Everything computer related has been quite mutinous lately. First my I get the "black screen of death" on my home computer. Then I lose connectivity to the internet. Last night Typepad decided to go down (I have since heard there was a power outage in San Francisco where they are based, which caused this). And then of course there is the (ongoing) Bloglines problem we have been experiencing! So instead of working on the computer I pulled out a book and read. Since I didn't get to work on a proper post last night I thought I would share my latest needlework finish instead. It can be used as a pincushion, but really it is mostly intended to just to sit there and look pretty. The designer is one of my favorites--Prairie Schooler. What I like about her designs is that they use the most basic of materials. Plain fabrics, and inexpensive cotton DMC floss. I usually can buy these charts and know I already have supplies at home to stitch the design (unlike other designers who use expensive hand dyed fabrics, which can be hard to get, and even more expensive silk flosses--they are gorgeous, but a big strain on the pocket book). This one happens to be something I made for a birthday gift for a friend. I stitched and sewed it completely by hand. I even made the little tassels. Now if it would only really rain here. By the way, the flowers you see peeking in the photo have long since been eaten by nasty little insects.
This is what the back looks like. I tend to get lazy and leave off any sort of personalizations, but I guess I was feeling energetic for once. Actually I always think I should put my name on my work somewhere, then when it ends up in a garage sale they buyer will have an inkling of who made it (isn't that a depressing thought--my lovely little needlework projects laying around unwanted and for sale for 25 cents!). Just kidding...at least I hope.
You won't be surprised to know what I was reading... I finished Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince and am now about 150 pages into the new HP book. At least I don't feel quite so left out now. I hope it won't take me long to read it, although I am really enjoying the story, I am also itching to pick up some of my other books as well very soon.