back to the blog
No, you are not crazy. The pictures from my last blog post have disappeared. I will re-post them.
They were pictures of the Stitched Holiday & Greeting Cards book I have just added to my book inventory on NewNeedlepoint.com
Easy Embroidery on Paper by Joke DeVette
The Encyclopedia of Cardmaking Techniques featuring the work of 14 different artists and carfts people.
Well, I have been to Oklahoma (and back). The best advice I received was to just “suck it up and do it” and I did. It was odd, I had not been to Oklahoma in 19 years but I had seen his brothers & sisters now & again, other places or they visited us.
It was the kids who surprised me. They were all grown up with kids of their own. Once I got the basics of who was who straightened out, I did my best with it all. It was overwhelming.
The Sunday afternoon Second Thanksgiving Keith’s sister Marilyn arranged boomed into 50 family members. It was a challenge but I think I did OK.
Anyway, I am home again. Jack survived very well. A very nice young lady next door checked on him every day, fed him some canned food to supplement the tons of kibble I left (KIbble? You expect Me to eat Kibble?) and played with him. Jack is a very friendly cat.
Something sort of *newsworthy* happened to me on this trip. I was selected to go through one of the body scan machines. I felt odd about it but figured it was better then being given a “pat down”. As I went through the machine I had the strong feeling that someone in the back rooms was laughing their ass off (“look at that one”)
Yes, it is an intrusive feeling but what bothered me the most was why was I picked? In the small group I passed through security with (long lines) I was the only one chosen for this. Below is an editorial cartoon by Ben Sargent, it sums this up nicely
The baggage check in lines were even longer. We flew on Southwest Airlines. The seats are very small and confining. Not quite as bad as American Airlines but hardly the comfort of Jet Blue seats.
It was holiday travel (Friday to Monday after Thanksgiving) and the planes were full of screaming children. That was not nearly as bad as the non-stop talker.
On the flight home were were 1 row in front of many of the members of some Woman’s Group (maybe Heartland something or other was their name) going to a conference. A reasonable looking lady sat just behind us. When she sat down she told her seat partners she “would not talk their ears off”.
Major Understatement Alert. She barely drew breath the entire 2 hour and 45 minute flight. Not only did she blabber non-stop she repeated everything she said twice.
Everything, Twice.
I now know about her husband’s heart implant, in great detail and her job issues and her kids and grandkids (she never expected 4 grandchildren, she has just one child) and on and on (and on).
I was fried when I got off the plane. I slept almost the whole ride home and except for unpacking and household misc pick-up stuff, slept the rest of the day (which is why I am up at 3 am writing this)
I am through listing the new books (except for the new, new books I ordered) and most of the accessories.
I have decided to not to list some of these accessories. They are so small and inexpensive, I can’t charge enough to even recoup the cost of my NewNeedlepoint.com Free Shipping
I do have a few piles of rare/used books to list.
I recently ordered a wonderful Red Sox/Fenway Park needlepoint canvas by Melinda McAra. It has been a long time since I have actually *bought* a needlepoint canvas for me to stitch but I bought this one.
Keith is a major & obsessed Red Sox fan. We have a Red Sox neon sign on the family room wall celebrating their 2004 win, 2 signed game bats and glasses with the Red Sox red R on each of them.
Melinda does a few other major sports team canvas, they are much better then what you usually see. Most of these are not so good. Hers are terrific.
I am thinking of stocking this one and a few others, Yankee Stadium: NY Yankees and Wrigley Field: The Cubs.
Given that I am seriously thinking of downsizing my stock of canvases, kits & threads, this seems an odd thing to do, even to me.
Then again, I am certainly odd and while I make most decisions easily, right decisions are much harder.
finally!
Yes, I have been sick but what has slowed my blogs to a trickle (I like that, a trickle of babble) is my blog itself.
The server that carries and maintains my blog has been down off and on for most of the past 2 months. I have had unwritten blogs clogging up my head (not that it takes much).
But my 2nd wonderful tech guy ( who works with the estimable Zac The Tech), Ashton assures me that the new server is up and all is well.
There are some changes I am thinking about making on NewNeedlepoint.com.
