tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13995728248871119082023-11-16T07:43:07.077-05:00weasinartBeing an artist the only way I can: one day at a time, one project at a timeAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16820018847768718998noreply@blogger.comBlogger168125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1399572824887111908.post-57354030434451373422015-03-07T19:00:00.000-05:002015-03-07T19:00:56.135-05:00Making Your Own Bliss<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Phew. Life. After two months of recovery and working from home, I went back to campus this week. </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">This coming week, I get to go back to the gym and we have auditions. The week after includes the beginning of rehearsal and another follow-up with my surgeon. Whoa. So I took today to just do things that I love. I spent the majority of the day in the kitchen and the remainder in the sewing room. Bliss. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwdMuGwYGfY4fX1Owa_s3K40F_5TL7wfDI3OpvziMqAaFhcIg8tMDGvGCJPqlPBD38yarvPkI7PqpahMZDf3S2VTJYU1c7T3RQkD8CkZXXc7gYdYXLQKEw-28Yqt6g9B2lpb1oHu9V7_8m/s1600/Perfect+Day+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwdMuGwYGfY4fX1Owa_s3K40F_5TL7wfDI3OpvziMqAaFhcIg8tMDGvGCJPqlPBD38yarvPkI7PqpahMZDf3S2VTJYU1c7T3RQkD8CkZXXc7gYdYXLQKEw-28Yqt6g9B2lpb1oHu9V7_8m/s1600/Perfect+Day+1.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Although I can't chew yet, I can eat baked goods in teensy bites. Plus, I have been watching scads of seasons of The Great British Bake Off. I dare you to watch it and not want to bake everything.</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I found a delectable recipe on Pinterest for </span><a href="http://www.mydailymorsel.com/2014/08/21/salted-chocolate-espresso-brookies/" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;" target="_blank">Salted Chocolate Espresso Brookies from mydailymorsel</a><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">. Seriously, some of the best cookies that I have ever had. I made a batch of baked oatmeal and my very favorite bread: Graham Bread from </span><a href="http://bethhensperger.com/thebreadbible.htm" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;" target="_blank">The Bread Bible by Beth Hensperger</a><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">. Even more bliss.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcVr9e5LFjXwcJz-SqAdV8OcWEGb3ytWhuhag8emRa8RDUIxEDy_CG5jUmevfHAQ-zZP9BKzXajfLCHm8b-eAKB9A8LflIqT9JNaNSeAJbhVoBVE2WkHO8-9jSA58aS8NaryY_Y_iZtrGt/s1600/Perfect+Day+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcVr9e5LFjXwcJz-SqAdV8OcWEGb3ytWhuhag8emRa8RDUIxEDy_CG5jUmevfHAQ-zZP9BKzXajfLCHm8b-eAKB9A8LflIqT9JNaNSeAJbhVoBVE2WkHO8-9jSA58aS8NaryY_Y_iZtrGt/s1600/Perfect+Day+2.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLN21Xp24Wve-2VsQsm-TyU6ai29E4whgGSDKk5xZuf7qjkjmHJMk8lsSnFOVape-S9oP0JExmmV1RG0qtGsQiJGw7eQlwVAp3zcCs1UK2Lzh7XB5jcbT0YcvFge8UXQpTZlqjyyp9vgSw/s1600/03.07+Quilt+5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLN21Xp24Wve-2VsQsm-TyU6ai29E4whgGSDKk5xZuf7qjkjmHJMk8lsSnFOVape-S9oP0JExmmV1RG0qtGsQiJGw7eQlwVAp3zcCs1UK2Lzh7XB5jcbT0YcvFge8UXQpTZlqjyyp9vgSw/s1600/03.07+Quilt+5.jpg" height="320" width="209" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">This afternoon, I got to work on The Big Quilt. I added Wisconsin, Minnesota (isn't the lumberjack fabric from <a href="http://www.joyfulroots.com/" target="_blank">Joyful Roots</a> adorable?), and Kansas. Ramses wanted to help.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPA8olM79wBYcrcXRwkpEXTO3bdBLGfidmrx8n6Qqj0ZSAslw5WakYbAKDaFmBWa7XPWmKvxiYF_7u5xH7GfmvJ_ZrjHFhMa7e0WMPdeA5wP79h8c5oKvw7PSI31wrVkKH_necH3xw435e/s1600/Perfect+Day+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPA8olM79wBYcrcXRwkpEXTO3bdBLGfidmrx8n6Qqj0ZSAslw5WakYbAKDaFmBWa7XPWmKvxiYF_7u5xH7GfmvJ_ZrjHFhMa7e0WMPdeA5wP79h8c5oKvw7PSI31wrVkKH_necH3xw435e/s1600/Perfect+Day+3.jpg" height="320" width="253" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I also made chicken pot pie, many jars of homemade chicken stock, and delicious chicken barley soup. I had graham bread and soup for dinner. Still more bliss.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Time to watch a show about Broadway on PBS, have a cup of tea, and a few of those cookies. </span></div>
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16820018847768718998noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1399572824887111908.post-78034507567044628092015-02-20T18:19:00.000-05:002015-02-20T18:19:00.563-05:00Paper Dolls for Grown-ups AKA Costume Design<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">So, I feel most like myself when I am working on a show. It has been a major part of my life for the last 30 years (yikes!). Multiple sclerosis and my surgery took me out of the musical this year, but we are a scant three weeks away from starting the annual Skakespearean play. I don't know where will be performing next year as the high school auditorium is renovated, but right now it's time to focus on The Tempest. Last weekend, my sweetie and I created the set model and this week has been all about costume design.</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq598iwraWI4aRyRhqRHzAComQK5fON3pGRoTKyeFmuBZE0ZShjsuvmUi_D_wTTqovK8jIbH6exwtvftGSrajxr_D8IJPmf6A7YGMLzFUSxow3UMzIMUwYOdjEP4Rmr7M4vsFEJDvrxoKG/s1600/Costumes+0.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq598iwraWI4aRyRhqRHzAComQK5fON3pGRoTKyeFmuBZE0ZShjsuvmUi_D_wTTqovK8jIbH6exwtvftGSrajxr_D8IJPmf6A7YGMLzFUSxow3UMzIMUwYOdjEP4Rmr7M4vsFEJDvrxoKG/s1600/Costumes+0.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Ariel</span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgICYxxoQTHjw3OVIUY8a9kjr2S2k4rOTlPdttVkt1LxsIs5J9KgZ1a15zJPr7J52fgjQVU3CZMWluN-MKgh6ZL32copym1XrA_Juv5ERuoxRV-kNx7-dCUSDJ_fvDt8ZZ7OAAtbrnrbCpx/s1600/Costumes+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgICYxxoQTHjw3OVIUY8a9kjr2S2k4rOTlPdttVkt1LxsIs5J9KgZ1a15zJPr7J52fgjQVU3CZMWluN-MKgh6ZL32copym1XrA_Juv5ERuoxRV-kNx7-dCUSDJ_fvDt8ZZ7OAAtbrnrbCpx/s1600/Costumes+1.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Prospero, Miranda, Ferdinand, Caliban, Stephano & Trinculo</span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6NjZiSpomwyO52PFjPxm2zvJ1uyWmCWn0lPev6Sur7Dt3sAnzPifjJ5LxC3PW97uh9daRRzsB63qs9cVwOy3fa3XsCPtLch0FGmkbuQEgfHIF-AyL1CsThe4G1bfRfhw1kpKDqBqgxK9P/s1600/Costumes+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6NjZiSpomwyO52PFjPxm2zvJ1uyWmCWn0lPev6Sur7Dt3sAnzPifjJ5LxC3PW97uh9daRRzsB63qs9cVwOy3fa3XsCPtLch0FGmkbuQEgfHIF-AyL1CsThe4G1bfRfhw1kpKDqBqgxK9P/s1600/Costumes+2.jpg" height="160" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Alonso, Antonio, and Sebastian </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">(I also have designs for Gonzalo, Adrian, and Francisco)</span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgal4XZKmbkep6aSDSkKWwQXwX7nEdkA7IRd9KvkjZnY1AZrWCyrGzOkhGWBoLBlBKP0sY9Rlg_1yoJt5ysbV_jytfAmTCmqY8w4RuS9V3OX422jeVJcFU7_iGESKdJRABr4p0ns9WJ0lK8/s1600/Costumes+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgal4XZKmbkep6aSDSkKWwQXwX7nEdkA7IRd9KvkjZnY1AZrWCyrGzOkhGWBoLBlBKP0sY9Rlg_1yoJt5ysbV_jytfAmTCmqY8w4RuS9V3OX422jeVJcFU7_iGESKdJRABr4p0ns9WJ0lK8/s1600/Costumes+3.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Ceres, Juno, Iris, and the Naiads and Dryads</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Like what you see and want to use them for your own shows? Go ahead! Enjoy! Just drop me a line and some photos when they are constructed. Theater should be about sharing :)</span></div>
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16820018847768718998noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1399572824887111908.post-77713165003610806632015-02-16T19:35:00.000-05:002015-02-16T19:35:46.882-05:00Setting the (Tiny) Stage<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">It is the dead of winter in Central New York and the snow is up past my knees, It is tough to put myself into a spring state of mind right now. It is even harder to imagine a semi-tropical island with roaring waves, sandy beaches, and quiet solitude. Okay, the solitude is pretty easy to imagine. I have not been on-campus with my co-workers in two months and while I am getting tons done while I heal and work from home, I am definitely suffering from cabin fever and separation anxiety from being alone most of the time, In that way, I can definitely put my head in Prospero's head space. Sigh.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">This weekend though, my sweetie came to stay with me for the weekend. We made a furniture fort, we played board games, and we began to collaborate on the upcoming production of The Tempest. I have been doing research and pouring out ideas since the early fall, but we worked together yesterday on refining some concepts and we built the set model. Finalizing those details will enable me to move on to the next step in the process: blocking. Eeeek.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimUSZjf3MUttRdhhInJ_ZXZDGM_whOmMTnJ9ww5kSsbB913NkZb44KlM5A7ImXdRwPWMS43zR-H7RdwezdO7PSTaXvDyzrt4VuPYbXsjlxgkwp5cDSM6Kx3C4ILKyfo6IMfTHnPxWU2Ach/s1600/Set1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimUSZjf3MUttRdhhInJ_ZXZDGM_whOmMTnJ9ww5kSsbB913NkZb44KlM5A7ImXdRwPWMS43zR-H7RdwezdO7PSTaXvDyzrt4VuPYbXsjlxgkwp5cDSM6Kx3C4ILKyfo6IMfTHnPxWU2Ach/s1600/Set1.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I have had general ideas but after watching Shakespeare Uncovered last week, we decided that the show would be based on Porto Santo, one of the Mediera Islands. The island is made up of many basalt column rock formations. That sealed it.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEgz0YT2H4w-AkUT6Pm6MYJE8wk0sAF7b_1jhj-HWuz2G648EVVIvZwNPajJlx2-goPgJE_1JntCdwtaX2hLfMdQRFgolimaGLbWgeu_SFq0btpwESp-zj1_vrHv6xU8usAXJ3wokOVTB9/s1600/Set2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEgz0YT2H4w-AkUT6Pm6MYJE8wk0sAF7b_1jhj-HWuz2G648EVVIvZwNPajJlx2-goPgJE_1JntCdwtaX2hLfMdQRFgolimaGLbWgeu_SFq0btpwESp-zj1_vrHv6xU8usAXJ3wokOVTB9/s1600/Set2.jpg" height="400" width="298" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">We had spirited discussion about costumes and how they related to each character to be able to finalize the color scheme. It was a wonderful dialogue and I truly enjoyed the process.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnq00lpuo8KX37Axw2NJmg1C6bSXhCSC2cAZsDc2RY7kIvgP1mZ_06nrWcuWdH9b7INLrcJ50hlrS4Q25bFqiRCHgwpLcYTRh6MR-lEkI1eP1OrCQeLl7BJYBP5l46UVfAtW-gFKycX_FZ/s1600/Set3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnq00lpuo8KX37Axw2NJmg1C6bSXhCSC2cAZsDc2RY7kIvgP1mZ_06nrWcuWdH9b7INLrcJ50hlrS4Q25bFqiRCHgwpLcYTRh6MR-lEkI1eP1OrCQeLl7BJYBP5l46UVfAtW-gFKycX_FZ/s1600/Set3.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">We constructed a 1/2" scale model with foam core, cardboard, muslin, and even some recycling. Above is Act 1, scene 1 on the ship.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7EgtHEJjhqfJ5OV9nR-eXf-_Hu1QWsR4SXA7_NoRgTMUssznKdnnt5STFUT3Nx-T3HaoTVPuc3lOU-_LdHXz2g5gsfFZNjAj4yedkG2EdmWAeTeQAirdtSJR6oMenXuf0AxTou7_YHFx_/s1600/Set4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7EgtHEJjhqfJ5OV9nR-eXf-_Hu1QWsR4SXA7_NoRgTMUssznKdnnt5STFUT3Nx-T3HaoTVPuc3lOU-_LdHXz2g5gsfFZNjAj4yedkG2EdmWAeTeQAirdtSJR6oMenXuf0AxTou7_YHFx_/s1600/Set4.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The main set is a a basalt cave with a practical roof. There will also stream, a basalt pit (for Caliban) and a hollow tree (for Ariel).</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Stay tuned for more news as we begin the actual show next month.