Be*mused

House? What house?

After several quiet weeks, we trimmed our asking price.

Then we buried poor St. Joseph upside down out on the corner of the lot.

 

We tried sprinkling some humor throughout.

All to no avail.  A bold step was needed.  I was urged on by my Chicago realtor, who assured me that it would guarantee a quick sale.  And now that I've done it, I don't care about the house.  In fact, I hope we have no action around here for at least a week or so.  (Shoo! Get outta here! This isn't the house for you. Really.)

Monday, I purchased our tickets to Japan and three weeks from right now, I'll be stretched out on a futon at Molly's place.  We've had this trip penciled in for what seems to have been forever, but always framed by possible complications.  Now, we're going!  Once I paid for the tickets, Molly and I hit the ground running.  A long, free chat on Skype, followed by emails shooting back and forth all week.  Lists of requested items (foods, toiletries, yarns,) contacts made with Japanese friends, consultations on *presento* (omiyage) suggestions.  So much to do, so good to change the subject.

I can't tell you how wonderful it feels to have shaken off everything else.  Honestly, this is the first time I've felt like my old self in months. We haven't seen Molly since she was home last Thanksgiving and unlike my previous trips to Japan, this time there are no expectations or big plans.  The weather will still be warm so we can literally throw a bunch of summer clothes in a suitcase and go.  I usually have some side trip suggestions or hopes in mind, a list of shops to try to hit, favorite items to be on the hunt for...paper mache figures, Japanese patterned dishes, fabric.  (Ahem)  But on this trip, I think we'd be happy to sit and play cards (or whatever) with Molly the whole time.  M & I can really use a break. 

And thanks to Superbuzzy, no longer should I feel compelled to divert from paths to every destination to check out local fabric haunts.  Although, in the spirit of full disclosure, I *may* have mentioned the possibility a quick stop at Otsukaya (six floors!!) on our way to our family friends' home in Toyoake.  (Molly would definitely have outed me in the comments if I hadn't 'fessed up.)  I love Japan, though, and having read the recent news, I would like to do what I can to help out.

• TOKYO, Aug. 30 (AP) - (Kyodo)—Japan's retail sales shrank 2.2 percent in July from a year earlier to 11.35 trillion yen for the second straight month of decline, the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry said Thursday.  The contraction was led by slower sales of textiles....

And another thing

When I started blogging in 2005, my first real post was about wanting to join the party, of being part of the conversation that occurs when you blog and share what you're doing with others.  Especially if you are a blogger, you know how relationships grow as comments are left and responded to and new connections are made.  Lately, I'm starting to feel like I'm standing outside that window again, watching the party.  *Knock, knock, knock!! I'm here! I'm still here!!*  I've noticed that I've gotten into the habit the past year or so of only posting when I have project progress to show and with my recent routine somewhat compromised by house showings and impromptu out-of-town trips, project focus has suffered.  However, since my desktop (and mind!) is usually littered with notes to mention in some eventual post, I've decided to return to my blogging roots and drop in every couple of days with whatever I've got. 

Beth Reisman quilt from a 2006 QN issue

One afternoon last week while killing time before a showing, I was seized with the declutter bug and pulled out a bunch of older Quilter's Newsletter magazines to weed through.  It's amazing to see what catches your eye on reexamination, which is, I guess, every magazine hoarder's reason for letting piles stack up around them.  But saving hundreds of old issues takes space and time to continually refer back through so armed with scissors and resolve, I spent an hour clipping inspiration photos.  And in two fairly recent QNs (2006,) I came across photos of Beth Reisman's Elvis quilts which excited me as not much has in a while.  How had I missed these in previous perusals?  I've been itching to pair my basket blocks with some loose, fresh applique borders and these examples jumped off the page at me!

Now, here's a funny thing.  A day or two after I cut these out, I clicked on to Tonya's new post and what was she writing about?  Her inspiration notebook...and there in the middle of the page was a spread from an old AQS issue, featuring an article about Beth Reisman and her different, Baltimore Elvis quilt.  Something in the air this month, I guess.

Back to the quilts.  While examining BR's folky borders, I noticed in the photo notes that she mentioned using applique motifs from two of Jeana Kimball's now out-of-print books, Red & Green: An Applique Tradition and Old Voices, New Impressions.  Since I have them both, I pulled them out to take a new look.  That was quite the creative jump Beth took!  Which proves that inspired, funky work can come from the most traditional sources if you're willing to think big and push the envelope a bit.

