Cajun Corner - Vol. 3, No. 17

 
Cajun Corner – Vol. 3, No. 17 – April 28, 2011


Bon Jour! Welcome to Cajun Stitchery’s weekly email and welcome to our family.

ΘΘΘΘΘ

Don’t forget to visit our catalog at www.companycasuals.com/cajunstitchery and www.cajunstitchery.etsy.com often.

Cajun Stitchery will be closed tomorrow and reopen on Monday. I’m going out-of-town to visit a girlfriend for the weekend.

The Easter bonnet was a success. Pictures of the bonnet are on Facebook, as well as our blog. I did not win the Easter bonnet contest but I was certainly noticed. The pink bonnet with the blue lace had fringed flowers and 3D butterflies, along with other embroidery and rickrack, bunny stickers, and lots of rhinestones. Hooray for the new rhinestone applicator.

I still haven’t finished Kim’s diaper stacker. I do know where she wants the designs located now. It will get done. I just had a little more time to work on it and put some other projects ahead of it.

Some of my friends are watching the eagle family and the hummingbird family on U-stream on the computer. Apparently the mother eagle was killed by an airplane and the sanctuary took the babies to finish raising by hand. One of the hummingbird chicks came out of its egg today – what a crack up. I told my friend that it was the wildlife version of General Hospital and As the World Turns – or as Johnny used to say, As the Stomach Turns. I do think it is really cool that we can all watch these live cameras via the internet. I’m also pleased that people are taking such an interest in wildlife. I went to U-stream today and ended up watching some puppies sleep. Not a lot of action there, but they were cute.

This week I’ve been working at the Etsy store. I still don’t have 100 items for sale but I’m getting there. I think today I had 82 items for sale. I put several handkerchiefs on there this week; most say “Mom” for Mother’s Day. The last 2 “You Have A Booger” handkerchiefs sold last week. I need to make some more. Who would have thought that would be a big seller? I have a couple of handkerchiefs that I hope to list tonight that say, “Mamma Mia.” I thought that would be cute for Mother’s Day, as well.

Good bye to the blackberries. We had blackberry cobbler every other evening for a week or two. Now they are just about gone. There aren’t enough out there for a cobbler, so I’ll let the birds eat the rest. Our plan of sectioning off an area of the yard and letting the blackberries grow as they like, really worked. I found a cobbler recipe online that even I could make: First you melt ¼ cup of butter in a pot. Then you mix together 1 cup of flour, 1 cup of sugar, 1 tablespoon of baking powder, and 1 cup of milk. Put the flour mixture in the pot on top of the melted butter – DO NOT STIR. Then you put 2 cups of blackberries on top of that – DO NOT STIR. Then you bake in the over on 350 degrees for 25 minutes or until golden brown. Delicious!

I have to pack for my trip. Have a wonderful week.

If you are not a subscriber and would like to receive Cajun Corner weekly, please email cajunstitchery@yahoo.com and let me know to put you on our email list.

Thank you Sandy for sending the following joke:

Boudreaux and Marie came for counseling after 20 years of marriage. When asked what the problem was, Marie went into a passionate, painful tirade listing every problem they had ever had in the 20 years they had been married.

She went on and on and on: neglect, lack of intimacy, emptiness, loneliness, feeling unloved and unlovable, an entire laundry list of unmet needs she had endured over the course of their marriage.

Finally, after allowing this to go on for a sufficient length of time, the therapist got up, walked around the desk and, after asking Marie to stand, embraced and kissed her passionately as Boudreaux watched with a raised eyebrow. Marie shut up and quietly sat down as though in a daze.

The therapist turned to Boudreaux and said, 'This is what your wife needs at least three times a week. Can you do this?'

Boudreaux thought for a moment and replied, 'Well, I can drop her off here on Mondays and Wednesdays, but on Fridays, I fish.'

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French Phrase of the Week: Dans le temps de mes grandsparents, les filles allaient pas au bal sans leur mère. (In my grandparents' day, girls did not go to dances without their mothers.)

