Inspired Stitches - Ramblings of a Blackworker

Well, today, November 18, there’s not much more to talk about than THE game. Having been born into a family with deep-deep roots in Columbus, Ohio, the day of the Ohio State - Michigan game looms large in the family calendar. Today’s the day!!!!! Everyone’s schedule circles around it, and not much else occurs on the day of the game. Look at this picture I found last year when working on a “This is your life” book for my mother. It’s a picture taken during an OSU game in 1958. The band’s doing their “Script Ohio” routine, which ANY Ohio State fan is familiar with. Football games and their fans certainly were different then, than they are now - weren’t they? My grandfather took this picture.

For me, it now has a different type of significance. It was during this game 3 or 4 years ago, as I was watching the game, and also cleaning the house getting ready for the arrival of our large family, that I decided to trip over the vacuum cleaner. 6 months and 2 surgeries later, I was FINALLY off of crutches. Never again am I allowed to clean while that game, is on. Actually, as I write this sitting safely at my desk, Jim’s getting the vacuuming done - so that the vacuum cleaner can be retired to the upstairs junk room - by the time the pre-game festivities begin. By that time today, I plan on being safely parked on the sofa, with snacks and drinks all within reach. I won’t move until the game’s over with, as I don’t want to take any chances of a reprise of that event. For those family members who’ve called making sure that we were going to hide the vacuum cleaner - you can stop worrying - Sally’s not chancing it again.

Here in the States, Thanksgiving’s quickly approaching as well. My brother, nephew, and mother, are all coming into town, and we plan on celebrating Thursday at my sister’s house, with her soon-to-be in-laws. It should prove to be a nice, relaxing day, with (of course), too much food. This year not all of our family could come in to town, but that will make it easier for us to jump immediately on Friday into more wedding planning. Mom gets here on Monday, so we’re trying to get prepared for her today.

If I’m not able to stop in on Thursday, I do hope that everyone has a wonderful Thanksgiving day!

Happy Stitchin’!

I hope everyone’s had another great Saturday! It’s been gorgeous here today, and I was able to spend a good amount of time outside while I designed. Yup, the designing bug has hit again, and luckily, a creative mind has followed as well. I love it when I get into this mood, and am able to get pen (or mouse) to paper, and actually have some good results come from it. My great motivation this time - stress!

Yes, I’ve finally made the decision to take part in my first “live” wholesale trade show. Next August, Stitchin’spiration will be exhibiting for the first time at the Summer needlework show held for needlework shops. I’ve taken part in the online shows, but this is quite different. It’s definitely time for me to make this move, and I’m very excited about meeting all these wonderful shop owners in person. I feel as if I know many of them already via e-mail, so look forward to putting a name with a face. The task list is quickly growing as I begin to get some planning for it done. But, in the meanwhile, it’s been a good shove to my creativity.

Well, I hear Jim in the kitchen beginning dinner. Better run along…

Happy Saturday everyone!

It’s been just so crazy around here, that this weekend I concentrated on getting “back to the basics” on some things. I’ve been working on the new Needlework Building Blocks releases, and the next few months you’re going to see designs come out that are truly back to the basics of blackwork. I decided not to try to get cute or special in them - just simply played with shape and fills. The results, I think, are beautiful - and to me will stitch up looking like lace.

It also allowed me to remember what I just LOVE about the series - how playful it can be!!! I decided that I wanted to literally play around with the blocks, so I’ve made my own game pieces to do so. How fun it was - even with Jim staring at me with that blank “what in the world are you doing” look on his face. It’s given me some ideas - that you’ll see developed eventually in the future.

The weather here in Richmond has finally taken a turn for the cold. But with the incredible fall colors still with us, it’s really getting me in the feeling of the season.

Well, not much more happening around here. Wedding plans for my sister continue - and we got her into a couple of wedding dresses over the weekend. What an exciting - and daunting - time it is to plan a wedding!!! At least we have a year…

Have a great week!

Well, got up this morning, and realized that we get an extra hour of sleep this weekend!!! Whoo-whooo!!! Sleep’s been at a premium lately, with so much going on, so I’m looking forward to those extra 60 minutes.

The sky’s finally clearing this morning in Richmond, after having rain all day yesterday and this morning. A last little thunderstorm came rumbling through about an hour ago, and now I’m already seeing blue skies. What a beautiful fall this has been. Yesterday, as I sat in my car talking on the phone (imagine that!), noticed that with the falling rain, and the vibrant fall colors on the stand of trees I was facing, it was almost like an oil painting which continually changed. It was just amazing!!!!!

This past week has seen quite a flurry of stitching activity here in Richmond. The EGA National seminarwas here. I, unfortunately, wasn’t able to sneak away from work to take some of their classes, but I did get an opportunity to go down to the Emporium and shop a bit. It was all about temptation - I’m telling you. Threads - charts - stitching accessories - handmade boxes, bags, ornaments - books galore. I somehow didn’t go overboard, but picked up some threads to play with, as well as a few charts for fun. But….. I had an opportunity to meet Marion Scoular! She and I have e-mailed in the past a bit, but what a neat lady she is in person. She introduced me to the DMC floche. If you haven’t seen it, you must find some. It’s got a beautiful sheen to it, and feels like it will be a smooth stitch. It’s a product not found readily in the States, but is available from some vendors. Also, the website says there are only 20 colors, but Marion carries it in 168 colors. I picked up quite a few skeins, and plan on using it in some upcoming models. Also picked up some Prescencia threads as well, in some beautiful colors. I can’t wait to play around with these… Next year’s seminar is in Chicago, so I might just be tempted to head up to the Windy City to play some…

