Friday, July 28, 2006

Lunchtime at BlogHer

Lunch at BlogHer. I had a nice tossed salad, some cherry tomatoes (they were fabulous!!) another cuppa coffee and a slice of pecan pie!! Who serves pecan pie at a conference?? I'm am not complaining.

I've re-met several bloghers, gotten to speak with several of the other CEs and had one workshop session. The most useful part of that will be an upcoming post on how to make your blogs or website more accessble for those with disabilities.

Maybe later today.

This afternoon is the big deal geeky stuff.

For what it looks like, check out the Flickr group.

If you are interested in what the news is saying, I'm including a couple of the links. A note about the headlines: The San Jose Grand Prix is also running this weekend.. so the print media is trying to tie the two events together.

San Jose Mercury News put us front page along with the race.

SFGate reported about the huge increase in size of the conference (from about 300 last year to 750 this year on Saturday) and pointed out the level of our speakers.

What the heck, Marian Richmond wrote a fine review of the news stories for BlogHer.

Check out my other blog: Deb's Daily Distractions where eventually I'll be writing about some the plug ins and websites.

Thursday, July 27, 2006

Hope I know the way to San Jose...

(sorry folks, but photo uploading ain't working at the moment. So. No. Photo.)

I'm packed and ready to head off this afternoon to San Jose, CA and BlogHer 07.
where I'll be in workshops about better digital photography;building (or in my case, rebuilding) an audience; Primping (or prettifying) my blog; and understanding tagging and tracking.

I'll be talking with the other CE's, plus the quilting/knitting/crafting/gardening bloggers and whatever else will be represented in the 700+ folks attending. We are talking more face-to-face contact with other human beings in these 3 days than I normally get in a year!!

My Checklist:

Clothing packed: check.
Camera (batteries, memory cards): check
Computer accoutrement: check
Laptop (batteries, cord, chillpad): check
Business Cards: check
Tshirts and stuff for sale: check.
Excitement: Not In Check.

My other blog: Deb's Daily Distractions may have some of the fun stuff posted this weekend.
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Wednesday, July 26, 2006

Good, Better Best

The good news: The fog has returned to my part of the bay, bringing much cooler nights and somewhat cooler days.

The Better News: Kel-Aire is sending a repairman to fix our furnace on Friday morning. I'm leaving a note to Steve to have him do the regular maintainence stuff (as I was going to call them 8/1 to do this before the belt broke).

The BEST News: Katy visited her orthopedic surgeon yesterday for a check on how her leg is healing. Her bone has healed perfectly, and she received a release for activity. For the next 6 weeks we need to walk her longer distances every day, getting her up to about 2 miles by the middle of September. Barring any problems in this time, her latest incident is behind us!!

Monday, July 24, 2006

A moment to "shout out" to my peeps!!

Ok, do I sound vain to admit that I subscribe to my own blog on my bloglines feed?  And that today I actually checked out who else subscribes to it?  (yes it does.  You can tell me... I'm a sweltering blob of goo, but I can take it!)

I do not recognize the feed names.. but I'd like to give a shout out to the following. Please say "hey" back so I can a nick to a name:

  • 4pj. Wait a minute.  I think I should know this. I don't.   But I can't put the blogtitle with the name.
  • artstitches.  Made it easy.  Blog/nick the same.
  • batixa.   A play on the word Batik??
  • BrianShields.  Never met, Brian... but Hey!! Maybe next weekend at BlogHer.
  • casuzen  A Susan in California??
  • computerpeach.  I'm guessing a Georgian?? My newest subscriber.  Well, welcome peach!! Here, have a glass of Sun tea!!
  • HeidiWofraat.  She reads a lot of the artquilt ring, but I'm not familiar with her.  That's OK.. Guten tag, Heidi.
  • kt2734.  My oldest subscriber!!  She's been subscribed longer than I have.
  • lynnedjohnson.  Well, that nick is easy to decipher!
  • malittlej 
  • orangina
  • Renmeleon

Sunday, July 23, 2006

Hot and Getting Hotter

It's 6:30 pm on Sunday; 92 degrees in the house and about 100 outside. I've been warned that it might take up to 3 weeks to get the AC fixed and the weather prediction is for hot weather for atleast the next week.

One important thing, here: the computer doesn't like being hot. At the moment it's sitting on an ice pack (nicely cooling my thighs). But I'm going to be using this in very short spurts until I get this whole thing dealt with.

