Woohoo, 4 lunches and it's done! I want to find a white star button for each flag and get it framed up tonight--surely in my frames I have something for it! I think it looks really cute and I can't believe it went so fast. I ended up stitching the flags because the openings were too big for even the extra-large flag buttons, I made a few mistakes on the one on the right but I mirrored the mistakes into the one on the left so they are uniform.

Now what to stitch at work?? I'm missing buttons from the Give Me A Bite kit so I might want to wait to stitch it, and then I saw SB's Sweet Pea heart in someone's album yesterday and realized it would look really cute with my Watercolour Heart. Decisions, decisions!

Last night I got a lot done on the Summer stars piece. I finished the sun, the stars, the flagpole, most of the water, and started on a crab. The colors I picked are working out perfectly. I may have that one done by the end of the week, and then it's on to Julie's Bent Creek RR (a summer arch).

Day three on this lunch project and I think tomorrow I might finish! This went SO fast. Of course, I've been foregoing eating to stitch instead, lol, so I'm getting more than 15 minutes of stitching in on it. This is going to be super cute! Just need to hunt up flag buttons as I'm not planning on stitching the two flags. I'm not sure what to stitch at work now. There are so many cute patriotic patterns I want to do right now, and also autumn is calling me. I still need to decide on and stitch my Silkweaver Fun Pack project. I do have a bitty San Man tuck called "Give Me a Bite" that's been trying to get my attention so I may grab that next for the my lunch project. It's just so funny!

I haven't touched my at home project for two days. Last night we stayed home so I could get things done but I didn't do much of anything. I really need to get things organized, school starts two weeks from today so we've got to get back on track! Seri is the only one ready for school, the boys and I are still in denial. I've already bought most of the supplies, just need to get the house in order and see what uniform stuff we might need.

Looking forward to having a finish tomorrow to show off, let's hope I don't jinx it!

This is where I am after two lunch breaks. I can't believe how fast it's going! At this rate I'm hoping for (dare I say it) a Saturday finish! I really like the way the perle cotton thread looks on the fabric (doesn't show very well here). The last one of these I did I didn't like it, but the Weeks overdyed lays really nicely.

I sent out Wendy's RR to her today as well as the BC Patriotic Row and two princess themed designs of mine to Hands On Needleshoppe. I'm dying to see how they turn out!!

Tonight I'm going to try to post a really cute tuck pillow my friend Frances at Cathouse Angel Designs (finishing work) made to go along with my Happy Boo Boo freebie (on my website). I just love the tuck, she is so talented!! And her profits got to rescuing unwanted kitties :o) I'll post her website with the photo.

I finished Wendy's sunflower yesterday! You wouldn't think something so small could take so long but it seemed to go on forever. Her RR is now done and is so cute! I took a photo of the whole thing but I was having issues last night and this is the only thing I could get to upload.

I started Summer Stars by Crescent Colours last night and it gave me FITS. I was using GAST Daffodil and every 3 stitches it tangled, knotted, and would not come undone. I even changed strands and still had this problem. So strange! GAST is normally my thread of choice and has never behaved this way. This is the first time I've ever wished I had some thread heaven on hand. I did manage to get half the sun finished last night while watching Hitch with Bryce. Didn't do much of anything but stitch & go to church yesterday-it was great!

Buttons added this afternoon, now hopefully it will be off to the finisher this week sometime. Had a perfectly awful day today, guess the best thing to do would be to go to bed and hope tomorrow is better :o(

Still haven't stitched yet this weekend. I managed to bring the Lights of Liberty kit to swimming lessons this morning but there was no needle in it. Obviously I "borrowed" it from the kit at some point. I read my nephew Austin part of Harry Potter instead.

I decided I want to use the neat beachy looking frame I got from Dollar Tree SOON! I need to dress up the hall bathroom as there's nothing on the walls & it's a brightly colored fish theme. I wanted to do BC's Summer Row and I thought that if I modify Crescent Colour's Summer Stars it would look really cute in the little beachy frame. I wish I could hurry up on the sunflower so I could get the Summer Stars started. I may try to kit up BC's Summer Row as a lunch project, but then when would Lights of Liberty get done? And I need to be stitching on my Stitching Bee Angus WIP/UFO as well. Too much to do!

By having a long lunch today I have finished the BC Patriotic Row. I am so happy!! All i need to do is add the JABC flag buttons, I sure hope they fit! I think I'll be starting on Lights of Liberty next, an old kit from the Stitches 'N Things monthly club, I think Becky of Becky Boos designed it. I've got a quick bad photo of the finish here but will take a better one later. I'm going to email http://www.handsonneedleshoppe.com to see if she'll take on the finishing of this and a few models for me. They do great work there at very reasonable prices. I can do my own finishing in a pinch but this row really needs a special touch. I'm thinking I want a long skinny wall hanging for this, either kinda like a door-knocker where it's flat but 3D, or a pillow (with dark red & cream gingham check or plaid).

