A Stitcher's Log

Some Finishes from last year...

2012-01-05T12:21:00.001-06:00

Well, since I haven't posted any finishes since Mother's Day I guess I have just a few to catch up on. I did stitch during the second half of the year, really I did!

Let's start with an exchange piece I did for my friend Stephanie in Texas. The exchange name was "American Pride" and I chose to stitch Val's Stitchin' Stuff's "Free to Be Me" piece. This was on a 32ct scrap piece using Weeks threads and a JABCo star button. It was fun to stitch and I think I may have to stitch another one for myself!

I also worked on this piece and this one stayed with me! I just love JBW's French Country series and of course I just had to do the kitty one! This was done on a 40ct scrap and stitched with Week's Sky thread (1 over 2).

Our family welcomed a new member in October. My niece Stephanie and her husband Zach added Brenden to their family of 3. Big brother Caleb was not all that thrilled at first but now has been (sometimes overly) eager to help mommy with his new baby brother. I stitched this for Brenden on a Charles Craft bib using a pattern from a baby book from my stash. Brenden and Caleb's daddy is a police officer.

And last but not least of the non-Christmas gift pieces, is one of my Crazy 15 challenge pieces. This is Prairie Grove Peddler's "Falling Leaves". I stitched it on 28ct Laurel linen and used DMC threads. The picture does not show off the vibrancy of the leaf colors at all. It's an amazing piece in person!
"God colors each leaf with a glorious shade. Enjoy while you can as soon they will fade."

That's it for this update. I'll do another tomorrow for the pieces I finished for Christmas.

Hope you all have a wonderful day!

Goodbye 2011, Hello 2012!

2012-01-03T14:19:00.000-06:00

I've been absent for most of 2011 and for that I apologize. I will endeavor to be more faithful in posting this year. In June my life started to unravel a bit and things have changed a great deal for me.

About a month after I did my last post, I had to say goodbye to another of my dear furbabies. Buddy was over 18 and his body had just worn out. It was a hard decision but necessary for him. He was my snuggler, lap companion, and neck warmer. I miss him still.

My last kitty companion, Bo, will turn 17 in March. He's doing well and just this morning I caught him chasing moving rainbows in the kitchen (made by crystal ornaments hanging in the patio window!).

Two days after I said goodbye to Buddy, I found out my job of 21+ years was ending. My bosses couldn't keep the company going in today's economy. I continued to work until later in July, helping them get final orders shipped and invoices out, cleaning out offices, cleaning clutter out of the company computers. Goodbyes were tearfull. We were truly a family after all that time. And that change led to the biggest of all. I decided to move back home to Lena! I moved out on Sept 10, with the help of family and friends. The biggest change has been getting used to being in a small town again, but I'm adjusting. I'm absolutely loving being so close to my family and enjoying seeing the little ones on a regular basis. The job hunt has not been successful, so far, but I've been helping my brother David out at his ceramic shop so I've been keeping busy. Living with my Mom has been going well and we have settled into a routine. Bo made the transition well and has enjoyed being an only cat. As for my house in the big city suburbs, I am nearing the end of the Deed in Lieu process and will have that monkey off my back soon, without having to try to sell it myself.

You would think I've had loads of time for stitching, which is partly true. I was working on Christmas gifts before the holiday but am finally getting some good time to just stitch and have been working on a few of my Crazy 15 pieces from last year again. I will post an update on some of those in the coming days.

I thought I would leave you with one of my first ceramic projects. It came out much better than I expected and I'm quite proud of it actually! LOL Since we don't have any snow (still - grrr) maybe this will help?

I hope you all have a wonderful 2012!

Mother's Day and the Bird Seed Thief!

2011-05-10T14:07:00.000-05:00

I spent a wonderful time with my Mom and family this past weekend. Altho it started quite early on Saturday (left the house at 7:30 for the 2 hour drive), we had a fun time at breakfast with her sorority group. They always have a brunch get together and of the 11 members (this group has been together for over 50 years!), 6 were in attendance with female family members. Mom was joined by 2 of my SILs, 3 granddaughters, me, and 21 month old Caleb. We had an entire end of the table filled! Good food and good conversation were a great way to start the weekend. Mom & I did some shopping that afternoon before our feet gave out and then I treated her to supper before we settled in to watch an episode of Castle from last season and the movie "Shall We Dance". Sunday morning was church and then my DB David and SIL Joy took Mom & I out to lunch. I headed home after that and was quite ready to veg for the remainder of the day. It was a great way to spend Mother's Day weekend!

For Mom's gift this year, I decided to use the small pendant form I had in my stash for her gift. I found the perfect rose pattern that just fit the form to a "T". She was thrilled with it and said her sorority group would be jealous because the yellow rose is their symbol. My guess is that she'll wear it to the next meeting! LOL It's stitched on a 36ct linen scrap with DMC.

Before we headed out to shop on Saturday, I happened to see this bird seed thief busily chewing away. I'm not certain, but he must practice yoga to be this flexible! He was quite content there until I snapped a second picture and the flash scared him off. I didn't mean to interupt his meal. Most of the seed from the feeders was already on the ground - probably because of him!

I'm continuing to work on my crazy 15 pieces and will have an update for "The Bookshelf" soon. I plan to pull out the "Teddy Bear and Friends" stocking to work on that some more this week.

Hope you are enjoying the week! Thanks for stopping by.

Still waiting for Spring!

2011-05-04T14:25:00.000-05:00

I'm still waiting for Spring to make a permanent home in our area. The temps have been swinging widely between the low 40s and the upper 60s for the past few weeks and I'm surprised that everyone I know isn't sick for the weather changes!

I've got a couple of finishes to share with you at present. The first is one I started working on last year and was happy to present it to Mom during my visit on Easter weekend. This is "Proverbs 31" from Leisure Arts. I stitched it on 18ct White Aida (Mom liked the look of it better) and used the called for DMC threads. This was a lot of fun to stitch and has so much detail in each section!

The second piece I started because I just needed something that I could finish without working on it for months! I have so many larger pieces going right now and I was having a need for a finish. This is "Spring 2" from Angel Stitchin' - stitched on 40ct "Linen" linen from WDW with GAST threads and a JABC little bee button.

I finished it up as a pillow roll and it was sitting in Mom's Easter basket. I still can't believe that the sewing went pretty good on this. I don't like to getting out the machine, it's SOOO heavy. But I was actually pleased with the way it turned out.

I've also been working on a couple of Crazy 15 pieces since I last posted. I've been rotating them in 2 week slots and that seems to give me enough time on them to feel like I'm making progress. LOL Here are the 2 I worked on in April:

Golden Choir Banner - this was an OLD ArtCraft kit that my Mom gave me a really long time ago, asking me if I would make it for her. Surprise, Mom! You will be getting this for a Christmas gift. (Mom has dial-up and I know she doesn't check my blog so I feel safe posting it here.) The first post didn't look like much because it was all green shapes. Now it should make more sense!

The other one I worked on is LHN's "The Bookshelf". I followed the left edge up to the top so I can work across and get to the right edge before working down. (Really, there's method to my madness! LOL)

I'm debating as to waiting on stitching with the metallic gold in the book bindings until after the rest of it is stitched. I don't want to take the chance of it getting wonky while I move around the q-snap frame as I work on the piece. I'm really liking the way it's popping off the fabric (altho it doesn't show as much in the picture) and this one is still in my current pile for work on some more this week before I switch to another one.

I also just finished an exchange piece but that one will have to wait until after next week. The mailing date is the 11th. And I'll be finishing Mom's Mother's Day gift this evening. I got a locket form and need to put the bs on the rose piece for it before backing it and then getting it all put together.

That's the whole of it from here. Thank you for stopping by!

4th Finish of 2011!

2011-04-11T11:34:00.000-05:00

My goodness, that sounds pathetic! I normally have close to 7 or 8 by this time of the year but with a broken thumb starting off the year and the time I spent in January working on the Crazy 15 starts, my "normal" is off! LOL

Such a pretty piece this is and it was a fun stitch, too! I just love the tree especially! So without further ado, here it is...

"The Sparrow" from Tree of Life Samplings
40ct Vintage Light Examplar using GAST & CCs (1 strand over 2)

(You can click on the picture to see it a bit larger.)

Thanks for checking in!

Crazy & Not so Crazy WIPs!

2011-04-07T16:08:00.000-05:00

It's been a mellow day here and the weather outside is matching the mood. Overcast skies for the 2nd day in a row. It's Spring! I want to see sunshine again!!!! It's been promised by the weatherman but not until next week. Saturday is supposed to be "partly cloudy" so I'm hoping Mister Sun will show himself then. Pretty please?

Since most of my current projects are mostly larger pieces, I'm having a real difficult time so far this year getting that finish feeling. I've got to get some smaller pieces into my line-up or I'm gonna go bonkers! That being said, here are progress reports on several of my current WIPs...

RJ's Stocking, aka Teddy Bear & Friends
This has been a very satisfactory stitch as it's moving along a lot quicker than I expected it to considering it's size. I have more done than shows on this update photo (I've done the backstitching on the tree and the bear head/hat/birds) so be watching for another update on this fellow soon.

The Sparrow from Tree of Life Samplings
Getting to a near finish on this pretty piece and I have more on this one done than shows in the picture. I'm expecting to have a finish on this sometime during the weekend so be watching next week for the finish post.

Proverbs 31 from Leisure Arts

Here is another one that will be a finish in the near future. I've really enjoyed stitching all the little squares in this. The detail is what makes it so fun - notice the part of the handle on the basket of apples? Here are the last 2 shots I took. Each one is part of the final section that runs across the entire bottom. And, yes, I've already checked to make certain that the border meets up! Whew!

I've worked more on 2 of my Crazy 15 pieces and here are the updates...

Peaceful Sleep from

The border is going to be a big part of the stitching time on this piece but all the words are done, as is the bottom border piece. This picture doesn't show how pretty the colors really are.

Emma Rose Christmas by Tree of Life Samplings

I'm really enjoying working on this piece. I did try something different for the one side of the house and while I'm not entirely happy with the results, it certainly makes it unique!

Well, there you go! I'm also currently working on a Spring piece by Angel Stitchin' called Spring It 2 and I'll post that picture when it's completed.

Thank you to all of you who check my blog. Your comments are always such a joy to read!

The fast track!

2011-04-05T15:21:00.000-05:00

Would someone please tell this year to move out of the fast lane? My gosh, how did we get to April so quickly?! March was a busy month at work, encroaching on my personal computer time! LOL Things have calmed down a bit so here I am, ready to catch up here. So let's get to it!

I joined a couple of the Exchanges on the Only One Ewe message board, and the first one had it's mailing date in mid-March. The Shades of Ewe Exchange was a good challenge as you needed to find something that your receiver would like but it needed to be in just 3 colors - their favorites of course! Judith gave me a good challenge with her colors (olive green, dull red, & lt pink) but it all came together perfectly when I ran across this freebie in my stash from the online mag "The Gift of Stitching". As soon as I saw it I knew it was the right one to do for her. I replaced the year (2 digits on either side) with our initials. The fabric was 32ct Pearled Barley and I used Belle Soie's Beanstalk, Red Fox, & Pink Quartz for her colors. I also tucked in a pair of special scissors with a hand-made tassel (my first attempt) attached. She was thrilled and I so wish I could have been there when she opened her package. Here's the piece...

Donna has my name and here is the gem she sent to me for this exchange. This is the July Round from Prarie Schooler's Prairie Year - Rounds. She stitched is on black - bless her! And I'm contemplating the best way to finish this to show off her work at it's best. Thanks again for the perfect for me piece, Donna!

I also had another finish - that makes a whole 3 for me this year! Seems I'm working on a bunch of larger pieces so I just had to do a little piece to make me feel like I'm actually accomplishing things! I stitched my first JBW Designs piece - The Angel. I used a 36ct pc of antique white evenweave and WDW's Strawberry Fields (1 strand over 1). Just really annoyed that there's a small patch of running near the tip of her wing. It's much more noticeable in the picture and I'll finish her into an ornament despite that little flaw. She was a joy to stitch and I've already started another - a cat this time! Here is the Angel...

I've got several updates on WIPs, including a couple of the Crazy 15 pieces but I will save that update for tomorrow. For now, I'll sign off with a thanks for all those who check in on me...when I remember to post!

Have a wonderful day!

A Melancholy Day

2011-03-01T15:19:00.001-06:00

While today is the first day in a while that I woke up to sunshine and a warmer temp (well, mid 40s anyway) the news from 2 fronts today has been sad.

I heard about Lisa from The Primative Needle during my lunch time. I was browsing the the posts on facebook and saw the news article. Such a tragic death and my heart goes out to Lisa's family and friends. We've lost a special designer in the needlework community.