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C’est tout, mes amis

Peggy Henshall

Cajun Stitchery

(850) 261-2462

cajunstitchery@yahoo.com

P.S. You are always welcome to stop by and look at all of the catalogs and pass some time with me, cher.

FANtastic Embroidery

I found a stock design of a fan and thought if I enlarged it and made it as a patch, perhaps it would be a functional fan.  The design was enlarged and embroidered as a patch but it's not sturdy enough for a fan.  However, I'm now thinking that if I glue some popcicle sticks on the back and make another fan for the reverse side, then sew the edges together, that may work.  Sure sounds like a lot of work for a simple fan.  I wonder if I sew one fan as a patch but digitize some slits for the popcicle sticks.  Then before I finish the edges, I turn it over, put the popcicle sticks in the slots and glue the other fan to the back, then put it back into the machine and finish the edges.  Hmmmm, that might work as long as the popcicle sticks don't get in the way.  I may give that a try...later.

Last week when I was at Wal-Mart, I found some pretty cool looking cotton fabric.  It's black and white.  One piece is like a leopard print but in black dots on white fabric.  The other is more of a tiger stripe, again, in black and white.  I've begun with the leopard dot fabric and I'm making some more handkerchiefs.  One was listed at the Etsy store last night.  Another is finished and I hope to list it today.

I need to get back to work on the diaper stacker.  The designs have been purchased but not stitched out.  They are monkey designs and are adorable.  The diaper stacker, itself, has been cut out and the edges serged but that's about it. 

A friend of mine emailed last week asking if we could embroider on boonie hats.  Boonie hats?  What is that?  It turns out that a boonie hat is a military hat with a wide brim.  One side can attach to the crown of the hat like one of those Australian bush hats.  George isn't sure if he can embroider on boonie hats, but surely we can.  We just need to practice.  So, we need to find a practice hat somewhere.

The same friend with the boonie hats has a couple of  shirts for me to embroider her logo.  And yet another friends wants her krewe logo on a couple of shirts.

Does it sound like business is picking up?  It sure does to me.  That's a good thing.

I better get back to work.

C'est toute, mes amis:>)

In My Easter Bonnet, With All the Frills Upon It

Saturday was a blast at the Easter Extravaganza on the beach.  I got to spend some time with friends, laugh and cut up.  I wore my Easter bonnet that I made on Thursday and Friday. 

I thoroughly enjoyed making that Easter bonnet.  Of course, I didn't want anything "normal."  I decided to fashion my bonnet like old Americana, or even old Cajun bonnets.  I created the pattern, which was very simple.  Then added blue lace around the edges.  That's part of that bolt of blue lace that I bought several years ago and I'm still trying to use all of it.  Then I had this adorable ric-rack that has all of the pastel colors fading in and out of each other.  I sewed the rick-rack underneath the bonnet to hide the stitching from the blue lace.  I liked that ric-rack so much that I sewed some more on top, over the stitching attaching the blue lace, too.  Then I decided to take the round part and see if I could hoop it.  That wasn't even a problem.  I embroidered the bunny with "Hoppy Easter" and the Cajun Stitchery logo.

At this point I wanted to use some of the many 3D techniques that I've been yearning to use.  The fringe flowers turned out perfect.   The butterflies were basically done like the patches.  Rather than sewing the outside of the butterflies to the fabric, I only did a zigzag stitch over the body of the bug, leaving the wings to flutter in the breeze.

There was one piece of the thick, white ric-rack in my stash and it was just long enough to go around the back of the bonnet.  Then I noticed that I had some little rabbit stickers which I glued with Elmers to make sure they didn't fall off. 

Once the bonnet was complete, I began gluing rhinestones.  The rhinestones just made the bonnet pop in the sun.

Although George wanted me to put ribbons to tie the bonnet onto my head, I did not do this.  I have a very short -- almost non-existing -- neck and I really don't like things tied around my neck.

I am very pleased at the result of the bonnet.  If I had more time, I could have put more things on it but it looks fine the way it is. 

C'est toute, mes amis.

