Saturday Stitchers in Sunny Florida!

It was just a delightful day at the Coconut Point Mall where Martha (Gone A Stitchin'...) and I met Lynn of Kearnel's Korner , who was visiting from Canada for lunch today! We recognized eachother immediately as we nearly collided at the same time heading for the cafe' at Barnes & Noble! That started off our laughing session!

Just to spend time with Martha alone is pure heaven for me, so with her and Lynn, together, I couldn't keep a smile off my face. Lynn just kept us giggling with stories, we each had brought stitching to share progress with eachother, and we had a yummy lunch. I could have gone all forever, but the girls had places to go and people to get back to!

Isn't it a good thing I have this picture to last me forever, so I can remember this day of laughter and good times with good stitching people?

You come to Naples and see me sometime, too!!

Hugs, Deb

Some Newsy News!

Good news I'm so excited to share with you! Sorry for this awful space......

I wish I could give you a better scanned picture, but I don't know how. This is a picture from the gallery catalog of Impressionist, French Artisit, Pierre Bittar, who has galleries in several States, including Naples, FL. Today, he hired me to be the manager of his Naples gallery!! Yes!!! I'm so excited, and I absolutely adore his work. It's simply gorgeous. Once I start working there, I'll take better pictures. The light in his work is so serene and beautiful, many pieces are done showing the water and the skies and water are just unbelievable. This painting above is called: Reflecting Pool

I've been struggling with the decision to keep staying home, or to go back to work somewhere. I just couldn't decide where to work. Did not want to do interior design anymore, and I felt a hardcore fund raising job would be too much for me at my age, and where I am in life. When I found this Gallery manager position advertized, I thought it would just be perfect! After talking with Pierre, it was ringing true to my heart that it was right for me.

The Gallery is on 5th Avenue in the heart of downtown Naples, "the" posh area of town. It also has an evening business, as well, because people like to walk to the different open-style cafe's at night.

Can you tell I'm excited!!?? The other thing I love, of course, is there is lots of "down time," so I can do my stitching and reading when things are quiet, and I can make my own hours! :) I'm slippin' on sunshine, friends!!

Speaking of slippin' on sunshine...here's my darling granddaughter, Amelia, wearing the fairy outfit Grammie sent her for Valentine's Day. She was chosen to play "Wendy" in the "Peter Pan" play her school was doing...but she insisted on wearing her fairy costume!! LOL I love that she's a girly girl after Grammie's own heart! Amelia's having a babysister come late in April...he parents (my Frank and partner, Coco) are calling her "Peanut" which they think is really "smoothe." "Ha ha," we say!! But, Jessica and I comply and now we call her Peanut all the time! :) And, here's my other little granddaughter, Hadley, with mommie, Adrien, and the Easter Bunny. Hadley thinking and acting...."No thank you, Mr. Easter Bunny....stay away from me!!" :] It was, of course, freezing outside with snow on the ground. Not a "peep" around!

Many have sent me emails wondering what I've named the little Voodoo/McGoblin Girl. Do you think this is up to me??? I really think Harmien should name her. Maybe we should help her.... I propose a contest of names. To the one who sends the name that Harmien decides to adopt, I will send a mystery package of stitching items that will make her eyes pop!! Let's say you have until Sunday, April 13th. We'll have Harmien choose the winner simply on the basis of the name that's her favorite.

Jessica has been in and out of the maternity ER with high PB and dehydration. Please remember her in your night prayers...
Have a wonderful, stitchy weekend, too. dear friends!
Hugs,
Deb

Finishes!

My, oh my!! Here's my little witch and her habitat for Marie's Neighborhood in our RR group. I've named her Broomhilda. She's carrying a grim pumpkin familiar. Her very favorite time of year is Halloween, of course. This was a challenge to work on, but with all your suggestions, I got inspired!

I made this by patching up pieces of Cross-Eyed Cricket's "Three Gables" for her cottage/habitat. And used The Trilogy's "Halloween Line Up" for witchie which I dressed in my own choice of colors. She has metallic mixes and glow in the dark threads, too. All in all, a challenge to find something unique to add to Marie's Neighborhood, and fun to do!!

Oh, dear, lookie here! She's finally finished, Harmien!! Well, nearly...I've completed the stitching, and now have to do the sewing finishing part. What a trial she was in that she kept hiding from me in the piles of WIPs! I know the goblins were keeping her from me... You really can't see her sparkles very well, but she truly is gleaming like a gaudy hoochee girl! That should drive the little pestie no good anti-stitch goblins away from your door and simply to distraction!

Many people have asked for her chart. It doesn't exist! I just improvised using the Voodoo Boy chart by using metallics and changing some of the colors and things.

