Stitches'N'Stones

The Curse of Sue Hillis?

2010-08-12T13:16:00.000-07:00

About 5 years ago, you know, when I actually stitched, my husband went through some of my stash and picked out what we thought would be good holiday gifts for his family. We thought our beloved Aunt Sha would enjoy Wine a Bit by Sue Hillis. I kitted it up and set it aside. You can see where this is going, can't you? Of course, I couldn't find it when I needed it, and Christmas 2005 passed without a stitched gift for Aunt Sha. Every year since then I proclaim "This is the year I will stitch that!" I have purchased this design at least three times since then. I have kitted it and placed it in a safe place. And I can never.find.it.again!!!!!! So I'm starting to think of holiday stitching once more, and still this design calls to me. So the question is, do I heed the call? Has Sue Hillis cursed me to forever lose the design? Is this a result of a Voo Doo Boy doll? Do I buy it again? And more importantly, what have I done to warrant such torture? LOL

As for stitching, I have felt very stitchy lately, but nothing is happening. I can't seem to find anything that screams at me, new or otherwise. There are a lot of good designs, but nothing that I HAVE TO STITCH THIS INSTANT OR I WILL SEE IT IN MY DREAMS FOR DAYS...you know? I'm taking suggestions if anyone has any recommendations.

P.S. to my family: When I die and you go through my things, you are welcome to put the 27 Wine a Bit designs you'll find hidden who knows where onto my funeral pyre :)

EEK! Wip and a fire

2009-10-07T14:13:00.000-07:00

So here what I've been working on since Sunday - Amy Brueken Design's EEK! from the JCS '09 Halloween issue (camera phone, sorry). I'm using Crescent Colours for threads and a funky piece of green with some purple and light orange that I dyed. I really like him and I liked the little neck spikes/spider accessory pack that you could order from the designer until I realized that 1) I couldn't find one online and 2) it's only the neck spikes and spider LEGS in the pack, I'd still have to hunt down the spider body. JABC spider button, here I come!

On the weird side, I just set something on fire in my office. FYI, don't put fabric in a microwave ;) It really did seem like a good idea at the time...

October goals!

2009-09-30T17:34:00.000-07:00

No stitching to report but have been dyeing up a storm these days! On the one hand I am forever wondering if my fabric is different enough/exceeds industry standards and on the other hand, it's so hard to sell my "babies"! I had no idea how difficult it is to let it go out the door. I have to go through and price things several times, the first time I always way overprice, probably in a subconscious effort to keep everything, lol.

I have a few designs from the JCS 2009 Halloween Issue (I JUST got it finally) that I want to get a move on so I'm working on kitting those up!

October goals:
1. Stitch one ornie from the Halloween issue
2. Start Wine a Bit by Sue Hillis for a holiday gift
3. Finish finish LHN Stars and Stripes

Hope to be back here again soon!

Finish Finished

2009-04-29T15:24:00.008-07:00

The Sampler Girl - Companion Booklet 2
SNS Fabric 28 ct. Attic Antique evenweave Oops and Oddment (too dark to be Attic Antique)
Fibers: GAST Cherrybark and HDF unknown red clay-like silk
Changed the initials and date in the heart

It's done! I am so happy with it! For the first time in forever I have started and finished something in a timely manner, and did the "finish finish" to boot! I had a whole slew of ideas on the trim but with no stitching budget I got creative and used the rest of the GAST. I took two strands, laid them side by side, and tacked them around the middle of the edges, then used the rest of the two strands as a hangar. It matches perfectly and gives it the low-key but polished look I wanted.

Notforgotten Farms - Hallow's Eve Pin Keep Trio
SNS Fabric 32 ct. Oops and Oddment
Fibers: GAST Dried Thyme

I had a little bit of trouble deciding what to start next as I lost my working copy and original of "I Told You I Was Sick" tombstone by Notforgotten Farms. I had to order this from at least 4 shops before Wyndham Needleworks could finally get it for me, I had really given up on it! This was a good year ago and then I kept losing it. I finally made a working copy to keep in my stitching binder and had it up until a few weeks ago (I guess?). I know it was in there recently but when I got the fabric and threads together I couldn't find the working copy. In looking for something else to stitch I ran into the original copy and finally started it yesterday! Geesh, what a saga and I've barely started it! It's moving really quickly but I am worried about the thread on the fabric, it seems almost bright enough but maybe not...any thoughts???

Bryce went to his first prom last weekend, I managed to catch an accidental smile in with all the other shots. He wanted to ride to and from with his "friend" Crista but I reminded him that would constitute a date. He has grown his hair long to make his father and I crazy, and he loves it in his eyes like that. In church I'm sure when he passes the sacrament all of the congregation is worried he will trip and throw the tray at someone's head ;) However, we are letting it slide simply because we know his intention and really, we'd rather pick a more important battle to win. Anyone have a time machine? I wouldn't mind visiting the past now and then!! Teens can be such a pain in the patoot!

Happy Happy Happy

2009-04-23T09:26:00.002-07:00

The Sampler Girl - Companion Booklet 2

SNS Fabric 28 ct. Attic Antique evenweave Oops and Oddment (too dark to be Attic Antique)
Fibers: GAST Cherrybark and HDF unknown red clay-like silk
Changed the initials and date in the heart

It's done!! It's done!! It's done!!

IT'S DONE!

So happy! I'd forgotten that rush of pleasure, I didn't get it when I finished the LHN Stars and Stripes. But this feeling, it's such a part of why I stitch! To feel satisfied with a job well done, to feel as if I accomplished a goal, to have something tangible to feel good about :)

This was such a pleasure to stitch, it's my first Sampler Girl design but it won't be my last. The fabric has just the right feel to it, the floss was the perfect color, every stitch felt good! My needle felt like it knew where to go and all the stitches made sense.

I showed DH last night and he wants to know why the letters in the heart are at different heights. I explained that as a primitive sampler it looks "right" that way. He then wanted to know why I put his initial on the low spot and mine on the high. Geesh, LOL! Because the "T" was already charted in the high spot, not because I have a secret agenda ;) (that he knows of).

I have already started finishing it off, it's going to be a wall-hanging for my living room to remind DH every time he sees it that he is stuck with me for many more years.

What to stitch now????

Big vs. Little---Big wins every time

2009-04-21T11:16:00.006-07:00

(Scroll down for stitchy stuff)

I have had a week! If I was not trying desperately with every fiber of my being to be positive about this #$%$%^@ week I would be saying that the only thing that could make me unwind at this point would be for me to lie down in the parking lot and have someone drive back and forth over me until I'm like jelly (today I've gotten to the point of asking for volunteers, lol). Of course, I'd only be saying this is I wasn't being so cheerily positive (big toothy, lots of teeth grin).

You might guess I did not park sideways to begin with. I was working, minding my own business, when this terrible apocalyptic grinding crash noise occurred. In fact, I'm reminded of the poem "'Twas The Night Before Christmas" where "...there arose such a clatter" they sprung up from their bed to see what was the matter. Just switch "bed" with "discount ergonomic computer chair" and it's the same :) Anyhoo, my poor little tiny car had been smashed to tiny little bits by a monster truck (a lifted Ford F-250, made from titanium steel). Someone lost control of the truck, drove into a brick wall, somehow bounced off and went in the complete opposite direction, careened around light poles and over parking blocks, nailed my little delicate flower at 25 mph, and spun it around 90 degrees, leaving them both locked side by side. It was easy to see my little car was totaled--the back seat didn't used to come to a triangle point in the middle, nor did I have (although admittedly it would be convenient) access to the trunk through the giant void between the back dash and the back seats before.

No one was hurt, which is why I am entitled to be annoyed that the person who did this was not insured. We had a rental car through our insurance for a few days and I am glad for that. The blue book value on a 9 year old Kia is enough for a dinner out in the Circle K microwave breakfast sandwich section so we will not be able to replace the car. Add to that, we've officially run out of reserves this week and have no more money, actually about to be at a negative balance. Fabric and chart sales have been down a bit with this economy and our ebay/jewelry sales have also been in a slump. Will we starve? Doubtful, just not sure how to get from this week to next. We purposefully don't keep an actual credit card so we have nothing to fall back on. Very scary. What we do have is faith, so I know we'll get by :)

On the good side, stress = stitchy for me! I just have to fill in the heart and I am done with this beautiful design (although I may have to rename it Cherrybark Sampler 1837)!

Pinkwork Sampler 1837

2009-04-15T13:53:00.002-07:00

Chugging along, having a great time! Thanks Harmien for pointing out speed doesn't matter, the enjoyment does :)

How fast do you stitch?

2009-04-09T15:01:00.004-07:00

I've been thinking for awhile on stitching speed. I always read that the "average" stitcher can do a one-colored 10 x 10 block of stitches in an hour, or 100 stitches an hour. Then I see all these blogs (not just one, but MANY) where they do an incredible amount of stitching every day and I think, even if I could sit and stitch all day, there is no way I could do that. Am I a (gulp) slllllllooooowww stitcher? I think I must be. If I had more mojo I'd clock myself doing that block of 100 and see. Anyone time themselves? Have any tips? The double ended needles are beyond me, other than that and pre-threaded needles, I don't know of anything to go faster!

Pinkwork Sampler 1837
The Sampler Girl
Stitches'N'Stones 28 ct. evenweave (was Attic Antique gone too dark in spots)
GAST Cherrybark
started 4/6/09

Here is my progress on The Sampler Girl Pinkwork Sampler 1837. I've worked on it for two nights for a total of 2.5 hours (while watching the Japanese Ninja Warrior gameshow --who knew there were female sumo wrestlers??) and am probably about 1/5 done with it. I really love the dark red of the Cherrybark on it. I was thinking for the initials inside the heart I might go for a brighter red as a little contrast, not sure yet. I'm really enjoying the fabric except 28 count seems so big. Guess I'd better get used to it, my eyes are getting O-L-D!

2009-04-06T14:19:00.004-07:00

Another weekend, no stitching. I did manage to fall asleep in the laundry room on a mountain of clothes (no lie). I'm starting to wonder if that mountain should stay, best sleep I've had in awhile ;)

I know I'm not stitching because I'm battling with whether or not to toss Simply Angelic into the UFO pile (never to be seen again because that's where my UFO's go, I guess to Mars). However, Tanya at the Sampler Girl has changed this for me. I was finally able to buy the Companion Books 2 and 3 and I know what my next project should be. I keep seeing giant projects I want to start and yet I know that my mojo is too fragile to face BAP, or even a SMAP (small-medium), and so I know:

Pinkwork Sampler 1837 from The Sampler Girl Companion Book 2 (pink one on bottom right)

I'm thinking to use my Attic Antique fabric that went wrong (I only used part of the piece for Simply Angelic) and some murky colors to compliment my living room decor and other stitching hanging in there. This will be a nice tribute for my husband and myself, I don't have any wedding samplers or anything like that to force us to stay together if only for the sake of the threads ;) Any bets on if I will get started tonight or not?

"And now, world domination is MINE! Mwahhhh-haaa-haaa" (evil laughter)

This photo was texted to me at 3:37 this morning by my husband, who is on a different sleep schedule, and was in the living room watching TV with evil puppy. Now, 9 nights out of 10 evil puppy is less evil and more cute, but on the 10th night we are forced to muzzle evil puppy in an effort to get through the night with some of our possessions partially intact. Keep in mind, evil puppy gets plenty of walks and play throughout the day, plus giant meaty bones to gnaw and assorted rawhides to boot. So on that 10th night, she's obviously channeling the outer circles of hell rather than needing more play or chewies. The muzzle makes her look like something out of "Silence of the Lambs" so when you add the glowing alien eyes and the freshly conquered box, you get scared--very very scared! On the bright side, I was curled up with sweet Beanie man sleeping at 3:37 am, so who's laughing now???? (pointing and laughing at DH)

Ohhhhhh, stitching moooooo-joooooooo...here stitchy stitchy stitchy

2009-03-26T11:32:00.003-07:00

As fast as it came upon me, it has gone and left me alone with a pile of threads and a barely started project. Oh mojo, why? OK, I admit it, I know why. First of all, I've been sick for a week. You know how the Chinese have the year of the monkey, etc.? I'm scared my year will be "The Year of the Germ" or some such. Secondly, I did restart Simply Angelic. New fabric, new threads, still not happy. The thread colors just aren't meshing for me. Here are the last photos I've taken of this:

I'm a lot further along now, which is how I know I still don't like the colors I picked. My rabbit is orange, for thumper's sake, CARROT ORANGE! I was thinking a dark color, a rust, a brown, even a tan---and I swear this is a tan, but on the fabric it is in-your-face orange.

So I'm not stitching because I'm annoyed at this project and at myself for my sudden inability to do a good floss toss. If I'm going to continue I really need to unfrog my rabbit (only in stitchy terms does that make any sense!) and most of my other progress to virtually start all over--yeeeeeccccch. Maybe this is one project that was doomed from the start!

Forget it, I may stick with fabric dyeing...

