Strangely Cool - An Update

It was ONLY 70 this morning!!! And I was just thinking the other day, you know it's been too damn hot when 95 feels pretty good... Of course, it's just a brief respite, we'll be back to sweltering in a couple of days.But wow, 70 was positively refreshing as I was being drug down the street by the Sled Dog this morning...

we've had GREAT clouds the last couple of weeks....

As predicted, last week was a circus, just like the week before. Got a lot of things done, but I think that combined with the smog has actually been slightly detrimental. I've got a serious case of fatigue going on, coupled with headaches which I KNOW are because of the dirty air. Still can't believe I live somewhere with smog - what happened to the crystal clear days of Clovis, NM? Oh, yeah, I moved here to the navel of the US... So hopefully this next day or two of cooler weather will help me out; if not, some clean air in my lungs up in OH next week might do the trick - assuming I don't get ebola or Marburg or anything like that from the lovely recycled air on the plane. Did I mention I really don't like flying? I was GROUND CREW for a reason...

one disadvantage to living in the mountains - trying to find a clear view of THE SKY. Since I don't seem to have access to many rooftops, trying to get a clear panorama just isn't going to happen from any place I can actually get to.

BUT, I do have stuff to show for my pooped state :) I have another FINISH!!! I am currently down to 16 WIPs - yes, ONLY 16 :) I finished the chickens on Thursday! I had to play around with the lettering a good bit to get it spaced correctly, once I picked the font (with help from the PINS ladies - thank you!).


I am glad to have this done - partly because I really didn't think it was going to take quite that long, which was due in part to the top being repeated at the bottom (albeit flipped) - repetition slows it down a bit. But mainly, this was the stiffest piece of Monaco I've ever gotten hold of, and since all this blackwork was done with 2 strands instead of 1, it was a bit more "work" than I thought it would be going in. And it didn't soften up as I worked it. Strange. But in the end, I think it's pretty cool - and I am glad I subbed the red they had charted for this rustier color - that bright red just wouldn't have worked, IMO.

cloud photos - lots & lots that look like repeats, but if you look CLOSE, you can see the subtle movements - start here.

So when I got that done, I got out my Birds of a Feather SAL and got a decent bit of progress on Part 2 over the weekend. I hope to have this done before I go to OH, but if not, the week I get back - it's not going with, because I know I won't have light sufficient for working on 35ct, even if I have time to work on anything, which I highly doubt.


Also, in prep for getting things ready for the fair, I, as usual, have framing to do. I ordered 4 frames from my favorite OFS (online frame shop), Frames By Mail. I will only be able to submit 2 of the 4 for judging (one is too big inside dimension, but fits the outer dimension - how stupid is that rule?), and the other, well, it's a pair, and you can only enter one per class, soooo....

Here are Dream & Imagine, in silver frames, with no glass, and a light layer of batting:


One of these, Dream, I think, is what I will enter in the 14-16 ct class (they are both on 32ct). And then I framed White Christmas. The mat I chose is a hair greyer than I thought it would be - but you know what? I think I have done a pretty good job picking these mats online when all I have to go by is a little tiny thumbnail that's about 2mm x 2mm on various monitors that never show them the same. This is too big on the inside, by 1 1/8", to go to the fair, though the outside dimensions fit their dumb criteria. This frame is really cool in person - the picture doesn't really show it very well, but it's gold that has been whitewashed, I guess is the best way to describe it, though it's actually ivory over the gold.


I also have a frame for Starry Nights, but I just didn't get to it yet - it's purple metallic, it's going to be cool. Trust me :) That'll get done one night this week; it will get glass in it, but since I haven't gotten glass cut yet for this or WC, you'll get a photo without (unlike my BoINK photo last December, glare & all).

So that's the progress for the week. I will keep on with BoaF this week, get Starry Nights framed, pick the photos I am submitting - I gotta pre-register all of this by the 22nd. I am also waiting for a couple of DMC perles to show up for the small project I am doing for The Stitcher's Village Sampler project - we are assembling a HUGE sampler from pieces done by as many members as can; so, if you are a member of the Stitcher's Village, consider participating - see the forum for details! If you aren't a member of the Stitcher's Village, check it out! There are links to lots of shops, and lots going on in the social area!

I think this small project will be what I take to OH with me, though it depends on how full the book bag is by the time I get all the electronics in it and how many TSA alarms I'll set off :)

Until next week, Happy Stitching, everyone!!