Otherwise, I'm off to stitch on Nicole's Neighborhood RR which just arrived at my door earlier this week. And, I'm looking for a pattern for my Fair & Square friend Susan's piece!

I'm going to try to find a bit of time to stitch on these pieces of my own: Cirque de Cercles, Taj Mahal, White Nights of St. Petersburg, and Marie Antoinette Sampler, and my PIF friends' pieces!

Wish me luck! Love to all my stitching friends!! Hugs, Deb

My Green Brain...

Just some random thoughts for a Saturday morning in sunny Naples!

Your (My) Mind is Green :
Of all the mind types, yours has the most balance.You are able to see all sides to most problems and are a good problem solver.You need time to work out your thoughts, but you don't get stuck in bad thinking patterns.You tend to spend a lot of time thinking about the future, philosophy, and relationships (both personal and intellectual).

Well, here I am on St. Patrick's Day weekend, and I'm finding my brain is "green!" This was one of those silly blogging "tests" I took. So much fun on a day like today....one where I don't want to move....just to veg-out! I found the link via Deb's blog (Cattails...).

I may be the last one to know about this piece, but I just found it and absolutely love it!! It's by Sampler Cove. I think I may have to have it! I can just see some sparkly threads being added, even as we speak....hmmm

Did you know there's a new "Eagles" 2Disc-CD out called "Long Road Out of Eden." It's very good. I love "I Don't Want to Hear Any More" on Disc One of the album. But nearly all of the songs are just awesome. That's my music for this weekend. Lots of ballads on this one!

Hope all is well in your world. :]

Block on the Neighborhood!

Here it is! I've finished my block in Leslie's Neighborhood RR! I'm so happy to be able to pass it on to Bine, and hope Leslie likes it.

My thread changes simply downplayed the very bright colors that "June Morning" called for. I didn't want it to be too foreign in the Neighborhood of more conservative houses!! :] Though, I've always had a rose featured in my blocks for my RR friends, this has to take the cake!!

Hugs and happy weekend stitching, Deb

Books and blogs

Just wanted to share with you what my Jessica shared with me about the book I just recommended: "Monsters of Templeton"
It's being reviewed and has author interviews on this great new site that Jess found: Voice- Every Woman's Voice

http://monsters.everywomansvoice.com/book.php?#

There's a reader's guide for discussion there, as well. Anybody want to have a long-distance bookgroup??? :]

Hugs,
Deb

PS: My pink and crimson rose bush has 3 buds on it!!! Sorry for braggin'
But, it's exciting!!!

Feeling Better,Stitching More, & Updates

Debs jewelry: See more down page....:] Dancing Dragon, Queen Bee, Lava & Red Jasper, and Crystal Peony...earrings to match all & others above

Finally, an update on my Cirque des Cercles! Using DH's camera, I finally got a picture to pick up the latest stitching. Though, I haven't been able to pick this one up for 3 weeks since the buggs I've been fighting! Can't wait to get back to it. I love working on it. Harmien, here's your little Voodoo Girl/McGoblin coming right along. I've actually added more to her since this pic., but it was such a good pic. I couldn't help using it! She's very near completion, and now I'm going to be faced with that dreaded "F" word....finishing!! :[ I hope I don't ruin her! The scissors fob is another gift from my sweet friend, Nicole, and I've added the big bead in lieu of a needlethreader. I handmade the silly little pincushion, and I just love the thread laying tool....so had to show you that. HAED RR progress 3 wks ago....
HAED RR now. This is called "Autumn Splendor." You can find her on the Heaven and Earth website. Please excuse the shadowy head in the pics!! :p This one has been very slow-going...lots of confetti stitching!

This is finally a picture of my first Bride's Tree Ornament 2008. This one is for January, represents a house/home. I'm making them for my son, Jason, and his family. So, I chose this to represent Jas and his ice-skating in NH. He started skating when he was about 5 yrs. old, and was in the little Dartmouth Hockey League! LOL We lived in a Yankee Barn house (those of you in NH and VT know exactly what that is...), so I changed the colors of the PS "Buttonup" chart to the colors of our "barnhouse."

Last week, when I was fighting a relapse of the cruddy bugg...I decided to fight back with jewelry-making. Not very good pics of: LtoR: Midnight Plum, Dancing Dragon and Queen Bee. Midnight Plum has interesting dark fushia/plum spikey pearls, svars. crystals in fushia, light lavender tiny pearls, white/tarnished silver&glass beads, black heavy stone beads, etc. I like it alot.

Dancing Dragon is named after the piece of costume jewelry I've had for a while that I want to wear with it. It's actually a fantasy piece of a lizard with flowers and charms hanging from it...and was meant for a fairyland. So, I've made it a fairy dragon. Lots of different, real pearls and crystals in this one...also glass leaf shaped pieces, and some irregular pearl discs (manmade), and I loved adding the small pink glass "teardrops."

