Busy busy busy

Here's a hint at things to come:

It is a bit blurry, but that is what happens when you only have a webcam for picture taking. All I will say is that stitching hand painted canvas is evilly addictive and silk silk silk!

I have a picture of the tree growing, but forgot the camera cable, so you will have to imagine its exponential growth for a day or so. The plants have survived the past two weekends of weirdly, unimaginably, cold and rainy weather. I mean, really, who thinks that it might sleet in HOUSTON for Easter? Ok, it didn't, but it barely made it to 40 degrees the Saturday before.

Luckily with all of the cold weather, I have been getting down to crafting business! Yay! One new design out to the model stitchers, which will be a collaboration design with Dinky Dyes. Of course that means it uses silk! (Say it with me, silk silk silk). Two new colors and two existing colors. It was quite interesting to send instructions off to a model stitcher with an as yet unnamed color. "This symbol is stitched with the funky xyz color." Another design wrapped up for the very patient model stitcher who completed half of it and then waited for me to decide what I wanted the rest to look like. Sometimes creativity comes in spurts. I'm stitching on another model, and had an inspiration strike for another design. Meanwhile, I need to paint and I'd like to complete another experiment. Oh, and I have to get my teaching piece done, which will then be available as a design/kit. All of this before the end of May! Insanity will reign.

But I got my taxes done a week ago!

Oh, just wanted to remind everyone that the Needlework Show opens tonight! http://www.theneedleworkshow.com Stop in and have a look. Although I don't have much new for this show, ok, it all has been out before, you can take the chance to request your favorite designs from needleworks stores. I'm also showcasing stitching T-shirts and the "X Marks the Spot" design!

This is one show where your input can help tell the shop-owners where you think the industry should be going! Your opinions (and dollars) count! Do you want more designs that are the same old same old? Or new, cool, and innovative designs (like Cross Eyed Kat designs)? Obviously, I think we need more new, cool, and innovative designs, but that's my personal opinion. :) If you don't see some of your favorite CEK designs in my Needlework Show "booth", that's because we're limited to 20, and it is a tough choice. I tried to choose mostly newish designs and ones that aren't carried by the major distributors, with a couple of old favorites. Remember, that all CEK designs are available, just ask for them by name from your favorite needlework shop!

Enjoy the show!

Time is getting short

It feels like there is so much to do here in Cross Eyed Kat land, and so little time to get it done in. The Needlework Show deadline is looming. Here is what needs to be done in the next week to be ready for it:

• Blue Thing #1 must be stretched, framed and photographed
• Blue Thing #3 should be finished, stretched, framed and photographed
• Model set #1 must be finished and photographed
• Model set #2 (currently in the hands of the US Postal Service) must be finished and photographed
• Virtual booth setup needs to be completed
• Bags need to be ordered

Additionally, it would be really nice if I could complete the layout of the charts for the Blue Things and Model sets 1 and 2, so that things would be ready for orders when the Needlework Show actually opens. Finally, I have to ship another order that came in today (yay) and order more ink. On top of all this, I have some baby gifts to finish (the baby is due very soon - the planned birthday is next week) and major cleaning to do as parental units are coming to visit. Where's a TARDIS when you need one?

Time to try and put the cat to work!