January 02, 2008
Needles, CA
Sunrise 6:45 AM (PST)
Sunset 4:41 PM (PST)
Hrs. of Daylight 9 Hrs., 56 Mins.

Ahh, now that I have the sunrise stuff figured out I can get on with my very full and meaningful life. Talk to you again soon, little journal, tonight hopefully.

I need to figure out how to write a review of a teen book I wasn't that thrilled about. Hmmm, it was a bestseller. Something wrong with me, I'm sure.

PS: You really need to do something about this place. What a drab looking little blog? Oh, don't pay attention, it is the sickness talking.

Rises: 1:43 AM (PST)
Sets: 12:15 PM (PST)

January 01, 2008
Needles, CA
Sunrise 6:45 AM (PST)
Sunset 4:41 PM (PST)
Hrs. of Daylight 9 Hrs., 56 Mins.

So the sun came up on 2008 and I was still very sick with the cold-from-hell, now classed as acute-bronchitis-from-hell by me. It's interesting how many people give you such sage and welcome advice on taking care of a cold. Did the "welcome" sound sarcastic? Too bad, I meant it to be. Something like get plenty of bed rest, duh, and drink orange juice. Right, you are so sick you can't possibly feel like getting out of bed, let alone showered, dressed, coifed and out the door to the market to purchase orange juice. It you tell me you should have orange juice on hand you are not living me life, sick the day after payday with no time to buy any groceries.

Oh well, here's the moon. I guess it made its appearance at 46 minutes after the new year. Don't know exactly how it looked. I was in bed.

January 01, 2008
Needles, CA
Rises: 12:46 AM (PST)
Sets: 11:47 AM (PST)

At any rate I have now started my journal on the first day of the year, well, almost. And I'm paying attention to the sun and moon which I thought would be a nice thing to do. Bye for now, dear journal, I'm off to sip water and pretend it is Ruby Red Grapefruit Juice. :(!

Space Cleansing: Ridding Your Home of Negative Energy

Sometimes a house or office can feel uncomfortable, and there’s no real reason you can put your finger on to explain your uneasy feeling. Other times, it’s easy: someone has been there that was negative, ill or died. Homes and spaces often take on the energy of the previous occupants as well. There may be instances when you moved into a space and just felt like someone else was there, or the space just didn’t feel right.

If this sounds familiar, just remember you are not alone. Many people feel uncomfortable in spaces and can’t explain why. The “why” is not important, however; what is important is that you find a way to make your space feel more comfortable so you can feel more at ease. A first step would be to perform a space cleansing.
Unlike “space clearing,” space cleansing doesn’t rely on getting rid of clutter. However, if you have a bunch of old items and junk from previous residents or others, it is possible that some of the energy is coming from these old items. If that’s the case, then you should definitely take some of these things to the trash.
What’s more, if you have had a spate of bad luck and find that life has just been a constant struggle, it’s possible that you have some negative energies hanging around that are making your house yin - or negative in energy.

This is another good instance when it might be a good idea to do a space cleansing. Space cleansing will help you feel more comfortable in your home or office, and let you move on in your space comfortably and in a positive state of mind. Why bother? Because negative energy gathers and compounds to create MORE negative energy. That’s why it’s important to handle negative energy when you feel like your space isn’t quite right. To ignore it is to allow more negative energy to build, and this can impact your health, your career and your finances, and even cause depression.
Regardless of why you feel the way you do, if your space doesn’t feel quite right, here are some tips to help you clear out the negative energy in your house and invite good energy back inside!

STEP 1. Clear stale energies from the house.
If you have recently moved, you might be feeling some residual energy from past residents. If that’s the case, then consider using this technique: open everything that is closed. In short, you should open all doors, all windows, all cabinets, all boxes, anything that is closed should be open.

Then, walking from the front door in a clockwise pattern, circle each room and go into the next while ringing a bell. Be sure to ring the bell in the corners of rooms and in closets where negative energy can remain trapped. You may want to proceed through the other five steps before closing everything up again.