I also heard from my SIL, Sandy, this morning in regards to Nicole (my nephew's wife) who is fighting Leukemia. She has already been thru a month in the hospital for her first intensive chemo treatment. She was released with her counts good and was ready for a rest and some quality time with her husband and son (who just turned 1 last Thursday) before starting the next round of aggressive chemo. She went back into the hospital yesterday with elevated counts (where they were when she was first diagnosed). They were starting her chemo today and will also be doing the preliminary tests for a bone marrow transplant. Her 2 siblings will be checked for compatability and if they are not candidates they will go directly to the Bone Marrow Registry for a donor. In Sandy's words..."Right now we all feel like we're on a runaway train and there is no way to get off." So much stress going on with all of them right now. And I worry about remembering to get my PT done everyday for my thumb. Sure puts it all into perspective.

Now that the afternoon is waning, the sun is hiding behind the clouds again like it has so much of the past few weeks. Kind of reflects the mood in my heart right now. Time to give my worries over to Him who watches over us all.

Mission Accomplished!

2011-02-08T16:02:00.000-06:00

All Crazy 15 pieces have been started. I do need to take a pic of the last 3 and get them uploaded to my album, which will get done this weekend. Several of them I think will become Christmas gifts for this year so I'll have some incentive to complete them. Next year, I expect to have a lot of them in the WIP Challenge! LOL

I weathered the blizzard of last week just fine, even ending up with 2 "work" snowdays. Of course, the bosses didn't expect any of us to venture in on Wed morning when it was still snowing and blowing. With the broken thumb, shoveling is a big problem. Needless to say, I was still snowed in on Thurs morning and while I was able to clear the snow drifts around my vehicle I still needed to call a plowing service to clear the driveway from the car to the street. After I was free, I took a trip so that I could blow all the snow off the roof that I can't reach. It was actually great being at work on Friday and I was busy all day so the day flew by!

Only 1 more week with the plastic cast and then the pin is removed and I can get going on physical therapy. I'll be more than happy to get rid of this cast. It is keeping me from trying to bend the thumb (which the pin keeps me from doing anyway) but I'm just sick of having it on. Patience is a virtue that I'm sadly lacking at the moment!

I did stitch quite a bit on The Sparrow from Tree of Life Samplings last week. I hadn't touched it since late October and it was great getting it out and working on this beauty again. I haven't quite decided what I'm going to work on this week yet. I've been sorting purchased lots of postage stamps for my collection since Saturday - separating those that are already separated from the paper out of the ones that need to be soaked. I should finish that this evening and then I can get back to some serious stitching time.

I hope you are all doing well. Thanks for stopping by!

A Give-Away!

2011-01-30T12:10:00.001-06:00

Jan, over at Belfonte Notes, is celebrating her 2 year Blogaversary with a wonderful giveaway. Be sure to check it out here. The entry deadline is midnight Feb 2nd (this coming Wednesday) so hurry over there and get your entry in!

View my craziness!

2011-01-29T12:03:00.000-06:00

I've started a separate album just for my Crazy 15 Challenge pieces. I've got all but 3 of them started at this point, but there are only pictures of the 1st 10 right now. A lot of these pieces are things that I've wanted to do for quite some time. The Choir Banner kit is one I've had since the 80s! My mother asked me to stitch it for her "when I had time"? She'll be surprised this year when she sees it as a gift, probably for her birthday!

Anywho... Check them out if you get the opportunity and I'll update pictures as more is done on them. I'm still determined to have the last 3 started by the end of the month. Since I have just 3 days left, I'd better get going! LOL

Crazy 15 WIPs

Thanks for checking in with me!

I've got my Stitch back!

2011-01-16T12:03:00.000-06:00

Ah, what bliss! Late yesterday afternoon found me sitting in my living room...STITCHING! I gave myself several rest periods, to give my bandaged hand a time to relax, but it felt great to put needle and thread to fabric again!

Now I'm anticipating even more freedom of the left hand after tomorrow's dr appt and the removal of this bulky after-surgery bandage. Before starting my afternoon stitching, tho, I'll be working on an ornament list for this year and probably my 2011 goals list as well.

I hope you all have a wonderful day!

My First 2011 Finish

2011-01-15T13:02:00.000-06:00

Finished the Sunday before I broke my thumb! This was a really fun stitch. I left off the beads that are supposed to be either stars or snowflakes. See below for my reasons - I thought it logical to leave them off.

Photobooth Snowmen from Bent Creek
(fabric came with the kit), fibers were DMC and WDWs

I thought that since they were in a photobooth, the stars couldn't be seen and if the door flap would normally be closed when photos were taken so there shouldn't be any snow in the booth while the pictures were taken. Logical? LOL

I hope to get some pics of my starts before the end of January. I doubt there will be 15 of them, but I hope to have at least 10.

Thanks for visiting me!

Healing is progressing...

2011-01-15T12:52:00.000-06:00

and I haven't stitched since last Sunday evening! I'm going thru some serious withdrawal here..that will hopefully end today. I have a project ready to start and will see how well I can hold the q-snap this afternoon.

Surgery went well and I will be going back to the dr on Monday afternoon. Hopefully, he will be replacing the bulky splint/cast bandage that has my left thumb completely imobilized with a much simpler brace for my thumb. Something I can actually remove to take a shower! WooHoo!!

If I can't stitch, I'll be working on my ornament list and my 2011 stitching goals instead. If I can stitch, I'll be starting my 5th piece of the crazy 15 challenge. I'll keep you posted!

Yes, I can!

2011-01-07T22:36:00.000-06:00

At least I can until I have surgery on Monday morning! Steph, that's exactly what I did. I just have to be careful not to try and hold the frame with all of my fingers. What works best is between the pointing finger and the middle finger.

What a joy to know that I'll be able to stitch during this trial! I started a 3rd piece from my Crazy 15 list - Peaceful Sleep - last evening and worked some more on it tonight. Now...if I could just type without adding extra spaces when the hard splint rests on the space bar! LOL

Thank you for all of your encouraging comments. So far, the pain has been manageable. I've only taken the "hard" stuff before going to bed and have been keeping that arm elevated on a pillow/folded blanket rest which also seems to help too. I'll keep you all posted as things progress.

Can I stitch with a broken thumb?

2011-01-06T14:08:00.001-06:00

I'm certainly going to try!

Yesterday morning started with breaking my thumb. I slipped on the stairs and while my hand on the rail stopped me from doing myself more serious harm, my thumb caught on the newel post and it got bent back too far, done....broken! The morning and part of the afternoon was spent at the ER and then the Orthopedist. Then stopping to get the pain killer prescription filled. Now I have surgery to look forward to that will remove the broken piece and re-attach the ligament. Such fun!

The question to be answered yet is can I hold a q-snap with just the 4 fingers on my left hand and will it be stable enough that I can still stitch. I can't imagine going very long without stitching so determination will be the big factor here.

To be continued...

And so it begins!

2011-01-03T13:22:00.001-06:00

I did start the Crazy 15 on the 1st. I started the first square on the Cat Afghan and got a good amount done altho that will be a big project that I know will not be completed during 2011. I've also decided that while it would be fun to start 15 new projects in 15 days, it's just too much for me. So... I'll start one every other day instead! Tonight's project (Falling Leaves) is all ready to start after supper.

Not much else is doing at present. I still have a cold, but I'm at the ending point where meds aren't necessary but I'm still a bit stuffy. I'll be glad when it's gone for this round!

Hope you are all enjoying the start of the new year!

Ornament finishes and a secret revealed!

2010-12-29T09:49:00.001-06:00

Here are the ornaments I spoke of a post or 2 ago. I finished them up during the week before Christmas and now I have to decide how I want to finish them. They are actually all stitched on one piece of fabric and I think they would make a lovely bell pull/banner, but they would also look really pretty finished individually. I just don't know! LOL

Tidings of Joy Ornaments
LA's Something for Every Season Book
40ct white linen and 5 DMC colors

Another finish that I can now share is the Mystery Keepsake exchange piece I stitched for Lani. This was a no-brainer when I saw this pattern out of the others that she sent along.

It was a challenge with all the back-stitching but

it came out beautifully. And she was delighted with it so that makes it all worth-while.

This is Musical Alphabet from Jeanette Crews Designs. I also learned about some instruments that I didn't know existed while stitching this!

Thanks again for all of those who check out my blog. I appreciate the support.

Next stop... 2011!

My List is complete!

2010-12-29T09:36:00.000-06:00

I finalized my crazy 15 list as of last evening. I've got a mix of large and medium size pieces so I think I will be a busy stitcher with my regular WIPs added to it! The afghan is one that I've wanted to start for a LONG time so it seemed natural to put that on the list. The kits all come with Aida fabric which will be switched out for the appropriate linen.

Now to make certain that I have everything I need for all of this! And then to decide which one to start on 1st! Hmmmm.... choices, choices!!

A Productive Weekend!

2010-12-13T11:58:00.000-06:00

Today brings with it a good sense of accomplishment over my weekend activities. I finished decorating the house for the holidays, baked 3 different types of cookies, and finished up all of the made-gifts remaining in the "finish me!" pile. I also managed to get out and clean the ice off the car windows yesterday afternoon. After the rain we got Saturday afternoon that turned to ice under the snow we got Saturday evening and Sunday morning, I knew there would be a nasty coating of the stuff on the car. It was nice not to have to deal with it this morning before I left for work!

With the gifts finished, that means I'm ready for wrapping gifts! And the only other thing left is to get the cards addressed, notes written in some, and then get them in the mail. I'm doing well this year for a change!

I've not done much stitching lately. I've had a couple of knit gifts that needed to be completed. So it was with great satisfaction that I picked up my stitching last evening and got some time in with needle and thread. I'm working on a trio of ornaments I found in a 4 Seasons Leisure Arts Book - bible quotes from the Christmas story, surrounded by very pretty borders. I have 1 done and another started as of 9 pm last evening. I should have another one done after tonight's session. Watch for a picture by the end of the weekend of the 3 pieces.

Currently, I'm patiently (not!) waiting for my Mystery Keepsake piece to arrive. I'm just bursting to know who had my name and which chart they chose to stitch for me. I also can't wait for the recipient for the box I sent out last Friday to arrive. I love making up the boxes for this exchange - finding little things to tuck in along with the actual piece. It should arrive at it's destination tomorrow - I should probably track it and see where it's at!

I hope everyone is have a wonderful holiday season!

I must be crazy!

2010-12-02T13:32:00.002-06:00

Ran across a reference to this challenge on Siobhan's blog and have decided to give it a go! Part of the fun will be deciding on the 15 designs to start! Any excuse to go stash-diving, right? Anyone else want to join me? Here's the place where I signed up.

Crazy January Challenge 2011

We have so many charts in our stashes, so let's start stitching them!

The rules are simple:

1. Start stitching a new design every day, from January 1st to
    January 15th.  So by January 15th you have 15 new WIPs
   to stitch!
2. Try and finish everything you started stitching during the
    year 2011 :)
3. Show photos in your blog if you have one, in January and
    during the whole year while you stitch, as we all love to
    see photos!
4. Have fun stitching!

Can't wait to get started!!

Well, nuts!

2010-11-23T11:18:00.001-06:00

Here we are again, nearly a month since my last post and still not doing well at posting more often. Not that I don't think about it. I do, I really do! It just never gets past that point! LOL I don't really have loads to report from my last post so can I use that as an excuse?

I had a wonderful time with my friend Jan, designer of Tree of Life Samplings fame, over Halloween weekend. I always feel so relaxed when I'm at her house. And I brought home a good amount of stash - pretty much all charts this time - no fabric (gasp!). We did some shopping at her wonderful JoAnn Fabrics store (this place is huge and full of awesome goodies) and I tried to keep my purchases to a minimum tho since I knew I would have a good stack of things from her shop. A belated Thanks! to you, Jan, for another super weekend!

My stitching has mostly been taken up on a Mystery Keepsake Piece. I'm at the 2/3 finished stage and am anxious to get it finished so that I can start putting a goodie box together for the recipient. My goal is to have it completed the weekend before it's mailing date and I think I'm on track to accomplish that. Yay! The other thing I've been doing is knitting. I'm actually doing very well on non-stitching ideas for the family made gifts this year. As I said last post, I really was aiming at trying to think outside the CCS box for a change and am happy to say that on Christmas day, I won't be watching a family member get a stitched gift from me! And, I can't wait to see reactions to the things I've come up with! I only have a few gifts left to finish up and I'm amazed that I'm doing so well this year. No rushing at the last minute! WooHoo!