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16820018847768718998noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1399572824887111908.post-9956093615088758602015-02-08T15:25:00.001-05:002015-02-08T15:25:51.398-05:00Stitching the Nation: The Big US Quilt<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT05rtTlRnwSXTLZlIiuwyt2Awc4Z-Jxl5SArCLQ2BVdTqmb16DNzgSpbOnd5WZ6x2tHtxD3dWs6Vs7vle70fi3FkwuQjVPwkY1BHkTb1YW82SsPfj5KvJpxaMVy2Vq_eIE1MGa1WELzTi/s1600/Typical+Saturday+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT05rtTlRnwSXTLZlIiuwyt2Awc4Z-Jxl5SArCLQ2BVdTqmb16DNzgSpbOnd5WZ6x2tHtxD3dWs6Vs7vle70fi3FkwuQjVPwkY1BHkTb1YW82SsPfj5KvJpxaMVy2Vq_eIE1MGa1WELzTi/s1600/Typical+Saturday+1.jpg" height="324" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Every day the nation becomes more of a reality. I have caught up with the rest of the 50 States Stitching Cub, so it was time to turn to the map. Each state has been appliqued with the fabric that will be the corresponding quilt block and in some way invokes the motif for that state. Virginia is a funny example: the motif is a Virginia Ham, so the fabric that I choose for the state/block is covered with sausages and meats! Also, did you know that the state craft of South Carolina is basket making? Hence the woven fabric for that state.</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP5BWXNp2Sph7zE_13a62mH979cU-OWD-AF-9U83LQdeKwiYLgVpdWpYtofGCubtxauunOpUrEq1w_FRxGkC5GkKbK1LDqOG-5o5b4OPmZATzwNpfwphtGpA4NlWamcbWPVE0NM_oef8Yz/s1600/Typical+Saturday+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP5BWXNp2Sph7zE_13a62mH979cU-OWD-AF-9U83LQdeKwiYLgVpdWpYtofGCubtxauunOpUrEq1w_FRxGkC5GkKbK1LDqOG-5o5b4OPmZATzwNpfwphtGpA4NlWamcbWPVE0NM_oef8Yz/s1600/Typical+Saturday+2.jpg" height="640" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Saturday was full of tea, stitching, and sleeping kitties. We had a quietly productive day with "How the States Got Their Shapes" playing in the background. Apt, I thought.</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16820018847768718998noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1399572824887111908.post-88962454412688751052015-02-04T17:53:00.002-05:002015-02-04T17:53:59.402-05:00Reaching for the stars: Adventures in Paper Piecing<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">You know how things look lovely on the internet and you think, "Oh, I can surely do that!" Then you actually start the project and realize what a production it truly is. So it goes with me and English Paper Piecing. This is part of The Big US Quilt project,so I can't just say, "It's too complicated so I am not going to do it." Well, I guess that I <i> could </i>but that is not my way. Here I go:</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVeFt5MQ9nmb0h97fM0u1y_ZJDkEa_8iRupx6znNus6l7biUIi_ZV6oUr1S6d6rFoTUod36sOhDn3bFJFLuzmyI5ZjdPc7YNV-4ASeEZlZbL2V4tvZLBfEbo2q8Vz4Gax8ZGtTzBUPeWU2/s1600/Stars1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVeFt5MQ9nmb0h97fM0u1y_ZJDkEa_8iRupx6znNus6l7biUIi_ZV6oUr1S6d6rFoTUod36sOhDn3bFJFLuzmyI5ZjdPc7YNV-4ASeEZlZbL2V4tvZLBfEbo2q8Vz4Gax8ZGtTzBUPeWU2/s1600/Stars1.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">First, I cut out 50 star shapes (I was originally gong to trace them, but decided to use up my printer ink instead). I then snipped off all of the points (Moses helped) so I have 50 pentagons and 250 triangles.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS1yrkSDmW3pAuyyGiqmgiubKHSfVA6PfQa3JCGOWBcYIX2BLsfJIo1akNYn4M77nMSyIWgAYmiwRoj9LdTbf9-HkpY7KUr8Xc9fNffD3uewcBebiAkfzQ8x8GfbTAq7gdEiXQ1zvG4UD7/s1600/Stars2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS1yrkSDmW3pAuyyGiqmgiubKHSfVA6PfQa3JCGOWBcYIX2BLsfJIo1akNYn4M77nMSyIWgAYmiwRoj9LdTbf9-HkpY7KUr8Xc9fNffD3uewcBebiAkfzQ8x8GfbTAq7gdEiXQ1zvG4UD7/s1600/Stars2.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Luckily, Mollie from <a href="http://wildolive.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Wild Olive</a> gave detailed instructions on how to actually make the pieces, so it was just a matter of following each step. The real challenge was the actual size of the pieces...they are tiny! The pentagon is only 1.5 inches across.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"></span><br />
<a name='more'></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPlqdmZOLYxXz55fZziszg3SDTYBrZC2NcGrnV8SyFqKTaFUIBm6ZbjEvV5VbWap1FyIDfg_Qld-cbkCNnxdUe972PNBCuV0Y4p-hYtzxi0mZ65tA6x2qKfZgAd_bczuxrUNkNes6NMTCi/s1600/Stars3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPlqdmZOLYxXz55fZziszg3SDTYBrZC2NcGrnV8SyFqKTaFUIBm6ZbjEvV5VbWap1FyIDfg_Qld-cbkCNnxdUe972PNBCuV0Y4p-hYtzxi0mZ65tA6x2qKfZgAd_bczuxrUNkNes6NMTCi/s1600/Stars3.jpg" height="272" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvJQRFTPHAZwr6NbOVX-l_zqrKYS1YBaAFSRRYsnPhF2SPwXYbpDDzGSYaKbZifUFeelSq3Dhhs9oSZnh1teLGwUymhROXNbEiraO0VDQ4icwu9CR0HQqq_qx3sjI_sIQGFgiYrud426qb/s1600/Stars4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvJQRFTPHAZwr6NbOVX-l_zqrKYS1YBaAFSRRYsnPhF2SPwXYbpDDzGSYaKbZifUFeelSq3Dhhs9oSZnh1teLGwUymhROXNbEiraO0VDQ4icwu9CR0HQqq_qx3sjI_sIQGFgiYrud426qb/s1600/Stars4.jpg" height="320" width="294" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">One down, 49 to go</span>! </div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCyRlsB2id23My4wwdRIV4c3HEdLAkz0zgNzuUwwWcZQmDvysDj45-AbhyUNU3EN4mWexZ24JEzk2T_PQLf-rXS0xGUZ9oBpe7ZDS84whtn_vwJgZM4qFCPAfG389YMfxdh-zv9qSqOeUM/s1600/Stars5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCyRlsB2id23My4wwdRIV4c3HEdLAkz0zgNzuUwwWcZQmDvysDj45-AbhyUNU3EN4mWexZ24JEzk2T_PQLf-rXS0xGUZ9oBpe7ZDS84whtn_vwJgZM4qFCPAfG389YMfxdh-zv9qSqOeUM/s1600/Stars5.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16820018847768718998noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1399572824887111908.post-60516784549862464682015-02-01T19:49:00.000-05:002015-02-01T19:49:40.040-05:00Quilting Isn't For Sissies<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Some women turn into their mothers. Not me. I am turning into my Grandma. I am kinda excited about it. As soon as I finished working on Friday, I started working on The Quilt. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I started cutting out squares and states out of the coordinating fabrics. I wasn't the only one having fun. Moses discovered that a recently used ironing board was THE best place in the house to lounge, regardless of the fact that I was still using it. I made huge plans for Saturday. The plan was to destash blue fabrics and crazy quilt them together for oceans, gulfs, and lakes. That was the plan anyway...</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiz1jldQdHc6oKy5jUq7-BODYr6w1Ih-Q02SyI6rA2VszUvQPNmMpzopnHyAkYfmf0Vx9G26O9kBjCLfj7QotZsVQnJrsT6FApr9pOO-ZaPJlQM4Soc0GbDFOXXh5jNK5mhNc8sGAhO60u/s1600/Sissies1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiz1jldQdHc6oKy5jUq7-BODYr6w1Ih-Q02SyI6rA2VszUvQPNmMpzopnHyAkYfmf0Vx9G26O9kBjCLfj7QotZsVQnJrsT6FApr9pOO-ZaPJlQM4Soc0GbDFOXXh5jNK5mhNc8sGAhO60u/s1600/Sissies1.jpg" height="323" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp2685ZgK162K4Nxpx3lLc-0IY55kQF7oRJMWJ-HsgqW95u-GzuNHG5hhK5eKaBRbbw19tNixuZYNphCvnBS1Ux6fvUUTY1aOb36m3FeRbr2vAHL_yTUKkXPwzcF9fqViWtwn-knd3mq9O/s1600/Sissies2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>
<a name='more'></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp2685ZgK162K4Nxpx3lLc-0IY55kQF7oRJMWJ-HsgqW95u-GzuNHG5hhK5eKaBRbbw19tNixuZYNphCvnBS1Ux6fvUUTY1aOb36m3FeRbr2vAHL_yTUKkXPwzcF9fqViWtwn-knd3mq9O/s1600/Sissies2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp2685ZgK162K4Nxpx3lLc-0IY55kQF7oRJMWJ-HsgqW95u-GzuNHG5hhK5eKaBRbbw19tNixuZYNphCvnBS1Ux6fvUUTY1aOb36m3FeRbr2vAHL_yTUKkXPwzcF9fqViWtwn-knd3mq9O/s1600/Sissies2.jpg" height="640" width="506" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Public service announcement: the blade of a rotary cutter is vary sharp. I will forever miss that part of my finger, but hey: I get a new fingerprint now! Silver linings, right?</span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRoV0C5hlseNk5lFovJS7-prhegK_zAGbJSDool1ZxzwxuzFLi-LZiJo-_Hq6YkEoYA3VfAnrpy8M-HVjAtdJothHaNNgXvKGcptjo4Xq0mw8EzFSg_jNUj0zNm-KgpKmDRKwoskNlBk0p/s1600/Sissies3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRoV0C5hlseNk5lFovJS7-prhegK_zAGbJSDool1ZxzwxuzFLi-LZiJo-_Hq6YkEoYA3VfAnrpy8M-HVjAtdJothHaNNgXvKGcptjo4Xq0mw8EzFSg_jNUj0zNm-KgpKmDRKwoskNlBk0p/s1600/Sissies3.jpg" height="640" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I tried to get back to it when I got home from urgent care, but I kept bumping my finger into the sewing machine. Plus, Moses decided that the fabric that I was working with even more comfortable than the ironing board.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqvDOOoq84gzHG4QJoxWflE2RhgzFWjgGKKzZnjYiEwIpMSVpQr5wkjaVPWYHligUs0dsuVOwucIXlGi7fEsCPsplny_leW0ZZm6xfWNEW_iGBboJDxFeoGHZAxGKuz_qSDz_J1PjJquSc/s1600/Sissies4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqvDOOoq84gzHG4QJoxWflE2RhgzFWjgGKKzZnjYiEwIpMSVpQr5wkjaVPWYHligUs0dsuVOwucIXlGi7fEsCPsplny_leW0ZZm6xfWNEW_iGBboJDxFeoGHZAxGKuz_qSDz_J1PjJquSc/s1600/Sissies4.jpg" height="640" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Good news is that I had the entire day today to work on it as my sweetie had homework to do. I am really happy with the Great Lakes. Once I laid out the states that I had finished, I was concerned that it is really busy. I plan to hand embroider all the states on the quilt as applique and to hand-quilt waves over the bodies of water. I have put a lot of time, money, and part of my finger into it though, so I am sticking with it. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">What do <b><i>you</i></b> think of this plan?</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16820018847768718998noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1399572824887111908.post-43478162207008069312015-01-29T18:48:00.000-05:002015-01-29T18:48:32.282-05:00Making Progress: The Big US Quilt<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpKzNAkNW_R0Ndo89O01fxi-xFgY_KhLNBD0SrFkvfiU-MIoBbbU7D-MxIUhMZNYpLPRXFxzXAIf0v4lDBxhA_F7h4XxCj1laiP6CXPg_5aWF4pBItXHyqEQiox0c2lQ6KEANjHOZD4v_9/s1600/Quilt+Progress+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpKzNAkNW_R0Ndo89O01fxi-xFgY_KhLNBD0SrFkvfiU-MIoBbbU7D-MxIUhMZNYpLPRXFxzXAIf0v4lDBxhA_F7h4XxCj1laiP6CXPg_5aWF4pBItXHyqEQiox0c2lQ6KEANjHOZD4v_9/s1600/Quilt+Progress+4.jpg" height="253" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Whoa. When I decided to combine three things that I wanted to do, I guess that I didn't realize how big of an undertaking that it was. I have ordered supplies online (since I am still in semi-quarantine from my surgery) and decided that being super-organized was the only way that I am going to get through this unscathed. I am a little nervous since I am doing a lot of things that I never have: quilt applique, hand quilting, AND paper piecing. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2rjwsxtz8viJ-dXlL02oaNYCXx91qQJQfODmTOARcxphVbVU9WZWeO0oqpyfF_DYW3Zys5DFU-sKAHJA9XPt7LzkHZtUXyu95ZRkrZiCGzig0ePXruvWBIHJbyKYbH_aWFsrscIYANg9V/s1600/QuiltProgess+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2rjwsxtz8viJ-dXlL02oaNYCXx91qQJQfODmTOARcxphVbVU9WZWeO0oqpyfF_DYW3Zys5DFU-sKAHJA9XPt7LzkHZtUXyu95ZRkrZiCGzig0ePXruvWBIHJbyKYbH_aWFsrscIYANg9V/s1600/QuiltProgess+3.jpg" height="237" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Fabrics are starting to arrive. The big order from Spoonflower came in yesterday. I was sad to learn that an 8" swatch is actually 6.5". I have ordered duplicates of some since I am using these themed fabrics for both the star blocks and the actual state on the map. Scraps will become part of the sashing and/or binding.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvL0rzhmp6G73g64d477HwNCQ7SQN2h6nO3UbjiXOCcWlL5DEFKF0EdZ41_3E4h2iGTNaQ-vQ1euSL-vMkIrEFPIsl83uBljA5KTNH913X4oLnsZVnBgeSRonG8uYljBjSbRnjpg_iUw9D/s1600/QuiltProgress1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvL0rzhmp6G73g64d477HwNCQ7SQN2h6nO3UbjiXOCcWlL5DEFKF0EdZ41_3E4h2iGTNaQ-vQ1euSL-vMkIrEFPIsl83uBljA5KTNH913X4oLnsZVnBgeSRonG8uYljBjSbRnjpg_iUw9D/s1600/QuiltProgress1.jpg" height="272" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I have spent my free time since Saturday stitching tons of motifs from the 50 States Stitching Club. I am up to date with the rest of the club now.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilJePuzmVqojoQMLqBeFbzonPwx0Y1rOjrna5K0NSgPX_h2oS1-BawfWY-YUGro9HpTzXwCBPoMFLo2-xjsaNiAA1yMD2DsaKN9D6dZ6B22HUGcYWvG81uQhHNh8q0KnM4clU-g9d0ufFb/s1600/QuiltProgress+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilJePuzmVqojoQMLqBeFbzonPwx0Y1rOjrna5K0NSgPX_h2oS1-BawfWY-YUGro9HpTzXwCBPoMFLo2-xjsaNiAA1yMD2DsaKN9D6dZ6B22HUGcYWvG81uQhHNh8q0KnM4clU-g9d0ufFb/s1600/QuiltProgress+2.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I didn't realize how small that they would be until I started to transfer them. I originally traced them with water soluble marker, but found that it was too pale. Pencil works just fine.