STEP 2. Use salt to cleanse an area.
Another tip is to use salt to remove negative energies. You can wipe the walls with salt or sprinkle salt into the corners of the room. Be sure to sweep up the salt and throw it into the trash outside of your house.

STEP 3. Feed your ghosts rice.
If you feel extreme negative energy, you can also try sprinkling rice around the perimeter of your home, beginning at the front door and walking in a clockwise fashion until you come to the door again. The rice will draw the energy outside and away from the interior of your home.

STEP 4. Scent the air to clear out negative energies.
Use smoke from Incense or from Herbs, such as Lavender for transcending problems, Eucalyptus for healing, or Mint for prosperity. The scents of Incense or herbal essential oils are all excellent ways to introduce beneficial energy.

STEP 5. Use light and sound.
Light and sound are two very effective “yang” treatments that help to dispel negative energies. Tinkling windchimes and bright crystal rainbows or lit chandeliers are both excellent ways to introduce beneficial - and cleansing - energy to your space.

If you have done all five steps, it’s time to close up all the doors, windows, cabinets, and drawers, and then proceed to Step 6.

STEP 6. Take a salt bath yourself.
In the process of cleansing your home, it might be a good idea to cleanse yourself as well. It is possible that you are bringing negative energy home from work or from the outside world. Soak in a tub with sea salt or make your own sea salt scrub and wash your body in the shower with salt. Salt will purify you and remove negative energies from your body. This is especially helpful if you work in a hostile or gossipy environment, and will help you clear negative energy from your body.

About the author
Kathryn Weber is a master feng shui consultant who publishes the Red Lotus Letter, which can help you unlock the success locations in your home or office and get your life out of a rut. Red Lotus Feng Shui Design & Consultation, P.O. Box 531, Cuero, Texas 77954, 1- 361-676-8800. To contact Kathryn by email, write to kweber@redlotusconsulting.com.

Living Room

Collecting pictures from Metropolitan Home for ideas.

Things to do:
Clean up altar space. Done.
Start collecting altar things. Done. Found some old weaving for altar cloths. Crocheting an edge around one of them.
Clean up desk, paint the top, sand and Watco on the finish.
Clean bookcase and rearrange books, magazines and ceramics.
Put Picasso painting in the NE area.
Clean career corner.
Clean upholstery of sofa.
Paint the quilt rack light blue.
Paint the chairs gray.

Shopping list:
wind chime
Color printer cartridge
One white rose in vase
votive candle
sea salt and incense
pillar candle with guardian angel
Black, gray and light blue spray paint
Look at Jo's for fabric for pillows

Worked Out Directions in My House

Living Room is Metal.

Northwest is Helpful People and Travel.
This is the corner where the computer is.
1. Use pictures or objects of mentors, clients, customers, or employees that you would like to attract to you.
2. Use objects that you strongly associate with your spiritual or religious beliefs.
3. Use flags or brochures of the countries you are interested in visiting.

Travel and Friends.
This is in the northwest. This is where you can place your luggage, travel posters, and brochures. Other accessories can include angel items, rocks, or crystals. The best colors to use are silvery white, light blue and turquoise.

Dad's trunk was luggage. Travel everywhere on the computer. Place basket on trunk and fill with travel brochures. Time to look for nice terracotta angels again at the dollar store. Painting the computer desks legs light blue. After I see the color of spray paint, make a small pillow of the same shade to place in front of the black pillow on the sofa. Don't forget Route 66.

North is Career.
This is the corner of the house near the front door.
1. If you desire to work at a particular company, place business cards or brochures from that company in this area. Put my business cards here and things related to Blue Flax Studio.
2. Use pictures or items that represent your desired career.
3. Don't keep anything that is broken or doesn't work in this area of the home.

Career
This is in the north end of you home or near the main entry. Use dark blue, white, black or gray colors here. Place irregular shapes and metals like gold, copper and bronze. This is the area that putting your phone, desk and computer is good.

I thought I would hang a cup hanger here and put handwoven things on it. Maybe spray paint it black. See if Colorado River wall hanging would work here. Also saw faceted crystal here. Put candle holders here. Put candles that will look good with the wall hanging. Need to think of irregular shapes and metals.