Cajun Corner - Vol. 3, No. 16

Cajun Corner – Vol. 3, No. 16 – April 22, 2011


Bon Jour! Welcome to Cajun Stitchery’s weekly email and welcome to our family.

ΘΘΘΘΘ

Don’t forget to visit our catalog at www.companycasuals.com/cajunstitchery and www.cajunstitchery.etsy.com often.

Tax season is over. Today is Good Friday and Sunday is Easter. Of course, I’m making myself an Easter bonnet. I read that the Easter bonnet is the end of a tradition of getting new clothes for Easter. The reason is because Easter/Spring is when everything is new and therefore people would get new clothes for the season. I remember Mama dressing us up and getting Nancy and me a new Easter outfit. She loved to dress us up and I loved to dress up.

I was thinking about what kind of bonnet I wanted to make. You know I simply don’t run on the normal brain waves. I have wanted to make an Evangeline bonnet forever. I don’t think this is exactly an Evangeline bonnet but it certainly isn’t exactly what most people would consider an Easter bonnet, either. I’m still in the creating phase but need to finish the bonnet today. The bonnet is actually done, I’m just embellishing. The bonnet is made from some pink fabric that I have at the house. Then I took the 3 inch baby blue lace – remember when I bought a bolt of that lace – and, using my gathering foot, gathered the lace and attached it all the way around the bonnet. Then I took some rickrack that has all of the pastel colors in it and sewed under the bonnet where the lace stitching is and also another round of the rickrack on top where the seam connecting the lace is located. At that point, I wondered if I could hoop the round area in the back of the bonnet. I could. I hooped it and embroidered a bunny that says “Hoppy Easter” and then put the Cajun Stitchery logo underneath that, in hot pink and white. I need more of a 3D look than flat embroidery. Today I think I’m going to embroider some fringe flowers. To do this takes a special type of design, digitized for this purpose. You embroider the flower then trim the bobbin thread underneath and pull the satin stitches up to create a fringe. I’m not sure what else I will do to the bonnet but I’m pretty sure that no one else will have anything like it. Lol

This week I began a diaper stacker for my cousin Kim. I purchased the fabric and the embroidery designs that she chose. I cut out the pattern. I serged the edges. Now I need to get with Kim to find out where she wants the designs located on the diaper stacker.

Wednesday night my girls were looking at my cutwork t-shirt. Not sure but I think they liked it.

Tomorrow is also Earth Day, I believe. Please remember to Reduce, Recycle, Reuse. I certainly hope that everyone who reads Cajun Corner abides by the 3 Rs. If not, just think of one thing that you could do. What about putting your recycling in a separate container from your garbage? That is not difficult. Just put the containers side-by-side. If you live in a house, rather than having the garbage collectors pick up your grass clippings, leaves, etc.; just start a compost pile and let these things decompose. Or use them as mulch on your plants. There are many ways to Reduce, Recycle, Reuse. Please put forth an effort. It is important. Happy Earth Day:>)

The luggage tag sale last week was a success. This week, in honor of Earth Day, the sale will be cloth napkins. A set of 4 cloth napkins, 20” square, restaurant quality, whatever colors that we have in stock (ask me and I’ll let you know), with your monogram in one corner of each napkin for $18.00 (that is $4 per napkin, usually sells for $7 each).

The cabbage was delicious. There is only one left in the garden now. This week we have been eating blackberry cobbler. Remember that we set aside one corner of our property to let the blackberries grow? I am so glad we did. We have had cobbler twice this week, so far. There is enough out there for at least another cobbler and I use 3 cups of berries in each cobbler.

Well, I need to get back to my bonnet. Have a great week.

If you are not a subscriber and would like to receive Cajun Corner weekly, please email cajunstitchery@yahoo.com and let me know to put you on our email list.

Thank you, Sandy and Angelie, for sending the following joke:

Thibodeaux was driving along the interstate when he noticed Boudreaux wandering by the side of the road while holding his keychain out in front of him. Boudreaux was obviously intoxicated and Thibodeaux had to stop to see what was up.

He said "Boudreaux... Why you wandering with your car key sticking out in front of you... Mais cher... Where's your car?"