I am expanding my Needlework books categories. I am adding Stitched Card Making books (just in time for the holidays)
and some cross-stitch books.
There will be more to follow, perhaps knitting & crochet as well as latchhooking. ( I hooked a small rya rug once before the dawn of time, it was fun).
I was thinking of backing off the needlepoint canvases & kits some, reducing my stock of available designs.
I made this tough decision last week and then over the weekend I sold 2 kits and a large canvas. Go Figure.
So, that decision is still pending, as to scope. I do know I am downsizing. The expense of maintaining a full stock of colors in the DMC #5 Perle Cotton, The Anchor & DMC #8 Perle Cotton and the Paternayan Wool is too high. I think I am going to let the wool sell out and not replace it.
Of course, this is going by my own prejudices, since I prefer to stitch with the Perle Cottons.
Ok, Holiday. My son, the chef, arrives early tomorrow morning. We will all cook together for Thanksgiving. Living, as we do, in the Amish & Mennonite farm country, we will have a local raised fresh killed turkey to roast.
Then my son goes back to Boston, he has to work Friday night and K is dragging poor me to see his family in Oklahoma. I haven’t been there in 18 years, I was hoping to make it forever.
I am currently waiting for the miracle that will make it so I do not have to go.
I, suddenly and without warning, could not read one more word of Jayne M. Krentz’s Amanda Quick novels. I began to re-read Janet Evanovitch’s Stephanie Plum series, the most recent book, Sizzling Sixteen.
When it was published, last June, I did not think much of it but I suspect that was “hangover” from my disappointment with her most recent novels. She seemed not to care anymore and just” phoned them in”.
I was wrong, 16 is a great read and I had fun reading it. I decided I would start again at book 1 (One for the Money) and see how they held up.
Book 1 was terrific, I can see why the series caught on. Several things stood out however. The Ranger in book one is very little like the “future Ranger” and his speech is very crude. He is really quite open and willing to talk, which it not the Ranger we come to know. Connie is not the way she eventually becomes. There is more Vinnie and lots of Grandma Mazur (I love her, I want to be like her)
Book 2 (Two for the Money) was also really good. Ranger’s persona begins to become like he eventually became (anyone understand that?).
In this one, Lula joins the Bond Agency, she swears like no tomorrow. Even the F word (LOL).
3 (Three to Get Ready) was unreadable. I always have had trouble reading that one.
And so on. I am up to the beginning of Book 7 (Seven Ups) . Everybody is more or less as they continue to be, by now. Lula now says “damn skippy” instead. I have come to really like Lula too but I wonder about Ms Evanovitch and her relationship to food.
Clearly, she is a slim(ish) woman. But in her books, the reaction to almost everything is to eat and good metabolism or not, anyone who ate what and as as frequently as Stephanie would weight way more than the amount she states Lula weighs, as she makes fun of Lula’s eating habits/needs. Any why is such a point made of it?
This puzzles me. Also, does anyone else remember Mary Lou Molnar from the first few books? She was Stephanie’s life long best friend and quite present in the earlier books. I have not heard her mentioned for quite a few books now.
Janet Evanovitch has created some wonderful “people” for these books, she is good at this, then why in the new *Lizzy & Diesel* series does she give us “Carl the Monkey” (shudder) instead of Grandma? And Ranger is now a Cat?
Then again, she did the exact same ending as the Stephanie books, Lizzy & Diesel are left just beginning to kiss, to be continued in the next book.
cough, cough
I’m still sick. I will be back blabbing my head off soon (I hope)
Of course, I have nothing to say but that has never stopped me.
marianne makes some progress
Thursday November 11th 2010, 8:45 pm
Filed under:
Mostly Books I am so strange, I really am an odd person. The weeks I felt terrific, happy & relaxed, I did no work.
Now I have a bad cold and I am getting a lot of work done. I have photographed most of the new stuff and edited the pictures. I will begin listing them tomorrow (or tonight if I can’t sleep).
I have some unusual stuff (unusual for NewNeedlepoint anyway. I know I already showed you the new Gingher Scissors I will be listing I also have several needle & small tool cases.
I really like this tiny tool case, it measures 4 X 2.5 X .5 inches.