I had to go to the Dollar Tree for prizes for the carnival at the kids summer camp yesterday and of course stopped in the frame aisle. They really do have some good frames there a lot. I bought several large silver square ones, a small jeweled and flowery silver square one, some pink and purple ones adorned with ribbons and cutesy embellishments (I could see these in my daughter's room), and some really neat bright colored ceramic ones with old fashioned shoes, straw bonnets, etc. Those last ones would be great for a small freebie. Like I needed more frames right???

We survived the last night and party for Children of Divorce yesterday evening. I'm glad we're done for now and I have Thursday evenings free. I'm hoping we'll get to skip the fall session, I can't think of anything more depressing during the holidays. I'm playing it by ear with the kids though, even though I'm over it they are still dealing with a lot :o( Didn't do one stitch last night! This weekend I hope to get some good TV time in and stitch away at that sunflower!

Today has been WILD! First off, I noticed at the doctor's office that my shirt was on inside out. When they left me in the room to wait for the doctor I decided to quickly get it righted, which resulted in my poor doctor (and anyone in the hallway) being flashed, LOL! Apparently they don't make you wait long in waiting rooms these days, LOL.

Then at lunch today everyone wanted to celebrate a big deal so they opened a bottle of champagne (I stitched on the BC row and watched since I don't drink). After a lot of talk over who was best qualified to open it, the deed was done. With a loud bang like a gun, the cork rocketed straight up and broke the flourescent light cover, showering half the bottle of champagne everywhere.

I got in an order of frames yesterday--I think there may have been a mistake as I have 12 or so of the exact same frame. But I got a really good variety of sizes, shapes, and colors (probably 20 frames in all). I really did not need them though, as it is I've run out of hanging room in the garage for frames I already had. Looks like it's time to budget in a new frame wall. Bet the neighbors wonder what on earth I do for a living when they see my garage! Speaking of which, I monkeyed with the garage door opener last night and all seems to be well once more . I hate it when things go wrong with the house, I tend to get a little obsessive till they are fixed ;o)

Still need to finish the Hoffman's order, I got sidetracked with Harry Potter last night! Tonight for sure, I don't usually take this long and I'm tired of looking at it! I've got the girls at church tonight, and I am not really in the mood so I hope I will survive. I also need to fit in time for Wal-mart, the bank, dinner, Wal-greens (the blasted photos) before 7pm. At least I'm not teaching this week! The house is a total pit, very scary so I've got to find some time to budget on it. I got my cell bill today and saw I spent more than 55 hours on the phone last month with my honey , and I wonder why I have even less time than before, LOL!!

Did some good stitching on the BC row today, the last patch of grass is done and a good portion of the three little houses. I'm starting to smell a finish! I may work on some xmas ornaments next, I signed up to do some for St. Jude's this year plus it's never too early to get started on xmas gifts! We'll see, I'm still feeling like I need to do some *me* stitching.

Last night Whitney came over and we watched The Breakfast Club. I was planning on packing the latest Hoffman's order for August releases so I got everything out and folded the charts. During a commercial break I went to fetch the chart photos and could not find them. I looked for a good twenty minutes getting more and more frustrated. Finally I sat down to think a moment, and realized...I never picked them up from Wal-Greens. Looks like I will be picking up photos and packing the order tonight instead ;o)

We also have swimming, a trip to Wal-mart, and an invitation to a barbecue at my parents house to work into the mix tonight. My sister is back from Disneyland so she should have my goodies that I requested (some pins for my collection). I really wanted another mickey flip flop necklace since I can't find mine but I didn't ask her so maybe next trip. She goes on average of once a month, lol.

No stitching last night or today--hope to get some in tonight or all my stress will start piling up!

I posted twice over the weekend and managed to lose them both somehow, argh argh argh!! Luckily it was just ramble about cleaning the garage (half cleaning) and attending the local car show. I didn't pick up a needle until last night so the sunflower piece is still not done, not even close :O( Too bad too! I am so tempted to do a small fun piece for myself, only thing is I don't even know what I'd pick.

I put in a few stitches on Patriotic Row today, just a little bit of grass as I wasn't in a stitching mood. I must be tired or coming down with a cold as there's not much I feel like doing today including swimming or stitching. We may take a night off and veg out a bit, maybe rent a movie for our family night activity. Yes, that's cheating, especially since we did that last Monday, lol! However my week is pretty busy so if I miss swimming tonight we'll only have 3 more chances for the rest of the week. Decisions, decisions! And the kids are no help, undoubtedly 2 will want to swim and one won't, lol.

Not the best photo, just wanted a quick one to show off the progress I've made. The entire right side from the P-U was done this morning. Now I only have the three little house motifs and the rest of the alpha and a star. Most of the rest of the alphabet letters are small so maybe I'll be done by end of next week?? I'm hoping!

