I must be ready for Christmas because

I am still able to show some stitching progress!!!
First up? Just a small bit of progress on Chatelaine's Fairy Garden Mandala. I couldn't leave the dragonfly unfinished so I completed the first one.

I did some mindless stitching (without pattern) and filled in the Fairy on Amberlyn's Christmas stocking. Even after doing that, some of the little designs needed some backstitching. I'm in no hurry so I just pick that one up as I feel the urge.

I felt like I totally neglected the Castle SAL. I've had some issues with this one, as has many other stitchers, so I don't feel alone. But I have to feel like I can conquer it, so out it came. I didn't realize Part 3 was sooooo big, or that it was almost exclusively specialty stitches. But I finished it!!! It has LOTS of beads in this part too. This shows the piece overall, but if you follow this link there are 3 more photos, close up and trying to show the beads.
That's all for now. I only have to work 2 days in the next 2 weeks, so pretty lazy end of the year. This weekend will be crazy with 3 Christmas's being celebrated in 3 days. But that's the fun of it isn't it? We did get some snow (3 " maybe) so looks like we should have a white Christmas and if you live in Michigan you might as well have a white Christmas!!!
I hope all my blogging buddies have a great Christmas and very Happy New Year!
Almost forgot....here's Amberlyn and her first visit with Santa!!

Multiply's been a bad boy but I'm trying to update my Finishes!!

I've have trouble uploading, missing photos and the lot....just like everyone else. I've seen some slight improvements but still everything isn't working properly. I am taking a chance and trying to post an update. I've been on a finishing spree lately. First off my Fruit and Cheese is framed! That was done by my LNS, no mat because where I am going to hang it isn't a large enough space.All my photos are in my 2009 Finishes album if you would rather leave any comments there. And there are photos of the backs of the ornaments too, in case you're curious.

Then I framed my Christmas Fairy, just had the mat cut and I used a frame I had here at home.

Since my son bought a house, I thought I should make an ornament in that honor. Found this one in the JCS 07 edition. Stitched and finished it all in one day so I could take it to his house the next day!!!

Then I had to do one for my Granddaughter's first Christmas, so I found this one in the Gift of Stitching Dec 07 issue.

Then I had finished the Dimension house awhile back, but had not *finished* it. So I did that tonight too! I have also been plugging away on Chatelaine Fairy Garden, I have gotten farther than this, but just haven't taken a recent photo. I've finished the whole dragonfly that you just see part of in this photo.

I've been busy putting decorations up and finishing my shopping, just like everyone else. I think I have got things under control and can relax the next few weeks and enjoy the holidays. Can't see me having lots more stitching updates before the end of the year, so I hope that everyone has a great holiday and enjoys every minute! And Multiply still isn't playing nice, so I can't upload the most recent photo of Amberlyn!

Fairies and Angels

Those are the 2 projects that have gotten my attention the last 2 weeks. Well actually the Fairy more than the angel. I put a few beads on but it's hard to see them unless you zoom in on them. And as some have pointed out my angel is still blind and now limping...... Anyway here are some updated photos. If you'd rather see them in my albums the links are: FAIRY and ANGEL
I don't know if you click on the photos here if they will enlarge for you. Not much else exciting is happening around here. Just enjoying some lovely fall weather!

Does this irritate you??

For those of you who have a blog, do you make the people who comment use the *word verification*?? If you do......do you  think you will have a problem with spammers if you didn't?
  
 If not, do you have a problem with spammers?

I am asking because I have had to retype many a comment because I hit *post* and close the window out,  only to see the word verification box come up as the window closes and then I have lost it!!!!

I have really started to hate the verification thing and just wondered if anyone else is feeling the same way. Please feel free to leave your comments....and you will not be asked to *verify it* either! LOL

Have you ever felt lost?

Stitching wise, I mean?? Well that's how I felt last week. After finishing Fruit and Cheese and having a great weekend with friends and seeing all their WIP, I just didn't know what to stitch. So I decided to have a start and finish all within 2 days. My son loves my sports coaster I made for him (and they actually use them!!!) so I decided to make his old roommate a Green Bay Packer one. Carl and Brett went to the Packers/Lions game last weekend and I know Tom likes the coasters.....so one Christmas present down!!

