Taneya & Kalonji

Here in Nashville, TN.

As I have been so busy with work, my stitching time has been greatly reduced. But, I did have the luxury of stitching on Saturday and guess what I started. The Empress. I just couldn’t resist. I had some initial counting and frogging issues, but overcame those and happily stitched away while watching Runaway Jury and the commentary on it.

And, throughout the rest of this week, I’ve stitched about 2 hours on my Sleeping Beauty. It’s been almost a year since I stitched on her, so it’s nice to get back to her. As I mentioned in my last post, I’m off to Nawlins this weekend, so this will probably be my last post until I get back. Maybe I’ll have soem pics to share. Everyone have a great weekend!

Last week at my LNS i picked up a new leaflet. I thought I had posted about it here, but it doesn’t seem so. Why did I buy this? We have our “Market Day” coming up this weekend! Well, I know why I bought it. It is a new leaflet by Jeanette Crews Designs called Casablanca. I got it for the beautiful tropical colored palm trees it has. I’ll stitch them for my mother of course Click on the pic for a larger view.

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And, I was very excited to get these today – two recent Ebay purchases. I just stumbled across them too. I first saw these about three years ago and have wanted them since. They are Emperor & Empress by chinese artist Bing Chan.

Can’t wait to start these! Let’s see how long I hold out.

And, I finally have an updated pic of my progress on Spanish Sampler. It is a horrible scan, but you can see how much I’ve gotten done.

It’s been a hectic week! But, before I go into what I’ve been up to, let me take a minute to reply to some of the recent comments. Katie, I think I emailed you this, but yes, I saw his glow-in-the-dark models – very cool! Suz – thanks for the congrats on U of Pitt. I’m looking forward to it. Stasha, no, I have not wet the rayon so thanks for the tip! Fiona – I’m right there with you – I just want to stitch all the time too

But alas, life intervenes right? The past three days I have been taking a course on epidemiological and data management principles. We met all day Friday, yesterday and today. It was a good course and I even get two credit hours for a weekend’s worth of work. Rather intense though. So, not as much stitching for me since my last post. I have been working on Spanish Sampler, but don’t have an updated pic. Fortunately, I have off work tomorrow, so after spending the morning doing some work I really, really, really need to do, I will stitch the rest of the day. whoohoo!!!!

I also have made plans to go to New Orleans at the end of the month. Kalonji’s ship gets back to Texas today, so we will meet each other in ‘nola the last weekend of feb. He’s never been there, I’ve been three times and absolutely LOVE the city! We got what looks to be a great hotel and it’s only a mile from the French Quarter. Can you say Cafe du Monde (yeah, yeah, I know i’m on a diet, but that’s a weekend I won’t care!) So, from feb 27-mar 1st I’ll be stirring up trouble in the crescent city.

And, I started another Geisha book! This one is by a real geisha (Memoirs, the only other one I’ve read, was fictional) who was a star geisha in Japan and wrote this account of her life. It is very interesting. Not as elegantly written as Memoirs of a Geisha, but I have already learned new information. It’s a great read and I find myself reading more and more each day. I should be able to finish it before too long. of course, I’ll let you know when I do.

Last night I went to a class taught by Doug Kreinik! It was extremely interesting and we got to leave with samples of all the different types of thread that Kreinik makes. Doug had over 300 models that he passed around as he described all the different ways to use kreinik, optimal stitching tips for the different weights and just in general, many different ways to use them. He also mixed in some history about the company, his family, thread in general (specifically silk) and some other interesting tidbits. I really enjoyed it. My LNS owner hosted it as we had so many shop owners in the area this weekend (Yes, I’m in Nashville!). So, about half the class were shopowners. I would definitely recommend it.

Stitching wise, I had a good weekend (albeit not as productive as I would have hoped). I went over to my friend Melanie’s house on Saturday and as we and Melissa stitched we watched Season 4 of Sex and the City. While there I worked some more on my Spanish Sampler from Treasures in Needlework and New Zealand. On Friday and Sunday evening I was able to put in some more time on Queen of Egypt.

I should be able to get in some stitching time tonite and I’m leaning towards Queen of Egypt. I picked up some of the Achor Marlitt it calls for. While I’m not a fan of rayon, I figured I would give it another try.

I received official notification today – I am now a PhD Candidate at the School of Information Sciences at the University of Pittsburgh – can you say MAJOR Happy Dance!!!!!

I have posted the whole saga before, but if you look in my november archives you can find a little more explanation. If all goes well and as planned (and I don’t flunk out), I should be done in December 2006.

And, in stitching news my Wedding is framed! I was able to take a picture at my LNS even though it won’t come home until I finish paying for it. Here is a link.. This thing is huge! It’s certainly my largest framed project yet. Here is is again, next to a chair so you can see just how big it is. I am thrilled with how it turned out!

Does he let the fact that he is out in the middle of the water stop him? No!

I received 12 beautiful peach roses today at work!

In stitching news, over the weekend I worked a little bit (maybe 2 hrs) on Autumn Queen. I had not touched her since October of 2002.

And, I spent most of Sunday working on World Peace Angel. This I will continue to work on tonite. Let me tell ya – it can be hard to stitch and try and keep up with the Superbowl too! but, I worked on this for about 7 hours or so and did most that green section along the bottom of her dress.