Queen Bee has an abundance of small cultured pearls in pastel lavender/mauve, cream colored larger-irregular pearls, and 3 pricey pearls in shades of lavender blue that I've collected over time. Obviously, the Queen Bee has the smallest of lavender pearls in her clutches...but the others are there for her taking. This is a special necklace with those 3 gorgeous pearls!

Crystal Peony is made up of those coral colored semi-precious gems. I can't remember now what they are! I've mixed them up with white crystals, actual pale coral discs and some small pearls, but I love how they stand alone in glorious color. And, I particularly love the shapes of the pieces.

Lava & Red Jasper is a chunky but light-weight necklace for the fun of it...and because it's exotic. The lava discs were pretty expensive ($80 for the strand!), so I wanted them to sort of stand alone. I added the red jasper because it was a strong enough color and weight to pair with the lava and gave the feel of the fire of a volcano, too. Then, for mystique...the hammered silver dangle, and the twisted silver earrings. Too bad the red jasper doesn't show up in the picture...

There are 3 more necklaces I couldn't fit in the pictures. So, another time...

I'm still reading "Monsters of Templeton." Can't say enough good things about it. It's a great read, lots of symbolism for those of us who love that, and also an easy but interesting storyline. Digging up old family history can really be astounding...and a clue into who we are in the present, it seems! Takes place in a small town in upstate NY.

Must say bye for now. The curtain just came down on me...tired.... I'm missing stitching more and faster. I seem to be slow, and to fall asleep in the middle of it. Even my little Clara doggie has gotten more sleep than she can deal with!! LOL I've been daydreaming about a new hair style when I feel up to it, but not sure what. I'm in the mood for change! Think this means Spring is in the air!! Again, I thank all of you who are thinking of me and wishing me good health. It's helped! Hugs, Deb

Random Things and Lody

Meari tagged me on this Seven Random Facts About Me...and since I'm still recovering from my infection (now in my lungs...Rats!!), I thought it would be fun to play. I have to say here that I don't know how to "link back and link to" people, so I'll just be emailing and noting in comments, okay? :)
The Rules:
1. Once you are tagged, link back to the person who tagged you.2. Post the Rules on your blog.3. Post 7 weird or random facts about yourself on your blog.4. Tag 7 people and link them.5. Comment on their blog to let them know they have been tagged.

Seven Random Facts About Me:
1) I think I really should have been born in the late 1800's....I'm most comfortable with things in this era. I find the world often too modern for me...and I live in a time warp!

2) I've always had a thing for Marie Antoinette, from the time I was very young. I've always thought it was strangely like I knew her.

3) My very favorite place to imagine myself when I'm travelling in my mind is my former Victorian house in Wellesley, MA.

4) I have a gifts of sight/dreams/readings. I've often seen important events in a dream before they've happened. It's not always been happy things. I can read people. This is a trait given to some of us through many generations, and well accepted in my family. My paternal grandmother, one of my aunts, one of my cousin's children and one of my sons has evidenced the gift in my lifetime.

5) I wiggle my toes and rub my feet together when I'm cuddling with my children, reading or stitching...!! It's my happy sign!! :]

6) I don't like to drink alcohol and can do without wine. But, I do like Dubonnet over ice with a lemon twist on occasion. I just learned on the Barbara Walters Royals Special that that's Queen Elizabeth II's favorite drink, too!!! LOL Who knew!! :]

7) I love to sleep in long, XXL t-shirts like the cheap ones you can get from Michael's and ACMoore!! They're so soft and comfy...:) but, not very girlie... which is contrary to my ordinary love of jewlery and embellishment! :)

Now, I'd like to tap: Jessica, Deb in CT, Lody, Wanda, Jenn, Juls, and Lizzy!

I also want to take some time to introduce to you my friend, Lody. I've known her for the past year in a couple of our online stitching groups. We've formed a friendship emailing off site, and she's a great stitching and finishing friend. I call Lody the "Lightenin' Stitcher!" She's amazingly fast and an incredible finisher. She even creates her own designs. Please go visit her newish blog.... A Stitcher's Journey From Her Heartland http://lodyscreations.blogspot.com/ Here's a picture of some of Lody's work. Isn't it amazing!!?? She's very modest and just a doll. She's from the Phillipines and lives in the Midwest.

A final note of deepest gratitude for all of you who left me comments of get well wishes (and de-bugging advice!), and sent me emails, too! You made me feel so enveloped in a world of caring stitching friends while I've been down. Thank you so much dear friends!! Hugs, Deb *New stitching pics next blog entry, I promise!!