Boudreaux says: "I lost it... But the last time I saw it, it was on the end of dis key!"

Then Thibodeaux looks down and sees that Boudreaux's fly is open and his Johnson is sticking out in front of him.

Thibodeaux asks: "Boudreaux! Don't you see your pecker is sticking out!"

Boudreaux looks down and says...."I lost my girlfriend too?!!!"

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French Phrase of the Week: à votre santé (to your health)

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C’est tout, mes amis

Peggy Henshall

Cajun Stitchery

(850) 261-2462

cajunstitchery@yahoo.com

P.S. You are always welcome to stop by and look at all of the catalogs and pass some time with me, cher.

California or Bust

In the process of perfecting the perfect patch, I decided to make some luggage tags.  Sometime ago I was making my version of a luggage tag.  I didn't like the ones that I made and threw them all away.  But now with the patch down pat, the luggage tags should be prettier.  One of my friends was very interested in the luggage tags back then but I wouldn't sell her any because I didn't like them.  Since she is about to take a month long vacation in May, I did make her a special luggage tag.  She is heading toward California, so I made the tag "California or Bust." 

I have probably a thousand or more different monogram designs that few people use or order.  Customers probably don't order them because they don't know I have them.  So, I thought that I would use some of the monogram designs for luggage tags.  They really turned out cute.  I just used the initial H since that is my initial.

I did make some mermaid luggage tags with the word Nereid embroidered on it.  That's for my krewe.  They were a bit more difficult to make but not too much.

Once I got going on the luggage tags, I began realizing that many of my friends are getting ready to go on vacation.  It seems that this year people are traveling, again.  Since my friend that visited me a few weeks ago lost her luggage on the airline, I thought that luggage tags would be appropriate.

The luggage tags would make a nice Mother's Day gift for the mom who travels.  One of the more elegant monograms would be perfect for business traveling and/or men.

We are having a sale this week:  3 of the 2"x4" rectangular luggage tags with embroidered name or monogram for $10.00.  This sale is good through Thursday, April 21, 2011.

C'est tout, mes amis

Cajun Corner - Vol. 3, No. 15

Cajun Corner – Vol. 3, No. 15 – April 15, 2011


Bon Jour! Welcome to Cajun Stitchery’s weekly email and welcome to our family.

ΘΘΘΘΘ

Don’t forget to visit our catalog at www.companycasuals.com/cajunstitchery and www.cajunstitchery.etsy.com often.

Wow! It’s April 15th. Hope everyone has finished with their income taxes.

It’s been kind of a slow week, so I’ve taken this opportunity to do things that I’ve put off. For instance, I tried out some new techniques on Boudreaux. Sweet.

I started out with a discovery that I had a rip in the seat of my jeans. When I began Cajun Stitchery, I told myself that my uniform would be a t-shirt and jeans. Why? Because for 36 years I dressed in suits and business clothing everyday and I hadn’t owned a pair of jeans for years. Now that I wear jeans everyday, I guess I wear them until they are thread bare. What to do with a rip in my jeans? Of course, I embroidered a design over the rip. What design? The design I chose was a big pair of bright red kissing lips.

Do you know what cutwork is? Cutwork is a type of embroidery where a satin stitch is used and a hole is intentionally cut into the fabric. The edges of the hole have a satin stitch so the fabric will not unravel. Cutwork is an ancient method of embroidery and very beautiful. I’m sure everyone has seen cutwork. Boudreaux did some cutwork on a tote bag and a t-shirt this week. It’s hard to tell that it’s cutwork because the background looks like stitches.

Then I began making luggage tags. Remember awhile back I made some luggage tags that I wasn’t very proud of. I think I threw those away. I found some luggage tag designs in my designs folders. The designs were not that great but they did give me an idea. I have a friend who is heading to California in May, so, I digitized a luggage tag for her that says “California or Bust”. It is adorable. That was pretty simple. Then I digitized the shape of a mermaid and made 5 purple, green and gold luggage tags in the shape of a mermaid with the word “Nereid” embroidered. I feel confident that I have the luggage tag thing down pat. In fact, for this week only, if anyone wants a personalized 2” by 4” luggage tag with their name or monogram, I’ll sell 3 for $10. I haven’t photographed the Nereid luggage tags yet.
One of our neighbors moved this week. My neighbor across the street that loves to bake for me is gone. He was such a sweet guy. Apparently the house is being sold. Pray that we get good neighbors.

