Clean Old & New Fabric = Love

So, the results of several estate sales and a purchase from Anna Maria Horner produced a big bunch o' fabric that needed washing. Since I haven't bought new fabric in ages, I was a little unsure how it would wash up or if it would bleed. Well it behaved, and I even threw in the vintage and new together. I use Mrs. Meyer's Lavender laundry detergent. Oh, it smells so good! So, here's my heap, fresh from the dryer, followed by everything folded up.

This is the Anna Maria Horner fabric:









And this is my stack o' vintage finds. I love the green and black plaid (hard to see the green in my dark photo!). I think it is going to have to turn itself into a skirt somehow.

This post makes me think of something my mother-in-law says about a certain sort of richness. She says: Don't you feel rich when you have a big stack of [insert your favorite textile]? When she told me this we were talking about a stash of embroidery floss I'd just found at a sale. Well, I'm definitely feeling it with my hoard of fabric... And I won't even go into what's lurking in the garage!

And now, hubs and I are going to watch part two of David Copperfield on Masterpiece Theatre. Can there be any better end to a relaxing Sunday? Night everyone...sweet dreams.

Spring & the Weekend!

Tonight, hubs and I are going out for Mexican. A new place called El Camino. Here's a shot of the cool banquette in the waiting area. It's very kitschy and the food is organic! What? Yes. Organic Mexican. Only in Cali. Have a great weekend everyone! Spring has done sprang!

Birdy Stitchery

I was talking to my niece, Izabel, the other night at our pre-St. Patty's Day dinner (we celebrated early before Maureen, Fiona's Mum, went back to England). Since there is also a niece named Robin, though she's a Robyn, we were thinking up unique names for us robins. We were laughing at one of the iterations, which was Big Robin, which I felt needed work. Um, yeah. So, besides just being Aunt Robin, I said, "Maybe, Aunt Birdy?" Though I think it makes me sound more like a 60 y/o versus the soon-to-be 50-y/o (what? really?), it does kinda go with the name Robin, the Etsy shop, and my recent stitching theme. So, I'm down with it. :o) We'll see if it sticks.

But, about this stitching. The first one of the two birds is a piece I found at an estate sale. Some lady had started it with heavy yarn, but I pulled all of that out and reworked it using embroidery floss. Well, having not done any embroidery in many years, I was using all 6 strands at first on the top bird! Whoa! Too thick. The bottom bird is much more smooth and silky, since she is done with 3 or 2 strands. I felt like in this one piece my skill progressed from the top to the bottom. Yay! To me, the top birdy is a loud, Italian man, while the bottom birdy is the more refined, quiet type. Yes, they're a couple, but oh!, such opposites! It was so much fun, and I love the idea that I finished it, and maybe somewhere the lady who started it is looking down and smiling.

Then, there's the dresser scarf! I also found this one at an estate sale with just the blue template, no stitches. Brought it home, was able to get a rusty ring out of it, and stitched it up using all red, which you crafty gals probably know is called redwork. But there is a distinction from what I understand. "Redwork embroidery" is done with red embroidery floss and outline stitches. However, "Turkey Redwork Embroidery" used thread dyed Turkey Red, one of the first colorfast red dyes, previously called India Red. Redwork was popular during the Victorian Era 1890s to about 19-teens. So, to get technical, unless the thread was dyed with Turkey Red Dye, it's not Turkey Redwork, just Redwork. A lot more on redwork here for any insomniacs out there. Another tidbit, unless it is specifically performed in an outline stitch, it is not considered Redwork. Well! Picky, picky, picky!

HOWEVER, it is now on my dresser, after an ironing with lavender water. I swear, I'm going back in time. Soon I'll be sewing up folk dress patterns and wearing a hat that ties under my chin. Well, okay, probably not since here in So-Cal it's jeans and flip-flops most of the time.

Lastly, another find that was just a blank template and ready for me to stitch: a little tea towel with my favorite subject matter. Can you guess? I bet you can. I love the blue fish, and the bow tie is my favorite part. Orange, with pink french knots! Love it. For a fantabulous tutorial on making french knots, this site is the shiz - full of wonderfully straightforward videos on almost every stitch! Such a find.

More on stitching in my next post, complete with a story that is now about 40 years old - about my Mom.

She Writes!

As many of you darlins know, my "day job " is being a marketing consultant. Well, what that really means is I'm a contract writer for a short list of technology companies. And, now in tumultuous 2009, what that actually means is I am scouting around looking for work! I don't know if it's economy-related, but the work gravy train is quite slow. I'm doing all sorts of things to get my name out there. I Twitter, here. I think it's called "tweeting" when you post. My Twitter name is robin_writes. Catchy, no? I keep a wordpress.org blog, which I use as a sounding board on marketing-related topics, and I have my work web site. I recently added a page of recent work on my work site. And...I'm on facebook, here.

As I've been making my rounds, prospecting, I thought I would add the blogosphere to my collective shout out. Perhaps folks who read my blog also work at companies that may need a writer! Got a project on your desk that you want to off-load? I write white papers, case studies, press releases, web content, product briefs, and really any type of document that needs to be written for corporate communications. In the technology space, I've written for CA, Inc., Interwoven, Handshake Software, and we shall see who is next! I have a little bio here, that tells you a bit about my work past. I can also help you with web design/development and print design.

Thanks for reading my little ad!

Katie Laughs Out Loud!

