Monday, November 19, 2012

Take Little Time to Study Embroidery Designs


It was early afternoon today when my son and I realized that we hadn’t seen our two kittens since early morning. On any normal day, this wouldn’t have been much of a concern. On a moving day, though, all bets are off. Especially when the kittens’ favorite hiding place is inside the couch and those couches have been fully encapsulated with cardboard and tape.

It’s not a good feeling to think of what could have happened. Luckily, with the help of the movers, we were able to find them and remove them from the couch before it began its 12-week journey. The scare was horrid, but the joy at finding them soon overshadowed it. Still, I was rattled for quite a while.

Tuesday, November 13, 2012

Machine Embroidery Designs – Build Your Own Style

In terms of decorating, whether it is your home or your person, I am a firm believer that less is always more. Too much of a good thing just spoils the whole endeavor! Unfortunately, I get hopped up on the power of the sewing or embroidery machine and stitch until my original project idea is barely recognizable. I know I should stop, but I just can’t seem to do so.

If the project is for the home, I quietly remove as much of the additional “décor” as I can before using it as intended. If I’m unable to salvage it, it becomes a new fixture in my sewing room to remind me not to do the same again. As for clothing items, they sit in my closet, never worn, looking beautiful and embarrassing. I would never actually wear them outside the house. From the looks of my fellow crafters at times, though, I don’t think all of them share my less is more philosophy.

Sunday, November 4, 2012

Perfect Embroidery Designs & Patterns for Your Projects

It was early afternoon today when my son and I realized that we hadn’t seen our two kittens since early morning. On any normal day, this wouldn’t have been much of a concern. On a moving day, though, all bets are off. Especially when the kittens’ favorite hiding place is inside the couch and those couches have been fully encapsulated with cardboard and tape.

It’s not a good feeling to think of what could have happened. Luckily, with the help of the movers, we were able to find them and remove them from the couch before it began its 12-week journey. The scare was horrid, but the joy at finding them soon overshadowed it. Still, I was rattled for quite a while.

Friday, November 2, 2012

Striking Machine Embroidery designs and supplies

A couple of months ago, the thought of leaving Greece to go back to our home in California was quite distressing. We decided to stay for one more year. Then, career plans changed, and we are returning home after all. However, now that it is real, instead of just being thought about, I find that I am looking forward to returning home.

First, there are all the different foods that I love that I can’t get here; simple things like non-dairy coffee creamer and real donuts beckon me. Fast food and Chinese take-out are guilty pleasures that I can’t wait to indulge in again. While I love Greek food, nothing beats a greasy burger from one’s favorite joint.

Mostly, though, I’m looking forward to going home where I can go shopping and find all the wonderful embroidery supplies  that make my heart sing. Here, I can get some thread for machine embroidery, but it’s just not enough! I need stabilizer and embroidery designs and Peltex and Mulberry Paper and everything else. When trying to find those things here, most of the shopkeepers think I’m trying to sell them something. It’s funny to hear the words “no thank you” when I’m trying to buy something, but it gets frustrating, too!

Thursday, November 1, 2012

Commercial Machine Embroidery designs!!!

During our four years here in Greece, I’ve has so many people get excited when they find out that I do machine embroidery. They always say they should have me create this or that project. In that time, only one of them actually did so, and I had to turn down the commission because the project was both against copyright laws, and would not have been a proper project to highlight my skills. Strangely, now that we are leaving for home in a couple of weeks and my embroidery supplies are packed up, everyone seems to want me to create something for them.

When it rains, it pours!

When I have to turn down every request, I get one of two responses. The first is a glad assurance that their project will just take a second. Really. The second is a knowing look followed with the sudden remembrance that moving is time consuming. Regardless of the response, I’m reminded of a good reason to move. None of these people have offered true neighborliness, instead asking me to do something for them when I have very little time for myself.