A Bummer

2009-03-05T11:07:00.003-07:00

Here you see my new start from 2 nights ago, With Thy Needle and Thread's Simply Angelic. I really have some kind of mental block with starting new projects lately. I've never really been a kit person but perhaps I need to be, I am having a really hard time choosing thread and fabric for anything. Because of this I chose hastily (oh and it was midnight and I wanted to start a little before bed!) and it didn't work. The fabric is really more suited to Halloween (one of my Oops and Oddments) and I knew that but I tried to force it, I guess. Then the thread I dug out of my baggie of stuff that sits in my folder and "made do" with, simply didn't "do", the colors really aren't working for me.

To cap it off, I started in the wrong place and will run out of room at the bottom . Go, me! Hurrah for midnight stitching (like Tanya over At the Honeysuckle Tree, when will I learn, sleepy stitching doesn't pay!).

So last night (yes, midnight) I dug up some new thread (this time running through my Vicki Clayton silks, delicious) and went with another Oops and Oddments, an Attic Antique gone wrong kind of fabric. I had an awful time choosing the silks and by the time Evil Puppy and I had finished the floss toss I was too tired to even think of stitching. E.P. was actually stationary for a bit (I gave her a rawhide), so we cuddled up with DH and watched the Amazing Race season 9 marathon we tivoed last weekend. We didn't figure out till season 13 reruns that all of us really love this show!!! Must hunt down DVDs somewhere. I'd love to sit and stitch to all 12 episodes but have too much bookkeeping work since tax time is upon us. I have a deadline this weekend but maybe I can fit in a restart of Simply Angelic. I am fighting the urge to just scrap it and start on something else--but then I'd have to narrow my choices down and find supplies all over again, ARGH! Maybe I need to pull out a pine mountain or Shepherd's Bush, they are the only kits I can stand...

I Always Was a Rebel

2009-03-03T12:05:00.003-07:00

Oh the joy of sending off another order, I love fabric dying! And thanks to everyone that's taken a look at my pretties, more thanks to those who have tried them out :)

I had a long whiny post for you about missing the Nashville market but have decided in my benevolence to spare us all. Suffice it to say, Nashville market does not go by unnoticed around here, I'm just now able to bring myself to look at all the new goodies without lamenting that I couldn't see them in person or that I didn't have any of my own new releases this year. End whine.

My stitching mojo has been found!! It only took me herniating a disc in my back and my husband getting in a car accident the same week for me to realize if I expected to survive without my head exploding in a giant ball of frazzled nerves I'd darn well better start flossing up my needle and making therapeutic x's once more. Behold, the last picture of the fruits of my labor...
I actually finished this piece on Saturday night during a Charmed marathon with my sister. She is having the need for therapeutic x's as well so I set her up with L*K's Big Girl Panties. She insists Charmed is our next big addiction for TV and stitching...we shall see. I could just as easily do Las Vegas, Corner Gas, McLeod's Daughters...I'll stop there. Anyhoo, I realized I have to finish this piece into something, and the idea was totally unappealing. And then...it hit me...what if..no, no, I can't think it...what if...I...did...NOT...finish...it...and...instead...put...it...away...for...later? A lot of you do this. Some of you have drawers, some of you have rubbermaid tubs, and the world has not ended. And so, rebel that I am, I give myself full permission to stitch anything I want without having to actually make it into something. Thank you all for liberating me!!

And now, once again, the dilemma, what to stitch next???? I have to say The Primitive Needle seems to be channeling where Birds of a Feather left off and so this and this make me want to scream, "Get into MAH (my) belly!!" which in normal speak = Please immediately fall into my lap now now now now now :) I see they also have a Yule one which might make me break my no Xmas stitching rule. I actually was designing a sampler very similar to the Hallow one but they did it way better!! Seasonally though, I should really stitch this, it's summery and has an awesome ugly bird and BOOBS on the mermaid, I totally have a thing for stitched mermaid boobs.
Ultimately, I think I will stitch this next as I already have it plus I have the ugliest fabric of mine that I am dying to use that would be perfect. But mermaid...boobs...how can I not??

We sent our oldest minion off to San Diego yesterday for the week with his school. He will have a great time, and ~~I have a week off!!! Feeding and walking evil puppy myself and taking out trash is a small price to pay for an attitudeless, know-it-all free week~~ I am used to him being gone on trips since he's been doing that with scouting for awhile. Speaking of evil puppy, this is a completely unedited photo of her from last night. I always thought there was something strange about her...

Ode to My Kitchen Faucet & Just Say No

2009-01-20T00:02:00.004-07:00

Happy New Year! I got my annual illness and compiled with fabric dyeing, gift giving, and starting an Ebay store I have been done for the count. No stitching (what? you didn't fall over in shock?). Not enough stashing. Really, nothing that start with an "S."

We are currently enjoying the spoils of a broken pipe somewhere in the nether regions of our walls. On the plus side, I am "flush" with amusing stories. On the minus side, I definitely not "flush" with cash. We do now have water--every day since Saturday (!!!) so I will settle for that modern convenience, and for not having to mop water, wash towels, and repeat 8 quadrillion times an hour. Several of my favorite towels were sacrificed for the good of my floor, a memorial service is being planned (or I can lament their loss at odd moments to anyone who will listen, which is my current behavioral pattern). Are you still reading????

Way, way back when we bought the house the first time (long boring story just like this one) I was very house proud and did tons of repairs to it all by my girlie self. I saved up for and lovingly picked out the MOST AWESOME, MOST GRACEFUL, MOST ELEGANT kitchen faucet in the history of all faucets, kitchen AND bathroom included. I installed it myself to many compliments as apparently plumbing can be tricky. I loved my faucet. I would notice every once in a while through the haze of dirty dishes and soap-scummy film what a great choice I made, and smile because I installed it. Flash forward to the Great Flood of 2009 when the pipes leaked (and so did our checking account). The plumber mentioned to my husband that my beloved faucet was leaking. I came home to a new faucet. Not a lovingly selected faucet that I installed myself. A perfectly serviceable, totally unimaginative kitchen faucet. Yes, it's shiny, yes the sprayer is a spiffy black, but it's not the same. Plus, I did not even get to say goodbye. They had to talk me out of taking a photo of the old faucet, MY faucet, sitting on top of the trash with our worn out rags and the wet wood we ripped out of our cabinets. So here's to you, discarded faucet, thanks for the plumbing self-esteem and the messes you cleaned, the dog dishes you filled, and the fabric you've dyed. I honor your memory!

Next post:
Just Say No - The things that prevent me from stitching...

2008-11-28T18:06:00.001-07:00

Enter my fabric naming contest for our newest color...

I went to sleep and then it was November...

2008-11-13T10:31:00.006-07:00

How did we go from August to November? I have been reading blogs when I can but didn't have much to share on my blog until now.

Prairie Schooler JCS Halloween Issue 08

I made this for Georgie in the Fair & Square Halloween exchange. I really enjoyed working on it, the colors made it a real pleasure (Gentle Art Raven and Limited Edition Autumn something). The fabric is the slightest bit orange, 32ct. Silkweaver Cinnamon Roll.

This is what I received from Georgie, isn't it too sweet? Her stitching is exquisite! And this design is a freebie (I believe?) by Shepherd's Bush that I've had in my pile for a bit. Now how to finish it off? I'll add it to the other couple of things that need finishing while I think. This is the first time in years I actually have a backlog of things to finish. Maybe this weekend???

And, exciting news for those following my blog, my fabric is finally for sale. I wanted to be sure to have a ton in stock and ready to go before I opened up my store:

http://www.stitchesnstones.com/fabric/index.html

To get the news out, I am running this special:
Post the link to our fabric page (above) and mention us on your blog and get 5% off your order plus a treat. Be the first to post the link to our fabric page and mention us on a message board, yahoo group, etc. and get 15% off your order plus a treat. Just email us with the link to your blog, message board, etc.

We also have some Oops & Oddments for sale:
http://stitchesnstonesfabric.blogspot.com

And we have several new freebies up, one of which is a Thanksgiving bee theme with a primitive feel:
http://www.stitchesnstones.com/freepatterns.html

Let me know what you think, and remember if you stitch a freebie (or any of our designs) we'd love a photo for our new gallery!

Blurbs and Snippets

2008-08-22T13:30:00.003-07:00

I've been busy, designed a new logo for my fabric and chart line and have been dyeing and selling!

Cub scout recruiting time is upon us, we have two packs we lead which means two meetings a week, which means I am tired. Whose bright idea was it to let me mold and shape minds (actually, considering the potty jokes I tell these days, I think they're molding MINE, lol)?

My floss tag supplies have been purchased and await my finish. I'm still trying to figure out why it is a good idea for me to poke sharp objects through my finish, lol. However, when I purposefully cut holes into the Hillside Sampling Lily 1911 (or whatever that was) to make it look aged it was really hard to actually make holes and then make them show up. So my point is that I am optimistic that I won't mess my tag up too badly!

I had a fair & square square picked out for Halloween and then my partner pulled out due to ill health (poor Brenda H) so now I need to figure out what Georgie will like.

I've been trying to catch up on reading blogs but haven't much luck. Thanks everyone taking time to comment here, it makes me feel good you choose to spend some of your limited time listening to me!

2008-08-18T11:59:00.002-07:00

My ~~brain~~ bra is on inside out today. Enough said, lol.

So I did finish the SB Tiny Flag last line, and furthermore I present proof. However, as buttons always do at my house, the button has gone on a walkabout (apparently to Australia, mate). OK, I didn't really look that hard, I did a "man look" (stand in middle of room, close eyes, say "I can't see it", hold out hand, nothing jumps in it. No really, it's in the MANual).

I happily perused patterns for my floss tag and Fair & Square exchange though. I was going to MAKE an experimental floss tag until I realized that I need supplies, darn me. I shall try to arm myself this afternoon since I need to make that my number 1 priority.

I was thinking the other day about how many designers are my "favorites" and yet I have not stitched anything of theirs, which led me to wonder--what I have I been stitching??? I have compiled a list of how many pieces I have stitched by designer to see--which I will share tomorrow. The interesting thing in looking at my webshots album is that before 2005 I simply photoed the piece, and after that I wouldn't add a photo unless it was properly finished and had a background of some kind. The last few finishes I have had I haven't added to any of my albums because they aren't "finished" yet. Wonder when I became so particular? Um, in 2005 obviously, LOL.

New freebie, new blog

2008-08-14T12:56:00.003-07:00

Blessings Abound by Cricket Collection

In case I am not the last in the known universe to have seen this!

Also Kathy from Carriage House Samplings started a blog:

Carriage House Samplings

Beware of Mind Snow

2008-08-14T12:21:00.003-07:00

Tip of the day: No matter how many times you type "mind snow", it still reads "mind snow"

Yup. Mind snow. I picture a TV screen of static, that's what mind snow looks like. If we did a brain scan on me, that's what we'd see. Mind snow. In case you were wondering, I tried to type "minds now" about ~~672~~ 84 times in a row, all I got was---you guessed it, mind snow.

I'm reasonably sure I suffered a psychotic break yesterday after having the 8th rotten day in a row, lol, because I simply don't care anymore, nor do I function, LOL. I sense a new design in the works:

Why bother? I'm stitching.
Who cares? I'm stitching.
Have stash, will travel.
I can still stitch while living in a cardboard box.
Stitching is a full-time job.

I can absolutely envision the cardboard box one on a pillow. Yup.

Here is my stalled SB Flag. Anyone remember when I started this? 1982. Yup. OK, not really. I looked it up, it was last October. I thought I finished it on August 3rd and I did a happy dance. Then I realized that I left the last line of stitching off. I can't seem to find a few minutes to get the last bit of stitching done. I am setting a deadline--by tomorrow night it will be done and I WILL attach the button. as well.

For those who won my contest a few weeks ago, I am STILL assembling packages. The boys cleaned their room, which means they vomited everything they didn't know what to do with or was dirty into my office and stacked it in front of my stash cabinet. I promise the prizes will be worth it when they get to you. Thanks for your patience!

Karen V. and Harmien, thanks so much for sharing about your DH's, that makes me feel a bit more sane. I almost think I could live without the money as long as he was not spending more time at home making messes and having "ideas" about running the household and kids ;) A long time ago he learned how to cross stitch, but it wasn't his thing, too bad, that might keep us both out of jail, lol.

Break out with the happy pills

2008-08-13T13:01:00.003-07:00

I am seriously grumpy this week, no doubt due to the lack of stitching I have done. To bask in my mood, I bought these great Special Edition Fiskars with skulls on the blades. Make sure you click the pic, these are awesome. I need to find or design a suitably dark fob to go along with these. I picked up a pair for my daughter and then a few extra. If anyone would like one, I picked them up for $10 and would be happy to extend that price plus actual shipping.

Things are a bit grim in my world, my DH's hours have been cut from 40 to 20 per week and with his disability it will be nearly impossible for him to get another job, it took him a year to get this one. This means I need to pick up the slack, hence the fabric dyeing going from wholesale to retail. I think I'm due for a midlife crisis...

Thanks Michele and Karen V. for stopping by yesterday and leaving comments, I am definitely a comment ~~whore~~ junkie.

And on a bright note, I do know I am very blessed with family, friends, etc. so I will try to focus on that and not on the fact that DH is home 4 days a week and making me ~~crazy~~ crazier.