This was something I started for my grandmother about 18 months ago. Last fall we found out she had cancer and she passed very quickly before I could get this done. I put it aside and haven't been able to work on it since. I do want to finish it but I'm not sure what to do with it. I'm stitching it over one on 28ct. Sugar Maple Stormy Sky using DMC. It's pretty solid stitching and will work up to about 4" x 4" when completed. Since it's over one, someone suggested making it into a Christmas ornament which I thought could be kinda neat to remember my grandmother every year. My mom suggested I give it to my grandfather but I'm not sure. Raccoons were my grandmother's thing since her last name was Coons.

I did some good work today, I'm so tired of it being half done. I stitched P-U and the star. I took a (bad) pic but can't seem to get it here so I'll try again later. I also dug out my raccoon WIP/UFO and photoed it also.

About to head off to the pool with the kids, then tonight Anna is coming over for dinner and work. I don't know what I'd do without her! Happy weekend everyone!

I had the most lovely post including tons of links to designs I want to do, and then I forgot to save it! Now I have nothing :o( LOL Well I give up for now!! Have a great weekend everyone!

I really need to quit my job and stitch full time, the finishing is such a high!

I started Wendy's Angel Stitchin' RR last night, it's a cute sunflower for my square. I'm probably 1/3 of the way done. Hoping to have it ready to mail by next Monday's check-in. I got the middle little house motif finished on BC Patriotic Row today. I had thought it was done but when I went to start the "O" I saw it still needed grass and a door. I stitched the grass, the door, and the "O" but need to hunt up some Shaker White before I do the window. I'm so impatient, this project is NOT going fast enough!

Just got a text that John (my "new man") was in a car accident but is OK. Now I'm on pins and needles to see what happened :o(

Tonight is group 5 of 6 for the Children of Divorce. I really hope the kids feel comfortable enough that we don't need to go again for awhile, I can't take much more!

YAY! I am done! I stitched from the house down, Bonnie did the top I believe. It turned out to be really cute although I was a little concerned about the color choices Bonnie had at the beginning. She's a got a good eye for color :o) I am so glad to be done with it, that house was a killer. Hope she likes it!

Things have been so busy I had no blogging time. I worked most of the weekend, although I did take Saturday night off for a night of Rock Hudson movies and junk food with my helpers. We were supposed to be working though!

I got the photo done for my newest sampler, one that I really enjoy. All I will say is I never though I'd see my underwear in the photo on the front of a chart! This one and a flip-flop design (see below) will be August releases. I managed to get the samples out to Hoffman's on Monday finally. Now to send samples to all the companies whose products I used and stitchers who stitched them for me. It's never ending!!

New models need to go out as well, when all I really want to do is sit and stitch these days ;o) I've just about finished my L*K RR piece, just need to do the gray in the window and the gray squiggle along the bottom. No matter how late I have to stay up it *will* be done tonight! Then on to an Angel Stitchin' RR, although I'd really like to do some "me" stitching. I think I need to sit down with my stack of stuff and prioritize what I'd like to do. Right now I have a huge pile in a file folder. I kitted up a neat piece from a magazine (which will take me forever), and then I also have my WIP of Angus by Stitching Bee that my friend Pat so very kindly sent me months ago. I changed the colors of Angus (the dog) to white & black because Angus looked so much like Beanie my dog. But I HATE white!! I hate stitching with white, stitching on white, etc. so it fast became a UFO. I don't like to have more than one project going though so I need to force myself to finish it up. I still have the racoon over one piece I was working on for my grandmother before she passed away that I need to do something with as well.

Hope to post the L*K finish tonight!

Wow, the holiday weekend was the best time I've had in awhile! I got 2 dozen red roses on Friday from John, the "new" man everyone is so curious about. Then on Saturday my new helper/employee Becky came from Sun Lakes and let me show off my stash and start training. We also went to All in Stitches and ate lunch, stitched, and stashed. I got the brick all done on the L*K, just have the windows, door, grass, and little squiggle at the bottom left. I bought some of the new Blackbird Designs patriotic charts and a few other goodies. It was a great day, I'm looking forward to seeing Becky often!

I put together my new hammock on the back porch and have had a great time lazing under the stars with lemonade. All the adults in my family went out to dinner Saturday night at the Bamboo Club, which was fabulous. We spent the 4th of July at my parents barbecue in the middle of the street in lawn chairs watching the fireworks.

As for stitching on the BC Patriotic Row, I've got B-N done and pretty much all the little motifs in between. Now I'm hoping for an end of August finish!

I've been working on getting Hoffman's late July release out (South for the Winter) as well as getting charts done for August. I did the photos for one chart today, and now am waiting on the other model to come in. I may post some snippets so stay tuned!

Shepherd's Bush finish


This was one I've had my eye on for awhile and since it was a special weekend I let myself start and finish it--I've been dying to finish something! I stitched it on Sugar Maple Fabric Spoonful of Sugar linen (I named this fabric ;o) ) using the yummy silks, beads, and charm in the kit. It came with the mat and I got the frame from Nashville market. I'm going to hang it in my bathroom, the only place in my house for my "girlie" pretty projects.

Preview of August release