Thanksgiving will be a quiet dinner this year with just Mom & I. We (the big family) decided to try just 1 holiday meal together this year. With all the younger adults in the family, as well as in-law scheduled dinners, it's so hard to get everyone together anyway. We are going to have a big dinner in-between the 2 holidays and hopefully that will mean that pretty much everyone will be able to come. Mom's coming in to spend the Thanksgiving holiday with me and I'm cooking! Well, everything but the pumpkin pie (Mom's is better than mine) and the squash (I don't eat it but didn't want to deprive her of a special holiday treat). The turkey breast has been in the refrigerator thawing since last evening. I've got most of the cleaning done in anticipation of her arrival tomorrow afternoon. We don't have any firm plans for the time she's here so it will be a nice leisurely 3 days.

Well, that's about it for now. Sorry - no update pictures since I've not been working on anything except the exchange piece. I plan to stitching on several smalls during December. I'm jonesing for some quick finishes!

Wishing everyone a blessed Thanksgiving!

A Saturday Night Finish!

2010-10-25T14:12:00.000-05:00

This past Saturday evening, during the OOE board's Sat Night Stitch-along (SNS), I was able to finish up LHN's "Battle Hymn". I really enjoyed working on this piece. The non-word parts took less time than expected (always a bonus) and I just love the words to this amazing song. I stitched it on 40ct Vintage Buttercream and used the called for DMC except for the 2 greens. The original greens were too gray for me so I substituted greens that gave me the look I wanted. Can't remember the #s at the moment, but if you would like to know them, leave me a comment and I'll check the pattern.

Of course, this also means that I now need a new project for SNS. I had been going thru my WIP pile and have decided to move Proverbs 31 to the SNS project slot. I really enjoy working on this but havent' touched it for a couple of months. This way I'll get to work on it at least once a week.

Guess that's about it for now. I'm working on a Mystery Keepsake piece at the moment so I can't show any pictures. But I know I'll be picking up other pieces to give me a break now and then so keep watch for more updates (and hopefully a few more finishes soon!).

Projects Galore!

2010-10-12T12:13:00.001-05:00

Only 3 weeks between posts this time - I'm getting better!

About a month ago, I went thru my gifting box and wrote down what I had already gotten for this year's giving. It's always fun because there's always things in there that I forgot I had gotten with someone in mind. A bonus treasure hunt, to be sure! I made my list of recipients, each with 2 categories, 1 made and 1 "purchased". My "purchased" gifts are in pretty good shape, just a few add'l things to get, with the help of Christmas Wish Lists that I received over the weekend from everyone. I love making up my own Christmas Wish List to send to them - it has me feeling like a kid! Anywhooo... Then I started working on the made gift ideas. I'm happy to say that most of them are in one stage or another of completion. I only have one more to decide on and a couple to choose between 2 possibilites. And it's only October! WooHoo! Whether we like it or not, the holiday will be here before we know it. I can't wait for it to arrive as I love spending the entire day opening gifts, snacking, and laughing (and sometimes crying) with my awesome family! Bring it on!

OK, back to reality....

Craft projects have been coming along nicely. I finished this little knit bunny to send to the new granddaughter of a best friend. Knitted in a square and then stitched together, it was relatively easy for my beginner/intermediate skills. The pattern is a freebie and available here. The only deviation I did was the tail. Since this was going to a tiny little one, I used a failed ear that I had knitted for the tail. Rolled it up and sewed it closed then attached it as the tail. The pattern calls for using some of the stuffing which would be fine if using it as a display piece.

Continuing with an animal theme, I've started another stocking for another great-nephew. This one will be Raymond-John's who just turned 3 about 1-1/2 months ago. It's out of the Stocking Book from Donna Kooler and is called Teddy & Friends. It's stitching up much easier than ones in the past - more solid stitching and less confetti stitching in this one. 14ct Aida to match all the others I've done and DMC. Here's it's current state...This one will be ready for next year's fill-up!

My SNS project with the Only One Ewe board for the past 2 months has been "Battle Hymn" from LHN. I'm getting close to a finish on this one and hope to be able to post the finished piece by the end of the month. I'm using 40ct Vintage Buttercream and DMC threads.

Not the greatest of pictures and they don't show the pretty fabric color, but you can click on them and they look better in a larger size.

I have 2 additional WIPs in my basket that I've worked on recently, "The Sparrow" from Tree of Life Samplings which I need to take a current picture of and a Mystery Keepsake Exchange Piece that I can't give details on until it's been received in December. That particular piece I just started last night!

Not much else doing in my little bit of the burbs. The furbabies are doing well and I really need to take some new pictures of them as I realized everything I have is at least a year old. The leaves are changing (thank you, Lord, for sending us the rain this year) and are just beautiful, the weather is turning crisp, and I sometimes catch the smell of burning leaves on the breeze when I'm outside. I love fall!

Hope you are all well! Happy Stitching to all of my readers!

Time Flies.....

2010-09-23T15:20:00.000-05:00

when you aren't paying attention! Seriously, I really had not realized how badly I'm doing keeping this blog updated. I must be sleep-blogging - but dreaming of posting updates certainly doesn't get it done! And it's not like I don't have things to post. Here's a few things that I have going on.
   One thing I didn't mention in my last post was that I finally got the duct-work under the house replaced. The air flow from the central air unit was just not doing the job and I had 2 rooms that were no longer connected because the duct tubing got wet and came off the connectors. One of those rooms was the bathroom. Not a joy to have to use a bathroom that is freezing in the winter and hot & sticky in the summer. The company that did the work were fast and efficient and the cost was much less than I expected. Now to get the fall furnace check up scheduled so I'm ready for the winter cold. There are still more things that need to be done, but I'm glad this one is out of the way.
   I've also been working on "made" Christmas gift ideas. Our family gives 2 gifts to each person - one has to be made. Now, granted, I could just do all CS gifts, but I'm trying to branch out a bit more and challenge my imagination and so far am really enjoying it. This year only a couple will be CS. I think I've got all but a couple decided upon so I'm farther ahead than in previous years. Of course, deciding what to do and getting them done without waiting for the last minute are 2 entirely different things! LOL
   On the CS front, I've had a few finishes and a couple of new starts as well. I finished this cute little patriotic piece after my last posting. This was a HIH kit that included the 32ct Clay Belfast linen, the GAST & WDW threads, and the JABCO poindexter buttons.
        It's called Star Spangled Sampler:

My second finish to report is a piece I stitched for my DB Stephen. I had stitched a replica of an old police badge for him about 4 years ago. Last Christmas, he asked if I would be willing to do the new badge for him. The new badge is much more detailed that the previous one and I had to stitch it bigger, but I was very happy with the result. I believe he was delighted, since he kept making a point to go by it to look at it again after I gave him the finished piece. He plans on getting it framed and hanging it in his office. I stitched it on 40ct Antique White and used 2 DMC colors.

Freeport Police Badge (adapted from a uniform patch)

My last and most recent finish is my incentive piece. I didn't get it completed in the time frame but I was only a few weeks late. This is Commandments from La-D-Da, stitched on 40ct Vintage Meadow Rue with NPI silks. I'm taking this in to get a framing quote this weekend. Not the greatest picture as it's a bit blurry. I'll take another this weekend and hopefully it will be better.

Commandments by La-D-Da

I have a couple of new starts but don't really have any progress to show off yet. After this weekend I'll have enough that I will take a picture of both. Tree of Life Samplings' The Sparrow and the newest Christmas stocking for the next-in-line Great Nephew, Raymond-John. I need to get some ornaments done too, for some quick finishes. Need that finish-rush! LOL

Guess that's about it for now. Thanks for stopping by!

Mid-August? No Way!!!

2010-08-12T14:16:00.003-05:00

It's been a month since my last post and I'm glad to say that work has been busy enough that I wasn't able to keep myself busy by surfing the internet all day (which actually gets really boring when you don't have money to spend!). I haven't been spending a lot of time on the 'puter when I'm home in the evenings or on weekends either. Weekday nights are spent stitching and weekend days you will find me on various household projects. I'm trying to do a thorough sort and toss in my closets - getting rid of things I've had in boxes since I moved to the house, as well as things I had at the apartment that I just couldn't part with when I moved. Well - a lot of that stuff and I are parting ways. Some gets pitched but the majority has been heading to Goodwill for recycling. I hate to see things that are still usable be thrown out. I like the idea of someone being able to use them when I couldn't. I'm putting off working in my clothes closets and drawer units. That will be a car-load!

I do have a couple of finishes to report since last month... First up is my SNS project that I finished last Saturday! While it was a chore to do all those window shadows, it was well worth the work 'cause "Shadows" looks so real! The pattern is in a book called "Nine Lives" and the designer is Judy Nason. (The copywrite date is 1985.) I used 18ct Navy Aida from my "old" stash and DMC. The aida was surprisingly non-starched and was not much different from working on linen. If it had been starched, I probably would have had to buy some navy linen as I didn't have any in my stash.

My second finish is my version of the LK 12 Blessings of Christmas. I decided to stitch them all together in a tree configuration. These stitched up super fast and the piece is now at my mother's house for finishing. We got the perfect compliment fabric from a quilting friend and I would much rather have Mom work on it as she has more quilting experience than I. I can't wait to see it finished into a wall hanging. When I get it back I promise to share the pick. Mind you, it may not be until after Christmas! I used the called-for fabric (32ct Mushroom Lugana) and fibers for these (GAST, Weeks, & DMC).

Not much else happening here. My 2 furbabies have gotten quite vocal since we lost Zoey. Actually to the point where I wish they would understand when I tell them to quit it! Very annoying!! And the fun never stops. I had baked beans left over from a family picnic and I added some cut-up hotdogs one evening for supper. I set the sauce pan that I heated them in into the sink, figuring I would rinse it when I rinsed the bowl I put them in to eat. Well, not too long after, Buddy came up to me looking all innocent with baked bean sauce on the side of his face! I just had to laugh. I really didn't think he woud bother it, but I guess you never know!

The last couple of weeks have been hot and humid for the most part, altho we aren't suffering as badly as some parts of the country. Our high temps have pretty much stayed below the mid 90s and today and tomorrow is the first time this summer that we've been under an extreme heat warning. I'll be glad to get home and get into the air conditioning after work. I think it may be time for a nap before dinner!

Faith, Furbabies, Finishes & Frappes!

2010-07-13T13:49:00.005-05:00

Hello, Friends! I thought it was time to catch my readers up on my current doings. It's been a quiet summer for me so far - living for the weekends is what gets me thru the work-week. Of course, I stitch every evening, but I get most of my big work done on the weekends. I've also been cleaning out "stuff". You know - we all have it - "stuff" that accumulates, things that we had to have and haven't touched now for more than a few (sometimes 7!) years! I'm trying to downsize my "stuff" so that when I finally get to move closer to my family, I won't be moving things that I haven't used since I moved into my house. It's a slow-going process, since I get surprised on occasion with things that I forgot I had or things that I thought I'd lost. This weekend I found a letter from my then 9yo niece telling me how excited she was about moving to Illinois from Colorado! What a joy it was to read and I can't wait to show it to her! Of course, the deep-clean process does not include stitching stash - NO ONE will convince me to trim down that!!
I've made some progress on a few projects. An incentive piece that I'm doing along with many others on the OOE board is half-way done. This pretty piece is being stitched on 40ct PTP's Earthen using NPI silks.
Commandments by La-D-Da:

I love the rhyming aspect of the commandments and was quite surprised at how fast the border stitched up.
My SNS (Sat. Night Stitch-along) project is Shadows by Judy Nason. This came out of an old (1985) cat pattern book. I decided to go with the 18ct Aida for the fabric as I had some old stash of it that had very little starch in it so it feels more like linen. The window panes were a trial. Big blocks of one color are very boring to stitch, but it was worth it when I started working on the cat. If you notice there are 2 colors in the panes it's because I had to replace the 794 that it used because I started with very little on the bobbin. The newer skein was a little bit deeper blue but I like the effect of the 2 colors.

And these 2 I finished over the 4th of July long weekend. The Pooh bookmark was a Janlyn kit and I've got 4 more of these character bookmarks that I want to do - Piglet, Tigger, Eeyore, and one that has head shots of all 4. The finish was the suggested way in the kit and was quite easy. The patriotic pillow was a kit from Angel Stitchin'. The little charm (silver - altho it didn't photograph as such) says Made in USA on it. It stitched up really quick and I have it sitting out where I can enjoy it.

So, you're probably wondering where Frappes comes in to all this? Well, let me tell you... I've gotten hooked on McD's Mocha Frappes! It's all my Mom's fault. She had a coupon for a sample one and she let me try some. Heaven on earth, my friends! If you get a chance, try one!
Thank you for checking in and reading my ramblings. I hope you are having a great summer!

And another give-away!