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEistxjVzbaqFzaB-1wGtWX-P2LDFGZpGpuvRCXcBMOE95H-TCST4PMz9YiwsoOQSaXhGDIK4XuPi-7ezuBdtU71id-mBLy1Ht0Ire1GtihewYSsPixmCU4ohPUQQ_vc3fntu89sUpbJCTf-/s1600/QuiltProgress+5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEistxjVzbaqFzaB-1wGtWX-P2LDFGZpGpuvRCXcBMOE95H-TCST4PMz9YiwsoOQSaXhGDIK4XuPi-7ezuBdtU71id-mBLy1Ht0Ire1GtihewYSsPixmCU4ohPUQQ_vc3fntu89sUpbJCTf-/s1600/QuiltProgress+5.jpg" height="224" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I started tracing states tonight to make patterns. Ramses thinks that he is helping.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Tomorrow night, I hope to be able to start cutting fabric and Saturday, I will start making stars. So nervous. Any paper piecing tips?</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16820018847768718998noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1399572824887111908.post-16565754188211737272015-01-24T17:16:00.000-05:002015-01-24T17:16:12.119-05:00From sea to shining sea: The Big US Quilt<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5gElm-LseNSDwIPoaqS_cSRJmQXhzG8pErarBKV7yJV-tIY3vJBcNh7hd1T6cNe_2oTqommdtICRdJMkxnsEvnaFmlazylgoLoesMq4ldART0TDlG_0kS4A9sdHk9SjHKMzX1Vsy0rdaI/s1600/TheBigQuilt1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5gElm-LseNSDwIPoaqS_cSRJmQXhzG8pErarBKV7yJV-tIY3vJBcNh7hd1T6cNe_2oTqommdtICRdJMkxnsEvnaFmlazylgoLoesMq4ldART0TDlG_0kS4A9sdHk9SjHKMzX1Vsy0rdaI/s1600/TheBigQuilt1.jpg" height="253" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">You would think that after the afghan debacle, that I would be off blankets forever. Just the opposite--I just completed designing my FIRST quilt pattern</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I didn't design all of the elements, but I am taking two great projects by fabulous designers and putting my own spin on them. </span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu8MnMXguVopccSmaTjItTXyApXVJpbTL9aB4rBpdPvIDzj9wIqWNm_wMftE-_yqbTrBARqDwlxgYjsSiB3iZa9-AoRlcF-rR_yk-5wzWHauspmU5yHC5tCuJGz6qvR5uJW0yoKfO5-4Iv/s1600/TheBigQuilt2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu8MnMXguVopccSmaTjItTXyApXVJpbTL9aB4rBpdPvIDzj9wIqWNm_wMftE-_yqbTrBARqDwlxgYjsSiB3iZa9-AoRlcF-rR_yk-5wzWHauspmU5yHC5tCuJGz6qvR5uJW0yoKfO5-4Iv/s1600/TheBigQuilt2.jpg" height="160" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The first element is a <a href="http://www.hapticlab.com/collections/diy-kits/products/usakit" target="_blank">DIY United States quilt kit</a> designed by Haptic Lab. I received it as a birthday gift two years ago, but having been waiting for the perfect project to use it. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijF7l_iWyipOxXlUzLvIR20D_nD1ZbpN96f0jnXQ0zB3oOpXuOpa-lZtT2C7Hj9KkBsHbWCMDjapk35Hk6h3V0KHSeUWi3Y_f-kBIyxu-O899_DL_4_WRR5NafLQxMJC4bnVZrbAWpkyWR/s1600/TheBigQuilt4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijF7l_iWyipOxXlUzLvIR20D_nD1ZbpN96f0jnXQ0zB3oOpXuOpa-lZtT2C7Hj9KkBsHbWCMDjapk35Hk6h3V0KHSeUWi3Y_f-kBIyxu-O899_DL_4_WRR5NafLQxMJC4bnVZrbAWpkyWR/s1600/TheBigQuilt4.jpg" height="118" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Second is the awesome <a href="http://wildolive.blogspot.com/p/50-states-stitching-club.html" target="_blank">50 States Stitching Club</a> by my favorite embroidery designer, Mollie Johanson at <a href="http://wildolive.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Wild Olive</a>. </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The club is little more than halfway done, so I definitely have some catching up to do! I am up for the challenge, though.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKC6ASvDWEtqX1_qbxAg3In8yPyQWc3e_hxa17E0gPxN82Hx8BJDgOpV9gzUl5D2fvCDL-FvcsCNJu-DSB_gZtac-GgeZxHwN17yrX110y6STI_BXuVYLCiOxy87eDMlQZHMaWr4-KHRH4/s1600/TheBigQuilt3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKC6ASvDWEtqX1_qbxAg3In8yPyQWc3e_hxa17E0gPxN82Hx8BJDgOpV9gzUl5D2fvCDL-FvcsCNJu-DSB_gZtac-GgeZxHwN17yrX110y6STI_BXuVYLCiOxy87eDMlQZHMaWr4-KHRH4/s1600/TheBigQuilt3.jpg" height="253" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Here's the plan: I will stitch up all 50 of the state motifs and applique them onto a fabric from <a href="http://www%2Cspoonflower.com/" target="_blank">Spoonflower</a> that evokes the theme of the motif. Then I will use the same fabric on the map and will applique the state. Leftover fabric will become the sashing on the quilt top. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Today, after printing the backlog of patterns, I measured out some squares of plain fabric to stitch onto. Then, I transferred all of the patterns onto the fabric and started to work.</span></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPJTBubY_p-5YyiYiJk2DMDx5vSlF-0laDjQA0j0S0AbA5NEd2uh6FFXgdyw9o8kgTlnY7gJDqMgG8nwVp0S2O2Lu0zMzp_IfONLZelQQE032I16YJDUBur8q4Dyx2Kg7IfKV5P8KaP2dD/s1600/TheBigQuilt5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPJTBubY_p-5YyiYiJk2DMDx5vSlF-0laDjQA0j0S0AbA5NEd2uh6FFXgdyw9o8kgTlnY7gJDqMgG8nwVp0S2O2Lu0zMzp_IfONLZelQQE032I16YJDUBur8q4Dyx2Kg7IfKV5P8KaP2dD/s1600/TheBigQuilt5.jpg" height="320" width="294" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Isn't Connecticut so cute? It is the state flower, the mountain laurel. Does anyone have a line on where I can find some fabric with mountain laurel on it? What else typifies CT?</span></div>
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16820018847768718998noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1399572824887111908.post-82230319395371611512015-01-23T17:00:00.000-05:002015-01-23T17:00:01.560-05:00Stained Glass Quilt<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOgPGckjIfMTV0oTCfLSbZAPnRQcZXkuABxL3Vs9I_qA1q__ncSMlpfuOjrNhrkl6RI4PmRRx-VH65QklknI8whBzPNDgwNTbwbn6wVmeetNieA_Vg8JvVh6YIX4k7tQ67Kir9qtANzxaa/s1600/Afghan1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOgPGckjIfMTV0oTCfLSbZAPnRQcZXkuABxL3Vs9I_qA1q__ncSMlpfuOjrNhrkl6RI4PmRRx-VH65QklknI8whBzPNDgwNTbwbn6wVmeetNieA_Vg8JvVh6YIX4k7tQ67Kir9qtANzxaa/s1600/Afghan1.jpg" height="253" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I did it. The afghan is done. That took much longer than I had hoped, but I am super-excited that it has happened.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2CUSmLLMfxfd56yo49I_s6xagy4Ibc6kXpMjz7U-Pk1Wjl81308gbJjlk96LidUd5CMqDnJLxgoI36q86ZnSi5GcYHZRLZA16shhPMleVpfMPNMMRXJZMGBBg2K0m0JTRYsccIJ9C5qel/s1600/afghan2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2CUSmLLMfxfd56yo49I_s6xagy4Ibc6kXpMjz7U-Pk1Wjl81308gbJjlk96LidUd5CMqDnJLxgoI36q86ZnSi5GcYHZRLZA16shhPMleVpfMPNMMRXJZMGBBg2K0m0JTRYsccIJ9C5qel/s1600/afghan2.jpg" height="320" width="236" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> I may eventually add more border stitches and a flannel backing.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"></span></div>
<a name='more'></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFZHERrQ_U_dpNJ16Vu4yeUymKPKjB60vyyLLaKPazExbm6PLtGaYyTReBmt9jZW9cmxQdDF_cuCz8eQnVD0wTq2_1Ixb0z_SACF26MkL20IvpjuX1Bt1DsxjP7RJWztzT3VWEvdAGISze/s1600/afghan3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFZHERrQ_U_dpNJ16Vu4yeUymKPKjB60vyyLLaKPazExbm6PLtGaYyTReBmt9jZW9cmxQdDF_cuCz8eQnVD0wTq2_1Ixb0z_SACF26MkL20IvpjuX1Bt1DsxjP7RJWztzT3VWEvdAGISze/s1600/afghan3.jpg" height="320" width="253" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU0DeofXBmGFtZTsbMXO2rTsktpNNlOTW3rw8CoTDjgQeahuScmpS9aI1CSOVk6DxMWilNfxS-oUcr1p1mTcV56XhI6PuDlTp7v8aQZh0pYugvjeiAD8rsD2DKUU09dRNUIen1YHo-byaH/s1600/afghan4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU0DeofXBmGFtZTsbMXO2rTsktpNNlOTW3rw8CoTDjgQeahuScmpS9aI1CSOVk6DxMWilNfxS-oUcr1p1mTcV56XhI6PuDlTp7v8aQZh0pYugvjeiAD8rsD2DKUU09dRNUIen1YHo-byaH/s1600/afghan4.jpg" height="222" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgask9dbzFEZ6WM46_TtMqpTn87QQO6jXWz11bA6nZi7BK22ru01cNE2NdqOZTt5hCVGIe7C2UQ_H-jdoim5y856b2RX2hntEqoP6bIaTUg9esDAyqGntQcw_feImUSVwuDXaTK-MR16upl/s1600/afghan5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgask9dbzFEZ6WM46_TtMqpTn87QQO6jXWz11bA6nZi7BK22ru01cNE2NdqOZTt5hCVGIe7C2UQ_H-jdoim5y856b2RX2hntEqoP6bIaTUg9esDAyqGntQcw_feImUSVwuDXaTK-MR16upl/s1600/afghan5.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">One of the reasons that I decided to be done is that I couldn't get the cats of it long enough to work on it more :)</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">This weekend, I am going to start my next gigantic embroidery/quilting project. Stay tuned. When I said that 2013 was the year of the blanket, I evidently meant 2015.</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16820018847768718998noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1399572824887111908.post-60897619205097389792015-01-19T18:56:00.000-05:002015-01-19T18:56:35.345-05:00Doctor Who Craft Round Up: 2015 Edition<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9tH3rktIz5UNHqtzvD1mHHB8T09eHEakHm0DTJTWj9IMJxxve5Y0ul2UHIuYZ7rsFNTBve1LlnUUOLQVdwHQW6_c41fB5KVcspLjltkOsAq1klXLwLtoNsJ00oNCExO2UOlGgs_CJbdWu/s1600/Doctor+Who+Craft+Round+Up1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9tH3rktIz5UNHqtzvD1mHHB8T09eHEakHm0DTJTWj9IMJxxve5Y0ul2UHIuYZ7rsFNTBve1LlnUUOLQVdwHQW6_c41fB5KVcspLjltkOsAq1klXLwLtoNsJ00oNCExO2UOlGgs_CJbdWu/s1600/Doctor+Who+Craft+Round+Up1.jpg" height="202" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Late last week, I saw that Netflix was on the verge of losing shows from the BBC. Thankfully, that has not come to pass, thank Ood. Being the huge geeky gal that I am (as well as a massive anglophile in general), I was relieved to hear this news. I immediately watched the first three episodes of the reboot. I am not just a newbie, my local PBS station re-broadcast Tom Baker episodes when I was a kid. All I can say is that daleks are frightening as all get out when you are seven years old. This would-be catastrophe inspired me to do re-boot of my own. One of most popular <a href="http://weasinart.blogspot.com/2012/09/sunday-funday-doctor-who-craft-round-up.html" target="_blank">posts</a> ever was my original Doctor Who Craft Round Up. I decided it was time to do a new one based on things that I would like to make in the coming year. Allons-y!!</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/VuogEwWS8O8?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOaDpX7KS3R65bMnC_KxjGFtTYxYj5aZbyxTB6pRUfUWTzIcZBvp0akZlKTPERYHC76rwAIu4j4YDVJ3s6I7dwZFHb3e-YW2gyjMYLp1eTqzeJhKOigZHBQpMsL0mN7c-eaKy2QX8ekBaf/s1600/Doctor+Who+Craft+Round+Up+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOaDpX7KS3R65bMnC_KxjGFtTYxYj5aZbyxTB6pRUfUWTzIcZBvp0akZlKTPERYHC76rwAIu4j4YDVJ3s6I7dwZFHb3e-YW2gyjMYLp1eTqzeJhKOigZHBQpMsL0mN7c-eaKy2QX8ekBaf/s1600/Doctor+Who+Craft+Round+Up+2.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1. First, who doesn't love the fourth Doctor's scarf? But when is is actually practical to wear it? Enter the <a href="http://www.sumoftheirstories.com/2014/08/doctor-who-scarf-bracelets.html" target="_blank">scarf bracelet</a>. Perfection!</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2. If you read this blog regularly, you know that that embroidery isn't just my hobby. It is my retirement plan. How lovely is this <a href="http://www.craftster.org/forum/index.php?topic=424675#axzz2ZW4lUKWi" target="_blank">piece</a> with 10's catch phrase AND his sonic.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">3. Okay, wouldn't make a <a href="http://wich-crafts.blogspot.com/2011/03/dont-blink.html" target="_blank">Weeping Angel</a> for my own use, but I would love to see my students freak out ;)</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">4. C'mon--<a href="http://makezine.com/craft/how-to-needle-felted-dalek/" target="_blank">needle felting and a bunting</a>? It's a no-brainer. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">5. I really think that I need a cute little <a href="http://crafts.tutsplus.com/tutorials/how-to-make-an-adipose-plush-from-doctor-who--craft-15586" target="_blank">Adipose</a> buddy for when I am feeling chubby.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">6. Wall + blue painter's tape = awesome. No tutorial really needed.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">7. My next <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/blue-police-box" target="_blank">afghan</a>, for realsies. I already downloaded the free pattern!</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">8. <a href="http://www.spoonflower.com/fabric/2269548" target="_blank">Bunting</a>--another no-brainer.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">9. A <a href="http://makezine.com/craft/project/" target="_blank">TARDIS charging box</a> would make me feel like the fanciest geek in the department, and that's saying something.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I have created a <a href="https://www.pinterest.com/weas/doctor-who-crafts/" target="_blank">Pinterest board</a> dedicated to Doctor Who crafts. If any of you would like to include pins to that board, let me know!</span></div>