It's that time of year again...

2008-08-08T12:41:00.002-07:00

Note: If you're here for the stitching/stashing, scroll down. For sarcasm, continue reading...

Yes, you know, school. That is a ~~four~~ six letter word in my house right now. The kids are thrilled, especially with Bryce finding out we'd allowed him to skip a grade and go to high school. I am unthrilled, and the "S" word is forbidden in my house. Apparently my distaste for the season has not halted the progress nor made the powers that be rethink their start dates, so I have been living in my car (no A/C) for the past week, driving little tweens to and fro. To pass the time I have been composing sarcastic letters in my mind:

Dear Tall, Skinny Blonde Lady with Frizzy Hair, While I applaud your desire to walk your tiny, skinny, blonde, frizzy haired bundle of delight who has just started kindergarten into the school, your freaking minivan does NOT belong parked in the drop-off only lane. In my experience, the parking lot is where you generally put your car if you are going to exit it. Perhaps the other 5 parents trapped behind your van as Timmy dropped his backpack 82.5 times and then ran back to your van for something he forgot had more patience or recent lobotomies. I can assure you, it took great restraint not to slash your tires while waiting for you to return to your vehicle. The only reason I did not was because I too would have to leave my vehicle parked and unoccupied. I learned when I was quite small, the world does not revolve around me, and I would like to respectfully point out, it does not revolve around you either. The best lesson you could teach tiny, frizzy Timmy is to respect others and treat them the way you would like to be treated. Sincerely, the Lady Behind your Minivan with the Smoke Shooting Out of Her Ears Screaming "A$$HAT!" at You This Morning

(ok, no I didn't scream anything at her, but only because I'm well-behaved and polite in the real world if not in my mind)

Ahemmm...moving on! I went to All in Stitches and showed off my fabric to Terry (owner) who has promptly ordered all my colors in as many counts as I can provide and offered to let me use her cutting table to cut fabric! While there I picked up an order:

I love love love love the LHN Strawberry House! I also got a star button for my SB Tiny Flag which still needs only 10 stitches to be completed.

Then when cleaning the living room I foun some of the stash I ordered in June (ish?) and never shared, the Charland emeries look so pretty and delicate. I should rename my blog: Tracy who stashes but never stitches.

I have bought one of the floss tag tools because Karen V. and I are having a personal exchange this month and I need to experiment with some floss tagging. I am having the hardest time deciding what to stitch for her, she and I have similar taste and there are too many things to choose from. I also signed up for the Halloween Fair & Square exchange, so excited!

Seran with the evil "puppy" who won't stop licking her

Kids on the first day of school

Nephews and Chase bowling the day before school starts as our final hurrah (Indiana Jones movie, arcade, and bowling!)

More Fabric

2008-08-05T13:46:00.002-07:00

$6.50 15" x 17" 14 ct. Aida "Deep"

$8.00 15" x 17" 28 ct. linen "Deep"

$9.00 15" x 17" 28 ct. linen "Attic Antique"(made with all natural dyes)

See post below for shipping info :)

August Goals (gasp)--Dreaming Big!

2008-08-05T10:28:00.006-07:00

July goal:
Finish something-came close, only about 10 more stitches for SB Tiny Flag
Do finishing for both SB hearts-got the frames out, decided not to use

August goals:
Finish SB Tiny Flag into a mattress
Finish SB Live heart into something
Finish SB 2006 heart into something
Make a practice floss tag
Make & send a floss tag for personal exchange with Karen V.
Stitch something small for my sister's housewarming
Finish LHN Stars & Stripes
Sell lots of fabric so I can buy more stash!

Fabric for sale

2008-08-04T14:08:00.004-07:00

We're dyeing fabric for more than exclusive kits now. I would like to stay low key because I've seen so many fabric places come and go but if you like what you see, let me know!

These are ready to go (the pictures are 8" x 14" scans), paypal and checks accepted.

$6.50 15" x 17" 14 ct. Aida "What a Wonderful World"

$6.50 15" x 17" 14 ct. Aida "Strawberry Wine"

$6.50 15" x 17" 14 ct. Aida "Cheddar Cheese"

Shipping: $1.25 + small amount each additional piece first class or
$4.80 USPS priority for as many pieces as I can stuff in there

All of the pieces are quality, hand-washable Aida that come from a non-smoking, pet-free environment. The edges are unfinished.

Click to email

Adventures with Ketchup or This will be funny next week

2008-07-29T00:24:00.004-07:00

Signs you should have stayed in bed:

-You step out of bed and step onto a packet of ketchup, which promptly pops under your pixie-like weight (snort), and sprays your legs, the bed, the walls, the dog, and your nightshirt. You pause to wonder how that much ketchup could possibly be in a bitty little packet. You stagger gracefully into the bathroom to shower, dragging the dog along with you. You accuse said dog of dragging the packet into the bedroom to begin with. The accused simply smiles a doggy smile.

-You are ready for the day and sit on the couch--in dog vomit. You utter a few choice words, the dog smiles, and you stomp off to change.

-When complaining about the ketchup (there is nothing like a bit of squishy squishy between your toes to truly wake a person), your daughter corrects you--it was TACO sauce, Mooooooooommm. Oh...of course...that makes this normal and acceptable...silly me. Remind me to leave some taco sauce in her room tonight by her bed...the hot kind! Taco Bell 4th meal, here I come!

There's nothing worse than being sick enough to watch TV but too sick to stitch, it's quite torturous. On the bright side, it gave me plenty of thinking time for designing. I'm excited about all the new ideas I have and some new releases I finally have planned.

Above and below are my meager progress on my WIPS, the few lucid moments I had I stitched and frogged. I have to say I love silks, the stitches look so nice on the fabric! I only have one row to go on the SB Tiny Flag, so close! I am still fighting the LHN threads, they are determined to look gosh-awful no matter what methods I use. Speaking of gosh awful, I don't know why my camera won't photo needlework without being blurry, I will have to practice so that I can stop tormenting us all.

In an effort to shame myself into cleaning, here is a long awaited example of the disarray my office is in. I do keep my designer materials nice and tidy, it's just my personal stash that is out of control. Feel free to click for a close-up of chaos.

Lastly, my son graduated from the Teen Police Academy over the weekend. We have been after him about his hair for months but thought it was one of those battles not worth fighting. I did plan on having him cut it before school starts but he got it done himself.

Before photo from the skate park last month with the shaggy 70s hair:

After photo with him and an instructor at his Teen Police academy graduation (practicing his Tough Teen stare):

Totally different kid, right? No one recognizes him now, even his great grand-mother was confused.

This is the part where I don't function for a few days...

2008-07-20T01:08:00.004-07:00

I've ditched out on my contest! I am so sick and have been all week, no wonder I was feeling so tired on Monday. I seem to have a much abbreviated summer flu, new symptoms every 12 hours ;) I am so proud of me!

Since I had 3 commentees, I will be sending all 3 a "It's Tracy's birthday" package. Please email your full names and snail mail addys:
stitchesnstones @ aol . com (remove spaces)

I know I will not be mailing these for a few days to a week or so as I have yet to do much more than move from couch to bed all week. On the bright side, food is tasteless and uninteresting so perhaps the "flu diet" will give me some results in the waistband region. I think I've been sick twice in the past month, obviously I'm doing something wrong or hanging out with really germy people.

I did pull out SB Tiny Flag and put in just enough stitches to need to frog it. Flu and counting don't really mix for me, sadly.

There seems to be a lot of sad pet news this week in blogland, and we did not escape unscathed. My parents' dog passed away unexpectedly and peacefully yesterday afternoon.

Kyler Samuel 2001-2008
You will be missed old friend.

Monday, Monday

2008-07-14T11:35:00.004-07:00

That's how I'm feeling today after the weekend: falling asleep in my chair ;) A coworker has very kindly let us use his pool while he is out of town for the next month or so. Yes, we spent a good chunk of time there trying to cool off. I picked up Tuna (daughter) and her friends from camp (you can't imagine how happy she was we'd saved several days of unwashed dishes for her return). I got the stash weeded a bit and have quite a few leaflets and older Cross Stitch and Country Crafts (with those awesome stocking masterpieces) ready to list somewhere to sell. My brother flew into town for an hour to pick up his daughter as he has custody for a few months so we had a nice family breakfast.

No stitching to speak of...here is where I am stalled at (ok, I have actually done more than this but not much):

Had to share a photo of what my oldest son does when stuck at my work since I shared Chase's clubhouse under my desk:

I hope to get some stitching in today, so many projects that need starting!

I was asked what I wanted for my birthday...what I was hoping for was enough cash to get any of these:
-Bianca ginghers 4"
-SB exclusive 2008 fob
-SB Bianca ginghers engraved 4"

I'll have to work harder on my stash sale!

Speaking of scissors, I'd been asked for a photo of the SB engraved awhile back--I am still looking. I did buy a rubbermaid keeper for my scissor collection a few weeks back so now I need to round up my scissors. It looked like an impossibly large box but since most of my scissors are in the gingher cases still I wonder if it will fill up quickly. Not sure how to store my other 4" scissors that are not in cases, anyone have ideas?

A Very Merry Unbirthday Contest or Whine much?

2008-07-11T12:31:00.002-07:00

I'm home! Feels so good to not have to be planning out the next trip or stress over details. I will admit now, I tote projects around every day, not a stitch was made, not during the classes they taught the boys at camp, nor the 4 hour car rides as we cruised Flagstaff, Williams, Sedona, and Phoenix, nor the quiet (rainy) evenings camping, NADA. I did manage to get a few stitches in last night though.

My 3 year blogiversary and 30-something birthday passed while I was camping. I hope you will indulge me as I whine about my birthday-no one remembered it except my DH's aunt who called and sang to me on my voicemail (what a hoot!) and my in-laws who sent me a gift and card (they are the BEST in-laws one could ask for). At first I thought they were going to surprise me but since we're almost 2 weeks past my birthday (and I've been home for 8 days!) I no longer think that's plausible. I will admit to being bummed out, I don't need gifts but it would be nice to be remembered on my special day (especially by my DH and kids, who also did not celebrate Mother's Day).

CONTEST: Anyway, to celebrate, I will be giving away two mystery gifts to anyone who comments from now till next Tuesday. I will have a drawing Wednesday morning and announce the winners then.

This would be the stash I bought myself in honor of my birthday with last year's gift certificate at All in Stitches (which has moved into a great new shop right by my house). I am lucky that here in Tucson we have 3 great LNS': The Busy Needle (Northwest side), All in Stitches (Eastside), and The West (Northeast side). I never get to the Busy Needle anymore because it take so long, a good hour with traffic, and my old clunker can barely putt around let alone handle that kind of drive in this heat. I miss seeing everyone there though, very friendly and great stuff (they're the ones that introduced me to Diane Williams way back when, and also where I finally met Sharon Crescent of Crescent Colours in person). They have always been very supportive of my designing! The West is a non-profit needlework/gift shop with proceeds going to battered women and other great causes. They have a good selection of stitching and fibers and also great staff. They hosted my first trunk show and showed me the ropes in that arena and were very good to me. All in Stitches is much newer--I applaud their bravery as so many shops are closing for her to open one. I know Terry (the owner) much better than the other shops as she's close to me and also because we've spent lots of fun time together at the Nashville market. She always has designers I've never heard of and keeps everything well stocked.

Some of my ebay stash were some JCS mags, this one I just LOVE. The Peace ornie really calls to me, I know it's simple but that's part of the beauty of it. Then as a bonus, I found this ornament (below) by Prairie Schooler which is really classic PS:

Now I need to get stitching as I have tons of projects and no time and I'm not getting anywhere fast enough!!!!!

My kids spend a lot of time at my work because the youngest are in a summer camp program that is held at my work in the mornings. My other son takes the bus to my work from summer school to keep him out of trouble. I generally only work till 1:30pm so they hang in the nursery or youth room or playground (perks of working at a large church!). Yesterday I worked much longer than usual and Chase got bored of playing by himself so he built a clubhouse:

Manana freebie

2008-07-05T04:53:00.005-07:00

I am putting off all my chores till Monday, and I created a little freebie to celebrate a relaxed, summer "Manana" kind of attitude. Hope you enjoy!

I don't think in floss tags

2008-06-20T12:54:00.003-07:00

I've been looking at all the great floss tags and small finishes and I have to say--I rarely see a large design and then see the "small" in it. Everyone is so creative, they see a motif and wham. it's a whole new smaller design! I will have to work on deconstructing patterns and seeing the smalls!

We leave town in 4 days. I have the big presentation for work on Sunday between church services. I start school on Monday. So what else would I do but start assembling projects for vacation??? These will be coming with me, as well as some of my WIPs (SB Tiny Flag, etc.).

Vonna read my last post about Fair & Square and we have "mutually canceled our transaction", hopefully I can sign up for another round. Darn though, her square was looking so pretty and was almost done!

Here you see our 2nd annual pie eating contest at cub scouts this week. I did take second place, but there is no way you will be seeing the photo DH took of my head in a plate of chocolate pie with graham cracker crust.

Off to take dogs for shots so we can board them for our vacation. I think we've only had one vacation without them so it's going to be lonely!!

