Would you like some whine with that?

Sorry, folks, just feeling the need to grumble a bit.

I mentioned a while ago that I am a subscriber to Take Ten, a magazine featuring stamped cards that could be made in about 10 minutes. The last two issues, including the one I received this week, have been published under a new editor. Sometimes when magazines get a new editor, one can hardly tell. In other cases, it's really obvious.

In this case, it's been really obvious. The cards being featured are of a different style than under the old editor. My problem with this is that I think the new editor has missed the whole "take ten" concept. I look at the cards and think, "I can't even assemble the supplies in 10 minutes, let alone create this card in 10 minutes." And this is with cards that I don't even have to think about designing, I just copy them for the most part. The newer cards are very elaborate, which follows the trend in the industry, but they're not quick cards. I also don't really like the style of most of these cards.

With my magazine this week, I received my renewal notice. I've waffled about renewing. I thought about asking you, my readers, for your opinion, but I knew deep-down what I needed to do. So I'm not going to renew, which disappoints me because I was really excited about this magazine when I first subscribed last year. I think, instead, I'll use some of the money I would've spent on the renewal and order some of the back issues, which I think I will enjoy more.

On a totally different topic, why oh why do I keep picking cross-stitch patterns that involve lots of backstitching detail work? I'm working on the North Star sampler for my nephew, and I think that the amount of vining I'm stitching is going to drive me insane or at least blind. Worse - the sampler I've picked for his brother has the same kind of vining work, although not quite as much of it. As NJM said to me today, "Didn't I learn my lesson with the pumpkins?" I worked on those 7 or 8 years ago (and started the project 9 years ago), and I still cringe when I think about working on that project.

Three Projects

In today's paper (which we received yesterday), there was a flyer for one of the big craft stores, advertising 60% off a complete custom framing order. Great, I thought, I can take my niece's birth sampler in to be framed. I pulled the ironing board out this morning, prepared the sampler, and drove down to northern Virginia to the craft store.

Naive me. I thought that at 60% off, that my framing order would be significantly less than what I usually pay at my LNS for framing. HA, HA, HA. After 60% off, it would have cost me about the same as my LNS. I brought the sampler home and will take it to my LNS instead. I'd rather give them the money, and they'll do a nicer job. They might even have a pre-made frame that will fit it's unusual size.

Here's an updated picture of the sampler. You'll see I added name, date, and a spiral of my own design. The spiral was to fill in the blank space left by centering the name. The spiral should have probably been a few more spaces to the right, but I'm pleased with how it came out overall.

Since I was ironing anyway, I thought I'd pull out my stash of FUFOs that need ornamentifying. All of them are washed, ironed, and trimmed of excess threads. The pile included 7 of the 8 ornaments that I've stitched this year (the 8th, my February heart, is completely finished already). It also included 5 more projects.

Pictured here are 2 that I stitched in late 2005 out of the 2005 JCS ornament issue. It was the first JCS OI that I bought, and it's probably the one that I like most to date. It's also the only one from which I've stitched any projects, and I think I've stitched 6 or 8 different ornaments. I've given most of them away, as usual.

Both were stitched on scraps of fabric with DMC threads. I liked the second one so much, I stitched it twice, giving one to a non-religious friend as her winter holiday gift that year.

Friday Feast on Sunday

Borrowed from Jennifer at Sweet Pea Stitches.

Appetizer: What is the nearest big city to your home? I live in DC proper. The next nearest big city would be Baltimore.

Soup: Describe the flooring in your home. Do you have carpet, hardwood, vinyl, a mix? We have hardwood on the first floor, stairways, and hallways. The bedrooms have carpet. The bathrooms are all tiled. Our basement is currently unfinished, but will have a mix of tile and carpet.

Salad: Describe your hair (color, texture, length). Chin length, baby fine, slightly wavy (unruly), and medium brown with some highlights. It's cut in a layered bob to give it some shape and volume.

Main Course: Do you know anyone whose life has been touched by adoption? Yes. One of my closest friends is an adoptee. I have a couple of other friends who have siblings who are adopted.

Dessert: When was the last time you had a really bad week? In March, when I was sick. Prior to that, it was probably the entire six months before I left my previous job, and I was only in the job for seven months.

May Birds

Here are my two ornaments for May. Both are freebies from the Victoria Sampler. Both are stitched on fabric from my stash, with leftover kit threads. I finished the first one a couple of weeks ago and the second one tonight.

Cardinal on confederate grey linen.

Chickadee on unknown linen (it's lighter than platinum).

Crafting and Intellectual Property

Here's a story on the copyright of patterns that connects to both my crafting and professional lives, even if I'm not a knitter. Similar issues could arise in the cross-stitching community, so it's good to keep an eye on these things.

Thanks to ADR for passing along the story.

Seasoning Quiz

Sorry for the run on memes lately. I hope to post some crafting news soon...

You Are Garlic

Of all the spice types, you are the most universally loved. You get long with pretty much everyone, and you leave a lasting impression. You adapt yourself well to situations. You can fit in or stand out, depending on what you're called on to do.

What Spice Are You?

Kipling Meme

This was started by Barbara at http://mainelystitching.wordpress.com/ based on Kipling’s The Elephant Child:

I keep six honest serving-men
(They taught me all I knew);
Their names are What and Why and When
And How and Where and Who.

For those of you who don’t cross-stitch, I’d be interested in seeing your answers about your favorite hobby, whether it’s knitting or golfing or music appreciation or ….

Who taught you to stitch, and were there any special circumstances or memories surrounding this?
I taught myself after seeing two of my close college friends work on projects.
What’s your favorite thing to stitch?
Band samplers with speciality stitches.
Why do you stitch?
It soothes me and makes me feels like I’m accomplishing something creative with my day.
When is your special stitching time?
In the evenings, particularly Friday nights. It’s a great way to transition from work week to weekend.
Where is your special stitching place?
I usually stitch while stretched out on our couch, but I’m not particular. I just need somewhere that allows my right arm to move freely.