I am being "cooled" by $30 Holmes stand fan (which atleast kinda moves the air) and icepacks. Katy lets me drape frozen bath towels over her to cool her off, but Jake is having none of that. Last night I pulled my recliner out on the deck and actually got about 3 hours sleep. I'll probably do the same thing tonight.

So think cool thoughts and send them my way. And if you know an HVAC repair man in Northern California who owes you a favor... please send him/her my way.

Check out my other blog: Deb's Daily Distractions
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Saturday, July 22, 2006

Hot Times on the Old Home Front...

A cool view of Carquinez bridge and water...

It's 9:30 on Saturday night and 87 degrees in my house. Maybe 83 outside (it's too dark to read the thermometer). It's gonna be a long night...

Late this afternoon, I noticed that it was getting HOT even though the AC was cranking. The outside temps were 111F, and inside it was 94. Went upstairs and the furnace/blower unit (in the attic) was making an odd sound. So I turned off the AC. Fifteen minutes later, the power went out (a rolling blackout? ).

About 9 pm. I figured whatever had been happened with the AC had time to recover, so I turned it back on. Unit outside fired up just fine. Fan in the house? Not a peep. Oh, and it smelled like burned rubber.

I'm guessing the fan belt is shot.

It will be atleast Monday until someone can fix it.

The high tomorrow? Supposed to be about 90-95. I pick the spouser up at the airport about 1 pm. so I get a bit of relief, but the dogs? They are definately going to be hot pups.

Check out my other blog: Deb's Daily Distractions

Ready to Waste some Time??

I found this beautiful little API (application programming interface) called Retrievr.

Click on the link, and you will be transported to a page with a small simple drawing screen on the left. Choose a tool size, and a color and make a simple mark on the drawing pad. Then wait.

Retrievr will search the public Flickr photo pool and come up with photos that it thinks match it a little. Really this is hypnotic. Draw a couple thin lines of colors, the photos will change as the new colors are added.

The pool it draws from is fabulous, the process fascinating and whole thing a great escape.

Check out my other blog: Deb's Daily Distractions
where I write about another little program: Trip Planner.

Friday, July 21, 2006

What Does My Name Mean???

Found on another blog: What Does Your Name Mean? No cute copy and paste option.

It changed completely when I added my middle initial (which I use on signatures on such). The Soul Urge stuff, however, is right on!! The inner self? So off!!

You entered: Debra Roby

There are 9 letters in your name.
Those 9 letters total to 45
There are 3 vowels and 6 consonants in your name.

Your number is: 9

The characteristics of #9 are: Humanitarian, giving nature, selflessness, obligations, creative expression.

The expression or destiny for #9:
The expression that you exhibit is represented bythe number 9. Your talents center in humanistic interests and approaches. You like to help others as you were intended to be the 'big brother or big sister' type. You operate best when you follow your feelings and sense of compassion, and allow yourself to be sensitive to the needs of others. You work well with people, and have the potential to inspire. This suggests that you could successfully teach or counsel. Creative ability, imagination and artistic talent (often latent) of the highest order are present in this expression. It's possible that you're not using or developing all of these capabilities at this time. Some of your talents may have been used at an earlier time in your life, and some may still be latent. Be aware of your capabilities, so that you can make use of them at appropriate times.

If you are able to achieve the potential of your natural expression in this life, you are capable of much human understanding and have a lot to give to others. Your personal ambitions are likely to be maintained in a very positive perspective, never losing sight of an interest in people, and a sympathetic, tolerant, broad-minded and compassionate point of view. You are quite idealistic, and disappointed at the lack of perfection in the world. You have a strong awareness of your own feeling as well as those of others. Friendships, affection, and love are extremely important.

Undeveloped or ignored, the negative side of the 9 expression can be very selfish and self-centered. If you do not actively involve yourself with work that benefits others, you may tend to express just the opposite characteristics. It is your role to be very involved with other people and their needs, but it may be difficult for you achieve this role. Aloofness, lack of involvement, and a lack of sensitivity mark the low road of this expression.

Your Soul Urge number is: 3

A Soul Urge number of 3 means:
With the Soul Urge number 3 your desire in life is personal expression, and generally enjoying life to its fullest. You want to participate in an active social life and enjoy a large circle of friends. You want to be in the limelight, expressing your artistic or intellectual talents. Word skills may be your thing; speaking, writing, acting, singing. In a positive sense, the 3 energy is friendly, outgoing and always very social.

You have a decidedly upbeat attitude that is rarely discouraged; a good mental and emotional balance.