Northeast is Knowledge and Self-cultivation.
This became the library area. When I moved the bookcases and desk here, the plan just came together. Also extends into the studio behind the loom and the orchids.
1. Here, place any books, tapes or other materials that you are currently studying.
2. Hang artwork that represents contemplative settings. Place Picasso print behind desk.
3. Use items that represent meditation or contemplation. A Tree of Life depiction would be good here.

Knowledge.
This is in the northeast. The best colors are white, gray, red, yellow and brown. Use earthy materials and metals. This is a good place for books, notebooks, computers and an office with all the equipment.

Altar is Earth.

Center of the home is Balances and harmonizes/Health.
Personal altar to the left of the stairs leading to the dining room and kitchen.
1. Use any item that represents the sacred to you.
2. If there is a symbol, such as the yin yang symbol, that represents balance to you, use it here.
3. Place a small, round faceted crystal and a positive intention for balance in your life, accompanied with an intention for harmony and health for the entire home.

Place altar in this corner.
Start collecting items and place there.
Make Your Own Altar
Altars usually include elements of earth, wind, fire and water. Earth elements can include flowers, rocks and food, and candles usually represent fire. Wind is often represented by hanging tissue cutouts or incense, and glasses or bowls of water are left as refreshments for the spirits.
Things to collect:
1. Photo of a beloved pet is a symbol of unconditional love.
2. A Japanese Maneki-neko, or beckoning cat, attracts good luck to any space where it sits. (Placed in black-eyed peas.)
3. Eastern Spiritual symbol (Buddha) sitting on a rock brings compassion and another earth element into the space.
4. Photo (of a hand with a rosary) with a meaningful quote: "Somethings have to be believed to be seen." - Ralph Hodgson.
5. A painting showing a female figure seated in the lotus position. The reference to yoga is a reminder to leave time for mind, body and spirit.
6. Roses bring the earth and nature into our altar, keeping us mindful of growth and change. They are white, a symbol of purity.
7. A votive candle lights the way through life's journey.
8. A personal deity (goddess statue) adorned with jewelry is a reminder of the goddess within.
9. Salt, considered an incorruptible and cleansing substance by ancient peoples, has been used by many cultures in history to protect against evil forces. (Place stick of incense in salt. Sage)
10. A fun toy (from a Happy Meal) gives the altar an element of levity and is a reminder to be playful and keep a sense of humor in life.
11. Spells for prosperity (book) is a reminder that we can take action to be successful in our own lives.
12. Ganesh (statue) is a deity in the Hindu pantheon. He is the remover of obstacles.
13. Birds (statue), who are most at home in the element of air, mediate between the earthly realm and heaven. Birds in flight also represent the human soul undergoing spiritual development.
14. A bowl filled with meaningful found items, many from nature - rocks, seashells, a pine cone and quartz, which brings clarity. The bowl could also contain a glass heart for love, and a Native American rattle, for music and earthly spirituality.
15. A pillar candle with the image of a guardian angel is a reminder we are not alone in our journey on this earth.

Found some old weavings, never finished. Just right size for altar cloths. Crocheting edge around one of them.

Studio is Water.

Northeast continues here.

East is Family and Health.
This is the very corner of the studio and into the staircase.
1. Place pictures of you family during happy times. Pictures of Gaby and me.
2. Have pictures that represent strong, healthy bodies. Poster of David.
3. Use art or pictures that suggest quality family-time, such as family celebrations or days in the park. Do a gallery of pictures of Gaby and me if we can find people to take our picture.
4. Decorate with any other symbol that you associate with health and family. Put some family pictures in the staircase.

Health: Place the colors green, black, and red in the east part of your home. That is where the sun rises at your house. Put images of the following in this area also: streams, trees and fish ponds. Adding a plant or organic accessories, with bright lights will be good to add to this area.

