don't see one on your profile, Joan, so please email it to me at the link in my profile. :D Thanks for playing, everyone! We've had a few bumps in the road this week, too. Most significantly, Dear Marc ate a solid helping of an unfortunate broccoli salad at the salad bar on Saturday from which he gained a robust case of food poisoning that just won't quit! Later in the week, I was a bit under the weather myself, but thankfully it was a more garden-variety ailment of the monthly persuasion, and no cause for alarm. We both seem to be perking up with today's sunshine. It's the first in a while, so maybe I can do some fi...