Communities

I have not been present in the blogging community much at all in the last month or so. Don’t know why. I have been having lots of wonderful thoughts and things to blog about, but have not been able to muster up the energy to do so. Today, Sunday morning, I finally have some time to let my mind roam.

I have been part of lots of communities lately though. Communities that fill me with joy and communities that filled me with something else I can’t quite name; deep thoughts and sadness perhaps. Let me tell you about them.

There is the community of my friend Diane and I. She was recently diagnosed with breast cancer and had a lumpectomy. She also had a scare with a possible gynecologic cancer which turned out not to be present, thank goodness. As I mentioned in an earlier post Diane and I recently reconnected after not being in close contact for several years. We have been friends since grade school and lived a block apart from each other. I am so thankful that we are back in touch and I can be a bit of support for her. She has to go through radiation and chemotherapy in the coming months; I am hoping that I can do something that helps her.

I remember being part of a geriatric community when I worked as a nursing assistant in several nursing homes in my 20's. This memory was really strong when I watched a documentary on PBS this week about art therapy and Alzheimer's patients. It was so wonderful to watch people with advanced dementia come alive through creating art and viewing masterpieces at museums. It really made me think about how much I enjoyed working with the geriatric set and how I long to have a job where I feel like I am making a real difference in the lives of others. Have to keep working on that goal!

As I watched the movie I felt so alive and full of possibility.

Community also came into play on Memorial day weekend when the community of my Mom and myself went to New Carlisle, Indiana to place flowers on family graves. I think the mother/daughter community is such a wonderful place to be. My mom goes to the cemetery at least twice a year to place flowers. This year it really struck me what a beautiful beautiful gesture this is. We placed red geraniums on my Great Grandparents' graves, my Grandma and Grandpa Bates' and my Uncle Bob’s graves. This cemetery in this little town in Indiana is one of the places on this earth where I can really feel my soul reverberating inside my body. I felt so close to my essence and the essence of all that is beautiful and loving. Just knowing that all of these graves were joined by the red geraniums meant that this family was once again all together in our thoughts. I like to think that if I flew over the cemetery in a plane I would be able to see all of the red geraniums scattered throughout the cemetery and know it was a sign of joining loving hearts together again.

Cross stitch community has also been a big part of my life lately. I have been lucky enough to find some very wonderful women through this lovely craft and have been able to spend time stitching (and shopping) with them through many evenings. It is just such a blessing to be able to share a passion with others.

Community also takes place at my workplace with my friend, Jane. We are a community of two making it through the absolutely crazy days that transpire. We are a community of two going through the ongoing pain of her divorce and the happiness of her finding her own way through this time and on to a better life.

I am in a community of dear friends that I have not spoken with in some time; many of them are going through very difficult times. I love them so deeply yet I do not get on the phone to them. What is wrong with me? I know I hate talking on the phone but there is no excuse for this. I am going to have to get on the stick. However, I am always thinking about Noreen, Lorie, Bertha, Dorothy and Julie.

I am a community with my dear husband. We are readying ourselves and our house for some major remodeling. New bathroom and kitchen!!! New windows! Landscaping! I got a new cross stitch chair! It is exciting and anxiety provoking. On top of that our dear little cat Pal had a bladder infection and obstruction. He had to spend three nights in the animal hospital. I missed him and I could feel it in my body (the missing part). He came home yesterday and things have felt good around here. I even managed to give Pal his pills by mouth after watching a video about it on the community of the internet! I cannot leave our home community without mention of our cat, Buddy who took it upon himself to sleep by my side when Pal was in the hospital. He must have known that I was upset and needed some feline closeness! He usually sleeps by Mike.




I am part of a community of friends that includes the lovely Sharon and Melissa. We get together every so often for dinner and soulful conversation which helps us carry on. We met last Friday and had a very big conversation about vegetarian diets and how they each evolved into that life choice. I definitely learned a lot and have a lot to think about.

Oh yes I whine and moan many times about things that happen in my life; but I truly know how blessed I am and am so thankful for all that I have. The community of blogging is such an important part of my life.