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16820018847768718998noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1399572824887111908.post-56462883782010815202015-01-18T17:46:00.002-05:002015-01-18T17:47:18.594-05:00Needle Felted Wool Ball Garland How-To<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I'm a gal who likes a garland or a bunting and some sparkly lights. What can I say, I'm fancy. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I have crocheted snowflakes for a garland, made a fun fabric bunting, and I am currently stitching up the <a href="http://www.shinyhappyworld.com/2015/01/fancy-schmancy-felt-heart-patterns.html" target="_blank">hearts</a> from <a href="http://www.shinyhappyworld.com/" target="_blank">Shiny Happy World </a> to make a new garland. But today, I decided that I needed something not-so-seasonal for in between times. Hence, the needle felted wool ball garland!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_MMQkYulVp75WqsoKUXudJaKZUNyIMy7ZqiPKD0x4aJZpEU4sw1bVLyP_yivbg_E2hvk417f4BRpiGC1F9P41bwf9NOOSyRvSrN3Ri-f6tLnIcMTTqJjEImLpD0lpIK1bcAAtMsTdzdb6/s1600/Garland1.weasinart.2015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_MMQkYulVp75WqsoKUXudJaKZUNyIMy7ZqiPKD0x4aJZpEU4sw1bVLyP_yivbg_E2hvk417f4BRpiGC1F9P41bwf9NOOSyRvSrN3Ri-f6tLnIcMTTqJjEImLpD0lpIK1bcAAtMsTdzdb6/s1600/Garland1.weasinart.2015.jpg" height="320" width="272" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9ELvDUeQsQAEcBPqyRuyiNnvz3S5O46QMdTmltuCssBP-9gyOSyPW8ysxdcBQlTOFj-5rLDjGnzqP4VqnQsC7qsJf7axtgWoGxl40lmdxIPY2UaY9X_OnHW-92k6TDqxPTvF7_NqaX5m7/s1600/Garland2.weasinart.2015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9ELvDUeQsQAEcBPqyRuyiNnvz3S5O46QMdTmltuCssBP-9gyOSyPW8ysxdcBQlTOFj-5rLDjGnzqP4VqnQsC7qsJf7axtgWoGxl40lmdxIPY2UaY9X_OnHW-92k6TDqxPTvF7_NqaX5m7/s1600/Garland2.weasinart.2015.jpg" height="320" width="253" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I choose some fun colors from my basket of rovings and pulled out a small amount of each.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdW1e3hetor5vlCCPx19leUHv05rL_pw9YY1vHXXUmTEuab9b_VIRGq_-tGaysJit6FJat49tQyw0XWPyB6wwyHCGW5JI7_GTKTqcX4N8skRu-hI9t8ANAo68LYEIgPv5uiB856By_IHN5/s1600/Garland3.weasinart.2015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdW1e3hetor5vlCCPx19leUHv05rL_pw9YY1vHXXUmTEuab9b_VIRGq_-tGaysJit6FJat49tQyw0XWPyB6wwyHCGW5JI7_GTKTqcX4N8skRu-hI9t8ANAo68LYEIgPv5uiB856By_IHN5/s1600/Garland3.weasinart.2015.jpg" height="320" width="272" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJODuoQMcORt6FHFqz9j9sZo2E7av92j65KjZ7aLkswx8KJVtQ3g44Cc-UXr9zXU492h8YIaRG3ppEyaLf6fAXnMX4hAMv7JEcB9Q6qUEd8SiSHaqM5Zggi8E5yC47NxkMhwF-69AdCZX0/s1600/Garland4.weasinart.2015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJODuoQMcORt6FHFqz9j9sZo2E7av92j65KjZ7aLkswx8KJVtQ3g44Cc-UXr9zXU492h8YIaRG3ppEyaLf6fAXnMX4hAMv7JEcB9Q6qUEd8SiSHaqM5Zggi8E5yC47NxkMhwF-69AdCZX0/s1600/Garland4.weasinart.2015.jpg" height="222" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I gave to warm water <a href="http://www.megacrafty.com/2011/09/tip-easy-way-to-make-felted-balls.html" target="_blank">method</a> a try, but didn't have much luck. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I stuck with the tried and true method using my multi-needle tool and brush base.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I could have wet-felted them afterwards, but I like the fuzzy look.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4DVF8Kxevu38STSX0KULkAVCDAoPxEeV8W3OL5rnjOaJjNWDoH_5s5KjrdXqIxTGVW2R-gxmkr_o3XfMqK3ILKwr6yO4a9mxUaFTSBXDO7_QBH1YmioFAQltmzbwEVZUBPA9udbqIUUnW/s1600/Garland5.weasinart.2015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4DVF8Kxevu38STSX0KULkAVCDAoPxEeV8W3OL5rnjOaJjNWDoH_5s5KjrdXqIxTGVW2R-gxmkr_o3XfMqK3ILKwr6yO4a9mxUaFTSBXDO7_QBH1YmioFAQltmzbwEVZUBPA9udbqIUUnW/s1600/Garland5.weasinart.2015.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I made balls in a variety of sizes for my garland.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7zEn2wu8arZCsj7_TgJZ5VZ0xdocKAp4aNUzxeFSo3J5rxOcSCkePSmhyphenhyphen0ULLTn-JCt0AL6tAvlk7xVQoz8IIsaLtfQR5Xc5KL1g-ZIJ18hqEwtpgUYVrRdhLOIO2w21LZDdW3R1rh2aL/s1600/Garland6.weasinart.2015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7zEn2wu8arZCsj7_TgJZ5VZ0xdocKAp4aNUzxeFSo3J5rxOcSCkePSmhyphenhyphen0ULLTn-JCt0AL6tAvlk7xVQoz8IIsaLtfQR5Xc5KL1g-ZIJ18hqEwtpgUYVrRdhLOIO2w21LZDdW3R1rh2aL/s1600/Garland6.weasinart.2015.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I used my cool Lion Brand Bon-Bon yarn in bright pink and busted out the sequins.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I threaded to yarn on an embroidery needle and alternated sequins and wool balls.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCuT73kDDaYOEDbU7CceP7AEkIx54yMaLVXHgDc20gz-oaDY-Krq_VPrRKWv3UGduVdMqu9ZSnisTgL2tKQtchmhobs1JzSpeZLxDTJKNeiT-YOBTNY774HMI_LEcDeDgDaD_IlpFRYaes/s1600/Garland7.weasinart.2015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCuT73kDDaYOEDbU7CceP7AEkIx54yMaLVXHgDc20gz-oaDY-Krq_VPrRKWv3UGduVdMqu9ZSnisTgL2tKQtchmhobs1JzSpeZLxDTJKNeiT-YOBTNY774HMI_LEcDeDgDaD_IlpFRYaes/s1600/Garland7.weasinart.2015.jpg" height="178" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Love it!</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16820018847768718998noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1399572824887111908.post-77450605480995713282015-01-16T15:47:00.000-05:002015-01-16T15:47:36.061-05:00Putting It Together<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">So...have you ever bared your soul to the unseeing public and then felt like an idiot? </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">After throwing my loving boyfriend under the bus this week, I felt a bit like a heel. He was okay with it, thankfully. I used that energy to work on the afghan. Yep, I am still talking about that stupid afghan. Good news though: PROGRESS!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmjGhCSAslnNDDaUVWT8wbcaiOAfMVLeKl0AzgS-ewVZ21Vqv4xV8w0aYlqjPH92VJE52mlcow8DNX3ep_Gq_EWRtRDa6qg-oZbibDOD3Uf7RExoav02wgVrWGx69RK2NxETnRL7V2ePoq/s1600/Putting+It+Together.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmjGhCSAslnNDDaUVWT8wbcaiOAfMVLeKl0AzgS-ewVZ21Vqv4xV8w0aYlqjPH92VJE52mlcow8DNX3ep_Gq_EWRtRDa6qg-oZbibDOD3Uf7RExoav02wgVrWGx69RK2NxETnRL7V2ePoq/s1600/Putting+It+Together.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<a name='more'></a><br /><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Putting it together has been trickier than I expected, but I am figuring it all out and I am very happy with how it is going. Bit by bit...</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/REqWBgEhU6w?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Next week, I am hoping to move on and get back to another long delayed WIP. </span></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16820018847768718998noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1399572824887111908.post-81537875855898586902015-01-14T16:57:00.001-05:002015-01-14T16:58:11.434-05:00WIP Wednesday: The Never-ending AfghanA very wise person once said, "I may not be there yet, but I'm closer than I was yesterday." He or she was obviously talking about making an afghan. Obviously.<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Good News: all the squares are complete.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVJuesZwkck4PwZVtN-Qq0ybwrBL5LKfqpDIh-SLq4X56n0FfIyA0bfHC1MVglc_gvd3k095Ere-H3sfR5PDVe_WDdqnG9WZqC_w9SpfUXh420D-RqSKYGKoEOpvTalZJ8lSHgHRnNwyE3/s1600/WIPAfghan1.weasinart.2015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVJuesZwkck4PwZVtN-Qq0ybwrBL5LKfqpDIh-SLq4X56n0FfIyA0bfHC1MVglc_gvd3k095Ere-H3sfR5PDVe_WDdqnG9WZqC_w9SpfUXh420D-RqSKYGKoEOpvTalZJ8lSHgHRnNwyE3/s1600/WIPAfghan1.weasinart.2015.jpg" height="187" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<a name='more'></a><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Bad News: Because of the design that I chose, I have to make 28 granny triangles.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXuXgMv5PZosFhcT8_q0b4EUS9Jw1syMNfM8YcHsSRVEs55rikXEWUslCvPdu6neoQK9PcfVSAt-Um_88Fcr0TKaAelCOQ1Gz5n0ozWo8zEJHZWm5lMIcDkid2Lt9whGTEIqHhIpqDqrW6/s1600/WIPAfghan2.weasinart.2015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXuXgMv5PZosFhcT8_q0b4EUS9Jw1syMNfM8YcHsSRVEs55rikXEWUslCvPdu6neoQK9PcfVSAt-Um_88Fcr0TKaAelCOQ1Gz5n0ozWo8zEJHZWm5lMIcDkid2Lt9whGTEIqHhIpqDqrW6/s1600/WIPAfghan2.weasinart.2015.jpg" height="294" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="text-align: center;">Further Bad News: I then need to connect them ALL together. Every last one of them. 141 pieces.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="text-align: center;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5bj6BQ3TdSEuOrReyaDPa-ywK5MzYwZAfYD48apPW0RT201XT99LrElqgIMu6sIe0Cw4Q3iqAYaxwn8JKs4kJfRcAqiafuJtSe0PRuxg7Gs1-OkUkRYRaXDA60aDqhRlFmN7ZOat4pfkm/s1600/WIPAfghan.weasinart.2015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5bj6BQ3TdSEuOrReyaDPa-ywK5MzYwZAfYD48apPW0RT201XT99LrElqgIMu6sIe0Cw4Q3iqAYaxwn8JKs4kJfRcAqiafuJtSe0PRuxg7Gs1-OkUkRYRaXDA60aDqhRlFmN7ZOat4pfkm/s1600/WIPAfghan.weasinart.2015.jpg" height="222" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
141! Right now (unless any of <b><i>YOU </i></b>have a better idea), I plan on using this <a href="http://attic24.typepad.com/weblog/joining-granny-sqaures.html" target="_blank">method</a> as demonstrated by Attic24. If I don't run screaming into the night first. 141 pieces. what was I thinking?</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
What's the biggest project like this that you've ever done?</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16820018847768718998noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1399572824887111908.post-8858943714345099852015-01-13T18:10:00.000-05:002015-01-13T18:33:38.122-05:00Bloggers Helping Bloggers<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">And just like that, I have blogged more in 2015 then 2014. Sigh. </span><br>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">That being said, I am committed to making Weasinart more of a <i>thing</i>. You know, a <i>thing</i>...something that people read, something that people share, something people value. </span><br>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The first step has been posting (obviously) and now for a face lift. You probably notice the background since you are staring at right now. That one, I was able to figure out on my own. Bigger changes that I wanted to make needed some support. I turned to the logical (in my mind) place: other blogs. </span><br>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Pinterest was a great help in locating these resources. Of course, Pinterest! Wait, Pinterest! Can I add that to my blog? It's kind of a value-add, right? Get inspired by others inspiration and all. Turns out, I could, thanks to Marie at <a href="http://www.codeitpretty.com/" target="_blank">Code It Pretty</a>. Perfect! </span><br>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd_iLlP2oH-RAjVEoX6Sm1-oL98oSEpemkAmNakS02w3moyt1vb-QeisISe3CbxD2H-9dGGugenWCgZTiMzrShJ1Cv3A0uRlL06CUBwFF_y2ygyVAksE-2qW214JlhXvS6goi0_i03bj4_/s1600/pinterest-gadget.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd_iLlP2oH-RAjVEoX6Sm1-oL98oSEpemkAmNakS02w3moyt1vb-QeisISe3CbxD2H-9dGGugenWCgZTiMzrShJ1Cv3A0uRlL06CUBwFF_y2ygyVAksE-2qW214JlhXvS6goi0_i03bj4_/s1600/pinterest-gadget.png" height="200" width="200"></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">She had a great <a href="http://www.codeitpretty.com/2015/01/a-pinterest-gadget-for-blogger-updated.html" target="_blank">tutorial</a> on how to do exactly what I wanted. It was easy to follow and allowed me to add something that I really value to my site.