Monday, May 31, 2010
Quick Update
I have all these sets of pictures queued to share with you...a fabulous tea, more garden pictures, and some actual crafting (with geeky analysis). But work's been a complete bear the past two weeks. Today, I actually feel like I've had some sleep! I'm going to try and knock out some posts today and spread out the posting dates over the next week or so!
Friday, May 14, 2010
Beautiful Sunshiny Awards!
Click now for JiffNotes
I received two wonderful awards from Holly! =)
The rules for the Beautiful Blogger award are
* Accept the award Thank you! Thankyouverymuch!
* Thank the person who gave you the award Done! But thanks again, Holly!!
* Add a link to the person who gave you the award see above...ok, ok, click here: Holly's Stitching & Stuff
* Put the award on your blog Check!
* Write 10 things about yourself others might not know
1) When I was in the fifth grade, I was on the TV game show "Family Feud", hosted by Richard Dawson. My family wasn't playing; I was a "cute kid from the audience". That's another story for another post. =)
2) I do not know how to ride a bike. We lived down a huge hill, back a gravel road from a highway when I was old enough to learn. I'm trying to learn now!
3) My husband and I met when we were cast together in a musical at Georgia Tech.
4) I was accepted to MIT for Electrical Engineering, but I thought I'd freeze to death if I went. My dad has still not forgiven me for not going.
5) I won a piano composition contest in high school.
6) For a while right after I got married, I contracted in Orlando although we were living here in Atlanta. I'd fly out every Tuesday morning and back in Friday night. One week I thought: "The moderate resorts at Disney World are totally within my hotel allowance! I'm staying at Disney!!" It sounded like a good idea at the time, but leaving in the morning knowing I was going to work while every other person around me was going to have fun all day was too much for me.
7) I detest any deli meat that is labeled "oven roasted".
8) Someday I hope to live in a house with a pool. It's been my dream since I can remember.
9) I'd love to have a pet cat, bunny and squirrel, but I'm afraid the hubby would be violently allergic to all of them. I'm also afraid at least two of them would chew our wood furniture to shreds.
10) I was a cheerleader in high school. I was also the only cheerleader the Band would tolerate. They'd even let me march out of the stadium with them.
* Pass the award on to 10 other bloggers
Oh, my, this will be hard. I am afraid that I am so behind on reading blogs, my awards would be totally random. I reserve the right to hand out this award throughout the year as I catch up and see fit! =)
The Sunshine Award is awarded to bloggers whose positivity and creativity inspire others in the blogging world. The rules for the Sunshine award are:
* Put the logo on your blog or within your post
* Pass the award to 12 bloggers
* Link the nominees within your post
* Let them know they received this award by commenting on their blog
* Share the love and link to the person from whom you received the award
Hey, same goes here...I may pass out this award later!
I received two wonderful awards from Holly! =)
The rules for the Beautiful Blogger award are
* Accept the award Thank you! Thankyouverymuch!
* Thank the person who gave you the award Done! But thanks again, Holly!!
* Add a link to the person who gave you the award see above...ok, ok, click here: Holly's Stitching & Stuff
* Put the award on your blog Check!
* Write 10 things about yourself others might not know
1) When I was in the fifth grade, I was on the TV game show "Family Feud", hosted by Richard Dawson. My family wasn't playing; I was a "cute kid from the audience". That's another story for another post. =)
2) I do not know how to ride a bike. We lived down a huge hill, back a gravel road from a highway when I was old enough to learn. I'm trying to learn now!
3) My husband and I met when we were cast together in a musical at Georgia Tech.
4) I was accepted to MIT for Electrical Engineering, but I thought I'd freeze to death if I went. My dad has still not forgiven me for not going.
5) I won a piano composition contest in high school.
6) For a while right after I got married, I contracted in Orlando although we were living here in Atlanta. I'd fly out every Tuesday morning and back in Friday night. One week I thought: "The moderate resorts at Disney World are totally within my hotel allowance! I'm staying at Disney!!" It sounded like a good idea at the time, but leaving in the morning knowing I was going to work while every other person around me was going to have fun all day was too much for me.
7) I detest any deli meat that is labeled "oven roasted".
8) Someday I hope to live in a house with a pool. It's been my dream since I can remember.
9) I'd love to have a pet cat, bunny and squirrel, but I'm afraid the hubby would be violently allergic to all of them. I'm also afraid at least two of them would chew our wood furniture to shreds.
10) I was a cheerleader in high school. I was also the only cheerleader the Band would tolerate. They'd even let me march out of the stadium with them.
