Gretchen

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I'm very happy to report that my sister Gretchen is blogging again. I know some of you have followed her writing for years and this is her latest incarnation. I'm happy because her writing is too good not to share with us. This latest site only has a few entries up so far but I think you'll enjoy reading about her going nuts over pie.

(Gretchen - Steve loved the slice of key lime. Best he's ever had, he said.)

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Kaziah Hancock

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Seriously, get your hanky ready before you watch this story about Kaziah Hancock. Now I'm off to make a donation to her Project Compassion. They don't offer online donations but for this, I'll break out the old school checkbook.
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Green Stitching

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I have one more incarnation of the red frog I'm working on now, then it might be time to give up. I'm having trouble making it "special". Above is adding the 4th ring of stitching that I mentioned yesterday. (It's just sitting on a black background to be scanned, I didn't make it into a finished piece yet.) I didn't even try the red frog on this because with this much stitching, it's probably more labor-intensive that the price I charge warrants, for Sticky Notes that is. This would make a nice center piece to a framed piece. I think people would like the stitching and wonder why I stuck a stupid frog on it and ruined the stitching. The stitched Sticky Notes are by far my best seller. So I think I need to concentrate on those and the frog thing will work itself out some day.

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Red Frog Sticky Notes

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This one is better that the previous one - and I get to do the 3 layers of stitching that I love. I think I'll try one more - and stitch the very center too. Right now it looks like the frog is falling through time - like the opening of that old show Time Tunnel. Remember that? Steve and I actually watched a couple of those episodes on DVD from Netflix. Some of the old shows hold up (we've just finished watching every Riptide available. Time Tunnel? Waaaay too cheesy for me. I think Steve will watch more of them but I've had my fill, for sure.

(My theory why Riptide works, for me anyway, is that "the guys" are exceedingly nice to each other, though with a teasing sense of humor. The bonus is no matter how violent (lots of explosions and gunfire), nearly all characters survive with nary a scratch. It's to the point of being ridiculous but that kind of ridiculousness, I can live with.)

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Tree Frog Sticky Notes

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I like it. I don't love it. I think I need to change the thread color and maybe the color of the pointy circle. I love that stitched pattern though. There's actually a third, inside ring that looks nice too but with the frog, I think the 2 rings of stitching looks right.

So close but no cigar.

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Gecko Sticky Notes

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I have been struggling with this gecko punch for about a week now. I tried a few different things, nothing worked. One was kinda close so I took it to work to show Jen to see what fresh eyes could see. We were both kind of stumped - though she gave me the idea that the gecko needed to be patterned in some way because otherwise it was too plain. I ended up scrapping that one too. Finally - this is it! I love this! I stamped the copper paper with a black spatter pattern, punched the gecko, then embossed it with my QuicKutz tool. I actually meant to emboss the not-stamped side but it turned out to be a happy mistake. It looks like a piece of metal, doesn't it?

On to the tree frog.

I've been very productive - got lots of stitching done this past week. I even sat on the deck yesterday for a couple of hours, listening to craft-related podcasts on my iPod shuffle, stitching away. It was heaven. But I'm still beginning to panic that I won't have enough accomplished by the August 11 Village Webster Days show. I think I will, but I always worry. Luckily I have a big break between then and the next show in October to gear up for the fall/holiday shows.

The good news is I'm taking off the Thursday & Friday after July 4th for a nice 5-day weekend. Then I go back to work for a week, then I possibly have jury duty the following week. I have a high-ish number but still think I'll be called. I was chosen once before but the case was settled the morning we were to begin. It's a very interesting, well-organized process but I was a little disappointed our case was settled. It was a traffic accident. A man at work recently served on a rape case. Not good.

Anyway, if I end up getting called in for that, I'll get some reading done during the down time. So there's that. And I'm extremely relieved that I didn't get called for grand jury duty. I know 3 people who have gone through that process - month long service is very disruptive one's life and work.

I had breakfast with a very good friend Saturday morning, Nancy, who made me so happy I almost burst into tears when I saw her. It's very cool because even though we rarely see each other, we both consider each other a really good friend. We've vowed to try harder to get together a couple of times a year at least. We ate at Cole & Parks, sat outside and I actually got sunburned. Such a good time.