I have 3 small needle cases. These 2 are decorated plastic and slide to open. They measure 2.75 X 1.75 X .75 inches
This next one is ice blue metal. The top snaps open and it measures 2.75 X 1.75 X .5 inches. The bottom has a piece of cloth to hold the needles steady. The briefcase does too. The sliding cases do not.
I have 2 new tote bags from Laurel Burch featuring her wonderful cats. Both these tote bags have a full zipper top closing. The smaller size one has an inside zipper pocket and 18 inch handles (not 18″ drop, the whole handle is 18 inches). The bag is 13 X 10 X 3 inches.
The larger tote (18 X 15 X 5 inches) has a bit of the decoration stitched in wool and some beading. The handles are 25 inches ( I could not show them in my picture). Not only does it have a full zipper top but there is a very nice organzer pouch sewn inside the bag.
I am ready to list the 4 Glorafilia Needlepoint books I have. I think I am going to give them their own category and also copy them to the regular rare books category as well.
I have noticed something about the books, something that puzzles me.
The first one I have is 1991′s GLORAFILIA: The Venice Collection.
Below is a close-up of one of the designs from the book. As far as I can tell, except for the red flowers, it is stitched in traditional needlepoint either Tent or Basketweave stitch.
Next is GLORAFILIA: The Impressionists in Needlepoint from 1993.
I have been through the book, not page by page but call it a heavy skim. All the designs appear to be stitched in “regular” needlepoint. What then makes them Glorafilia?
Then I have GLORAFILIA The Ultimate Needlepoint Collection from 1996
The stitching, again, looks like “Plain Stitch” needlepoint.
The 4th book I have is from 1989 making it the first of these books. It is The Glorafilia Needlepoint Collection.
There is quite a bit of variation in the stitches used and effects from them
I find this odd, I think I will do some research about this.
I also have Ann Strite Kurz’s follow up book to her Potpourri Of Pattern book
It is called Potpourri of Pattern Encore. You hardly ever see the word “encore” used this way. I like it.
I don’t know if any of you are fans of Janet Evanovitch’s Stephanie Plum books. I love many of them, like others and a sad few are just a waste of time. Overall I would call myself a fan.
As you might know she publishes her new Plum book every June. This time of year she usually does her mostly pretty bad “Between The Numbers” books (Plum Spooky etc).
This year instead she has published Wicked Appetite. I think I read somewhere that this is going to be a new series. The “stephanie character” is a pasty chef named Lizzy. She is ok, she bakes miraculous cupcakes.
Diesel, the “Unmentionable” hunk from her between the numbers books is here. The Lula sidekick part is Glo, a co-worker who is trying to learn to be a witch. The Connie slot is Clara, the owner of the bakery.
I suspect the Ranger role is taken by a Cat with Ninja Powers and Grandma Mazur is Carl the Monkey (remember him from the Stephanie books?).
I love Grandma Mazur and am fond of Lula. Glo is just annoying. I can live without Carl.
I am interested in watching this series develop (if indeed that is what she is doing here). The first book was OK, It was basically about Gluttony, in all forms. That is one of the 7 Deadly Sins (small world, I recently did a blog about them, before I read this book).
The book was a good read, no real complaints here but I am left wondering what Ms. Evanovitch’s problem is with weight. She was always caustic with Lula, putting her down about being fat and her too small clothes. Now we have a pastry chef and a book about gluttony (or the magic stone that causes it).
I do not have a clear take here on what her “position” (or hang-up) here is about. In her back cover picture she appears to be a “normal” size person (I know, define normal).
I am not sure there is any such thing as a *Normal Person*. I never met one, have you?
reprobate, me
Below is an online dictionary’s meaning for the word reprobate:
rep·ro·bate/ˈreprəˌbāt/
Noun: An unprincipled person (often used humorously or affectionately).
Adjective: Unprincipled (often used as a humorous or affectionate reproach). More »
Dictionary.com – Answers.com – Merriam-Webster – The Free Dictionary
Search Results
That describes me to a T. I still have not done anything, nada, zilch, zero, about my pile of new stuff waiting to be listed on NewNeedlepoint.com (and why am I bothering with a link since all you will see there is the same old stuff).
