a chilly but fun LA

This past week (2/9-2/12), I went to LA for a conference. I was soooo hoping that it would be nice and warm but it wasn't. Oh well. I did get to see the sunshine and that was nice. So, something new about this conference is that I didn't stay at the hotel where everyone else was. It was a bit different to be off by myself and not run into people I know on the elevators and such. I can't decide whether or not to do that again. It was fun, but also weird.

I stay at this little boutique hotel in downtown LA. The Los Angeles Athletic Club. I should have taken photos of the place because it was so cute! Here is one I pulled from their website. It was a quaint little place with an amazing breakfast every morning. I was on the 11th floor and had a great view of downtown (toward the Staples Center and the Grammy's), so I was able to open my blinds and let the sunshine in!!



I had a great conference, despite the cold. On Monday night, the group had scheduled a bus tour of Hollywood. It ended up being soooo cold as we were in an open, double decker bus and it was only about 42 degrees outside. Sounds not so bad until you remember we were going down the freeway at 80 miles an hour at one point. I took tons of photos but since the bus was moving, most of them turned out blurry. I did get a couple that were awesome though....here they are.

 The Chinese Theatre with the hand/footprints in cement outside. It is very pretty. :) I would like to go inside some day. Some day.

 The crew all bundled up and sporting our Hollywood shades. Jessica Cottle and Riley Miles from work. Mark Seeba from ATI and a good friend.

 This is the hallway and stairs that are ultimately the red carpet for the Oscars.

My favorite picture of the bunch.

lucky number 13

In honor of the year 2013, I have decided to do something with 13 elements to it this year. I thought of many things, teach 13 classes, finished 13 scrolls, write 13 essays, etc. But then I looked around my house and decided that what I REALLY needed to do was finish 13 projects. So, that is what I am going to do! This will be a challenge as it means I have to finish more than 1 project a month. Wow, I better mix some easy ones in with the hard ones I want to do.

Some possible projects on my list:

1. 10 tabards for Kaitlyn's mercenary group.
2. Spanish doublet I was commissioned to do (and will even get paid for it!!)
3. G&G Wells's crazy quilt
4. G&G Hall's crazy quilt
5. Romani blouse
6. Romani skirt
7. levi quilt top
8. t-shirt blanket top
9. Lots of shirts, skirts, pants, jackets in a bin
10. Blue cross stitch
11. Study of cutwork research/article/samples
12. catch up this blog! (yeah, like half of last year!)

Those are just a "few" of the projects I have hanging around waiting for me to finish. I'll post pictures as I get things done! Even mark them. Here's to a lucky 13!! :) 

finding a hidden gem

On my latest business trip, I found myself (once again) in the DC area. I had a morning and an evening to spare and wanted to do something different. This was my fifth time to DC and I'd done all the "normal" stuff like Air & Space Museum, Arlington Cemetery, etc. A friend of mine mentioned the Textile Museum so I hopped the metro (another first), exited at Dupont Circle (where I promptly got turned around and headed the wrong way three times), and walked a short distance in the bitter cold to find this little gem. It was soooo worth it!!

Their current exhibit "The Sultan's Garden" is amazing! I didn't think I would enjoy it as much as I did. I feel in love with the red/white theme. There were a TON of pieces that were just red and white. Here is just one of them.



Don't you just love it? Characteristics of this embroidery. Very floral. The patterns are definite and repeat, a lot. There is also (usually) a definite up. The one above doesn't have a definite direction, neither does this one, which by the way, was my FAVORITE piece in the entire exhibit! I've been inspired to try and replicate this little wonder. I can't wait to get started!!



I know. A bit crazy to think about but I want to do a single panel for my gypsy garb. Think one of the lines in the middle (you can see 3.5 in this picture) and the blue border. It will take me some time but when we go to events, I love to have something to work on. This will be my event project for the year. As soon as I can get it drawn up.

I went to the gift shop and asked about cutwork (yeah, my research project for the year). The lady there told me to email the registrar about pieces they may have. Got her card. Then was directed to their library. An entire library on textiles and embroidery styles? HEAVEN. I only had about two hours to spend in the library but I was giddy the entire time. That will be a must for me next time I'm in DC. I'll plan to spend a lot longer among those musty shelves.

So...that was my morning. For my evening, I met Darrin Hall and his son at the metro and we took a trip to the Pentagon. I had never been to the Pentagon before and it was fun to just wander the halls and look at the exhibits. Yup, there are a ton of exhibits in the hallways there. And a dentist office, dr. office, best buy, and five food courts. When you think of the number of people that work there 20,000, it is not surprising that it is just a mini city inside. Here is a picture of Matthew and me stumping at a press conference...well not really but we had fun with the picture. Sorry, but this is pretty much all I have of the Pentagon. For some silly reason, you can't take very many photos there. :) I wanted to see the 911 Memorial but it was too cold and dark to see it. Another time!

it all began with a CRASH!!

It is true. 2013 started with a crash, a car accident to be exact.

On January 3, the first day back to school after the holiday break, Kaitlyn asked if she could drive my Pontiace G6 to school because her Chevy Cavelier was out of gas. No big deal, right? She has done that before. Well...on her way from from school.... She started to cross Highway 89/91 on a green light when some one in a red car, heading westbound, ran the red light in front of her. She was very shaken but not stirred! Seriously, she didn't even get whiplash. She does have a bruised rib that twinges every once in a while but nothing that keeps her from doing anything she wants. :)

But, my G6 on the other hand looks like this!

Luckily, the person who caused the accident had great insurance. After a bit of stress, two weeks with a rental car, and one week with just one car, I am now the proud owner of a Hyundai Elantra! I did something I've never done before and am still shaking my head about it. I think I will warm up to the idea but right now it is so foreign to me, I can comprehend it. I leased a brand new car! Yup, I'm driving around a spiffy, 2013 shimmering silver wonder. I don't have pictures of me standing in front of it so enjoy a stock photo.

one week in and things are ....

Well, I'll let you decide how things are. A bit messy?

First, here is our "dining room" that will eventually be our computer/media room. It is the worst place right now.

An the living room with ALL the furniture. Some of this is going in other rooms. We just can't move it yet! 

thriving in chaos

This week has been a while in coming, and as stressful as it is I'm so happy to see it! Moving is always a fun time. I love it! I really do! I hate the month of packing and unpacking but everything else is a blast.

Today, I am the official own of two properties! Yes, two! I actually have a primary and a secondary residence. Problem is, I don't feel like I am living in either place. Probably because I'm not. I will be soon. Until then, here is a run down of my week...just so I can remember how much fun it was, in a year. :)

Monday: work, close on town home, deliver furniture to garage, work on utilities.
Tuesday: user conference, carpet/upholstery cleaning, packing up the last little bit.
Wednesday: movers, user conference, powder puff game.
Thursday: close on Hyrum home, unpack.
Friday: unpack, Danette coming for a visit.
Satuday: unpack, Mom & Dad coming for a visit.

And that is it in a nutshell. :)

a major change is on its way

Today, I served Lee with divorce papers. This will probably come as a shock to some people. Well, most people actually. I did not come to this decision lightly and have thought my way through it for many years. I can't explain exactly why I decided to start the process now but I did. Things are bound to get crazy, shocking, upsetting, and (hopefully) finally good. All I can say for sure is that I'm about to exit from everything I've known for the last 19 years.