Old New Stash eye candy

2008-06-18T13:36:00.000-07:00

I am having a minor panic attack due to the fact that I have too much to do and not enough time to do it in. Will I ever learn??? On the bright side, some of my time has been spent in various places on the web spending money on stash :) This is new stash from several weeks ago, I have gotten quite a bit more in the last week or two. My latest obsession has been to collect various Diane Williams works before she became LHN:

I also have picked up a few(ok, 15) old magazines--loved this chart! I am a sucker for samplers and dutch, must be my heritage:

Then we have my WIP from Memorial Day family camp (formerly known as the weekend in snowed in June), Pine Tree Hill from LHN in a JSC magazine. I wanted something campy and cabin-y, especially with the snowy weather. I changed the red house to a brown cabin (exactly how many red houses can I stitch????), have no idea yet if this is a good or a bad thing. You know how sometimes your stitches just don't look right? You can let the needle hang to untwist the thread, you can use a new couple of strands, you can separate them and put them back together, you can comb the floss with your needle in hopes of making them look better (it was camp, no laying tool, ok?), you can railroad, you can...ok, you get the idea. Well that's how this cabin was going. In between helping Seri start a heart kit (I KNEW I bought these aida kits for a reason, to grab as we go out the door camping, that's it!) I was helping with the plaster fossil station at camp (yes, even when we PAY for camp, I still end up teaching). I didn't get much done, and it didn't look that great. I had to put it aside for Fair & Square and so it shall sit for now. I DO like the fabric though, the cloudy blue and white is something everyone uses for sky but I felt it looked like a stormy winter day, and it mirrored the weather up at camp (lovely blue sky with snow clouds). Sometimes I stitch just to capture the memories (as Edgar's blog reminded me).

Speaking of Fair & Square, being sick put me way behind. With all the other things I need to do (organize cub scouts and get ready for the big family pie eating contest, presentation at work, clean house and pack to go on vacation and to keep my DH from leaving me) I am FREEEEEAAAKKKKED out! I think I can, I think I can, I think I can....

Creeping Crud

2008-06-17T12:51:00.004-07:00

I've been offline sick (do I need a note to excuse me?). I took yesterday off work and instead of having a lovely yummy day to stitch or clean, I tossed and turned in various rooms while curled into a ball, fun! Today I managed to drag the kids to the bible school they are helping with and then into work where I realized I have a few days till a major presentation and only a week till I have a week of vacation so I need to get hopping! First off, some photo eye candy:

From Camp over Memorial Day-

Chase and his Snowman

The Obligatory Archery Pose by all 3 of my offspring

The Obligatory Beauty shot by my daughter (I can camp AND be pretty, tee hee hee)

My new stitching organizer! The latest in my quest to keep my stitching clean and together (stitching, floss, AND pattern in the same place?? Oh my!). For those of you wondering, I LOVE it! It's like the Trapper-Keeper I had in elementary school. I got the large one which comes with a few floss cards, tons of pockets, and a place for everything. It does have a big zippered pocket for me to keep my latest project in, which I need to keep all the dog hair and whatever off of it. If you look closely I have my fair & square exchange peeking out of the pocket to give you a hint.

Satan at the wheel (or The Shopping cart that hit me)

2008-06-11T10:20:00.002-07:00

My youngest son (10) has never been good at pushing a shopping cart. He is forever running over, bumping into, and generally terrorizing all things animal, vegetable, and mineral. My solution was to not let him push the cart, but as he so wisely pointed out last time we shopped, he will never learn if he doesn't get to try. Fortified with patience and optimism, yesterday I let him push the cart. Why not? We were at the Wal-mart Neighborhood market which has wide aisles and I would be sure to guide him every step of the way. I threatened to put "Student Driver" signs on the cart but he didn't think that was very funny. We made our way through the store learning how to steer straight and to excuse ourselves and move when in someone's way. We left the store with TWO carts, it was a stocking up the pantry, must buy dog food, I don't want to have to shop again till after Armageddon kind of day. I congratulated him on his driving. And then...(you know what's coming)...he ran into me at full speed with a heavy cart and the dreaded shopping cart indian rug burn to my leg made me scream. So unexpected, so much pain! My scream brought a knight to this fuming damsel, and while I'm choking back tears and sobs I'm having to reassure all and sundry that I am fine as I hobble around (walk it off! walk it off!). My son looks at me anxiously, so far all I've done is that one blood curling scream. I look him straight in the eyes and say through gritted teeth and unshed tears, "You failed your driving test."

Fair and Square scares

2008-06-10T12:41:00.003-07:00

First off, I am STARVING! Only had a snack at work with me today, so if I suddenly stop typing, I've fainted. Either that or eaten the keyboard. I am dreaming of a Taco Bell chalupa, with empty calories and fat.

I started my Fair and Square exchange squares last week on this fabric (32ct Silkweaver limited edition, no name, tiny bit of mottling on a lovely barley color, looks like Lakeside linen). The fabric is gorgeous but it does have a lot of pills in it, which I like for my stitching but am worried Vonna might not? It's been so long since I've done an exchange, I'm worried about what my stitching looks like to someone else. I've been railroading and using a laying "tool" (my needle, lol) so it's taking me longer, and I still don't like the way my stitches look. It is what it is though, I'm doing my best. I also worry I didn't space my square well enough and it's too close to the edge to finish off easily. However, I realized this after I've stitched about 1/3 of the square :/ Next time I am using fabric bigger than 6" x 6" and then trimming it down, it doesn't seem to matter what I do, I just can't space things correctly when I need to.

Another exchange worry, they have just changed the rules to no extras other than homemade, when of course I have order in a few thing specially for Vonna, darn! I have decided that I will send her a different package as a RAOK for sponsoring the exchanges and doing so much work, and also for being so kind to be my partner when I have an idea of how pressed for time she really is!

Thread rings unexpectedly

2008-06-09T12:49:00.002-07:00

I opened a package of TDK blank CDs for the computer and here at the top were tons of thread rings. Yes, I do know they are to hold the CDs in place, but really who uses these once the package is open? No, they are not mother-of-pearl, but I think they are neat. Buy TDK, get free thread rings! (disclaimer: not affiliated with TDK in any way, etc etc)

An unshared finish

2008-06-09T12:45:00.002-07:00

I finished this before camping. Not a great photo but I will have a better one once it's finished. I had planned to frame this alons with SB Live that I completed early in May but when I got my frames out this weekend I realized I either need to dig deeper for the smaller frames or finish them as smalls. I really like the idea of having these tiny things framed, so we shall see what happens!

Ebay spoils and more

2008-06-05T16:27:00.003-07:00

IHave you seen Su's latest creation? I'm a big fan of all her work but I am salivating over her threadkeep and that heart. Beautiful work, and lucky Nancy!

Sorry about my downer of a post yesterday! I had gotten lots of stuff from Ebay and the thought of how little I stitch compared to how much I collect (and how I don't have enough room for it all!) made me a little grumpy. Happily, I started my Fair & Square exchange today for Vonna so I'm feeling a little more accomplished. I did also order Emma ginghers finally from Joann's as well as some small things to include with Vonna's squares and another pair of scissors for me:

Home again!

2008-06-04T16:53:00.004-07:00

We're back, have been back, but it's been a brutal week recovering. There was SNOW, much snow. Snow and tents-not so much a mix. But fun! Photos to come as well as some finishes/WIPS.

I've been cruising a few new blogs, which led to other new blogs and lots of freebies. Holy cow there are beautiful freebies out there, so much talent! Between those and the same old, same old I see coming from a few designers, makes me wonder if I should keep my hat in the designing ring. There is a designer that is becoming more and more popular that has practically lifted my (and others) designs straight off our patterns. I'm trying to really think, were my ideas that unoriginal or did she consciously (unconsciously?) take them? There is someone else that seems to have copied several of my freebie designs and modified them slightly. Again, did she see them and then "create" them accidently later (every designer's greatest fear, to recreate a pattern we've seen without realizing it)? What is the point? I was already giving them away free! I have spent so much time and money to be a small fish in a large pond, and I've enjoyed a lot of it. But maybe it's time to let another fish take my spot...

Summer???

2008-05-19T13:44:00.005-07:00

Here's my progress on SB 2006 fob. I have picked a pattern for the Fair & Square exchange after much research on my partner's blog and am so excited! I have gotten my working copy ready, now to find fabric and finish the edges. I don't normally do that, am wishing I had time for someone else to do it, lol. I'm so sloppy, sometimes I surprise myself. Ordered a few Diane Williams (LHN) patterns I didn't have today, her older ones from Leisure Arts.

I will camping at family camp and also have cub scout day camp this weekend/next week so I won't be blogging much nor stitching. In fact, I may not make it back alive. Leave a comment if you'd like to be included in my will for some stash ;)

Teacher gifts are a no-sew this year, not enough hours in the night/day whatever. I am thinking gift cards, too bad!

Picture from the cub scout fire station visit last weekend. We had a disturbing incident with our oldest son, his friend's parents were trying to take him to a concert when we'd already said no weeks ago. My son was honest, although more than likely because he was worried he'd get caught, but honesty is honesty, I won't worry about motivation. I always wondered who those parents were who drink and "dally" (shall we say) with their kids friends, now I know!

Memorable moment of the weekend: My 90 year old grandfather learning to bowl on the Wii (not my grandfather in the pic).

Lastly, Von asked me about the engraved gingher scissors that I bought to go along with the 2006 fob, I'll have to hunt them up so you can see! Check out her blog, she has the cutest grandbaby!

How many times I can use a bad pun

2008-05-14T15:27:00.006-07:00

I had applied to join the Fair & Square stitchers in April and hadn't heard back from them so I checked the blog, and found I had a partner! I checked out her blog (Martha B., AWESOME quilts and other needlework) and was busily trying to decide what to stitch. The lightbulb slowly appeared, I'd never heard from Vonna about my partner, and so I emailed her. Apparently gmail has been such a good spam guard that it ate both Martha and Vonna's many emails to me. I knew it ate Yahoo Group mail and had to re-route my mail through an alternate addy to get, but to eat my exchange mail???? Not Fair (pun intended). Vonna was very gracious about the problem, she and Martha had quite fairly (hee, hee) assumed that I was no longer interested. She has very kindly offered to partner with me or let me wait for another exchange. I will no doubt keep you posted!

Now if only I could find a neighborhood RR to join! All my stitching friends have grown apart and moved on to quilting it seems like :/ If anyone wants to start one with me, I have really good references on the Stitchers Report card as well as all the exchanges and RRs I was involved in a few years ago on various Yahoo groups.

I started the SB 2006 shop exclusive fob but have already had a few issues--I'm using 28 ct. Khaki Jobelan which is lovely but I haven't worked on 28ct in awhile, it seems huge. Also SB generally kits with 32ct. and has you use one strand of floss so I was worried I'd run out using 28ct, but I think it will be fine. They are generous with their kit materials.

In the Way Back Machine

2008-05-13T11:44:00.002-07:00

Happy belated Mother's Day to all the mothers and mother-like bloggers out there! Lovely flowers I got from my Aunt Sharon, so thoughtful of her!

Stepping into the way back machine--here is my new project. I have pretty much finished the ski hat ornie, I need to add beads. I realized I didn't really read instructions well on this one, although honestly they are really unclear to me! I was supposed to (I think) do another 4 tree/snowflakes to make the complete hat. I tried to do the backstitching at the bottom and it looks awful, so I think I am going to try to make a mini-hat and see what happens. Since my finishing skills are not that great, this should be entertaining for everyone but me.

But back to the new project, it's the Shepherd's Bush 2006 fob. Why so much SB you ask? They are all kittted up so I can snag them and go, and also they have a lot of small pieces--I'm so stitching-shy lately I don't want to scare myself with a BAP, or a MAP, lol. I went to find a photo and realized I can't find one online! So I took a crappy photo of the kit for posterity. I did notice on the chart when I opened it, it says not to be resold or put on Ebay. Now I never would, I don't part with anything, but I wonder how many people read/care about that fine print. The kit comes with white fabric, which is blah to me, but for some reason I am digging the idea of white. So have I lost my mind? Btw, I did buy the yummy $40 engraved scissors to go along with the fob (I blame SB for my current scissor fascination) but I really don't want it to be a fob. Or an ornie. Or a needlebook. Or a pinkeep. Or a pincushion. It seems to me that leaves framing, lol. Luckily I have the entire garage frame shop at my disposal and I will be glad to use up one more frame.

2008-05-09T12:52:00.004-07:00

I had a doctor and lab appointment yesterday so had lots of time to work on the ski hat. I felt like I got a ton done, but I really only did about 2 snowflakes more (when you add the one and then the two halves together, lol). Seri has an appointment today so I hope to finish the last one and get started on the stitches below. They're supposed to be hardanger but I think I'll probably just stitch the backstitch, otherwise the inside of the ski hat (or lining) will show.

Crackle, crackle

2008-05-08T12:25:00.005-07:00

That is the sound of me being burned out! I am SO tired of people, stupid people especially.

