A Couple of Flicks and Meeting a Blog Buddy

GR&DF I think I am going to put initials and dates in the wreaths - sounds like a plan - now I need to chart those out. My stitching last night was a little on the BPC but mostly on a new exchange piece - getting together the linen and floss choices. I thought I had it all worked out in my brain before I started then I got it together and really didn't like what I had chosen. So it was back to the stash for some other options. I still have a bit of time before the mail date so I am not too worried about the set back.

The flickers last night where both Netflix DVD's. First up was a film I thought I had seen. I often think that since I have seen quite a few films, but I either had a total mental shutdown with no memory of the film or I have never seen the flick since I couldn't remember it at all. The film was "The Big Street" - 1942 - starring Lucille Ball, Henry Fonda, Barton MacLane, Eugene Pallette and Agnes Moorehead. This Damon Runyon story revolves around a selfish showgirl played by Ball and a busboy who worships her played by Fonda. Two great performances - if you have never seen Lucy in a dramatic roll then you have to see her in this roll.

The second film of the evening was a film I was sure I had never seen since I had never heard of it to begin with!! :) The name of the film is "Enchantment" - 1948 - starring David Niven, Theresa Wright, Evelyn Keyes, Farley Granger and Jayne Meadows. The film is told in flashback and is the story of orphaned Lark played by Wright. Bouncing from London during the Blitz back to the London of the 1880's it is a story of unrequited love and misunderstandings and a super bitchy sister!! A thoroughly top notch film that really showcases the talents of Theresa Wright. It was also her last film for MGM due to her inability or unwillingness to promote her films she was let go after this picture and her career never revived and she floundered from one bad picture to another - and finally found her way to the small screen. Both of these films are gems and available on DVD.

Tonight we are getting together for dinner with Tessa and her husband for dinner. They are here in SF for a Apple Computer Conference this week and we are connecting tonight for Mexican and then tomorrow for a quick trip over to Alameda for a stitch fix at Needle in a Haystack. I am really excited to meet another Blog Buddy - it is such fun to meet the person behind the Blog. I am also happy to get to make the run to NIAH since I have to pick up my linen that I ordered for my Shores of HRH - I certainly want to get a start on that.

I think that's about it for today. Thanks again for stopping by, do come again!!

Take care,
edgar

TCM Star of the Month - Natalie Wood

GR&DF thank you for your kind comments about yesterday posting. I was looking at the BPC piece last night and wondering what to put in the two wreaths. In the original piece there are initials and a date. Although I am stitching from a chart which comes from the original I was thinking of putting things that meant something to me - any suggestions??? Scroll down and give it another look - all the other medallions and 1/2 medallions are filled - there are just the two wreaths that need something......

Last night TCM began the month long tribute to Natalie Wood - as star of the month.

1938-1981

The films they showed last night where her earliest performances - as a child and very young adult. Natalie was one of only a handful of stars that made the transition from child actor - to teen idol then American Icon. I have seen most if not all of her movies and last night I got to see a really good early film "Tomorrow is Forever" - 1946 - starring Claudette Colbert, Orson Wells, George Brent, Lucille Watson and Natalie Wood. This was not only Natalie's big break film but was also a film the redeemed Orson Wells. Claudette fought for him to play the second lead and with her star-power in 46 she got what she wanted. Until this film he was considered "difficult" to work with and had not worked for a few years - with this film he reestablished himself and went to some really great films in the late 40's and 50's. But, back to little Natalie - she plays a war orphan that has escaped from Nazi occupied Austria with her adopted father played by Wells. The oddest thing about this film is the studio had Natalie go a very light blond with her hair - it is very odd to see Natalie as a blond!! The film has a big back story that begins in WWI, but I won't go into that - It is a very good film and Colbert is just wonderful, as always!! If you get the chance you should give it a look. The star of the month films happen every Monday night starting at 8pm est (5pm pst) and next week the movies reflect her teen years beginning with - "A Cry in the Night" - 1956, "The Girl He Left Behind" - 1956, "Splendor in the Grass" - 1961, "Rebel Without a Cause" - 1955 and wrapping up the evening with "The Burning Hills" - 1956.

