It's Thursday

I couldn't think of a better header - sorry. Not too much going on. Thank you all for the kind comments about the QFRR - (Quaker Friendship Round Robin) It was lots of fun to do - even with the headaches. The last two that are out there are Carol's - Valerie has that one and Valerie's is with Donna. I stitched on more Christmas stuff and a little on the big Abecedaire piece - the last two parts where posted and I am just now getting back to working on finishing it up. If you click on the link and scroll down there are quite a few finished pieces posted - It is amazing how many different interpretations and colour changes you get when a bunch of stitchers get going. You can also see how different floss choices are in the Mary Wigham World Wide SAL. Some of the colour combos are just spectacular. I am downloading this Quaker beauty to do in the future - and am leaning towards greys and blues with touches of red.

The flickers for last night where interesting - one bad and one good. The bad flick was "The Long Ships" - 1964 - starring Richard Widmark and Sydney Poitier. I love what one commenter on the IMBD site called the film - where the Vikings meet John Cleese. It was an absolute cheesy adventure "epic." I got about 3/4 of the way through and had to turn it off - it was very odd and not in a good way. The second flick was the movie version of Carosn McCullers novel "The Heart is a Lonely Hunter" - 1968 - starring Allen Arkin, Sandra Locke, Percy Rodriguez and Cicely Tyson. I really enjoyed this movie and had no idea that a movie had been made of the novel until I saw it on Netflix. It is a really moving film about loneliness, kindness and of reaching out to others at 2 hours the time just flies by.

Thanks again for stopping by - and for the nice comments - I always appreciate them!!

Take care,
edgar

Another RR is Home and an Exchange Arrives

My mail was bountiful beyond belief!! The first of the two pieces I got was my QFRR from Wendy. If you have been following the saga that was the QFRR you will remember the trauma connected to the pieces. All that aside - now that it is winding down I am so please to have mine finished, perfectly stitched by the group, and back home. Here is a snap (it's a bit wonky as I was trying to get an interesting artsy angle)

If I remember correctly it is stitched on 32ct LL Vintage Lentil using HDK silk, Raisin Wine, Old Maid of the Soil and a light Steelies (the rabbit). I think it is just beautiful and couldn't be happier!!! Thank you so much, Carol R, Donna, Wendy, Rowyn and Valerie - you all did a superb job!!!!! I just love doing RR's as I love the group effort and the camaraderie - now to get moving on the next one..........

The mails also brought me my exchange piece from the second round on the Prairie Schooler Year Long Exchange. Here is a snap -


It's a lovely little pillow - so great for the Summer and I just love it! It was made by Jacinta and she did a super job in the stitching and the finishing.

My stitching for the last couple of days has been only on Christmas Presents - as it will be off and on for the next couple of months.

The flicker last night was a "Frogmen" - 1951 - starring Richard Widmark, Gary Merrill and Dana Andrews. A pretty decent film about a group of underwater commandos in WWII on a mission. I enjoyed it and it was different than many of the Hollywood Navy films I have seen recently.

The meeting yesterday about our balcony went way better than expected - instead of a scream it was just a loud huff and sigh. The end result is that we should have a new balcony by the second week of August - so that would have only be a short 7 months without our balcony!! I guess better late than never.

Thank you again for stopping by!! Do come again - same Bat Time same Bat Channel!!

Take care,
edgar

Mailing today - two RR's

I am getting both - Hannah's Halloween RR out to Terry and the finished QFRR of Rowyn's back home!! I am so happy to have a third piece from the RR finished and winging its way back home. There was a time when I thought that might not happen - but with everyone pitching in and Sweet Valerie filling in a stitching spot it is all working out great!!! Here is a rather dark shot (it was late when I finished) of Rowyn's really lovely piece -

Rowyn chose a NN floss called Bali Hai and it is stitched on a cream linen - and is just gorgeous!!! The secondary colour is a DMC blue. Now there are only three out there left to get finished up and that should happen in the next month or so!! Yea for our little group!!!!!

Last night the flicks where - two Netflix films - the first was a musical that I had never heard of - "It Happened in Brooklyn" - 1947 starring Frank Sinatra, Jimmy Durante, Kathryn Grayson, Peter Lawford and in a bit part the really wonderful Gloria Grahame. A nice film with some great music - if you like Frank and like musicals you should really check this one out - I was totally surprised!!! The second flick was "Varian's War" - 2001 - a true story brought to the small screen and starring William Hurt, Julia Ormond and Lynn Redgrave. A WWII story about an American, Varian Fry, who helps get refugee Jewish artists and intellectuals out of Marseilles and to America - he saves about 2000 people over a two year period before America enters the war. A moving story that I had never heard. Proving that a single person can change history and make a difference!! Some of the more notable people he saved were Marc Chagall, Max Ernest, Hannah Arendt and Jacques Lipchitz. The pacing was very good and the two hour movie just flew by.

