Pondering the benefits of social outlets?

Its a tough decision to make especially when getting out socially is important - however, this particular group seems to be more of a stressor than any positive influence for you - or is it?  I do not speak from experience - oh, how I wish I had some social outlets. I do if you count the twice yearly luncheons I attend and I must say how much I look forward to those! Have you been thinking of any other similar groups that might catch your interest and attention? I would think it would have to be very stimulating and with like persons to make it worth while?  You like your ATC group don't you? I wish you well in whatever decisions you make for yourself.
We went to Huntsville today - usual rounds and I didn't buy anything. Feels good not to spend, but on the other hand, I also like to show something for my effort - even some small little inexpensive token....haha!
At the dump today Harry got a full box of packages of Metallic craft cord.. All colours and various makes eg John Bead Corp Ltd of Ontario. The cord is 85 % Rayon and 15% metallic and Made in Japan. It is described as ...use in crocheting, beading, and macrame projects. Excellent for use on plastic needlepoint canvas.  I thought of you Pati, and wondered if you recognize what I am describing and/or use it yourself.  I have never done plastic canvas work ( nor really have a desire) but I am sure it could be used in fibre art pieces. I have seen on The Quilt Show how couching has been done on the machine with similar cords.  I'm open to suggestions and even to sending if you thought it would be useful for your work?
Well, bed time. And get some rest to be able face another day! haha.  Take care

Damn alarm clock

I have spoken before of the hate-filled relationship we have with the alarm clock.  While I can turn off the alarm when it rings, it will continue to ring every day at the same time until we unplug it, and take out the battery. We realized yesterday that we had to have an oil change this month or void our extended warrantee on the car.  Last evening I set the alarm clock for 7:15am, so he could take the car for a "walk-in" oil change first thing this morning.  we were late going to bed, and David had just got to sleep, when the alarm went off at midnight.  I was in the kitchen and ran for it, but he was up and walking around the bed,when I got there.  He had really been startled out of a deep sleep.  Then, of course we both had more trouble falling to sleep.  The problem appeared to be that, somehow, the button for the second alarm got pushed when we were setting the first alarm, but it wasn't noticed and the time of the second alarm was never changed from the original midnight.   Needless to say it was unplugged and left unplugged for awhile, once he got home from the dealership.

Yesterday, there was a bit of a brouhaha via e-mail about show guidelines for the local art group.  I was quite upset about it, and was brooding over it most of the night.  Before bed we had talked about the benefit I receive from my membership in the group, and came to the realization that I really need to take a look at the cost benefit relationship with this group.  We both know that we need some sort of social outlet, and this group has served that role with me for several years now.  I'm not going to make any rash decisions, but I am going to start looking around for additional social outlets so as to have more choice should the small "p" political aspects of it become uncomfortable.

Out to the library today.  The tv said the temperature was -4 when we left he house, but it was darn cold, and very windy.  Far nastier than we had expected.  We also went for my coffee.  I got a Starbucks card in the mail today-period.  What the heck?  I tried to go on the website with no luck, so took it into the store to ask about it.  Just some sort of marketing ploy to make me feel more special, evidently, as I have a card I've been using for months.  Tempest in a teapot, but I was po'd at not getting any satisfaction from the website.

Now home and in for the evening (if I don't consider having to put the garbage bins out tonight).

Shopping and travel

Today we took five of my pieces, and 3 large pieces of my friend Valerie's out to the gallery in Selkirk and helped to hang them.  It's a very nice show, but a little strange, IMHO, for an art gallery show.  I have always made a distinct difference between craft and art.  This show is actually being advertised as "Jane Doe and friends: featuring the Winnipeg Embroiderers' Guild".  Most of Jane Doe's work is not original, although some is ( she is showing embroidered tablecloths and dresser scarves that have been done on pre-printed fabric that used to sell in Woolworths and Walmart), some of it is not embroidery, nor even fibre, and a great deal of it is not for sale (NFS). Displaying well-done, original art embroidery and fibre art in such a setting diminishes the whole genre.

Then home, and I shopped for beads in my basement studio.  I was very pleased at the variety I found that will be useful in my new piece, but still had to go and do a bit of shopping.  I decided to check out a local bead store that I hadn't visited in some time.  I guess nobody else has shopped there either, as it was gone.  This meant a trip out to St. James to the large bead store there, and success.  On the way home we back-tracked to the needle art store on St. Mary's Road, to pick up some thread to match the beads I had found. All together a very successful day, but a full day.