That's about it for today sports fans - thanks for stopping by. Do come again!!

Take care,
edgar

A WIP, a Purchse, a RAK and some Flicks

GR&DF the title says it all - a very low key weekend - no visitors, no pressure, just doing what we want to AND I had a big dog nap on Saturday afternoon!!! Could it have been any better????

I think I will start off today with an updated snap of the BP Companion Quaker piece -

I really have no idea why I put this piece down as I am really enjoying the stitching. I took the time to actually read some of the info again on the chart and it mentions both the Beatrix Potter Quaker piece and another Quaker beauty- the M. Quertier piece. All three of these samplers are from about 1799 - with two of them dated in that year. I have already done the Beatrix Potter piece - now working the companion - I think next I need to work up the M Quertier - thank goodness I have already acquired the chart. Now what silk to use??? and on what linen.....

Even though it was a lazy weekend there was one Estate sale out there - so we went on over and it was a total bust. I was still in the browsing mood so over to the Salvation Army Thrift store we went and I am so happy we did - a little background - for the longest time, like decades, I have collected early 19th century English Transferware - all colours, but I really like the pink (really red, but in the trade called pink), blue and brown. I couldn't believe my luck when we got over to the shop - here is a snap of what was waiting there for me.....

These two beautiful transferware pieces - a covered sugar bowl and cream jug. Both in excellent condition with no breaks, chips or cracks - what luck!! I have never seen anything like this in any thrift shop out here - ever. I actually walked past them when I first came into the china area and then on my pass back through I noticed them - so it always pays to walk around a couple of times to sift through all the stuff.

Th mails on Friday brought another beautiful RAK from a dear stitcher. I took the box home on Friday evening and out came this lovely piece of work....

All framed up and ready for hanging - from Julie. How sweet of her to think of me and how appropriate for the time of year. I am just itching to get some jam or preserves made and put up for next year. Thank you so much!! Dear Julie - I don't have your email or address to send a card of thanks - my email is on the Blog - let me know yours so I can thank you properly!! It looks so cute in my kitchen!!

There where some flicks over the weekend and three of them where new to me and worth mentioning.....

Lets start of with "Under Eighteen" - 1931 - starring Anita Page, Marian Marsh, Regis Toomey and William Warren. This pre-code goodie is the story of hard working girl, Marsh, (seamstress in fancy boutique) who envy's the models of the fancy clothes and their "sugar daddy" gifts and trappings. When her sister needs $200, Marsh, sees that the only way to get the $200 is to go the way of the models and "shake her shimmy" - eventually that doesn't work and all is right in the end. A very moral picture that good is always triumphant - some gorgeous art deco sets of the rich and some scrumptious clothes designed by Earl Luick. A little wooden in the acting department, but worth a look.

The next film is "The Gay Sisters" - 1942 - starring Barbara Stanwyck, George Brent, Geraldine Fitzgerald, Donald Crisp, Gig Young and Nancy Coleman. This was one humdinger of a film. A beautiful piece from the Warner Brothers factory. Great photography and a super score by Max Steiner. This top notch film revolves around three sisters and their estate that is in litigation for decades. The story comes to a head when a family secret is let loose, but everything wraps up nicely in the last 10 min's (of course) This is not often shown on TCM and I watched a copy as it is also not on DVD - but I would highly recommend it if you get the chance.

The last film I wanted to mention was "The White Angel" - 1936 - starring Kay Francis, Ian Hunter, Donald Woods and Donald Crisp. This film is a bio-pic of the life of Florence Nightingale. I very Hollywood film with the basic story of her life told, but in a very melodramatic way with lots of schmaltz. I totally enjoy all of Kay Francis' films and wish they would put out a DVD set of her films. What I watched was a copy as this also is not on DVD - but they show many of Kay's films on TCM from time to time. I also would like to mention Donald Crisp- a really wonderful character actor of the time. He shows up all the time as the father, grandfather or just all around good guy. In this film he is a bad guy and it was very interesting to see him play against type. If you don't mind too much silly over the top emotional stuff then give this film a chance.

