Did you ever have one of those...

Days?  Weeks?  Months?

So this is my life right now -- my computer decided that it needed to upgrade my Windows Explorer.  Seriously, it does a lot of this stuff without my knowledge or consent -- and truthfully, like I would understand it anyway.  Ever since it has done that, my Typepad Dashboard doesn't work in Explorer. 

Thank goodness for Apple!  When I first loaded iTunes on my computer a jillion years ago, it downloaded Safari -- also without my knowledge, consent or understanding.  The upside is that Typepad works in Safari.  Go figure that!

It also confirms what I have known for a couple of years, I'm switching back to Apple and Mac.  I was a Mac girl years ago but switched to PC because I was nuts.  There is no other explanation.  Just ask an Apple person.

Look what I made these past few weeks!

Pretty cool, huh?

Okay.  So I didn't actually make this.  But I could have -- well, I would have the supplies for it.  All it is is strips of fabric that are twisted, rolled and stitched to the canvas.  Fabric I've got.  But the twisting and artistic rolling part would have messed me up as I don't know how to do that.  

Anthropologie.  Of course.  

I saw this when I was at the mall last week.  Can I tell you a secret?  Even though I work at a mall -- it's an outdoor, open-air mall so it doesn't really count -- I don't like going to the mall.  I would rather have root canal.  But I've got these candles from Anthropologie that I really love, that I just finished the last one, and that I can't order online.  I mean, I could order it but having a candle in a UPS truck all day in Phoenix in the summer is not a good idea.  The UPS truck would smell nice though.  

Everything here is fine.  My Mom is adjusting to new medications as the doctor has determined that the old one isn't working for her anymore.  As a good friend likes to phrase it -- we are adjusting to a new reality.  For the time being, she's more tired than usual.  We're told that that will improve as she gets used to the new medications but it still means that we've been making changes to our normal schedule.  And I've had a lot of shifts at Williams-Sonoma the past week so that's kept me busy.  

The new Schnibbles have been photographed and they go to the quilter tomorrow.  I'm getting cover proofs by the end of this week and those should go to press in another week or so.  With a little luck, new patterns will be done and ready by the end of July.

Have you seen that there is a new Stephanie Plum book out -- Smokin' Seventeen?  Number Eighteen -- Explosive Eighteen -- will be out in November.  And the movie -- One for the Money -- will be out in January.  The article I read also stated that Debbie Reynolds will play Grandma Mazur and Sherri Shepherd will play Lula.  I think I like Debbie Reynolds as Grandma Mazur.  (By the way, did you read that Debbie Reynolds owned Marilyn Monroe's famous "Seven Year-Itch" white dress?  And that she sold it at auction last week for $5.3 million?)

I have to tell you that I've found the last couple of Stephanie Plum books a little "disappointing"... in that I thought they were very predictable, and not as funny as earlier books.  So I kept telling myself that the last one I read would be the last one I would read.  But I keep hoping that the new one will be better so I keep reading.  So I pre-ordered the book on iTunes and it was available last night... which of course meant that I had to start reading it immediately.  (We can discuss my issues with impatience some other time.)  After staying up until about 2:00 this morning reading, I'm about three-quarters of the way through and it is... a little "disappointing".  Let it suffice to say that if you loved the last couple of books, I think you'll love this one.

As for me... my favorite book right now is "The Greater Journey" by David McCullough.  I'm about halfway through that.  I also read Carte Blanche, a "new" James Bond novel, and I really liked that.  (I'm also looking forward to a late-July date with Gabriel Allon.)

I wish I could tell you that there are all sorts of exciting goings-on here but I'm mostly catching up and getting ready to take a little break this coming week.  

But one last thing to share for today -- do you like neat little sewing things?  If you do and you don't want to know about something you might possible "need" to have, I suggest you stop reading right now.

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Still here?

If you're still reading...  Like many of us, I have a fondness for all-things sewing and stitching related.  In addition to spools of all kinds, sizes, ages, colors and origin, I really love thread cards.

These are from Sajou, the French sewing company.

These are vintage cards.  

Then the latest of Vignette, the beautiful little magazine by Leanne Beasley -- Leanne's House of Australia -- arrived.  (I order them from Perri at Stitches in the Bush.)

And Leanne, who stitches with Lecien's Cosmo floss, showed these.

So.  What was life like before Google?  You remember... back in the days when you would see something in a magazine and if the magazine didn't tell you where to find it, oh well.  Out of luck.  Too bad.  So sorry.  

If you're interested, let me save you a little bit of time -- Under the Mulberry Tree in Australia.  That is where I found them.  They also carry Vignette magazine, past and present.  (I am hoping the thread cards will be available in the US but I haven't seen anything yet.  One of the Lecien girls -- Monica, Brenda, Pam, Meg or Anne -- will definitely know more about that.)  

 Uh... never mind.  See below.

That's all I've got for today.  

Which, by the way, has been a pretty good day.

