Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas to all! My holiday mood is running late this year, so instead of words let the pictures tell the story....

The Advent calendar - stitched some time ago and  - finally - framed in felt with the help of my daughter Rita.

A Star - Christmas decoration, one of several, on our tree. When on his first Christmas my son, then nine months old, dropped and broke his first glass ornament, I realized that glass decorations were not in our future for a while. Without unbreakable ornaments, the only other option was - hand-made decorations. The first year, my tree was decorated with pompoms made out of wool. Over time, I collected more hand-made items.  By the way, for anyone who asks about a strangely bent corner  - this star is not ripped or damaged, it's "vintage"... That's right, vintage.

Another decoration - Santa Claus begging for work... Funny and, given the current job situation, quite contemporary.

Vera made this doll from construction paper.

Merry Christmas!

No Coffee, No Company...

Over the past three weeks, I have been working near the town center. In the afternoon, during my lunch hour, I usually go to Rite Aid, pick up something to eat, and then go over to the coffee shop for a cup of hot cider or tea. My schedule is always the same, day in and day out, and I find particular comfort in its predictability.
However, today was different. After making my usual stop at the Rite Aid, I went over to the coffee shop. No sooner did I find a seat, the barrista asked me if I wanted anything. I said not just yet, and opened my snack. No more than a minute later another gentleman came up from behind the coffee counter and asked me if I wanted anything. When I once again said "not now, thanks," he announced to me that what they had here was a place of business, and if I did not plan to buy anything, I should not be sitting there.
Ironically, the name of the coffee shop is "Coffee and Company." It seems that, if you don't pay for their coffee, they don't want your company...
Later in the day, after work, I witnessed the same attitude from a coffee stand owner at the library, this time towards somebody else. A young boy was standing by the counter looking at drinks and sandwiches. The owner asked him if he wanted to buy anything. When he said no, she told him not to stand there.
While I understand that we all have to make a living, I can't stop thinking that the attitude of all these sales people is just plain rude! Nothing, not even financial stress and poor economy, can excuse this rude behavior. Besides, it is during the harder times when one's true colors show. It turns out that behind these barristas' friendly smiles, behind all the comfy and cozy decor there is nothing but commercial interest.
Merry Christmas!  

The Anti-Blogging blog post

It has been a while since I have visited my English blog - it seems like no one reads it anyway, or, at least, iti has been a while since I have read any new comments. So, I turned to other things, among them - blogging in my Native language. Still, once in a while I come by and do an update or two, rearrange some sections and add some pictures -you know, the regular maintenance that is due.
Several.... weeks(?) ago I noticed that my Slideshow from Picasa needed some attention. Some pictures did not show ( arrived as black boxes), others were duplicated. I went to Picasa and first of all did some cleaning and organizing. I selected the pictures I wanted, deleted others, added some new ones. Then, I deleted the existing slideshow album and added the New and Improved one. Saved the changes, did the preview - and... surprise!?!?
Perhaps the excess of emotion is not justified, but... My slideshow was fine, clicking away just the way I wanted. All my other pictures from the ENTIRE blog were gone - they appeared as blank boxes with a terrifying red X in the left corner. I frantically clicked "undo", but it was too late... my pictures are gone.
When I went to the Help screen, it described the problem for me and suggested it is because of changed "privacy" settings in Picasa - yes, I made the new album and made it public - but offered no resolution... I sighed, re-aploaded the two pictures for the latest entry, and then it occured to me that I could not possibly go through two years of blogging and reload all the pictures. I have a choice in the matter - I can either go forward and keep "plugging away" without restoring the past, or - I may just "close doors" of this one. I have not decided yet. I want my readers' input. So,what do you think? Post a comment with your suggestion under this blog entry. I will decide for myself, of course, but your opinion will play a part in my decision.

Rancho Vino Event

Last Saturday, Joe and I were at Rancho Vino, at the event that benefited The Children's Miracle Network. I gave my Celtic Lady Summer for the silent auction, and we were invited to attend.
As we were getting ready, I was telling myself how good it was to give to the community, how rewarding it feels to be making a difference, how it takes just one act....but these were just words. It did not feel personal to me, it did not feel like I was making a difference at all. Indeed, "it" felt more like I just purchased the tickets for the evening of entertainment, only instead of cash I gave my Lady. It did not feel personal - until I met Melinda.
Just by accident it happened so that we were sitting at the same table as the Guest Speaker and her family.

Three years ago Melinda was diagnosed with cancer of the blood. She was thirteen. In the following two years, she has gone through treatment that included regular chemotherapy and blood transfusions. Melinda described her journey to recovery in her book "Grace: A Child's Intimate Journey Through Cancer and Recovery."

