You are currently browsing the monthly archive for September 2008.
I like these traditional swallow tattoos. I think they have a comforting quality about them, and when I was first thinking of trying to embroider something, I immediately looked up 1950’s tattoo images and stole this one right off the net (I’d credit the website but I can’t think what it was) as it was perfectly what I wanted.
Here is the inspiration for my latest foo-foo project and I wanted to show it to you.
After I copied it to my ‘puter, I made a quick sketch of it into my notebook, and then re-sketched it onto embroidery fabric. I haven’t tried to do this before, but I’m thrilled with how it’s turning out.
It looks more Grecian then I expected. And more like a mosaic. But I think that’s because I making it with cross-stitch stitching, as opposed to a hand full of different stitched used in my previous embroidery attempt.
Oh! And I bought fabric from my previous foo-foo project so I should have it all transformed into a bag very soon.
A fun song, with a cute clip that’s had me singing “Come on dance, come on dance a-yu-hoo” a lot over the last few weeks. I like the clothes, the blackboard, the cheeky vibe of it all, and the simplicity - enjoy.
So my Mum and I had discussed going along to see Mamma Mia (even before it began in the cinemas) for ages but we kept postponing it because we couldn’t face the idea of sitting through 28 ABBA songs – it all sounded too intense.
However last Saturday afternoon I was feeling restless and 28 songs mixed in with a good dolup of Greek island beauty and a dash of ‘Mr Darcy’ – Colin Firth (whose performance in the film ‘Then she found me’ really quite impressed me when I saw the film last Tuesday) seemed like just the recipe to rescue me from late afternoon restlessness.
Well, what a show. I’d heard that people cried while watching Mamma Mia. Cried in disgust. Cried from the overwhelming emotion of it all. I cried from laughing too much. I really enjoyed it. It’s manic and over the top, and I wished I could have fast-forward a few bits because the characters must have been taking some strong drugs to do all that running up and down step goat-tracked Greek mountains, while emoting with their every fibre. And when I wasn’t laughing at the jokes and songs, I’d laugh any time Peirce sang a note. Pierce and Meryl together, made me laugh even more. I had a sore tummy afterwards
I liked the way all the actors put so much effort into having fun with their characters. And I really enjoyed Meryl’s storyline, and also the way the film dealt with 40+ year old characters - ie. life and love isn’t so straight forward, nor all sown up by the time you’re 21.
After the film we went out for dinner. I rarely go out to dinner with my family, but my Mum had been such a champion about seeing Mamma Mia that I suggested we go along to the club she’d mentioned, where you have free entertainment with your meal. Wow, it was packed. And quite full with a very well dressed older demographic strutting their stuff, and feeling mighty fine.
After dinner, a famous Australian performer sang well known tunes, and fought aggressively with his audience who wanted to rocker-billy dance on the dancefloor just below him. Meanwhile, any older gentlemen who were great dancers were being gleefully plucked up. It was like a huge buzzing nightclub for that age group.
I sneaked off to investigate the other singer performing there that evening. It was none other than Damian Leith, the Irish 2006 ‘Australian Idol’ winner. I peered in from the back of the room, and listened in while the security guard was telling me Damian is in fact, just crowned this year’s winner (even though this year’s competition has only just begun). After a few minutes, I decided it was enough, and I was on my way home.
Well, as we were rounding the building outside, heading toward the car, we could hear Damian’s voice again. It became louder and louder. We pulled up, and looked back into the building. We discovered that we could watch and hear him through the big glass window next to the fire escape. It was better than being in the front row.
So we got call comfy and settled in to hear the rest of the show. I was busy wiggly away to the music while standing on the footpath. And people we’d talked to inside earlier, were filing past on the way their cars. Some of them even stopped for a wiggle or two as well.
All too soon it was the end of his performance. Damian and band thanked everyone and the crowd roared. Then, suddenly, he and his band mates came bursting through the doors we were standing next to. He saw me, gave a big smile, paused for a beat or two before rushing back in to perform an encore. I was so surprised. He’s quite short ! But just like on tv in every other way, and seemed very friendly. My Mum wasn’t the least bit surprised by his sudden appearance, and was ready for him again when the encore was over.