2010-07-12T16:03:00.002-05:00

This one comes from a new blog to me. Cindy's Cross Stitching Ornaments and Projects is celebrating her 100th follower with a give-away! Cindy has a lot of neat projects and finishes on her blog and is a great read! She will be picking 3 names at the end of the month for "stitching goodies" prizes. You need to be a follower and post to her blog post, including one of your favorite finishes.

Congratulations on 100 followers, Cindy!

2 Giveaways!!

2010-07-12T14:59:00.002-05:00

My sweet friend Jan, owner of Only One Ewe Needleworks and Tree of Life Samplings designs has 2, count 'em 2, give-aways right now.

On her personal blog, Belfonte Notes, in honor of her granddaughter Alexandra's 1st birthday, Jan has a wonderful goodie box that includes a Vera Bradley cosmetic bag, fabric, fibers, scissors, and other stuff. Definitely a great chance for some neat stuff!

On her designing blog, Tree of Life Samplings, she is offering a give-away of her design "The Sparrow" along with the fabric (40ct Lakeside Light Examplar) and fibers (Gentle Arts & Crescent Colours). All kitted up and ready to stitch. This is my favorite of Jan's designs so far and I can't wait to stitch it myself soon! Jan's newest design, "Road Home" will be available soon. She has a sneak peak of it on this, her designing blog.

Responses must be posted on each corresponding blog before midnight, July 17th, with the winner posted July 18th. Good Luck!!

Well, I'm getting better...

2010-06-08T15:03:00.005-05:00

Not quite the long time between posts this time! It's been a bad few weeks, that started out just great with a long weekend visit to my friend Jan, owner of Only One Ewe Needleworks and Tree of Life Samplings designer. We had a wonderful weekend of stitching and talking and eating and shopping. Always such a restful weekend for me and I hope for her. I returned home on Monday afternoon and had a good evening before having to return back to work on Tuesday. Tuesday night was the start of the slide into the bad weekend. My little sweet Zoey, who had just turned 15, had been diagnosed with cancer back in March. She had surgery, but the cancer cells were still in her bloodstream so it was just a matter of time. She was fine on Monday evening, but Tuesday evening she wouldn't eat and by Thursday night was weak enough the I decided the time had come. She crossed the rainbow bridge the Friday morning before Memorial Day. Needless to say my holiday weekend wasn't that great. My two boys, Zoey's papa Bud (17) and her litter-brother Bo, and I have been consoling each other and things are starting to seem somewhat normal. I still expect to see her coming around the corner and jumping into my lap tho. Here's a pic of all 3 of them that I took last September. Zoey's the little white one - Bud is the gray one - Bo is the orange one.

I didn't stitch for a couple of days, but have slowly gotten back to the normal routine. I have a couple of finishes to report...

Edu-Cat-Ed by Bent Creek (32ct Natural Linen and GAST/Weeks)

And Quaker Silence by Tree of Life Samplings. I decided to do mine in 1 color and used Belle Soie's Ocean Tide. The fabric looks more orange that it actually is. I need to get a better picture for certain on this one!

I've got a few WIPs at the present time but this is the one I'm concentrating on right now. La-D-Da's Commandments. I think (but don't quote me) that the fabric is 40ct PTP's Earthen and I'm using NPI silks. I took this last Sunday but have the 1st commandment stitched and the vine/stem border brought up and around to the center as of last night.

I'm itching to start something new and I think I will be kitting up "The Sparrow" from Tree of Life Samplings this week to start later on. It's calling to me the loudest!

Guess that's it for now. Thanks for checking in!

Let's try that again!

2010-05-15T11:41:00.009-05:00

Well, so much for my attempt at being more timely on my posts! Life (and work) has been getting in the way but I am trying to make time to keep this blog a bit more updated.

I have 2 new Great-Nephews since last August so I'm up to 6 great-nephews and 1 great-niece. Caleb Allen was born last September and Roran Paul David was born just this past March. I'm quite behind on Xmas stockings but at least this way they will be able to enjoy them as 4-5 year olds when they get them right?! Everyone in the family seems to be doing well and my last niece turned 16 in April and now, as of just a couple of days ago, has her own transportation - a red truck. Don't ask me for the particulars, to me a truck is a truck! LOL

I've finished several projects since my last posting and here are a few of them. Thanks for being patient and sticking with me!

Spring Violets by Hands to Work

Moonlit Garden by Blackbird Designs

Snowflakes by LHN

Cat Lessons for People by Lizzie Kate

Again, thanks for staying with me and I have promised myself to do a post at least once a week so check back soon!

Good Heavens!

2010-01-28T13:53:00.004-06:00

Has it really been THAT long since I posted anything? I do, so very much, apologize for not keeping this blog updated since the end of August. And now that I think on it, I can't really think of what I was doing all that time that was worthy of reporting here. Guess you didn't miss much! LOL

Work has picked up a bit, altho there are periods - sometimes days that I don't have enough to stay busy. A lot of web-surfing trying to look busy has been done to fill the time. I so wish I could just bring my CS to work to stay busy, but it's a no-no. {sigh}

I did manage to get all the crafted Christmas gifts done a good week before the holiday. That was a nice feeling - not to be rushed at the last minute, struggling to get things done. They were all well-received and I got a bunch of wonderful things in return.

My new big project this year is Mirabilia's Feather Fairy. I got a bit done on NY day and has made some good progress on her so far this month. I've updated my WIP list here on my blog so you can see what I am currently working on. It's a little slim at the moment, but fear not! I know it will be growning bigger soon!

One of the big projects from last year has been finished. This is Samantha's Perch in all her glory. I used 36ct Confederate Gray linen and DMC. She's so lifelike - I expect to hear her meow!

To see some of the other things I finished at the end of last year, please check out my PictureTrail albums. The 2009 Finishes & the CCS & Craft Gifts albums have both been updated.

I will do my best to not let this go so long. Not promising anything...but I'll try! LOL

Give-Away Alert!!!

2009-08-25T14:30:00.004-05:00

My wonderful friend Jan, of Only One Ewe Needleworks, is celebrating the release of her first design with a free pattern give-away!

Introducing....
Rare Treasures from Tree of Life Samplings

Please go to her blog, Belfonte Notes, and leave a comment to be entered into the drawing!

Major Happy Dance!!!!!

2009-08-25T10:17:00.005-05:00

Big time! Sleepy Hollow is finished!!!!

Cricket Collection's Sleepy Hollow
28ct PTP Mystic, using DMC and some WDWs.
(Click on the pictures to get a bigger view.)

This piece was a lot of fun to stitch and watch it come to life. I must say that the 2 roofs took a bit of tedious stitching time, but a minor annoyance considering the finished product!

And Another Stitchey Post!

2009-08-25T10:09:00.003-05:00

Here was my first big finish for August. I was stitching this for the OOE SNS and finished it on the 8th.

Americana Sampling from LHN
32ct Natural Raw Linen and CC's (from the kit)

And I thought you would like to see the backing fabric that I found for Jayden's Gingerbread Man Stocking. I saw this several weeks ago and it just wasn't in the budget but I was very grateful that it was still available when I went back to get it. I don't think there could be a more perfect fabric for this stocking!

Thank you all for your wonderful comments!

A Stitchey Update!

2009-08-25T09:51:00.008-05:00

First up are the WIPs...

This is an older one. The 1st of 6 ornaments in Dimension's Timeless Elegance Ornaments kit. I was originally going to do these for my mother's book club ladies as their Christmas gifts last year. However, once I got going and realized how much work would be going into each one, the time restraints just weren't going to make that possible and we chose something else for them. In the mean time, this has been sitting at the bottom of my WIP drawer in the same state it was since last December! I decided that I wanted to get them finished up and then Mom could use them as gifts for whomever she wished this year so the kit has been shifted up near the top. This heart is nearly 5" wide! As you can see there is a lot of "fussy stuff" that will need to be done once they are stitched.

Since I finished my latest SNS project earlier in the month, I started working on another of the Barbara Baatz Birthday Fairies. I already have January and February done and it was one of my goals this year to get these finished up thru June. Well....yeah, right! I decided to start working on the March one for my next SNS piece and have made good progress for the 1st 2 Saturday stitching time. These are done on 14ct white aida (to match the 1st 2) using DMC, blending filament (in the wings) and Mill Hill beads. Here is my 1st 2 weeks of progress...

Welcome Caleb Allen!

2009-08-25T09:32:00.004-05:00

It's been several weeks since I last posted but they have been filled with a lot of happenings!

First & foremost being that I became a Great-Aunt...again! LOL Caleb Allen was born 1 month early on Aug 13th, weighing in at 5lbs, 13.1 oz. He did have a bit of a rough time at the beginning since his lungs weren't quite developed enough yet. He spent the first week and 2 days of his life in the NICU. But he progressed rapidly and last Saturday his parents were able to bring him home. What a difference a week makes!
This was taken on the 15th:

And this was taken just this past weekend after he came home.

I can't wait 'til I get to meet this precious little bundle. Hopefully it will be this weekend when I'm out for one of his cousin's 2nd birthday party.

Caleb is the 6th "Great" for me. He's the 5th Great-nephew. So far we have Caleb (yep another one!), Nathan, Jayden, Raymond-John (RJ), Becca (the only niece so far), and then Caleb. We have 2 more babies expected in February and March! I will be stitching stockings and birth samplers for many years to come - especially if they don't slow down!

2 Small finishes

2009-08-07T09:55:00.002-05:00

These are actually from last month! One was my mother's birthday gift so I didn't want to post it until after she had seen it. One of my stitching friends had done this several years ago and I thought it would be a great gift for Mom. I found it on sale and have had it in my stash for a couple of years and re-located it during my last stash-diving session! This was a kit from Stoney Creek. It came with everything needed to complete it. The pattern actually called for a cluster of 5 french knots in the center of the lazy daisy flower, but I opted for only one. I like the simplicity of just the one.

And this pretty ornament is from Milady's Needle. It's their 2004 Woodland Ornament freebie. I used a 32ct Cream scrap and the called for DMC. It had a dark blue border that I decided to leave off.

Thanks for stopping by!

Gingerbread Man Stocking is Finished!!!

2009-08-06T15:52:00.002-05:00

Jayden's stocking is completed and will be given to Mom on Sunday to be finished into a stocking. I left off most of the embellishments. I decided not to use the beads at all. I did replace some of them with french knots - mostly for the center of buttons and also for the stars (which I did with DMC's Silver metallic). It's such a fun, bright piece and I wish I could be there when Jayden sees it. Maybe they'll take a picture? Anywho... Here is the current picture. I hope to take a better one and replace this one, and I'll also have to get the other info as well and update this post since I'm too scatterbrained to remember to bring it with me to work!

Now I just have 5 more to do... RJ & Becca, and then 3 new ones due soon!

Thank you to all of you who check in with me thru my blog. I really appreciate your wonderful comments!

A Wonderful Birthday Weekend!

2009-08-06T15:11:00.002-05:00

My DB David & SIL Joy planned this wonderful weekend for Mom & I for our birthdays (mine was the 31st, Mom's was the 2nd). They treated us to a weekend of Community Theater and shopping in Madison! We were joined by another DB & SIL (Steve & Mary) for Saturday nite. It took about an hour to drive up there from home and we left about 2 on Saturday afternoon. We got checked in to our hotel rooms and then headed out to do a bit of shopping before supper and the play that night. Dinner was at Chili's and was delicious! We had a wonderful server, Adam, who made certain that we had everything we needed. Then we headed north to Prairie du Sac to see Joseph & the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. Mom & I were both familiar with this play, but neither my DB's or SIL's had seen it before. The production was wonderful and we all enjoyed the performance as well as the trip to Culver's afterwards!

Sunday morning we all met for the breakfast bar and then Steve & Mary headed back to Illinois (with a stop off at The Flower Farm - thanks to Mom cluing Mary in about it! LOL). The remaining 4 of us headed off in search of Half-Price Books. Little did I know there was a LNS there - and of course it was closed! Will definitely have to check it out next time we are up there! I found a couple of hard-back CS books at the book store - those ones that sell for $19.95, marked down to less than $5. OK, they were barely under $5 at $4.98, but hey! Definitely a bargain! We had McDonald's for lunch as the time was running short and we needed to head south to Oregon for the play that afternoon. Another superb performance of community theater! Once Upon A Mattress was hilarious! Mom was sitting next to my DB David and she said he giggled thru the entire thing! After that, we headed back down to Illinois and home. Got home between 6 and 6:30 and then went over to their house (right across the street) for pizza. Mom & I watched a movie before I headed back to my house about 10:30.

I took Monday and Tuesday off from work (I needed it to rest up from the busy weekend!) and Monday was a totally do-nothing day for me. I did stitch in the late afternoon and evening, but otherwise just kind of vegged all day. It was GREAT! Tuesday, I met Mom at the antique malls (5 of them!) attached to a car museum and we spent the afternoon together searching for treasures. And I'm going back to the antique malls because they had one area that had older Hot Wheels for sale and DB David collects them. I have his "want" list and will go there Saturday morning to see if I can find some of them for him.