Now, Melinda is free of the disease. She became a spokesperson for the Children's Miracle Network... She goes to the events and speaks of her experience; Melinda's mother mentioned she was booked till February. Her grandfather said that in two years of treatment his granddaughter matured about 15 years. "These things make you grow up faster," he said...

As I was trying to look at this girl outside of the "cause," I saw - a child. I child who was eager to live, to have fun, to talk, to dance, to fall in love... To partake of all the good things that life has to offer her.  May it be so...

This was the moment when it became personal, and I no longer felt like I "paid my way in" for some food and entertainment. Because if another child like Melinda can make it through, then it is an honor to be of any help.

Quilt Sampler and Thrift Store Treasures

Last week, I finished my Quilt Sampler. Hearts reminded me of cookies, and I constantly wanted to snack. Then, I had to find a good frame for it. Where is the best place to find a good, affordable frame? Thrift Store!
I went in there for the frame, and left with four bags of things. What treasures I found! Old cross stitch magazines. Embroidery patterns. Dolls. Stuffed toys. And - the biggest surprise - a completed and framed cross stitch! Here it is... My main treasure.

Who would throw away such a beautiful piece? I can't imagine. Well, lucky me. Now it is hanging on the wall of my new "office space".

What else? Ah, dolls. One is a collectible - came with a stand, a certificate and in a closed box. Another one I liked because of a crocheted dress and hat - she feels comforting.

Then, there were a few soft toys - two bags, exactly... Most of them went to the girls, but I picked three - a team - for my office. Here they are.

And finally (drumroll!) - the main reason for the trip, the Quilt Sampler. Here it is, finished and framed.

The frame fit perfectly, and the shabby look did match it very well. I am happy with it.

Now - off to the new projects! Wish me luck.

A Celtic Nameplate, a Quilting Sampler, and a Tree

It's time I showed some pictures of the WIP projects I have been working on over the past month. Since the Celtic Lady finish, there have not been any new pictures... Shame on me.
Yet, I have been working on new things. Most of them are still in progress (of course!), but one, surprisingly enough, has been finished. Here it is...

This is something I made for my daughter. For now, she is using it as a bookmark; it can also go in a frame or, perhaps, as a sew-on tag on the blanket. I liked stitching the letters - simple, yet intricate.

Another project I have been working on over the past month is the Quilting Sampler. Here it is - still unfinished, but pretty close to completion:

There is still some outlining and writing to be done, as well as a couple of stitches here and there, but - the majority of work is completed. One thing I am happy about completing here is the border - boy, my eyes almost crossed from stitching all these yellow-and-blue triangles. It's nice to go back to stitching and outlining the dolls in the center. And the small hearts above remind me of cookies.

In the space above the big heart in the center it will say, "From the Heart." Once it is finished and framed, I will donate it to the Charity Auction at my niece's church. I hope to get it done by the next weekend.

Finally, one day I sat down and wanted to do something different - and came up with this:

Suddenly I just wanted to stitch leaves, don't know what came over me. I did not even draw a specific design, except a brief outline of the tree on the canvas tote bag. Hopefully, I will complete this idea after the Sampler is done and framed.
Next week, I'll be working (hooray!), and the kids are starting school, but still hope to get some stitching done in the evenings.

It's August....

Wow, time really flies. It's August, soon the new school year will start (again!) and the children will come back from their vacation... It'll be noisy and happy(?). Or - stressful? Probably all of the above. Hoping for some nice mix there.
I'm stitching, stitching, stitching and have nothing to show for it. For some reason I do not feel like showing my WIP of the sampler, I really want to get the whole thing finished before I post the picture. Is it professionalism speaking? or something else?
There is one thing I am struggling with still  - inspiration. I do not know what I want to do with  myself. For a while, I have been thinking that it's teaching that inspires me, so I've gone to college and got my degree in Child Development. I started working for Headstart. But now, after everything that's happened, I do not feel that inspiration any more. Or, maybe, I have never had that inspiration, and the events just brought it to light.
The question remains: what do I do with myself? Stitching gives me comfort... Reading inspires my thinking.... Talking and writing relieves the pressure of thoughts. Should I be a stitcher? A reader? A writer? A therapist? Strictly speaking, I am already the first three. I don't get paid for it, but then again, not many people do. To become a therapist, I would have to go back to school.
I see inspiration in the works of other stitchers - and I want to be just like them, feel like their pictures and blogs feel - kind, cheerful, happy! But I am not like them. There is something missing in me... or something added? - that does not allow me to feel that happiness.
What do I want? Honestly, I want peace and comfort. I want to stop worrying about all the mundane everyday problems. This is something that is up to me. No amount of education can solve that...
And that is my DAILY DRAMA post!