Give-Away Time (edited for winner information)

Happy Sunday! Happy May!!!

It is time for a give-away!

Please leave a comment on this blog post to win a chance to win the inaugural issue of this magazine - Flea Market Style. It is a fun magazine; especially for all of you people who love all things vintage.

I will pick a winner on Wednesday. By that day of the week we will all need a thrill!!!!

EDIT: Well, I put everyone's name on a piece of paper, mixed them up, went over to Kelly's office (I am doing this at work! naughty!) and had her pick a name.......and the winner is KATRINA!!!!!! Katrina, I will get your address from Karin and put the magazine in the mail this week!!!!!! I wish I was rich and could send a magazine to all of you!!!

10-0-6

Last night I asked Mike what time it was and he told me it was 10:06. He said it like that ten-o-six. All of a sudden I thought to myself that those numbers had some meaning........oh yeah, Bonnie Bell 10-0-6 facial cleanser!!!!!! I haven't thought about that for years!!!!! Then of course my mind drifted to Bonnie Bell lip smackers.....
While looking up images to see the actual products from the 1970's I ran across more and more mind blowing memories and am now stuck in the 70's (at least for tonight). Please go visit 70's Child. This blog will really take you right back to the seventies! My favorite decade of all. Let me know what memory blows your mind!!!

Gustav Klimt

Something magical happens every Sunday morning as I do my relaxed web surfing. I always discover something really inspiring. This morning when I was checking out the blog site, Old Painting, I ran across the painting that is at the bottom of this post, "Old Swamp" by Gustav Klimt. I knew of Gustav Klimt. I think all of us have seen his painting "The Kiss." I even believe I have one of his paintings on another post of mine somewhere on this blog. After seeing "The Swamp" I wanted to know more about Mr. Klimt. I checked out some more of his images on Google Images and just started uploading them to my blog. They are all too gorgeous!


I am too lazy right now to name and date all of the paintings. I just wanted to call your attention to them. I also found out that there is a bio movie about Gustav Klimt starring John Malkovich. Have to get that soon! Also, I want to go to the library and look at books that have some biography and paintings by Mr. Klimt.







Ahh, the fine arts! Something about paintings, music and literature! It just soothes my soul!!!!

Instantaneous!

Lucky me! I was driving to work this week and listening to NPR. They had a feature on this artist who is originally from Benin, Africa. Her name is Angelique Kidjo. She has a new album out called Oyo. Her singing is fabulous and she sounded like a really cool person. This album is songs that she remembered from when she was growing up. I am love! Love her sound, style, and everything. The album is very uplifting and gorgeous. Click on her name (above) and go to an Amazon page where you can hear a sample of some of her songs. I am sure I am going to be exploring her other work soon. I get so excited when I make a musical "discovery!" I titled this post "Instantaneous" because the minute I heard this music it seemed like it was already a part of me. Love it!

Longing

Has this ever happened to you? Something in the world of your hobby/passion happens and you get excited....you really get emotional....you are all hepped up and can hardly breathe????

That happened to me yesterday and today. Yesterday I found out that one of my favorite cross-stitch designers is designing no more!!!! Cathy of Carriage House Samplings is retiring from cross-stitch design. Oh no!!!! She is one of my absolute favorite designers!!!!!!

Then today the Shepard's Bush retreat was announced. This will take place in September and sounds absolutely unbelievable. Pretty much like you were in heaven!!!!

So, I have some serious emotional problems to deal with over here. Getting over the retirement of one designer and the disappointment of knowing that there is something happening that would be perfect for me but for the cost!!!!

I just have to keep repeating....what doesn't kill us makes us stronger!!!!!

Rolf Armstrong

I clicked on Old Paint tonight and up popped an artist I did not know of, Rolf Armstrong, although I am certain I have seen his work before.
I love these images! I wish I could have lived in the 1920's. Love the clothes and music from that time.
The graphic art from that time was amazing. Have you seen greeting cards or sheet music from that period? Crazy good.
Hope you enjoy these images.
I am no glamor girl; but it would be fun to be one for a day!