“You were great! ” she said as he came outside again. He shot her a huge smile, said “Thanks” and began to step towards us to chat, but the security lady from the club jumped inbetween and began to usher him away down the hill.
It was all over in a flurry. But as he skipped off down the hill, my Mum so sweetly and politely, in her best attempt at Irish said,
”Slagga ! “.
Well, we fell about laughing. It’s the only Irish word she knows, you see.. and of course she meant to say “slán” as in “slán go fioll”, but sure.. slagga’s close enough. In fact, it’s my new favourite word.
Slagga!
One of the songs Damian sang on Saturday night, and also on Australian Idol.
Here’s how the embroidery business is going. I’ve finished the stitching and added a couple of beads. As you can see from the printed example behind my work, I changed colours and am a touch more ’sculptural’ with my stitching. The clouds drove me crazy, and the wheat is my favourite bit.
Now, on to the next bit. I want to make a bag and have this as the front panel. I haven’t made a bag before, but it shouldn’t be too difficult. More anon!
So, after I updated my blog last night. I hopped up from my desk and got ready to start on the treadder again, after my week off. As I was putting my comfy clothes on, and picking up my shoes, I was telling myself that I mustn’t start out too hard tonight. But then it came time to put on my heart-rate monitor doobee… and I couldn’t think where it was.
It’s the Spring Clean that took it, I tell you.
Because my heart rate monitor and my gym gloves (that stop me getting blisters from the weights) were always kept together and put in the one place. I was very good about that. But, I’ve moved them now… to.. a.. very.. safe.. place.
But, where is that safe place?
Embroidery: it’s a bit of a foo-foo word sometimes, don’t you think. Or, is a pretty French word, and I’m just being too mean to it?
Anyway, last week during my week off from the exer-ma-sizing I tried to do a big spring clean of all my stuff, clothes, wool, shoes, bags… the lot. Not such a great idea at the best of times, especially considering I over-do things and pull everything out at once.
I’ve ended up with half my things now being quite beautifully tidy and slightly reduced… and all the rest of my things in a terrible looking lump, which has to be periodically moved around a bit on the edges, when I need to find something underneath.
Anyway! During the spring cleaning I came across an embroidery pack and decided I had to start it now, or chuck it. And start it I did. I’m kind of glad I hadn’t opened the pack before, because it’s meant to be a cushion, and when I took it out of the packet, it was so tiny that I’m glad I didn’t want to use it as a cushion, or else I would have been dismally disappointed.
This is how far I got last night. It’s only the second time I’ve tried to embroider, and it’s going ok. With the guidelines already there, it feels a little bit like paint by numbers.
I like the fact it should be so quick to finish (especially because I’m guilty about doing it at all, when I should be sorting out the rest of my spring cleaning) and I already have a small idea of what to do with it, when I’m done. More anon!
Yesterday was the start of Week 5 of the Health Kick. And it’s been a busy first month. I started off a bit too hard and fast. But I did lose 2kgs the first week. And another kilogram the next week.
I increased my time on the treadmill during the third week, but knocked off the boxing and weights, and didn’t manage to lose any more weight in that third week. However my body continued to change, and I was enjoying the exercising more than at the start.
Last week (Week 4) was a write-off though, with no exercising. During that week we had The ‘Dozer’s birthday, and the happy news of two wedding annoucements - resulting in overwhelming excitement from me. I was so happy for each couple that I practically burst with emotion, wearing my poor adrenaline system out, and promptly becoming sick ’n' fluey. So, I took that week off to recover.
But, I’m back at it now, and have also added a new page to my blog entitled ‘Diary’ where I’ll list my daily food/exercising, and overall weight changes. I know that if I write down what I’m eating and how I’m exercising, I have much better results. And I’ll be even more focused and diligent if I know that anyone can come and look at what I’ve been up to. I’ve already made healthier choices today because I knew I wanted to record them here.
I’m not sure if the new page is the best way to keep my exercising activities together and clear, but I’ll start it, and see how I go.
