Nancy's Needle Notes

Holidays collide!

2012-01-27T14:05:00.000-05:00

Either that or I can't figure out what holiday I want stitch right now. I have finished a Christmas ornament, a Valentine piece and I started a Halloween piece!
First up is the tiny ornament from LHN 2011 series "snow in love" stitched over one on PTP 25 ct Earthen. I seem to be having trouble getting a fabric dark enough to really show the white nicely. I placed the quarter to get a feel for the size.

I finished the February cottage several weeks ago but I couldn't find the right color green felt anywhere. Little did I know there was a website that had EVERY color (thanks to Vonna for the tip) So today I did some finishing using her directions for a flat felt ornament. I did the snowmen ornie first and I like how the cottage felt looks with my 2nd try. There is a technique to get the cuts just right. I think I need to take my time on stitching these cottages up. I got so many good ideas AFTER mine was done from the SAL blog . Like using Rhodes Hearts to do the hearts instead of cross stitches. I already have an idea for March but I haven't gotten the pattern yet!! So I need to see if my idea will work or not.
More photos and angles of this finish can be seen here.

I was going through my material and found a nice piece of PTP Lava so I started Afraid of the Dark by Blue Ribbon Designs. I didn't have any of the recommended floss, so I just pulled threads from my stash and so far I think they look good. My tombstones look blue in this photo, but they are gray.

I have started my craft room remodel. The computer desk got moved, and today I finished removing all the wallpaper.(seen in the first photo and the border around the room) The next step is in my husbands hands, since he does the painting. We are repainting the ceiling then I need to pick out 2 colors. It's going to take more than a gallon so I'm going to do 2 colors. These are before pictures.....I wanted to show what a mess it was.

When I start putting things back in there, I will be destashing....so stay tuned. I will probably just want enough money to cover the postage. I hope by the next blog update I will be putting things back in place and show some progress photos!!

It's been a weird winter here in MI, the Farmers Almanac said we were to have a record setting snowy winter and so far it's the end of January and I can see all of the grass and Sunday we even had a thunderstorm!!! For some reason the cold is easier to take if you're not dealing with snow all the time.

I finally figured out how to add links to other albums at the top of this blog, check them out!!!
Thanks for stopping by! I love to have you visit.

First finish of 2012

2012-01-07T11:08:00.000-05:00

Now granted, it wasn't started just this year. So I don't want anyone getting their panties in a bunch and say how fast I was!!!! I started it in Dec and I just couldn't seem to put it down! These are so fun to stitch after working on a Mystic or something where you constantly have to be counting. I can outline these and fill in the colors! This is stitched on PTP Doubloon Belfast 32 ct. It measures about 10 X12. Do they make that size frame???

I have my CCN February cottage waiting to be started. I picked a rosey/pink material from PTP called Truffle to use for it. But it doesn't even seem like winter around here. Yesterday was 50 and I walked the dog in beautiful sun and a spring coat.

The Detroit Lions are in the playoffs for the first time since 1999 and they play tonight. So we are having friends over to watch the game. I'm not real confident that they will beat the Saints....but at least we are there! We always root for the home team, even when they went 0-16.

I have my shelves all bought and I've been looking up organizational ideas on Pinterest and have found several ideas. One of the easiest is to buy small tension rods to put all my rolls of trim on! I bought one unit that has several cubbies and I am going to put my material on mini bolts just like you see at the fabric stores too! I need to empty my computer desk and then remove the wallpaper and paint before anything gets put back into its new home. That is my winter project and it will take LOTS of time since I seem to have accumulated lots of stitchy stuff that needs a proper home.

And the year comes to an end

2011-12-29T08:41:00.000-05:00

I have to say that 2011 hasn't been the best of years (losing my Dad) but I am looking forward to what 2012 brings!!! I'm not one of those that makes resolutions or even a list of things that I want to stitch. I will just update you with my resent WIP and finishes.And I'll just surprise you with what I can come up with in 2012.

I did one final ornament for Amberlyn. She loves horses so I did this one from the JCS 2009 ornament issue.

Next, I finished another page on my Mystic! 14 pages done and 7 left to do. This was started mid 2010.

I got a little bored with all the blue, so I picked out a material from my stash (I really don't like doing that part) and started the Lizzie Kate 6 Fat Men Series. I'm doing them all on one piece of fabric. It's on PTP Doubloon 32 ct Belfast linen. They are taking only 1-2 days to complete each pattern.

