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!

See What Happens When You Fall On "Chance"?

Image from: www.forums.aeroforceone.com

I can't believe it!  I'm already so limited on my stitching time and now this!

You see, I've mainly been working on my Lizzie*Kate Flip Its Piece from the 2011 Crazy January Challenge since it is on 32 count.  It is very easy on the eyes and that is the kind of stitching I need since I spend so much time at work right now. 

I've been making great progress during Sunday's stitching time with my friends.  Here's my progress as of this past Sunday.....

2008 Flip Its by Lizzie*Kate
Part of the 2011 Crazy January Challenge

Not bad, right?  Well take a closer look......

Can you see it?  Right there.  Yes, there.  I know you can see it.  Can't you?  You know, that wonderful WDW Collards.  You see it.  Right????  WHAT???  YOU DON'T SEE IT EITHER?

Well that's because this......

.....is the only WDW Collards in my stash.  I can't believe it!  This was supposed to be "fully kitted"!  I'm supposed to have three skeins of Collards for this piece and this was all that I could come up with.  I even went digging into every nook, cranny and kit that I had in my stash.  To no avail!  **BIG SIGH**

I hate road blocks!  The only good news is that I think that I can continue on my journey for now.  I won't be able to get to a needlework shop that has three skeins of WDW Collards in the same dye lot until after April 18th and that's six weeks away.  At the rate I was going, I was hoping to make this my big tax season finish.  Oh well!  Thanks anyway Uncle Sam!  UGH!

Happy Stitching!

I'm a Bad Girl

I may be a "Bad Girl" but I do feel much better after a mini shopping spree at my favorite not so LNS.  I decided to follow everyone's advice and I put my order in for some market goodies.  Soon I will have to stalk the mailman!

Hopefully I'll have some updated stitching pictures after my Sunday stitch in with the girls......

Happy Stitching!

Can't Wait for Sunday

Sunday is my stitching day with my girlfriends. After the week I had I'm going to need Sunday's relaxation.

My week has been rough and crazy. It started with my neighbors party on Friday night. They were loud enough that I could hear everything through the walls....and I had the TV on! (I live in a condo complex.). Of course, that does not bode well for me since I had to be up bright and early for work on Saturday.

Normally, my tax season Saturdays are about 8 hours long. This way I won't have to struggle during the week to make all of my hours. However, this perticular Saturday was filled with a huge return that had 67 partners. That made my 8 hours stretch to over 11 hours! The only benefit to this is that I will be able to leave early on Friday.

The craziness continued in Sunday. At 3:30am we woke up to our doorbell ringing like crazy. Hubby grabbed the Ruger for protection and flew down the stairs with me on his heals. Turned out the prankster was my neighbor. Only it was no prank. Apparently someone had backed into my car. As luck would have it his sister witnessed it and got the license plate of the offending vehicle. The police were called and a report was filed. Finally on Wednesday the detective called me with information on the driver of the other vehicle. So, I've spent the week dealing with police and insurance companies. I have an appointment to get my car fixed on Monday, but now I may have to wait on the other insurance company because I don't feel that I should have to pay a deductible. This is such a pain! Especially since I was basically an innocent bystander. It doesn't help that I'm in the busiest part of my season at work. Ugh!

My only relief has been drooling over all the new Nashville goodies. I'm going to put a few on my wish list. I know I said that I was going to try and refrain from stash buying this year, but I have to have that new Blackbird book and the Crescent Colors flosses. Stash trumps a crap filled week!

Happy Stitching!

Mid February Update

 Just a short note to let you know how I'm doing.

Things are pretty rough at work.  The IRS just released many of the forms that we have been waiting on, but there are still a few more that we need.  So, that just adds to the pressures of the season.  I've been working 60 hour weeks and I don't see things letting up anytime soon.  So, that means that my stitching is practically on hold except for the little bit of time I manage to squeeze in on Sundays.

Even with my lack of stitching, I've managed to finish stitching my exchange piece for Friends Stitching Through the Seasons.  I've got to get on the ball and "finish" my piece since it is due to be mailed out on March 15th.  That is less than one month from now!  (Can you hear the panic start to set in???)

Many of you have asked how my Crazy January Challenge is going.  I've managed to put two more needles into Mouline Rouge since you saw her last.  It wasn't much, but I can tell the difference.  I'll post another picture of her once I manage a few more needles.  I've also managed to work on #11 in my challenge, the L*K flip-its.  I've gotten further on the border and I've finished the first flip-it "Dream".  Pictures soon......I hope!

Speaking of pictures, take a look at these! I arrived home one day (after a long and craptastic work day) to find this.......

 

Such a lovely RAK from Terri at Dixie Samplar Designs!  It was full of wonderful goodies and a stitched gift as well.  Thank you so much Terri!  You really made my day.  I can't wait until the end of tax season so that I can dig into the new patterns that you sent.

Here are a few close ups of my new goodies:

Many thanks to Terri once again......she was more than generous!

That's all for now.  I'm going to try and get a needle in before I fall asleep while sitting up on the couch!

Happy Stitching!

The View From the Office Window

Sigh...........and I'm stuck working. No stitching for me. Tax season stinks!

But I've Only Been Gone a Week

It seems that since I mentioned a little "hiatus", a few of you have dropped off as followers.  I guess you can't please everyone!  I do hope that you come back soon.....

I just have a quick minute, so I thought I show you what I've been up to in my spare time.  And let me tell you, with all these hours at work, spare time is precious.  However, I've been keeping up with my bay of evil emails and I found this for a whopping $7.  SCORE!!

And then, Robin (no blog) scored this for me on her last trip to her not so LNS.....

Can I just tell you what a wonderful person Robin is?  She had previously sent me two other Loose Feather Patterns that were on my wish list and then she came up with this doozy.  It's LF #2!!  I sure do owe her big time!  I can't wait to repay her kindness after tax season is over.

So, in the week's time I was only able to get a little bit done on my obligation stitching.  But, at least I've gotten a few things started.  I'll be so glad when Sunday rolls around.....I'm going to be stitching with a few of the greatest gal pals a girl could have.  I can't wait!

Until next time.......

Happy Stitching!