Southeast is Wealth and Prosperity.
This is the staircase.
1. Hang or place pictures which to you represent wealth. Photos of family and friends and the earth.
2. Use your most expensive items or most beautiful decorative pieces in this area.
3. Any other symbol that represents abundance or a continual supply from the Creator is the perfect object to place in this area. Photos of renewal as the cactus in bloom. Guardian Angels candles along the stairs.
4. Add a purple candle.
5. Plant with round leaves with a red ribbon around it and three coins underneath.

Bedroom is Wood.

South is Reputation and Fame.
This is the very corner of the bedroom.
1. Place a picture of yourself that you enjoy seeing.
2. Place any objects that for you represents your achievements. These items can be diplomas, awards or trophies.

Continue these themes and colors into the bathroom.

Dining Room is Fire.

Southwest is Marriage and Partnerships.
1. Place pictures of you and your partner. Make sure they are representative of happiness.
2. If you are not with the person you desire, place pictures of that person (in silhouette) and yourself in this area of the home.
3. Always use pairs of objects in this area, such as birds or hearts.
4. Place anything that symbolizes love in this area of the home.

East is Family and Health
Pictures of Gaby and me go here, plus symbols associated with health and family.

Kitchen is Earth.

I Love It When the New Plan Keeps Changing

Candice on the Magikal Edge on BounceRadio.net gives advice on Feng Shui, sooooooo

everything has changed again.

Here's what I have so far.
The five elements according to the almost placement of the house. :)!

Exterior of the house
My house faces slightly NE, sitting SW. The colors to use could be blue and green for N or red and earth for NE. Since there is blue, white, and green tile around the front door, I've decided to paint the wood work cocoa brown, my first choice, and to balance out the blue and green tiles, to paint the front door an earthy red.

NW - Living Room - Metal
Colors: white and gray, clarity
White walls connote poise, confidence and purity - done.
Black accents for emotional protection and power
Use also metal accents of gold and silver to create a calm atmosphere.

What's up so far.

1. Declutter the house. This will take forever. Give me strength.


2. Clean the place for the loom and put the loom in the studio. - done.


3. Beige sofa is a no no, but too late. However, the gray pillows and afghan will help. Move to wall with the Stag Prong Cholla and place the Picasso Print centered over it. Bring Dad's trunk in as coffee table.


4. Put the pine set of drawers in the dining room for the altar.


5. Move the tv into the studio.


6. Move the easy chair to the corner where the tv was.


7. Move the computer desk san computer to where the sofa was under the window. Done


8. Place the bookcases on each side of the computer desk. Done, modified.


9. Paint the loom frames of the computer desk gray.


10. Now the computer desk is a reading table. Stack it with books. Done.


11. Move the desk from the studio and use it for the computer. Done.


12. Paint the two chairs and the ottoman frame gray also.

N - Studio - Water
Colors: blue and black, calm, ease, cleanliness, purity, also abundance

NE - Back stairs - Earth
Colors: light yellow and beige, harmony in relationships, stability

SE - Bedroom and Bathroom - Wood (Not sure about this one.)
Colors: Green

S - Dining Room - Fire
Colors: red,orange,purple, pink and yellow, physical and mental healing

1. Collect Blue Willow to go with blue china.


2. Set table for four.


3. Use crystal bowl for centerpiece with collection of stuff by season.


4. Collect plants the bloom or have leaves with fire colors.


5. Place hurricane lamps and candles on each side of crystal bowl.


6. Purchase wind decanter.


7. Paint walls lemon yellow, ceiling white.


8. Paint far wall a shade of purple.


9. Place pine chest between lights for personal altar.


10. Put two fairly big plants under or near lights.

Purple for wall behind altar, connotes spiritual awareness

SW - Kitchen - Earth

1. Paint kitchen walls lemon yellow and ceiling white.


2. Paint cupboards white.


3. Paint shelf for china black.


4. Collect canary depression glass.


5. Have black accents in kitchen.


6. Purchase copper pots and rack.


7. Mason jars and glass jars for storage.


8. Move refrigerator over so that there is a space in the kitchen for art work and plant.


9. Decorate with metal, pewter.


10. Put blue check curtains for some cabinet covers.

This suggestion do not strictly apply but are moderated by your personal feng shui. As for instance my birth year is associated with fire. Depending on my total birth date, month, day, and hour also, I may modify the colors I use to balance out my personal feng shui.