* Pass the award on to 10 other bloggers
Oh, my, this will be hard. I am afraid that I am so behind on reading blogs, my awards would be totally random. I reserve the right to hand out this award throughout the year as I catch up and see fit! =)
The Sunshine Award is awarded to bloggers whose positivity and creativity inspire others in the blogging world. The rules for the Sunshine award are:* Put the logo on your blog or within your post
* Pass the award to 12 bloggers
* Link the nominees within your post
* Let them know they received this award by commenting on their blog
* Share the love and link to the person from whom you received the award
Hey, same goes here...I may pass out this award later!
| JiffNotes |
|---|
| How do you like the new header graphic Michael made for me?? =D |
Saturday, May 8, 2010
Tiptoe through the Treetops
Click now for JiffNotes
Last Thursday night, we were able to attend the Member Preview of the new Canopy Walk at the Atlanta Botanical Gardens. The unique structure allows you to walk through the treetops.
The walkway is wide, with benches every so often so you can sit and drink in the quiet, calm atmosphere.
Most of the walkway is "hanging", so as not to disturb the trees. We got to talk to one of the consultants that helped protect the tree roots (as well as the trees themselves). They were constantly making the contractors move drainage and electrical lines, dig more shallow holes for new plantings, and go under tree roots rather than over (or through!) so that the old trees--most are around 80 years old--would survive construction. The support system for the walk is amazing.
They chose really great colors for the walk, so that it begins to disappear into the forest itself, and you think about it less and less.
But the Canopy Walk was not the only new feature of the Gardens that we got to explore that night. There is also a new Edible Garden, complete with a swanky outdoor kitchen.
They were serving a spicy, chunky gazpacho that was out of this world! I'm not usually a fan of gazpacho, but this stuff was great. One of the herb gardens there is grown vertically and watered with a drip system.
We have been getting art installations in the gardens for the past couple years. Currently, we have blown glass fruit adorning the beds of "real" food.
And until the real water lilies are fully in bloom...
...we have glass ones instead.
All kinds of things were in bloom around the rest of the Garden...
The delphinium were my favorites.
This is only one of the varieties they had...but it was the one that photographed with the truest colors. The kids had plenty to do with jumpropes and hula hoops in the field in front of the greenhouses.
We ended our evening at the Cascade Gardens, just off the Canopy Walk. This is sure to be a popular spot for receptions.
Last Thursday night, we were able to attend the Member Preview of the new Canopy Walk at the Atlanta Botanical Gardens. The unique structure allows you to walk through the treetops. 
The walkway is wide, with benches every so often so you can sit and drink in the quiet, calm atmosphere. 
Most of the walkway is "hanging", so as not to disturb the trees. We got to talk to one of the consultants that helped protect the tree roots (as well as the trees themselves). They were constantly making the contractors move drainage and electrical lines, dig more shallow holes for new plantings, and go under tree roots rather than over (or through!) so that the old trees--most are around 80 years old--would survive construction. The support system for the walk is amazing.
They chose really great colors for the walk, so that it begins to disappear into the forest itself, and you think about it less and less.
But the Canopy Walk was not the only new feature of the Gardens that we got to explore that night. There is also a new Edible Garden, complete with a swanky outdoor kitchen.
They were serving a spicy, chunky gazpacho that was out of this world! I'm not usually a fan of gazpacho, but this stuff was great. One of the herb gardens there is grown vertically and watered with a drip system.
We have been getting art installations in the gardens for the past couple years. Currently, we have blown glass fruit adorning the beds of "real" food.
And until the real water lilies are fully in bloom...
...we have glass ones instead.
All kinds of things were in bloom around the rest of the Garden...
The delphinium were my favorites.
This is only one of the varieties they had...but it was the one that photographed with the truest colors. The kids had plenty to do with jumpropes and hula hoops in the field in front of the greenhouses.
We ended our evening at the Cascade Gardens, just off the Canopy Walk. This is sure to be a popular spot for receptions.
| JiffNotes |
|---|
| If you're ever in Atlanta, don't miss the Botanical Gardens. And be sure to visit the Day Orchid Center. I'll have to post some pictures from Orchid Daze soon! |
Saturday, May 1, 2010
March Madness: Final Week
Click now for JiffNotes
The final week of March saw me working on what is probably the hubby's favorite WIP, Teresa Wentzler's Peacock Tapestry:
If you can find those few leaves I've got done, you'll see how very far I have to go. Honestly, I may have spent more time trying to track down the purple pencil lead I was using to highlight the pattern than stitching! I love this piece; one of my favorite parts is the sassy partridge at the bottom left corner who has been one-upped by the peacock in his own tree.
The next day was stitch group, and I picked a pretty stress-free project. I had started on Berroco's Firenze scarf, but I really hated the way the base of the scarf was looking. Even though most of it would be covered with flowers, it looked icky to me. So, I decided to try a knitted lace net pattern rather than a crocheted one.