Diane

Recently I got back in touch with one of my dearest friends from childhood, Diane. We lived really close to each other and hung around together a lot from 5th grade through high school. You know, the kind of friend you played Barbies, Life, and Monopoly with. The kind of friend where you could spend hours just hanging out at each others house. The kind of friend where you knew her parents and siblings. Now all of these years later, lo and behold, we both love to stamp and make cards. I got a wonderful package in the mail yesterday from Diane. She made the card above! I LOVE it!!!!!

Diane and her sister, Lorie, started a small business making and selling paper goods and other things. You can see their business card below. They have some of their wares for sale at a great shop in Homewood, Illinois, Art 4 Soul. I have not been there yet but I can't wait to check it out. I absolutely love their style. Those are their gift tags above.

Below is a darling rabbit that Diane colored. It is so vibrant. Very cool!




Below is their business card....what a great name for a business. It is named in memory of their Hungarian relatives. (I don't know why this is underlined. I can't seem to get rid of it! It's always something!!!) I will keep you posted on the further adventures of Goulash and our stamping.

Stashopolis

Last Friday was the biggest day of the year for all cross-stitch fans of the Inspired Needle (greatest cross-stitch store ever!). Cathy came back from the Nashville Needlework Market with all kinds of new things! She had tables set up with all new projects that she had brought back with her. The appointed meeting time was 3 p.m. I made sure I was there right on time! You should have seen all of the happy stitchers; we were like kids on Christmas morning! I think giddy is the only word that would have described us. Around and around the tables of new did we go..... Commenting and oohing and ahhing! We loved to look at what everyone was buying. I photographed all of my new purchases. Actually, I bought only one new from market item so far; the BBD bird that you see at the bottom of this post.
I had been saving a gift certificate that Mike got me for my birthday. I have had my eyes on all of these projects for awhile. Above you can see that I got the floss and fabric for Mrs. Pearson. Directly above is the stunning Acorns and Threads which I have loved for a long time. Last Sunday the extremely wonderful stitcher, Barb H., brought in her finished and framed Acorn and that was all I needed to immediately jump on the bandwagon.
The same thing happened with The Red & The Black Above. The ever so talented Debby M. is working on this one and it is AMAZING!
I spied this chart in the store about a week ago and loved it. My fellow stitchers told me that if I liked it I better get it as it is now OOP (out of print!).

Below is one of the new Blackbird Designs pincushions. I have already started a few lines on this one and should be working on it right now....but it is Sunday so I am napping, reading, and avoiding all housework as is my usual routine.

This coming Tuesday is our next stitching night....can't wait to see what everyone else is going ape over! What a fun addiction!

Oh, I almost forgot, I bought the scissors pictured below! I have been wanting these for months. I already had one pair of scissors; but I liked these so much better. I understand that people collect scissors too (har-har!).

Pineapple

Okay, unless you really know me, this post is not that interesting. Actually, even if you really know me it is not that interesting. But just as things must be recorded in a baby book; I must record this. I actually purchased (for the first time) an actual pineapple and actually cut it up and actually ate the whole thing!!!!

I know, I know, what is so interesting about that for crying out loud!!!???? Well, the fact is that I eat about one apple a year....not a big fruit eater. Then one day a co-worker brought in some pineapple that was already cut up at the store. Yummy! But expensive! So, I looked up on the internet how to cut a pineapple (duh!), bought one, cut it up and have been eating it!!! It is even sweeter than the already cut up stuff at the store!!! YUM! I should bring pineapple to every social occasion I attend.

I love you Mrs. Pearson!

Last night was cross-stitch night at Inspired Needle. What a great time I had. It is so much fun to share your passion with other people who understand it. The women who go to stitch night are so much fun and so kind. It interesting to see what new projects everyone picks out. Sometimes three or four people get the same thing and a trend is started. Last night I fell in love with Mrs. Pearson. I saw her done up when my Mom and I went to the Country Sampler in Wisconsin. She is kind of on the edge of weird but I love her anyway. Can't wait to start on her!!!