It was really hard to get back into the groove for work on Wednesday morning, but what a wonderful 4 day birthday celebration! And I need to thank my SIL Joy for planning the weekend and to both DBs & SILs for treating Mom & I to such a great weekend.

Jury Duty!

2009-07-23T11:21:00.004-05:00

Yes, I am on jury duty call this week. We reported to a county courthouse Monday morning and after the orientation spent the majority of the day in the jury assembly room(s). It's been a while since the last time I was called for this service and I must say that, while it is an inconvenience because things at work aren't getting done, it was very painless! With computers loaded with games, 3 computers with internet access, a room that had board games and jigsaw puzzles and a TV, the county made it very easy to spend the time waiting. I did get called Monday afternoon for a jury pool but wasn't chosen. Tuesday we were told we didn't need to report and yesterday's call to the info line sent me from work to the courthouse for the afternoon (another jury pool and subsequent dismissal). I just found out a short while ago that my service is finished. So ends my 3rd jury duty call for my life-time. I'm proud to be in a country where it is every citizen's right to a trial. It is an honor to serve.

On the stitching front, I got a good bit more done on my SNS project this past weekend. Here's it's current state...

Americana Sampling from LHN
It's a fun stitch and I'm looking forward to working on it more this weekend.

I've also got to tell you about Jan's special giveaway to celebrate her granddaughter's birth! Click on this link - Celebratory Giveaway for the details. She's got a great package put together for the winner! Good Luck!

I've been concentrating on an RR piece this week. It's a 10hr RR and I'm nearly finished with my 10hrs. I'll post a pic when I've got it done - tomorrow probably, considering how little I have left to do to reach 10 hrs! LOL Then I will be going back to working on the Gingerbread Man stocking. I think I may just keep going on it until it's finished - I'm so very close and I think the weekend will see a finish!

Sending all my readers a wish for a wonderful day!!

A Great Weekend and a new start!

2009-07-13T11:57:00.005-05:00

I was lucky to have my niece Amy (15) stay with me over the weekend. I taught her and her older sister Bethany how to do ccs several years ago and they have both just taken off with it, making this Aunt very proud! We visited my LNS (Welcome Stitchery) on Saturday morning and were pleased to find out that the town was having their annual Sidewalk Sale this weekend. The shop had lots of things on the tables out front and while I found one small pattern, Amy found 3! Then on to inside and getting lost in the wonderful world of ccs! We did visit a few other places while we were there, but headed back to my area early in the afternoon because we planned to go see "Up" at the local movie theater that afternoon. "Up" is wonderful - silly, sad, and loads of fun - I highly recommend seeing it!

After the movie, we headed home to enjoy the rest of the day. I did some stash diving to find a new project for this week's SNS stitching time. Since I finished Deftly Wrought last week I got to indulge in a new start this week! I chose the LHN Americana Sampling kit and got a good start on it during the 4 hours I stitched. The kit included 28ct Raw Linen and CCs.

Amy worked on one of the kits she got today. There were 3 kits that she's going to do up as one gift for Christmas. And I was doubly thrilled because it was over 1 on 36ct linen!! You go, Amy!! After she finished up the one kit, she started working on another gift (birthday) and got a good amount done before she stopped stitching as well. She finished the birthday gift on Sunday. She stitched more than I did this weekend! We headed west to meet her folks for the "exchange" and I was pleasantly surprised to see that my Mom came with my DB & SIL to meet us. We had a scrumptious supper at Steak 'N Shake before going our separate ways.

Except for Saturday nights stitching, I've been concentrating on Jayden's Gingerbread Men stocking for the past week and have quite a bit more done. I'm currently working on the last of the gingerbread men, then it's just a bit more of the background and the final b/s (on the last 2 gingerbread men) before I can hand it off to Mom for finishing! Since I didn't set any true goals this month, I may push on and just finish it. I only have 1 other thing that I must stitch on this month (the 10hr RR piece) and it's great to feel the freedom to concentrate so much on one thing!

I hope you all have a wonderful week!

A busy holiday weekend!

2009-07-06T10:11:00.006-05:00

While I didn't do anything outside the house, I did enjoy my 3-day holiday weekend. I started out by treating myself to breakfast at the local family restaurant. I had been jonesing for their Strawberry Crepes and I certainly wasn't disappointed. They were totally yummy! I don't eat out alone like that very often, but I had my book and just enjoyed the experience. Then I headed to the Hallmark store to get cards, but also found out they were clearing out their ornament section to make room for this year's editions. I got 5 ornaments for $13!! Thinking ahead to Christmas gifts, that helped a lot! I made another stop at K-Mart and then got gas before heading home. And it's still Friday! LOL

I puttered in my stash room a bit and ran across something that I could use for a baby gift. My dear friend Jan of Only One Ewe Needleworks became a 1st time Nana on Thursday. Alexandra Catherine was born at 12:53AM! I found a cute little pattern and made these up for her.

I worked on Let Freedom Ring the remainder of the day Friday, while watching good old classics - Mr. Roberts, Yankee Doodle Dandy, etc. I managed to finish the bell on Friday. It is the largest solid stitching on the piece and I'm glad it's behind me. I got more done yesterday and will probably work on it again sometime this week. It's 1 strand over 2 on 40ct so I can only work on it for so long before I go cross-eyed! LOL

The big accomplishment for the weekend was getting Deftly Wrought finished during the SNS this weekend. I just love the verse on this, it's what drew me to the piece in the first place. Jan's conversions are just beautiful aren't they? The fabric is 32ct Maple Sugar and the threads are CCs.

I did get to see some fireworks from my front door. There's a small private country club a few blocks from me and they had a fireworks display. They were louder than I would have liked since they were so close, but what I saw was lovely. I did have one of my furbabies freak out with them going off. Surprisingly it was the youngest and the toughest - Bo! He didn't like them one bit! The other 2 slept thru most of them.

It was a nice quiet weekend and a wonderful stitching weekend for me. Now I'm back at work for another slow week, but I can look forward to the weekend because my niece Amy is staying with me and we will be visiting my LNS for a shopping trip! I've already started my list! LOL

Thank you for your kind comments! Have a wonderful week!

Here's the VanTasel house!

2009-07-06T10:07:00.003-05:00

As promised, here is the finished manor house on Sleepy Hollow. I did take a picture of the entire piece, but it came out blurry so I'll re-take it and post it later this month. Probably after I get some more work done on the piece. It took nearly 3 skeins of Weeks London Fog to stitch this roof.

Finishing this means that I have only 1 side of the piece to complete. The Old Dutch Church, the graveyard, 1 more tree, and the moon. I should have it finished before Halloween!

Bits & Pieces

2009-06-30T14:19:00.006-05:00

The semi-lazy days of summer have commenced and altho I work Monday thru Friday, I try to stuff a lot of doings into my evenings and weekends. Of course, when you have a weekend such as I did 2 weeks ago, it throws off the balance. I was miserable. My A/C wasn't working and the house was a constant 84* inside! Saturday wasn't too bad because it was still somewhat cool inside because the system stopped working sometime on Friday. But by Sunday, the temps were climbing inside as well as outside (upper 90s). I couldn't get anyone to do repairs until Tuesday (don't even get me started on that story!) but suffice it to say that I am totally enjoying the A/C now that it is back up and running. And just in time for 2 days of upper 60 degree weather! LOL

Altho I had a couple of days when the heat inside affected my stitching plans (it was just too hot one day to even consider doing anything but vegging in front of the fans and the TV) I did manage a new start - Patriotic, of course for the upcoming holiday. I had been stash diving and ran across this sale purchase from Hobby Lobby. It's an old Little River design that calls for WDWs. It's the first pattern I've done where they used the letter of the floss color as the symbol on the chart. It makes is so much easier to stitch without having to check the symbol list all the time. I don't have much done so I don't have a pic of my progress yet. I plan on working on it during the 3-day holiday weekend.

A small disappointment was my non-finish of Deftly Wrought. It's my own fault. I messed up on that center floral border back when I first started the piece and didn't realize it until I had the outside border done to the opposite side. Yep - it didn't line up...GRRRRR! So the first hour of my SNS time Saturday was spent with Mr. Frog and then another hour to replace what I'd ripped out. At least I know it's correct now and the finish should come this Saturday night. After working on all 4 of the mini samplers over 1, it seems like the stitches I'm doing now are huge!

And a finish! This is my June Ornament. I found it in one of my older JC mags (Dec 89). I stitched it on 32ct Summer Khaki with DMC. I think it has an old-world charm to it.

I have also finished the left side of Sleepy Hollow and will post a pic of that this weekend. The manor house with the huge roof looks awesome and now I can't wait to work on the Old Dutch Church, it's graveyard, and the moon that are all on the right side of the bridge.

Happy Stitching!

Shop Model finish!

2009-06-16T09:08:00.005-05:00

I put the buttons on Checkered Halloween last night and this piece is so cute! It kind of threw me when I saw that the spider body button only had one hole but if I had read the pattern directions for attaching the button, I wouldn't have been surprised as it makes much more sense to have one hole than 2! The border was repetitive so once I got the pattern down, it went by pretty fast. It's all pressed and ready to be sent off as a shop model.

Last night I got a bit more done on Deftly Wrought so that I would be back on track for a finish on it this month.

I hope everyone has a great day!

A finish from the weekend!

2009-06-15T11:16:00.005-05:00

Last week I had planned on working on both Checkered Halloween and Simply Live, hoping to finish Checkered Halloween and then going on to Simply Live. Well, the best laid plans... Simply Live was calling to me and I answered about half-way thru the week! Needless to say, I started working on it on Wednesday evening and it occupied my stitching-time hands until it was finished early Saturday afternoon. The fabric is 32ct PTP's Ale and the thread pallet is Crescent Colours, converted by Jan, owner of Only One Ewe Needleworks.

And not to be left out, I worked on Checkered Halloween yesterday after finishing Simply Live and it is complete except for the buttons, which I will add tonight. So I still managed to reach my goal, I just switched their order!

Have a great day, my friends!

Deftly Wrought progress

2009-06-10T15:03:00.005-05:00

I am really enjoying working on this pretty Midsummer Night Designs piece. Altho it is a challenge to stitch the over 1 samplers along the top, they are coming along faster than I expected them to. I have 2 completed and the 3rd one more than half way done. I just know that once these are done the remainder of the stitching will just fly! I'm stitching this on 32ct Sugar Maple using CC conversions. Here is what I completed this past Saturday night during the OOE SNS...

The year goes in the middle of the flourish and I will chart my name this week so that I can add it under "made by".

I've been working on Checkered Halloween since Sunday and nearly have the border completed. I may continue on this until I'm finished as there isn't much left to do after the border is done. Be watching for an update!

Pardon my slip!

2009-06-05T15:43:00.008-05:00

I've slipped a bit on getting some posting done. I've actually been busy at work and I haven't had the time to post any updates. And boy, do I have updates! LOL Here are the current states of my WIP's...

1st up is Checkered Halloween from M Designs. I'm stitching this as a shop model and is it fun! Watch for an update on this one, as it's next on my list of pieces to work on.

I started an SAL with this pretty piece from Primitive Needleworks. I'm using PTP's Ale and a pastel conversion done by Jan from Only One Ewe Needleworks. The colors are just popping on this fabric!

Deftly Wrought from Midsummer Night Designs is my SNS piece. I've got 2 of the mini samplers completed. I just love the 2nd one!

Jayden's Gingerbread Stocking is coming along great. I expect to have this done in another couple of months so he can actually use it this year (he was 2 in January!).

I've got more than half of the huge roof done on the Van Tasel's home in Sleepy Hollow. I'm using 2 different blends of London Fog for the roof.

And last, the one I'm really excited about. This is another 21 hours on Samantha's Perch. I will probably be able to finish her this summer. WooHoo!

Another Ornament stitched!

2009-05-19T14:40:00.003-05:00

Remember this one from January? This was my January Ornament, Woodland Angel Mini Stocking, done on Xmas red 14ct Aida.

I decided to stitch it's companion for my May Ornament. There's something about the stark contrast of the white and green against that o-so Red fabric - I love the way it looks! I found these in an old BH&G magazine. It never hurts to look thru those old issues as you never know what treasures you may have missed, right?!

And, of course, this wasn't on my long ornament list of ones that I want to stitch. LOL I'm constantly finding something else to stitch instead of what's on that list. Guess I should just consider my list a guideline since I'm very rarely picking something from it. Works for me!

