Wednesday, December 29, 2010

Onward to 2011!

Greetings!

This week, there hasn't been much stitching, instead I spent my time dyeing (5-7 separate sessions) my cut of linen for BBD Mystery. My, the "Linen Drama" we've had on this one!



My desk at the moment. I decided that I liked some of this stiff linen that I ordered by mistake a year ago. Especially once it's been given the good 'ol Tan Rit Treatment. So, I ordered more (tried to order more). It's just some stiff wichelt stuff. Not even an overdye. How hard can it be? Let me just say that this is the 3rd cut I've ordered. And, now finally, though it was just slightly different, I figured I'd be okay with it.



But I'm not.

This black stitched heart shows some from the first lot which I was trying to replicate. It's got a bit of delicious green undertone which does wonders for the fibers in this chart.



This, the product of many dyeings, does not. :( And the colors show markedly drabber on it.

This will need a big ponder. Is it too late for a light something with green bath? Khaki has green, right? Hmmn.

So, to keep my hands busy, I started making these:



They were all around blogland a couple of weeks ago, I think I saw them first at Hazel's. I wonder if I'll make a whole bunch to garland around my big tree, or less with the idea of them being for the small ornament/feather tree I'm starting to see in my mind's eye. ;)



They are really neat! (And, they don't "need" any green so they look great on the linen I dyed, lol!)

I want to get a better hook for them, though; I wonder if Clover makes one in the size of the silver hook shown. The smallest clover hook I have is a 2.5 mm, and it just a bit too big for the thread I'm using.





The other thing I've been doing to chill out is gone back to playing "Professor Layton and the Diabolical Box" for DS. (If you check out the link, I picked it for the large and clear images of its image gallery. Didn't even read the content.)

Do you like mysteries? Charming illustrations with European (France, perhaps?) sensibilities worked in a warm palette that evokes candlelight? Investigating while riding a luxury train? Making tea? Cats?

Then, you should try this game. It's the second in a series of 3 (well, that have been localized for the west.), and I buy mine from Amazon 'cause it saves me over $2 on the tax at my local rate. That's a skein of cotton overdye, you know!

I'd better jet--I've got a train to catch! ;)
--Berit

Bonus:

• Snowstorm sank our plans to go see the billboard Marc made for ERA that's running in Times Square this month. I wonder if we'll be able to go before the new year when it's taken down. Of course it is just a 10 second animated ad, and I could see it on my computer...but I wanted to make the pilgrimage and see it.

• I wound up sustaining some emotional damage over the holidays, and I learned a couple of things as a result. Most importantly, I need to learn how to be direct in all things, yet not unkind, in my dealings with others. To put it the other way, the opposite of "passive-aggressive". This is a skill a person I know lacks, and I was hurt as a result. Incidentally, it's not really something that I can do so well either, so this is an illustration of how I can hurt others.

Being in the right on a situation is not enough; we must go further and handle it the right way. I'm going to be trying to make sure that I'm not "being nice" (thinking I'm such a saint to put up with someone who is trespassing against me) when I'm actually mad and using body language and other communication that is in conflict with what I am saying or what I really mean.

My Second Thought on this is as follows: It's possible to make an argument that we're ALL "crazy" sometimes, but wouldn't it be great if we could be known for using our craziness to bless others? I think it'd be great if the next time someone said, "Oh, Berit's just crazy like that sometimes." to shrug off my behavior they were speaking in reference to an unusually positive way I'd affected someone else. :)

• After a bit of a bump in the road, stitching continues on my first freebie! I DO hope some of you out there will be able to enjoy stitching this when I finish, but even if not I'm going to have Something Good for my autumn display next year. ;)

• 2011= The Chinese Year of the Rabbit~ Yay!

• Regarding personal stitching goals, I don't particularly have any new ones. I want to re-dedicate myself to what I've already been working towards: clearing the parts of my stash that I don't see myself using soon, getting BBD Mystery underway, and releasing that freebie!

• I've also decided to lighten my burden of guilt by marking all my unread items in Google reader as read at the new year. I got behind during my studying, and as I can't catch up, I'll go forward! :D :D :D

15 comments:

Margaret said...

You're brave to try to dye your own fabric. I have no desire to try. lol! Love your crochet snowflakes or stars. So pretty! That game looks interesting, but after getting hooked on Animal Crossing years ago, I've decided I can't afford to get hooked on another game. :D Happy New Year!

