Past Projects Quilt and Cross Stitch

So I thought I would share some of my older projects.
Quilt #1 – My first attempt. I just picked some fabrics out and gave it a go. It was bound with sage green and has a royal blue back which has a slight pattern to it and is actually the darker blue square to Quilt #2.

Then I have some Cross Stitches I have done in the past. The 1st one I did was the Christmas Queen it was more difficult than I had anticipated. There are metallic threads, beads, Fluffy threads, as well as being my first cross stitch in about 13 years (I am 26) So it gives you some idea.

The second, I picked a simple pattern of a mom and baby that I could maybe use as a gift or keep.
The third, the two girls by the tree is another fun one. It was a gift for my mother; she picked it out to be a pillow for her bedroom. It was beads, dyed silk. It was a very fun one to do and not too hard.

Quilt #2

A few months ago I made my first quilt. It was a simple block square quilt. SO for #2 I decided to go a bit more complicated and more fun color wise. So I designed these rainbow 9 square blocks with a cream boarder that will be the width of each little square.

This picture shows a small sample of the backing I think I will use. The border will be a chocolate brown I think. Either a rich brown or a dark brown. I have not decided yet. This looks good so far the hard part will be the next which is making sure that I square each block as I attach the cream strips on the sides to make a row.

  

The Orchid Affair Review

Well i reread both The Betrayal of the Blood Lily and The Orchid Affair today

The Orchid Affair was a deeper novel of spies as we follow Laura Grey as an undercover spy/governess. It is more involved than the other books where the story is more about the relationships and someone working on their own as a spy. This book is about someone trained at the Selwick Spy School going on a mission, her first mission to be exact. I really enjoyed the fact that she reported to others and was living the spy life rather than the clumsy bumbling of Charlotte or Amy. Not to detract brilliance from them but this book was more intriguing in the spy aspect and well plotted. I enjoyed it thoroughly and the Eloise side of the story was good as it always is. Eloise is in Paris and has an obsession with marzipan pigs. Clever and witty with lots of laugh out loud moments and others where you’re reading as quickly as you can to find out what is happening next.

The Orchid Affair ARC

I received my advanced reading copy of The Orchid Affair today. It is lovely; the back is a perfect color and goes with the wax seal on the front. I will review it with no spoilers when I get a chance. I have a whole pile of new books I am going to be reading soon, and though the arc is at the top of my desire to read list, my OCD will not let me until I finish rereading. At this point I have reread all but the Blood Lilly and am currently catching up on Tasha Alexander’s books as her new novel came out today and it will be here tomorrow. So the order goes

Dangerous to Know – Tasha Alexander
The Orchid Affair – Lauren Willig
Evelina -Frances Burney
The Mischief of the Mistletoe- Lauren Willig
The Swan Thieves – Elizabeth Kostova
Beauvallet- Georgette Heyer
Silent in the Grave- Deanna Rayburn

Interior Design Overload

I have started working for Blackledge Furniture and I love it. The training is very intense; it will be 6 weeks from the date of starting to the time when I can even think of being on the floor and selling. I am learning about the construction of furniture from the frames, cushions, springs, padding, mattress types, and woods and how to recognize them by sight, and fabrics. It is all very detailed and it’s nice to see that when I walk out on the floor to explore and use what I have learned that I see it and can understand it. I am still having a hard time distinguishing mahogany and cherry woods. I am getting along well with the other employees and have gone from lecture to now a self regulated study. We are still training with an online system and videos but we can choose what we do first.
The next big step will be learning details about the different furniture product lines and I thought it was going to be a horrible task but it is not bad at all. It is more about getting a good idea about what each vendor offers and how to find what you are looking for in catalogs and pricing them out. So far I have gone over Flexsteel, and started one book of Ashley upholstered furniture.
One thing I have learned is that most fabrics though pretty are super easy to damage and the ones that are not are either so rough or not attractive. The company offers a protection which coats the fabric in a protective layer without compromising the fabric and it helps repel stains and keep pet’s kids and life from snagging bits of thread. Thought that was a great idea.
I have also looked at all my furniture and so far I have a polyester twill Flexsteel couch and is a typical Lawson style. It has two basic recliners and wood accents that are not solid pieces and I want to say it is a dark stained oak. Anyways time to do something other than furniture for an hour.

I have been rereading
The Secret History of The Pink Carnation
The Country Gentleman
The Seduction of the Crimson Rose
The Deception of the Emerald Ring
Currently: Only to Deceive

Lots of good books coming soon!!

Pink Carnation Graphic Novel

From Lauren Willig, author of the Pink Carnation Series, with the combined efforts of Illustrator Joanne Renaud, we have a Pink Carnation Graphic Novel!!! We have been given permission to post their art on our own sites so for the enjoyment of everyone. Here are the first few images of the Pink Carnation Graphic Novel. We will also get a chance to win one here in a week or so. That would be so amazing.
My personal favorite part is when Miss Gwen gives Bonaparte a lecture on his bad manners when invading countries.

Interview #2

Well I interviewed with a furniture store the other day. I applied for a sales position that would be commission plus salary. I know the owners through my family connections and I think they would be wonderful people to work for. Anyways the first interview was an hour and a half and included some tests on communications and sales approach as well as some personality and written tests. A very thorough evaluation so as of Monday morning when I had not heard from them I figured I did not do well on something. I felt great when I left the interview except the tests. I was not sure how I would score on them. All turned out well I got an e-mail today inviting me back to a 2nd interview and hopefully this will be a good place for me. I have never even made it to round 2 before so it makes me nervous. I think I will be more disappointed if I do not get the job. I am just trying to think positive and relaxed because my communication skills I think are what my biggest asset is for that position. Anyways that was just an update on the job hunting front.
I did not get a prize in Lauren Willig’s Contest, hard to compete with graphic designers on top of not being all that artsy myself. . Hopefully I will get this job and then I can just buy the book. I can dream right…

Tee Shirt Contest Voting

Everyone go vote for YOUR favorites!!

Pink Carnation Tee Shirts – Go Vote!!

Acorn Squash Plant.. Will it Survive?

Powdery Mildew on my Acorn Squash plant
So this poor plant in my garden first it got mowed by someone the landlord paid to mow the lawn. Effectively killing the young squash growing on it, I was afraid it would not produce again this year. Now it DOES have baby squash growing and it is starting to get a white film on some of the leaves. I looked it up and it’s a fungus. Some home remedies are 9 cups water mixed with 1 cup milk and sprayed on. I did that if in a few days I don’t see much I may try the baking soda mixture or just go straight to home depot and the chemicals. I will try the organic cures first. I would love it if this plant would survive. My zucchini has it but it has already given me a ton of produce. I sprayed it down too, but it is a lot sicker than the acorn squash.

Cat Nap For The Cause

Purina Cat Chow is donating for every person and their cat to sign up to the Susan. G Koman for the Cure. Follow this link and pledge to nap! Its on facebook so if you do not have an account i cannot find another link so you can sign up

Cat Nap for the Cause

When you Pledge you also get a chance to win a blanket designed by one of the Celebrity supporters. They are drawing for two people a week.