Then it was time to revisit my castle.....thinking positive thoughts here. I added a couple more rounds on the spider web stitch (which I didn't do right in the first place and then finished part 2!!!! Unfortunately I was looking at another blog and got a close up of what they are really supposed to look like and I was really disappointed in mine. I decide to cut one out and redo it the right way. They look slightly better, but I still think it's because of the *twisted* premium floss and not the way DMC lays flat. I will redo the remaining 14, but only when I am working on that particular color.
Next up? Well the WIP photos people are putting up on the Fairy Garden (A Chatelaine design) were just too hard to resist, so I finally got that one out. I worked 2 days of this and here is where it stands now. I am so glad I did my first one that released a part a month, because I'm not sure I'm smart enough to figure out where all the specialty stitches go and which ones!!! I might just have to travel out to the border now and leave the petals alone. 2 pieces with specialty stitches can cause havoc to this cross stitch lover!!!
In my last post I forget to put a photo of Amberlyn!! I know....how could I forget?? Well here is my latest. She's had 2 ear infections now.....the fun begins. All the local schools are closed for the flu outbreak, most return this Wednesday. Glad I got my shot since I'm around that age at work all day!
Have a great week and keep those needles smoking!

I traveled 1100 miles.......

to meet some of my friends. Was is worth it???? Yep, sure was! This past weekend was the Stitching Jubilee in Lancaster PA. I left snowy MI on Thursday, that's right SNOW mid October!!! Well snow turned into rain and it didn't stop raining until Sunday morning!! I can't remember the last time I had seen non-stop rain for 3 days. Anyway, back to the trip. I traveled 260 miles to meet Natalie and start our travels together the rest of the 300 miles. It really was like we had met before. She was just like she seemed online. We got to Lancaster and the Bed and Breakfast around 7 pm and we met up with Lyne and Paula. Those 3 had gotten together last year, so I was the "newbie". We went out to eat and talked the night away! We came back to the Bed and Breakfast since I was supplying the wine for the evening!!! Thanks to Carl and his hobby. We had a wonderful time with "show and tell". The things that everyone brought looked just awesome. So much better in real life. The surprise reaction I had showing my Fruit and Cheese finish is that everyone thought it was so small!!!! I guess when I get it framed I'll have to hold it to get some perspective. Natalie had her MTM framed by Jill Rensel (who did my TTM) and UPS had delivered it 5 minutes before I arrived.This just shows how HUGE my piece is...but it really looks good on my wall! There was lots of ohhing and ahhhing going on. I was then able to give them my gifts I had been working on (and yes Lori you will get one too!) These were the surprise scissor keeps that I had hinted to on earlier posts. You can see the other 2 and the other sides in my 2009 finishes albumThey are all different fabric and floss colors appropriate for the person.

Friday was Jubilee day. We got there in the morning and headed to the PTP booth first. That material just flies off the table and if you are looking for something particular and a certain count and size, you better get your hot little hands on it. I got to meet Marilyn and Patty from the PTP yahoo group and store. It's so nice to put faces with names! Then we went to The Loose Thread Stitcher's booth and filmed part of a commercial for them. We each were interviewed individually and then as a group. Keep posted on where this will turn up! I'm anxious to see all the other interviews! We could then relax (the hard part over) and enjoy leisurely strolling from booth to booth. I fortunately have several LNS within a couple hours of me, so this was sort of like the shop hop, but under one roof. I did get to see LOTS of models stitched up and also had the pleasure of shopping friends to help point out things I may have missed. It was fun seeing the buying frenzy going on. It was happening so fast, I had to have a recap of what everyone bought when we got back. At the Jubilee Carolyn B and I finally met and made plans to meet for dinner.
Friday night was dinner at an Amish restaurant for a buffet for $10. Who can beat that????? It was great to meet Carolyn and she fit right in with all of us. The talk at the dinner table was non-stop...besides several trips to the buffet for dinner and desserts!!! She went back to the B& B with us for more show and tell. She had to drive back downtown, so no wine for her. But she did get my parting gifts, toothpaste accessories!
On Saturday we took a drive, Lyne knows the area well, so we got a little tour of the Amish area and we went shopping (in the rain) to lots of yummy places, bakeries, canning, cheese and meats.....etc etc. In the afternoon we had the pleasure of meeting one more friend who drove down for the day and had more show and tell. Lori had just finished a box the night before and it was awesome!!! Her finishing was indescribable. Meeting all these people for the first time really didn't feel like it. We all really clicked and seemed like we had known each other forever!
We did get a little stitching in....too much chatting and wine...but I finished off the 3rd word in Paula's RR and was able to hand it to Natalie instead of mailing. How cool is that? There were some frogs in the room. But they didn't attack me. The B & B had a very pretty garden, pond, gazebo area. But with all the rain we didn't get to take advantage of it, or take any photos!!!
We packed up the car on Sunday (finally the rain had stopped) said our goodbyes and hit the road! On the way back I was able to get some photos of the beautiful fall colors in the mountains and the SNOW that had fallen sometime over the weekend. Everyone returned home safely and we are all looking forward to getting together again.