Born in the year of the horse, I'm a black water horse.

Place all my feng shui here next.

Back Stairs Altar

1. Tape ceiling light.
2. Paint ceiling.
3. Finish marking off tiles.
Done. 4. Tape off tiles.
5. Find or build altar.
See this link for ideas. Make Your Own Altar
6. Design Tree of Life.
7. Paint Tree of Life and tiles.
8. Make cushions.

Exploring IKEA Online Catalog

Living Room Idea File/To Do File

1. Bookcases

• Stack magazines horizontally



• Add green ceramic bowl (Look at bottom for stamp. See if can collect.)



• Place a large plant on one near the window, place a selection of ceramics on the other near the window. Add a 16x20 oil canvas of Gaby.

2. Sofa

• Large pillows - See pillows on p. 22



• Grey throw



• See floor light and terracotta pot with Pineapple Lily



• See really nice light on p.24



• Basket with knitting



• See p. 9 for idea of arrangement of phots and art work behind/around sofa

3. Computer

• Place bulletin board with photos and idea file over computer



• Place framed certificates above that.



• Paint a chair grey.



• Sling purse over chair.

4. Reading desk

• Paint quilt legs grey

5. Easy Chair

• Paint ottoman frame grey

6. See if other chair will fit with new arrangement of furniture.

7. See rag rugs on pp. 8-10.

8. Put sheers on one side of sliding glass door to kitchen/dining room.

Home decorating trends for 2007

Home decorating trends for the upcoming New Year will include plenty of DIY projects, homemade goods as well as a fair mix of traditional décor.

Handcrafted furniture and homemade accents such as knitted sofa throws and beaded lampshades are predicted to make a comeback in 2007. When making furniture pieces yourself, pay special attention to intricate designs and scrollwork. Scour local crafting shops for homemade items to spice up your décor if you aren’t a crafty one yourself. Explore your options with learning to craft and take pride in decorating your home with things you’ve made with your own hands.

Furnishings will best be complimented by accents made of natural materials, such as wicker and hardwoods.

With easy access to the internet in nearly every modern day home, it is easy to bring a piece of other countries into your home without leaving your seat. Shop online for ethnic finds such as carvings and spice your home up with a variety of culturally based decorations.

Natural tones will continue to be hot. Work your palettes around light neutral shades that are easily matched to the trendy wickers and ethnic carvings. Be sure to include different hues to the room doesn’t become stale or too monotonous; texture and variety is the key for the coming season.

Mix and match fabrics and leathers for a textured, complex look. Leather will continue to be as popular as ever but it is now being paired with a very different look such as one leather chair complimented with a very contrasting sofa in a tough, knotty fabric and a variety of hard woods in the room for added variety.

Some Trailer Trash Humor, Oh, Yeah!

Great Mobile Homes of Mississippi

Remember when I had only one blog, this one! Need to update the sidebar!

Changing Everything, Almost

This darn wall hanging has changed everything. You'll see.
























So far, so good. I found this paint swatch at the hardware store and I want to use it as my accent color. It is D0259 Plum Port.

Of course I can't find any combinations to go with Plum Port. So I tried a search with "decorating with wine color." Close enough. I found a great combination of colors which I can not find again. Isn't that always the way it goes. Here's the list:

very pale olive green
gold and burgundy
grey
taupe
medium olive green
cobalt blue (I loved that part because I have collected some cobalt fiesta ware that I would like to put out as accent and also my dishes are cobalt and cream.)
copper

Found it! Here's the narrative:
Can you build a room's design and color scheme around one favorite chair, even a burgundy chair spotted with polka dots? You bet! In fact, the easiest way to develop a color scheme is to start with a favorite piece of furniture, a rug, or a fabric.

This palette uses the burgundy from the chair as a launching pad for other autumnal hues -- colors that blend with burgundy, yet distinguish it as the main accent color.

