Have I made you hungry?

Yesterday I had an old friend surprise me by stopping by the office. I had an errand to run so I walked out with her to her car. My errand was to finally get E's birthday gift sent. His birthday was in August. This birthday gift that contains some Halloween fun. Halloween which is in two days. I had an "O Crap!" moment Tuesday night and determined that I would have to send this package out UPS. The UPS Store is next to a new little bakery. Hello cupcake!

Wordless Wednesday

Stitchy britches

If you didn't read the comments on the last post, I would like to point out the excellent note that Kim left regarding someone's shrink's office decor - a plaque that reads "Change or Suffer". I've decided I need to stitch that phrase for my very own office. And perhaps my home so I have a little reminder for me too a la Subversive Cross Stitch. Do you know about Subversive Cross Stitch? It makes me laugh. I don't think I could hang something that rude on my wall at home or at work but that's what makes them so fabulous. And the ones that combine all the frilly, traditional cross-stitch patterns with the rude words are the best. It makes you look twice.

However, I am not so good with The Math. Which, if you are planning out your own pattern, is helpful. But! There are sites set up to choose your font and it will make your pattern for you. This is awesome for people like me. So last night I looked through my many pattern books for a frilly border and played with the chart generator to come up with something that I like. As I was looking through my books I came across several half-done projects. I thought I had given up on cross-stitch, quite frankly. But for some reason, this project is calling me back to it.

Also, a sneak peak of a gift I finished this weekend. Do you ever have those times when things just jump into your cart or arms as you wander the store? That's what happened to me with this fabric. I did not need more of this type of fabric. But oh my heavens! It was too cute to leave languishing in the store.

Sometimes the answer is "no"

I don't like being the person who makes you look at yourself hard and long and maybe coming to a conclusion that you don't like. I hate making myself do that. I would much rather operate under my illusions and unrealistic expectations, thank you very much. There are usually tears involved.

Today I made someone cry. Granted, that person had pulled an all-nighter, the second this week, but still, it was not a fun thing. I love this person. I just want there to be some clear expectations and some realistic evaluation of what is happening. When something is way down on the priority list sometimes it means that someone else who can place this thing higher on their list needs to step up and take over. It's a hard realization.

So today, I am reality. Reality is no fun.

Something's a little...

How frakking cute is this little needlepoint that I found one day while thrifting? I adore it. I love the different types of stitches the person used and the cute little expressions on the faces of the squirrels. It's up on my wall in my bedroom and I smile every time I look at it.

This little guy was performing some amazing acrobatics yesterday while I wandered around and took a break. He was hanging completely upside down when I first spied him, all stretched out grasping for some type of fruit in the next tree down. Of course he straighted back up as I pulled out the camera and refused to do anything cute for me.
Am I the only one who thinks this fall has been better than the last few? The trees just seem to be blazing right now in Chicago. I am grateful each time I turn the corner and see a pillar of red or orange or yellow. Creation is lovely.

Wordless Wednesday

Super Coolness

I moved for my senior year in high school. That whole parents getting remarried and needing to make a new start in a new place thing. The place we moved to was a whole different culture from Kansas. Teachers became "Sir" and "M'aam". There were crazy politics and rumors. Insane pageants that I didn't understand. And the overuse of the word "super".

I cringe when I do that because it reminds me of that place.

Anywho - this is a super-cool site where you can find all sorts of vintage illustrations and photos. Adverts, old-timey bird illustrations, bats. Print them out and frame them up. Viola! Instant decor!

Just thought I would share.

Craftyness

I have been working on a few things. A peak at a little blanket I finally got done. I hadn't allowed myself to start any new quilts until this one was finished. It is off in the mail now and that's a good thing. I immediately started a new project. Of course.

I've also been stitching up a large number of onesies - apparently all for girls. I need gifts for wee boys so I should get started on those too.

I'm tired of this icky weather. It's been spitting rain for the past few days. And unseasonably cool. I could go for some warmer weather and clear skies.

Life through a different lens

I go almost everywhere with my camera. It makes my purse quite a bit heavier but I'm usually glad to have it with me. I find that there are times when the camera puts distance between me and what is happening at the time. I'm so busy documenting the moment that I'm not enjoying the moment.

Sunday I walked over to the beach without my camera.

I watched the waves.

I looked up at the sky.

I listened.

Suggestions needed

I'm trying to think about Christmas before it's landed in my lap and makes me freak out a bit. I want to do another calendar of my photos. So here's where I need your help. Are there any particular photos that you liked really well that you can remember? Any that I should NOT include?

Thanks people!

Inspiration

Better with cats

I was sewing (it's been a while since I've done any sewing) and hanging out with the kitlets. Also, I rearranged the furniture. You have to do that every once in a while I think. It helps. But here they are, hanging out. Being cool. Napping. Jumping in front of the camera. Well, no. Not really.This one, I'm pretty sure, is the end of the peace. I think Leo is planning to take a chomp at Judah's neck as he so often does. It's part of his charm. Judah does occasionally just walk over to Leo and attack as well. Less often, but he does reciprocate the love.Judah is getting old. I realized this at one point in the last week or two as I brought out what used to be his favorite toy - the feather on the fishing rod thing. It used to make him do flips and such. These days he just looks at me like I'm crazy. He's probably 12 or 13 now. And that makes me sad a little to think that he's getting old.

I tell you, once these cats die I'm getting a corgi puppy. And a big, fluffy, charcoal grey cat which will be named Aslan. What??? A person needs a plan.

October is here

This is how I started my day. Leaf sprinkles (with coffee of course) and rainbows inside my car. And flipping over my calendar to October.

I have a calendar that I ordered from here. I adore it. It makes the beginning of each month ridiculously happy. Did I ever mention that was my most embarrassing/super exciting moment of my trip to Rhode Island in August? I mean, besides getting my brother married off? The parents and I were driving around Bristol and suddenly I squealed because I saw the sign for the brick and mortar shop and I made them stop so I could look around and spend money. And I went in there and gushed about how much I LOVED her stuff and that I had the calendar and this print and that print and I think possibly made a bit of a fool of myself. Yeah. Oh well. It won't be the last time I make a fool of myself.

Speaking of making a fool of myself, I actually taught/facilitated a portion of one of the classes where I work. I've been sitting in on two sections of the same class because I will probably have to teach it sometime in the near future. The two folks teaching it have very different styles so it's been interesting. I love lectures. Give me a good lecture and I can sit there happily scribbling notes, basking in the knowledge that is being poured out. Except I know most folks, especially the students I work with, aren't quite they lecture type. If they were, their first foray into higher education might have gone better. So I have to figure out how to teach a class that will work in a different style than how I'm wired. Fun, huh.

But, back to last night. One of my co-workers who happens to be teaching this class had family emergency stuff going on yesterday. In fact her father-in-law just passed about an hour ago. So another co-worker (the other person teaching this class) and myself taught the class which met last night. The other person took the first two hours and I had about an hour and 15 min. at the end.

It went... OK.

I'm also wearing a sweater. If that doesn't mean fall, I don't know what does.