The garden is flourishing. We had some cabbage this week and it was scrumptious. Some of the baby snapdragons are beginning to flower. The roses and irises are beautiful. Sassy the Satsuma and Lucy the Lemon have been covered in flowers. Even the hyssop has beautiful purple blossoms. The honeysuckle and the jasmine are blooming. And the blackberries are almost ready to pick.

A couple of wrens have lived in one of our camellia bushes for the past couple of years. They work very hard on their nest and this week, three tiny, fluffy wrens popped out of the bush. Mom and Dad seemed to be urging them to fly; or, just leave home. It was fascinating to watch the mom and dad work with the chicks. I’m proud to say they are good parents and very attentive to the babies. The first night, they stayed in a clump of leaves in our iron plant out front. I’m not sure where they are now. I think they may have finally flown the coup. We still see mom and dad occasionally at the camellia bush.

George has been working hard at the house next door. I think we can almost see the end of the kitchen. He has done the electrical work; built, installed and painted the upper cabinets and is now working on the bottom cabinets. Plumbing may be the next phase. I’m not looking forward to the plumbing. Why? Well, there is a story behind the plumbing. Many years ago when we lived in Orlando our plumbing went out. It was a nightmare. We would flush and the sinks and tub would fill up. It turned out that a tree root had grown into the drain pipe. George had to dig the pipe in the front yard to get to the root to remove it. The plumbing continued to have problems and since the house was on a concrete slab and the plumbing ran underneath the house, we had two choices: (1) break up the concrete slab through my house; or (2) redirect the plumbing around the house. We chose option number 2. Plumbers are very expensive and at the time we did not have the money. So, George and a friend decided to do it themselves. In the end, they did a wonderful job and all of the pipes were replaced with PVC. But this endeavor took a couple of weeks to complete because everyone had to work during the day. Between the mess at the house and the cussing from my husband, I packed up my children and lived with my in-laws until the plumbing was finished. At least I will not have to move if George does the plumbing next door but I do not want to hear the cussing. He has mellowed quite a bit from those days gone by, but I do not want to take the chance.

By the way, thank you to everyone who sent in jokes this past week. I will be using them, one a week.

I have not heard back from the customer about digitizing the logo for the new krewe. I did digitize another logo for Camp Happy Sands. They lady said that she loves the logo and will get with her board this weekend and let me know their decision. The logo is heavy in stitches and the small logo would cost about $20 each, plus the shirt. Embroidery is not cheap. I have told her that I would not charge for the digitizing. Camp Happy Sands is a non-profit that provides a week long camping experience for underprivileged children during the summer months. We shall see what she has to say next week.

If you are not a subscriber and would like to receive Cajun Corner weekly, please email cajunstitchery@yahoo.com and let me know to put you on our email list.

Thank you, Sandy, for sending the following joke:

Each Friday night after work, Bubba would fire up his outdoor grill and cook a venison steak.

But, all of Bubba's neighbors were Catholic.. And since it was Lent, they were forbidden from eating meat on Friday.

The delicious aroma from the grilled venison steaks was causing such a problem for the Catholic faithful that they finally talked to their priest.

The Priest came to visit Bubba, and suggested that he become a Catholic.

After several classes and much study, Bubba attended Mass... and as the priest sprinkled holy water over him, he said, 'You were born a Baptist, and raised a Baptist, but now you are a Catholic.

Bubba's neighbors were greatly relieved, until Friday night arrived, and the wonderful aroma of grilled venison filled the neighborhood.

The Priest was called immediately by the neighbors, and, as he rushed into Bubba's yard, clutching a rosary and prepared to scold him, he stopped and watched in amazement.