</span><br>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRlbdmkzWE_yoFcyiELWny6eP5X7EwCn9YxfpMWG5EvYDpJtZHNifb0tU8j0dRrpsrcwS49ZL8ADeDTMjYvc5lOheTGUhkpFZcIFkh936aLa72N21Z5sWTY8U4JPNXgaje_I1Ow715BFlQ/s1600/Bloggers1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRlbdmkzWE_yoFcyiELWny6eP5X7EwCn9YxfpMWG5EvYDpJtZHNifb0tU8j0dRrpsrcwS49ZL8ADeDTMjYvc5lOheTGUhkpFZcIFkh936aLa72N21Z5sWTY8U4JPNXgaje_I1Ow715BFlQ/s1600/Bloggers1.jpg" height="320" width="254"></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<a name="more"></a> <span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Once I had done that, I was hungry to learn more. Where else do I connect with friends and fans? Duh, social media. I found an absolutely gorgeous site entitled <a href="http://www.everylittlepolish.com/" target="_blank">Every Little Polish</a>. Rose is super talented and loves both cats and nail polish. Hello? Kindred spirit. </span><br>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Not only does she have an awesome set of <a href="http://www.everylittlepolish.com/free-watercolour-social-media-icons/" target="_blank">watercolor social media icons</a> that I adore,</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiauHK8gYqQr783i9wEebtt4UQUWPU6YpqEk9-gyf07hYGb6mhGGN2T18Vpaqb0zAzZoWP2PasuNryPPVbmd9XLp0P_1Y3VJGa7hTz6M1aBK4_31wB383pg1WJ7zyQfKtW1Vk_EDGcOZ_bD/s1600/watercolour-social-media-icons.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiauHK8gYqQr783i9wEebtt4UQUWPU6YpqEk9-gyf07hYGb6mhGGN2T18Vpaqb0zAzZoWP2PasuNryPPVbmd9XLp0P_1Y3VJGa7hTz6M1aBK4_31wB383pg1WJ7zyQfKtW1Vk_EDGcOZ_bD/s1600/watercolour-social-media-icons.jpg" height="320" width="254"></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">she also has a great <a href="http://www.everylittlepolish.com/how-to-add-custom-social-media-icons-to-your-blog-sidebar/" target="_blank">tutorial</a> on how to put them on your blog. I even downloaded a few extra ones for platforms that I am not even using yet. So excited. They look like the were <i>meant</i> for my blog. I am really excited for the direction that I am going. I have an entire Pinterest <a href="https://www.pinterest.com/weas/lets-build-a-better-blog/" target="_blank">board</a> of blogging resources to work through. Yay!</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic9t01SsGqYUytmeH2Xf2aTbpuMYfk6AVzwy8WfKVCBK4_T_F9Wkm1ANra3cw24f1yjB2ZyMrZLYSpP78vHBEJpX4bgfyGZYBj8emOChKhKbTr6YmUFs5wNNlV_iUDkAvTQ-3CdzBx0L3x/s1600/Bloggers2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic9t01SsGqYUytmeH2Xf2aTbpuMYfk6AVzwy8WfKVCBK4_T_F9Wkm1ANra3cw24f1yjB2ZyMrZLYSpP78vHBEJpX4bgfyGZYBj8emOChKhKbTr6YmUFs5wNNlV_iUDkAvTQ-3CdzBx0L3x/s1600/Bloggers2.jpg" height="320" width="201"></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Now, back to those granny squares.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16820018847768718998noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1399572824887111908.post-44864746818807765142015-01-12T18:02:00.000-05:002015-01-13T16:25:28.866-05:00Brushing Off The Cobwebs<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">You hear the same thing every year, right? This year will be different. This year, I will change. I am going to be more (fit, frugal, relaxed, your preferred adjective here) this year. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I have said the same things myself. I said it right here on this very blog last year...and promptly stopped blogging at the end of March. It was easy to write off: I was busy, I had other priorities, who really <i>reads</i> it anyway? It's not like I am Julie Powell over here. I highly doubt there will ever be a movie based on me because of this blog. I mean, I can hope, but I doubt it.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Why did I really stop blogging? Was it just because I figured that I was only talking to myself? I think that may have been it on the surface, but truly, I think it was because I didn't want to admit some things to myself.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">My much-delayed and sporadic afghan is the physical manifestation of those things. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdfeqUJINKs1vWHCGD2YX2VwpBvy23vspk_Mj8oGgXq9lrggt3Ixh1Ze2Ms3r9sUNjfHQTNGSx5gJpkWFCYL3P7lfhdz0qgo28r_4zIvcBmaQBNN0cdPmufUQ-7LSDUQJ28YyCItF6VUp_/s1600/CobwebsAfghan1.weasinart.2015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdfeqUJINKs1vWHCGD2YX2VwpBvy23vspk_Mj8oGgXq9lrggt3Ixh1Ze2Ms3r9sUNjfHQTNGSx5gJpkWFCYL3P7lfhdz0qgo28r_4zIvcBmaQBNN0cdPmufUQ-7LSDUQJ28YyCItF6VUp_/s1600/CobwebsAfghan1.weasinart.2015.jpg" height="294" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"></span><br />
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="more"></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Let me explain: when I came up with the wild idea to make a granny square afghan, I was enthusiastic...even gung ho. I made Pinterest boards, I started a Facebook group, I dashed to JoAnn's to purchase scads of skeins. I rushed into making squares based on a vintage pattern from my boyfriend's mom. See this optimistic <a href="http://weasinart.blogspot.com/2013/01/2013-year-of-blanket.html" target="_blank">post</a> about it all!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"></span><br />
<a name='more'></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">And there it is: my <i><b>boyfriend</b></i>'s mom. I had been a wife. And then, I wasn't anymore. I became something else. First, I was alone...single. Then, I was a short-term rebound girl. Then, I was a girlfriend. A girlfriend. And that's all. Living separate lives except when we are together--separate houses, separate pets, separate bank accounts.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I started on the afghan for "our" bed, assuming that we would eventually have one together. Two winters have come (and hopefully are going) since then and no dice. We are still together, yet separate. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">So much work. I had completed 100 of the required 113 squares and 28 triangles required. I just stopped working on it. I had given up on my hopes and therefore had given up on what that blanket represented. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">But, it was SO MUCH WORK. When I came home from my surgery, I started puttering around, picking up abandoned projects, and deciding what to with them. Some, I just let go. That shawl that I labored over on and off for months? Now, it's a great cat blanket. Embroidery pieces were given up for good. But, the afghan, how could I let all that go?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I decided that it would become something new. It would represent my will to be a maker, an artist, a teacher. It may never grace a common bed, but it will keep me cozy while I am creating new things, hatching new plans, deciding what to keep and what to let go. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8tyvFSRtAtM4thqI5awPiUdmS0gCcNiVgoK5BXjlqnrxVGDIVgehzip6d6YI5XKU0jOPK-gfb2EGunorXSRM2aFFDiaoGX-hoN_ZjKfHfJ3N1Oq4UYwDtJ5Rdv49YzUXEGOj8-s17WV39/s1600/CobwebsAfghan2.weasinart.2015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8tyvFSRtAtM4thqI5awPiUdmS0gCcNiVgoK5BXjlqnrxVGDIVgehzip6d6YI5XKU0jOPK-gfb2EGunorXSRM2aFFDiaoGX-hoN_ZjKfHfJ3N1Oq4UYwDtJ5Rdv49YzUXEGOj8-s17WV39/s1600/CobwebsAfghan2.weasinart.2015.jpg" height="320" width="294" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
PS: what do you think of the changes to the blog? I have re-prioritized and even if I am talking to myself, at least it will be pretty.</div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16820018847768718998noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1399572824887111908.post-62089053517355395672015-01-10T17:18:00.000-05:002015-01-11T18:33:31.528-05:00Stitching Up a Happy New Year: Embellished Tea Towels<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Whoa, does anyone still even remember me? I barely remember myself. Nine months since my last post. Nine months. Enough time to create a human life. While I didn't create anyone new, I did spend plenty of time creating myself. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">
I have been promoted...twice. I have directed two more shows. I have run another half-marathon. I have been to Disney World. I have had surgery.<br />
The surgery was recent, just last week. It was frightening, but I am healing. Go through the procedure and now nurturing myself through the healing process, I have really been able to focus what makes me happy: making things. I am committed to making more time to make.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br />
Although I have multiple WIP that I really should be working on (more on those soon, I promise,) I decided that a great way to start the year would be to make some embroidered and embellished tea towels for my kitchen. I focused on things that I really love. It also showed me that I <i>REALLY</i> love decorating tea towels...weird.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7rZlRwRpbQafe94KctxeMQ_p8UVzSrQazo0NPSq25_fmfvkNSjijXMRIOtEl6EFIbvSkb5aSgxEK7YRnfULOjRDpyNK7ypQmECFEwzAEWkbe37L8RZWlTVSYDSR6wEcGPa_RzJVq9q0Ak/s1600/teatowels2.weasinart.2015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7rZlRwRpbQafe94KctxeMQ_p8UVzSrQazo0NPSq25_fmfvkNSjijXMRIOtEl6EFIbvSkb5aSgxEK7YRnfULOjRDpyNK7ypQmECFEwzAEWkbe37L8RZWlTVSYDSR6wEcGPa_RzJVq9q0Ak/s1600/teatowels2.weasinart.2015.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKFsr-cPtV1pOrn5z6cM_p1N-O-l1gkCHO3fh0EhKfMKKFTzH5hiEu4fBlQe2CRN7LbGQumtES1COXZNNprIicFS8qqfLi7KQJ34EpH9lha-ndHZAnHv85GZPBchtMgPv_q0N3S_-fPFDi/s1600/teatowels4.weasinart.2015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKFsr-cPtV1pOrn5z6cM_p1N-O-l1gkCHO3fh0EhKfMKKFTzH5hiEu4fBlQe2CRN7LbGQumtES1COXZNNprIicFS8qqfLi7KQJ34EpH9lha-ndHZAnHv85GZPBchtMgPv_q0N3S_-fPFDi/s1600/teatowels4.weasinart.2015.jpg" height="320" width="272" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxigR3uJ66zh_NLTxpKxrogts2_MEg0QJY6b_Kz3ecZZWL6oBxda4IcUybK67QAYAAuQQRgefn88t5A-GeBJaJL6OsaaivaItdjWCAQL_s8GpEFpuVmcHmJBg7FWTBK5GpzlVnjAHxMUGh/s1600/teattowels1.weasinart.2015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxigR3uJ66zh_NLTxpKxrogts2_MEg0QJY6b_Kz3ecZZWL6oBxda4IcUybK67QAYAAuQQRgefn88t5A-GeBJaJL6OsaaivaItdjWCAQL_s8GpEFpuVmcHmJBg7FWTBK5GpzlVnjAHxMUGh/s1600/teattowels1.weasinart.2015.jpg" height="320" width="253" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The veggies are from <a href="http://littledeartracks.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Aimee Ray</a>'s book, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Doodle-Stitching-Collection-Embroidery-Designs/dp/1600595812" target="_blank">Doodle Stitching</a>. If you like to embroider and don't have this book, I highly recommend it. I hope to get more of her motif books soon. I also tried to push my skills and tried four new stitches on the veggies: overcast, Palestrina, Pekingese, and rope stitch. I am really please.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The British motifs are from one of my favorite bloggers, Mollie Johanson of <a href="http://wildolive.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Wild Olive</a>. I have stitched tons of her patterns. This one is her "<a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/86143331/jolly-spiff-london-england-icons-pdf?ref=shop_home_active_1&ga_search_query=jolly" target="_blank">Jolly Spiff</a>" pattern set.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYNZK7-xp0HO4txAXAfu-KdIA1BkyVbwkpnfRtNC5LcdMRg1glUymjz5Iwq7WVUUYwZgQexnHwtlksKYnuKW_0YEAXlB5NBCQslSU1v7TUpWZcOr3oZQbUDmQk-ZPQW8ffUpqNam7dnXHO/s1600/teatowels3.weasinart.2015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYNZK7-xp0HO4txAXAfu-KdIA1BkyVbwkpnfRtNC5LcdMRg1glUymjz5Iwq7WVUUYwZgQexnHwtlksKYnuKW_0YEAXlB5NBCQslSU1v7TUpWZcOr3oZQbUDmQk-ZPQW8ffUpqNam7dnXHO/s1600/teatowels3.weasinart.2015.jpg" height="320" width="253" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I added some crocheted lace to the bottom of two and decided to make the veggie towel attachable. I cheated a little and added snaps to the back with rick rack and buttons just for fun. You know that I adore rick rack. And buttons. And cute things.