Not for once I'm sure

Pati, I think you are busy all the time - you are always doing something exciting. And to get your blood working on new ideas is just what you thrive on. Good for you and hope you will share some of your work if you can? I like to see or hear what you are up to.  I have been sorting through "stuff" these past few days - can't see any real difference for doing this, except that I know what I've done and feel good about it.  Some of this sorting was books and patterns and other accumulated quilt/sewing/knitting/ crochet materials. So I guess you could say it got my blood working too, except you produce, and I just dream haha! So to appease myself, I made some more hexis. It is great fun to have the little kitten helping me - maybe I will have a quilting companion yet?  Regardless of what he is up to at the time I take out my baskets to work, there he is right in the thick of it.  Try to cut out the paper hexi pieces with him trying to play with the sheet of paper! I love it.
Just logged in the Food Diary for today and to help me along I had a shot of Galliano liqueur - Mike and Erin gave me a bottle for Christmas and I am milking it so it will last for a while as can't buy it in the LCBO stores locally.   Take care

Busy for once

Early yesterday, we took one of my reliquaries out to the gallery in Selkirk.  It was an exhibition of work from the Embroiderers' Guild, but there weren't enough entries, so they were accepting them from anyone associated in any way.  There appeared to be an awful lot of pieces, so we just dropped mine off and came home.  Later in the afternoon, I got a call from my friend Valerie, saying that they hung everything and still had a least one whole wall that was empty.  The lady from the gallery asked if maybe Valerie and I could bring in some more stuff. Of course I said yes, and then spent yesterday finishing three pieces.  Today, I had the monthly luncheon of my ATC group, and Valerie came to the restaurant to give me her pieces.  Tomorrow morning David and I have to be at the gallery by 9:00 to deliver everything, and maybe help hang them.  It's not often the chance to be part of a gallery exhibit this way comes up, and I'm grateful for the opportunity.

The frenzy of activity yesterday stirred my blood, and today I started a new piece.  It started off with my thinking about how I could best demonstrate something for the beading class I'm teaching in March, and has evolved somewhat.  So after getting home today, I started the basic preparation, working until about 7:30.  I should get the basic work finished tomorrow, and then will have to choose beads. That always takes time and is a wonderful creative process. I may even have to go shopping--too bad.  I'm hoping this is the start of a period of activity and productivity.  Being active helps me sleep better at night, and right now, I need to be doing that.

Good feelings - what a great message

How wonderful to log on and read your message Pati, and I feel so good for you. Of course you are pretty and you can pamper yourself - who better than yourself.  I have those moments too, and it does make you feel special. We need more of these feel good events and celebrate more often. Let's all do it more often and share with each other.  Even having a nice bath brightens me. Then I try to do a pedicure but that physical effort sometimes gets the best of me haha! 
Well, there is always some good that comes from giving of yourself to others. Pati, I thank you for your comments however, I do not deserve such high praise and I firmly believe we are all capable of the same if it comes to that. On Sunday morning I am picking up Daisy and driving her to Mass in South River. She goes regularly and since our goal is to try to eliminate her driving, I have stepped up and offered to take her.  So I shall be Driving Daisy but the good of it is that I too, shall be attending Mass. It has been years and years ( not necessarily of my choosing or liking) ...so here goes.
On another note, I shall also be starting another week of logging in our Daily Food Diary starting tomorrow. Everything we eat and drink for seven days! Done it so many times, but still a real pinta for me. The $25.00 Visa card reward is my incentive.
Still some snow everyday but mild. No need to shovel just yet.
Have a good weekend you two, and let me know what you are up to. Take care

Quite a day

We were up early (for us) and off to our hair appointments. David was through quickly, and took off to buy gas and pay bills, while I had my hair coloured.  It was called "streaking" but not like anything I've ever had done before.  When she was finished, the difference was very very subtle, but I love it.  I had been avoiding streaking, as the last few times it was done--many, many years ago--I ended up with what I call " zebra stripes". but this is such a subtle difference that it's really hard to tell that anything was done.  It's wonderful!  I feel pretty!  Which is not something  a woman of my age should be thinking.  There is even a tiny bit of grey at my temples, so someone might not think anything had been done at all.  That may not have been intentional, but I prefer to believe it was.  It al felt so good that I went to the trouble to give myself a pedicure this evening, certainly not before it was needed. After all that, it was grocery shopping, and a quiet evening at home.

We're tired, but satisfied.  I hope everyone feels a little bit of that, at some point, this weekend.