Eating my words ...

While doing my normal domestic stuff this morning (you know, laundry, loading the dishwasher, picking up, etc.) I came across a stack of mail that, apparently, my dear husband put on the counter in my craft room. I decided to go through it right then and there just to get it out of the way. I saw a couple of magazine on the bottom and assumed the rest of the stuff was junk mail he simply didn't want to take the time to go through and trash (the bills had been removed). So I opened each piece, shredding required items and trashing the rest. I was on a roll. You know how your mind wanders when you're performing such mundane tasks? I picked up the "next" envelope in the stack and my eyes grew wide when I saw the return address: Coats and Clark. Uh Oh! Yup, you guessed it. Here was my refund check for below "Moda Dea Dream Vomit." Wow. I blew that didn't I? The check was dated 5/14, which is the day we left for vacation so I know it came with the huge stack for that week. Not sure why I'm just now finding the mail or why I didn't think of asking about it before now anyway. It's been pretty hectic since we've been home is my only excuse. Anyway, just wanted to retract my opinion that Coats and Clark isn't interested in us peons and doesn't provide customer service. I would've like to hear an explanation or apology but I'd rather have a check and no letter than a letter and no check, so I'll just shut up now.

My "Dream" Vomit ...

It has been about six weeks since I sent my disgruntled letter to Coats Moda Dea. I've heard nothing. Not a peep. Not an "I'm so sorry this happened." Not a "so sad, too bad." Nothing. So much for customer service. Guess I won't be buying anything else from this company. I sent the "package" certified so I know they received it. For those of you who don't know the story, let me fill you in. This is an excerpt from my letter to the company:

"I am writing to share with you my experience this week with the Dream yarn. Excitedly, I am about to be a grandmother for the first time in June. You can imagine my list of projects for my new granddaughter. I have been working feverishly trying to get as many as possible completed before the shower the later this month.

For one of my projects I chose Lion Brand Pound of Love in white as the body of the blanket. It’s a simple knit 3, slip 1 rib but oh so squishy and soft. Since the baby is a girl and this pattern is more unisex, I wanted something special to dress it up for the border.

As I wandered around Michael’s looking for a special yarn, my eyes landed on the Dream yarn. I thought it would be the perfect frame for this blanket. It’s so soft and silky feeling! And it was on sale for $2.99, which was even better! I bought four balls and headed home to play with different ideas and stitch patterns. After trying several things, I decided on a simple crochet ruffle. It was just what it needed to make it a bit more feminine.

Later that night as I was nearing the end of the second set of balls (I was double stranding with a P hook), I realized I was going to run out of yarn. Sunday morning I head back up to Michael’s to pick up two more balls. Sunday night I ran out of yarn once again with only about 2/3 of one side left. So Monday while out running errands I went by Michael’s once again to pick up two more balls. Imagine my delight and excitement over finally completing this project and being able to wash it and get it wrapped for the shower. I was stoked."

Now the fun starts:

"Now imagine my dismay after hand washing this blanket when I took a second look at the ruffle to see all these free loops hanging out all over the place. It honestly looked like a dog had gotten hold of it and chewed it all up. It was horrible! I was heartbroken! Not only had I wasted $25 in yarn (on the ruffle alone) but the time I had put into it as well. I wanted to cry."

Photos of the results:

and

and

Needless to say, I was completely heartbroken. There was simply no way to save this. The shower was looming closer and I'm facing having to rip the entire ruffle out and start over with it. Since I really didn't want to spend any more money on yarn, I decided to shop in my own stash and see if I had anything that would work. After discovering some Caron Simply Soft in a soft pink color I thought would work, I started playing to see what it would look like. While it wasn't as dramatic as my first choice, it worked - and I knew it would wash up beautifully. The final outcome:



My daughter was thrilled with it and that's what counts right? The ruffle looks much better, yes?

This experience prompted me to sort and sift through my stash once again, discarding ANYTHING that had any resemblance to chenille. I will never buy or use that fiber again.

That's my story for today. Baby update coming later ...

QB

I am not a painter ...

We have been our remodeling our third bedroom into a craft room for over a year now. It's been a very slow process - but when we take on a challenge of that magnitude it usually takes a while to complete it. That four letter word called L-I-F-E seems to constantly get in our way. Anyway, it's almost completely finished. We just have some cosmetic painting left and I worked on my closet doors yesterday. They're going to take a while. I put the first coat of primer on them. Looks like they're going to need another coat of primer. UGH! Painting is so not one of the things I'm good at. Oh well, I'm sure the end result will be worth it.