And I had Carl remove the painted apple tree off my wooden calendar my Dad made me and I finished my January cottage in the CCN Cottage SAL to put on my Calendar.I used a scrap piece of 40 ct opalescent material I had, and the snowflakes and snowman don't shop up real well in photos. It is slightly better in person, but it works for me. I am officially ready for January 1!!!

From my family to yours, I hope the New Year brings joy and peace to all my blogging friends!

Mill Hill Christmas houses finally mounted

2011-12-10T07:22:00.001-05:00

I wanted to do something besides framing so I tried this technique. It's not awesome, but if I decide after the years I don't like it, I can always get it framed....so here are some photos to try and capture the beauty. Which photos really don't do! All photos are "clickable" if you want to see them larger.

And here is Amberlyn helping decorate our tree last weekend. I have one more tree to put up and hope to do that today while she is here. All of her ornaments ended up on 2 branches, so after she left I had to do just a bit of rearranging! LOL Hope everyone has a happy Holiday!

Finishing Fool!

2011-12-03T14:21:00.001-05:00

I lost the whole month of November! Oh well, this will just be jam packed with photos then.

First let me share my works Halloween costumes....and yes we worked in them ALL day. And if you didn't know I work in an Orthodontic office. I am Peppermint Patty, standing next to Charlie Brown (the boss!)

And then to get you into the Christmas mood, here is my view as I was driving into work on Nov 30th.
That should do the trick!

Now the stitching....here is a progress picture of one more page finished on my Mystic- Seasonal Collide. I am actually close to completing another one, but I'll save that for when it's completed.

Now onto the title of this blog. I have taken a break from stitching for a few days and gotten some
finishing done. Here are all the fruits of my labor.

A freebie from Madame La Fee.

Another freebie....that I have NO idea where I got it! I used Carries Joy Noel threads. If anyone recognizes it, please let me know where it came from!

This one I changed the pattern to make it a red bird instead of white and a blue box instead of green. It's call Frosty Flakes by LHN, my only pillow type finish of the year.

This is from the JCS 2010 Ornie magazine Festive Quaker Tree by Rosewood manor stitched over one on 28 ct. Using the charted flosses.From the 2007 JCS Ornie issue, Joyous Noel by Cat Whiskers.The material its laying on is what the backing is.
From the 2008 JCS ornie magazine by Midsummer Nights Designs. I added metallic threads both purple and silver that are hard to see in the photo. This is for the daughters of a fellow cross-stitcher who lost her life WAY too early. So far I have sent them an ornament every year in her memory.
This the from the 2006 JCS magazine. I changed the color of the dog to match a golden retriever and added the dogs name in the stocking. This will be a gift for the family that has watched my dog this fall when we have traveled.
Some of these are gifts and some are staying with me and some I am giving to my daughter who now has 2 trees of her own and needs some more to fill them up!!!

Here is Amberlyn the first time she saw my curio filled with Santas. Well she actually does this every time she comes over too! She just loves looking at them!!
With all that is going on this month, I doubt I'll have another post....but I do hope to put the finishing touches on my MH Houses RR so that I can hang it soon! I really procrastinated on that one. But I have everything cut and mounted. I just need to add the trim and put it together. I will probably just post a quick photo of it when it's done. I also joined the new SAL that Vonna put together for the CCN Cottage Series, I think there are a few spots left, so if you like cottages, come join us!

I'm thankful for all my followers and commentors and I hope that everyone has a wonderful holiday season and makes lots of memories to last throughout the year!

Lots to catch up on

2011-10-24T16:34:00.000-04:00

Since my last post I've gone on 2 vacations! The first was my "girls" only with my daughter, granddaughter and mom. We just went to Illinois, the weather wasn't cooperative but we still managed to get to Legoland and Brookfield Zoo. There was literally no one at the zoo when we were leaving where I could have someone else take the photo of the 4 of us, so I had to take the photo.
The condo had an indoor pool that was basically our own so we had fun!
My 2nd trip was to Las Vegas with my husband. We met our best man and his wife (from our wedding 30 yrs ago!) for an evening and a day. Carl mainly bet on the NFL games so we came out ahead in that department. I even drove to the local LNS there, Stitchers Paradise. I only got some threads though. We had LOTS of fun and Carl surprised me by getting a trip booked to the Grand Canyon....by helicopter! It was an awesome trip and we landed in the Grand Canyon for lunch! Of course we flew over the Hoover Dam, Lake Mead and the Strip. All spectacular from the air!Not sure he'll be able to top that one!

And of course the beautiful Bellagio gardens for fall.