There you go sports fans - thank you again for stopping by and for you great comments!!

Take care,
edgar

An Exchange and Two RAK's

GR&DF the mail yesterday brought some wonderful things!!

I will start off with an exchange I received. As part of the the "Early Xmas Exchange " over on the HOE my partner was Caroline P - and she created a wonderful ornament for our Christmas Tree - Here is a snap -

He is the cutest thing - and it even gets better - if you press his tummy he plays "Frosty the Snowman." How cute is that!! He is from a kit by Lorri Birmingham and I just love this darling piece!! He is going to look great this year on the tree!! Thank you so much!!

I have made such nice friends through this Blog and am blessed by wonderful ongoing generosity!! The mail brought two wonderful RAK's. After posting about my goal of collecting a complete set of Belle Soie - dear sweet Jennifer sent me some beautiful skeins to add to my growing collection -

They are a wonderful addition and look totally beautiful - I do thank you so much!!

I also received a RAK from a dear reader of my little Blog who knows my love of the linen towel - I am thinking she has no Blog but has a large heart!! Here is a snap of the goodies she sent me -

Along with the two vintage tea towels there were other wonderful things - a doily and two hot mats made by her grandmother AND a super Grease Can for the stove. Now, you need to be from the South, I think, to appreciate this piece of wonderfulness. I remember my own Granny having a grease can on the stove for cooking. I have been on the look out for a GC for a long time and haven't seen one I liked so I was totally stoked to get this beauty - what a treat!! Thank you so much for everything!!

What a wonderful mail day!!!! It made the end of the week so great!!

Loraine mentioned a couple of flicks in her comment yesterday - The Big Clock - 1948 - a great film I need to see again - Angel Face - 1952 - a film I need to add to my growing Netflix Queue - and Brief Encounter - 1945 - a great David Lean film I can not say too many nice things about!!!

Last night the flicker was Hobson's Choice - 1954 - starring Charles Laughton, John Mills, Brenda de Banzie and Prunella Scales. This is another great little film directed by David Lean (I do love his pictures!!) about a 19th century owner of Boot makers shop - and his eldest daughter revolt!! This is a new released by Criterion onto DVD and with everything they do this was an excellent copy in beautiful B&W. If you get the chance to see it you will not do better than this film - and Laughton was in top form.

I think that about wraps up the week jelly beans!! Have a great weekend and I'll be back on Monday with a few snaps and some more babbles!!

Take care,
edgar

Some Flicks

GR&DF thank you again for taking the time to comment - I do appreciate them all. To answer some questions.. Ruth you are so right, usually the Bay and the Golden Gate and even at sea there are usually lots of boats out. I would guess that the ocean was a bit on the rough side for those less than hardy to attempt a day on the water. There was a single sailboat out on the Pacific while we where there. The only other ship we saw was a large container ship leaving through the Golden Gate for parts elsewhere. It was loaded down - I always see these coming and going from the Port of Oakland and think about how top heavy they look. Maggee - I am also amazed about how a family could just dump older pictures - the single baby in the slim period frame - she was completely identified with her entire name and the date - 1927 - and that she was 6 months old at the time on the back of the snap. I will post the recipe for the Orange Blossoms tomorrow, sorry about not doing that yesterday. Luned asked about the colour choices fro AEoL RR - I used most of the recommended floss' but I will post a list tomorrow of the few changes I made.

Now on to the movies - There were many of them over the past few days - but I will keep it to a few I really enjoyed -

Over the weekend TCM had a 3 Day Marathon of War Films in recognition of the Memorial Day Weekend - this made me very happy!!! While many of the films I have seen numerous time there are always the standouts in a large group like this. Here are a couple of really fine films - "Stalag 17" - 1953 - starring William Holden, Otto Preminger and Peter Graves - one of my favorite WWII films!! The story is basically about a POW camp and one group of prisoners that have a "mole" in their midst. One great film that I would certainly recommend. Another great film that was shown "The Bridge on the River Kwai" - 1957 - starring William Holden, Alec Guinness and Sessue Hayakawa. The film revolves around the building of a bridge by POW's in the jungle. A great film directed by David Lean - so this film has one of my favorite actors and a favorite Director - how could it go wrong!!