There stood Bubba, clutching a small bottle of holy water which he carefully sprinkled over the grilling meat and chanted:

You wuz born a deer, you wuz raised a deer, but now you is a catfish.
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French Phrase of the Week: L'art de broderie (The art of embroidery)

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C’est tout, mes amis

Peggy Henshall

Cajun Stitchery

(850) 261-2462

cajunstitchery@yahoo.com

P.S. You are always welcome to stop by and look at all of the catalogs and pass some time with me, cher.

Cajun Corner - Vol. 3, No. 14

Cajun Corner – Vol. 3, No. 14 – April 8, 2011


Bon Jour! Welcome to Cajun Stitchery’s weekly email and welcome to our family.

ΘΘΘΘΘ

Don’t forget to visit our catalog at www.companycasuals.com/cajunstitchery and www.cajunstitchery.etsy.com often.

Have you ever had one of those days where you just aren’t motivated? Today is one of those days. I’ve done a few things. I worked on digitizing a logo for a lady. I did all of my daily computer work. Then I decided to make something for the Etsy store. I looked and looked but just couldn’t find anything that appealed to me. So, I took break after break after break. I’m not in a very creative mood today.

My heart is breaking for a friend who is about to lose her dad. Another friend is about to lose her mom. And yet another friend is in the hospital with, I think, pneumonia. Yesterday, I went outside and told George, “Amy’s dad can no longer swallow. Baban is on her death bed. Karen is back in the hospital. Japan just had another earthquake.” George replied, “Go back in the house and come out when you have good news.”

There is a bright spot, though. One of my lovely neighbors, who walks back and forth in front of my house all day, has begun singing along the way. The only way to describe her voice is that it epitomizes my concept of an angel singing. She has a very special gift. Lately her gift has put a smile on my face. One evening a few months ago, she began singing as she walked in front of my house. Our neighbor across the street came outside to listen and said something about her beautiful voice. We began teasing him because George and I hear him singing along to his music every morning. The next morning, we were outside as he began singing while getting in his car. George and I stood and applauded. I guess we embarrassed him. We didn’t mean to. It’s a good thing that he’s a good sport and lovely neighbor.

As it turns out most of our neighbors seem to have beautiful singing voices and/or they play musical instruments. George has a very nice singing voice, as well. On the other hand, I take after my mother. We can dance but sadly, we cannot sing.

When Hank was a teenager, I remember that we heard him in his bedroom and he sounded like he was in pain. George and I ran back to see what was wrong. He had his headset on and was singing to the music. My poor little boy has my singing voice. I had a similar experience many years ago with my sister, Nancy. It’s like the movie “Happy Feet.” The kicker is that we all enjoy music so much.

One of my friends loaned me a book, “No Spark of Malice – The Murder of Martin Begnaud.” I have begun reading the book and find it very interesting. Martin Begnaud lived in Scott, Louisiana. My stepfather, Johnny, was from Scott. He always said he was from “Scott, Louisiana, where the west begins.” My daddy was a funny man. The book is riddled with some interesting Acadian history entwined around the true story of this murder. The author is William Arceneaux, who is the great, great nephew of Martin Begnaud. Scott is one of those towns where, even today, the welcome to Scott sign and the come back soon sign are almost back to back. It’s a very small town.

The logo that I was digitizing for the new krewe did not stitch out well at all. In sheer frustration, I posted on a forum that I need a quote from a digitizer. It turns out that this design may be one of those things that cannot be digitized. One of my friends on the forum told me “thread is not ink and they do not act the same” and “not all art can be replicated in thread.” It’s a beautiful design but the lettering, which is the key to the entire design, is difficult to accomplish with thread and virtually impossible in the size required. I did get one company that says they can do the design the size required for the t-shirt or polo but not for a cap or visor. I’ve sent this information along to the customer and I’m waiting for a response.

If you are not a subscriber and would like to receive Cajun Corner weekly, please email cajunstitchery@yahoo.com and let me know to put you on our email list.



A man in New York City, decided to write a book about churches around the country.