On another note, I did manage to finish the second book in the Jane Madison series my Mindy Klasky, "Sorcery and the Single Girl." It was really good. Had a bit more substance to the story than the first book. I'm looking forward to starting the third one, "Magic and the Modern Girl." Hopefully, I'll get a chapter or two under my belt today. Between painting, lunch with a friend and some much needed grocery shopping I probably won't get much reading in.

I also have some knitting I need to finish as well. I'm working on a set of beach themed dishcloths for my neighbor before she moves out to Dallas in a couple of weeks. AND I need to finish my Omega Wrap before our S&B meeting on Friday or my peeps will shame me terribly! LOL I had planned to finish it while on vacation but that didn't happen. All I have left is the band on one end, sewing the ends together and weaving in all those ends ... not my favorite thing to do, but oh so necessary.

Until next time ...

QB

Books I read while on vacation ...

I was in the middle of Sandra Brown's new book, "Smoke Screen" before we got on the road. I finished it before we arrived in Myrtle Beach. Needless to say, it was a page turner. I can usually count on one of her books keeping my attention and not disappointing me. "Smoke Screen" was no exception. It was wonderful!!

Deciding to venture into unknown waters, I picked up "A Girl's Guide to Witchcraft" by Mindy Klasky. I enjoyed the light-hearted, easy to read book. In fact, I enjoyed it so much I had to go buy the next two in the series. I didn't even know they existed until the end of the book. I read the first half of the next book, "Sorcery and the Single Girl" on the way home. Unfortunately, I haven't had the time to finish it yet.

The next book I picked up was a new author for me: John Sandford's "Silent Prey." I muddled through almost 100 pages before finally giving up. It wasn't so much the style of his writing, but more the substance of the storyline. The villan in this book was a demented doctor who gets his rocks off on draining people of their blood through the carotid artery and documenting all the mental and physical symptoms until they died. I just don't need all those details, thank you very much. I've heard lots of people like this series so I'll find another "Prey" book and give John Sandford another try sometime down the road.

The last book I completed while on vacation was Lisa Jackson's new book, "Malice." I loved it! Couldn't finish it fast enough. If you're looking for a fast action, page turner, pick it up.

TaTa for now ...

QB

Vacation Photos

I have finally worked my way through editing most of my vacation photos. I would almost rather take pictures than breathe. Then I have so much fun playing with different editing processes which give me all kinds of fun looks. These were taken our first morning at the townhouse. I love the mirror effect on the water. Unfortunately, it started raining a bit later and the weather just went downhill from there.

Monday morning it was so cold there was steam rising off of the water in the lagoon. I thought it was beautiful.


We toured the beautiful Magnolia Plantation and Gardens. I have always loved the gorgeous Spanish Moss that grows on the trees further south, so I was in heaving trying to discover unique ways to photograph it. Here's a couple of my favorites:



We decided to take the self guided tour through their Audubon Swamp Garden and were amazed at all the delights it held. Of course there were gators everywhere, but to see herons and egrets in their natural habitat was incredible. Upon entering the rookery (nursery) we were astounded at the racket (noise from all the babies) and number of nests. How many times do you have the opportunity to see an egret's nest? Me? Never until now. Awesome doesn't even begin to describe the feeling or the view.

One of my all time favorite shots was this one with the many nests in this tree and the gator and turtle snout to snout on a resting platform directly in front of it.


Just a bit further along the trail and we came across this scene ...

Back at the Peacock Cafe waiting for the guys to pick us up after their golf game, this little mother raccoon entertained us eating from the trash can.


That's all for today ... much more to follow.

QB

Dropping the ball ...

Well I really dropped the ball didn't I? It's now the end of May and I haven't updated since the first post in February. I'll strive to do better. I should have lots to share in the future. We just returned from vacation in Kiawah, SC. The weather sure didn't cooperate but we tried to make the best of it. Cari and I both read lots of books and that's always a good thing. I took so many bloody pictures of alligators I don't know what to do with them all. Oh and I have my first grandbaby (girl!) due in a few short weeks! LOTS of photos on the way! That's all for now - have to get ready for dinner with some friends. More later ...

QB