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> If anyone one ever wants to d-estash rick rack, I'm your gal.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB6k3dR-U1GhB_uNipKqUIpLm6LO3yqjkjpTU065xXBIjSnXJVJt2Iu4TzfrbCtqUbe8kU06ojmUtPlq9s48Ygph9-ITA8mhYKTNr1COqFViSoeH789wqc5Vt2ynXl-XxhJDRsxtFxvfcD/s1600/teatowels5.weasinart.2015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB6k3dR-U1GhB_uNipKqUIpLm6LO3yqjkjpTU065xXBIjSnXJVJt2Iu4TzfrbCtqUbe8kU06ojmUtPlq9s48Ygph9-ITA8mhYKTNr1COqFViSoeH789wqc5Vt2ynXl-XxhJDRsxtFxvfcD/s1600/teatowels5.weasinart.2015.jpg" height="170" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3V5EhalWzN8FkpJg1wHrtyVx5dqMb2MQbpZW2Wc2XwDmOjyfRg2ldPd9BksjGs2QuCgchDTGaHEKmnvFbkfp3n2ivij_uI4haxhxdHyTTly-y3MTP-MyxneecpZAuPgkoFynjM83BfoZn/s1600/teatowels6.weasinart.2015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3V5EhalWzN8FkpJg1wHrtyVx5dqMb2MQbpZW2Wc2XwDmOjyfRg2ldPd9BksjGs2QuCgchDTGaHEKmnvFbkfp3n2ivij_uI4haxhxdHyTTly-y3MTP-MyxneecpZAuPgkoFynjM83BfoZn/s1600/teatowels6.weasinart.2015.jpg" height="253" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I am ready for fun in the kitchen as soon as I heal. For now though, back to those WIPs.</span></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16820018847768718998noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1399572824887111908.post-9255369428895869082014-03-30T17:01:00.000-04:002015-01-11T18:32:40.223-05:00100 Happy Days<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6dZjr8M9cSDzVR0egivCbNvwH0HBYig8TtDp0I8lL3XNZvbwET3jJ79_D3MwcS-XArP1u059S27zubi5l1O3yrnWjUnGJGZ1zX2kaon3F2FtFSGEmeAgT09Kwp5xQgXs6fLRcdYJ1_MSs/s1600/happydays.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6dZjr8M9cSDzVR0egivCbNvwH0HBYig8TtDp0I8lL3XNZvbwET3jJ79_D3MwcS-XArP1u059S27zubi5l1O3yrnWjUnGJGZ1zX2kaon3F2FtFSGEmeAgT09Kwp5xQgXs6fLRcdYJ1_MSs/s1600/happydays.jpg" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;">Hmmm...good question. Can I?</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<a name='more'></a><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I am not one for forcing an emotion or faking it, but I do like to be grateful and I am truly to be more mindful. I think that I am up for the challenge! I also challenged my students--could they be happy (if only for a few moments) everyday from now until earl July? </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Can you? <a href="http://100happydays.com/" target="_blank">Want to join me?</a> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Here's what's contributing to my happiness this weekend:</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwJWw7aZcG_YL0hkD_HEXSl0WvBClRBsMpWY_7yCNTiVCdzws1v0U7O5kNiX64mRWUXBXgLCBLSu6Mf7E80GjAgQmyejpjbTqv0EHDjJx5bQNnIJXfaRxVcgWJKWgrIfhigyl1SMjPl-Ow/s1600/ramses.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwJWw7aZcG_YL0hkD_HEXSl0WvBClRBsMpWY_7yCNTiVCdzws1v0U7O5kNiX64mRWUXBXgLCBLSu6Mf7E80GjAgQmyejpjbTqv0EHDjJx5bQNnIJXfaRxVcgWJKWgrIfhigyl1SMjPl-Ow/s1600/ramses.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Ramses, he is loud and kind of obnoxious, but he unconditionally loves me.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5UYAkv0aLSQiIMIJd9hTbdqhQJRDweAzydcRi6WjdF3tMtfUVhwyrZak6dVRvynZPLgoDJcwYO4Tg2n0w7Y-S9IqrQUO674Hhq9Nhsegm2IQMcJlJOzRaAKcJ1zcHjAgtHkXlf1vUtKFf/s1600/flowers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5UYAkv0aLSQiIMIJd9hTbdqhQJRDweAzydcRi6WjdF3tMtfUVhwyrZak6dVRvynZPLgoDJcwYO4Tg2n0w7Y-S9IqrQUO674Hhq9Nhsegm2IQMcJlJOzRaAKcJ1zcHjAgtHkXlf1vUtKFf/s1600/flowers.jpg" height="261" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Started to buy bulbs for the upcoming growing season. Squeee!</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> I am so excited to get out and get in the dirt. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Follow my Pinterest <a href="http://www.pinterest.com/weas/how-does-my-garden-grow/" target="_blank">garden board</a> or my cottage garden<a href="http://www.pinterest.com/weas/old-lady-weas-cottage-garden/" target="_blank"> idea board </a>and we can share tips!</span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOwxlQY8Aaqa3mOd93gn_5Py-ZWLorYfKbDjbOlUhZ6uBApFEspykqozE0LOWwNXojI6OFYPfKHsYrUzdnhP6pBr3vwLw3ek_ShCCvgAsQoP9vaWkt1oZ4RBKBrTWlnqzpqUUoTQ7a7gAd/s1600/lunch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOwxlQY8Aaqa3mOd93gn_5Py-ZWLorYfKbDjbOlUhZ6uBApFEspykqozE0LOWwNXojI6OFYPfKHsYrUzdnhP6pBr3vwLw3ek_ShCCvgAsQoP9vaWkt1oZ4RBKBrTWlnqzpqUUoTQ7a7gAd/s1600/lunch.jpg" height="320" width="231" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I have been spending a bit of time each weekend make smoothies and salads for the week so I can stay healthy and satisfied. Today, I tried out a yummy new recipe for <a href="http://www.theyummylife.com/avacado_yogurt_dip" target="_blank">Avocado Yogurt Dip</a> to use as a salad dressing. SO GOOD! (My favorite oatmeal smoothie recipes are from the same site.)</span></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhKXq_CtcLcizYX-9VW5psAUqD1ggYL57rqdMKYFWHWIqjOG2ZPuf8HgCyzP8Sci2JcnTx9plsoQPVQmUNgDoHkVM55qrlDIQdoEhKBRCkO_pf-th1Ixwfzd3JfAXpbarUcr8hRXPYGSRe/s1600/veggies.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhKXq_CtcLcizYX-9VW5psAUqD1ggYL57rqdMKYFWHWIqjOG2ZPuf8HgCyzP8Sci2JcnTx9plsoQPVQmUNgDoHkVM55qrlDIQdoEhKBRCkO_pf-th1Ixwfzd3JfAXpbarUcr8hRXPYGSRe/s1600/veggies.jpg" height="230" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">How can this not make you happy?</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16820018847768718998noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1399572824887111908.post-72154645175798939412014-03-28T19:25:00.001-04:002015-01-11T18:29:43.175-05:00Gathering Inspiration<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Some people adore Winter. I am not one of those people. Winter depresses me and saps my motivation. </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Thank goodness that Spring FINALLY seems to be here. I am gathering inspiration from the weather, nature, my lack of socks (okay, just once so far...)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBsXOEl0GoT4quRtVUkuVnmWqP9eiAK_1jbOnkqQ661R4aMDf5avmE77R5t2wM02hJ8xxWSTpJ3odjYUPW1TkhyDrIz3xtZ_DEF2SexEWeWivbGyTsGb3f87iLrUrKUV3Zz0-jArI4oOQg/s1600/Spring+Collage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBsXOEl0GoT4quRtVUkuVnmWqP9eiAK_1jbOnkqQ661R4aMDf5avmE77R5t2wM02hJ8xxWSTpJ3odjYUPW1TkhyDrIz3xtZ_DEF2SexEWeWivbGyTsGb3f87iLrUrKUV3Zz0-jArI4oOQg/s1600/Spring+Collage.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<a name='more'></a><br /><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie-W1adypm3uQS68UWJaVheD94wOp4A4Ly3J6EnaoFjRJ-05A1iCKkZUVLhGp4IdQspmRSE-Ejuo0qoRZgJI1Ck-KXGH9R0KehuvVwfWo3LlQCgzOfyFdNZ7z1-BLFiFyduvdEymvLRbaE/s1600/shoes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie-W1adypm3uQS68UWJaVheD94wOp4A4Ly3J6EnaoFjRJ-05A1iCKkZUVLhGp4IdQspmRSE-Ejuo0qoRZgJI1Ck-KXGH9R0KehuvVwfWo3LlQCgzOfyFdNZ7z1-BLFiFyduvdEymvLRbaE/s1600/shoes.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv5Tbe3g3zm8QvkOxBgUZAzDAkQGYZEpLOeAub2tFL3ueRnVKhOGy5027-gZhCNo6fedOe0ht9jkVaQmCe40x2-naQVIb0iQFhitlwDcCYIXeFpz9KrOo6rj65pGkdSfINQGldaLkLXShW/s1600/scripts.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv5Tbe3g3zm8QvkOxBgUZAzDAkQGYZEpLOeAub2tFL3ueRnVKhOGy5027-gZhCNo6fedOe0ht9jkVaQmCe40x2-naQVIb0iQFhitlwDcCYIXeFpz9KrOo6rj65pGkdSfINQGldaLkLXShW/s1600/scripts.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I am going to take this one step further because in my world: gratitude=happiness.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Stay tuned for the next step :)</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16820018847768718998noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1399572824887111908.post-49946841054698982772014-03-23T17:00:00.000-04:002015-01-11T18:30:01.033-05:00Why wait?<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Spring has been pretty symbolic in the Weasinart household this year: back to the blog, back on the fitness tracking and training, back on track in the household (Spring cleaning has begun!), and today back in the studio.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvcqhagX6Kr5m_bwa9vFlNnUmf5bmpxQZsi5YI_lpPIba6kGmrZCxgsZ8ClY2VafsWVCWO4fZugF249-6attskpGNCPmVbSShGoIVHe5sw5gpzL0Zsfhwx1evnOrvdz35S405kKOAIeq-U/s1600/1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvcqhagX6Kr5m_bwa9vFlNnUmf5bmpxQZsi5YI_lpPIba6kGmrZCxgsZ8ClY2VafsWVCWO4fZugF249-6attskpGNCPmVbSShGoIVHe5sw5gpzL0Zsfhwx1evnOrvdz35S405kKOAIeq-U/s1600/1.jpg" height="288" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<a name='more'></a><br /><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I was definitely thinking spring plus wanting to apply several skills </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">that have languished since the holiday gift-making frenzy.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC5nVQdXlQ46HMjRSgtsrvVCBg_L2qi3uPYDEZTrv-hWVl_g1Z3twyAChXNEJTQX-vHw4nAyYvjDx6xuSzNkbW_LjSHnblQFE-SxKRW4It3EswNKM65bT_og2-JR7CACHhmBaOHuHC1i2U/s1600/2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC5nVQdXlQ46HMjRSgtsrvVCBg_L2qi3uPYDEZTrv-hWVl_g1Z3twyAChXNEJTQX-vHw4nAyYvjDx6xuSzNkbW_LjSHnblQFE-SxKRW4It3EswNKM65bT_og2-JR7CACHhmBaOHuHC1i2U/s1600/2.jpg" height="256" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Good question. What exactly am I waiting for?</span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhobtJxi2PyBceTwnrpbUfPc-cYEcoaQ92KsGg2at1N6qkQuRmugYfXZEZl2cF_fpg7GGU28ktO-1PSUi3Oq3Y06RrfIkm6lLAmlL2xmNy8qynwO6EFz1FUjplSBP2Bu9sHxtVXC1MWLpyp/s1600/3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhobtJxi2PyBceTwnrpbUfPc-cYEcoaQ92KsGg2at1N6qkQuRmugYfXZEZl2cF_fpg7GGU28ktO-1PSUi3Oq3Y06RrfIkm6lLAmlL2xmNy8qynwO6EFz1FUjplSBP2Bu9sHxtVXC1MWLpyp/s1600/3.jpg" height="275" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Drawing inspiration.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5l0YGSChfA4pfvnppwyJDW4A9lba0BACT3l57g7tTM72tkgrwP7PozwNON_W3q1z6ed1uoBmTr_qbo8QGtKNVXiGW5IMHmXMkhZm6P4buwAjk6oGw4mdpg4kgQsAEquveW5tgpfpTJwnx/s1600/4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5l0YGSChfA4pfvnppwyJDW4A9lba0BACT3l57g7tTM72tkgrwP7PozwNON_W3q1z6ed1uoBmTr_qbo8QGtKNVXiGW5IMHmXMkhZm6P4buwAjk6oGw4mdpg4kgQsAEquveW5tgpfpTJwnx/s1600/4.jpg" height="244" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Banging out the angst.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijCWVdPABvmGb7066_DCupkFp0XmigPtHtUPOLgaPYwYk8v0GLp7QNiBPwLg7QKkFpIM_gaghUwccjLbvM0bdfZsltVAkx5lc_m2sZa7HaItlx_3h3EGS6auSy123udBiYiNKra-1v9OuV/s1600/5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijCWVdPABvmGb7066_DCupkFp0XmigPtHtUPOLgaPYwYk8v0GLp7QNiBPwLg7QKkFpIM_gaghUwccjLbvM0bdfZsltVAkx5lc_m2sZa7HaItlx_3h3EGS6auSy123udBiYiNKra-1v9OuV/s1600/5.jpg" height="237" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sparkly and obviously springy! </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Enough with the icky weather, enough with the lull in creativity...why are we waiting?</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16820018847768718998noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1399572824887111908.post-89771265469916764942014-03-21T18:54:00.000-04:002015-01-11T18:30:24.874-05:00Spring Forward<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Hi. My name is Louise and I am a cliche. Or a Hallmark card. I haven't decided which yet.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Here's the thing: when I am down, I am <i>REALLY</i> down. When I am up, I embarrass Pollyanna with my perkiness. Not bipolar, as such, just super-affected by what is happening around me and my mood often reflects that. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I have been so flat-out busy lately that my self-image has really taken a hit. "Beached whale" comes to mind. Sigh. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Luckily as team captain of our wellness challenge team, I must lead. Me, being me, is leading by example. I bought a FitBit (complete with extra pretty wristbands) and don't want to let myself down. I have pushed myself out of my office and out on campus everyday this week on lunch. Today, I even got to take a longer break and a longer walk. Yay. Striving for equanimity in mood and fitness. This is a big deal for lots of people, I know. Let's support each other. That's what life is REALLY all about, right?