He started by flying to San Francisco, and started working east from there.Going to a very large church, he began taking photographs and making notes. He spotted a golden telephone on the vestibule wall and was intrigued with a sign, which read $10,000 a minute." Seeking out the pastor he asked about the phone and the sign. The pastor answered that this golden phone is, in fact, a direct line to Heaven and if he pays the price, he can talk directly to God. The man thanked the pastor and continued on his way.



As he continued to visit churches in Seattle, Salt Lake, Denver, Chicago, Milwaukee, and around the United States, he found more phones, with the same sign, and the same answer from each pastor. Finally, he arrived in lovely Breaux Bridge, Louisiana. Upon entering St. Peter's Catholic Church on Broussard Ave., he saw the usual golden telephone. But THIS time, the sign read "Calls: 25 cents." Fascinated, he asked to talk to the priest. "Father Boudreaux, I have been in cities all across the country and in each church I have found this goldentelephone and have been told it is a direct line to Heaven and that you could talk to God, but in the other churches the cost was $10,000 a minute. Your sign reads 25 cents a call.

Why?"

Father Boudreaux smiling, replied, "Sha, you in Louisiana now......

Dat's a local call."

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French Phrase of the Week: Où l'ouest commence (where the west begins) ===============================================

C’est tout, mes amis

Peggy Henshall

Cajun Stitchery

(850) 261-2462

cajunstitchery@yahoo.com

P.S. You are always welcome to stop by and look at all of the catalogs and pass some time with me, cher.

Frustration, death and sadness -- Enjoy, Embroider and Create!

I learned a few lessons this week.  One is to know when to cry uncle.  I've been working on a Mardi Gras krewe logo for about a month.  I must have put in at least 40 hours on digitizing this logo.  My friend from Orlando was even helping me when she was here.  Alas, in utter frustration, I gave up yesterday and posted on one of my embroidery forums that I needed a quote for digitizing this logo.  Lots of digitizers contacted me but it turns out that it wasn't necessarily my inexperience that was the problem.  The lettering on the logo was the problem.  I contacted and was contacted by some top notch, award winning digitizers who explained to me that not everything can be digitized.  This logo probably would work okay on a full back but for a 3.5 inch, left chest area design, it won't work.  I did finally get a quote from another top notch digitizing company and was amazed at the low price.  They say they can do it with all three colors in the lettering.  I forwarded the quote onto the client and am waiting for a response.  I should have cried uncle much earlier and not wasted my time doing something that just didn't work for me. 

This digitizing experience taught me another lesson, too.  During my frustration, I contacted another forum for my digitizing software and several of those people contacted me teaching some new techniques with the software.  This was really cool. 

On top of all of that I learned that forums are very helpful and you can make some really good friends on a forum. 

One of our friend's father is dying.  Hospice is with him 24/7 now and he could go any minute.  It is so sad to watch someone die.  We did this with my mother.  Because of Hospice, we were able to keep Mama at home with us until she died.  The people at Hospice are very special people.  So many people are afraid of dying in a nursing home.  This way that fear is erradicated.  There is nothing easy about caring for a dying person, especially if it is someone you love.  But I have no regrets.  I know that we did everything to make Mama happy and comfortable until she took her last breath.  I'm not sure how I would feel if she had passed on in a nursing home.  Would I be feeling like I could have done something else? 

Today I found out that another friend is at death's door.  Baban's daughter, Diane, was my best friend.  Diane died from cancer in 2004.  She, too, had Hospice.  Now her mother, Baban, is getting ready to leave.  I have such fond memories of Baban.  She was the first to teach me that you can never use too much butter when you cook.

As George tells me, we have reached that time when life stops giving and begins taking.

Times like these puts things into perspective.  I love my family and friends and need to tell them more often that I love them.  There is nothing better to do when sadness appears than to embroider and create.  There's a time for everything, including sadness.  It's up to each of us to determine how long the sadness will last.  I refuse to let it take hold of me and cause depression.  There is no value in depression.  Happiness has tremendous value, and I choose to take that road.  I choose to rejoice in the wonderful lives these people lived and the blessings that I gained by knowing them. 

C'est tout, mes amis:>)