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Jo-Ann Fabrics is a Scary Place on a Saturday Afternoon

We were out and about on Saturday, so I decided to stop at Jo-Ann Fabrics to see if they had the new Denyse Schmidt fabrics in stock.  They did, and at 30% off too!  I spent some time making my selections and had Pete carry them over the the cutting table.  I was shocked to see that there was quite a long line, but at this point I decided to stick it out and I got in line. 

There was one teenaged boy working the counter, and he didn't seem to be in a hurry.  The people around me in line were all in the same boat and everything was fairly civilized... until the nasty lady arrived.  See, we were all waiting in line like well behaved citizens -- they had a little "take a number" machine, but apparently the guy working the counter wasn't using it.  After all, there was a line and that was working out okay (although slowly). 

This woman comes up after we had been in line for about 30 minutes, takes a number and demands to be taken care of before all of us.  Seriously?!?!  She is going on and on -- making a big fuss.  Talking about systems being in place and how they must be used.  Good lord!  You almost had to feel sorry for her, she was so horrid.  In fact, it was getting very uncomfortable and those of us who had been in line for so long were just trying to ignore her for the most part. 

Eventually I got my fabric cut (not before the guy's price scanner/printer went dead -- it was quite an ordeal).  I love the colors in her new line, and am planning some sort of zig zag quilt which I will hopefully start soon. 

And next time, I think I'll buy my fabrics from Jo-Ann's online.  I don't think I can hack the intensity at the store!

Finished Stitching

So, I finished up that needlework project I started a couple of weeks ago.  It's from the Blackbird Designs book "Thank you, Sarah Tobias" but done in colors of my own choosing and on an old piece of linen I had in my stash.  Fun to work on while watching Downton Abbey (I'm so hooked).

After I attempt to frame this, I need to get to work backing & quilting my current quilt project, and after that, who knows.  I have a few ideas brewing...

January is for Reading

Once the holiday has passed and the cold weather settles in, more of my time seems to be spent snuggled up under a blanket in our old drafty house clutching a good book. This January has been no different, although my choice of reading material is unusual for me -- a bit of non-fiction.

Life, on the Line by Grant Achatz and Nick Kokonas was a great read -- very inspiring. Achatz, a famous chef and owner of Alinea and Next in Chicago, grew up in the restaurant business and it seems he has spent nearly every moment of his life striving for perfection as a chef. The book includes parts written by his business partner and friend, Nick Kokonas, which is an interesting twist.

Most of the book recounts Achatz's years as a rising star in the culinary world -- which was interesting enough -- but the later part of the book tells how he survived cancer.  Since his cancer was mostly in his tongue, he was unable to taste anything for a very long time -- crazy for anyone, but especially for a chef.  

Meanwhile, I was finishing up Mieville's Perdido Street Station, which is another of his Bas-Lag books. And while I found the universe quite engaging, and the story moved along nicely, I wasn't able to get lost in it as thoroughly as I did while reading The Scar. Perhaps I could better relate to the female main character in the later book. At any rate, the book was wild and interesting and a good read.

Now I'm on to Lev Grossman's The Magicians which will be ending all too soon for me. Thanks goodness the sequel is already out.

Starting on the New Treadmill

I had a good first workout on the treadmill today, although I took it a bit easy since I was still getting accustomed to the new machine.  Oh yeah, and I'm sore from getting the massive thing into the house and assembling it yesterday.  It's all set up in the new work out room / sun room, which is quite a nice set up.

In other news, Winter has finally arrive -- on January 12th.  It's been such a strange and ridiculously warm winter so far (yesterday it was 50º here!), but today we have the beautiful snow I've been wanting.  And judging from the forecast, it should stay for at least a few days. 

Ah, global warming, I am not a fan.

A Little Needlework

A big thank you to Mrs. Douglas, who taught me to do cross-stitch back in grade school.  (I believe she was also the math teacher, and I distinctly remember her always complaining to the boys about their need to wear deodorant -- I believe math class may have been right after recess.)

Just doing a little stitching to ease my self back into creative work.  I'm following a pattern, but had to improvise on the colors, so there was a little room for thought.  And now that I've started this piece, I have plans for a year long sampler.  I love how working on one little project can get the cogs and wheels turning.

Selling Stuff -- a New Year's Resolution

So, one of my New Year's resolutions was to sell some of the stuff that is taking up space in our spare room (aka "the den").  To that end, I have started listing things here and there.  The first thing I came across was a package of these awesome Valentines from the 40's and 50's that I purchased a while back at an estate sale.  I have more than enough for my own collection, so I listed about half of them in my etsy shop.  Since I love my blog visitors, I wanted to give you a coupon good for free shipping on these lovelies.  Just enter FREESHIP during checkout.

I also listed some things at my Amazon.com bookstore -- Booga Books -- one item being the first issue of Lucky Peach magazine.  To my delight, this $10 magazine sold for a whopping $75!  And in only a couple of days.  Sure wish I had bought about 10 copies of that magazine when it was on the newsstand. 

How are your New Year's resolutions coming along?

Hypotrochoid -- remember Spirograph?

Well, school break has come to an end, but on the final day, Maddie and I had some fun with one of her holiday gifts -- the hypotrochoid art set.  I loved Spirograph as a kid (do they even make it anymore?) and have been on the look out for a set in decent shape at the yard sales, so when I saw this little set, I knew I had to get it for her.

I have to say -- it's just as much fun now as when I was a kid and Maddie couldn't stop playing with the it either.  Fun times.