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<a name='more'></a><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Some of what I have seen this week:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsbz3QRKYPPYIVsERLbzTjPT-Sufz3wRfACS9Pf21omV4kBqocFTlv3BBA9jfJXrT0WH2yTzG_JqA3wz-YayAwgZD-_yxzPvXmw37DCU1ehpQFpPY1hHyiFN4ZqobkWWSXvvjLnatV7eJF/s1600/arch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsbz3QRKYPPYIVsERLbzTjPT-Sufz3wRfACS9Pf21omV4kBqocFTlv3BBA9jfJXrT0WH2yTzG_JqA3wz-YayAwgZD-_yxzPvXmw37DCU1ehpQFpPY1hHyiFN4ZqobkWWSXvvjLnatV7eJF/s1600/arch.jpg" height="320" width="319" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwW5hyphenhyphenueeQIwC5LxZ7pz9UULlIL5bS-henBUlu34LCLnv_IbMK4LiIm9ZkcwLQOZQYQ1nY_DCuHvznx6tygVxkE5kRborCs5bxsoFPWZGPboEPcSmd-1KEgsMlzLUV05AOgYpCAp6SrVxs/s1600/Beebe.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwW5hyphenhyphenueeQIwC5LxZ7pz9UULlIL5bS-henBUlu34LCLnv_IbMK4LiIm9ZkcwLQOZQYQ1nY_DCuHvznx6tygVxkE5kRborCs5bxsoFPWZGPboEPcSmd-1KEgsMlzLUV05AOgYpCAp6SrVxs/s1600/Beebe.jpg" height="320" width="312" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg75QLyXf1lGSTzc2HQHlYwVLf0wmyo_ysvarMn9193gkVov3baWjnh8U0yWtXQhCjytVe6yTjQXZMp9TXog6jN5kFvKU7hm-Gv-8NZhWKisMAi_i119b3Hd9kxjO0DPLc5K7XxXbKwcyQl/s1600/Ezra.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg75QLyXf1lGSTzc2HQHlYwVLf0wmyo_ysvarMn9193gkVov3baWjnh8U0yWtXQhCjytVe6yTjQXZMp9TXog6jN5kFvKU7hm-Gv-8NZhWKisMAi_i119b3Hd9kxjO0DPLc5K7XxXbKwcyQl/s1600/Ezra.jpg" height="320" width="304" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeM-4lDs4P93OWA9jowEeWyQENOyGViJudeO6I69TPtNaEk4Eiuj7a2ERqvbc88zC0YGj3G3SFmMcNpQCa_H_HcNPU55o0cRGbIUpwagJsznUfHB0Qtstv1HTrGd-4TJjldah6fdHAQVW-/s1600/Sign.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeM-4lDs4P93OWA9jowEeWyQENOyGViJudeO6I69TPtNaEk4Eiuj7a2ERqvbc88zC0YGj3G3SFmMcNpQCa_H_HcNPU55o0cRGbIUpwagJsznUfHB0Qtstv1HTrGd-4TJjldah6fdHAQVW-/s1600/Sign.jpg" height="320" width="277" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgorByu_nS7Vg8uI46mxNhY5NLXjb4zI7ZFRghyxpAMhQH8MydoBkFdjyEmPQZyZFp1R3PCALNda4PvdBofzLIfp7xS7kBRropOY19hya8qqq8JZCX6wDLmCa9L4OZEwAfeCVYAwxJcUfDY/s1600/snowdrops.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgorByu_nS7Vg8uI46mxNhY5NLXjb4zI7ZFRghyxpAMhQH8MydoBkFdjyEmPQZyZFp1R3PCALNda4PvdBofzLIfp7xS7kBRropOY19hya8qqq8JZCX6wDLmCa9L4OZEwAfeCVYAwxJcUfDY/s1600/snowdrops.jpg" height="242" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivJUA8vhk5vawGFEmRQIUbQPO6YHShZ6bx6lNM16Avaq-0Ky5rKwbdTGbd0uk4xfS_kHcGRD1Ak8VDTmhPwK8ttua02Ab1XWIq3eNbszJz-sbmfWUWmjyJyOUHDuvWY-Qn_rd9kVR4PEtr/s1600/Stairs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivJUA8vhk5vawGFEmRQIUbQPO6YHShZ6bx6lNM16Avaq-0Ky5rKwbdTGbd0uk4xfS_kHcGRD1Ak8VDTmhPwK8ttua02Ab1XWIq3eNbszJz-sbmfWUWmjyJyOUHDuvWY-Qn_rd9kVR4PEtr/s1600/Stairs.jpg" height="320" width="242" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpTZRPBPn10jQi5qCtM3-Ue3yQvjYxTwCBnpmZtZL3QKH_JKfdq3P_tww3nCcbi0f8EsVgb6ty_8QCTWdMomGN1t9rLaWSdSBz4v7jIC8eIhGazrhR0Xz6NU-qyguKz2LAWE66ZK0Z9N-_/s1600/trellis.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpTZRPBPn10jQi5qCtM3-Ue3yQvjYxTwCBnpmZtZL3QKH_JKfdq3P_tww3nCcbi0f8EsVgb6ty_8QCTWdMomGN1t9rLaWSdSBz4v7jIC8eIhGazrhR0Xz6NU-qyguKz2LAWE66ZK0Z9N-_/s1600/trellis.jpg" height="320" width="242" /></a></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16820018847768718998noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1399572824887111908.post-76521319457876586712014-03-16T21:39:00.000-04:002015-01-11T18:30:57.101-05:00Phoenix rising<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">To say that the past year has been a roller coaster in an understatement.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I lost my job and it took me a long-time to find another long-term one. I am thankful for my time as a substitute teacher, but it was definitely a draining experience. Not only that, but it was also a humbling, embarrassing, and humiliating experience. Over-qualified is a hurtful word and every rejection feels like a smack in the face.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My entire life suffered...my self-worth, my fitness, even my creativity. The blog went by the wayside as did so much else. Even six months into my new job, I am still struggling back to the surface. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Not that I have been idle. Far from it. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIvmPCiqXkUiMkz5NoW9MV5bDtlNXTpQ11HZSsIk8jOLqfO3oDcgtMaXfxThWexIJetMmHFOPXcoVfDdHYtVgFyte631OkI2cRNkS_XUHH6cb6mb0uGlarzochqVd-J7nu2AZ3bJ-3mdpb/s1600/Racey.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIvmPCiqXkUiMkz5NoW9MV5bDtlNXTpQ11HZSsIk8jOLqfO3oDcgtMaXfxThWexIJetMmHFOPXcoVfDdHYtVgFyte631OkI2cRNkS_XUHH6cb6mb0uGlarzochqVd-J7nu2AZ3bJ-3mdpb/s1600/Racey.JPG" height="320" width="267" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I did run the half-marathon that</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> I thought that I couldn't. Huh.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<a name='more'></a><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfz32KeMQH_CXTGVNwENss73ENVm7hGzGDND86JN0ycanSpFaJMxpTOUBRqY8SEjDPVHQsW1Fh_6uKaWHwNvjARxo8nxGU8mD3i-suxHkInI55Q9hT0jbWJCB8YdtLXEzjtII9BMrBffKE/s1600/bday.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfz32KeMQH_CXTGVNwENss73ENVm7hGzGDND86JN0ycanSpFaJMxpTOUBRqY8SEjDPVHQsW1Fh_6uKaWHwNvjARxo8nxGU8mD3i-suxHkInI55Q9hT0jbWJCB8YdtLXEzjtII9BMrBffKE/s1600/bday.JPG" height="320" width="246" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I turned 41 and actually enjoyed it.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnuzaaBI0EZjxf2IPGskBjnhEr4_kZ_5rKVyXkZ9cNUOwNopQIgDoNl54F8xeTo6pzzw5h1mY_OlFGuQc1FmtxqPkcNdPv4n2r13mYdn5kO-PVL2wjMGrtOXEDrnR3n-RQCW6M4zdwo2CV/s1600/6130.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnuzaaBI0EZjxf2IPGskBjnhEr4_kZ_5rKVyXkZ9cNUOwNopQIgDoNl54F8xeTo6pzzw5h1mY_OlFGuQc1FmtxqPkcNdPv4n2r13mYdn5kO-PVL2wjMGrtOXEDrnR3n-RQCW6M4zdwo2CV/s1600/6130.JPG" height="256" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I directed the hardest and arguably the best thing that ever done, King Lear.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I guess all that angst does actually pay off sometimes, albeit in strange ways.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Lately, I have really been struggling to get back to the things that I do enjoy and relish. Exercise has fallen off the radar, but I registered for the same half-marathon today and tomorrow starts a wellness challenge at work. It will be difficult for me to begin with but I am really hoping to self-motivate. I bought a FitBit to track my progress and keep me accountable. I will let you know how that works out...</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I have tried to also kick start my craftiness.. I have been working on this afghan for a good long while and decided that it was tome to start blocking squares since I only have two colors left to complete.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNZBbN0Ulpzk-AH23ghTOmkykuRPodDF0XdpBX9KLFcfU-RPf7fbmzIctaVle-VhSU1d2yrJIjlbIwYTD1WmveWxP_UVhyphenhyphen7C2505Pqrbt8MPLHj6nAF1yGi10hq-o6KoWuJUJZjn9o6Yig/s1600/blocky1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNZBbN0Ulpzk-AH23ghTOmkykuRPodDF0XdpBX9KLFcfU-RPf7fbmzIctaVle-VhSU1d2yrJIjlbIwYTD1WmveWxP_UVhyphenhyphen7C2505Pqrbt8MPLHj6nAF1yGi10hq-o6KoWuJUJZjn9o6Yig/s1600/blocky1.JPG" height="258" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I guess that you could say that I cheated, since I am using acrylic yarn and am blocking using chopsticks/knitting needles and Styrofoam.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZTxlZKwMfwi6W0xPjsEiuhz31gwIiA0hktKghASaIUB4-ZgXq0Td-zBoOedXwXigCyc2ByvA04ZhMn-GEBoI3TpBVmEwUITJdRx3CM26ZyjSWimKeT5ENB8XrMnQvUSoDok-2x6HucTgR/s1600/blocky2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZTxlZKwMfwi6W0xPjsEiuhz31gwIiA0hktKghASaIUB4-ZgXq0Td-zBoOedXwXigCyc2ByvA04ZhMn-GEBoI3TpBVmEwUITJdRx3CM26ZyjSWimKeT5ENB8XrMnQvUSoDok-2x6HucTgR/s1600/blocky2.JPG" height="219" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjxNXQnKUI99I6gHVdE8GheMBjv6mm1QJQsXmXtS_MA_FdTnM9dJ7jyjRJU1LLLR1TbOz0tjeaVckvgiJnJBYXmPQ44eq5mgq9KcEg19sVIbo7Fwu4JgXp3Ojz41VcktpAMemIG2fIoMok/s1600/blocky3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjxNXQnKUI99I6gHVdE8GheMBjv6mm1QJQsXmXtS_MA_FdTnM9dJ7jyjRJU1LLLR1TbOz0tjeaVckvgiJnJBYXmPQ44eq5mgq9KcEg19sVIbo7Fwu4JgXp3Ojz41VcktpAMemIG2fIoMok/s1600/blocky3.JPG" height="227" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And I am getting back into big healthy cooking again...finally. The <a href="http://www.skinnytaste.com/2014/03/bell-pepper-and-potato-frittata.html#more" target="_blank">shamrock frittata</a> from SkinnyTaste seemed appropriate.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTNbta-vZXqIBc22iqDDSy9_LQE43aRughtFtQql8NC1sowXUxVd9nPdIQj9Anj56e3FDo_s2dgB_J1ctihw6F_0cUdUauXvtcLxp7IoGxOXxRt0EMCowZHwlG6aQ6m0LY7AGYqtiq7InF/s1600/Fritata.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTNbta-vZXqIBc22iqDDSy9_LQE43aRughtFtQql8NC1sowXUxVd9nPdIQj9Anj56e3FDo_s2dgB_J1ctihw6F_0cUdUauXvtcLxp7IoGxOXxRt0EMCowZHwlG6aQ6m0LY7AGYqtiq7InF/s1600/Fritata.JPG" height="298" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Thanks for all who have stood with me this past year. I am back. I am here to stay.</span></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16820018847768718998noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1399572824887111908.post-22370771007242009512013-07-28T15:38:00.000-04:002013-07-28T15:38:15.425-04:00Running For My Life<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLoDWW4ah5RJFvvNDUmat5Dfgob0hgwPRpIYQUtowuEKFCQ-X8fE81omYiU67FLuJSxvXBsXMywVmr0qBZy3MQi7gxtMsr9yM6YoxCqcOm5sbtCGmEk-lSakFf0ugbM9nKijyJU_SW8FDB/s1600/Running+scared+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="292" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLoDWW4ah5RJFvvNDUmat5Dfgob0hgwPRpIYQUtowuEKFCQ-X8fE81omYiU67FLuJSxvXBsXMywVmr0qBZy3MQi7gxtMsr9yM6YoxCqcOm5sbtCGmEk-lSakFf0ugbM9nKijyJU_SW8FDB/s320/Running+scared+1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In the last 3 1/2 years, I have done a lot of things that scare me: living alone and thriving, starting a new relationship, leaving a job that was making me unhappy, directing harder plays, sharing myself online, and running. I have never been an athletic gal, but the dissolution of my marriage pushed me towards the gym and ultimately, road. I have run countless 5Ks, a few 10Ks, two Boilermakers (15K), and even a half-marathon. If you had asked me 5 years ago if I would do ANY of these things much less ALL of them, I would have definitely said, "Absolutely not!' Tomorrow, one of my closest friends and I begin our 12-week training program for the <a href="http://empirestatemarathon.com/" target="_blank">Empire State Half-Marathon</a> and I am scared. I am more scared than I was before my first ever run.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGCWoPst7bukLMy9W0bwLenNr3J5cduVci_rYWWfmOdxnXxrPEFVuav-_-3-zzH4H0SArN80-d3HIRHUE196FpBa9gHM8PrSQMiFiGuR5WkZZMyrGZwyNHx4p4lh1E1XMc9pbaSXrADAkw/s1600/Running+scared+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGCWoPst7bukLMy9W0bwLenNr3J5cduVci_rYWWfmOdxnXxrPEFVuav-_-3-zzH4H0SArN80-d3HIRHUE196FpBa9gHM8PrSQMiFiGuR5WkZZMyrGZwyNHx4p4lh1E1XMc9pbaSXrADAkw/s320/Running+scared+2.jpg" width="270" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Why? I have narrowed it to three major factors: </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1. My self-confidence: since being under-employed, I have lost what I thought off of my athlete's mind. I now fear since no one wants to hire me, I am not good enough to take on this challenge. My resolution that I could do anything if I trained properly is almost gone. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2. My current physical condition: being home more and depressed about it leads to emotional eating. Being 26 miles from my gym membership doesn't help either. I have put on weight and lost tone...that is never a good place to be. I also desperately need new running shoes, but don't have the salary to purchase them.