Sorry....

....no pictures today!  Unfortunately, this may be the case for the next couple of weeks.  All I did this weekend was some finishing on my giveaway piece and some model stitching for Crescent Colours.  I'm going to take some pictures of the giveaway suprise when I get home tonight, but I won't be posting those unitl I hear that the package has reached its new home.  It's only fair.  It is a suprise after all!

I plan on devoting all my stitching time to the model this week so I'm aiming for a quick finish.  I'm already one third of the way there!

Happy Stitching!

As Promised

I took some quick crappy snaps last night of all the stitching that I accomplished during my Arizona vacation.

I think that I mentioned that I finished Block 2 of Carriage House Samplings' SoHRH.  I'm quite pleased with how it turned out.  Especially after making the big decision to change the crab from that golden brown color to red.  For me, the red is just so much better.  I don't think that it stands out too much, do you?

My traveling piece was LHN's Needle and Thread since the fabric count was easy on the eyes.  With the exception of the french knots eyes and beak of the owl and the flesh tone for the girl in the bed, I finished this one before I even got back on the plane headed home.  The only reason I didn't finish is that I didn't want to buy a whole skein of thread for the flesh and for the eyes when I had scraps at home.  I think I should just add it to my finishes anyway, don't you?

I also started on the scissor fob for the LHN piece.  I decided to stick with the 32 count that I'm already using so that I didn't have to buy more fabric.  I don't mind stitching over one on 32 count, but I had to stop once the daylight faded on Sunday and I haven't had the time to pick it up since.  I guess I'll have to wait until I finish with model stitching to get this one done!  Here's where I left off on Sunday:

I don't know about you, but I plan on getting some "numb butt" time in this weekend!  All I have to do tonight is put away the clean laundry and then I can situate myself on the happy couch for some productive stitch time.

I hope you have a great weekend!  Happy Stitching!

Whirlwind Adventure

I know I haven’t blogged in over a week, BAD ME! Well, I have an excuse. In fact, I think it is a great excuse………I went on VACATION! I decided that after all the drama that I have been enduring on the home front, I needed a getaway. One that was far, far, far away from the hustle and bustle of normal life. So, after following doctor’s orders and consulting with my dear sweet friend Sharon, I booked a flight and headed out to the “Grand Canyon State” and what I think of as the “Land of the Sun”, Arizona. You know, were the sun always seems to shine and the temperatures are warm with little to no humidity.

Last Wednesday morning found me up at the butt-crack of dawn even before the birds started singing. My brother was kind enough to take me to the airport for my 7am flight out. I flew through Chicago (Midway) and then landed in Phoenix around 1:30pm. The flights were full, so the only time I was able to stitch was during the layover. I was able to start LHN’s Needle and Thread from the 2010 Nashville Market. Upon arrival in Phoenix I found warm temperatures and sunny skies! Ahhhh………relief! Sharon swept me out of the airport and we split a Nacho plate from Red Robin before heading over to The Attic in Mesa. Oh, what joy to be able to walk into that shop! If you are ever in Mesa or the greater Phoenix area, it is worth the trip. Jean and her girls are FABULOUS! (Don't forget to check out Jean's gorgeous newsletters!  Can you tell I'm a happy client?) After some browsing and drooling we headed out to dinner to a pizza place called Sauce. It was definitely not your typical Pizza Hut pizza and salad. Oh, how yummy!  Thanks for the fabulous dinner Jean!

Thursday brought a morning to sleep late followed by plenty of “girl talk” and catching up with my dear friend Sharon. We headed over to Arriba’s Mexican Grill for lunch. I love Mexican food, so eating in Arizona was a treat for me. I had some great Chicken Tacos which had a “kick” that I don’t normally get at home. We also saw someone order a 48oz Frozen Margarita. That thing was HUGE!!!! I wish that I had my camera with me since you would not believe how big that drink was. There were two people sharing it and by the time we left I think they only lowered the contents by one inch! Thursday afternoon we hit the Pandora store. We don’t have a Pandora exclusive store at home, so this was a treat for me. They had every charm imaginable in that place. I got myself a few new ones including the retired compass and I also picked up a gift for my mother for Mother’s Day. After shopping we went to The Attic for their stitch night. I was welcomed with open arms. If you are ever in the area on a Thursday night and you want to stitch, I know they would welcome you with the same warmth that they showed me.

