Two Week Wait

These last two weeks have been very rough.  I've tried to keep myself busy and keep my mind off of anything remotely related to babies. 

I've spent lots of time with my needle over the last 14 days.  Much of the time it was to deal with frogs.  It seems that since my mind is not fully there the frogs decided to take advantage of me.  Even with the frogs, I did mange to finish an old wip.  I was trying to figure out when I started it and I have a feeling it was sometime back in 2006.  I'll tell you all about the frogs and the piece next time.

After my finish I began working on Mouline Rouge again.  She's a little bit further than she was, but nowhere near close.  I tried to plug along but I was struggling with my lack of mojo.  Instead I went digging through some of my kitted projects and I came up with "Delivering Wares" by Homespun Elegance.  I've got a good start on it and I think it will go a long way in helping me to get my mojo back on track.  I don't have enough for a picture though...maybe next time.

My personal mojo has been suffering as well.  I found out on Saturday that the IUI didn't take.  Then on Sunday I found out that my youngest sister is 8 weeks pregnant.  Needless to say I didn't have a great Mother's Day.  Then today my co-worker brought in her week old twin boys.  I couldn't even bring myself to hold one of them as I knew if I did I would end up a hot mess.

I did place a call to the doctor's office after the IUI failure and now I'm scheduled for a hysteroscopy.  Basically the doctor is going to look inside and see if there is anything that could possibly be preventing pregnancy, like scar tissue from previous D&C's.  So, I'm out of the running for TQfM again this month.  I'm scheduled for the outpatient procedure early next month. Hopefully everything will be good so that we can start trying again in mid June.

Unitl then I will just have to be patient.  I guess I could practice that patience with those darn frogs.

Happy Stitching!

The Letter "F" (Picutre Heavy)

Today's post is brought to you by the letter "F". (Oh yes.....I'm still stuck on Sesame Street for some reason.)

Our first "F" is for FINISHES.  I was a good girl this week and put my finishing skills into overdrive.  I managed to finish two pieces.  (Which is pretty darn good in my book!) 

ABCD by La-D-Da
on 40ct Lakeside Linen Vintage Dark Ltd Run

Up first is "ABCD" by La-D-Da.  My first intention was to make this into a cube rectangle finish.  I found the perfect ribbon at my local Michael's.  It was wired and would have made the perfect bow.  But, by the time I got home I changed my mind and decided that I would rather turn this project into a pincushion.  It is a mighty long one, but it is a cute one!  I had the perfect fabric in my stash for backing this one which is always a plus.  The dragonflies have all the same hues as the Belle Soie Peacock.  I currently have this one sitting on the arm of the couch and it is holding all my pre-threaded needles for my fifteen minute project.

Delivering Fleurs
by
Homespun Elegance

Next up is "Delivering Fleurs" by Homespun Elegance.  You may remember that I put a poll up on my side bar asking how you thought I should finish it.  Only 43 of you voted, but the clear hands down winner with 22 votes was a flatfold finish.  While I like the flatfold finish, I wanted to go with something different, so I went with the third place winner, a "cube" finish.

I just knew that this design would lend itself perfectly to this type of finish.  I would like to thank Vonna of The Twisted Stitcher for her wonderful tutorial.  It was so easy to follow!  However, I did make one change.  She has fabric wrapped around her piece while I chose to wrap mine with coordinating ribbons.  I really love how this came out and I know that I will be using this finish again.  Here is a close up of the front and another of the back.

The letter "F" is also for FIRSTS.  In fact, it is for my first quilting project finish!  WOO-HOO!!!

 While I am very pleased with how this came out, I know that I still have much to learn.  Practice makes progress don't you know.  I'm just hoping that next time I can line up my triangles a little better than this:

Our third "F" is for FIFTEEN.  I've been making lots of progress in my self imposed fifteen minute challenge.  I've been able to stitch on "ABC's of Aging Artfully" by Lizzie*Kate all week.  Each morning, after a wake up cup of coffee, I spend at least fifteen minutes stitching while I watch the news.  Sometimes I get lucky and I can stitch for almost a half hour.  I even managed to get a second fifteen minute session in last night.  I even plan on keeping my fifteen minutes on this project over the holiday weekend even though I will be giving most of my attentions to other projects.  So, here's my progress as of this morning. (Sorry for the bad picture, it was hazy this morning so I didn't have good light.)

Finally for my last "F", I would like to wish all my fellow Americans a Happy Fourth of July!  Have a wonderful weekend everyone!  Stay safe and enjoy some fireworks!

Happy Stitches!

More Weekend Talk

Thank you all for your kind Blogoversary wishes!  It is so amazing to me that I've been at this for three whole years.  I love looking back on my older posts to see how I have grown since I started blogging.  What a trip down memory lane!

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Now, onto the good stuff.........

My four day holiday was crammed full as you all know.  One of the evenings I spent with my Mom.  My Mom is the greatest.  She is my rock and my best friend!  Recently she and my step-dad took my (step) Grandfather (who is 94) to Disney World in Florida for vacation.  While they were gone, we dog sat for them.  In return she brought us all this wonderful stuff:

There was a bowl, plates, salad tongs, corn cob holders, chip clips, chopsticks, reusable straws, a tervis tumbler for Hubby and a Tigger charm for my Pandora bracelet!  See, I told you my Mom was the greatest!