Steve and I went to see Ocean's Thirteen last night. Anything that is set in Vegas and we're all over it, nudging each other when familiar stuff comes up. These Ocean's movies are all good though - smart, funny and remarkably non-violent. And let me just say this: Brad Pitt is one gorgeous human being.

And tomorrow is Monday. Yech.

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Dad's Garden

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Mom and Dad had this delightful scene carved out of a tree in their yard. (Mom or Dad, can you supply the artist's name in the comments? I tried to Google it but there are so many! I'd like to link to him if he has a site.) Dad got a digital camera recently so he took these pictures. (Dad - could you take pictures of the other side sometime?)

Here's a bench Dad made. So the plants have a place to rest.

They live on a corner lot so their garden gets lots of attention from passersby. Sometimes Dad puts plants out by the curb that he's thinned out - and they are taken quickly! Or he tells me about women who admonish him for working outside when it's so hot. Those pines (and the one the carving was done from) were our live Christmas trees when Gretchen and I were teenagers, which means they have been growing there for, gulp, 35 years. Cripes. How did that happen?

More to come I'm sure as Dad continues to play with his new camera!
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Circles

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I was so darn pleased with myself yesterday morning. I was finally in high production mode. I picked out a bunch of papers to use for the same embroidery pattern, all in different colors. I cut out 3 circles per cardstock sheet. I tested the first one - perfect! It was only after I was done that I noticed the last one was considerably smaller than the first. Apparently my circle cutter adjusts itself smaller, just by a skosh, with repeated use. I'd never cut that many circles all in a row before. Lesson learned: check size frequently. Most of these are still usable for this pattern and I can use the others for smaller patterns so nothing has been wasted. Just a few drops on my otherwise happy productive parade.

In spite of this new self-adjusting revelation, my circle cutter is definitely one tool I can't live without. I was looking online for a picture of it to post here but I can't find one. Who manufactures a tool and doesn't put their name on it?? Maybe they knew it self-adjusted and didn't want to take credit for it. Hey, that makes it a limited edition, a collector's item!

I know I could have cleaned up or hidden the background of that photo but I wanted you to see how perpetually messy my workspace is. For a self-proclaimed neat person, I don't know how I stand it, but I do. Feels good to clean it up every once in a while too.

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Creamy Dahlia

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Alyson Stanfield recently wrote about titling one's art. That is something I've wanted to do but have really struggled with - my brain just isn't wired that way. I know I've said this before but I can't recommend Alyson enough. As soon as I get an adequate income flow from Pine Tree Designs I'm going to join her Inner Circle. (I know you check your stats carefully, so hello Alyson!)

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Brown Dots

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This is my favorite border to use. This is the first time I've placed dots in the center of the swirls. I like that too - it's a good way to bring color to the outside element.

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Copper

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Ocean Blue

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Let's Bead

.Excuse me?? Why did someone not tell me about the new bead store in town, Let's Bead! Until Mom told me a couple of weeks ago, that is. For the local readers, it's in the Piano Works in East Rochester. It's the store I've been wishing existed, which apparently it has, since March.

(Pam, we have to arrange our next breakfast outing near there. You'll salivate as much as I did, I just know it.)

That's all I bought today, pictured above, but I told them they haven't seen the last of me. A fellow craft show vendor, Debbie Coller works there so she gave me the grand tour, introducing me as a paper artist. Love that. Anyway, once I figure out what I need, I'll definitely go back. I'll even take projects there to match colors. I can't wait.

They have a stunning array of beads that I can use as a focal point for my mandalas, like that red cinnabar bead in the picture. Then, there is a wall of tiny tubes of seed beads that made me want to reach for a spoon and gobble them all up, so delicious they look. I swear, if I had a wall of beads in my studio, to compliment my wall of paper, I'd never leave the studio. That's my version of heaven. Better than chocolate. Dark chocolate even. I'm serious!

I have no idea what I'm going to do with those copper hand beads but since I use copper in my pieces a lot and quite often feature hands, I couldn't resist. In some cases, I'll have to raise the prices of the pieces where I use some of these things, but just a few bucks.