2nd Round RR piece

2009-05-18T14:10:00.003-05:00

The 10hr RR that I'm participating in is currently in it's second round. I'm working on Judith's Enchanted Alphabet from L&L piece for this round and have just finished up my time on it. Brenda had it before me and had stitched the main body of the dress and her little hand, as well as the outlining on the face & hand. I finished the dress by stitching the ruffle and then did the outlining on the dress. Now it's all ready to be sent on to Jan in early June. Isn't she the sweetest little girl?

A nice quiet weekend!

2009-05-18T13:56:00.003-05:00

After a wishy-washy week at work, it sure was nice to just relax and enjoy for 2 days! I started Saturday by going to the movies - the new Star Trek film. Despite the fact of having to pay $7.25 for a matinee (are you kidding me???!!!), the movie was excellent and I can see more coming in the franchise with a fresh new cast. After the movie, I headed to Wal-Mart. I had a few things I wanted to get and picked up a few others that weren't on my list. It always seems that happens so I never go there unless I have a little extra in the checking account! LOL After that, I stopped at Blockbuster to peruse their used movies for sale. I belong to Netflix so I never go there anymore. The place was dead! 1:30 on a Saturday afternoon and they were empty. I managed to leave there with a few VHS replacements and a few new (but used) titles that I was looking for. Then groceries (not a lot needed this week for a change), gas to fill up my tank, and then home. I started laundry and put some more things away in my stash room, put away my Easter decorations, put away the laundry, and then headed for my stitching chair. The OOE SNS piece I'm working on (Deftly Wrought by Midsummer Night Designs) was waiting for me and I stitched a good 4-1/2 hours and finished the first mini sampler!

Sunday was another quiet one - slept 'til 10:30, which felt wonderful. Caught up on the OOE board, did the dishes, puttered about a bit and then headed for my stitching chair to work on my ornament for this month. Finished that and picked up Jayden's stocking for the remainder of the evening. I will post pics on Deftly Wrought and my ornament tomorrow. Never got that far yesterday - too lazy!

Next weekend is a 3-day paradise thanks to Memorial Day. I've got lots of plans and probably should be making up a list of things I want to get accomplished. That might help me focus and get things done. Remember, I said "might". LOL

Every one have a super week!

WIP Madness!

2009-05-13T11:37:00.007-05:00

I've got quite a few piece in progress, and try to work on all of them during the course of each month - usually about 10 hrs per piece. There is one in particular that is sitting in the bottom of my pile that I will post about eventually, but here are the ones I have going right now.

Checkered Halloween from M Designs - This is the kit that I'm stitching for a shop model. I really enjoy working on the checkered fabric. It's easy to tell when you are off! I've got quite a bit done on the interior - the border is going to take a while!

Jayden's stocking is more than half way done! Can I hear a "WooHoo!" I have another G-man started and after he is finished, there are only 2 left! I've been doing the backstitching as I go along so once everything is stitched, I'll only have to go back and do some french knots. Jayden will have his stocking for this Christmas!!

Here's Samantha! The bottom half of the chart is complete, including the backstitching. The only area I couldn't do was her back since the porch pillar and trellis are there.

And here is Sleepy Hollow!!! The roof of the Van Tasel home is huge! There are another 10-12 rows above the dormer windows, as well as 3 chimneys! I've got 3 skeins of London Fog for the roof. 2 are more gray and dark gray and 1 leans more toward dark brown. I've been switching back and forth with 1 strand of each and then 2 strands of the dark gray. So far I like the effect.

Thanks for looking!

2 Finishes!

2009-05-13T11:08:00.004-05:00

I've had 2 finishes since the last time I posted. The first is my April ornament. This came from a freebie handout and was designed by Val's Stuff. It called for 30ct Sugarplum but I wanted a blue background so I used 28ct Antique Blue Jobelin along with the CC's and 2 JABCO buttons. I knew I would have to stitch this as soon as I saw the handout!

My latest project for the OOE SNS was this "oldie" from the Dec 02 issue of The CrossStitcher. It's been on my "I just have to stitch these before I die" List for a long time and I thought the SNS would be a perfect time to start working on that list. I only stitch on the SNS pieces on Saturday night - which can be very frustrating 'cause we all know there are times when we just want to keep going 'til something is finished! This was designed by Ursula Michaels and I stitched it on 36ct Edinburgh Flax using the called-for DMC threads. I just love the blue flowers and the way they seem to burst with color!

My current SNS piece is Deftly Wrought, from Midsummer Night Designs. The colors have been converted to something more in line with my favorites and while the 4 over-1 samplers along the top are a challenge, I am enjoying the piece a lot! Here it is with the original colors.

I will do another post with my current WIPs later today. (It's quiet at work, can you tell! LOL)

Help! Work is getting in the way!

2009-05-07T15:39:00.003-05:00

Of adding to my blog, that is! I can't believe that I haven't posted anything in nearly a month!

Before, I had time during the work day to post the occasional update. Lately, we've been very busy. Good for work and good for the work-day going by quickly, but very bad for my posting time! LOL And don't even get me started about how far behind I am on reading other blogs!

I do intend to get caught up soon. It's been a busy month for stitching and I've got a lot to report. Sit Tight! I'll be back soon for an update.

Round Robin Fun!

2009-04-10T10:34:00.003-05:00

On OOE, 6 of us are just finishing up the 1st round of a 10hr RR. (We each work at least 10hrs on everyone's RR piece during each round.) Brenda sent Namesake Sampler by MBT and I just finished my time stitching on her pretty piece. It's a BIG piece and there's a lot of work left yet, but I'm happy with what I got finished for her during it's stay at my house.
Here's what it looked like when I received it...

And here's the upper corner where I worked on it. Sorry about the differences in the color. The before picture is a bit more purplish blue than it should be.

Those large letters are definitely a challenge! I didn't expect it to take as long as it did to stitch each one but they are so elegant, aren't they? The mailing date for the RR is tomorrow, but since I will be heading to Indiana to visit Jan next weekend, I will be bringing it with me to hand it over in person. Thanks for choosing to send this for the RR, Brenda! It was fun to stitch on and I can't wait to see how much is completed before it gets back to you.

I've got almost 10 more hours in on Sleepy Hollow so I will be posting a pic of that next week. My Easter weekend is busy with family things and I hope everyone has a wonderful time celebrating the holiday.

That's all for now!

Busy Busy Busy!!!

2009-04-06T11:42:00.008-05:00

March and early April ended up being very productive, stitching-wise, for me. I got a lot of quality stitching time in and made some great progress on my WIPs and also got 3 finishes! Always a good reason for happy dancing! LOL

I started The Sunflower Seed's "Hilltop Season" in mid-January. And stitching only during the OOE board's SNS, I got it all finished last week! The fabric is 36ct Vintage Luna and the threads are GAST. What a fun stitch!

My second finish is Ewe Gathering by Jan Alexander. Jan designed this for the 2008 OOE Retreat ladies and had it all kitted up for us. I stitched it on 40ct Vintage Pearled Barley, using 1 strand of the CC's & 1 GAST that came with it. I chose to stitch the grass like I was working with DMC, not individually but all the way across one way and then back. I like the effect, don't you?

And remember I mentioned a few posts back about this cute piece from Mosey 'N Me? Well, here it is, all finished. I've got lots of extra fabric to make a pillow out of this (the pillow idea is in my head, so we'll see if it works out! LOL). The fabric is 26ct Hickory Heatherfield and the threads are DMC and NN's.

And here are my WIP updates...

I'm really excited about the progress on Samantha's Perch. I now have the total width of the piece in front of me and only have a little bit of the white (3 strands!) railing to finish before I can do some of the b/s and then start working on the background vines and flowers.

I've also added another Gingerbread man to Jayden's stocking. I call this fellow Mr. Bow - I just love his big green bow! Next step on this is to do some more b/s before I start working on the last 3 gbrd men.

And last, but certainly not least, is a Sleepy Hollow update. I've got the porch started on the VanTassel's home but I also stitched the tree and 2 more pumpkins and the crow. I'm anxious to actually get more of the house done on this. This also shows the left margin on this piece.

Well, I think I've rambled on long enough. Sorry for the super-long post, but I wanted to get everything caught up! I started a new project this last Saturday during the SNS, "Speak to the Earth" by Ursula Michaels (from the Dec 02 CrossStitcher mag) and will post a progress picture on that next week - I'd really like to have a bit more done before I post a picture.

I hope every one has a wonderful week!!!

What a week!

2009-03-28T14:07:00.003-05:00

This past week at work has been blissfully busy! I've had quite a few days in the past where I spent most of my day surfing the internet. While this may seem like a wonderful way to pass the day, keep in mind that I couldn't spend money so shopping was out! LOL And, after several days, what do you look up?

We had a wonderful turn at the LV trade show and I have been busy ever since they all returned. The order file is full of orders to process and ship and we also have some new merchandise coming in soon. By the time I left work for home, my brain was numb! A good feeling but being that busy has not allowed me to update my blog during lunch, which seems to be the only time I can do it lately. But here I am on Saturday, being good and getting it done - altho be warned - my stitching chair is screaming at me right now! LOL

This past week has seen 2 finishes. The first is a pattern I picked up during my January visit to my super friend Jan, owner of Only One Ewe Needleworks, (who's currently running a super sale, so go check it out!). She had the perfect fabric, not the dark fabric used in the model, but a lighter one that was just right. Then she helped me find the perfect 3 colors to go with the new fabric. I started it at her house that weekend and finished it earlier this week. This is Hot Chocolate from Little By Little. I used 28ct By the Bay Blue and 2 CCs (Heatherleigh & Bamboo) and 1 GAST (Mistletoe).

Also finished this week was my ornament for March. I decided on Winter's Eve by CCN, using the called for threads. But for some unknown reason, chose to stitch it over one. I used a 30ct scrap for the fabric.

I hope to have another finish this evening during the OOE board's SNS. I just need to finish the Winter square on The Sunflower Seed's Hilltop Seasons! Wish me luck!

Giving in to temptation!

2009-03-13T08:22:00.003-05:00

Well, I started something new last night. I hadn't planned to, but the urge was there and I decided not to fight it! I've had this Mosey N Me piece kitted for quite a while and it will work up pretty fast as it's not very complicated and doesn't have very many color changes. I'm stitching it on 26ct Hickory Heatherfield and it's looking great. This fabric is darker than what's called for, but the colors are really popping off the fabric.

I've gotten more completed on the Gingerbread stocking and on Sleepy Hollow as well this month. Very happy with my current goal progress and am looking forward to maybe getting back to both of these at the end of the month, if I have some spare time left over.

A Labor of Love!

2009-03-11T13:10:00.005-05:00

In the fall of '05, my Mom picked up L&L's The Quiltmaker pattern on sale and asked if I would stitch it for her - when I had time. I started my first L&L pattern on Jan 1 2006 and on Feb 28 2009, I put the last few stitches on her. Altho labor-intensive in certain areas, I was amazed at how fast the last part of this piece stitched up. I know Mom will be thrilled when I bring her the finished piece on Friday. And I don't think it will be unframed for very long as she already knows where she wants to hang it.
L&L's The Quiltmaker - stitched on 36ct Vintage Country Mocha using DMC threads.

Here is an update on The Sunflower Seed's "Hilltop Seasons" as well. I've been working on this exclusively on Saturday nites during the OOE board's SNS. I wish the picture were better but I'm still trying to get the right color levels. The fabric is Vintage Luna and I'm using GAST threads. It's a surprisingly fast stitch!

Thanks for visiting!!

Saying Goodbye!

2009-02-24T11:57:00.002-06:00

...to my Febuary stitching goals, that is! I was doing quite well on my stitching goals this month until I started working on L&L's The Quiltmaker. I really didn't have a lot to do to finish this beauty, but I figured I would stay the course and work the planned 15 hours this month and finish her next month. Welllll - forget that! LOL After 16 plus hours, the little girl's skirt is nearly finished and all I have left are the half-circle of quilt blocks over the quilter's head. I just can't stop now! That finish is calling to me, heck, it's YELLING at me and I don't want to ignore it. So the remaining uncompleted goals are being tossed out the window and I'm on to a long-awaited finish on this piece for my Mom. Be watching for the completed piece - I should be posting it this weekend!

An RR and a gift!

2009-02-19T13:56:00.003-06:00

I have joined 5 other ladies in a WIP RR and I got this lovely piece from Brenda yesterday for the first round. It's "Namesake Sampler" from My Big Toe Designs and what a joy it will be to work on this for her. I just have to decide where to start!

Mom brought this for me when she came on Friday evening. She felt really bad about not getting my made gift for Christmas completed, but I certainly didn't mind waiting for this pretty nutcracker! I just love it!

A Great Valentine's Day!