After almost 2 years, it's finished!

Yes, my Fruit and Cheese, or Whine and Cheese as someone liked to call it is DONE!!!

This is my 3rd completed Mystic and my first on 22 ct. I like this count the best for these. The first one I did on 14, the 2nd on 18 and now this. Final stitch count? How about 61,250 stitches. At a penny a stitch that's $612, do you think I have any takers???

Now I can start something else....or at least work on something else!!!

Fall Update

Well once again, its' been awhile for another blog post. I'm sure you're chomping at the bit to hear about my life! Since the last post we've been to Wisconsin (3 days) for a wedding, and it's been the official kick off of the NFL football season!!! What does that mean? Well for me, it means ALL day to stitch while Carl is in the basement with his laptop, 3 TV's and the NFL Channel. Plus most Sunday's he plans the dinner and has been making crock pot recipes never before tried....and it's been good! Also I had a stitching friend stop by for a few hours and had a very nice chat. We had only met once, 2 years ago when I had several stitchers over one Saturday. We really didn't get much of a chance to chat then and it was so nice to have her back again and get to know each other. Plus it's always fun having someone WANT to see your stitching and oogle over it! Only 1 1/2 weeks until I leave for Pennsylvania and the Stitching Jubilee and meeting at least 3 other friends for the first time!! I'm really looking forward to that weekend!
Last weekend Lauren and Amberlyn took a trip with me to Kazoo and went to a *Mom to mom* sale. We were looking for toys since she doesn't have any. Well I think we did quite well. We got several different toys (about 10) for around $25. Kids toys are way overpriced and this was quite the bargain. Amberlyn was a good girl and then we got to stop and see my son and my parents before heading home. On the trip there, I stopped at my LNS and picked up my finally framed TTM. So now it's hanging proudly in my foyer! This is a 36" X 36" frame!!!
I also spent some time last Sunday framing Amberlyn's birth sampler. I think the framed ended up being the perfect color!
As far as stitching goes, I finished a WHOLE page on my Mystic and I have continued with it and I probably have just one full page to go. I am on a mission now to get it done and then start a stocking for Amberlyn.
I also got one word on Paula's RR done and have the 2nd one started. I stitched the word *create*. We only have one more rotation and this year's RR will be done, but we have decided we will do another next year. It's been a great success too!!!
Well that's all from cold rainy southern MI where we skipped right over fall and have turned the furnace on. And of course no post is complete without an update of Amberlyn. This is probably from about 2 weeks ago.
Sooner or later she will get some hair!! LOL

3rd year blogging giveaway.

And to celebrate I am having a give away. Seems like the most popular thing to do lately. I pulled things out of my stash that I don't think I would ever use, so my loss is your gain!

Gifts include: Prairie Schooler Santa 2000, Bobbie G- Summer Design 105,Dolly Mama-sick days kit, Tiny Wreath Bucilla kit, Mill Hill Poinsetta ornament, Mystic Stitch Peaceful Morning 2, red fingertip cross stitch towel, Carries thread Dillon's Sea and a battery operated book light.

If these things appeal to you, just place a comment on this post.  I will be on my way to the Stitching Jubilee on Oct 15, so I will draw a winner on Oct 10.
Thanks for following me!!!!  If you haven't visited before, I hope you look around and like what you see. Good luck to all!
(This blog starts on Multiply)
http://ndmurdock.multiply.com/