Thursday, May 24, 2012


Here is my latest finished work.  It is the first thing that I've cross stitched in a while - I really quite enjoyed it.  Adding the fabric border was super easy, and I just put it in a simple frame.  I wish I'd gotten a photo of the back - all sealed up with duct tape.  Worked like a charm.



And here's a shot of me and The Rupper at the beach in New Hampshire.  You haven't lived until you've made your baby cry by dipping his toes in the freezing cold ocean.

Friday, May 18, 2012

Ali Goes out on a Thursday!

Let it be recorded that Ali went out on a school night.  She met Pittsburgh for drinks at Chez Billy, one of the newest restaurants to open in the Eventually Fashionable Petworth Neighborhood.  It is a lovely establishment that I'm sure looks forward to losing money week after week and, if they're lucky, year after year.  I like the gamble of putting a French restaurant across the street from a Safeway that smells like a corpse.  It shows conjones from the good people who brought us Marvin and Gibson

Ali Made Some Bags


For your consideration: two bags created in December of 2006. Carefully juxtaposed with First Quilt and Homespun Ball on Ugly Old Couch. The blue bag was given to Mentor Friend. I believe she uses it as a knitting project tote. I don't remember what became of Red. Easy come, easy go I guess.



Fast forward three short years to Doctor Friend's birthday. Angry Cat was her usual helpful self. I wish I'd taken a pic of the inside fabric. It was upside down polar bears! Upside down because I cut the patter incorrectly, but whatevs. It's more whimsical that way. Please note the upgrade to Soft Pretty Couch.

Thursday, May 17, 2012

Ali Rehashes Old Projects




Above you see a table runner created in December of 2005 for Grandaddy and Papa Tom (way back when they were just Mike and Tom).  The key to this runner was the cheapness of the fabics.  So very cheap.  But I counted on the thought counting and I think in the end it did.  They trot it out every once in a while and that pleases me.  While I have learned the lesson that it is better to pony up the cash and make things out of nice material, I always have to resist the temptation to just scoop up the crap on sale.  This extends to other portions of my life.  Clothing, house decor.  Luckily, not people.  The people in my life are made of only the finest quality.  So I guess that's something.


These three little balls of yarn were used to make an Italian flag scarf for Eddie Bagels.  It was 6-ish years ago, but I remember them getting all looped around each other and it being a huge pain in the ass.  Much like Mr. Bagels himself.  But so worth it.  Plus you get a good look at the previously mentioned First Quilt, as well as a peak at the top of another quilt that I need to take a proper photo of.  It's on the list...



 

Time for one more past victory.  The quilted hooded duck blanket.  My first go at free hand stitching.  I thought it turned out quite well - I was going to make a million of these!  I made one.  6 years ago.  For a person I am not particularly friends with (except on FB.  So, you know, super close).  I do remember the fabric being cheap.  In this case, though, it worked.  Flannels and solids are so forgiving in that way.

Wednesday, May 16, 2012

Ali Reads Blogs

I am a video editor, which means that I am best at taking other people's work (soundbites, b-roll) and picking out the best stuff, repackaging it and making it something new. Here I am, diving into a blog called "A Blood Recollection" (http://bloodrecollection.blogspot.com) and in the first post I am finding tidbits that I looooove. So I'm going to lift them, to add them to what I like to think of as the scrapbook of my brain (an extension of pinterest). It's a way to start, anyway.

 "I seem to have inherited something of an almost biological imperative to craft, and now quilt."

I should have started this years ago. Years and years and years. I am by no means a prolific crafter, but I never stop. There's always some project that is in progress, or ideas for projects floating around in my brain. I should have documented all of my work instead of the small and haphazardly organized collection of flickr photos that I have managed to cull together.


Here is my first quilt. Cuteness. This photo was take on January 16, 2005 (thank you, metadata).

T-Shirt Quilt: Will I ever make one? I've pulled the t-shirts, they sit in my closet. Some day... Some day... That's all for now. Off to pick up the Rupper from daycare, followed by Wednesday Night Dinner at Grandaddy and Papa Tom's house.

Scattered

Things have been slow at work over the past few weeks. When business is slow, it gives me time to peruse the internet for ideas for crafts that I will never actually do once I get home. What I would like to know is how anyone ever manages to focus on one thing at a time. There's so much out there. So many good ides, so many wonderful designs and tutorials. Having the discipline to say, "OK, this is what I'm going to do and accomplish right now" escapes me. To do lists get me no where, they just grow and grow since I never check an of the items off of the list. At some point I am going to have to get something done, or this pile of Pins is going to topple over and stab me to death.