A couple of non-war films worth mentioning - "Dance Girl Dance" - 1940 - starring Maureen O'Hara, Lucille Ball and Ralph Bellamy. This DVD is included in the boxed set "Lucille Ball Collection" but it is really a Maureen O'Hara film. Directed by Dorothy Arzner, one of the few women directors of the time, this film is a rare B film the breaks free of mediocrity. The story revolves around the two stars and the dance. O'Hara is the good girl trying to break into classical Ballet while Ball plays the streetwise, grab all you can type that falls into Burlesque and becomes a star. Here is a clip of Ball playing Bubbles who is now top billed as "Tiger Lilly White"..... in the jitterbug Bite....



Perfect for the film and a real bit of RKO history.

The next film has a very misleading title "The Ghost Train" - 1941 - starring Arthur Askey, Richard Murdoch and Kathleen Harrison. This is not a horror film, I do not care for that genre and will not watch them, but I do like mystery films and here is a really clever one. Set in a lonely railway station in the middle of the night a group of passengers must wait until the next train comes in the morning. They are told that the station is haunted, but is it?? Made as a war propaganda film I thoroughly enjoyed it, the only draw back was with one of the actors - the always on, always "funny" Arthur Askey. He was a popular at the time, a comedian on the stage and film, but he never shuts down and thinks every - single - thing he does is terribly funny, and isn't - it verges on the annoying quite often.

The final film I wanted to mention was a DVD from Netflix that we saw last night - "Alice in Wonderland" - 2010 - starring Mia Wasikowska, Johnny Depp, Helena Bonham Carter, Anne Hathaway and Crispin Glover. Directed by Tim Burton this wonderful retelling of the classic story was lots of fun. I know that it has gotten bad press and that it might not be every ones version/vision for the story but we thoroughly enjoyed it. I wasn't too sure I would like it much - but after seeing it I will now have to acquire my own copy.

There you go sports fans. Thank you again fro stopping by - do come again!!

Take care,
edgar

A Holiday Weekend Post - Part II

GR&DF thank you for your kind comments about my weekend stitching. It is so nice to finish up some things that have been hanging about for a long time. Luned asked about why I was less than pleased with the silk colour choices for Miss Ellen. I used the HDF Conversion so the colour of the silk is basically what the pattern recommended and what the model looks like. I guess it is because I have seen other finishes of this piece that I like so much better. It seems so tan and light blue - I would rather it be greener/redder/dark bluer - I guess just deeper darker colours - I am really not a pastel stitcher.

I had a wonderful surprise in the mail yesterday - my RR returned home and I couldn't be happier!! Here is a snap -

I think this is such a great chart and the pieces have worked up really nicely. I wanted to once again thank all my stitching buddies for participating and helping to keep the RR on track. Everyone did a super job and that's what makes or breaks a RR. You can check out the other pieces as they arrive home by clicking HERE.

Now lets get back to the weekend stuff....

Saturday I found the few Estate sales out there and off Rico and I went to the first over in the Marina District. I should post a little snap of the few bits I picked up - here are a couple of snaps....

The haul - from l to r - a great older mug, a book full of Gilbert and Sullivan music c 1942, a little German carved musician and two older frames with baby photos.


Here is a close up of the hand decorated mug, where do you think this came from?? I just wanted it since it was big and heavy.

I loved this little piece - it reminded me of the carved things I saw when I was travelling around Germany and Austria a few years back.

What was so great about the first house sale was what was across the street - the view from the front windows was this....

The Palace of Fine Arts left over from the 1915 Panama-Pacific International Exposition. Isn't this a great view and something to see everyday!! The lake/pond that surrounds this building has lots of water fowl - here is snap...

.... of a mama duck and her really cute baby ducks.

