TKO

I know it has been awhile since you have seen any productive stitching from me.  So, here's my technical knock out........

Lizzie*Kate's 2008 Flip It Series

After all, I'm technically past the halfway point and well on my way to another 2011 Crazy January Challenge finish.

Happy Stitching!

Coming Up For Air

I have to say, this has been quite a tax season.  I was busy from mid-January right down to the extended deadline of April 18th.  It is amazing how "normal life" tends to get put on hold for those three months.  There is so much that I need to catch up on.  However, I'm not rushing into anything........if it waited three months, it can wait a few more days!

Our office closed on Tuesday to give us a break, so I spent the well deserved day off with my husband.  We decided to make a short trip to Chincoteague Island on the Eastern Shore of Virginia.  I had such a nice time!  We got to visit several Antique Stores along the way before we made it to the Wildlife Refuge on the island.  Unfortunately, it was quite overcast, so these are very crappy snappies.....

This was my very first visit to Chincoteague.  It is something I've been wanting to do for quite awhile.  The island was pretty much in the preparation stage for the summer tourists, so there wasn't much open.  That didn't matter to me.  I just loved being able to head to the refuge in search of the famous Chincoteague Ponies.

Each year, sometime in July, healthy ponies are selected to swim across the Assateague Channel and are auctioned off.  The proceeds from the sales go to the local fire department.  This event is quite famous and has been going on since 1925.  You can read all about it here.  Maybe one day I will brave the crowds......or maybe I will just head back on a sunnier day.

Of course, now that things have calmed down, I'll get back to stitching and blogging on a more regular basis.  Stay tuned.........I've got my needle revved up and it should be smoking in no time!

Happy Stitching!

iPhone or Droid

That is the question that I've been asking myself lately.  You see, my Verizon account is up for its two year renewal.  I always said that once I was up for renewal that I was going to get an iPhone.  Of course, that was before the Droid craze came on strong.  I've been questioning everyone AND my brother. (He is a techie, but without the formal education.)  Would you believe that the consensus pointed to a new Droid instead of the iPhone?  I knew this was going to be tough!

So, yesterday afternoon Hubby and I headed to Best Buy to ask the gurus the ultimate question.  Mind you, I was just looking and had now intentions of buying any phone until next week.  Long story endless, we ended up at the Verizon store.  (Afterall, I had a $30 credit that I didn't want to waste.)  Now I'm blogging to you from my new HTC Thunderbolt! (Guess I will have to wait a little longer for my sewing machine now.....oh well!)

Yes, I know......but it was Hubby's fault.  He sucked me into the excitement of a new phone.  Boy, I'm glad he did.  I think I'm going to LOVE this thing!

Oh,  and to make this girl even happier........only one more week of tax season!   Woo hoo!

Happy sitching everyone!  Have a great week!

Two More Weeks and CJC #2

That's right fellow stitchers.....only two more weeks until I am free for another year.  Yes, I know that I've been griping about it constantly this year, but this just seems to have been an odd year.  So many issues and so little time to deal with them all! 

Too boot, today is going to be in the low 80's with about 45% humidity!  (This is about 20 degrees warmer than the usual average this time of year.)  I think that mother nature is teasing all of us today with a taste of early summer.  This is one of those days that I wish the office had windows that opened.

In other news, I finished my second piece in the 2011 Crazy January Challenge.  (Now there is only thirteen more to go!)

Rose Garden by BBD
28 ct Lt. Examplar by Lakeside Linen
Belle Soie Rosebud by Crescent Colours

A close up....

This one was a fun stitch and I will be stitching it again.....in the same color.  I had intended this one for another purpose, but as I began stitching on it I realized that I must do it again in honor of my Grandmother.  So, after I finish up some exchange stitching, this bad boy is going back into this summer's rotation!

Happy Stitching!

Exchange Stitching and a Thank You

Well, it's another gloomy rainy Saturday filled with tax returns........YUCK!  My only saving grace is that I will get to spend tomorrow with a couple of my stitching buddies instead of being stuck at work.  Boy, April 18th can't get here soon enough!

In other good news, my exchange from Friends Stitching Through the Seasons arrived.  I was so anxious to find out who my partner would be for the year.  I was so excited to get this wonderful package from Diane over at Nan's Needlework Notions.  She blessed me with a wonderful assortment of goodies.....and this is just the first one of the year.  I can't wait for the summer exchange!

Isn't this just the cutest little chic that you have ever seen?

You've got to love the bunny too.....

For my part of the Friends Exchange, I sent a little something over to Faye at Carolina Stitcher.  She was so sweet to say that it was finished perfectly.  Compared to her finishing, I've got a long way to go.  But, a girl has to start somewhere!  Anyway, here's a picture of what I sent her.....(you can also check out her post as well.)

Needles & Pins by Raise the Roof

Lastly, I would like to extend the biggest, most heartfelt thank you to a fellow blogger and wonderful lady........Ma Teakettle.  Remember a few posts ago when I was whining about not having any WDW Collards for my L*K Flip It and that I would have to wait until after April 18th to go to the Needlework Shop?  Well, Ma, being the generous person that she is, emailed me to let me know that she had not one, but all three skeins of Collards in the same dye lot and that they had my name on them!  They arrived the day before yesterday accompanied by three cute little gummy bunnies.  Boy, am I a lucky girl.  This means that I can continue sooner rather than later.  Now I won't have to try to come up with something else to work on tomorrow.  Thanks again Ma!  You are the best!

Happy Stitching!

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!