This week for me has been the week of organizing myself. As I’ve moaned and groaned in my few posts, my big challenge in embarking into Stitchin’spiration has been keeping up with all that needs to be done. Well, I’ve always been a “list” person, who gains much joy in crossing off something because it’s been completed. I’ve now gone off the deep end, and have literally “task listed” everything that must be done. Yes, you might be wondering, “posting to the blog” is on that list. Anyways, I’m hoping it will keep my head a little more clear, and a little more focused on what needs to be done. I’ve also gained much inspiration from how software development teams work at the company we work for, and am getting ready to streamline it all as well. Just call me a complete geek, but if it keeps me up-to-date and sane - then a geek I am.

Well, I’m being called to the backyard. Jack’s having a “chuck-it” withdrawal. If you haven’t heard of a “Chuck-it”, and have active dogs, you MUST get one. No more nasty hands from the nasty balls he bring back for me to throw. Off to the back yard…..

Yet another task completed….. ha-ha!

Hello there,

Yes, amazingly, it’s only been 2 days. Something must be in the air…

Busy, busy week it’s been. The Needlework Show opened up tonight, and I’m having to hold myself back from wanting to go and see what the traffic is. I’m looking forward to seeing what other designers are showing - as much as you guys. Not that I EVER have time to stitch any more.

Tonight’s a night of getting caught up and ready to head out of town tomorrow night immediately after work. It’s fun not only packing up myself, my husband, and my dog, but also Stitchin’spiration. With the show on, I’ll be keeping close to the computer to answer questions, etc. Good thing, though, all this getting ready has put me in the designing mood. Sat down last night and finalized the special Needlework Building Blocks which are hidden from my store product pages. I’m pleased, and hope you enjoy them also - when you find them. The juices are flowing, so I’m hoping to be able to get some designs finalized. Maybe, just maybe I’ll share some if they come to life. There’s a series I’ve been waiting to finalize, and I do believe it will be my first patient… ha-ha-ha! Anyone feel like hidden messages in knotwork? There’s my little hint….

It’s really felt like fall today. I had quite a few buildings to go to on the campus today, so decided to take in some fresh air. I probably walked at least 1-1/2 miles or so during the trek, and boy does that make you feel good. Parking’s getting ready to be a hastle since they’re going to be putting in a new parking deck, so I’d better get used to walking. My sneakers are in my desk right now, and might not ever return to the house, as they’ll probably get worn out over the next long while.

Well, I’d better stop procrastinating, and get things ready for the trip. Laundry’s in, husband’s doing dishes (whoo-whoo), so I’d better get my Stitch stuff packed. Maybe, just maybe, I’ll get another entry in this weekend from Columbia!

Thanks to everyone for saying hello!!!! Didn’t know if anyone realized I’d disappeared for a while….

Well, a common topic here seems to be “not enough time or brain cells”. Think I’ve covered that enough, so I’ll stop at that. It’s not a New Year, but I’m hoping to get a New Year’s resolution going to keep up more with this blog, with the Stitchin’board, and with other things which just seem to keep slipping away from me.

Boy, when this little hobby started getting it’s own life, I never envisioned I’d be here today. I also never envisioned what work it would take as well. I constantly seem to be in a time management development stage. With my real career also busy, it makes for some very interesting juggling. I’m probably preaching to the choir here, as everyone seems to juggle more than they can. It just seems to unfortunately be the norm here in the States. Just today, I even saw an article about a study that was done which proves that children need to have plain old “play time” for themselves. In this world where every second seems to be orchestrated into organized calendars, events, etc. - isn’t it amazing we have to prove through studies that we just need to “schedule” in some unscheduled time…

Have you seen the new designs and notecards? I’m really excited to introduce the other 2 members of the Windowpanes in Knotwork series. I’ve had this series on my design board from my Ebay days, but had never quite finalized them to my liking - until earlier this year. It’s exciting to work at getting designs just to my liking, and getting them out to you stitchers. It’s really what makes all my “juggling” worth it. I’ve been doing quite a bit of planning lately as to what’s coming down the pike - and I KNOW that you’ll be excited about them.

Tomorrow night, I’m going to sit down and give some more attention to my Needlework Building Blocks. I have some many sketches and ideas, and I just need to finalize them - getting them ready for release to you. I’m getting ready to begin working at finalizing some of the retired ones - readying them for sale in shops. Tomorrow though, I’ll be designing and playing - the fun part of it all!!!!! MMMMMMM - what types of freebie blocks would you like to find throughout the Needlework Show????

Speaking of the show - the online Needlework Show opens it’s “doors” on Wednesday night (October 11), and is open until Monday night (October 16).

How great is it to shop in your jammies! Here in Richmond, they will be flannel jammies since the weather’s cooling down quite a bit. We’ll then be heading down to South Carolina for a long weekend at my childhood home with my mom. Have no fear - the computer will never be far away.

Well, I’d better head along. I’ve got a large black lab staring at me with that “it’s time for bed” stare. Imagine that - a dog who keeps a strict bedtime schedule - but cannot do so unless one of his humans is on the same one. Who runs this household you ask?????

Truly, I promise to try to get on here more…

Happy Stitchin’!

Sally