The remainder of the palette is derived from the polka dots on the chair, which are maple, gold, and olive. These colors appear on the walls, blinds, draperies, pillow, and artwork. The sisal rug stays within the gold tones of the palette, with a dark olive border as its accent.

Walls: This scheme uses two paint colors. Three of the walls are painted with a lighter gold hue that was chosen for the window walls they typically appear darker than other walls. The fourth accent wall, is painted with a deeper maple color.

Ceiling: Cool, pale olive at the ceiling makes the room feel taller and more expansive. Crown moldings, painted ivory, give the space additional depth and definition, and soften the abrupt intersection of the ceiling and walls.

Fabrics: Generally, fabrics can be brighter than walls, but should stay within a room's color family. This room includes a double window treatment: A silk outer curtain in topaz (second swatch from left) repeats the maple hue on the accent wall. A sheer undercurtain is in bittersweet, a paler version of topaz that allows the outer curtain to make the stronger statement.

Pattern: Using a patterned fabric, the decorative pillow encompasses all the colors in the palette, plus adds royal blue.





















Here we go room by room:

Living Room
I think I'll still paint the front door cobalt blue. I think that will be ok if there is a bit of cobalt blue in the room somewhere, mats, or ceramics, or something.

It is time to move the bed out of the studio, yeah. So the loom can go back. Then I'll move the sofa back over by the stag cholla cactus wall scrupture. I think a stone or charcoal throw would be great. I'm doing a folksy knitted rug which had stone and charcoal in it aka the wall hanging so maybe I should pick up one of those colors at the cheap place, Smiley Yarns. :)!








This charcoal seems nice.























Then I can put Daddy's trunk in front of the love seat, oh, yeah! It is a perfect color as is.

Next up, move the tv into the studio. It might look a little weird but not as weird as stringing all the electric cords and stuff from the studo. Sometimes you just to have to go with what you get. The old antigue arm chair might fit there and that will carry out the theme of making the living room a place to read and study.

Next up, move the Danish-something desk out of the studio and use it for the computer. That's where the one and only phone jack is. It is a long story. The two book cases will then go on either side of the living room window. In between I will put the quilt-frame-table piled with books. Hmmm, what to paint the chair and the legs, burgundy or grey? And wooden window coverings would complete the look.

That is a good start for the living room. I can liven up the wall paint later after I get some color in it.



in a terra cotta pot!

Buy It Here!






















Where to go next? The kitchen!

Kitchen
Big job! The Feng Shui ladies said the dining room, which is near the center of the house should be earthy, browns or green. In my place the kitchen and dining room flow together. So the wall color might be the theme. I'm leaning toward two shades of golden brown as in the picture above with the pale olive for the ceiling and the plate rail in ivory. Then I could use any colors I wanted for dishes. And splash some colors around from the pallete above. Yep, I think I'll just paint the walls and cabinets first and then go from there. I think I'll take the other fabric in the wall hanging, the brown, to the hardware store. The lightest color in the dining room will be great in the bathroom because the same tiles are in there too. Cool. I love it when a plan comes together. See, I almost forgot the brown tiles. This will take some swatching to get it just right.

When choosing colors for your mobile home walls, keep room size in mind. Remember that light colors tend to make rooms look bigger , while dark colors make rooms seem smaller. If you have a "long" room, you can give it a balanced look by painting one of the walls at the "long end" a much darker shade of whatever color you choose for the room. It will bring that one wall closer in, and make the space seem more uniform in shape.

Cabinet faces are easily updated with fresh paint, and even cupboard doors can be transformed to revive the look inside a mobile home. Using one of the popular faux painting techniques, you can give your cabinets and doors an antique or stone finish look. If you want more of a county style look to your kitchen, make some simple fabric "skirts," gathered at each end, and use Velcro to attach them to the cabinet faces. If you take pride in your glassware collection, remove the door from one or more cabinets and let the open shelving serve as a display case.

Next down the hall to the ...

Bathroom
I sort of liked this one for the neutral colors and the accents of Plum Port. Yep, I just noticed the medium olive in this room. Very cool. A bit darker than the ceiling in the dining room.

















Now to the...