It still needs a lot of work; the yarn requirements for the flowers was WAY off, I think, so I'm going to end up having to do some serious modifications, or throw in some more colorways. There's a lot of work to be done, but at least I feel good knowing I have a plan of action that I'll be happy with.
From extreme color to whitework, the next day brought a Linda Driskell class piece, Old Hedebo Heart Sampler.
This was another class with prework; that bottom heart you see was finished in class. The top heart was cut in class, but just barely started. This night, I finished the first trip and got about half of the bottom one done.
It was extremely relaxing! Once again I wonder just how long it would take to finish the piece....
Two peacocks in one week! I was really happy to see Just Nan's Keep a Little Secret come out of the pile, because I had actually drawn it earlier in the month, but not been able to start it. It was a birthday order that had not arrived the first time I drew it.
It doesn't look like I got much done, but it feels like I did! =)
It was drawing near to the end of the month, but I was getting t-i-r-e-d! Not tired of the projects...I was feeling a big sense of regret that so many in the bowl had not been picked (I started with twice as many as I'd need, so I knew that was going to happen, but still...) I was tired because I had stitched more in one month than I normally do. If I get home from work tired, I may not do anything. But this month I'd pushed myself a little more...partly due to excitement! The penultimate project was Chatelaine's Sapphire, which had been languishing because I'd run out of gold braid. I'd finally ordered some, but it had been lying around for a while waiting for me to get motivated.
Sooooo close. I really thought I might finish it, but I couldn't summon the energy to finish the beads. I did finish it in April, but that's another post for another day. =)
The final project was Dogwood Stitchery, yet another class project that hasn't seen the light of day since the class. You can tell how tired I was because by the time I figured out where I wanted to stitch on the thing, I only managed two words.
This was actually stitched on March 30th. I drew for March 31st, but it was another one with no obvious starting point, so I ended up just staring at it for the night.
Hope you enjoyed the madness along with me!
The final week of March saw me working on what is probably the hubby's favorite WIP, Teresa Wentzler's Peacock Tapestry:
If you can find those few leaves I've got done, you'll see how very far I have to go. Honestly, I may have spent more time trying to track down the purple pencil lead I was using to highlight the pattern than stitching! I love this piece; one of my favorite parts is the sassy partridge at the bottom left corner who has been one-upped by the peacock in his own tree.The next day was stitch group, and I picked a pretty stress-free project. I had started on Berroco's Firenze scarf, but I really hated the way the base of the scarf was looking. Even though most of it would be covered with flowers, it looked icky to me. So, I decided to try a knitted lace net pattern rather than a crocheted one.
It still needs a lot of work; the yarn requirements for the flowers was WAY off, I think, so I'm going to end up having to do some serious modifications, or throw in some more colorways. There's a lot of work to be done, but at least I feel good knowing I have a plan of action that I'll be happy with.From extreme color to whitework, the next day brought a Linda Driskell class piece, Old Hedebo Heart Sampler.
This was another class with prework; that bottom heart you see was finished in class. The top heart was cut in class, but just barely started. This night, I finished the first trip and got about half of the bottom one done.
It was extremely relaxing! Once again I wonder just how long it would take to finish the piece....Two peacocks in one week! I was really happy to see Just Nan's Keep a Little Secret come out of the pile, because I had actually drawn it earlier in the month, but not been able to start it. It was a birthday order that had not arrived the first time I drew it.
It doesn't look like I got much done, but it feels like I did! =)It was drawing near to the end of the month, but I was getting t-i-r-e-d! Not tired of the projects...I was feeling a big sense of regret that so many in the bowl had not been picked (I started with twice as many as I'd need, so I knew that was going to happen, but still...) I was tired because I had stitched more in one month than I normally do. If I get home from work tired, I may not do anything. But this month I'd pushed myself a little more...partly due to excitement! The penultimate project was Chatelaine's Sapphire, which had been languishing because I'd run out of gold braid. I'd finally ordered some, but it had been lying around for a while waiting for me to get motivated.
Sooooo close. I really thought I might finish it, but I couldn't summon the energy to finish the beads. I did finish it in April, but that's another post for another day. =)The final project was Dogwood Stitchery, yet another class project that hasn't seen the light of day since the class. You can tell how tired I was because by the time I figured out where I wanted to stitch on the thing, I only managed two words.
This was actually stitched on March 30th. I drew for March 31st, but it was another one with no obvious starting point, so I ended up just staring at it for the night.Hope you enjoyed the madness along with me!
| JiffNotes |
|---|
| The draw-a-project-a-day madness of March has come to an end. But what should I stitch on now? |
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