So, I finished up that needlework project I started a couple of weeks ago. It's from the Blackbird Designs book "Thank you, Sarah Tobias" but done in colors of my own choosing and on an old piece of linen I had in my stash. Fun to work on while watching Downton Abbey (I'm so hooked).
After I attempt to frame this, I need to get to work backing & quilting my current quilt project, and after that, who knows. I have a few ideas brewing...
Once the holiday has passed and the cold weather settles in, more of my time seems to be spent snuggled up under a blanket in our old drafty house clutching a good book. This January has been no different, although my choice of reading material is unusual for me -- a bit of non-fiction.
Life, on the Line by Grant Achatz and Nick Kokonas was a great read -- very inspiring. Achatz, a famous chef and owner of Alinea and Next in Chicago, grew up in the restaurant business and it seems he has spent nearly every moment of his life striving for perfection as a chef. The book includes parts written by his business partner and friend, Nick Kokonas, which is an interesting twist.
Most of the book recounts Achatz's years as a rising star in the culinary world -- which was interesting enough -- but the later part of the book tells how he survived cancer. Since his cancer was mostly in his tongue, he was unable to taste anything for a very long time -- crazy for anyone, but especially for a chef.
Meanwhile, I was finishing up Mieville's Perdido Street Station, which is another of his Bas-Lag books. And while I found the universe quite engaging, and the story moved along nicely, I wasn't able to get lost in it as thoroughly as I did while reading The Scar. Perhaps I could better relate to the female main character in the later book. At any rate, the book was wild and interesting and a good read.
Now I'm on to Lev Grossman's The Magicians which will be ending all too soon for me. Thanks goodness the sequel is already out.
I had a good first workout on the treadmill today, although I took it a bit easy since I was still getting accustomed to the new machine. Oh yeah, and I'm sore from getting the massive thing into the house and assembling it yesterday. It's all set up in the new work out room / sun room, which is quite a nice set up.
In other news, Winter has finally arrive -- on January 12th. It's been such a strange and ridiculously warm winter so far (yesterday it was 50ยบ here!), but today we have the beautiful snow I've been wanting. And judging from the forecast, it should stay for at least a few days.
Ah, global warming, I am not a fan.
A big thank you to Mrs. Douglas, who taught me to do cross-stitch back in grade school. (I believe she was also the math teacher, and I distinctly remember her always complaining to the boys about their need to wear deodorant -- I believe math class may have been right after recess.)
Just doing a little stitching to ease my self back into creative work. I'm following a pattern, but had to improvise on the colors, so there was a little room for thought. And now that I've started this piece, I have plans for a year long sampler. I love how working on one little project can get the cogs and wheels turning.
So, one of my New Year's resolutions was to sell some of the stuff that is taking up space in our spare room (aka "the den"). To that end, I have started listing things here and there. The first thing I came across was a package of these awesome Valentines from the 40's and 50's that I purchased a while back at an estate sale. I have more than enough for my own collection, so I listed about half of them in my etsy shop. Since I love my blog visitors, I wanted to give you a coupon good for free shipping on these lovelies. Just enter FREESHIP during checkout.
I also listed some things at my Amazon.com bookstore -- Booga Books -- one item being the first issue of Lucky Peach magazine. To my delight, this $10 magazine sold for a whopping $75! And in only a couple of days. Sure wish I had bought about 10 copies of that magazine when it was on the newsstand.
How are your New Year's resolutions coming along?
Well, school break has come to an end, but on the final day, Maddie and I had some fun with one of her holiday gifts -- the hypotrochoid art set. I loved Spirograph as a kid (do they even make it anymore?) and have been on the look out for a set in decent shape at the yard sales, so when I saw this little set, I knew I had to get it for her.
I have to say -- it's just as much fun now as when I was a kid and Maddie couldn't stop playing with the it either. Fun times.
A while ago, I purchased the Martha Stewart Cookie App for my iPad. Why? Because I love her Cookies cookbook and I figured she'd do up this app the right way. And it is super slick. Just take a peek:
The recipes are easy to navigate, include lots of pretty photos and all kinds of extras like timers and technique videos. (I know, this sounds like an advert, but I just really admire a beautiful app.)
So, I made the Lime-Glazed Cookies... and they were awesome! So happy about this, because I would be super upset if the beautiful app didn't serve its purpose.
Yeah, Martha! (Sorry your show got cancelled, btw, but really -- Hallmark Channel? Who watches that?)