Bedroom
This is the first room I decorated when I moved here and I love the quilt, sage green, raspberry, burgundy, lavender and Mom's old Multnomah trunk painted dark sage green. I'm thinking of painting the walls the very pale green. I'll see if the ceiling paint will go with the comforter, the trunk and the tile pattern on the wal. Otherwise I will leave it they way it is painted now. That might be the best idea because it really is a sage green, not an olive green. I will just have to see. I stenciled flowers around the little window and I like them. Also I'm weaving a runner that I might try and felt. There is just the old chair to settle on a fabric for a slip cover.






















Down the stairs to the ..., well...

Stairs
I would love to make this a little chapel with cushions to sit on and a painting of the tree of life on the wall. I'm thinking I'll paint this space totally Plum Port with maybe the ceiling the same color I used for the bathroom. Maybe that color for the ceiling in the bedroom too. This will be fun to set up a little altar under the tree of life. Which, of course, will always get banged by the back door but not when I'm sitting there. :)!

The Studio
OK. I'm stuck. Here's the Blue Flax for Blue Flax Studio.







It might be nice to just paint everything that pale periwinkle blue color above and then just let all the yarn and projects and orchids be the decorations. I like the white round table and the white wicker dresser/orchid farm and the tea cart full of orchids too. I'm thinking I'll just get a couple of plastic lawn chairs to go with the table and get some nice cushions. I think there are some nice green ones at Rite-Aid, if they are not packed up and gone before payday.

Now through the beaded curtains back to the living room.

OK, this is going to take all day. Better put the soup on. Actually I'm done. I'm giving a good fall clean up to the stairs first on account it is the path to take the bed back to the bedroom. So I guess that is where I will start after payday. Yahoo!









I'd say that is the plan. It is plenty of projects to work on. I'm a bit tired thinking about it but it will be fun. Wish me luck!

Christmas 2006 - Our Sheddy Died Today

Gaby and I will miss you terrible. We will always love you Shed.

Here's Another Bird House

SketchUp is Fun.

Designing birdhouses.

Learning Google SketchUp

Just a Local Fly Boy or Girl

I hear this lawnmover in the sky every weekend. I dash out with the camera, but too late. This time I got the shot! That's my Desert Willow in the foreground.

Quilting Class

Went to my first quilting class Tuesday night. What fun! Almost makes me want to abandon City Council meetings all together, but I guess I should continue to attend since I'm on the General Plan committee.

I decided to make a navy and white quilt for the bedroom rather than getting the one from K-Mart. That way it is something much better and I can pay as I go. Sewing my strips. Just doing a simple nine-patch to get me started. Then I'm cutting patterns for applique pillows and started a quilt that is just an impression from my art studies series. Oh, dear, keep me down. I've decided to do only nine-patch for awhile, so I have already designed two quilts.

From 54-40 or Fight block, this one is called For the Canucks:


From A Dandy, see we're going in ABC order, this one is called Morning Glories on the Trellis:


The yarn came for the bedroom afghan, too. Oh, boy, will I be busy!

The garden seeds are sprouting like crazy and it seems I just put them in the ground. Must be absolutely the right time!

Found these decorations for a nine-patch crocheted afghan. Something to think about.
Nine Patch Afghan

Block of the Month website:
Nine Patch Nirvana

Boy, I'll have some catching up to do!

Yesterday Was Payday

Yeah, I ordered the Fuchsia Homespun for my bedroom afghan. Off to look at patterns in a bit.

Found a antique store in town that has a lot of great stuff. Cutest bent wood chair, but maybe not this month and lots of green glass and coke bottles. So I'm set.

I was a little apprehensive about the first Needles General Plan meeting, but it was really a lot of fun. They liked my blog. I'll see what the Community Development Director says, but Rodney from the BLM complimented me twice on it.

It's such a beautiful day, but I'm so tired because of the garbage truck. Have to rest up. There is a city council candidates debate tonight at 6.

Garden Fun

Chard grows like a weed. And the colored variety is very showy. Here's links to some recipes from the Washington Post.