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P.S.  It's official.  Everybody and her sister has the Cosmo cards!  Everybody but me!  I really do have to get out more... of course, it would have to be someplace other than Phoenix because I don't know of anybody in town that still carries the Lecien Cosmo threads, much less the cards.  One or two shops carried "some" of the threads for a little while but I haven't seen it in a little while.  

I really do have to get out more.  

 

Comments

[pam]

I think those cards are available in stores.. you know if the stores order them. I know I've seen them places. (besides my own sewing room thanks to Nireko.) (I think.. I'm pretty sure I have some, but my organizational skills are lacking.A lot)

[Leslie Schmidt]

I almost wouldn't want to wrap thread on them, because I couldn't see the neat designs. Thanks for the look-see. Hope things go well for your mom.

[barbara]

Good to hear from you again so soon! I totally agree about apple/Mac products. I have accepted that it just does stuff on its own and look at it as having an IT person on staff at the Soup!

[kathie]

nothing better then a mac with all the customer support, that sold me!

glad things are ok and Mom is adjusting!
I love walking around Anthropology just to look at the displays!
off to reserve the Greater Journey book at the library
Kathie

[Jocelyn]

So Rosie hasn't told you?? That she is up at night, playing with your computer ;-) She's the sly one, that's for sure. Stephanie Plum?? Guess I will have to check this out, as I am always 3 or 4 (make that 10) years behind. I have just finished reading ALL of the Mitford Series books. Devoured them one by one.

[annieb]

I am a Mac girl through and through, and find I have few problems with blogger on the Mac, but if I use my Microsoft product, I have many problems. My next big purchase is going to be a iPad.
I am reading The Girl with the Dragon Tatoo (I know, I am 4 years behind everyone else...) and am loving it, especially on my Sony Reader. It is such a big book but can take it everywhere with the e-reader.

[Sandie ~call me crazy]

What cute cards! I'm not sure I'd be able to wrap anything around them though... then I wouldn't see the designs! Glad you are having a good day, sending good thoughts for your Mom too.

[auntie pami]

Will be in PHX soon! My DH wants to see what 'hot' is. Silly man. Gotta love it. I have the Cosmo cards. I'll give you the info via email. My Dad gave me his Mac Book Pro. Just need to learn it. Hoping Santa will bring me an ipad.

[Mama Spark]

I am totally a MAC person but own a PC lap top. I use my MAC at work. Safari is OK as a browser but Firefox is one I like better and I am intrigued by the new Google Chrome. I hate Explorer and avoid it at all costs!!

I love the new Cosmo cards but have not seen them in any shops either. Maybe we live under the same rock?

Glad to hear things are better for your mom and glad to just hear from you period!

[SuzK]

Glad to hear your Mom is doing better. I haven't seen those cards either - will have to watch for them. I thought it was just me who thought the Stephanie Plum books were getting too predictable. I'm looking forward to the movie and I think Sherri will make a great Lulu. I always picture Cloris Leachman and Grandma when I'm reading the books.

[Mary O'Neil]

I'm so glad someone else has found the last few Stephanie Plum books to be "predictable"!! I quit reading them three years ago for that reason. Have you read Three Weird Sisters? It's about three sisters who move back home when their mother gets sick and all the ensuing dynamics. I could not put it down.

[LizA.]

If you like Daniel Silva, have you read any of abrade Thor or Vince Flynn? I've just started listening to the last Vince Flynn book. I listen to more books than actually reading them. That way I can quilt at the same time! Add to that, our library has a HUGE selection of downloadable books, both audio and ebooks. But, when all else fails, there's always audible.com

I've decided when my laptop dies it will most definitely be replaced by a Mac. I'm tired of all the pc/Microsoft issues.

[Elizabeth]

I'm a Apple fangirl and have been for years and years, so glad you're coming back over from the dark side. (just kidding) I'm glad your Mom is stable--that's the word we use around our place, but I think I like your "adjusting to a new reality" better. My daughter just moved to Phoenix and I get daily weather reports from her--I suppose that from her on out to October it's going to be hot hot hot.

I just finished listening to The Weird Sisters and really liked it, and if you haven't heard The Help, or Major Pettigrew's Last Stand--I'd recommend those. My 80-year-old mother and I have a reading group, and I let her choose the books. She's really liked all three of those.

Glad to see a post again from you, and congrats on your quilt getting done!

[madame samm]

I need a rest now...wow!...busy or what and what about cosmo cards...I don't have those..lol. I have many quilting cards now..but no cosmo..and the quilt..if you had made it or did you...well regardless it is lovely...and yes I hear about Marilyns dress I bought it...LOL not...I did bid for it though..when it got to 500 dollars I buckled.....millions...I can't live in sew why bother ..lol back to you...yes good to hear you are adapting to a new reality..like everything we are pretty adaptable creatures...thank goodness for that...ok, now that I am completely exhausted now..I am going to join your mumm for a rest...Ohhhh c ya when we c ya again Carrie..

[Pat Sloan]

i think we need to run away where we can get days of free time to read blogs and write blogs.. wanna go?

We will of course bring a chef, lots of sewing.. and some good eye candy... I think maybe the Chef CAN be the eye candy... if we pick wisely.. oh i forget what we were talking about...