And the design inside the bowl????

Mickey heads are always cool!  But, get a load of the big picture.......

The heads became Mickey himself.  Neat, huh?  (It took my Mom the whole trip to figure that out!  It's okay Mom.....I still love you!)

Okay, okay, I know.  You want to see the good stuff, not a plastic bowl! 

Over the holiday I was hard at work (when I wasn't quilting) on this baby:

Delivering Fleurs by Homespun Elegance
Part of the 2011 Crazy January Challenge

This piece has been so much fun! It has been a quick stitch, once I got my needle smoking again.  (I can't believe that I didn't pick it up sooner.)  I worked on it again last night and all I have left are the colonial knot centers on the flowers.  Then I can add a few button wheels and Voila, I'll be one step closer to finishing this challenge.  I think that I may even make this one into a stand up instead of framing it.  What do you think?  Maybe I'll put a poll up on my sidebar and see......

I finished another piece over the holiday weekend, but I won't be able to show it since it is for an exchange that is due on the 15th.  Uh oh!  The 15th is coming up fast.  Looks like I need to get myself into a finishing mode! 

In addition to the finishig I need to do, my Birds of a Feather Mystery Sampler arrived today and now I'm itching to start that as well.  I just don't know how I'm going to get this all in!  I need to win the lottery!!!!

Happy Stitches!

Challenge Update (One Down, Fourteen to Go!)

Well, tax season is in high gear.  We just finished the big push for the March 15th Corporate deadline.  Now we are working towards the April 15th (18th) Partnership, Fiduciary and Individual deadline.  Only four more weeks to go and then I will be free for another year.  WHEW!!

I haven't had much stitching time with the big push, but I try and devote some time on Friday evenings and Sundays to my stitching.  I've been spending a little bit of time with Mouline Rouge, but the differences aren't really picture worthy.  However, I do have a couple that are.

Remember these from the Crazy January Challenge?



Flower Urn
by Homespun Elegance



Rose Garden
by Blackbird Designs

Well, check them out now..........

The first two weekends of March were devoted to Flower Urn by Homespun Elegance.  Normally I have tons of time on Sundays and I would have been able to finish this piece in a day, but this has not been the case these last few weekends.  Something always seems to get in the way.  Still, I managed to finish this one.  It is my first finish of the 2011 Crazy January Challenge!

Flower Urn ~ Completed 3/18/11

Yesterday I decided to pick up Rose Garden by Blackbird Designs.  I'm stitching it over one and I'm having a blast with it.  I did all of this work (and then some) while I enjoyed the sunshine and the fresh spring air.  I'm enjoying this piece so much that I plan on stitching it again as a remembrance piece in honor of my Grandmother Rose.  I think it is the perfect way to honor her in my stitching.  Especially since she's the one who started me on this journey in the first place.

Rose Garden ~ as of 3/20/11

I would have some exchange stitching to share with you, but Blogger and Picasa are not cooperating.  I guess that will have to wait until another day.

Enjoy the Sunshine!

Happy Stitching!

More Crazy Starts

Just a few quick minutes to post more pictures of my challenge starts!

Number Nine

Flower Urn
Homespun Elegance

 Number Ten

Delivering Fleurs
Homespun Elegance

 Number Eleven



Living With Charm
2008 Flip-Its
Lizzie*Kate

Yes, I know these are pitiful starts.  I managed to get only a few stitches in on each and I haven't been back to them since.  But when you see Mouline Rouge you will know why these starts look the way they do.  (If that is not another tease, I don't know what is!)
Only four more starts to go!

Happy Stitching!

Just a Tease

That's right, I'm just going to tease you a little bit today. While I have been a good girl by starting my Day 8 and Day 9 projects, I have been remiss to take any pictures over the weekend.

For the eighth project I started Rose Garden by Blackbird Designs. I chose to be brave with this project so I'm stitching it over one on 28ct fabric. I have only stitched seven diamonds in the boarder so far, but I can tell this is going to be fun. However, I have to make a working copy of this chart before I go any further because I know I will lose my place if I don't highlight where I am. Plus, I can really see myself stitching this one more than once. It is perfect for a gift.

My ninth project was Flower Urn by Homespun Elegance. I'm stitching it on the premade "Stitchery Keep" as shown on the front of the pattern. I only stitched about half the urn yesterday and I can already tell that this one will be a little bit of a challenge. Good thing I can use the sewing method!

I've also been more than busy with MR. While I haven't finished page 3 (I started in the upper right hand corner), I have moved onto page 6 so that I could work my way down before I start working my way too far to the left. She is really moving along nicely.

Well, it is going to be a busy day at work. Tax season has already started for me! Hopefully I will be able to get a stitch in on start number 10 later tonight. Good thing Hubby has the day off. Someone has to do the housework!!

Happy Stitching!