Friday was another fun day. Lazy was the word of the morning and we headed out to Kona Grill for lunch and another wonderful dining experience. (I had some sushi and sashimi, which is another of my favorite foods.) We headed home for a little stitching before we went out to Chase Field to watch my favorite baseball team……The Arizona Diamondbacks!

In a side note, I didn’t have a favorite baseball team until two years ago when we went to Sedona on our honeymoon and got to watch them on the Hyatt’s outdoor lounge TV’s while listening to the crowd at the stadium. In the end, they lost on Friday night, but it was a great game. I even got a few awesome pictures. Look at Johnson getting ready to swing at the baseball. How amazing is that?

We had GREAT seats on the second level! I even had my fingertips on a pop fly from Gillespie, but my arms weren’t long enough and the ball ended up on the level below. All I can say is that I can’t wait to go to another MLB game. Hubby even told me that if I wanted to watch the D-Backs on TV that he wouldn’t mind if I ordered the MLB package for our cable network. How sweet! However, I think I will pass this year and I’ll save up for it next year.

Saturday was filled with stitching. They had a Stitch In at The Attic, so we went there for the day. I had tons of fun. Not too much stitching on my part though. I was too busy shopping! It has been awhile since I have set foot in a brick and mortar store and my pocket book is quite a bit lighter as a result. I ended up with a few patterns, some stitching accessories and a ton of fabric. Some of the ladies even convinced me to try a stitching on a piece of 45 count fabric. So, I’ve decided that I’m going to stitch one of Blackbird Design’s Reward of Merit pieces. Seriously though, check out this haul! (I should also mention that dinner Saturday night was at another fabulous Mexican place....Tia Rosa's!  So many thanks to Sharon for my lovely stay.........thanking you with dinner isn't thanks enough in my book!)

To my surpirse, I even saw Paula of Kelmscott Designs during both the Thursday night and Saturday stitch in.  It turns out that when she is not in Canada, she calls Arizona her second home.  Check out these goodies that she sent home with me.  Thanks Paula!  See you at Market!

Sunday was a day of rest. I just stitched all day long on Block Two of Shores of Hawk Run and LHN’s Needle and Thread. Of course, there was a little light packing for the return home on Monday as well.  Sharon sent me home with a model for the Columbus show. I'll be busy stitching that over the next week or two since it will need the fast turn around.

So, after running around yesterday and doing various errands, I’m now back to the grind at work. Whew! And, I just now noticed that none of my pictures had any stitchy progress to show.  I really did stitch a ton while I was on vacation.  I promise! I guess you will just have to stay tuned…………

Happy Stitching!

P.S. to Jennifer at Feathers in the Nest ~ I haven't forgotten about your win.  I picked up the last piece yesterday and I have some finishing to do, so I hope to have it in the mail to you by Monday!

And the Winner Is......

........Jennifer of Feathers in the Nest!  Jennifer, please send me your information so that I can send you the surprise!

Now, here's a little fun story about what I am stitching for the giveaway. (Yes, I did manage to stitch something!) 

On Saturday I spent the day with my BFF.  As always, it was a fun and productive stitchy day.  By the end of the night I had finished all but the initial on the giveaway piece.  We were both admiring it and she told me that I better be good and put the winner's initial on it instead of my own.  So, jokingly I told her that there was person named Jennifer who had entered in the contest.  I said "Wouldn't it be funny the random generator picked her number?  That way if I screwed up my finishing or if I thought it wasn't good enough I could just keep it for myself!"  Well, wouldn't you know it............I swear it was random!!!  I even showed it to my BFF to prove the craziness! 

Anyway, many congratulations to Jennifer.  I hope you like your surprise!

And, just so that you have a picture today, here is what I was able to stitch on Sunday afternoon.  Box 2 is really coming along and I hope to have it finished soon.  I know it doesn't look like I have gone too much further than the last picture, but let me just say that adding the second green to the seaweed took more time than I thought it would.

I hope you all have a great week!  Happy Stitching!

Gentle Reminder.....

Tomorrow is the last day to enter the giveaway!  You must comment by Midnight EST to qualify!  Don't forget to pass the information along to your blogging buddies......the more the merrier!

I'm working real hard to try and have something stitched in addition to the goodies that I'm giving away.  However, my finishing skills will determine if the stitched piece actually makes it in the package.  LOL!