Anyway...I've been back for a couple weeks now and slowly getting back to "normal". I think I could get used to this not working stuff.
As far as stitching goes. I had to take smaller projects with me to stitch on. I started the Tigers Logo on the first trip and just finished it a couple nights ago. I bought the pattern online several years ago and tried to look them up again and they are not there anymore. Although the Tigers didn't make it to the World Series, they had an awesome run and can't wait until next spring!

I also finished a couple smalls along the way. A freebie I don't remember where I got it and Frosty Flakes by LHN, I changed the bird and present colors.

I also got my 2 pieces for my bedroom framed and now they are both hanging proudly in my bedroom.
And if you are still here with me, I'll leave you with some (several) photos taken this fall of my daughter and Amberlyn. Have a great fall!!!!

Seasonal Collide 12 th page completed

2011-09-16T12:45:00.002-04:00

Only 9 more to go!! I have 2 pages on this right side and then one whole row across the bottom.Photo is clickable to enlarge.

Forgive my delay!

2011-09-14T15:35:00.002-04:00

I just haven't been in the blogging mood! Figures when I offer to give away a chart, I get lazy! Anyway the winner is.....Carissa. She entered on my blogspot blog. So Carissa, email me your address and I will get it off in the mail to you!
Onto what I've been up to for the last 6 weeks now! First up, I framed Witches Wheel.(all photos are clickable to enlarge) I think this is the exact frame they used for the chart photo.I don't want to rush summer away, but I really want to put this one out of display. The last time Amberlyn was over she was standing on my couch looking at one of my Paula Vaughn cross stitch pictures and starts saying "kitty, kitty". Then I notice that it's the one with cats on the quilts! So I want to see if she can see the designs in this one. I also tried a new finishing technique that will substitute for framing. I just picked a material to put on foam core and then mounted my stitched piece to that and added a cording. It's hard to see the cording in the full picture, so I added a close-up. I am going to put ribbon on the corners with a bow to hang it.
Then I finished the roof area on Amsterdam and mailed it back to it's owner. I only did the roof on the right. It's much more involved than it looks! My hat is off to Gabi for finishing hers!

The piece that has my attention is my Mystic. This picture was taken the end of August and I am now only about 200 stitches away from finishing the last page on the top row! So just double the size of that blue edge and that's really where I am now. I will hopefully post when I get that page done. Each page is a finish in my book!

I know I showed a picture of my patio already. But since my last post we bought some new furniture for it. We decided on 4 chairs and a coffee table type set and not the "eat on" type table. We have really enjoyed it lately with the cooler temps. And this week we even put the hot tub back on the patio and have it filled!! The temperature outside dropped 15 degrees today so tonight while its' in the 50's may be the break-in time for us!

I'm pretty sure that catches you up with my stitching. I'll leave you with a photo of Amberlyn using Grandma as a pony!

Next Saturday I'm taking her, my daughter and my Mom on a girls vacation for the week. We are only going to Illinois (someplace close that Amberlyn could handle her car seat for that long). But the resort looks nice and has an indoor pool, lake, fishing, boats, mini putt and several other things that should keep her happy. One day we are going to drive into Chicago and visit the Brookfield Zoo too! Thanks for stopping in again and I hope you enjoy our return to fall (for those in the Northern Hemisphere!)
Go Detroit Tigers.....we are on the road to the World Series!

Another month, another update, another giveaway!!

2011-08-02T15:49:00.003-04:00

I really don't know how some people can post updates weekly, or more! I guess it's not my favorite thing to do, although I do read other peoples updates daily!
1st up....I have two finishes! Witches Wheel by Glendon Place was completed in July sometime. I ordered the frame for it today, so it should be done WAY before it needs to be hung for Halloween. The material for this is really what sold the pattern to me. It was the first time I had seen any material dyed this way Picture This Plus is a fantastic store for hand dyed fabrics!
You can see more closeups in this album: WW there are 5 more photos.
2nd- I was the lucky winner of a blog giveaway of Kate's from Australia.
It is Lizzie Kate's 2010 Snowman. She mailed the pattern to me on Monday, I received it Thursday and I finished it on Sunday! He is just so cute I couldn't resist. Not only did Kate send me the chart she also sent a GC for $20 to 123stitch for me to buy the material for it! Little did she know I pulled out threads and material from my stash and started it right away! I didn't have 2 buttons it called for, but I did find one that matched the aqua, so he's a one button snowman. Since I received this pattern in a giveaway, I'm going to offer it to YOU!! One stipulation though! If you win it you must finish it within a months time and then offer it on your blog to another. If you don't have a blog, let me know you've finished it and I will repost it for availability! Giveaways are nice, but I hate seeing the pattern just go into a stash pile! Are you up for the challenge???