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In my rounds this morning, I also went to a rummage sale, I think they are calling it, at a church on South Winton. Our Realtor mailed me a flyer a few weeks ago, not sure if I'd be interested in it but wanted to let me know about it at her church. People set up booths or tables and sell their "treasures" for just a few hours Saturday and Sunday too, I think. The fee is very reasonable, $15, I think, but I didn't think it was probably the right venue for me because it would probably be flea market stuff. Or perhaps, my artsy stuff would be a breath of fresh air amongst the mundane.

So I went to check it out this morning. I had low expectations, which turned out to be way too high. I didn't even get out of the car. I'm sure a few church members cleaned out their basements and made a few bucks to boot. And I really appreciate Jane thinking of me. But I'll pass.

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I also dropped by Valentown Museum to see how the gift shop was doing. I had not been there since I dropped off my Sticky Notes before they opened. There's an open house today but I think it hadn't started yet. But I had a chance to look around the shop and visit with Diane, the manager. There's some neat stuff there. I think she's done a great job with a small budget and little space. She said she'd sold about 3 of my Sticky Notes. These things are always slow to get off the ground.

I came home the back roads and next thing you know my car was in the parking lot at Chase Farms. What's a girl to do but buy fresh picked strawberries? And a package of shortcake biscuits to go with them. Better make that 2 quarts or there won't be enough for the shortcakes, especially if Simon gets a hold of them. I'd be curious as what a quart of strawberries costs in other parts of the country. I paid $4.50/quart today. Someone had told me that what she saw them for in the grocery store, so I was sort of prepared for the sticker shock. These quart baskets are piled high and the strawberries are always mouth-watering. Still, I remember, back in the day . . .

Hands & Feet

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Here's a custom mandala I made recently for Stephanie for her reflexologist - this one's got feet as well as hands! It's 8" square, made with cardstock, copper thread and Swarovski crystals.
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Copper Hearts

.A good-bye card for a friend at work.

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Sometimes More is More

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5-1/2" square card, made with cardstock, variegated thread and purple Swarovski crystals.

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100% Perfect Weather

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Today was in the mid-70s and sunny as all get out. I did a little grocery shopping first thing this morning. Then we ate breakfast on the deck. We were sitting around talking afterwards and Reggi started barking. I figured it was just someone running or biking by the house but her barking intensified. I was just getting up to investigate when my cell phone rang. It was a Freecycler who had said she'd come over Saturday to divide some of my hostas. She was afraid of Reggi, which is understandable if you don't know her, but laughable to us since she's just a lovable lumpy beagle in our minds. So I went out front to greet her and call off the hound.

I sure do love Freecycle. This is the 2nd Freecycler that's taken some hostas. As Dad will tell you, they have been badly in need of thinning, for a couple of years. The couple that came a few weeks ago were sent over by Gretchen after they took a bunch of stuff from her yard. He dug up a few, whole plants, every other one from the row that borders the sidewalk. So I had the woman today, take half of whichever plants she wanted. I still have a little bit to do, but I love these Freecyclers doing my dirty work for me. And they're so grateful! If only I could get a few of them to come over and take a couple wheelbarrows of weeds away.

Then Steve I replaced our poor mailbox that had been crippled by the snowplow this past winter. It's one of those Rubbermaid ones, with the newspaper tube. The box got knocked off by the plow but we could sorta kinda put it back on well enough to work. Again and again - but we managed to get through the winter season. Something happened recently though, I don't know what, but the tears in the base got worse and the whole thing began to lean. It looked forlorn and pathetic. So we replaced it with a new one, same kind, but green instead of beige. Luckily the wooden post has always remained firmly planted.

This is where I'm sitting now, after dinner. I had to put long pants on and a sweatshirt because the sun is starting to get lower in the sky on the other side of the house. Verona is in that black case on the table. Even sitting right in front of me like that, I can't see her very well through the black mesh unless her eyes are open. Why I bought a solid black case for a solid black cat, I don't know. Both cats love to come outside with us in their respective carrying cases. I should say Venus used to love it - we've yet to lure her outside this year. She and Verona have a love/hate relationship. Well, it's really a tolerate/hate relationship. Pam, that's the Irish Mocha candle you gave me - love it! After I'm done with this entry, I'll work on Electric Quilt lessons again. I'm hot to design some new embroidery patterns.