Thanks for stopping by - I will not be here tomorrow so Blogging - I'll see you on Monday......

Have a great Easter!!!

Take care,
edgar

A QFRR arrives from Canada

I received Rowyns QFRR from Wendy - I am the last stitcher before it goes back to Rowyn so I spent last evening focused on it alone. It is really pretty - the main floss is a NN colour called Bali Hai, the secondary colour is a coordinating DMC blue. I made some major progress and the needle was a flying. Since this RR has had its ups a downs and a restitch - I want to have this out really quick. No snap - yet.

The flicks last night were really interesting - two of them I had seen before, but a really long time ago and the third was a Netflix choice. Lets start with the two I had already seen - TCM was having a tribute evening to Leslie Howard - a matinee idol from the 30's - He died in 43 when his plane was shot down. The evening started off with what I think of as a Bette Davis film - "The Petrified Forest" - 1936 - starring a very young Bette Davis, Leslie Howard and Humphrey Bogart. I always think of this film as being overly message ridden and overly dramatic - but is is a great vehicle for all three of the principle stars and made a tough guy hoodlum of Bogart for the rest of his career. Good performances overall and worth watching. The second flick I caught was "Pygmalion" - 1938 - starring Leslie Howard and Wendy Hiller - I love this movie and have seen it a bunch of times. Taken from the play by George Bernard Shaw with him also writing the screenplay - he won an Oscar for his efforts - Snappy dialogue and just an overall great film!! The third film of the evening was a very different from the first two - "The Happy Hooker" - 1975 - starring Lynn Redgrave and Jean-Pierre Aumont - the film is a very sanitized version of what I would presume is a very racy novel. The story follows a Dutch girl who comes to America to marry and finds out very quickly what a bad idea that was. She then finds a job and sort of falls into the worlds oldest profession. Lynn Redgrave is excellent as always but the movie falls far short of where it could have gone.

There you go - Thank you all for the great comments - I do appreciate them!!

Take care,
edgar

Last night was kind'a busy - but first.......

....let me say how nice it was to have all the affirmations in the comment area and all the positive emails I got about what I wrote yesterday. I was so afraid that I might have been in the minority with my feelings towards exchanging and exchanges in general. I wasn't trying to stir up a bees nest or poke a bear or anything - goodness knows if I wanted to be controversial I could write about a million other things here to get things stirred up...... but it comes right down to the majority of stitchers out there understand that it is the wonderful stitched piece of art made with love and giving that is the important thing - and our skill levels are all over the place - but I think everyone does their absolute best!!! All anyone has to do is to look back through the snaps on any of the exchange blogs to see all the beautiful stitching and finishing going on out there - (as for me I am still terrified to try to finish a biscornu).

Now on to my busy little evening.

First up I finished Valerie' RR so that I can get that in the mail tomorrow - Here is snap -

It was a dream to stitch as the silks are like butter - Valerie chose Belle Soie - Creme de Menthe (and you know how I love me some Belle Soie) and the golden colour is Birch Bark by Gloriana and is also just lovely to stitch with. This is done on a 36 ct linen. For some reason I anticipated having trouble stitching on such small count linen - but not a bit of any problem for the whole section. On to Rowyn in the morning.

Yesterday the mails brought a wonderful exchange from Wendy Jo - it was the Valentines Exchange from the HOE. Here is snap of the lovely package she sent -


Wendy Jo used a pattern from the 2003 JCS Ornament issue called "A Needle worker's Pocket." She finished it as a Pyn Keepe - I just love it!!! Already it is sitting out on the stand in our living room looking quite festive for the upcoming Holiday. Included in the package was a great piece of fabric for finishing some over dyed floss' and a delicious piece of dark chocolate. Such a lovely package - Thank you so much Wendy Jo!!!!!!

The evening started off with another exchange I am in - with Swap Bot - it is a home made candy/cookie exchange. For my partner I wanted to try making something new so I decided to make chocolate covered cherries. On Monday evening I covered the cherries with fondant and then last night I dipped them in chocolate - and here is a snap.....