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">3. Fear of hitting the wall: by mile 11 of my last half, I was in pain. My knees ached. I had no energy. It was tough. I had to resort to a walk for a bit. I was upset. Looking back, I did not strengthen my hips and glutes enough, I over carb-loaded, I did not hydrate enough. Knowing that will help me this time. We are following a <a href="http://www.halhigdon.com/training/51130/Half-Marathon-Training-Guide" target="_blank">Hal Higdon training plan</a> and I am reading a <a href="http://mattfitzgerald.org/books/" target="_blank">great book</a> on race training nutrition.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMl45RJP6r2EcFyTzWB5toxy2PegdPLnJ295lOa5Xw1WIdWA-91itqb69g2pPEuKN3hJCKWy9-LN1WB-F6kQ3ubfZVr2Gd7ugL8ty3Zdu59G1C7Im4GvDOnjO-grbarkEAxwkUoDHV8tLt/s1600/Running+scared+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="243" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMl45RJP6r2EcFyTzWB5toxy2PegdPLnJ295lOa5Xw1WIdWA-91itqb69g2pPEuKN3hJCKWy9-LN1WB-F6kQ3ubfZVr2Gd7ugL8ty3Zdu59G1C7Im4GvDOnjO-grbarkEAxwkUoDHV8tLt/s320/Running+scared+3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Look at that girl, she is a happy racer. During the next 12 weeks, I will be working on finding her again...enjoying my training, getting leaner (I hope!), conquering my fear. Wish me luck!</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16820018847768718998noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1399572824887111908.post-17015842466145726352013-07-26T17:49:00.000-04:002015-01-11T18:31:18.388-05:00teany.tiny.stitches. for real!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsWBTpCbBOm_RsyFEADvQ4ln0Ql_H3puVDvfaY4kgfxf8hpcDDXBbxwlflQothepDg9oV6hqaHpoMW_Ur6b5_DSgHXWneofL_St6AaHUcrbn0IcF2BlfuCOLDnOnmamNr7aVAnNco3DGPO/s1600/logo+wip.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsWBTpCbBOm_RsyFEADvQ4ln0Ql_H3puVDvfaY4kgfxf8hpcDDXBbxwlflQothepDg9oV6hqaHpoMW_Ur6b5_DSgHXWneofL_St6AaHUcrbn0IcF2BlfuCOLDnOnmamNr7aVAnNco3DGPO/s320/logo+wip.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Proverbs tell us that "The first step is hardest." or "A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step." </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Well, I took the step. I figured if I was going to design and market a line of patterns, that first I needed a name and a logo. Two friends and I have a dream of opening an stitching shop with a tea bar and calling it "teany.tiny.stitches." Yes, we know that "teany" is misspelled. But we are going for a cutesy little joke. TEA. Get it? I love the name, so I decided that it suited this new venture. Since it is all about stitching, I knew that the logo needed to be stitched. So that is where I am in the process, if you can call it that.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></div>
<a name='more'></a><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWP4Us33Z95-jtM4ZxqOhqpDS3HhRCmqb0Q3-h-iy_myK0I-MmVYZSGUIOUdACLBn1jnjfGNrn9gxxPb1s3ADa5lGqOghVDZRSVGMxghGp_PDn3JL5xGZRdhuOCyGT_YP-69noQbPct31k/s1600/Inspiration.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWP4Us33Z95-jtM4ZxqOhqpDS3HhRCmqb0Q3-h-iy_myK0I-MmVYZSGUIOUdACLBn1jnjfGNrn9gxxPb1s3ADa5lGqOghVDZRSVGMxghGp_PDn3JL5xGZRdhuOCyGT_YP-69noQbPct31k/s320/Inspiration.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I follow a lot of stitching bloggers and have many books and bookmarks. I don't want to copy these ladies at all, but that are truly an inspiration. My pieces will be more pop culture-based...think Doctor Who, Star Wars, The Venture Bros, Arrested Development, Downton...things like that.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Have suggestions for designs or quotations? Let me know!</span></div>
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16820018847768718998noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1399572824887111908.post-28279578553574562822013-07-25T16:01:00.000-04:002013-07-25T16:01:51.196-04:00New Ventures, New Adventures!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I have always been a thinker and often-times, an over-thinker. Many people are guilty of this (especially women.) Since losing my job, I have had PLENTY of time to think. Sometimes, I think about my worth or lack thereof. It is truly amazing how much of our self-worth is linked to our jobs. It defines us and I felt as though I lacked definition. That is until last night...</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuMefuTUlQ6J8_hKYqVrVWYEXUccGOGqI6SNBuN1IkKXjrc9Dqb0rj17X-mtMEzoDlpWy8y5gaKt-kSswQ6z53_1YROXWtOUFuSO7bOoJClDGijLpML252Tt3mfju1FfH31YxdGDagHJc9/s1600/Life+Plan.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuMefuTUlQ6J8_hKYqVrVWYEXUccGOGqI6SNBuN1IkKXjrc9Dqb0rj17X-mtMEzoDlpWy8y5gaKt-kSswQ6z53_1YROXWtOUFuSO7bOoJClDGijLpML252Tt3mfju1FfH31YxdGDagHJc9/s320/Life+Plan.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">After a fabulous anniversary dinner date/trip to the library with my sweetie, it struck me: I AM AN ARTIST. Therefore, I have a job. I have been given a gift: time. I get to experiment in the kitchen, garden, walk, take photos, sing and dance, enjoy the sun, see my friends, and <i>CREATE. Sitting behind a desk would limit these experiences, so why am I moaning. I should be reveling in it.</i></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I have decided to spend the rest of the time I have been given doing just that. I will be focusing more on creating embroidery patterns to share and to sell. I will complete that blasted set model. I will embellish. I will make. JOY!</span></i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></i></div>
<a name='more'></a><i><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>This summer: </b></span></i><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span></i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi64SQ4nO9j0SCpH356XhKEHz1e2Qu7iSsfQG7qFzdlkmGd5rMKmg7epeoYBcGN2gNvgQI5FcYH8cNawSNHJzEW7dP5SOH_q26n97mMlXEpfW7bJCt4Z86LBlwWaqPqF8ict10jXrfeU62Z/s1600/baking+and+breakfast.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi64SQ4nO9j0SCpH356XhKEHz1e2Qu7iSsfQG7qFzdlkmGd5rMKmg7epeoYBcGN2gNvgQI5FcYH8cNawSNHJzEW7dP5SOH_q26n97mMlXEpfW7bJCt4Z86LBlwWaqPqF8ict10jXrfeU62Z/s320/baking+and+breakfast.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I have gotten to make new complicated recipes and even adapt a few of my own. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigFI0RzFz8jpsmgTSeJU17pJG98KPeR5OgWGA8F-cxPqWnLkrqFRbyinPf84uUmUJAcha_PcXh-009QgM7tls3JfC39gR_Y2gLNLrazYBjZ-N9mh26ejo7_LYVq4-FIlfKbk_gGo4UAedU/s1600/Bread.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigFI0RzFz8jpsmgTSeJU17pJG98KPeR5OgWGA8F-cxPqWnLkrqFRbyinPf84uUmUJAcha_PcXh-009QgM7tls3JfC39gR_Y2gLNLrazYBjZ-N9mh26ejo7_LYVq4-FIlfKbk_gGo4UAedU/s320/Bread.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0PWb8RawQ5-OfoXiR95qWd6EuHSRRPbjL9pEGkFJA0A5ZAx_eVIzcpzkX92P75aZ55ZzwWLQAvJByCqAp8oo1T_TpAovREcPW3kGzqlVTjp2mSgPo7Tu2HsBB9GjDu8DrqinEfreRcsEH/s1600/Beebe+Lake.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0PWb8RawQ5-OfoXiR95qWd6EuHSRRPbjL9pEGkFJA0A5ZAx_eVIzcpzkX92P75aZ55ZzwWLQAvJByCqAp8oo1T_TpAovREcPW3kGzqlVTjp2mSgPo7Tu2HsBB9GjDu8DrqinEfreRcsEH/s320/Beebe+Lake.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I have explored.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMO1buOxCmpuj5eQIRgJsrF6PdeBeyvJw_4nqx5jPmeMOZ1HA1UA9QmpqALGuFwUql_Fb8yp83dxC6BTCrq6V51KDbpKyP4J9mih63gLYmYWMVa_orC40gdxgFwuWVRRYEDn1NmodkmkCm/s1600/Grassroots.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMO1buOxCmpuj5eQIRgJsrF6PdeBeyvJw_4nqx5jPmeMOZ1HA1UA9QmpqALGuFwUql_Fb8yp83dxC6BTCrq6V51KDbpKyP4J9mih63gLYmYWMVa_orC40gdxgFwuWVRRYEDn1NmodkmkCm/s320/Grassroots.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I have embraced cultures, danced, and smiled.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHXAphR95VpIXjT8Af8z09wfkq78DJVff7DMte3whWMfxKha1efxRoHvi1TrLZU9lXdktfbdGjV59sZ2kKT0jqqovr396HkSLMIi52y4RC1Ljfel7UUFfl9rFvGmJxrEjCAFt6-WLRczRH/s1600/Ithaca+Falls.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHXAphR95VpIXjT8Af8z09wfkq78DJVff7DMte3whWMfxKha1efxRoHvi1TrLZU9lXdktfbdGjV59sZ2kKT0jqqovr396HkSLMIi52y4RC1Ljfel7UUFfl9rFvGmJxrEjCAFt6-WLRczRH/s320/Ithaca+Falls.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I have enjoyed the splendor of nature (and cooled off!)</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUhbAEo8_XRlvKMs7yUDaIdYrAegFBeYDWVGY_bcsjqVPYFO0BIIW7RnT0rebtW11jqxPYd2TbhX_J9E7A9Q3fNaNwOG_59gInFKPg5UxtK7dLmAC8nJBLD_HqPtl5CmwlDu1S_cHHGLx6/s1600/Sunset.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUhbAEo8_XRlvKMs7yUDaIdYrAegFBeYDWVGY_bcsjqVPYFO0BIIW7RnT0rebtW11jqxPYd2TbhX_J9E7A9Q3fNaNwOG_59gInFKPg5UxtK7dLmAC8nJBLD_HqPtl5CmwlDu1S_cHHGLx6/s320/Sunset.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I have enjoyed special moments with special people.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ0AzARshgVnKVtqoMrdgy2GZq_bu5jDAYAAniDCnzJTXkm5mcvEJN2gt-cLEYEMqKXmrw4nSNQf0kbYpu5mi08b6XSuBU4dgvN-yfC3DD-puQdKidsHdPvPCoUiCIXrpBa_uaquJy0VHc/s1600/Tracball.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ0AzARshgVnKVtqoMrdgy2GZq_bu5jDAYAAniDCnzJTXkm5mcvEJN2gt-cLEYEMqKXmrw4nSNQf0kbYpu5mi08b6XSuBU4dgvN-yfC3DD-puQdKidsHdPvPCoUiCIXrpBa_uaquJy0VHc/s320/Tracball.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I have acted like a kid. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I am free. I will survive and thrive. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Stay tuned for my next new step, teany.tiny.stiches.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> My first designs will be inspired by Downton Abbey.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Thank you all for your support!</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">(The photos were all taken with Instagram and many were edited altered by a fantastic <a href="http://www.abeautifulmess.com/a-beautiful-mess-app/" target="_blank">app</a> by <a href="http://www.abeautifulmess.com/" target="_blank">A Beautiful Mess.</a> Emma and Elsie are true inspirations.</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16820018847768718998noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1399572824887111908.post-6880065479603420442013-07-24T15:39:00.000-04:002013-07-24T15:39:41.577-04:00WIP Wednesday: CS Lewis Embroidery<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg32C6CgLxOw2zwQ8sGWm_l7GhqUpgjUvtbMCqoFpks8kLMdOnxlXWHD9D5dS3FBaoj6uLGE8kppxeMDSV6Dutm__BcYEuDPAiiC6E4IpHgCh-_uhxa4dBn-V6IJ1gYtqmp20oe0YXG2MKq/s1600/CS+Lewis+Embroidery+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg32C6CgLxOw2zwQ8sGWm_l7GhqUpgjUvtbMCqoFpks8kLMdOnxlXWHD9D5dS3FBaoj6uLGE8kppxeMDSV6Dutm__BcYEuDPAiiC6E4IpHgCh-_uhxa4dBn-V6IJ1gYtqmp20oe0YXG2MKq/s320/CS+Lewis+Embroidery+1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I really meant to be a better blogger. I have been taking photos all summer long...tons of food prep shots, a baziilion macros, gardens, waterfalls, and festivals. I had every intention of sitting down every evening and writing a blog post. Sadly, being unemployed and constantly looking and anticipating is utterly exhausting. The process takes your best intentions and whisks them away. I tip-toed in and made a few design changes. I have been making and planning. I am assisting my local bead store in a move/re-design. In fact, if it wasn't for the money (and therefore, the job) necessary to live, my life would be perfect.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigmXXcQTgTt2CTScgDJLai95xT6irf5gAmqQONNRaZ6A3TpDWug2IjdeIzF4HdxVvPVpMk6a3DujJIzr8gNALIiqu9I4ebn1QXJUCf3liWgIYO4BjofbwUcWfQjL3ChwHcKiGLz3Vs3-TL/s1600/CS+Lewis+Embroidery+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="232" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigmXXcQTgTt2CTScgDJLai95xT6irf5gAmqQONNRaZ6A3TpDWug2IjdeIzF4HdxVvPVpMk6a3DujJIzr8gNALIiqu9I4ebn1QXJUCf3liWgIYO4BjofbwUcWfQjL3ChwHcKiGLz3Vs3-TL/s320/CS+Lewis+Embroidery+2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I have been spending time each night looking at inspirational quotations on Pinterest. I truly think that I may take some and design a line of embroidery patterns like to one above. I am taking Mr. Lewis's words to heart, "Hardships often prepare ordinary people for an extraordinary destiny." </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Keep an eye out for the pattern here soon.</span></div>
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16820018847768718998noreply@blogger.com0