Kathy said...

Love the soft color of your dyed fabric. Great job.

I hope the New Year brings you all you can wish for.
Happy New Year

Karen said...

So sorry for all of the linen drama! Hopefully you will find the right combination soon.

Hope you have a great new stitching year!

Sue said...

I love your linen, keep at it and keep your head up about comments that are made. My feelings get hurt very easily but I always remind myself that most of the time people aren't trying to hurt my feelings. And many times people have misinterpreted what I've said and I've unknowingly hurt them. Even at my age I learn lessons every day.

valerie said...

OMG, Berit...you don't even realize how happy you just made me but saying 2011 is the year of the rabbit! As a rabbit, there's actually a good chance I'll have a wonderful time in the new year! Yay!

Sorry for the dying drama. It's always hard getting the perfect shade. Love your crochet stars...brilliant!

Happy New Year!

Siobhán said...

I haven't tried to dye my own linen, except for a few dunks here and there when the stitching was done. I think yours looks great, though!

I don't know what the answer is to the passive aggressive thing. I have a close relative who is passive aggressive, another one who is bluntly direct, and both have caused much drama in the family. I have tried to be honest with things that hurt me and it caused much drama. Now I try to keep my mouth shut but will say immediately if something bothers me to the point that I can't ignore it. It's never easy, is it?!

Love the crochet stars! I saw some crocheted popcorn garland on a tree one time--I'd love to try my hand at that sometime!

Wishing you a very happy new year.

Anonymous said...

Sorry you're having Linen Drama. I've never tried to do more than tea or coffee dyeing myself, but I do understand when the colour isn't *exactly* what you want. Your crocheted stars are really pretty, I must have another go at crochet now that I've got started LOL.

Julianne said...

Berit,

Best wishes to you in the coming year.

Relationships are incredibly complicated, but I think when we are happy with our own lives that that can make it somewhat easier.

Thanks so much for visiting my blog and leaving me a comment.

Myra said...

Oh dear Berit - sounds like you had some drama all the way around. I really like the linen you dyed and know you will find the perfect use for it eventually. I hope you manage to get the shade you seek. Here's wishing you a Happy Drama less New Year!

Catherine said...

I have never used anything other than coffee and/or tea to dye my fabrics. Hopefully you'll work yours out to your liking! I think yours looks great.

Sometimes it is hard to find the right balance with certain people. Just be true to who you are!

Wishing you all you seek in 2011!

Lynn said...

I know you're not happy with it but I like the looks of your dye job. I've not tried this myself yet.
Holidays always seem to bring out the best and the worst in people. It usually involves family drama of some sort. I hope yours sorts itself out and you're feeling better about things.

Best wishes for a healthy and Happy New Year!!

Christina said...

Oh no! Sorry to hear that the linen drama is ongoing! I'm too scared to dye my linen, it's way to expensive in the UK to risk ruining the fabric (which is what I'd do if how successfully I dye my hair is anything to go by!)
I love your crochet stars and love the garland idea. But I definitely like the sound of the feather tree. I love the maribou feather ornaments I have on my tree. In fact, I even had a maribou feather trim on my wedding dress...feather fetish...moi???
I wish you lived a little closer so you can teach me how to crochet. My nanna tried to teach me years ago, but gave up on account of me being left handed.
As you mentioned that 2011 is the year of the rabbit I looked up the virtues of a 'rabbit' given that our new baby with be a little bunny! Apparently, 'People born in the Year of the Rabbit are articulate, talented, and ambitious' great so far...'They are most compatible with those born in the years of the Sheep, Pig, and Dog' hmmm, not so good, I'm a dragon, Tom's a monkey and Iris is a rat! Oh dear,there are going to be some fun times ahead in our household!!!
Happy new year to you and Marc. XXX

barbara said...

Gorgeous dyeing, Berit!

I hope the New Year will be full of all things wonderful for you!

Brigitte said...

Wow, you belong to those brave stitchers who dye their linen themselves. I definiteyl love the result. Such a great colour!
Your crocheted stars look wonderful. I once collected patterns of crocheted snowflakes in order to crochet them by dozens and then decorate for Christmas, but somehow I never got to it. Maybe next year.
Wishing you a Happy New Year!

Sally said...

Your linen looks lovely :) Looking forward to seeing your mystery stitched on it.

Love your crochet stars!

Happy New Year!