Gas Prices

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Ikea & Tivo

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If I could make a living floating around the Internet, I swear I'd work 24/7.

Yesterday's lunch hour found me checking in on some of my regular artist blogs, like Claudine Hellmuth. I'd heard her name for years, then starting seeing her on craft shows and checked out her blog. I pop in now and again.

Her blog was featured on Decor8 so I poked around there for a while, barely scratching the surface. One thing leads to another.

Gretchen turned Mom and me onto Ikea a few years ago. We've made a couple of trips to the closest one, in Canada. I actually talked Steve into going to one while we were on vacation in lovely Newark, NJ one year. There were rumors a couple of years ago of an Ikea being built in the Rochester area but no sign of it yet. Probably just as well.

Ikea Hacker, a site where people post their repurposed Ikea products. So it's DIY and Ikea all rolled into one. Hot damn, I say.

In other news, we hooked up our family room Tivo to our computer network a week or so ago. I used some of our Tivo referral points to buy a wireless adapter for my studio Tivo. Now they can recognize each other, which was one of my main goals. (The other is to eventually get rid of our land line altogether.) The reason it's so cool that they recognize each other is that last night, while Steve was working late, I was able to eat dinner in the comfort of the family room, watching a show I'd recorded on my studio Tivo! I don't mind eating dinner in my studio at all, but it's nice to have options.

Back when I had my gall bladder out, we only had one Tivo, which was in my studio. Sometimes I just really wanted to watch the shows I'd recorded, so I built myself a little nest of quilts so I could lie down on my studio floor to watch them. Hardly ideal. If we'd had 2 Tivos and this hot network set-up, I could have watched my studio recorded shows from the comfort of the family room couch.

Tivo is way cool, if I haven't said that before. Gretchen, Mom and Dad have also joined the Tivo cult. Every time we get together, one way or another Tivo seems to enter the conversation.

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WIP

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A couple of days ago I said I'd have new stuff to show you. The framed piece I was working on, almost done with actually, was put on hold because I wore out the punch I was using for the final border. I considered my options in looking for a replacement locally, but ultimately opted for ordering one from my favorite punch vendor, Scrappily Ever After. I seem to get my orders incredibly fast from them, considering they are in TX. They ship the same day I order, charging actual freight. That punch should be here in a couple of days so I set that project aside.

Meanwhile, I've been stitching these pieces for a set of 6 Flip Flop Sticky Notes for an order. (Hi Kathy!) Aren't they delicious? I'm also doing yellow, teal and blue. I'll post them when they are all done - and add them to the Pine Tree Designs website too. I want to make up a ton of these for the Webster show in August.

I'm also simultaneously working on the stitching part for another mandala for Stephanie. This is one that uses that tiny hand punch I love - plus the new foot punch I bought from the aforementioned Scrappily Ever After. Should be cute - I'll post that one too.

You would be surprised how much stitching I get done in the bits of time I grab during the week. I work two hours every morning before going to the day job, 30 minutes on my lunch hour and usually at least another 30 minutes after dinner. Steve and I eat dinner in front of the TV and I always finish eating first so I immediately start stitching while we finish the show we're watching.

Such fun!

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Simon's Fan Club

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Don't get me started on the girls in Simon's life. Let's just say the words high maintenance come to mind. Simon's high maintenance himself, in a materialistic/physical appearance kind of way, not in a needy, emotional kind of way. After one particular story, I told Simon to tell this one girl to snap out of it, have some dignity and move on. (I hope his friends never Google his name and find this!)

This graffiti on his car windows with window chalk is apparently the retaliation from one girl towards another girl who left a note under his windshield. One-up-womanship, in other words.

The other window says Simon hearts Steph, which creeps me out just a little, except the spelling of our names is COMPLETELY different.