Not only am I a reprobate, I am a wastrel.:
wast·rel/ˈwāstrəl/Noun
1. A wasteful or good-for-nothing person.
2. A waif; a neglected child. More »
Dictionary.com – Answers.com – Merriam-Webster – The Free Dictionary
Search Results
We went to Atlantic City this past weekend. Not only did I leave poor Jack the Cat for 2 nights:
Definition of NEGLECTFUL
: given to neglecting : careless, heedless
Although he had a huge bowl of kibble left for him and plenty of fresh water (although he is not above drinking from the toilet, we often catch him at it) He was quite mad at us when we came home.
We stayed at the fabulous new Borgata Hotel & Casino (new in terms of Atlantic City Hotels) It is not on the Boardwalk, it is back in the wetlands and the view from our 33rd floor room was amazing, watching the tides come in and out.
The hotel has a very different atmosphere from the other Boardwalk Casino hotels. There are no buses, fewer really older people (although many people at our level of older).
There were zillions of young people. Friday night there were a number of bachelor & bachelorette parties running around. Very loud and happy. The fashions were amazing. I had not realized how many young girls wore very tight, very revealing short dresses with very high heels. In fact, there were a number of girls who were having trouble walking in 5 inch heels.
But that was nothing to Saturday Night. Hordes of them came for the nightclubs in the hotel. Loud, partying, good-to-go people in their 20′s.
Where people in their 20′s found the money to stay at the Borgata is beyond me.
I had an amusing encounter while I was sitting at a Kitty Glitter slot machine (I love that game). A group of 4 semi-drunk young men was standing next to me arguing about the payment of a bar bill. Eventually they asked my opinion (as a sensible older mom type despite my ruffle front glitter sweater bought on sale at saks.com).
It seems that there is high cover charge for the club. They were a group of young guys celebrating the birthdays of several in the group.
It turned out that the bar bill was $1600. They agreed to split it. The discussion was about the girls. None of them had brought dates but while in the club several girls had attached themselves to the group. These girls had done some very expensive drinking (mixed drinks, not beer or wine).
Some of the guys though the girls should pitch in to the bill, some were not sure. They asked me.
I told them that if it had been a date where they invited the girls to come with them or to join them they should open doors for them and pay for the drinks but if the girls just joined them (of their own accord) they should pitch in.
All the guys agreed, all shook my hand. One told me he always holds the door open for his mom. So, there it is.
Yes, valets and such now call me “mam” and young hunks think of me as “mom”. Oh well.
I mostly lost at the Borgata, until a 8:30 am Sunday big win as we were leaving (yes, slots after breakfast before we checkout out). K won slowly the whole time we were there so we came home what is called “whole”.
It is fun and exciting. A far cry from my usual reading and sleeping and I get to somewhat dress up. And if the economy is in trouble you could not tell at the Borgata. It was packed.
So, I am indeed the reprobate of the title. I think except for the link to my web store, there is absolutely no needlepoint talk in this blog. That may be a first.
sloth & a birthday
I am not sure but isn’t sloth one of the middle range of sins? It is not up there with murder or not respecting your parents, it is more grouped in with gluttony & such.
Why am I thinking about sloth? I am always very busy. The days race by and things do not get done, yet I am so busy.
I am not sure where my time goes and why I am not so productive.
I have not listed any of the newest stuff yet, despite boxes of books arriving frequently. I have no new photos to show you or books I have reviewed to talk about.
Zilch.
I was up at 8am this morning which is quite early for me. I was woken by the sound of Jack the Cat “heaving” up his breakfast in 3 places (on the carpet, of course, good kitty).
Jack is perfectly healthy but he is a little glutton, he often gobbles his food so fast (the mornings are the worst for this) that he gets sick.
So, I cleaned that up. Then I did the daily drudge housework and some laundry.
A trip to the grocery store (it was a lovely day). Then this afternoon I sat down to read for a bit at 3pm.
I woke up just now at 9pm, another day gone and nothing accomplished for NewNeedlepoint.com
Sloth.
So, I have no needlepoint talk today, nothing in fact to say to anybody they have not already heard me rattle on about before.