The 3 Soul Urge gives intuitive insight, thus, very high creative and inspirational tendencies. The truly outstanding trait shown by the 3 Soul Urge is that of self-expression, regardless of the field of endeavor.

On the negative side, you may at times become too easygoing and too optimistic, tending to scatter forces and accomplish very little. Often, the excessive 3 energy produces non-stop talkers. Everyone has faults, but the 3 soul urge doesn't appreciate having these pointed out.

Your Inner Dream number is: 6

An Inner Dream number of 6 means:
You dream of guiding and fostering the perfect family in the perfect home. You crave the devotion from offspring and a loving spouse. You picture yourself in the center of a successful domestic unit.

Check out my other blog: Deb's Daily Distractions where I don't know what I'm writing yet.

Thursday, July 20, 2006

It's hot..

It's Thursday and it's hot. I've been trying all week to get some stuff organized for our guild "garage sale" tonight, but much of it isn't going to happen. I still have drawers to go through, fabric to cut/organize as fat quarters, half yard pieces, etc. And everything to price. Plus some spare cash to grab.

Nope. Not going to happen. Ennui has set it and I'm not shaking it off. Not piecing, not quilting, not stitching, not knitting. I'm not.

I'll relist the books I have on Amazon and see which ones sell this time. The fabric? My other guild has a "little shop" before and after each meeting. I can give them the fabric and see what sells there. (you bring it, they sell it and keep the cash, if it doesn't sell, you take it home). Not any money for me.. but I think getting the uninspirational stuff out of my presence is worthwhile.
So what have I done today? Did a couple hours of housework (boring), discharged a couple shirts and prepped some more for dyeing and over dyeing.

Check out my other blog: Deb's Daily Distractions where I wrote about the Elimination show of RockStar.

Wednesday, July 19, 2006

Peeking at the Process

Ya'll know I write about art/craft and gardening for BlogHer. Today I shared a little bit of the process in my post. And I decided I'd share it here, too.

I subscribe to BlogLines.. and most of my subscription list is in the left hand column. However, when you subscribe (if ya don't know..) you get "subscription" webpage that shows not only all the blogs, but all the ones that are recently updated. You can even read the blogposts on that page. A couple times a day I check through the blogs (maybe in one or two categories) then move on.

At least a couple times a week, I'll be reading through my feeds and something will make me say: COOL!! It might be a turn of phrase in a post, a photo or an insightful comment. I instantly jot a little note in Performancing; if I'm still thinking "cool" the next day or two, and I think it will play to a slightly wider audience, I publish it there. That's my gut editorial policy: make me go "Cool!" and you're in. Admittedly, most of my cools don't get published; it's that wider audience that usually does them in.

This week, I thought I'd pick one category and just keep track of the cool things I found during the week and share the process:

Topic:
Quilting
Statistics: 327 posts read in category.
Ideas organized for future posts ("crossing over crafts"/ snarky-craft/ challenges/ group blogs/is craft uncool): 2.

Cool Things:

ArtFabrik's Laura showed a gorgeous silk quilt.

Brenda Smith wrote about an interesting challenge: Refabricating Difference which is open to Australian artists.

Deb Lacativa posted some real fiber stuff!!

My gal Gerrie posted photos of her newest Tropical Fish quilt.

Cramzy posted a fabric journal to carry ATCs for trading.

Mrs. Mel explains why Channeling Nancy Crow is OK while her sister guest-blogged that her sister is a genius.

Sharon B. is continuing with her 100 days/100 stitches, has added a step challenge and organized her workspace. (this last... color me green...)

Elle, the Sew Chick, played tourist in her hometown.. and visited the Textile Museum in DC.

Finally, Sarah wrote an indepth review of Interaction of Color.

Edited from the post at BlogHer

Check out my other blog: Deb's Daily Distractions where yesterday I posted my Meez-portrait.

Monday, July 17, 2006

From Pam...
You are

Here's a hint.. just keep hitting the "submit" button until you find a crayon color you like.

Check out my other blog: Deb's Daily Distractions
where I take you on a tour of my too-green garden. (too green, as in not ripe).

Just BlogMe Baby!!

Ok, so BlogHer is in 12 days. And the story goes that Mocha Momma thinks we should all get to know a little bit about each other before we get there. That's my Reader's Digest version of the short story version that appeared on Friday.

So, at Lisa's suggestion, I am including a part of me... my right eye. Why? So the world can see my completely wimpy eyebrows and maybe someone will take pity on me and show me how to fix them!! Oh.. and the roots? Don't look for them next week... they will be disguised as dark ash blonde.