2009-02-16T16:04:00.005-06:00

Normally I avoid VDay. It's not a favorite holiday for various reasons. This year was a wonderful one 'cause I spent the day with my Mom, doing "girl" things! We spent the day away from the house, leaving about 9:15 and not getting back until after 7:30!

Our first destination was the shops in downtown Crystal Lake, IL. There are a lot of neat gift shops there as well as a great fabric shop, an imported cheese store, and my favorite place there, Welcome Stitchery. I could spend the entire day there, but I just bought a boat-load of wonderful goodies thru my favorite supplier - Only One Ewe Needleworks, so we limited our time in there so I wouldn't be tempted. Mom always enjoys going in there because there isn't anything like it where she lives. Hobby Lobby and Michael's are her choices for cross stitch stuff...ugh! We ate lunch at our favorite place in Crystal Lake, Around the Clock. I had a turkey croissant and she had a grilled cheese. We wanted to eat light so we would have room for a piece of their delicious sugar-free chocolate cream pie, which we split.

Then we headed back to my neck of the woods so she could visit Joann Fabrics and Hobby Lobby - I wanted to look at their scrap-booking stuff for school theme stickers. Then we went to the movies! If you don't have plans to see "Confessions of a Shopaholic" make them! It was hilarious! After the movie, we stopped at KFC for our take-home supper and spent the remainder of the evening watching "Friends" episodes. She had to head for bed early as she was needed at her church on Sunday morning and had to be out the door and on her way before 8am. (I ceremoniously headed back to bed after waving goodbye! LOL)

It was a great VDay for once. I spent the day with Mom, neither of us were by ourselves, and we had a blast! Love you, Mom!

A Round-Robin trip begins!

2009-02-13T15:17:00.009-06:00

Tomorrow is the beginning of a WIP round-robin with 5 of my friends on the OOE board. I am sending out Rosewood Manor's Window Sill of Heaven in it's current state (click on the pic to get a larger view):

I've also sent along a barely-started Moonlit Garden from Blackbird Designs, just in case Window Sill is completed before all the rotations are complete. This is going to be a fun RR and I can't wait to work on the other pieces! The rules are to work at least 10 hrs on each piece during the 2 month time frame you will have it. I won't see my package back for a year but I will post on what I'm working on as I get them.

My Current SNS piece

2009-02-09T16:19:00.011-06:00

I have decided to help myself with the urge to start something new - that I will use Saturday night's SNS to work on new projects only. This way I can start something to satisfy that craving and work on it only on SNS night until it's completed. Then I can start another new piece. If I start only small to moderate pieces, I should be able to cross off a bunch of things on my "I just have to stitch this before I die!" list.

My current project, started on Jan 17th, is The Sunflower Seeds "Hilltop Seasons". This is such a fun piece to stitch and it stitches up pretty fast. In 4 SNS nights, I've gotten Spring finished and have most of the Summer border complete. I'm trying very hard to get the color right when I take a pic but it's not quite there yet. I'm getting closer! Lakeside's Vintage Luna (36ct) using GAST threads.

Forgive me but...

2009-02-09T16:15:00.012-06:00

I must gush about one of my WIPs. The Cricket Collections' "Sleepy Hollow" is looking awesome!!! I'm using PTP's Mystic and the colors are so dramatic on this gorgeous fabric! The center section is complete as of last Thursday and I'm going to take a break before adding the side pieces. I'm doing it all in one piece, as opposed to stitching each piece separate. Is this gorgeous or what?!

Where did January go?!

2009-02-09T15:55:00.005-06:00

I had really planned on posting more than once a month, but lately that seems to be all I can do. I will keep trying to do them closer together so that they won't be so long.

I had a small piece finish last month. It was a fun stitch and a quick one too. HIH's Cat Sampler. I used a scrap and the called for threads except for 1 DMC sub 'cause I didn't have the OD in my stash.

I also got quite a bit done on my WIPs in January. It was sure nice to see some of these again after all the Christmas gift pieces I stitched in November & January!
L&L's Quiltmaker hasn't been out since September and I feel quite bad about that. She's so close to being finished and now that I'm working on her again, I hope to have this one completed by the end of March.

Another piece that has gotten some more attention is the Gingerbread Stocking for my Great-Nephew Jayden. It now actually has a gingerbread man on it! I got more outlining done as well.

Last but not least, Ewe Gathering is more than 2/3 finished. Lots of grass on this one but I'm stitching with the OD thread like I would if it were DMC so it's going a lot faster. I like the effect, looks more like grass this way.

Happy Stitching & TTFN!

Very 1st 2009 Finish!

2009-01-05T09:33:00.003-06:00

Thanks to the OOE board, I've been able to add to my stitched ornaments collection. I try to do at least 1 every month, and while I have been getting at least 12 done every year for the past few years, not all of them are finished into ornaments. Ok - only about 1/4 of them are! LOL

This is this year's 1st ornament. It's from an old 1989, I think, BH&G Christmas magazine and is called Woodland Angel Mini Stocking. I used red aida and 2 DMC colors. I could have done it on linen but I didn't have the right color red that I wanted and this particular aida fabric was a bit stiff, giving the stitches a nice crisp look.

My "ornaments to stitch" list has at least 3 doz ornaments on it, so I will have lots of choices during the year. Of course, I always seem to find some that aren't on my list to stitch as well! I'm going to try to stick to going from my list this year tho as some of them have been on my list since I started it and I certainly don't want to be accused of neglecting my own choices, right?

End of the year update!

2009-01-02T10:20:00.008-06:00

*This post is very picture intensive, so I apologize for the slow loading for anyone who has a slower internet speed. Remember, you can click on any picture for a larger view.

Now that we have started 2009, and are past the holidays, I wanted to catch everyone up on the Christmas gifts and work that I've been doing for the past month. I will endeavor to post more often in 2009, but I'm not making any promises, LOL!

First off - the Christmas gifts that I couldn't post until they were received. In order, we have 1. Mom's "What My Mother Taught Me" - verse taken from a embroidery sampler I saw in a catalog and my design for the remainder - 2. My brother David's John Deere tractor long-sleeve t-shirt, 3. My SIL Joy's Quilt Magic hummingbird piece, 4. Niece Amy's Needle Guardian - I used black felt for the pages - 5. Niece Bethany's Dragonfly Tote Bag, 6. Bethany's hubby Rory's Superman short-sleeve t-shirt, & last but not least 7. Great Nephew RJ's Noah's Ark Tissue Box.
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I also worked on 2 WIPs during December (to take a break from all the gift-making!). I got in over 5 hours each on Ewe Gathering by Jan Alexander and Sleepy Hollow.

That leaves my last 2 finishes for 2008.
The Red Thread Snapper by Bent Creek (click on the pics to see it larger):

And an old RR that was completed in 2006. These are Fantasy Teapots from Cross My Heart, Inc. Each of the other 5 ladies stitched 2 pots each. I've added the cabinet border and the outlining on the shelves.

I'm looking forward to a very productive cross stitching year in 2009. I have The Quiltmaker, Samantha's Perch, Sleepy Hollow, Ewe Gathering, and Jayden's Gingerbread stockings to finish - and a bunch more that I want to start (and finish for some!).

Have a wonderful 2009!

Christmas Gift crazy!!

2008-12-03T13:02:00.003-06:00

I haven't posted anything for a couple of weeks as I have been busy busy working on Christmas gifts that can't be talked about on here! Too many family members are nosey and may check my blog to see if I mention anything - you know who you are! LOL

Suffice it to say that things are moving quite well with my Christmas projects. Out of the 7 made gifts I need for the family, 3 are complete - 2 are partially done - and the other 2 are kitted. And I have one friend's gift that needs to be framed. And it's only the 3rd! I'm happy - everything will get done on time!

Other than gifts, I got 10 more hours in on my Sleepy Hollow piece and will try to get a picture posted soon.

More finishes...

2008-11-13T08:53:00.007-06:00

I finished assembling a plastic canvas Noah's Ark Tissue box cover for my great-nephew for Christmas. My first major pc project and found that it went together better than I thought it would....until I got to the sides of the ark! Either they made the deck too long or the sides too short 'cause it was a major pain to get them together. The deck is a bit warped but I know RJ (or his Mom or Dad) won't care.

I also finished a french piece that I started on the first SNSAL (Sat. Nite SAL) on my favorite cross stitch board, Only One Ewe. It's a pattern I've had kitted up since the retreat in June but other things have had to come before it and it kept getting pushed to the bottom of my WIP pile. The pattern calls for 2 dull DMC colors but I wanted something more vibrant. I chose 2 CCs, Sassy Brass and Night Nite, for my piece. It's stitched on a piece of 28ct Cream Edinburgh linen. This is Le Coeur Chat by Isabelle Vautier for Savoir-Faire Vailly.

I've also decided that the next big piece that I'll work on after I finish L&L's The Quiltmaker will be Mirabilia's Feather Fairy. I've order the fabric from Jan at Only One Ewe Needleworks and I can't wait to kit this beauty up. Here's what fabric I chose - Picture This Plus's Glacier Crystal:

That's about it for now.

Only one more month left!

2008-11-06T13:26:00.005-06:00

For the Bent Creek Red Thread Snappers, I mean! I finished up November last night. It was a fun stitch but the tablecloth was monotonous! I did try stitching it differently to see how it would turn out. I used the Lexington Green like regular thread and stitched in rows instead of individual stitches. I like the look! Here's November!

WIP update!

2008-10-31T15:37:00.010-05:00

Here are a couple of my WIPs after the October stitching time. The Gingerbread stocking is coming along nicely. I got a good amount done at the beginning of the month and I'm just about ready to actually stitch one of the gingerbread men!

I've got 2 new WIPs for this month. The first is a small french chart from Savoir-Faire Vailly called Le Coeur Chat. I'm stitching it on a cream scrap using 2 CCs - Sassy Brass & Nighty Night.

The second new WIP is Sleepy Hollow from The Cricket Collection. This is my incentive piece for the OOE BB. I'm using the called for threads and stitching it on Picture This Plus' Mystic.

That's it for now. Thanks for looking!

I finished a Christmas Gift!!!

2008-10-20T14:49:00.002-05:00

Wish I could post a pic, but the recipient may just check this blog so I can't risk it. I've got the stitching all done and will assemble it tonight - which will only take about 15 minutes. Now I've got only 6 more to go! LOL

A favorite has been framed!

2008-10-07T16:01:00.004-05:00

In 2003, I stitched Gettysburg for my Dad. My folks couldn't afford to get it framed and Dad passed away in 2006. Mom was determined to get it framed sooner than later so she added some of her own money to some birthday cash and this was the result. It will hang over Dad's desk and, when I get her finished, The Quiltmaker will hang next to it.

Well - Better Late than Never!

2008-10-07T15:42:00.006-05:00

I'm finally getting the opportunity to catch you all up on my current WIPs and finishes. It's long overdue, but life has been getting in the way of computer time (but NEVER stitching time! LOL). First off - the finishes: LHN's Brave Hearts, using 40ct Pearled Barley and Belle Soie silks (1 strand over 2)

And here are the Sept & Oct Red Thread Squares by Bent Creek. Only 2 more of these little ones to go!

And here are my current WIPs (with the exception of any Christmas gift currently under construction - sorry, but no peaking!!!)

Samantha's Perch - really coming along!

Jayden's Christmas Stocking:

Ewe Gathering - from the 2008 Only One Ewe Retreat - designed by

Jan Alexander, owner of Only One Ewe Needleworks

And last, but certainly not least... L&L's The Quiltmaker:

WIP updates coming soon!

2008-09-22T13:30:00.002-05:00

I've been kinda loaded down at work and I haven't had time on the weekends to get an update done up on my WIPs, but never fear! Be watching for an update soon. I've made some major progress on Quiltmaker, Samantha's perch, Gingerbread Stocking, and Brave Hearts is nearly finished!!! Plus I made a little gift that I can't share until it is received by my friend. I'll post that one too after I hear from her.

More to come!

Ornaments and WIPs

2008-08-25T13:17:00.007-05:00

Over the course of this month I've been a busy (and very content! LOL) stitcher. Now I can add 2 more finishes to my list this month. I hadn't planned on stitching 2 ornaments in August, but I couldn't decide between these 2 so I did them both! The Bent Creek ornament (Noel) is stitched on a 32ct scrap with WDW and GAST and the SamSarah (Kisses from Heaven) was done on 40ct Purple Iris using WDWs. I left the words off of Kisses because I just didn't like the way it was looking.

As for my WIPs, I've worked on The Quiltmaker, Brave Hearts, as well as Jayden's stocking. Plus I'm currently working on Samantha's Perch at the moment. Here are my progress pics for the 1st three. I'll post Samantha after I work on her some more.