I have no progress on the SB Live heart finish, I don't know what to finish it as. I have done several other small hearts of theirs and framed them and put them in my bathroom, I suppose this could go in there if:
A) I reframe one of the hearts which frame does not look good with the other frames
B) I have two frames to match the first frame, one for the old heart to reframe, one for the new finish
C) I can find my way into the bathroom in the first place. In the "great house flood of '07" I boxed up a bunch of stuff which now lives a semi-boxed existence in my bedroom/bathroom. The toilet in there wasn't working and the shower needed work so it all made sense at the time. Of course, now that we might get some stimulus money I'd like to repair said items but must burn down and rebuild my bedroom first because there is NO way it will ever be clean. *Sigh*

Here is my lost and forgotten WIP of Mrs. Moriarty's ski hat, sadly the green floss is not with it, hopefully I won't need it? It was all together in a zipped bag, how can it not be there? I would like to put some stitches into it, but then I remembered:

TEACHER GIFTS, augh!
especially. And people's badly behaved brats, ahem, children. People suck! What I wouldn't give to go back to working at home, happy as a hermit with my laptop in my cave. I could be one of those crazy ladies that lives in one room of their house with all their dogs, patterns piled to the ceiling, floss tangled under my feet to make a carpet, and needles tucked into my bedsheets. All I need is a mini-fridge and a microwave, I can have groceries and laundry delivered.

SB Live finished

2008-05-05T12:35:00.003-07:00

It's done! Because I announced to the world my goal, I did finish it this weekend. I also did some work in the office and laundry room. I'm trying not to be depressed that you can't tell I did work, and that I don't have a clue on what to do with stuff. Little by little, I know it will get done because IT HAS TO!

So what next? I did find a UFO from Christmas, I didn't even remember working on! It's Mrs. Moriarty's Ski Hat from Moss Creek in an older JCS ornament issue. I was thinking I should work on it, most of it is backstitch, and the colors I picked are really pretty. Wish me luck!

I am working up the nerve to release a few new designs, although I may have missed my window since they are wedding/anniversary type stitches, but are pretty close to one-nighters so they would make good gifts. Hmmmmm....

On the blogging front, I've noticed Petra has closed down, and she and other stitchers on 123 MB have said that blogging takes up stitching time. I thought about this for awhile, but have decided that blogging is actually good for me. First off, it gives me motivation, whether I'm reading someone's or writing my own. And secondly, I recently went back and read some of my first posts, what a great mini-journal of my stitching and my life. I'd have no idea what projects I had completed and when without this blog. So for now, my blog is safe!

2008-05-02T16:30:00.002-07:00

Had a flat tire and got to put in a few minutes work while I was waiting for the new one to be installed. I didn't have scissors so the back is messier than I would like but I AM stitching at least! If I don't finish this weekend, someone please shoot me! I must be the slowest stitcher ever.

2008-04-29T11:21:00.002-07:00

Just a little of the new stash I've been ebaying for. I like the threads a lot, can't wait to use them! They come in 20 yard hanks and are very reasonably priced from the Victorian Motto (??) ebay shop . I got a grab bag and Nancy kindly takes requests for your color preferences. She did also include a free red, yum!

I had my basket loaded at Vicki Clayton's HDF for some choices to do the Sarah Tobias pin cushion in the colors I envision, but I guess I left them too long and the basket timed out. Have you seen she is doing linen now? I just don't think that's fair, I want some!

No progress last night on Live, I am simply too tired these days. Spent too much time trying to get a DVD to play to entertain me while I stitch.

2008-04-28T12:50:00.003-07:00

Here is my WIP of SB "Live", I got about half and hour in yesterday night at my mom's birthday party, it's close to half finished. I love the colors (SB is amazing) and it really pops on the R & R linen. The linen is so pretty I could frame it alone, and the whole piece is mottled subtly, delicious! It felt good to be stitching again. I think part of the reason I don't anymore is that I don't have anywhere comfortable to sit that has good lighting. Something to think about...

I was thinking a good motivator for getting my office clean (the room that has not had floor for 4 years now) would be to take pics and post them here. Perhaps I will be ridiculed enough about the way I treat my poor stash that I will have to change!

2008-04-25T12:49:00.004-07:00

I have been perusing Cricket Collection on ebay again, it finally dawned on me that they have several hundred leaflets, probably not something I will end up with a full collection of. Which won't stop me from trying! I did buy a few things, this was one-Leisure Arts Old Samplers Book Two

I spotted a bunch of my old magazines in the closet and pulled them out for inspection. I have tubs full of them: Cross Stitch & Country Crafts, Jeremiah Junction-can't remember the mag name, Just Cross Stitch, For the Love of Cross Stitch, The Cross Stitcher, etc. Years worth of collecting online, by subscription, and from second hand shops. I used to go through them and write the highlights on a sticky label on the cover so I could see at a glance without opening them. Geesh I had bad taste back then, LOL. OK, I had small kids, I was young, and country was cool back then, besides that's all there was! At least even then Cherished Teddies and Precious Moments gave me a rash (no offense to Gloria and Pat, they do a great job translating them to graphs).

I looked through the mags remembering what I'd bought them for, sadly most not to my taste. However, I found some really awesome treasures like Kandace Thomas, etc. I went ahead and photocopied my treasures for a binder to put together, some of these old mags are stuck together with who knows what or falling to pieces. I know I could make a ton of space by getting rid of them now, but what if my tastes change in 5 years and I need something out of them??? Case in point: I have several LHN designs from 15 year old mags that I have kept. Back then they weren't my cup of tea, nor did I have any idea they ever would be. Imagine how much I'd have to pay to get them now? We all know I would HAVE to hunt them down.

This does bring to mind though, many blogs I've been reading have been about downsizing stash. I never wanted to get rid of mine, in fact when I got remarried my new DH suggested I might want to get rid of it and it got ugly. I think if he'd suggested severing my arm he would have gotten a nicer and less shocked response! Anyway, I have literally stacks on the floor in my office of pattern, on many bookshelves, in tubs in the garage, etc. and these are just patterns. I have been trying to corral them into some order but can't seem to figure out a good method, at this point I'd settle for off the floor so the dogs won't step on them and we can get throught the office to the garage ;) The other night I was trying to stack them on a bookshelf thinking if they were stacked in piles rather than lined up like books there would be room for more. Of course I'll never find a blessed thing now that I've moved them--over 2,000 patterns in my incomplete database and I knew just where most of them were until now, sigh. Anyhoo, I was stacking and looking and I realized I didn't like this one, or that one, and hey, I like that one but I've looked at it so much it would be boring to stitch, and so on. Am I outgrowing my stash? Do I hang on and hope I will come to my senses? Shall I do a mass exodus of stash? Help!

And lastly, the Beanie dog (in picture, under son) has taken to shredding paper when he gets nervous so our long hallway is full of paper bits all the time. Yesterday I found a tiny corner of a Cricket Collection chart, but it's so tiny I can't tell what chart. AUGH!!!

Off to a hike with my little Tiger Scouts!

2008-04-24T13:09:00.002-07:00

So I bit the bullet and ordered this chart, been wanting to forever and tried a few times but no one could get it for me. So I tried Wyndham Needleworks, we shall see. Bad me!

No stitching yet, starting to worry I may collect but never stitch again, lol.

Slumpity, Bumpity, Bump Bump Bump...

2008-04-22T10:37:00.004-07:00

So we all know I kitted up the pincushion from BD "Thank you, Sarah Tobias", then didn't like the thread I chose, not enough variation, and also didn't look like the thread in the picture. Normally I like the way my own choices look but every once in awhile I need that exact thread/fabric/frame whatever and apparently this is one of those times. So I dug around and found the GAST limited edition Lilypad and thought it might be good enough although not the same. So of course now I can't find my fabric and chart.

This weekend we went camping and I thought I'd have some stitching time, so I quick grabbed a small SB kit "Live" and then rummaged through fabric (no plain linen colors for me thanks!) and found an awesome R & R turquoisey color that sounds awful and looks great. I did take it on the trip, never started it though. Spent most of the day hauling rocks to repair trails, the rest of it exploring with the kids. We did drive up the mountain and take a ride on the ski lifts, too fun!

I have been getting odds and ends of stash from ebay the past two weeks, I can't get ebay to remind me of my password so I had to open a new account in my husband's name to not miss out on some deals while I wait for the password reminder to come by snail mail. He keeps opening my stash and looking very perplexed. I also bought some awesome fabric and older BD loose threads patterns from Cathy B. I really hate my cell phone cam being broken, it's such a pain to do real photos! I'll have to put it all together and take one soon.

I did submit an application for a fair and square exchange, hope to be accepted, seems like it's just what I need to get to stitching. I was looking back at all the round robin's I used to be in and how much fun I had, amazingly I was motivated and never missed a deadline. Wish I could get the nerve up to do a neighborhood round robin, although I wouldn't even being to know how or where to sign up for one!

2008-04-04T09:52:00.002-07:00

Last night I wanted to stitch! For the first time in forever, I was itching to sit down and get moving. I didn't want to stitch any WIPs (if I haven't touched them for 6 months do I still get to call them WIPS?) so I started something new this morning. It's Sarah's ABC Pincushion by Cherie Ralston and is in the new Blackbird Designs Thank You, Sarah Tobias book (bottom project in the pic above). Btw, if you haven't bought this book, it's WELL worth the price!

I'm in a strange mood, none of my fabric was calling to me. I finally picked a 14 ct. aida (I have not worked on aida in years, and then nothing bigger than 18 ct), a white that I purposefully stained so it's an ugly splotchy antiquey look. For thread I picked an old Stranded by the Sea green/tan color. So this morning I put a few stitches in, finished the "S" in fact, then decided it's too green, not enough variation for this. So I think I'll use GAST Lilypad (?) and restart later. I feel good about this project though, just a small alphabet and a few words. I can do it!

Goals for February

2008-02-07T12:09:00.000-07:00

I only have one goal: stitch SOMETHING, ANYTHING! Doesn't even need to be finished, just stitch. I have been reading blogs and looking at stash and feel close to motivated. I had to hand sew some seams ripping in my DH's shirt on Saturday night and I think it felt good to have a needle and thread, although it was boring to be mending, lol. I have lost all my WIPs, so will have to find as I hate to start new. I got so much new stash for Christmas, and so many things I want to start, but nothing screaming to be done.

Acorns and Mittens

2008-02-05T11:57:00.000-07:00

OK, so has anyone actually ever sat and thought about Cross Eyed Cicket's acorns and mittens? I happen to love them, but I really realized today while looking at them online "en masse", they're kinda weird. I'd love to stitch each one, but can you imagine the collection of bizarre little holiday acorns? Or half creature acorns? Sadly, in my house, they'd fit just fine...
The really weird thing is that I had the cutest acorn that looked like an owl to use on this post and now I can't find it anywhere. Does this mean I have now come to the point of imagining CEC acorns? Can anyone tell me, does this exist? Augh! I have looked at their site so much today I think I must be crazy.

On a totally unrelated note, I found out the church that reimbursed us for food we prepared and served at the homeless shelter is no longer funding us. I'm really sad, with the economy etc. I don't see us being able to buy food for 40 people two times a month on our own very much longer. I have asked the shelter if they know of anyone willing to donate materials or who needs help serving. I guess I should be glad that this might give me a little more free time or perhaps a chance to do something else also worthwhile. I know it will work out the way it's supposed to, sometimes it's so hard to wait for that though!

Where is my stitching mojo?

2007-12-04T12:38:00.000-07:00

I stitched this two years ago for my Grandma MeMe, well all but 6 stitches. I did the last 6 stitches in time for her birthday last month. The stitching really doesn't look as crappy as it does in the picture, in the picture it looks to me as if the stitches are too tight. Could not get a good pic of this no matter what so I gave up! This was a freebie from somewhere on the net, stitched on perforated plastic with DMC, and made into a magnet.

Still pretty dry on the stitching, still stitching on the same ornament (well if you call sitting in my purse with me not touching it since Thanksgiving "still stitching"). Why on earth do I want to buy stash but not stitch? How does that work? All I want for Christmas this year is my stitching mojo back!! Well, and a few PS and BOAF charts...and....

Goals lost and the C-word

2007-11-21T10:50:00.000-07:00

OK, how sad is it I actually forgot I have a stitching goals blog????? Folks, I think that says it all about my stitching habits (or lack thereof).

http://stitchesnstonesgoals.blogspot.com/

Ignore the cub scout clip art at the top and check out my various wants-to-stitches(as of sometime last year or so anyway). I simply inserted photos of finished models I wish I'd stitched, lol.

So I've been looking at patterns I need to stitch for gifts, patterns I actually WANT to stitch for gifts mind you. I am all excited but I just can't be bothered to pull threads/fabric. Anyone else have this problem? I now, for the first time, totally get the KIT concept and how it is useful (before I felt most were overpriced and rarely came with anything I wanted to use). Will someone please come kit up some stash? And take some home with you!

I wanted to do Sue Hillis' Wine a Bit which has been sitting on my kitchen counter for several months (???? kitchen counter? why not!). Of course now that I need it, it's gone, vanished, poof! And how about my JCS 2007 Ornie issue??? And the two credit cards I lost two weeks ago somewhere in the house? Luckily I do have Mrs. Moriarty's ski hat pattern from Moss Creek (from an older JCS ornie issue), but that's the one I can't get myself to pull threads/fabric for.

