I learned too, thanks to a friend introduced to me by Sharon Garmize, Neva, that these bugs are called FALSE CHINCH BUGS! My internet searches have revealed that these particular bugs are swarming all over the Western US, and Southern CA has them particularly bad!
Today, I bought a product that I am hoping will help me in my battle just to keep them at bay!! It is called Ecosmart, and is a nontoxic pesticide safe to be around children and pets. That works for me, and I hope it works for the bugs too!
So..enough about them, and now about me! Some time ago, I entered a little quilt contest at QuiltingArts.com, where the challenge was to take a photo of a swan with her nest of eggs and create a small quilt inspired by the photo. I did just that...Here is my quilt entry again:
Naturally, I have to stitch it now. I envision it stitched with silk ribbons, beads, metallics, overdyed threads. I also envision using it as a birth announcement for a granddaughter who will be turning 4 her next birthday, and who, like all my grandchildren, have been sadly needlepoint neglected.
So, in the moments when I'm not hosing down the outside walls of my studio with soapy water, vacuuming the interior walls, countertops, floors, window sills, cracks, crevices, nooks, crannies, desktops, table tops, bookshelves, crying, cursing, and complaining, I've begun to stitch on this piece. Stitching has been my only sanity! Here are a few little views. Not much to show so far, but I have big plans!
The whole swan theme is really a charming one, I think. And as always happens, when I am designing something, I start to see similar things showing up all around me! Just recently, I was at Home Goods, and look what I found! A whole display of beautiful little swans who looked like MY swans! I was tempted, but did not buy any. I LOVE the large beautiful Soup Tureen! But, it is sooo impractical! I DO love it though!
Maybe these are little jam jars? Any suggestions for uses other than foods? Maybe a jewelry container?
To add to all the swan fun, on Saturday, I met my sister for lunch at an antique mall. We browsed amongst vintage treasures for a little while before we had to both get back to work. I kept an eye out for swans. My oh my...they were a popular item in past times! Here are a few images of, mostly, vases and candy dishes. Truly, very charming creatures, these swans!
And get a load of this one! Doesn't it look just like the Home Goods variety! Of course, this makes me think the HG's one is a knock off of perhaps some famous and valuable ceramic artist. I need to go take another gander. (an appropriate word to apply to swans, don't you think?)
I have more, but at the risk of being boring, I'll end up with one final image. This is not of a swan, but I loved it just the same because it displays the water features of my swan's abode: Velvety water lilies, cattails, shimmering water. This crane is also very happy living in this pond. I just bet there are swans there too!
Barbara~
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