I am feeling a little like real life in this... so far most the interviewers/interviewees are mommybloggers. And me? Well I have 2 dogs.. does that count? So even in this "inclusive" activity I am an outsider. Sigh. Welcome to my life...

Ok, so I pour myself a fresh cuppa coffee, stare myself warmly but intently in the eye and ask...

When did I start blogging and why? I set up my blog in November, 04, because someone on one of my mailing lists said they would be the new hot thing... a step up from usenet, groups and mailing lists. I wrote the typical 3 posts, then let it drop until someone set up a blogring for all us art quilters. Suddenly there were people reading and writing and into what I liked. Over time, I "sampled" from other people's blogrolls, expanding my reading list, and finding new blog friends. When I have time, I still sample... and look forward to the surprises.

2. Who do I read? Gerrie, Rayna, Pam, Deb, Deb, Deb (there is some name loyalty..) I check out for her junkdrawer posts, though I read less when she's doing all her blog challenge stuff, Melody. I miss Gabrielle...

3. How do you feel about meeting bloggers in real life? Are you nervous? Will you have great expectations? What do you home to take away from the BlogHer experience?

I've met several bloggers in real life and truly enjoyed the experience. I fear that I will never keep straight names/faces and blogs, and will spend the next year trying to organize all this. Nervous? more excited, but my introvert personality means a little nervous. Expectations? I expect to be completely overwhelmed and lost in the crowd. I hope to take home a clearer idea of what I want to do going forward in my blogs.

4. Are you and your blogging persona the same person? Completely. I have never been able to create a persona other the one I wake up with every morning. Even when I played D&D!! I am completely transparent in my blog. Or I'm lying to myself...

5. How do you party? I will the one on the edge of the room, or sitting outside in the hall looking for a little bit of quiet and calm. Privately, I wish I were the life of the party.. but I'm not.

6. What shoes will you be wearing? Shoes? I live in Keen sandals. Though I'll probably pack those wasabi keds that were my avatar for a while.

Who ya gonna tag and how will you decide? Ok, I'm scrolling through the blogroll for those attendees who may be overlooked...I'm tagging Jill who writes about her dog Honey, Pam (if you aren't reading Beancounters.. why the hell not??), Elizabeth, Leslie, Erica, Karl because he responded to a post of mine on BlogHer.

Check out my other blog: Deb's Daily Distractions

Friday, July 14, 2006

Imagine..

Zimbabwean women want Dignity.Period!

Imagine what you might resort to if a box of tampons cost 50% of your monthly income. If you could find them.

Wednesday, July 12, 2006

Project Runway.. Episode One

Yeah, I'm taking a break from blogging, but not from watching TV this week. So a wrap up of Project Runway is still OK. I'm not going to get all the names down for a couple episodes, but I'll give it a try. This is live blogged, but I'm promising this will continue all season.

They did a nice job of introducing the designers at the beginning. I already don't like Malan(?) so he'll be around for a long while. And Keith? looks like Jude Law... Stacy is a totally waste of thread.

First challenge: Design from the apartment. Interesting challenge. Seeing the participants decend like vultures on thier living spaces was amusing, but I would rather see something like the 5 yards of muslin challenge again. Sometime, you just don't have to work that hard.

Time: they gave them an additional hour of worktime (till 1 am instead of midnight). I wonder if this will be for the season or only for this episode?

Jeez, another weekly product placement: beyond the hair and makeup stuff, we now have "the accessory wall"!! And, there will be a lot more sponsors covering challenges this time.

The designs:

1. Laura, elegant. Looks just like her. (Can she design for someone with a different aesthetic?)
2. Bradley, interesting and innovative
3. Keith, played it too safe, IMO
4. Angela the flowers?? how strange.
5. Kayne: gorgeous and innovative. but the thing on the back??
6. Malan: stylish
7. Bonnie: weird picnic outfit, but not bad enough to be in the bottom 3.
8. Katherine: cool
9. Michael: very nice
10. Vincent: strange but not bad
11. Alison: styling but too short
12. Stacey: poorly fitting. And she can't sew!!
13. Robert: nice.. not too much. I loved the red on the back.
14. Uli : not bad, but what's with the yellow plastic beads?
15. Jeffrey: lots of nice layers but less is often more. He should have done either the dress or the coat but not both.

Stacy so deserved to be the first designer to hear "auf weidersehen".