Sunday we spent around the house not doing too much.

Then Monday morning came and I suggested we head out to breakfast some where. Well, Eddies was closed for the Holiday - they seem to close on all the Monday Holidays. So we went out to have breakfast at Louis' -

Sitting on the edge of a cliff overlooking the ruins of the Sutro Baths just up the street from the far more touristy Cliff House - sits this wonderful little diner that has been a local institution since 1936. They open up a 6:30 am everyday and if you get the chance to go - get there as early as possible as it is small and the line can get very long. Here is a shot from our table looking out the window -


It is a bit more expensive than Eddie's but can you really put a price on this view - looking out over the Pacific Ocean - the land in the distance is the Marin Headlands. After a great breakfast we skedaddled down the path that leads you down to the beach. Here are some snaps -




... here you can see just a bit of the Golden Gate Bridge


... we walked down the street to the Cliff House and out onto the observation decks there...
I tried to zoom in on the sea lions out on the rocks.

This is looking from the Cliff House south down across the beach. The road on that runs along the left of the beach is the Great Highway.

On the way home we stopped off at the supermarket and I took this snap -

How cute is this hound!! I was stopping to pick up a couple of things to make some treats for the office - This week I made....

... sweet little muffins called Orange Blossoms - pretty tasty and everyone enjoyed them.

I think that about wraps up the adventures and snaps of the weekend. I will post movie stuff tomorrow. Thanks again for stopping by and for your kind comments - I do appreciate them!!

Take care,
edgar

A Holiday Weekend Post - Part I

GR&DF I was totally having computer/Blog withdrawals yesterday - it was not a normal Monday in the least. Now don't get me wrong I loved having the day off - but it was certainly an odd Monday. I thought about today and the Blog and I think I will break up the weekend into two separate postings, with today's being all about the stitchity stuff....... and tomorrows will be all the extra stuff - and I have a ton of snaperoos!

Let me start off today with a finish - As you may remember I organized a RR about a year ago and it is winding up this month. I finished up Deb's piece and it is going into the mail this morning. Here is a snap -

Deb chose a pretty pink linen and various floss' to stitch with. The chart we all stitched was "An Emblem of Love" from With my Needle. This is a wonderful chart and I would recommend to anyone.

I was at a sort of stand still for a few moments as to what to stitch on next - if you can believe that!! - I really wanted to start off something new but then I saw a piece floundering there in my work basket - so forlorn and not a stitch put in for months. The piece was Ellen Birdseye from Goode Huswife - So I pulled her out and got to stitching and just couldn't stop until I finished her right up - Here is a snap

I loved this piece to stitch!! I didn't love the colour choices. I had converted the recommended floss from NPI/DMC to HDF silk. It just isn't hitting me just right. I even threw in the red bird (not part of the chart) - this is stitched on 28ct BOF Sandpiper. I will at some point re-stitch this sucker but shift all the colours to some that I like better.

After finishing up Miss Ellen - I looked into the basket of despair and there was another beauty I hadn't touched in months and months..... the Beatrix Potter Companion Quaker - so I hauled this lovely out and got to work on her..... here is a snap as it stood last night -

I finished up the three half medallions in the upper right corner and then started up the big circle with morning glory. I forgot how much I loved stitching Quaker - I think I will work this one until it is finished. It has certainly lingered long enough. I am using Belle Soie - "Moss" on a piece of 32ct mystery linen (or at least it's a mystery to me).

The last piece of stitching from the weekend was not my stitching but a wonderful gift that came in the mail. I jumped in an Angel stitched up a little something for Miss Joan a while back and she sent me a lovely pyn pillow as a Thank You. Here is a snap -

Such a dear sweet thing to do and send and I was overwhelmed - Thank you so much sweet Joan for the thoughtfulness!!! I have this beauty sitting by my stitching chair with my "working needles" just waiting for me. It looks great!!!!

I think that about wraps up the stitchity things for the weekend. Thank you for stopping by do come by again tomorrow for more about the weekend!!

Take care,
edgar