The funniest part was when I told Steve about it he said, "Gee, I hope it doesn't go to his head." To which I replied, "He's so fragile." I always tease Simon that he has very healthy self-esteem, shall we say? He knows he's cocky and obnoxious. I once told him the girls he hangs around with are all so shallow. He said, "Oh the guys are too. We're all shallow." Alrighty then.

The running joke between Steve and me, was wondering just how many days would it take Simon to remove this from his windows. After a myriad of excuses, I finally got in his face about it because I was embarrassed by it, which I know makes no sense at all since I'm not the one driving the car. I was embarrassed for him, in some way, which again is silly because clearly he wasn't embarrassed to drive around like that. Anyway, it was on there for 2 days.

That's my boy.
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Valentown Heritage Festival

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I should have posted this yesterday but I forgot, then got busy. The manager of the gift shoppe for this museum approached me at the Victor show about selling my stuff on consignment here. Their grand opening was yesterday. I took every stitched Sticky Notes I had on hand (82) to the museum on my Friday lunch hour. (How's that for incentive to get a bazillion made in time for the next show in August??) I also took a small acrylic display piece that holds 60 notepads, along with business cards, future shows cards and the little bio sheets I include with purchases. She emailed me Friday night that they set up my display right by the register. Next chance I get, I'll make a bunch of quilty greeting cards to sell there too.

She is very positive and enthusiastic, so here's hoping we all do well here. Judging by this ad, they had quite a bit going on yesterday.

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For years I've been anti-Walmart because of their discrimination and paying practices. I would even say I've been boycotting Walmart but that's really been a non-issue because there isn't one convenient to me anyway. But now they've built a brand new SuperCenter in Macedon, making it the 2nd closest store to us. Steve and I went there last week to pick up one thing. Yesterday we went there for some garden things and grocery shopped. I've been trying to figure out why it's so appealing to me. I'm sure it's because it's a brand new store, very neat and clean with good signage. I sure hope I get this out of my system soon so I can go back to my boycott.

One of the things we bought yesterday was another hose reel. We already have one in the backyard, not in a box like this, but this one is for the deck. We have a Y-splitter thing on the faucet, with one end going to this hose on the deck. It's life-changing, I tell you! I used to water the deck plants with a watering can from the kitchen. We only have 8 pots but they are big pots that take a lot of water. I know I soak them better and more often with this set up. Why it took us 6 years to come to this conclusion I don't know.

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I went to breakfast at Steve's Place, with Pam yesterday to celebrate her birthday. Then I went to our last Geva Theater performance of the season with Lynn and Linda. It was Urinetown, the Musical. It was very good - a big ol' corny over the top musical - lots of fun. We went to Sticky Lips BBQ for dinner. A fine time was had by all.

Sunday is NBPTD. Nothin' but Pine Tree Designs work. So I should have new things to show you tomorrow.
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Karen Thomas

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This week's webisode on Craft TV Weekly has artist Karen Thomas demonstrating iris folding. It's a technique where folded paper is overlapped, sort of like the iris of an eye, for which it's named. I've done it a little bit, love it - and keep meaning to get back to it.

Karen's been on Carol Duvall many times. She's the one who introduced Yasutomo to me, more specifically, Mizuhiki Cord. This is a paper cording that comes in a all kinds of cool colors. It comes stiffened but you can rub it through your hands a few times to break down the starchy stuff if you want to use it like ribbon. I've used it a little - keep meaning to get back to it. (Sound like a familiar theme in my life??)

There's a low-volume Yahoo Group, Fold It, based on her designs. There are challenges and swaps and Karen participates in the group.

Karen is an interesting person - an artist, a mother, a cancer warrior - and recently moved to Arizona, as a result of a divorce, I think. Her blog is here. I've been reading her less than a year and she's a bit cryptic at time, otherwise known as private.

I think she's wonderful.
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Lego Art

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Lego Art found on Flickr.

I stumbled across the link to that Flickr site on Yahoo's front page. Later, I had Flickr search for groups about Legos, just to see. 365 groups.

As if I needed more proof that one could wander around Flickr indefinitely, a fellow Freecycler turned me on to Interesting Photos from the Last 7 Days.

I'm a member of 59 groups as it is! I never have time to visit them all but I want to be able to find them again sometime.

I love Flickr.

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