I am happy, I knew I was comfortable and content while I was dozing. Now I am awake but I might go back to bed.
I finally got my used copies of the rest of the Amanda Quick/Jayne Krentz Arcane Society Series of books. I read one of them, it was a contemporary setting so the “author” was Ms Krentz.
BTW, today is my good friend Patt, of Patt & Lee Designs, birthday. Happy Birthday Patt.
stress-free me
All the stress is gone. My house is sold, done & finished.
Thank you everyone who wished me well and sent comments to that effect.
To keep the house on the market I was paying:
caretakers
cleaners ( once a month, to keep it up for showings)
Electricity
Water & Sewer
Pool Guy
Landscaper
HOA dues and constant “special assessments”
Property Taxes
Insurance (high on an empty house) plus the constant worry, what would I do if it never sold? Took years to sell?
All gone now. Life is good (how long will this last before the next disaster hits, wonders pessimist me). I think I will get one of those silly but cute “Life is Good” tee shirts but then again I look just awful in tee shirts, maybe a tote bag?
Of course, I am way behind with my NewNeedlepoint.com chores. (go figure). I have tons of new used/rare books and had an even bigger pile of replacement books for the ones I have sold.
I think I have all of the replacement books listed, they are easier to do. It takes me a long time to create a listing from scratch. For a replacement all I have to do is replace the 2 pictures, update the condition description and adjust the price (if necessary).
I have a few new books and 2 more copies of Ann Strite-Kurz’s book A Potpourri of Pattern. It sold almost immediately after I listed it.
Plus I have the very new follow-up to that book, A Potpourri of Pattern Encore. I just received it and have not yet photographed it or listed it.
I have 2 books on doing needlepoint and embroidery on paper. The idea being that you can easily (and quickly) make custom stitched Holiday Cards. I only ordered 2, I have no idea if anyone will be interested.
I have a previously unknown (to me) book that was shipped from the UK. It is a very good condition used copy of Noah’s Ark by Hugh Erhman & Elizabeth Benn. Obviously an animal based Needlepoint design book. I have not looked at it much yet but it appears to be a handsome hardcover book published in 1989.
I have Needlework Plaids by Marion Broome Pakula. I am not sure why but that names seems familiar to me.
The Glorafilia books have all arrived. They are from the private collection of a well-known needlepoint expert (no names, I am nothing if not discreet). They are all hardcovers in terrific condition. I have:
The Glorafilia Needlepoint Collection with complete projects and stitch cards published in the UK, no publication date.
Glorafilia: The Ultimate Needlepoint Collection published in the USA in 1996
Glorafilia: The Impressionists in Needlepoint USA 1993
Glorifilia: The Venice Collection USA 1991
Yes, I will photograph them and list them. I have a HUGE pile of books sitting here glaring at me.
There may be a large number of people insisting I am not discreet and never have or will be out there protesting my claim. As I have said before, it is my blog and I will say what I want.
Remember when I was agonizing over buying more of the Mighty Bright LED Floor Lamps? I ended up buying three and have sold them all. I need to order more, again.
I have some accessories for Holiday Gift Giving. Small (and charming) needle cases and a tiny Briefcase tool holder. I have 2 Laurel Burch colorful tote bags. A medium size and a large.
Again, I am just trying them out. One excellent feature is both totes have full zipped closings at the top. That way when your bag tumbles over everything you have (and an amazing collection it can be) does not tumble out and go everywhere.
That happens to me a lot.
What else? Not much. Remember that old, old TV commercial about milk from contented cows. That is me, a contented cow. I know I should not but I rather like the image of me serenely chewing my cud.
I have been reading Georgette Heyer’s Sprig Muslin. It is an unexpected and wonderful book. To me, it is about how love can sneak up on you. It can and sometimes does.
I was waiting for my order of (used) Amanda Quick/Jayne A. Krentz’s Arcane Series books to arrive. This works well for me. NewNeedlepoint.com pays the shipping since I order them along with my Needlepoint books.
Clever of me but also foolish since it all comes from the same place, in the end but I do like the feeling that I am “getting away with something”.
OK, that’s it for tonight. I really, really have to get going listing these books and accessories. Really!