I was looking at my webshots albums showing (read: boring) my daughter with old ornament finishes since she wants to do some holiday stitching this year, and in the past few years I've had 40 finishes to show for my year. 2007 is a wash, wonder what 2008 will bring????

Old stitching finished

2007-11-20T11:38:00.000-07:00

Last April I had a small finish (blog post here) that I have spent lots of time figuring out how exactly to finish. At first I attached it to a small box lid but I didn't like the idea of finishing off the box. After WAAAY too much thought I have finally made it into a weird little needlebook (needlebox lid?) that look reasonably pretty I think. It was one of those times where I kept adding and adding touches until I finally I decided ENOUGH! The pics aren't great and the ribbon isn't crooked although it looks it, however it is DONE!

No progress on Tiny Flag. I have to start Xmas stitching especially since the budget is so small this year. I managed to hurt two fingers on my non-stitching hand so we'll see how well I can hold my q-snaps to stitch. I do have Thurs/Fri off for Thanksgiving so I have stocked up on Xmas movies and plan to stitch away, I hope. Of course I have tons of other plans as well (cleaning, organizing, etc.) so we will see what wins. I think we are going fishing on Thanksgiving morning so I will definitely get some stitching done then, nothing more boring than hours of fishing that hubby/kids/dogs enjoy so much.

Lots of new stash, the amusing part of it is hubby has been putting pressure on me to get rid of it---"I can't possibly need it all." Between stitching and cub scouts I have a ton of stuff in the living room that I need to go through and organize. We won't mention to hubby the large red tool chest he started putting together LAST Thanksgiving that is still sitting in the living room or the box of his mail by the couch or...

New pretties

2007-10-30T11:30:00.000-07:00

So we were at the dollar store yesterday to find more treats to appease the evil demon puppy where I noticed some stuff from the checkout. I'm always on the lookout for beads and such, and these were perfect. Can you say...FOBS???? I could totally restring these as they are or mix and match and they would be DARLING Halloweenie things. Now, what to stitch???? And I have to finish Tiny Flag off first (it's the rule)!! As for the red/white/blue I first thought patriotic fob, then I wondered if I could use them with the TF mattress finish? Food for thought (Fob for thought? Food for mattress?).

I also bought some candlewraps with beads to take apart, these beads will be so cute on xmas ornies, fobs, etc. What fun! I had to restrain myself to not buy a ton of everything. Especially since I still don't have any stitching done, don't think I deserve treats :P

My last ebay package came (from Guam!), it was random Cross Eyed Cricket leaflets, not Prairie Schooler. Sad when you can't even remember! I did place a Sanman order this morning though, and I have an order at Needlearts (so sad the b & m shop is out of business) on hold so I'm really stashed out (budgetwise). Besides this morning I made the dreaded "C" list---Christmas! And our cooler gave out last night so we'll need to work that into the budget (budget, what budget?). It's still almost 90 degrees every day, too hot to wait till spring to fix.

Sorry for the awful pics, I think I have dropped my phone one too many times as the camera is so fuzzy. So sad, it's not even a year old yet and it's a really good phone :(

Thanks to Cindy for coming to read my blog and leaving a comment!

I think it's time to redecorate around here....

New stash, new week

2007-10-29T15:47:00.001-07:00

Photo of new stash from Homespun Samplar last week, although I just got more from Ebay so I will have to report on that as well. This above was some cute older Prairie Schooler, I just decided I really like them, weren't my cup of tea before this. Also above were some BOAF I had to to get, still to need to add a few more to make my collection as complete as it's going to be. From Ebay I got more PS and various others, from Amazon I got a bunch of BHG Xmas hardcovers used (.42 cents and such), one of which had the Brightneedle "Lo a Rose" which is so pretty I had to have it. I had heard it was hard to get and selling on ebay for a fortune, I got it at Amazon for about $5 including shipping, I'm giddy!

Last week was a rough week, I had cub scout leaders to teach classes to at the big Pow-wow training convention (and I had to write the class lessons), 2 cub scout meetings and a cub parent meeting, responsible petcare class for my dog getting loose, halloween shopping and party at the zoo, etc etc etc. This week is pretty full but it feels less stressful to me so hopefully I will get some stitches in. I am really wanting to do something autumny/halloweeny and do some finishing work. Here's what I did so far on Tiny Flag:

New Stash, New Resolve

2007-10-23T11:55:00.000-07:00

So it's been forever since I wanted to stitch, think about stitching, shop for stitching, read about stitching...you get the picture. However, I the stitching bug never truly goes away (at least, I hope not) and so I am drawn once more. I have limited time still, working several at-home businesses and also part-time as office manager of a church, my time never feels like my own to do as I please anymore. We were working as campmasters at the local boy scout camp on Mt. Lemmon the past few weekends and I was able to start a new project, something that has been on my list since forever, probably my first SB purchase, Tiny Flag. The finished photo from SB is below, I actually have misplaced my stitching so I can't photo it, lol. I only have the top row of stars and the stripes in, seems I don't have much patience for stitching these days :/

I would like to make it into my first mattress finishing, and I think I found the perfect backing fabric the other day at Wal-mart. I was there trying to find fabric to finish off the small ABC bird thing below. It was supposed to be a box lid (and is actually attached TO a box lid right now, lol) but the more I thought about it the more I decided I'd like to make into a needlebook, but while still on the shallow box lid, with the needlebook itself fitting into the lid. Clear as mud right? This one may be headed for disaster!!

I also finished the little tiny round monochrome in a previous post but lost it on the kitchen counter. Rediscovered it in a pile of syrup, then kids cleaned counter and it was gone again. I unearthed my desktop this last week so I could hunt for my Hatty Halloween freebie to re-post on the Stitches'N'Stones website and found a sticky finished tiny round. Luckily only a corner of the fabric is sticky so I cut it off. I plan to finish this into a small pin cushion (my first). Everyone hope for the best! Things have a tendency to look so easy and so much nicer in my head than the finished project.

I spend a little bit indulging over some past magazines and found some "I must do these NOW" projects, we'll see if anything happens! I still have the strict "finish what you started before moving on" policy (although I did relax it enough to start Tiny Flag before finishing off the boxlid small and pincushion small) so I'm not sure if that will motivate me or make me feel trapped.

And finally, I was shocked when BOAF closed their designing doors, I've been trying to add to my stash of their off and on for a long time, they are one of my favorites (well, ahem, who ISN'T?? lol). I am scared I may have lost out on a few designs forever :/ Or until I decide to visit Ebay and spring $30 or more for them...

BUT look what I found that I had never seen and just LOVE...

I am an a non-stash budget right now but had to snatch that up along with a few other things which I may show later, Homespun Samplar mailed it promptly and I got to fondle it yesterday. I showed my daughter the new stash and gave her 5 minutes to figure out which chart was the MUST HAVE MUST STITCH for me, she picked it, no problem.

New project and progress

2007-04-27T06:24:00.000-07:00

Stirred early this morning by stress I started a new small (terrible photo above). I am stitching another monochrome, in my fragile stitching state I can't seem to face a project where I would need to pick threads. I really am in a sad stitching slump. This small is so tiny I am almost done with it already, which is good but once again I am faced with the question, what to stitch?

Has anyone seen this Midsummer Night design in the latest Just Cross Stitch? I just love this design and it's reasonably small, I suppose I could try it. I am really trying to get myself to do the SB Cherish project, I won't let myself open the little packages with the charms etc. until I stitch the monthly project that goes with each.

Small finish

2007-04-15T02:00:00.000-07:00

So how cute is this? I am such a sucker for birds! This was by Meg Thompson of Flower Threads. You would not have thought this takes several months would you?? Stitched with a newer GAST red on unknown linen scrap. Well, now what???

more 2006 coming to light

2007-04-14T05:24:00.000-07:00

Huh, with the tiny amount of stitching I did in 2006 you'd think I'd be quick to share every piece! I actually sat here for the last 20 minutes wracking my brain to remember what I stitched for the winter holiday exchange I joined and finally had to search all my photos! Bundle Up is my own design that I stitched for the exchange.

Next in photos are the damnit dolls my sisters and I stitched out of socks (one per doll) in a moment of extreme stress back in October. Mine is the one on the left.

Finally, the LK design I stitched for a family member's wedding gift also in October. I charted in the sunflowers instead of water by request.

Life is moving very fast right now, I finally have found interest in stitching once again but have no time. I am working on a tiny fob design I hope to share soon, literally I've put in a few stitches a week.

New Finish from 2006

2007-02-08T23:08:00.000-07:00

Hello, anyone out there? It's been so long since I've had time to stitch or blog I think no one is reading anymore! I've been in a stitching funk trying to get a schedule going with the whole work at home thing. Around Thanksgiving I got tired of looking at the Nautical Fence and stitched on it till it was FINALLY done. The little shell button bra I wanted to do on the mermaid won't work no matter what I try so I gave up. I ran out of the thread for the fence 3 times and had to keep trying to match the original as I didn't remember what I started out with.I did find really cute sea themed buttons from Stoney Creek though! I am SO glad to see the back of this one, now I know as much as I love Spooky Fence it may make me as crazy as this one. At least it's finished now & hanging in my bathroom framed in a life saver I had bought at Michael's ages ago.

I got sick (flu?) in December and am now finally feeling like I have energy again. I didn't send any holiday cards or stitch even one ornament, it was quite depressing. I've still been diligently stash collecting but am not really feeling like stitching . I did start an tiny little design in hopes of being motivated but am not getting very far. Perhaps blogging about it will make me want to stitch??

I am very busy with cub scouts (I've been made cub master in addition to the den leader position I hold) and with the growing accounting/web design biz I started last May. I miss all my online friends and hope I can start posting here and on my groups again. I got some wonderful Christmas presents which I need to photo and post.

At least almost all my projects from last spring are done, now to find the pieces of Patriotic Borders (I keep finding the pattern one place, the thread another, and the piece itself in my stash cabinet). I have to admit my motivation for this one is zero but I hate to leave things undone!

Online Needlework Show

2006-10-16T01:07:00.000-07:00

Check out our new limited edition advance releases and some old favorites at the online needlework show:

http://www.needleworkshow.com/cgi-bin/stitcher.pl?615

The last day to order is today (Monday the 16th), be sure to email or call your LNS with your requests.

Toadily Witchin' freebie

2006-10-16T01:03:00.000-07:00

SB Stash

2006-08-20T19:47:00.000-07:00

I finally have received my SB monthly club!After waiting for months for the charms to be ready I had January-July come all at once. I barely restrained from ripping them all open, they are such cute little packages! I thought the best way to motivate myself to stitch it was to complete each month before opening the net, and before adding the monthly charm and drop to the charm bracelet. I'm so excited to start, I've only seen the January motif and this looks like it will be so cute!! Besides, I want to put the charms on the bracelet! The bracelet is beautiful and they were very generous with hardware for it. I have to finish my flag and my nautical fence before I start :/ Also, it's past time for Xmas stitching to commence. This working at home nonsense makes it impossible to get anything done!!!!

Seek Joy finish

2006-07-22T09:51:00.000-07:00

"I was really unhappy with the colors I picked and the fabric but I used some of the Distress It stuff on the fabric and frame to antique it and I think it looks a bit better. Finally finished!

Camp stitching

2006-06-14T13:34:00.000-07:00

I did amazingly make a bit of stitching time at camp, it felt like a big accomplishment at the time but I've decided although this piece is small it's deceptive, it seems to go on forever with no end in site. I have not picked it up since we got back last week, still trying to catch up with life after a 10 day unplanned absence!

Seri actually helped stitch a bit of this, I told her we'd try teaching her stitching when we get home. She just turned ten and should have a better chance of getting into it now!

I did the mermaid tail in two different colors trying to make it morph into multicolored patches but instead have wound up with a striped cucumber!

Mountain "Vacation"

2006-06-11T20:12:00.000-07:00

We went up to the boy scout camp for me to staff a few days of Family Camp, my way of getting the kids free summer camp. When we went for clean-up weekend we didn't even have tents so I wasn't sure what to expect in the way of living arrangements. Imagine my surprise when we were given a gorgeous new cabin with electricity, heaters, bear proof windows, the works. I quickly volunteered to stay more than 3 days! We had a great time but I have never worked so hard in my life! First three days was in the kitchen, the hours were from 6am-8pm daily with a few short breaks for stitching. The kids had a blast, plus they really stepped up and worked HARD. They washed dishes in the kitchen, served food, helped run crafts, etc. My oldest son became the "slave" of the camp director and I would find him in the strangest places: under a kitchen sink scrubbing, mopping behind a refrigerator, etc. And he found this FUN! He's in trouble now that I've learned of these hidden skills!

Having fun on the cabin porch swing

Interior of the cabin, bunks and real mattresses for 8 comfortably!
Chase and Andy roped a steer in the horsemanship class. Nephews Andy and Austin joined us for a night.
Seri on a horse

Seri and Chase's first experience with BB guns, and mine too. Quite fun and they are good shots!