Those suckers turned out really nice IMHO! - I also made some Haystack Noodle Cookies to go along with the cherries - I have made the cookies before and they always turn out - how could even I screw up a no-bake cookie!!! These goodies will be packed up and in the mail in the morning - a nice thing for Valentines Day - the recipe says to let them sit around for a week or so to "cure" - but I tried one (just to make sure they weren't terrible) and it tasted really nice to me already!

I forgot to say a great big THANK YOU to Carol R as she has nominated me for a "Fabulous Blog Award." That was so kind of her - she is such a sweet person!! I am supposed to pass on the Award to 5 of my favorite Blogs - so here goes...

Michele
Coni
Kathryn
Margie
Sherry

I read through dozens of Blogs all the time - and these are just 5 of the many dear people that take the time and energy to write and post about their stitching lives - thank you so very much for sharing!!!!

There you go another day in the life of edgar!

Thanks for stopping by!!!
Take care, and do come again!!!
edgar

A QFRR Finish - and commenting on comments

I am so happy to report that one of the original QFRR has been finished. Valerie posted that Wendy's is now completed - All I can say is Woo HOO!!! AND do a happy jig of joy!!!! Little did I think when I started getting everyone together last year the road that this RR would take. You can read back into the archives to see the traumas we have endured - Now, the next shifting is February 3rd - I need to get on the stick and finish up Valerie's piece and get that moving on to Rowyn. Congratulations on a beautiful finish!!!

Not too much going on last night - I finished up the Valentines exchange piece and I really like the way it turned out - I will be getting that into the mail on Thursday - since it doesn't have that far to go it will get there very quick.

Now - lets talk about all the wonderful comments from you everyone - When I open the Blog in the morning - (It is the first thing I do when I get into work BTW) - I look back a couple of entries to see if anyone has spoken up from out of the dark on a past entry - and then go a see what the new comments are. I so enjoy reading them and usually just sit and laugh at the funny things you all say and talk back to the silent machine - so you never hear what I say - which is a shame - so I thought I would start a weekly yap here at Blacksheep answering and commenting on comments - Lets' call it CoC - how original is that!! :)

Lets start with and older entry from Heidistitches - Thank you so much for the nice comment - I was wondering if anyone would notice if I posted and more recent photo of the us - the photo was taken down on the Embarcadero and that is the Bay Bridge in the background.

Keepntch - asked about the meaning of MAW (Make a Wish) and SBEBB (Stiching Blogger Exchange Bulletin Board) - those are two exchanges groups that I belong to. Both exchanges were put together by Becky - the SBEBB has been going on for 4 years and is now closing. It is amazing just how much time an exchange can take - and she has worked tirelessly and deserves a break. Becky has put together another exchange group - Prairie Schooler Year long exchange - which should prove to be lots of fun. I really love exchanges as it is really the only time I work on anything small. Usually I am working on larger things - but the occasional small is a great quick finish fix.

Erica told me about the Christmas plate I found at Goodwill - I had no idea it would be worth that much. I only knew it was undamaged and I really liked the scene AND it reminded me of some dear friends in NC who collect these plates - and the price was right!! Thanks Erica for the info!! - Knowledge is power!!

Kathryn mentioned El Gordo over on 9th Avenue - I used to live on 17th and Lincoln when I first moved to SF so I knew that restaurant and many more in the area - and YES it is wonderful - I love the inner Sunset!!! - I also had no idea you could use the Corning Ware on the stove top -you learn something everyday!!

Talking about the Blue Flower Casserole dish - When we broke up my grandmother's house after she passed - I took all her Blue Flower Corning so it means lots to me to be able to use them - and I add to them when I see a piece I don't have. - and Nic - like you, I have one missing a lid also - but I do occasionally see them out there so I haven't given up hope yet!! I did a quick search online to see what the 5 quart would run me and the SRP on the secondary market is $60 - I just can't believe it!!!

I just love the book that Yoyo talked about and it has gone onto my list of things I need - or I probably should say things I want!!! You learn so much from reading other blogs it can get you into lots of trouble!!!

I totally love Coni's blog - and yes - I wish I could write off my gargantuan TV on my taxes, it might be frowned upon - but one can hope!!!

There are so many other comments to comment on - and I love them all - keep them coming -
- I didn't even have a single snap..... I think I'll post this one -

This is another snap of Daytona Beach - it is the beach approach built in the 1920's and you can just make out the ocean under the arch. The weather is warmer here in SF than at my Mom's in FL. It got to 80 here in the city yesterday - we are told that it will be slowly going back to normal now and towards the end of the week they expect rain.