Kate, the laughing kitty! Here, she is clearly saying, "Oh Mom, you're so funny." Can you believe those looooooong whiskers!?? Such a pretty kitty.

Bees & Bumps in Beds

So...on Valentine's Day, on the way to lunch, this darling bee decided to land on the windshield. It looks like he's just in the air, but no. We were at a light and I started kvetching that once we started going he might be hurt. We weighed the alternatives, as I snapped pictures of his little gold and black striped self. Since we were headed to the 163, he might get blown off into traffic. Not good. Or should we turn on the wipers to get him off in the neighborhood area? I didn't like that one either, at all. Then, as if he had heard us, *poof* he was gone! Yay! Bee crisis averted. I really have to work at not getting all nutty over the tiniest thing being hurt. It taxes one's energy. And it's totally out of my control, ya know? I don't speak Bee, and as a friend of mine's Dad says, "you can't suckle the whole world." Ah, but I think I try sometimes, at least through the investment of mental anguish.

Next, you will see a bed bump - an almost daily occurrence here at the homestead. It's Katie under the covers. Such a sweet little lumpling. She crawls up from the side, under both the sheet and comforter cover. I think she gets under for the warmth, but also the dark. The shades in the bedroom don't really keep light out, so it's bright enough to send your circadian rhythms diving under the nearest blankie.

Valentine's Day Goodies

A few pictures from Valentine's Day starting with red, fragrant roses from hubby.

After we exchanged cards at home, we dashed to Neiman Marcus for lunch. I have a crazy love for department store cafes, so this was my heart's desire versus dinner out among the maddening crowds.

I had the Mandarin Orange Souffle. And of course, they bring a popover fresh from the oven a millisecond after you sit down - with strawberry butter of course. I decided not to drive James batty with copious pictures of my food, so there is no strawberry butter shot. I meticulously detailed the popovers here at a former lunch at NM with my friend Michele.















James had a grilled scallop salad.










We opted for a 'sweet trio' for dessert, which happened to contain more than a trio, I dare say. Behind the heart cookie were two chocolate dipped strawberries. There was a famous NM choco-chip cookie, a sugar cookie, the two cupcakes, and a center dollop of whipped cream with blackberries. Yum! We were carried out in two red wheelbarrows.

Beds and Breakfast

Sunday was filled with yard work. James cleared out the beds in the front of the house - removed the weed liner, which I hated - and now it's just nice black dirt and plants and a few large rocks and that's it! The weed liner was slowly inching its way up above the soil in places and just looked ugly. No more! It's all gone. While J. cleared beds, I made some breakfast: toasts with cream cheese, smoked salmon, red onion, and capers. And an omelet with tomatoes, mozzarella, and red onion. And a big honkin' hash brown in the center, in case the plate wasn't full enough!? For dessert we had breath mints! Ha! It was all very onion-y.

Katie cat actually joined in to sample a little bit of salmon. She loved it! Such a gourmand, this little kitty. Have I mentioned she eats raw spinach leaves? It's very cute.

Etsy Updates

Today I'm posting some new items on Etsy at my little shopling. I spent some time outside in the nice weather (no one from KY would agree with this, I'm sure, those poor folks...) to take pictures of some new inventory. I had some company as I snapped pics - this bee. He and his comrade in wings were buzzing nearby on the lavender. I am always happy to see bees, after last year's rough time. They seem to be doing better, don't they?

50s fruit napkin rings.
















Vintage rhinestone and pearl pin.















California pottery bowl.

The Editing Team at EMG

So, over here at Essential Marketing Group, we work as a close team -- me and Bernice the bunny and Sebastian the squirrel -- to make sure our sentences are concise and descriptive. Without these guys, I'd be sunk. It's amazing how Sebastian never gets tired! Just look at those eyes, all wide with energy! I think it's the quiet strength of Bernice that keeps him so grounded, lest he should fly across the room! I bet when I leave to put the tea pot on these two step off the window sill and move stuff on my desk. I just know it... Yes, I'm on shaky ground, folks. The office walls are closing in. The paper I'm editing was reviewed and edited by a lawyer who probably wore out the Comment feature on his Word Track Changes. But, hey, in this economy, I'm ecstatic to have this work. So, forward I go, happily and gratefully.

The Cure for Cold Writer's Hands

Don't I look cozy? All bundled in my mittens? I clearly have a sweater theme going - see my last post. My friend, Miss S., over at yonder Foziewisp blog, knitted me these darling mittens for Christmas! And of course, she also knitted a mug cozy to go along. Now, Mr. Mug and I are warm and toasty as we weather the cold in ye olde office. Why is this room so darn cold? I realize it gets no sun; all the sun is in the dining room!

I so don't want to work today. I want to pile onto the couch with tea and a blanket and watch Pt. 2 of Masterpiece Theatre's Wuthering Heights! But instead I am revising a document that has been edited by a lawyer! Blerg.

Special Keyboard Arm Sweater

Kate simply has to be close any time I am home, except when she chooses to take a 4-, 5-, or 6-hour nap.

Let's see, can I still type on the keyboard with this arm sweater? Oh, I guess so. I try to deter her by putting the pink baby blankie on my desk as a draw - at least to a few inches away - so I can work. But she still finds a way to weasel in. Such a loving kitty, but what a drain on productivity! :o)

Happy Inauguration Day!

What an amazing event! The word "hope" has taken on new meaning.