Paper Dolls

I have always loved paper dolls. One day while skipping around in blogland I came across this post on Creative Breathing (which is a blog that takes my breath away!!!!) and there was a link to this site.......Betsy McCall.
So, if you grew up in the 1950's, 1960's or 1970's I am sure you are familiar with Betsy. In each issue of McCall's magazine there was a page with Betsy and some clothing for you to play with.
I wish I had saved those, but now you can go to this site and print out the pages.
I am determined to use these totally lovely pages in card and tag making soon!
Aren't they just the cutest?????

Stamping Again

How exciting! Last Saturday I spent time stamping with my childhood friend Diane. We have been friends since grade school and have always been in touch throughout the years, but have not "hung out" for a long time. Diane had the great idea to meet at Archiver's and use one of their tables.
We had such a great time and it did not seem like years had passed since our last gab session. Hopefully, we can do this a lot in the future.
These are the three cards I made. Sorry, about the scanned images being a little "off." I am having trouble with this new computer and my old scanner.

The Deer Who Saved My Life

I solved my cross-stitch crisis. I laid down my Christmas at Hawk Run Hollow for now. In January I decreed 2010 the year of the Christmas Ornament. I want to make tons of ornaments and have them finished as cute as the one above from Carol's blog and the ones below that Karin and Katrina did.

For Christmas Mike got me a subscription to the digital magazine Gift of Stitching. I wanted this magazine mainly for the ornament pictured above. I love it! Love Prairie Schooler. So, I searched around in my small fabric stash and found an unknown count evenweave. I started it Sunday and am loving it! It feels like the same fun I had stitching in 1993. I even stitched last night while watching TV (which has been unheard of lately)!!!! I am in love and I feel free to stitch what I want right now. No pressure. Just fun stitching! Yipeeeeeeeee!

I think the evenweave may have something to do with it or it might be that the design size is so much smaller. Anyway...it is fun!

I feel like a 10 year olld boy trying to cross-stitch!

I am frustrated!!!

Trying to stitch today....got everything set up.....working on Christmas at Hawk Run Hollow....it just would not "go." I was doubting the called for colors, could not find my picture of the whole work so I could check.....could not count right......

Okay, going to switch to BBD Blessings Be Thine....28 count from the 36 count. Boy, this 28 count seems big...it never seemed big before.....I just want to stitch a straight row and not have to concentrate so hard........I am going to read a book instead......

Now it is evening.....Sunday evening. I hate Sunday nights. I have "failed" to have a "cross-stitch" weekend again.......am I even any good at this? Don't be silly, of course you can do it. I mean you have stitched many projects to completion in the past. But none since I switched over to linen (oh except for a couple of "simple" Christmas ornaments).

Christmas ornaments??? That's it! That is what I will work on tonight while watching TV with Mike. I am not going to get my undies all in a bunch over the fact that I am in a Christmas at Hawk Run Hollow stitch along and am now behind the group.....I mean I do this for fun right? Carry on.......

Lucky Me Again!!

Look what was in the mailbox for me this week! A 1934 Needlecraft magazine! Look at that cover. It is just perfect! This was a lovely surprise sent to me by the most generous and lovely Jeannie of The Marmelade Gypsy!!! I am in love with vintage illustrations and this one if firing on all cylinders!

In looking throughout the magazine there are tons of great illustrations and several articles that really resonated with me. Blog fodder!!! I am hoping to get in touch with my creative side this weekend and get busy posting some fun things.

Thank you Jeannie. It is rare that one receives a present that is just "so me!"

Lucky Me!

I received this totally great and gorgeous Birthday card from my friend Jennifer Bradley!!!! She is a genius stamper and I was so excited to receive this card from her!

We have not met in person but connected through the internet. It was on Split Coast Stampers and Inky Antics that we became acquainted. Then a couple of years ago a few of us started a Card Kindness group where we sent out hand stamped Christmas cards and birthday cards. While the rest of us have slacked off, Jennifer is still going strong and we are so lucky for that! I will treasure this card as I do all of the others I have received from Jennifer through the years.

Thank you Jennifer!!!!!! I promise you that the first time I get back into my stamping room to stamp I will be stamping you up a card!!!!!