So what do you think will be the "rule breaking" incident that makes Tim ask someone leave?

Check out my other blog: Deb's Daily Distractions where I blogged the elimination show for RockStar.

Monday, July 10, 2006

Taking about a week off.

Just to let you know. I'm taking about a week off from blogging to actually live some life. Lots of little things that need to be done, pulling my attention away from here.

Check out my other blog: Deb's Daily Distractions
where I'm saying the same thing.

Saturday, July 08, 2006

When it's hot.. we model, don't we?

Damn, it's gonna be hot today..(upper 90s), so I just may hole up in my studio sorting out things for our guild's "yard sale" in 2 weeks. Or working on this top I'm sewing.

Found from fellow Woolfcamper Kris Robinson:

All I've got to say is, I'm laughing so hard... excuse me while I change into dry underwear!

You Are Most Like Daniela Pestova

Gorgeous and chameleon-like


Check out my other blog: Deb's Daily Distractions

Thursday, July 06, 2006

Ok... My first (of the year) RockStar roundup

I tivo'd the show, so I'm watching it after it broadcast, and there aren't any stinkers so far. Yeah, I like this as much as last summer's edition. Probably helps that I didn't know a lot about INXS last year.. and with a "newly created" band this year, there isn't really that whole "collection" to deal with.

Ok, Storm reminded me a lot of Deana from last season. Liked her a lot. There is a strong group of potential competitors and a big group of "seat warmers."

Winners:
Patrice
Storm
Ryan
Toby
Magni
Josh
Dana
Jill
Phil

It's interesting listening to the subtext of the critiques. I wonder how many really heard the lines: interact with the band and the audience.. and "it's critical what song you choose..."

After this week, I'll be reviewing RockStar at deb's distractions, so I can save my tv review talk here for Project Runway.

Check out my other blog: Deb's Daily Distractions

Who Needs PhotoShop With a Picture Like This?

I just uploaded this photos from my camera... and let me tell you.. this one is completely unedited. I normally tweak the color.. maybe crop a little.. but this one was (IMO) perfect as is!!



Check out my other blog: Deb's Daily Distractions
where today I'm going to be sharing some incredible yard art photos...

Wednesday, July 05, 2006

A Flowery Quiz...

Found at This Garden Is Illegal: What Flower Are You?


I am a
Sunflower


What Flower
Are You?


"When your friends think smile, they think of you. There is not a day that goes by that you can't find something good about the world and your fellow human."

Check out my other blog: Deb's Daily Distractions

Monday, July 03, 2006

One goal for this week.

I've been a very bad refashionista... not accomplishing much last month. So I'm trying again, by stating a specific goal for each week. Let's see if this gives me the focus I need to accomplish something.

Anyway, one of my goals when I signed up for this was to actually make some of the clothing for which I've already purchased fabric. Among this stash are two lengths of gorgeous border prints silk that I purchased in Singapore (4 years ago?? longer??). Last year (year before?) I paid for a workshop with a guild member who runs classes on sewing clothing. I brought in the simplicity pattern, and we fitted the pattern to me... adjusting for my total lack of shoulders and D cup bust. But I haven't taken the muslin created in that class and actually sewn anything with it.

This week I will. I needed dogfood this morning, and JoAnne's is next door. I decided to take on my fear of cutting (ruining) my fine imported stuff, by working out the pattern with local cheaper fabric. The pattern is sitting with my find of the day. Two yards of this (unfortunately polyester.. but similar weight and slipperiness to the silk) nice brown/red/black print for...

wait for it...

$3.50. Total. (from the marked down shelf where everything is an additional 66% off for the holiday!)

I could completely screw up the construction and not mind the loss!

So this week I will cut and construct a top (view A: clean neckline, short sleeves, no frills) from this.

Crossposted at Wardrobe Refashionistas



Check out my other blog: Deb's Daily Distractions

Sunday, July 02, 2006

A small revelation

I was sorting through my fabrics the other day, and I had a bit of a revelation. Most of my painted and dyed fabrics are fairly mottled and muddy.. either by accident or by choice. It worked for what I was interested in the last couple years. But it's ... well... muddy. And a bit dull.

My commercial fabrics are multi-colored theme kind of fabrics... maybe inspiration fabrics but none that play well together except the batiks. And being batiks??... kind of muddy.

I need some clear color fabrics!! I gots to buy, paint and dye some with texture!

Check out my other blog: Deb's Daily Distractions where today I share my recipe for Good Housewife Lemon Bars.

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