Happy Stitching!

Languishing Wips

 I had a quick half hour last night between arriving home and meeting a friend for dinner. So, I took some time to start digging through my stash.  I've decided to take an inventory of my patterns and whether they are fully kitted, partially kitted or not kitted at all.  I'm also going to start some de-stashing as well.  I know that there are quite a few patterns that I will never stitch.  They are just "not me" anymore.  Tastes change......

Anyway, I was going through my first basket and found these old wips.  I can't believe that they never got finished.  They are both from Blackbird Designs.  Now, I love Blackbird Designs, so I can't imagine why I haven't finished them.  The first is a Loose Feathers Pattern called Beneath the Sunlit Sky.......

Isn't it beautiful???  (Yes, I know it is bad need of ironing, but I just found it again!!!!)  Ahhhhhh.......now I know why I never finished it.  See the thread hanging above the house?  There are supposed to be buttonhole stitches in there.  UGH!  I guess I'll have to get on the ball and fix this.  After all, it is dated 2008!

The second design didn't have a name.  It was a class that I took with Barb & Alma back in late 2007.  I think that the design has been released since then and it is in one of their books.

It is a fabulous design and it shouldn't take me too long to finish it.  These two pieces will make great additions to my Blackbird wall.  I guess I'd better get to stitching!

Happy Stitching!

Half the Year Is Over

Ok, not literally, as it is still just the end of April. However, I did put the last stitches into June on Saturday morning before I kept to my word and started with the first Spring Cleaning installment. I tried very hard to finish Friday night, but the sleep monster came calling and I just couldn’t get those stitches into the last flower and bee.

Saturday yielded more donations for Goodwill, a huge bag of trash and another bag of papers that will need to be shredded once I purchase a new shredder. My last one died of overuse! I have to be honest and say that I’m not very nice to my shredders and they don’t usually last very long. This time I will have to look into a heavy duty one that will take a beating.

It wasn’t long before it was time to get ready and meet my BFF for some fellowship and stitching. Neither of us had lunch so we met at Chic-Fil-A before heading over to her house. (Those waffle fries are my favorite!) Once we sat down to stitch, I pulled out my Shores of Hawk Run Hollow so that I could stitch along with my friends at The Attic. I think I made pretty good progress. I was able to finish Block 3 and then I decided to go ahead and start Block 2. (I’m jumping around on my blocks based on how I feel. Order is BORING!!)

I was able to get about halfway around on the inside border of Block 2 before I kicked myself out of BBF’s house. She would have let me stay all night, but I knew that home was calling. I was still in the stitching mood when I got home, so I picked up where I left off and this was the result after calling it a late night.

I found myself still in the stitching groove on Sunday, so I kept with the SoHRH theme. Block three really moves fast and I found myself ignoring my grumbling tummy. Eventually I had to stop and take nourishment. I couldn’t believe how far I was able to get on this block. One more good day like yesterday and I will have it finished.

In the afternoon/evening, I decided to be a good girl again and continue with the cleaning. YUCK! But, now I have a sparkling clean bedroom and bathroom. When I say clean, I really mean it. I even vacuumed the walls! I didn’t know there was so much dust and yuck in that room. Serves me right! Next weekend I will move onto the spare bedroom. That’s where all my stash currently resides. I think that I’m going to do a little de-stashing. Yes, I said it………de-stashing! I have so many baskets full of patterns that I know I will never get to. SABLE is the word for that room! I won’t be getting rid of much compared to what I have, but I will offer up those patterns that I know I won’t stitch either for sale or for trade in the near future. So, be on the lookout for an opportunity to enhance your own stash.

After all the cleaning activity I sat down for an evening with a wonderful Hallmark Movie on CBS. It was called “When Love is not Enough: The Lois Wilson Story”. For those of you who don’t know, Lois Wilson was the co-founder of Al-Anon. Her husband Bill was the co-founder of AA. If you have an alcoholic in your family or count an alcoholic as one of your friends, I encourage you to find an Al-Anon meeting. Do not be ashamed. These people have been through the same situation(s) and they know exactly how you feel.

While watching the movie, I also started a new project. Yes, another new one! After all, I am a serial starter! Can you guess what pattern this is????

Don't forget that my giveaway ends on Friday.  Enter here.  I hope you have a wonderful week! Happy Stitching!