Thursday, July 26, 2012

Embroidery Journal Project - July

This month for the Embroidery Journal Project, the central image is a sun to represent the oppressive heat that seems to be never-ending. Between the heat and the thunderstorms, it's been a challenging month, to say the least.


In fact, this is the first year that we chose not to go the 4th of July parade. With the heat index well into the 110+ range, it wasn't comfortable nor safe to be outdoors. So, I ended up making a meal for the holiday with red, white, and blue ingredients; and relaxing. It was a change from past years...yet still an enjoyable way to spend the holiday.


Other symbols on the quilt square this month include a 4-H symbol to represent the focus for the first two weeks of the month. Sophia entered 27 projects and Olivia entered 17 projects in the county fair. They received 25 and 15 blue ribbons respectively. Sophia even got a few Grand Champions, Reserve Champion, and Top Blue; and Olivia got a Top Blue as well.

Preparing for the county fair was definitely time consuming. The projects the girls chose were very interesting this year. We all learned a lot about a variety of topics: geocaching, hedgehogs, musk ox, owls (and owl pellets), embroidery, quilting, sewing, cost comparisons of food items at different grocery stores, cooking, beading, painting, origami, dairy cows, and sheep.

The purple and blue stars represent Sophia and Olivia and doing things outdoors with them (e.g., nature programs at Interstate State Park).

The pointe shoes represent watching the movie "La Danse" (it's a French documentary with English subtitles). It gives an inside view about what it is like for a ballet company to produce multiple shows - including rehearsals, setting, costuming, lighting, and administrative aspects. My favorite parts were the rehearsals, the performances (with classical ballet - complete with pointe shoes and tutus), and costuming.

My sister bought this movie so we could watch it together. She made a delicious lunch for her sons, herself, Sophia, Olivia, and me. One of the highlights from lunch: fresh fruit (strawberries and raspberries) and homemade chocolate cookies with Dutch cocoa and Ghirardelli chocolate chips.  

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