Thanks for stopping by!! Thank you all for your interest in my little bit of the Internet!!!

Take care,
edgar

Mail coming and Going and a film...

I received a really lovely Biscornu from Carol yesterday as Part of one the last SBEBB exchanges - ABC Exchange - I have really enjoyed all the exchanges I have participated in on the SBEBB and will always be grateful for the encouragement and support from fellow stitchers - Thank you so much dear Becky!!!!! - The piece that Carol sent was of course just prefect -

It is the December Quaker Biscornu from the Workbasket done on Silkweaver - Solo Newcastle - 40 ct linen - the floss is HDF Garnet - could it be more perfect - I love Christmas, Quaker and red!!! It has my initials on the upper left corner - in the right corner is DEC for December and the bottom two corners have the year - Thank you so much Carol!!!!

I worked a little on Valerie's QFRR - here is a progress snap -

The two little bits above the wreath - I was busy finishing up the MAW for Tuula - which is going in the mail this morning - also going into the mail is Donna's Halloween RR to Terry. I am expecting to get any day now Donna's LHN RR from last year that she finally got back - I think I have a chart picked out but I want to see the piece in person to make sure it fits with the rest of the filled squares.

I think I am catching up as the heaps of paperwork are going down - I have not gotten to do any catch up reading blogs - so am feeling left out of the all mighty stitching loop that I just know is whirling away out there!!!!!!

One of the films I saw over the Holidays is a really great film called "Joyeux Noel" - 2005 - based in a true story of Christmas 1914 in the trenches - a really good film and not your typical Holiday fare - I would highly recommend seeing this 116 min flick.

Thanks for stopping by!!!!
and
Thank you all for the nice things you had to say yesterday!!!!!

Take care,
edgar

Mailing re-stitches, movies and glass...

I finished up on Carol's lovely green and grey piece last night and both hers and mine are boxed up for mailing to Rowyn this morning. Here is a snap of Carol's piece -

Now on to Cheryl's LHN RR piece - I have the chart and the floss pulled ready to go!

Last night there were a couple of movies - starting off with "Grey Gardens" - 1975 - starring those wonderful eccentrics Big and Little Edie Beale. This is a charming if unusual mother daughter pair living in a dilapidated mansion in East Hampton, NY. Shot and presented as a documentary of their day to day lives...... if you have not seen this you may want to give it a look. I have seen it a few times and always see something new each time I watch it. The second film was "Charles II: The Power and the Passion" - 2003 Starring Rufus Sewell as Charles II, Diana Rigg as Charles' mother Queen Henrietta Maria and Shirley Henderson as his wife Catherine of Braganza. This was a 3 hour spectacle the I really enjoyed.

Here are today's Chihuly snaps -









Thanks for stopping by!!

take care,
edgar

The re-stitch continues - and some more Chihuly...

I finished as much as I will on my QFFRR and will get it in the mail tomorrow to Rowyn. here is a snap of how it looks now...

So here is is - I have used - HDF- Raisin Wine and Old Maid of the Soil for the wreath and initials - and they are the first and secondary colours. The little bit of grey is WDW Dolphin - probably my favorite WDW.... or at least in the top ten. I also changed the crown a bit to get some grey in there. i am going to hold off on the date until it comes back home.

I started on Carol's piece and got one medallion finished
- here is a snap -


I will probably get this finished up in the next day or so and then have it out to Rowyn next Tuesday. The is is on the the LHN RR - I have the design all picked out and the floss gathered up it is just the stitching to get done. Then this will also get sent to Rowyn as she very graciously offered Cheryl her stitching prowess to finish out the last square. So Rowyn will be getting three things in the next few weeks from me....

Here are today's Chihuly snaps....






This is a snap of the chandelier room pieces - so that you can get and idea of how large these pieces are I have included some other patrons in the picture....

It is hard to tell what this is...
it is a snap looking directly up under the green chandelier in the previous picture
- isn't it just the most bazaar looking thing??


Thank you all for the nice comments in yesterday's post
- I really appreciate them!!!

and

Once again I thank you for stopping by!!!

take care,
edgar

Re-Stitching, recieving and some more glass

Last night I started to work on the re-stitch for the QFRR - I don't know why (or maybe I do) but I think I was avoiding doing this for a while
- here is a snap -


I'll finish this up tonight and get at Carol's and have them out on Thursday - or at least that's the plan right now. I am really liking the silk - Raisin Wine from HDF - and the re-stitch linen is LL Vintage Lentil.