         

Which leads me to one, last observation, for quilters, knitters and crafters alike.  If you're culling through older books to make room for new, do check online for current OOP prices on craft books in your discard pile.  While poking around to locate a Jeana Kimball book which I don't own, I came across this Amazon page for Old Voices, New Impressions, a slim, staple bound pattern book.  Phew.  Glad I didn't include that in my last box run to Half-Price Books.

I have a bunch of new links to share but I'll save them for next time.  Soon!

Zingy

My basket blocks were making me yawn so before taking them down to pack into the UFO box, I decided to try some of my zingy new fabrics to inject a little life into the assortment.  I think it worked, though frankly, I'm not sure where this is going.  I did put some of my shot cotton swatches up alongside the the blocks and they set the prints off nicely.  More stewing required, though I'm considering some wild applique borders as in so many of the Japanese quilts I loved at the Tokyo Quilt Festival.

Or not.  *grin*  Stay tuned.   

Finally I seem to be emerging from my recent project drift.  I think mentally I had framed the summer as *sell the house and move* months, but now that the school buses are driving by in the mornings (and the house isn't sold...small detail,) I, too, feel like it's *back to business* time.  This week I was supposed to be here, kicking back with my old Cleveland quilting pals for a few days...a perfect transition from this seemingly endless summer.  Plans needed to be postponed at the last minute however (not by me,) so we'll try again in a few weeks.  The next couple of months are going to be really busy for me...busy in a good way...so this week gave me some time to start getting organized a bit.  Lists, lists and more lists.  New projects.  I've never really been a summer person.  Bring on the fall!

I know it's only August 17.  Indulge me.      

Hi! Remember me?

When we last met......seriously, where the heck have 10 days gone?  This may be a record for me, hopefully one which will stand for all time.  And after I left you all hanging with that last riveting post.  Tsk, tsk.  At the risk of turning this blog into Be*moved, a quick update. 

Nothing on the sales front, though we've had several more showings.  We heard that last week's prospective buyer changed her mind about school systems, not anything related to our house.  Can't fault her for that, though we wish she'd have done her homework before she started house hunting.  On the bright side, all that drama was a huge wake-up call for me so after scuffing around in a daze for a day, I snapped into action and spent the rest of the week weeding through closets and getting rid of more *stuff*.  While you thought maybe I was off whipping up some great project to reveal in my next post, I was actually knee deep in specialty baking pans and boxes of Christmas decorations.  Three trips to Goodwill and a stop at Half Price Books later, I'm about half through.  And in those areas I've torn through, I can say that all that's left are things I truly want to keep.  This weeding through a family's lifetime accumulation is brutal but in the end it feels great.  I don't think it can be done in one sweep, though.  (Or obviously it would have been done months ago, first time through.)  I came across this great article just this morning about *stuff*.  Enough said.

The near sale episode reminded me that I need to continue actively looking for a place so that when we do sell, I won't be dumbstruck and panicked like I was last week.  So after my closet purging, I headed north for several days, on the hunt.  It was a fruitful trip, with the added benefit of some good eating.  (Love those Chicago restaurants.)  And now I'm back, much calmed down about the whole business and looking forward to resuming some semblance of a normal day-to-day life.  A-hem.

Speaking of friends, I've noticed that even in my absence, I'm getting a lot of new visitors here(!)  I'm sure many of you found me through being named as a Rockin' Girl Blogger by both Samantha and Kathy.  I sure haven't felt too 'rockin' lately, but their kind words couldn't have come at a better time.  Thanks, friends...new and old.  (I'll have to think about who I'll tag.  So many interesting sites out there lately.)

Strikkegarn (dk weight)

A few commenters on the last post asked about the wool sample cards. They are Rauma yarns, Norwegian and carried in the States by Nordic Fiber Arts.  They look to be exactly what I've been hunting for for my mittens...a nice firm twist and a wide range of colors.  In my recent ditsy state, however, I somehow managed to order the cards for everything except the weight I was looking for...fingering (Finnulgarn)...and the color numbers differ from weight to weight.  So.  Hoping the new swatch card will be in the mailbox today.

Speaking of Scandinavia (segueing into infinity here,) I have a friend who may have the opportunity to spend two days in Copenhagen on an upcoming trip.  For any of you who are familiar with the city, any suggestions of what not to miss while there?

And since I know someone will ask, these are samplers I've picked up at house sales.  The house piece is small, not much bigger than postcard size, trimmed close and jammed into the little frame.  I think it was $3.00.  The bee piece.  Well, how could I pass that one up?  I love the sentiment and I'm partial to bee motifs.  Must be why I can't resist Superbuzzy.  Heh.