Bryce working for his supper by serving it. Seri is in line waiting for it.

A Finish! Teacher Gift

2006-05-26T17:56:00.000-07:00

Wow, look at this, I finished something! Took me only a few days! I didn't have time to do BC's Teacher Row so I used some of the motifs & alphabet, plus a few of my own, to come up with the teacher's name. He called me today to tell me how much he appreciated it. I used to sit after school and stitch while the kids did various activities and he was always very interested in my stitching so I figured he would like a stitched gift even though I didn't really have time to do one. He was a really good teacher and friend to the kids and we will miss him a lot!

I was uploading this photo to my various albums and realized I have only finished 3 (small!) things this so far in 2006! Is that possible??? I am so discouraged!

This weekend we go to scout camp where I will be kitchen staff, bartering my services for a tuition free trip for our family (it's family camp). I doubt I will do any of it but I will be ambitious and bring my stitching, just in case! We get back Monday morning (or Sunday night if we don't get a cabin and my back hurts as much as it did last time) and then Monday afternoon is my last day at my "real" job :/ Tuesday & Wednesday are back to scout camp!

New project

2006-05-25T18:07:00.000-07:00

Here's Seran as a mummy in our play:

Well I finished a teacher gift! Today was the last day of school and I only finished 1 out of 3 :>/ I feel really bad about not getting all 3 done but I was lucky to get the one done, and it was for a very special teacher. Here's the update photo of it, not the finished one I took this morning:

SAL Doomed??

2006-05-16T14:39:00.000-07:00

Well folks, Saturday night I was tired and in the mood for some stitching. I had hunted up yet more fabric for the Merry Cox SAL (after losing the first piece), assembled needles and scissors, had the threads finally, and sat down to watch TV and stitch a bit. But where is the (working copy) pattern? you may ask. Nowhere to be found! Nor is the magazine anywhere either! I tore the house apart, the car, everywhere and it is gone without a trace. After waiting so long for the threads, losing the fabric, and now finally losing the threads I am wondering if I should be participating at all!!! Geeesh, lol!

Practical Joke

2006-05-16T14:35:00.000-07:00

I did waste a few moments Sunday evening on a practical joke for my son Bryce. As many of you can identify with, my tween has been getting too big for his britches these days! As such, I felt this was only fair and fun retaliation. Perhaps he will realize mother is still an entity to respect even if I am shorter than him now!

This is his scout shirt. Since he has grown so much he was recently given an adult's hand-me-down so the adult patches are still on it. I do plan to take them off but thought I would substitute the "Potty Trained" patch into the place of the "Trained" patch and see how long it takes for someone to notice! Should be fun!

Graduated

2006-05-16T14:31:00.000-07:00

This weekend I graduated from the Community Emergency Response Team training I took with my son Bryce. We got these great bags with lots of useful disaster supplies in them, I particularly like the hat. My DH says they left a few letters off (I believe he thinks it should say "certifiable").

Weekend in pics

2006-05-16T14:20:00.000-07:00

A few random photos from the weekend:

Pics of the kids outside of the local dinner theater/comedy club. Bryce has to show you how "cool" he is.

Photo of Seri's birthday invitations she made herself, I think they are so cute and creative!

Progress!

2006-05-12T15:09:00.000-07:00

Progress, such as it is, on Patriotic Borders. I got about 20 minutes in, at least I'm done with the top 4 borders now. I didn't get to even think of stitching on the Merry Cox SAL last night, my lovely threads didn't make it out of the plastic bag :/

Forgot to say that of the threads below, the pinks are for the SAL, then one bag is for the PA German Sewing chest pictured a week or so ago, and the other bag is the conversion for CHS Wild Roses so I can start them whenever I want (LOL, at this rate it will be never!).

SAL stash

2006-05-11T15:11:00.000-07:00

My Merry Cox SAL stash finally arrived! It wasn't Vicki's @ Hand Dyed Fibers fault, it sat at the post office in Denver for a few days according to the tracking info. Maybe tonight I can get a start in on it, we'll see!!

WIP/Blog updates

2006-05-09T14:27:00.000-07:00

So here is the newest pic of Patriotic Borders after stitching on it yesterday afternoon. No work done today :/ As you can see I posted a photo of Nautical Fence above, not much done so far.

Here are some pics of our CERT training last weekend.

Nothing on the stitching or working front last night as we went out to dinner with DH's aunt who is visiting. Tonight is a free night so I hope I have the energy tostitch and clean and simply enjoy the evening! Cross your fingers that my Merry Cox SAL threads/ribbons will arrive today so I can start on that. So far no one is too far ahead of me so maybe I can keep up!

The Freedom!

2006-05-08T14:59:00.000-07:00

Today I resigned finally! By June I hope to be down to designing, book-keeping, and web mastering only, and working from home! The relief of it all is immense and so rewarding.

This month is a really crazy month, with several scout camps and several more fieldtrips, teacher gifts to be made, my SAL that the threads STILL have not come for (!!!), my house being a disaster, and the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) training I have been taking. I took my son to CERT with me this weekend and we put out fires together as well as learned quite a bit of life-saving first aid and medical info. I do have pics but need to upload them. I realized that last week I spent 4 nights in a row eating in my car, and Saturday night was the first night I was able to go home and relax since Tuesday night. Every other night we got home after bedtime and went straight to bed. The kids have once again graduated Children of Divorce Recovery, and bowling class has it's last week this week so there's a relief off of me. After-school tutoring seems to be winding down and I heard there's no more scheduled so that will be nice. We still have the play we're doing for Odyssey of the Mind but we only have the next two Tuesdays and Thursdays. So if I can make it through May I think June will feel like a cake walk---no school drop-off, no actually going to work, just home home home! Of course, there's still so much work to be done but at least I won't be every which way all day long.

I did get to stitch on Heron House Patriotic Borders today and managed to stitch the third border and almost half-way finish the 4th border. Last night I watched Desperate Housewives and did the red on the pole for Nautical Row. I didn't get pics, hope to have some soon. Unfortunately I now need to abandon these for teacher gifts, and get started on the Merry Cox SAL as soon as my silks from VC come. I got the dyed ribbon from there as well so this should be a really pretty finished piece, even if at this point I can't even get it started!!!

new goodies

2006-05-02T14:57:00.000-07:00

My long awaited SB things have come. I got the 2006 fob and because I am a sucker for all things scissors I got the engraved gingher scissors (Sophia, I think) that go along with it. I really want to rip it open and get it started, so little and cute!! Their packaging is so nice I didn't want to open the scissors but I had to. You can barely see the year engraved in this photo, the other side is engraved with "Shepherd's Bush." Very pretty!!

I managed to get the silks and ribbons ordered that I need for the Merry Cox SAL that started yesterday. As usual, a day late and a dollar short but I'm working on it! I have several fabby picked out, went to hunt them up for a photo and not sure where they went to, grrrrrrrrrr!!! I did get my working copy of the chart made at least, so that's some progress right?? I would really like to at least get a few stitches in tonight with the supplies I have for it already. Haven't had time to go check Dani's, etc. to see how everyone else is doing.

Haven't taken pics of my new stash yet, spent the entire weekend cleaning except Sunday night when I could have been stitching but instead couldn't settle down to anything. I did manage to find my See Joy chart (!) so I can try to get moving on that. Don't have much motivation for anything, but every time I found a chart while cleaning I wanted to put it in the "to do next pile", LOL!!! Must be the weather or the mood I'm in. On the good side the house looks inhabitable once more and I might even have pics to share someday soonish.

April Summary

2006-05-02T14:35:00.000-07:00

April plans---
Must stitch:
a gift for John's aunt's friend not needed
models for a new release? not needed, models not even charted
thank you gift for wedding ring place? not started
Would like to stitch: Quaker 6 Mystery SAL (not going to happen!), something SB not done
Would like to finish: Seek Joy, Patriotic Borders, a UFO (have to find one first!) barely touched SJ and PB, did find Angus WIP and car WIP now need patterns
Would like to make progress on: figure out what big project to and start assembling stuff for it not done

April
New finishes: 0
WIPS progressed: frogged about 6 stitches in EM Amber Waves Welcome

May plans---
Must stitch: 3 teacher gifts
model for new release?
thank you for wedding ring place?

SAL: Needleroll
Merry Cox Her Needles Kept Safely

Would like to stitch: Just about everything I see these days!

Would like to finish: Seek Joy, Patriotic Borders

Would like to make progress on: finding all my UFOs to finish or give away

Pictures

2006-04-28T14:38:00.000-07:00

Because I have no stitching getting done these days I thought I'd share a project from Nashville Market by Primitive Traditions, called something like the Pennsylvania Dutch sewing chest (???). When trying to make sense of my office I found the box and pattern stashed on a shelf, isn't it gorgeous??? Not sure if I will be stitching it anytime soon though!!

Here's the tiny UFO that never seems to get done, I've been taking it places for years. The pattern was always separated from the little kitted up bag but recently I was finally able to reunite them. Now that I have them together I think it's a cute design but not sure why I picked it to do, lol!! Oh well, it'll look good in my dining room so I'll try and finish it up, right now I only have the row of grass underneath the house stitched. Maybe I'll make that my goal for the weekend since I REALLY need some stitching time! I did want to get in some time on Nautical Row though ;/ I saw Raise the Roof came out with Liberty Fence on May's Hoffman list, it's cute but not my cup of tea.

This weekend I plan to stay home and clean and clean and clean and WORK!! The zoo has free admission tomorrow but I MUST get things done!! Tonight we're going to the county fair, I hope to see the needlework, never have managed to find it, lol. I bought tickets for rides in advance only to have one son going camping with DH tonight and the other in trouble, so it looks like it'll be Seri and I and a ton of tickets. Normally I love the fair but I am so tired of going and doing these days!!

May new release

2006-04-24T15:10:00.000-07:00

What do you think??? Taking it to the printer this afternoon, finally!

SALs I joined

2006-04-24T15:05:00.000-07:00

A needleroll SAL over at Kiwi Jo's
A Merry Cox needlekeeper at
Dani's

Heron House update

2006-04-24T15:00:00.000-07:00

This is my last progress on this WIP, and it's at least a week old. It actually seems like it could be reasonably fast if I could put the time in on it.

Camping

2006-04-24T14:47:00.000-07:00

Have been offline preparing for last weekends' camping trip. We went up to the boy scout camp and did clean up to help it open for summer. Our job was to rake all all pine needles, etc. 25 ft. away from each building as a precaution since fire season is expected to be very bad this year. I may never see a forest again without checking to see if it needs to be raked ;o)

Not much on the stitching front to report, I've been so busy I've barely managed to put in any stitches. I did get some new stash though, hopefully will take pics soon. I'm DYING to stitch, and to finish some things. I seem to be wanting to start new projects right and left which is totally against my rules ;o) According to me, I should only have two projects in the works (3 if I have a purse project), and right now I have 5:

--Heron House Patriotic Borders
--Erica Michaels Amber Waves Welcome
--Xmas ornie (purse project)
--Notforgotten Farm Seek Joy (can't find pattern STILL)
--Raise the Roof Nautical Fence (just started)

I started Raise the Roof Nautical Fence last Monday night, I really wanted something FUN to stitch on, and my bathroom still looks so plain. Only have a few stripes on the pole though :P

I joined two SAL: a needleroll and a Merry Cox one. I really don't have time for either but I need some motivation to have some regular stitching time. This working a million jobs at the same time is really killing my stitching!

Did some re-arranging of the technological highrise that is my desk yet AGAIN, this time to set up my new scanner/printer. I think I finally have everything where I need it and where the cords will reach ;o) And if not, at this point I do NOT care!!!! The bad thing about the shelving to the ceiling is it makes my office look so different (less open) and it takes away my "wall of whimsy", I had all my silly stitchings hung up there to entertain me as I worked. I really do need the shelving though, perhaps I can now get the office organized (no laughing!!).

WIP updates

2006-04-11T14:55:00.000-07:00

Here is the WIP I keep in my purse, just a tiny little holiday ornament for those times when I have a few minutes to kill. I'm surprised I haven't finished it yet, it's very small!

With taking on the new book-keeping client and the web design I have had NO stitching time! This is two days of stitching on the Heron House Patriotic Border design, I have one line on the flag done. This one should be pretty quick once I get some time in on it, whenever that will be!

The Seek Joy stitching I got some of the peacock done and then lost the pattern *groan*. So far no luck in finding it, I may have to buy it again in a month or so if I can't hunt it up! I want to wait and try to find it first, I haven't looked that hard yet.

Spring!

2006-04-11T14:48:00.000-07:00

This was my centerpiece for our Easter church dinner last weekend. There was a prize for the best, unfortunately I did not win :/ Oh well, next time!

We went fishing on Saturday morning, had to get up at 4am. We were all tired the rest of the weekend, but we got the free fishing poles they were handing out to the first 250 people. No pics of that, my cell phone died on the journey out to Sahuarita lake.

April????