The Red Thread Snapper

2008-08-13T15:30:00.005-05:00

I started this wonderful Bent Creek design as a SAL with my favorite OOE board. I've got the entire border stitched and I just finished the August Square. This is a fun piece to stitch on and very, very hard to put down every month! We only have 4 more months to go 'til it's all done!

2 Finishes!!!

2008-08-12T10:45:00.007-05:00

I finished these two up last week. All they needed to be finished were the borders, so I made certain they were the 1st 2 pieces on my August stitching list.

LHN's The Old Doll was stitched on 32ct Vintage Maple Sugar using the called for DMC & two Crescent Colours. This was my 2nd incentive piece finish for round #9. I already have an idea for framing, but it will have to wait until I can get a certain picture copy from my mother.

The 2nd piece is Nathan's birth sampler. Stiched on 18ct white aida with DMC, it's a mish-mash of different patterns. He already has his Christmas Stocking. Now it's on to Jayden's sampler (and then Raymond-John's & Bekka's!)

2 Finishes and a WIP...

2008-08-01T11:42:00.007-05:00

I finally got the iron out last night to iron Star Heart...For You by SamSarah so I could attach the buttons. I also ironed my July ornament since the iron was hot.

Star Heart was part of our gifts at the OOE Retreat in June. I don't know what the fabric name is, but the thread is Belle Soie Silks. I've got the backing fabric set aside when I get the opportunity (probably not until November when I work on ornament finishing!).

This is a kit that I got for Christmas last year. He stitched up pretty quick, altho the background took a bit of time.

Mary Engelbreit's Celestial Santa

This my WIP of LHN's Brave Hearts. I'm using Lakeside's 40ct Pearled Barley and Belle Soie Silks (which are yummy!!!). My goal in July was to complete the house, so I'm right on schedule!

Border Patrol!

2008-07-24T10:51:00.007-05:00

Here are 2 of my WIPs that just need borders to be complete!

#1 is Nathan's Birth Sampler. Designed by putting together various published patterns and stitched on 18ct white aida with DMC.

#2 is my 2nd incentive piece, called The Old Doll by LHN. I'm using 32ct Vintage Maple Sugar and CC.

Painting with floss!

2008-07-18T15:20:00.008-05:00

As a cross-stitcher, one of my favorite things about the craft is that I feel like I'm painting a picture while I stitch. And this is especially true when I work on a big piece. It's the main reason why I like to take pictures of my WIPs as I work on them. It amazes me to watch a piece progress from those first few stitches to a point where things start taking recognizable shape and form. As an example, here are just a few pictures of The Quiltmaker as it's grown from it's very beginnings to it's current form. If you would like to see these larger and see the others that I haven't posted here, please go to my Picturetrail WIP album (the link is up above).

Gingerbread Men Stocking

2008-07-10T15:36:00.005-05:00

I have 4 great-nephews and 1 great-niece that I am stitching for. When my nephews & nieces arrived, I designed stockings using bits & pieces of patterns for each of them and they all received Precious Moments birth samplers. For my "Greats" I'm doing the opposite. I'm putting together birth samplers using bits & pieces and their stockings are all from kits or patterns. For Jayden's stocking, I chose a pattern from The Cross Stitcher magazine and altho I have quite a bit to go, I have a good start. Here is where I am now...

My Current WIPs

2008-07-10T14:07:00.005-05:00

I am currently working quite a few pieces that are in various stages of "done-ness". In my work basket at the present time are:
1. The Quiltmaker from Lavender & Lace
2. Samantha's Perch
3. The Red Thread by Bent Creek
4. Birthsampler for Nathan
5. Gingerbread Men stocking for Jayden
6. Brave Hearts
7. The Old Doll
8. Star Heart...For You
And I'm also stitching 1 Christmas ornament a month. I'll post pics as I work on them in the future weeks.

And back to reality we go!

2008-07-02T12:54:00.007-05:00

Another retreat is over and it's always so hard to leave. It's not just that I spent three wonderful days doing my most favorite thing, but I spent those days in the company of 6 amazing friends, surrounded in luxury at the Walden Inn (staffed by the best and friendliest people), and being spoiled silly by Jan (OOE Needleworks owner and Retreat Planner Extrordinaire!)

Picking up where I left off... Saturday afternoon brought us the end of the Silent Auction, Ewe Games and our informal class. We were all very happy with the figure collected for Care Net (over $300!) and we all got wonderful pieces to use and enjoy. I was lucky to win the crocheted doilies made by Sally & Lani! Then on to the games! Jan had filled 2 jars - 1 with floss of all different types and 1 with lots & lots (& lots!) of buttons of all kinds. We had to guess how many were in each jar and let me tell you - it isn't as easy as you might think! Kathy won the buttons - there were over 800 in that jar!!! And the floss was a tie between Sharon & Brenda, so they split them. I think the total in that jar was 48. Jan then showed us how to do the pinhead stitch. What a joy that is! I hate using a waste-knot approach to start my thread (I don't tie a knot - just hold it until it's caught by the other stitches) because it wastes such beautiful overdyed threads. With the pinhead stitch, I can anchor my first stitch with very little waste! She also showed us the top loop-method start. She had shown this to me before and I always use it now. It's so much easier to start your doubled thread from the top rather than having to flip your piece over and back. Sharon took over after that and discussed the many ways to work with overdyes. It was a wonderful talk and gave me lots of ideas to try out that I never thought of! We stitched a bit more after that. Jan talked to the staff and asked if it was ok for us to eat at 6:30 instead of 6. It had been a full afternoon and we just weren't ready to end it yet! Dinner was in 2 West for the Pasta & Salad buffets. And we all ate too much yet again. Everything is so yummy, it's hard not to try lots of things! Jan's daughter Megan joined us for dinner after she got off of work, so we got to catch up with her as well.

Our last evening of stitching got underway. As has been tradition for the past 2 years, some of us changed into jammies for the evening. Several of us did our last shopping in Jan's shop room and she checked most of us out. It was obvious to me that everyone was thinking about it being our last evening for this year. Conversations were more subdued and expressions were a little sad at times, knowing that tomorrow would bring our good-byes for another year. Candace, Jan, Brenda, & I were the last to head up to bed at around 12 or so.

I was up to see Candace off at 9. She was the first to head for the airport. Kathy & Sally were down shortly after that to load up their cars and check out. We stayed and chatted in the lobby/library area until the others came down for brunch at 10. Brenda borrowed my car so that she could attend her Sunday meeting. Kathy & Sally headed out about 10:45 and the rest of us headed off to check out. I brought my things downstairs to the meeting room since Brenda had my car. I did my last shopping and Jan checked out Sharon & I. Brenda got back and we all started packing up our things. Then we helped Jan pack the shop up and Megan & I loaded it all into Jan's truck and my car. Sharon & Brenda were heading to the airport and we all said our last goodbyes and gave our hugs and then we all left the Walden Inn together.

Another year's retreat comes to an end. And I'm all ready for next years' to begin! LOL

Thank you, Jan, for the amazing time... for spoiling us all rotten with your beautifully designed retreat piece and all the goodies that you gave us. Thank you, ladies, for the wonderful friendships and support that we give each other. I am so truly blessed to have each of you in my life! Goodbye 'til 2009!

Saturday at the Retreat

2008-06-28T12:21:00.008-05:00

What a wonderful time we've had since my last post! Thursday evening dinner was yummy! We all enjoyed the pasta & salad buffet and Brenda & I both sampled the delicious coconut cake for desert. Then we all headed downstairs to Jan's shop-away-from-home to start our usual large piles of stash that we accumulate to purchase on Sunday morning. All the pretty fabrics and wonderful patterns and, of course, Sharon's pretty Crescent Colors cottons and Belle Soie silks too!

We all wandered into the meeting room for our evening stitch-in. Jan handed out our Retreat Exclusive Kit that she designed. It's just beautiful! All 6 of us sitting in a group, stitching away on various projects. Brenda & Candace both started working on the retreat kit. It was so relaxing to sit and stitch with this wonderful bunch of special friends. We were all up late - it broke up about midnight, when we all headed upstairs to bed. Friday was starting at 8 for breakfast so we needed our sleep!

Friday morning started at the breakfast buffet. I had a delicious bacon/cheese/red pepper omlet, fruit, and a bran muffin. Then it was back downstairs for another morning of stitching and conversation. Lunchtime brought us back upstairs, reluctantly, to the buffet, and then back downstairs for more shopping and stitching. Sally arrived around 1:30 and surprised a few retreaters when they arrived back downstairs and there she was! We had a break scheduled for 4 to 5:45, but no one really went upstairs to rest. Dinner was in the Fluttering Duck pub and it was afterwards that we got the chef's delicious chocolate cheesecake to top off our meal. (We brought the left-over pieces down to enjoy for the rest of the weekend - they are in the little refrigerator outside our meeting room!)

After everyone was back downstairs, we voted on our favorite grab-bag container. This years theme was Sheep and/or Friendship. Brenda won for her pretty Kit & Bixby Loving Longwools bag! Then we all got our grab bags and the next 45 minutes was spent oo-ing and ah-ing over everyone's contents. Sally really liked all the things I had picked for her, which always makes me happy. And Brenda had my name so I'm the lucky one who got the winner - the tote with Kit & Bixby's Loving Longwools on the front and kitty fabric lining the inside! And she even changed the dog on the LL piece to a kitty! I ADORE it Brenda! {{hugs}} Then it was on to our stitching for the evening. I pushed myself a little past my limit with my bad elbow (which I'm still paying for today) but I did finish my 1st incentive piece - SamSarah's Red White & Blue. I haven't kitted up my other one yet, but will sometime next week. Brenda, Candace, Jan, & I were the last ones downstairs and we headed up about 12:30.

This morning has been a repeat of yesterday, altho Jan passed out 2 wonderful kits that are part of our package. One is SamSarah's Star Heart...for You and the other is Homespun Elegance's "Stash Keep". She also designed a replacement pattern for it - "Ewe Treasures" which is what I'll stitch for it. She sure is spoiling us this year! Lunch was at the Fluttering Duck since the Buffet room was closed for lunch today. Right now we are all slowly filtering back down to the meeting room for the afternoon of games and stitching.

More later...

3rd Annual OOE Cross Stitch Retreat!

2008-06-26T14:21:00.004-05:00

After 1 year of waiting, the 2008 retreat is here!

I was up early (I'd say bright and early but the sun wasn't up yet and I certainly don't shine that early in the morning!) and out the door at 4:50am. The kitties got a good cuddle before I left since I'll be gone until Monday afternoon.

The trip to Greencastle was un-eventful. Not much construction to speak of once I got out of the Chicago area. I always love the drive down near Greencastle. It's so pretty and reminds me a lot of the area where I grew up. I arrived at the hotel just before 10 and was able to register since they already had my room ready. Jan called me shortly after I arrived to let me know she would be here in a few minutes. I met her in the parking lot when I went to put the parking permit in my car. After a wonderful hug, we headed in and got her registered. Then we both unloaded our cars into our rooms. There is one room between us and it turned out that Sharon C. will be in there. Sharon & I share a connecting door!

Jan & I then went down to the meeting rooms and we worked in her shop room tweaking things a bit. I went up to my room afterwards to unpack and get organized while Jan headed home for another load. Kathy arrived just before lunchtime and after she was settled, she came to my room and we caught up a bit before Jan arrived. Sharon was to pick up Candace & Brenda at the airport and Candace missed her flight so they were delayed in arriving, but it sure was good to see them come thru the hotel door just before 1! Good hugs were given & got and then the new arrivals all got registered, dropped off their luggage in their respective rooms and came back down so we could all go to lunch. Right now we are all relaxing until the retreat officially starts at 4:30. We have 1 more Ewe to arrive - Sally is driving down from Michigan tomorrow. Then we will all be here.

After our dinner tonight, we will be stitching the evening away in the meeting room. Ahhh - what bliss!!!

Watch for more to come!

In the Beginning...

2008-06-16T13:04:00.008-05:00

Sorry - Couldn't resist that! LOL

Well here I am with my very first blog entry. How about my stitching background? I was taught to do embroidery by my mother when I was about 8 years old. Little did I know that it would lead to my first counted cross stitch piece when I was 14. A small dimension kit that I stitched as a thank-you gift began the passion of my life!

I was lucky enough to be close to a small cross stitch shop (back before Hobby Lobby & Michael's) that supplied my fix for patterns, fabric, & floss. 99% of my stitching was Aida - 18ct being my preference. Now, of course, I stitch on linen more than Aida. My favorite count is 36 (or 40). I belong to a wonderful cross stitching board, where I have made so many awesome friends.

So, that's me "in a thimble". Here's a couple of my older pieces. The first is from an old Something Special book and the other is a full-size Monopoly board that someday I hope to get framed into a custom-made gaming board. For more of my pieces, please check out my Picture Trail albums. The link is under "Favorite Links".