![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBpEGvG-J5u32avWTq-kDO0NWFGdp5fajUkZi_P_o3XFdsg8HxiXsdjY0nCws98lsAUEMNf5iXYO85152mfoGulSDA-G9vhjqwCB0AqD_tpZbllvaAHIXOz3YnDpIorGXvBqBxlc7_AlV3/s400/basket.jpg)
Sorry I haven't been blogging much this month. I've been soooo busy on a variety of fronts that I just haven't had time to sit down, draw a deep breath, and think about stitching - let alone DO some stitching. Whew. It's been that crazy (but in a good way - grin)....
My latest preoccupation is getting ready for the EGA National Seminar, being held in San Francisco next week. I've signed up for a table at their Wednesday Merchandise Event, which is a fun-filled day of stitchy shopping heaven for all those Seminar attendees.
I've been busy printing lots of patterns. And I also spent some time hand-dying some thread (three different weights of pearl cottons) - which is something I do occasionally. (And before you all ask: unfortunately I'm NOT selling any of my thread on my website. It's just too much work to get into the thread-dying business full-time and it would take me away from my designing work - which is my TRUE passion. And besides, there are already lots of different thread companies out there that provide us with plenty of hand-dyed threads.) Anyway, it's really messy, back-breaking work, but as you might imagine, having lots of luscious thread at the end is well worth all the effort.
I feel like the girl in the old fairy tale that is stuck in a room with pile of straw and told to weave it into gold. Here's what my boring "pile of straw" looked like before I started:
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7FSbOCQ3SyiwCtZMZxUtop-B9JINPS4nXfq2jQLIU82YsBxW9_FVxQFtB24CW9DYrtgWxSLlIR-FPtB12PbKTv4hRWKxuRk2Y0kmg_ayQ6DfWZHC3yZurxOvqS-ztVALCLkAuJejA0aqF/s400/whitepile.jpg)
At this point, I get into my old paint-spattered clothes, slip on some plastic gloves and start painting thread....
And here's what it looks like after it has been rinsed and is drying on the line:
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Then it needs to be twisted back into skeins and labeled, but here's what all the hard work is about:
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjqZBSJAI8ROy-QrDN0WCztsnLHQxrTw0u_HVCKQPyEG4kwm5k62bYsfG9YpC4aS2KT5cNe3X6D76DCCE0AjWyv3_iSfmDaDFUjM90_LObPqUO15y4NJrqu8YVRAYgrXsKMu4oLeZ8JyLL/s400/allthreads.jpg)
My straw has been turned into stitching GOLD: lots and lots of gorgeous thread to play with....dream with...and ultimately -- stitch with!
So, if you're lucky enough to be going to the EGA Seminar in September, please stop by and say "Hi" ... and check out all my treasure!