Lentils, Syrian style - http://webmail.frontiernet.net/horde/services/go.php?url=http%3A%2F%2Fletters.washingtonpost.com%2FW8RT03A66110AA9A0FF3C338B4A720, a luscious autumnal dish in which chard figures prominently;

and then two takes on the spinach pie -- first, the lunch box-size, hand-held feta yer - http://webmail.frontiernet.net/horde/services/go.php?url=http%3A%2F%2Fletters.washingtonpost.com%2FW8RT03A661135A9A0FF3C338B4A720 (just use chard instead of spinach)

and a by-the-slice, fully-fledged savory pie - http://webmail.frontiernet.net/horde/services/go.php?url=http%3A%2F%2Fletters.washingtonpost.com%2FW8RT03A661234A9A0FF3C338B4A720, flavored with dill and feta, a great make-ahead supper that can be reheated throughout theweek.

Desert Flower One

Tee hee! This is the drawing I used for the Garden Art One. I decided to make it psychedelic.

Cool site:

http://www.lib.virginia.edu/small/exhibits/sixties/

Blue Pueblo Two - Sunrise at the Pebble Terraces

One Garden Art Piece Finished!

Need to cut wood for a few more pieces, maybe some woodcuts, too.

I'm on a schedule. Now I'm off to read about the Crusades!

Remember Bureau Bay

Working on the draft for the luncheon squares. Need some more colors and I'm set to go.

Need to work on the draft some more. But, boy, are those colors beautiful.

Here's the charts for Homestead Cotton 8/2 from Halycyon Yarn.










Wraps/in: 30 Tabby sett: 15 to 22 Twill sett: 22 to 30
Weight: less than Fingering Yards/lb: 3200
Shrinkage 15%

Weaving 16" luncheon squares. The series is called Picnic at the Bay.

16 x 15% = 18.4

18 epi x 18.4 = (80x4+12= 332 warp ends, 80 warp ends to each repeat, plus12 warp ends to balance the pattern). Double sley 2 warp ends each selvedge to 332+4= 336 warp ends.

336 x 4 yd warp = 1344 yds.

1344 x 2 = 2688 yds. for warp and weft

Total project takes 5 mini cones, at $17.50.

600 yd mini cone - $3.50
1.1 lb. cone - $11.75

From Halcyon:

Homestead Cotton is one of our most versatile yarns. It has a great color range, an earthy, unmercerized texture, and it’s machine washable making it the perfect yarn for kitchens, bedrooms, and clothing fabrics. Homestead Cotton is everything except expensive. Weavers, you will find a multitude of uses for Homestead Cotton. Try it as warp and weft in dish towels and table linens, or in combination with a cotton/linen blend such as Cottolin (Item35) or a linen yarn such as Newport Linen (Item 178). For some fresh ideas check out Interweave’s Design Collections: #5-Dishtowels, #10-Table Toppers and #16-Kitchen Collection. Homestead Cotton is also an excellent choice as warp and tabby weft for overshot coverlets. For the pattern weft, consider 2/8 Maine Line Wool (Item 22), Harrisville 2-Ply Shetland (Item 9), Bartlett 2-ply sport weight (Item 121), or Cotton Fine (Item 129).

Homestead is also a great yarn for both machine knitting and hand knitting. Doubling or even tripling Homestead Cotton works in sport and worsted weight patterns. Using multiple strands lets you play with color. Start with six shades that go well together. Use three or four strands at at time and periodically drop one or two and pick up others. You will be amazed at how the colors blend and change.

Shrinkage – allow for 15% shrinkage when calculating weaving yardage. Also beware of dissimilar shrinkage characteristics when combining cotton with yarns of other fiber contents in stripes or plaids. Be sure to alternate threads of different fibers or use one as warp and the other as weft. Color-fastness – as always, be conscious of high contrast color combinations. If your sample suggests bleeding, pre-wash the yarn until the water runs clear. To limit bleeding in a finished piece, do not allow it to remain damp for long periods of air drying; faster drying by machine is preferable.

Here's some samples.









Final draft is done and it is file bb1.ptn on WinWeave. Yeah!!!!!!