Petergodijn

Greetings! This week, there hasn't been much stitching, instead I spent my time dyeing (5-7 separate sessions) my cut of linen for BBD Mystery. My, the "Linen Drama" we've had on this one! My desk at the moment. I decided that I liked some of this stiff linen that I ordered by mistake a year ago. Especially once it's been given the good 'ol Tan Rit Treatment. So, I ordered more (tried to order more). It's just some stiff wichelt stuff. Not even an overdye. How hard can it be? Let me just say that this is the 3rd cut I've ordered. And, now finally, though it was just slightly different, I figured I'd be okay with it. But I'm not. This black stitched heart shows some from the first lot which I was trying to replicate. It's got a bit of delicious green undertone which does wonders for the fibers in this chart. This, the product of many dyeings, does not. :( And the colors show markedly drabber on it. This will need a big ponder. Is it too late...

The Tree, as of this morning: It's a wonky tree from a certain retailer serving its 5th year of service; we call it the "Leaning Tower of Tree-za" and swear each year to replace it. I picked the star, but it's fitting as it's a "Capiz Star" and very evocative of the Philippines, so it "represents" Marc. :) Usually I stuff a few of the lights in it so it'll glow. Love this strawberry! (Thanks, Patty!) There may not be enough lights (mine are "frosted white" and "metallic gold", but they still look pretty here. I get these strands of bells from Walgreens, but I don't know that they had them this year. They look great (esp. the "embossed" ones) even though they are plastic! The berry/leaf/bell item in the center was the decoration on a Christmas cake from Mitsuwa . My favorite section of the tree. One of my two wishes (or would it be four?) this Christmas. I hope you all have these 3 wonderful virtues this se...

Hazel has won the draw for the LHN set! Blu (as the only taker) will get 2 and 3! Ladies, if you'll please email me your street addresses (link is in my profile), I'll get these shipped off! Happy Weekend, All! Berit

...and even some presents! :) Friday, November 12th was my 28th birthday--and I even got some presents! I'll show those first. :) It was just NOT one of those Birthdays (Can I just say that my hair has been falling out for the last 3 weeks to the tune of a 20-30% loss?), so I decided to refresh my mood and get myself a cat: Jenny Bean Christmas WiP. :) Now With Cat! This cat is adapted from HE's Stitching Necessaire . It so reminds me of the dragon Toothless from the movie How to Train Your Dragon. Animal (esp. cat) lovers MUST see this movie--that dragon is simply adorable. :) Marc brought home some pink roses. :) On Saturday I got to pick our the restaurant for our friend group's dinner, and I decided upon La Riviera in Clifton 'cause we'd been there once before and it was well-received. Also, I REALLY wanted to try the Ossobuco, which you can see at the top of their dinner menu . It was so good, though really rich! :) They are really a seafood place foremost, ...

A new start! But first~ Here's "Graffiti Jack" He's a gray tabby with the trademark "M" , and possibly my favorite character in Anno Moyocco's Ochibi-san , which I've been reading lately. I could go on for a while about how lovely this little Japanese newspaper strip is (Think along the lines of Winnie the Pooh or Calvin and Hobbs with a highlight on the deep regard of the Japanese of Nature and her Seasons), but that's not today's point. :) Here follows a December entry featuring Jack: For the sake of Translation: Last night's new start! :D "Stitching Necessaire" by Homespun Elegance. Recommended Belle Soie on 28ct. Antique Vintage Ivory. :3 "Dash-Away Jack" (Truly, this is a lovely little painting like so many from this book) "Out-on-a-Jaunt Jack"? Am I the only one who sees a resemblance? :3 I'm off to eat a burger (yumm!) and stitch more on this fun project! Yours Cat-obsessedly, Berit P.S. On a more ...

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...