Time Flys By

I just can't believe how fast this summer (and for that matter, this year) has gone by. It was just yesterday I was complaining about 60+ hour work weeks and wondering if April 15th would ever get here. Now, here it is August 10th! And summer is slowly fading away. The days are getting shorter, but not any cooler yet. After all, it is supposed to hit 100 today with horrible humidity. I guess I really shouldn't complain. We've had a pretty mild summer and my electric bill and my old a/c unit is quite thankful for that! Still, I can't believe that Labor Day is almost here. Of course, that means that the Harvest of Friendship retreat is that much closer!

Speaking of friendship, we lost a fellow stitcher over the last few days. I really didn't know Carol all that well, but I was fortunate enough to share a little stitching time with her over these past few years. Carol loved to sing while she stitched and there was many a time that the whole table would break out into song. She also loved Halloween. Here's a picture that was forwarded to me by another stitching friend. (Thanks Penny for sending the picture Darlene took.) Carol, I sure do hope that you are saving a few needles for the rest of us!


Happy Stitching!

How Sweet!

I just want to send a big "THANK YOU!!!!" out to Mary Jo from the LHN Exchange. She sent me a cute little birthday card in anticipation of my birthday next week.



As you can see, the card has a place of honor in my entry way. Thanks again Mary Jo!

Happy Stitching!

Manic Monday

I went from having absolutely nothing to do at work to having a desk full of bonus calculations and tax returns. When it rains, it pours! Speaking of rain, I wish we would break out of this afternoon thunderstorm patten. It starts turning dark around 4pm and makes traffic messier than normal. Oh well! What are you going to do but respect Mother Nature? (ETA: Wouldn't you know it? I write about rain and the sun is shining like there isn't a cloud in the sky.......HUMPH!!)

I've been real busy on the home front too. My needles have been smoking this past week and over the weekend. I finished LHN's "Winter Sampler" on Friday night. Only three short evenings to stitch that baby up......


I also started LHN's Rose Sampler on Saturday and I've been flying my way through that pattern as well. I would really like to finish it up tonight, but bills and other promised needlework have to come first. Maybe I'll try to sneak a few stitches on it in the morning while I do laundry so that hubby has a clean uniform. I'm stitching this one on 32ct Caramel Swirl Opalescent by Silkweaver and when I finish it will go on the Limited Edition Rose Thread Pouch by Impie, Hattie & Bea. Now maybe you understand why I'm so anxious to get it done!

Looking at this picture, I think I'm going to change my initials to the darker rose color (I haven't used it yet) so that they stand out more. This project is very special to me since it reminds me of my Grandmother. Her name was Rose.......

I've also joined a LHN exchange. So, in my spare time I'm going to have to come up with something and stitch that too. I didn't realize that my stitching was going to get so hectic when I originally signed up. At least I have an idea in my head and it's not due until October 1st!

Speaking of Dianne Williams, did you see that she has been featured in "The Gift of Stitching"?


I just love this pattern and I've already got it printed out. I would love to be able to pull all those luscious Crescent Colours tonight and go stash diving for some fabric. Alas, duties call........

I've got tons of stitching waiting in the wings, so I better set my needles back to smoking!

Happy Stitching!

Changes.....

So I finally changed the picture in the header. (I guess that's what you call it.) I'm going to try to do this once a month or based on how I feel. This way I can share with you another of my passions......photography!

I have a fabulous Nikon D80 which I absolutely LOVE. I took it with me to Arizona on our honeymoon and I try to remember to bring it when hubby and I go on day trips. (This particular picture was taken this past Sunday while we were on one of our day trips.) I also like to use my camera for my finished projects since it seems to capture everything so much better than my point and shoot pocket Nikon. I typically use the pocket camera for fun family stuff and for when I don't want to lug out the "big gun". I also keep the little one in my stitching bag. Of course my stitching bag goes where I do, so I have that little camera 99.9% of the time. You never know when it will come in handy!

In fact, I was able to catch these pictures with that little pocket camera. (Hubby said "Oh, you don't need the big camera" and then look what we saw on our day trip to celebrate our 1st wedding anniversary!)




So, my lesson for you today is this: Listen to your instincts and ignore the hubby!

Happy Stitching!

Is This Really Happening?

It wasn't enough that I had a/c problems and now I may have to replace a part of my ceiling. It wasn't enough that water dripped in the closet (at least I didn't lose any stitching stuff). Oh no.....it wasn't enough....enough is never enough!

A STUPID CO-WORKER BACKED INTO MY CAR YESTERDAY!!!!!! Oh yes, I said it. I called her STUPID! That's what you get for not paying attention. She broke the front licence plate bracket and then chipped the paint in two places. It wouldn't have been a big deal, but my car isn't even a year old and now I have to have the whole front bumper repainted. What a pain! I did nothing wrong and now I have to suffer the hassle of getting everything fixed. I even demanded a rental for the time my car will be in the shop.


