@

@...distinguishes a sender, or address name

originally chosen because it was already on our keyboards

@...form, function and clarity...all in one

@ by any other name…

in English...at, or ape tail

Spanish...arroba

German’s call it...monkey tail

in Italian...chiocciola, snail

Chinese refer to @ as little mouse

the Russians think of it as a dog

the Finns...a slumbering cat

bag  for C@

(Cat)

shhhhh...

but keep  th@  under your  h@

otherwise  th@  would let the  c@  out of the bag!

it's just embroidery, have fun with it!

cupcake...

An update of Google’s Android operating system,

a major U.S. winery in California,

a term of endearment,

a small cake baked in a cup-shaped container & typically iced

They’re historic...

the first mention of the cupcake can be

traced as far back as 1796

They’re instigators...

Cupcake Wars, a competition challenge on the Food Network

They count...

12 to a dozen

uh, except if you’re a baker, then it’s 13

Float into the mix  a little root beer...

a high point of American gastronomic inventiveness

Now doesn’t that just take the cupcake?

it's just embroidery, have fun with it!

no bull...frog

somewhere in these depths...

under the water lilies...

Lurks...

The biggest...

The loudest...

Bullfrog ever!

a camera shy.loud.lurking.bullfrog

maybe this will get his attention...

it's just embroidery, have fun with it!

QR codes...

You are here:

Wait, what?

QR codes—seeing them everywhere!

And got totally caught up in my

geek-mode playing with them!

QR codes = Quick Response codes

They’ve been around since 1994 and

currently becoming very popular.

Why, you ask?

Because they are easy to generate (I did it!)

and incredibly versatile!

They can: link to your website/blog/Facebook...add contacts to your phone...get directions...send a text/email...advertise your business...store info on your business card...

stitch them...

Yes, could not resist trying to stitch one! 

Erich from Black Duck Inc created one,

and dared me to try one too.

So how do you read them?

with your smartphone, iPhone or iPad

(apologies if you don’t have one of those devices and don’t

want to leave you out, so I’ve included a QR code monogram too)

First you need an app for scanning QR codes

I went to the App Store, searched for ZXing, and downloaded this free app called Barcodes Scanner

Then just point your app at QR codes to scan—easy!

Want to make your own QR code?

There are many free sites out there, I found Kerem Erkan has quick and easy to follow instructions. 

(suggestion: chose bit.ly in the form to shorten your code)

Now test it on my stitched QR code!

So...what do you think?

Great?  Or just too geeky?

QR code monogram as promised…

quiz time...anyone tell me where this QR code takes you?

it's just embroidery, have fun with it!

just call me yellow...

Yellow—color of the large envelope in the mail

today from the accountant

Yellow—the feeling of cowardice to open large

yellow envelope

Yellow—the color of m&m’s popped for dispelling

yellow feeling caused by large yellow envelope

Yellow—the caution light flashing over accountant’s large yellow envelope still waiting to be opened after

yellow m&m's inhaled slowly enjoyed

Yellow—bit of sunshine! on accountant’s warning on large yellow envelope

Yellow—mellow yellow with relief!

J.H.R.

What’s your color of the day?

...it’s just embroidery, have fun with it!

tattoo monograms...

If Billy the Kid,

and Captain Jack Sparrow...

were swapping lies tales over some

Gunpowder and Rum

(yes, gunpowder and rum...go here)

The next morning,

they might find themselves with a new...

monogrammed tattoo like B’s

...its just embroidery, have fun with it!

hidden treasure...

look up ↑

see the fork in my logo?

Great Grandma Catherine Francis Xavaria O’Connell Filan

...gave my Grandmother (Nanny) this monogrammed silver on her wedding day in October of 1927 at St. Agnes Parish

in Brooklyn, New York

it resides in this battered wooden box in my dining room

not used very much

until my conversation with Nancy from Silver Magpies

Nancy is an expert on antique and vintage silver

In one phone conversation, Nancy told me details about

our family silver I never knew!

“I truly believe we should use and enjoy what we have.”

Nancy convinced me!

and Nancy has some silver eye candy you really must see…

Silver Magpies

Unfortunately Great Grandma didn’t have any of those Cartier silver plates Nancy has listed!

But her choice of silver is now being used well!

You have any silver hiding in a box?

in the pink...

Pink lemonade

Pink Panther

Pink Floyd

Pink Cadillac

Pink elephants

Pink gin

Pink squirrel

Starting in the 1920’s, the general rule was pink is for boys

 and blue is for girls.  Pink was considered a stronger

masculine red-related color and more suitable for boys,

while blue was more delicate and dainty.

In the 1940’s, this rule inverted to pink being

appropriate for girls, and blue for boys.

Go figure!

monogram style is based upon 1940’s artwork 

Wonder if the artist preferred pink, or blue?

You in the pink?