One of my very favorite authors passed away today.  I have read every one of Dick Francis’ mysteries at least once and several of them many many times.  In fact, just randomly, I have spent the last month re-reading all of them that I have on bookshelves scattered around the house, probably 8 books in the last 2 weeks.  (It’s winter in MN!)  He wrote interesting and believable characters and scenes that draw you in.  Reading the BBC’s obituary, I had to laugh at their description of his “crime novels for gentlefolk.”  One of the things I love about his books is that they are suspenseful without being creepy or gory.  I lift my cup of tea in your honor, Mr. Francis.

You can read more about Dick Francis here.

This is a nap-in-progress.  But Andy keeps wiggling his toes.  I thought it had been a long while since Lucy visited the blog.

These are a couple of studies?  I guess that’s what you call them.  I really loved the way my piece for the MIA Foot in the Door show turned out (there’s a little teaser of that in a previous post), so I started these two little variations on that theme.  They are each about 6 inches tall.  Machine pieced and then hand embroidered.  These are very much “in progress”, I haven’t even washed out the marker guidelines for the embroidery.  I will finish them by making a tiny quilt although I haven’t decided whether or not to finish them at this petite size or add a border of something neutral and have this piece in the center, maybe even extending the embroidery to the edge of the border.  They are just hanging out until I decide what to do with them.Then, I have been working on a new embroidery pattern for my etsy shop.  I have had a couple of requests for mermaids.  I love mermaids, so it’s an easy request for me.  Here’s the almost finished pattern page – two mermaids, a merboy, kelp, fish, a whelk and sea turtles.  I found a t-shirt at Target yesterday which has ocean waves silkscreened all over it – I think I will have to add a mermaid.

How fun!  I was browsing around catching up on blogs today and I find I have been nominated for “Sunshine Award” by Alice over at futuregirl.

“…basically the Sunshine Award is awarded to bloggers whose positivity and creativity inspires others in the blog world.”

How lovely.  Thank you!

Part of the “rules” that go along with this award is a challenge to pass it on.  Here are a few blogs that I find inspirational:

Tallgrass Prairie Studio.  Just found her today actually, but then spent an hour reading her posts and tutorials.  A new favorite read.

Two Red Threads.  My friend and new blogger, Donna.  “Positivity and creativity” sums her up perfectly.

Oh Fransson can always be relied on for a bit of color on a gloomy day.

Foziewisp. Kitschy photos and Tallulah-Palooza Fridays.

…and a hive of silvery Bees. Whimsical photo essay and snippets of everyday that are easily overlooked.  Oh yeah, and she’s my mom.

Knitting seems to be the only work around this week.  I’ve been doing lots of reading and drinking tea, too, but that doesn’t make photos that are nearly as interesting.

My favorite teas come from Tea Source.  I like Breakfast Assam and Moon Over Madagascar.

This is one of a pair of fingerless gloves.  I made a pair just like this for my sister for her birthday last week.  Hers were made from Queensland Rustic Wool in light blue, mine are good old Cascade 220.  The pattern is Entwined.

A lot of people around me right now are totally stressed out.  Impossible supervisors, looming deadlines, things that pile up one on top of another and then add some dull grey days and bitter cold.  Ugh.  I spent most of today being sarcastic and grumpy.  Not so pleasant.

When I was in college, I bought myself a poster that titled was something like “865 things that make me happy” and it was covered in tiny text and silly things like “hot chocolate with extra marshmallows” or just little nonsense that makes you smile for no reason.  I thought maybe before I went to make a cup of hot tea and have a lemon shortbread cookie (two things that make me happy), I would start a little list of things.  Spend a minute thinking of something that makes you happy and share a few in the comments if you wish!

Things That Make Me Happy

• striped socks
• the smell of cloves
• finding a treasure tucked in the pages of a used book
• puppy snores
• reading the first page of a new book
• tea, earl grey, hot
• spotting the Big Dipper