I know, I know, it could have been so much worse. It's just that I haven't even had this car a year! I take care of my stuff because I want to keep it nice. So, don't mess with my stuff!!!!

OK. Enough is now enough and I'm going to stop ranting and raving. Onto the real subject that should be at hand: STITCHING!!!!

I have actually been semi productive recently. I finished my second strawberry from the latest Loose Feathers. Now I will have one in 30ct and one in 40ct. Here's a picture of them (unfinished) with the fabric that I'm going to use as a topper. Hopefully I will remember to give them to the finisher on Thursday at the LNS.


I also finished a baby gift for the daughter of a good friend. This friend and I have been through so much together in both her life and in my own. So, I felt that I should stitch something for her new granddaughter. The baby isn't due until early October and the shower isn't until early September. But, I knew that I would be busy with models for the St. Charles market so I got it done early. I decided to stitch CCN's "Princess Parade". I recharted the words to the baby's name. I'm planning on using the same frame that is shown on the front of the chart if it will arrive in enough time. If not, I'll have to consider picking something else.


Then I started on "Winter Sampler" by LHN. I know that this is a 32ct fabric, but I'm not sure what color it is since it wasn't labeled. Here's a peek at how far I got last night. I know it's not much, but I was distracted and I kept stewing over my car's boo-boo.


Maybe I can get a little further on this tonight. Wish me luck!

Happy Stitching!

Organization to Disaster

Over the weekend I decided it was high time to organize the closet in the spare bedroom. So, early in the week I headed to Target to pick up some storage supplies and organization tools(plastic bins, shelving, storage for the DVD's, etc.). When I arrived home I was in the right frame of mind and I went upstairs to fulfill my obsessive/compulsive attitude regarding my cross stitching.

I began by pulling everything off of one shelf. The shelf was filled with a basket full of kitted and unkitted projects, Stitch Bow containers (that I don't like or use anymore), photo boxes filled with DMC and hand dyed threads, storage bins (that are similar to tackle boxes) filled with more DMC, Krenik and beads, as well as several books that I have already read. As I was working, I noticed that some of the boxes had condensation on the outside. Now where the heck did that come from? Then when I pulled out the books, one of them was soaking wet and it had started to mold. WHAT???? After emptying the shelf I started pulling down the sweatshirts and bike gear that was above the books. Half of my sweatshirts were soaking wet! OH NO!!!! So I went downstairs and grabbed the super powered flashlight that we just bought from Sam's club. (The bulb in the closet has been out forever and I just haven't gotten around to replacing it.) So, I pointed that "bad boy" flashlight up to the ceiling and had me a look around since the access to the attic was above the wet area. I didn't see anything, but knowing that both the hot water heater and the a/c were up there I was worried. Once I didn't see anything I began to search the ceiling outside of the closet and lo and behold........

A water stain about 2 feet long was on the ceiling just outside of the closet. UGH! Here it is, 8pm on a Tuesday night and I'm calling Tori (our a/c guy). With a promise to come out Wednesday afternoon, I set to emptying out the rest of the right side of the closet.

All of the baskets on the shelves are filled with stash. The bottom basket has only Shepherd's Bush kits in it and those aren't even all of the kits I have! I never realized how much stash and junk was in that closet. The bed only holds the contents of the right side of the closet. Wait until I get to the left side!


Fast forward to Wednesday afternoon. I took the afternoon off of work (which didn't really bother me because we are so slow right now). Upon arriving home I sat down to watch the last day of the MLB Free Preview on cable. My Arizona Diamondbacks had a 3pm game against the Colorado Rockies, so it was great timing. I sat down and waited for Tori. Around 3:45 my angel arrived!

Tori went up and checked things out. Wouldn't you know it.....just a clogged drain. I was glad to pay Tori for coming out and fixing the small problem. That means my stash budget is safe. I still have money for the retreat I'm going to in October (put on by Dyeing To Stitch). Thanks Tori!

So, now you know why I haven't been stitching or blogging. But thank goodness the disaster has been diverted. I think my reward should be a nice new stitching start!

Happy Stitching!

Slow Going

We were finally able to get Louie back to his owner on Sunday. She was out of town and didn't get home until sometime late Saturday. Over all, Louie was really a good boy......just a little spastic at times.......and a little horny too! We told her all about Louie's adventures and even made a few suggestions that would make Louie's life (and hers) a little better. Hopefully she will listen and get that poor boy neutered. So, here are some parting shots of Louie. May he have a great life......at someone else's home!

On Saturday night he climbed into my husband's favorite chair:


Finally Louie took a break on Saturday night and layed at my feet. I took the time to snap a quick picture (taken while sitting on the sofa):


Bye, Louie! Good luck!

Due to Louie's delayed delivery home, I didn't get much time to stitch this weekend. Between that and going out to see "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince" I was only able to get so far. At least I don't have to have this finished until September.

I guess I'd better get a move on! I think I will be receiving another model to stitch. I know it will have to be ready in time for fall market, so I hope it arrives soon.

Happy Stitching!