2006-04-03T14:06:00.000-07:00

This is one of my current WIP, Patriotic Borders by Heron House designs. This was in a cross stitch mag but I see it's also at Hoffman's, in case anyone wants to track it down. I'm worried about my fabric choice, this is a dusty red that I wonder if it might be too pink? I've decided I may try to antique the fabric a bit and make the color less pinky and more vintage. Hope this one turns out well!!!
Wow, what happened to March??? Not much to report, spent the weekend doing yardwork and getting started on my new web and book-keeping clients. No stitching done at all, plus I managed to hurt my back somewhere in there and missed out on the Walk for the cure (breast cancer) I had signed up for. Today my allergies are acting up, and I hurt my foot, so I've got this weird limping/listing drunken kind of walk going accompanied by my hand on my back and lot of sneezing/sniffling. My daughter says it's because I am getting old (i'm under 30 still, lol).

This is part of what we did this last weekend, we hit Home Depot's kid clinic and made birdhouses. Next time we may just go get the free kit and head home, there was no table space or tools available. The kids made cute birdhouses though and I was impressed with the kit materials, the free apron, and the pin they gave them.

And finally the pics of the kids cleaning the grafitti! We had a great time and did a lot of work. Chase and I spent a quick half hour on Saturday doing more signs which I think is partly why my back hurts so much, those signs are much taller than us!

March Stitching summary

2006-04-03T13:20:00.000-07:00

March finishes: 2
Land That I Love
Carre Fleuri

WIPS progressed: 0

New starts: 2
Notforgotten Farm- Seek Joy
Heron House- Patriotic Borders

April plans---

Must stitch: a gift for John's aunt's friend
models for a new release?
thank you gift for wedding ring place?

Would like to stitch: Quaker 6 Mystery SAL (not going to happen!), something SB

Would like to finish: Seek Joy, Patriotic Borders, a UFO (have to find one first!)

Would like to make progress on: figure out what big project to and start assembling stuff for it

Land That I Love framed

2006-03-29T15:02:00.000-07:00

Finally framed last night and photoed. I really like the variation in the fabric color,

it really sets everything off. Stitched on 36ct. Vintage Aqua from Lakeside Linen using Weeks and GASt threads and framed in a WNC frame (now Nice Frames, I believe).

Today is not so good, DH's truck was stolen out of our driveway overnight...

Frames etc.

2006-03-24T14:46:00.000-07:00

So this is the frame I was hoping would fit, I have several in various sizes but this was the one that was supposed to work. It is too big IMHO, so I grabbed a different one that looks good with it. Did not have time to actually frame it this morning though. Too bad this didn't work, love these frames!!! Oh well, eventually something will fit it!
I kitted up a new project last night by Notforgotten Farm called seek Joy. I am using a Silkweaver solo and Vicki Clayton silks, I think. The solo is just the slightest bit too orange for my taste, and I really wanted to use Sugar Maple Golden Turret but can't seem to find any in my stash even though I believe I have quite a bit of it. I didn't start it yet so we'll see what fabric I use. It's supposed to be about 11" x 11" but I don't think it will take too long as there's not much to fill in. I would like to stick it on my living room wall, not only will it fill up space and match the decor but I happen to have a large key randomly hanging in there so the key in this will tie my random key in ;o)

To answer Lee's question on the fob in my profile ( http://stitchesnstones2.blogspot.com/2005/12/mini-coussin-abc-oiseaux-finish.html ),

I believe it used to be at this freebie site but I don't see it any longer:

http://users.skynet.be/bk236098/CARINNE/G_surprise.htm

There are some really cute freebies here still, so check it out if you haven't seen it. Also the LE 498 booklet for charity (top of the page at that link) is filled with gorgeous designs, well worth the donation to get the book. That was my Christmas stash to myself this past xmas.

Have a meeting after work today with a new book-keeping client, and I start my job as web person extraordinaire tonight. No plans for the weekend except cleaning, cleaning, cleaning, working, with some yardwork and perhaps swimming on the side!

Finished, I think?

2006-03-23T15:11:00.000-07:00

Hot off the q-snaps! This morning I woke up early and being wide awakw foe once did a bit of stitching and catching up on TV viewing. Can't believe I am done, this turned out very nicely but I didn't really enjoy stitching it. I'm starting to think that things that have sat in my wishlist for a long time are so boring to stitch because I've seen them so often, or perhaps for so long that I'm impatient to simply be done with them and move on. I must say I enjoy the colors together very much, especially on this fabric (which is a relief, I was a bit worried). There is supposed to be a border on top, and the words "United States of America" on the bottom along with a border but I rather like it just like this. Wish I had had enough time to see if it fits the frame I have been picturing it in, will have to wait till much later for that :P I have decided that dog is a coyote, he's just the right color and shape.

So, can anyone guess what I am going to say next?

Now what to stitch???? lol

My oldest son mentioned this morning the hot wheels race car I have been saying I'll stitch since he was 3 yrs. old (8 years ago) so perhaps I should get that out. Or worse, finish a UFO :P Hmmmm, decisions, decisions...Maybe Nautical Fence?? I'd love to dress the bathroom up more plus it's fun and summery. Also have a magazine flag pattern in my drawer (I think by Heron House) I was toying with starting, and I really do need to do a small thank you for the company in Ireland that made our wedding rings on such short notice (twice!). However, this morning I was contemplating new design releases and may have to stitch a few new models instead. Argh! Perhaps I should take a poll and have people who read this decide??? LOL

On an unrelated note, I love Vicki Clayton's silks and used to buy there frequently till she changed her host/cart and now I can never get registered with the system which is the only way to buy!! ARGH! I keep registering and waiting to receive an email confirmation, but something always happens. I shall email Vicki one of these days directly so I can buy, there are quite a few silk conversion packs for the designs on my goal list that I need!!!!

New improved goal list

2006-03-21T14:52:00.000-07:00

is now in the sidebar. I plan to link to an entry that will have more specifics including size, fabric, threads, stitched image, any WIP photos, and will also log stitching hours. We'll see how that goes! I really want to get my UFOs done, I've never been comfortable having unfinished business.

Today is DH's b-day so no stitching or office cleaning is on the agenda. Then tomorrow is cub scouts so it should be plenty busy then as well. Wish I could take Thursday off and try to get things done :P Also wish I had time to finish off Land of the Free. Oh well, it's been in my pile for several years, a few more days (weeks??) won't hurt!

Argh!

2006-03-20T16:41:00.000-07:00

Well I was so proud, I made a goal list, stuck it into the template here and tweaked it till it looked right, then somehow managed not to save it correctly so it's not here!!! Now I have to figure out all over again what I had it all whittled down to, grrrr.

I think I'm almost done going through all my back magazine issues and making working copies of projects I *have* to do. Yes, this is an exercise in futility, but it's been a fun diversion and made a big mess to put away, all at the same time so I'm killing the entire flock of birds with one stone (and that's probably what it looks like around my house, lol).

I have found out some changes will be coming soon (this week) to my home office, I will have to find housing for a new (to me) computer for the web tech stuff I've started doing. By now you are probably familiar with hearing me say (every weekend, no doubt), I will get my office cleaned up and organized. Well, now I *really* have to do that, and ASAP! I spent most of my weekend cleaning up from the multiple toilet overflows, the rest we spent on scrubbing signs and painting over grafitti, then yardwork while the weather was so good (and the brush and bulky semi-annual collection is next week). I did manage to do some filing (ok, re-filing after my last employee made a wreck of things) at least, as well as a bit of stitching last night. Land That I Love needs the dog (coyote?), about half the water, and the flag finished, and then I think I'll be done? Truthfully it calls for a border as well as more wording but I'm liking it without those, especially if it will fit in the frame I have without them. I really like the colors on this vintage aqua fabric, it really all works together nicely. I keep meaning to take a WIP photo but haven't had a chance. Soon I hope, along with a pic from the graffiti clean-up perhaps...

I'm going to do it...

2006-03-17T15:39:00.000-07:00

I'm biting the bullet and I am going to set goals, by golly! Now if only I could decide what to put on my list...hmmm. I guess they are only goals, right? It can be a ridiculously long list and I won't be expected to finish it this year, right? And I can find something not on the list and stitch it instead, right? There are no rules to this goal-setting, right??????? LOL

Not much on the stitching front, I've spent most nights going to be early, it's been one of those weeks---

Signs your week can only go downhill:

-Your son breaks off the key to your vehicle in the door lock

-You lose a large check and can't find it no matter what

-Your toilet overflows and keeps overflowing, not once but twice, the second time no one was home and the ensuing lake (of toilet water, no less) soaks your bedsprings and mattress, comforter, books that were stacked by the bedroom bookshelf, clothes, etc. etc.

-Your son is failing math

-Several people pick this week to advise you on your personal life and commitments (or rather, according to them, my OVER-commitments)

I could go on but I will spare you ;o) And yes, no one in my house is starving, we have a roof over our heads, jobs, general good health, etc. So even as I complain I am trying to count my blessings!

I was hoping to bake St. Patty's day cookies with the kids tonight but will more than likely have to try to do damage control on the wet bedroom instead. Calgon take me away!!!!!!!

What do you think?

2006-03-14T15:15:00.000-07:00

Been developing my html skills as well as trying to jazz the place up a bit..like it? Dislike it? Too busy? A few tweaks still to make but I think the main idea is here.

Not much to report on stitching. I started a mini-ornie yesterday afternoon while waiting for the kids, and I did an "a" and "t" on Land That I Love, lol. Was very bad last night and sat in bed stitching, eating, and watching TV with no regard to any chores to be done!

Carre Fleuri finished

2006-03-13T14:29:00.000-07:00

I had taken a different photo but this one shows the colors and flowers much more clearly. This is a freebie from Anne Les Petites de Croix called Carre Fleuri (Flowered Square). I used 40ct. Vintage Aqua Lakeside Linen over one count with GAST threads. I made the tassels myself using the green and pink GAST I stitched the design with. Even by hand sewing I must say the little pillow didn't turn out too badly. I filled it with little pebbles and it has a nice weight to it.

I spent most of the weekend in Phoenix so that Watty could have her eye removed. I got a bit of stitching done on my Land of the Free, not nearly as much as I would like. Perhaps by looking at this one for so long I'm already bored by it? Or maybe I need a few really small projects to make me feel like I'm accomplishing something? I did finally get Hoffman's my newest releases as well as change my leaflet style and make them more marketable--they are now being professionally printed rather than having the photos glued to each one. Quite a bit more money goes to the printer now but I think it will be quite worth it, or I hope so!

Watty opened up some of her stitches this morning and it's been a real nightmare, no one will see her but the vet opthamologist and he is voicing many concerns and talking about more treatments which is ridiculous since there is no longer an eye!!! I'm really frustrated, the dog situation seems never-ending. I came home so relaxed because it was all over and the dog was healing so well, and now here I am crabby and stressed again :P Only help for that is stitching, right???

Another weekend come & gone...

2006-03-07T13:47:00.000-07:00

and no closer to getting much of anything accomplished! I did unearth the laundry room floor a bit though. I got to attend a tour of the cemetary which was neat, people dressed up as the person we were "visiting" and told about "their" life. We held our scout Pinewood Derby clinic which was attended only by my family (LOL). We still had fun, got our cars close to finished, and didn't make a mess at home since we had it at the church. This is Seri on her fieldtrip last friday to the AZ Historical Museum where she got to dress up a bit.
I did a bit of stitching on Land That I Love, enough to be annoyed that this is such a small piece and it seems like it will take a long time! I was going to try to finish off the floral freebie last night but was too tired, ended up crashing several hours before bedtime and then having the worst night's sleep ever (too hot, dogs/kids kept waking up, etc.). I was going to start a new tiny lunch project but I couldn't find just the fabric or threads I wanted so I will leave that till tomorrow. Decided to start finishing off the freebie instead and made up my own cheater version of handmade tassels which I think look the same as more complicated ones (see terrible photo below). Then I cut the fabric down and started hemming for a pillow, let's hope I'm getting better at this process!
Lots to do tonight especially on a Hoffman's order and perhaps a new release that I've left almost too long. It would be nice to finish off the little floral freebie tonight as well, we'll see!

Floral freebie!

2006-03-03T16:48:00.000-07:00

I was going to title this blog entry as finished but I never count my projects as actually done until they are framed/pillowed/whatever. Official finishing should take place this weekend I hope! Still not sure what to make it or whether to add a button, guess it will be a surprise. I stitched on it late last night for a bit and then finished it while waiting in my daughter's classroom this morning to go on a fieldtrip. We went to the Arizona Historical Society on the city bus, what a neat place!!

Started work on the garage last night, got a good dent into it. Rewarded myself by looking through all the stitching magazines I found while cleaning. If anyone wants to come help, my garage is a treasure trove of stash, stash, everywhere! Hoping to find some forgotten goodies this weekend! Also have the cub scout pinewood derby car clinic tomorrow to help the boys finish up their car before next Saturday's race. This should be amusing, even with having my boys in scouts for the last 3 years I had no idea the car kits come with blocks of wood rather than in a ready-made car shape *hanging head in giggling shame* Good thing I will have John who has built cars before as well as my dad, my son, and hopefully other well qualified adults. I think the girls should get to do derby cars as well, after all, having no experience is surely detrimental to all those moms out there ;l)

I'm going to attempt to make some headway on Land That I Love, wish me luck! Happy weekend everyone!