I know that my Needle roll was received by Britt from the HOE. I really like BBD and so I used part of the mystery pattern from the recent Loose Feathers to create the needle roll
- Here is a snap of the exchange -

I like this so much that I want to do one for myself!!


Here are today's snaps of the Chihuly Glass exhibit -


These are called "Reeds" and the tallest in the back stand well over 10+ feet tall

This is a display from the "Basket" series -
these are based on traditionally Native American baskets.


A long shot of the "Glass Garden" which just blows me away it is so spectacular!

Thanks for stopping by!!

Take care,
edgar

Once again - Thank you all so much!!!

Thank you all for the wonderful things you had to say from yesterdays post!!! It is often hard to leave something you like but it wasn't going to get better - and I had been there over 5 years working part time - but now I look at it as just that much more free time to devote to my obsession - I mean hobby - this stitching stuff!!

I finished up Carol's RR for the Witching for Stitching Halloween RR. I am really happy with the way it turned out - as I like to think "It's just creepy enough!" Here is a snap -


I have also made a decision about my own re-stitch for the QFRR - and I think I am going to go with LL Vintage Lentil with Raisin Wine and Old Maid of the Soil. Here is a floss toss -

The other fabric - was just way to splotchy - I love those splotches but there is a limit and it was taking away from the really nice silk colours.

Yesterday the in the mail was a cornucopia of charts - I had won on eBay -
(like I need any more stash) Here is a snap -



Prairie Schooler is one of the designers I really like and am filling out my collection - Yes, I have a list of them that I still need - and in my complete obsession with Vonna's MM&IRR - I have started to settle my ideas into a form that I can work with - the bulk of the ideas are coming from PS but I also have some LHN, Workbasket, and others so nothing on paper yet, but I am getting there.

Last night while I was thinking about the MMIRR I sat down and picked up VoHRH and did a bit on that - some leaves and started on the sign -


There are two super exchanges coming up in November - do I dare join something else???? :)

Thanks for all the support and also thanks for stopping by!!!

Take care,
edgar

Tuesday brings...

...another day of possibilities and wonderfulness - birds singing and sparkle sunshine .... see I can do positive!!! It often seems that I tend to ramble on in a less than positive and uplifting vein of thought - or so I have been told by certain persons who shall remain anonymous...but you know who you are - orchid man!! :) I know I do tend to dwell on the negative - but it is just a part of the charm that is me!!! :)

The mail brought some really nice goodies - starting off with my receiving Carol R's re-stitched QFFRR - the colours she chose are just lovely!! Included in the package are a set of the best floss tags with my name and little black sheep's all over them - here is a snap -

Those tags are just the cutest!!!

The mail also brought my first installment in the acquisition of silk for "Shores of Hawk Run Hallow."


Since there is very little re-use of silk between the VoHRH and Shores I am needing to get quite a few skeins so I am breaking up the spending across a few purchases. I am still in the way back thinking about what linen I will stitch it on - and think should I go for the yellow that is recommended....I have read how well the colours of the silk just pop on it but can I work on a piece of yellow/gold fabric for months.......

I also said that I would show a snap of the little print I got over the weekend -



It is an old print in a old frame that is probably original together as the paper backing looks to never have been disturbed. It is hanging in our stairway landing where all of my icons and things hang together, and fits right in.

Two of the movies that I saw over the weekend are - "The Darjeeling Limited" - 2007 - about a journey of three brothers in search of the wandering mother played by Anjelica Huston. Along the way the brothers work on themselves and each other. The trip is taken across India on a train (and we all know how I love a good train movie) There are some really spectacular moments in the film. It is a visual feast and the score is great also. Another movie was "Stage Struck" - 1958 a remake of an earlier the film "Morning Glory" - 1933. This version with Susan Stasberg, Henry Fonda , Joan Greenwood and Herbert Marshall had some interesting moments - but overall the overacting and chewing up of every moment she was on screen Susan Strasberg made this film almost impossible to watch. This is one film that I would not watch again.

I have tweeked the SBBC info and posted it on that Blog - I will be taking sign ups starting on August 29 and close them on September 26th with partners names/info being sent out the following week - If you have any questions don't hesitate to ask.

Thanks for stopping by!!

Take care,
edgar