Then the only other thing that got worked on is Anne's Amsterdam piece. I got some more done of the roof of the red building. But my work is put to shame after seeing how much Gabi has gotten done on hers! WOW. Check out her BLOG .

And lastly, I left you with my house with deck removed and one big dirt pile. We had a stamped concrete patio put in. I had NO idea the process involved in getting to the finished product. So if you are interested I tried to get all the steps involved to show you! Here is the patio with the pouring forms ready for concrete delivery the next day.

This next picture shows the concrete, which has a custom color already added to it. We picked a yellow/tan base. The red you see is the "release" powder they throw on and then they "stamp" the pattern into the concrete before it cures all the way. The powder is finer than baby powder and it got EVERYWHERE! In the garage, on the cars, the rugs in the garage, the siding, the grass, the DOG!!!!! They had never used red before and they swear they won't offer it again!! LOL Can you see the red all over the house?? Well just multiply that by 20, for how much was in the grass where the dog walked.
This is a picture of the whole patio poured, stamped and released. It has to set like this for 24 hours.

Then they come back with a pressure washer and wash the red off and this is what you get! The last picture is just what the pattern looks like all over.It reminds me of "Tuscany" and I hope to find lots of cool accessories next year. All the patio stuff is gone already this season! Or the things that are left isn't what I had in mind. I hope you liked my stamped concrete tutorial!!!!
We (my mom, Lauren and Amberlyn) were lucky enough to visit Lake MI in Holland in July. The last 3 pictures are from there. It didn't take more than 15 minutes on the lake and Amberlyn was naked. She really doesn't like her clothes! Enjoy!!!

Thanks for stopping by my corner of the world! Until next time.........

2 True finishes

2011-07-07T16:32:00.000-04:00

And don't faint because I have 2 posts in 2 days!!!I spent the last couple days putting the finishing touches on these pieces. I used ruched ribbon technique for the first time and I also made a button for it. The bottom ornament I used my Crop-a-dile and threaded ribbon thru the front and back. Both ornaments are backed in the material they are laying on.

A summer update

2011-07-05T14:05:00.000-04:00

What's happened since last post? Well my bedroom is finally DONE!!! Funny how one picture (over the bed) inspired my accent colors. I'm happy with it and that's all that counts.

Now the outside project begins. All I have is before pictures since the concrete won't be done until later this week. Keeping my fingers crossed. You know how contractors can be! This is what it looked like before we took the deck down.And this is what it looks like now, with no deck. Just love letting the dog out now so she can bring in all that dirt when the grass is damp in the mornings and evenings!!

On to the stitching:
As most people, not a ton of stitching going on in the summer. But I did manage a finish or two and worked on a couple more pieces. I finished the 2nd piece for my bedroom (another My Aunt's Attic freebie) and took it up to my LNS for matting and to my surprise, it had closed!!! I took my pieces into Hobby Lobby and looked at mats. The mat colors there are slim pickings so I'm going to have to find some other options out there.

My other finish was the Mill Hill Southwest Santa. I worked on my Mystic for a few hours while we were camping out in the basement since we were in-between Air Conditioners a few weeks ago. And I have Anne's Amsterdam piece that I told her I would work on, but I really should only ask for these pieces in the winter when I am actually doing more stitching. All I have gotten done is the building to the right, so far.
This post I'll leave you with a picture of us with our son. We went to Toledo (Tigers AAA team) for his birthday on July 3.

GoBaby Giveaway!

2011-07-05T11:15:00.000-04:00

I know most of you who follow my blog are cross stitchers and not quilters, but Deb is both and she is having a giveaway for a Go Baby. If you check it out, you will be able to see how you could use this machine in finishing your cross stitch items. Go check it out and it could be yours too!
Go Baby Giveaway
Good luck to you!
Nancy

Hang on, it's picture heavy!

2011-06-12T11:29:00.000-04:00

It's been a long time since my last update and there has been lots going on around here, so hope you can stay for the ride!
In May my husband and I celebrated our 30th wedding anniversary! He bought me diam ond and pearl earrings (Pearl is for 30 apparently-he googled it!) If you click the link you can see the other goodies I got too. We went to Pittsburgh for the weekend and stayed with friends and toured the city and took in a Tigers/Pirates baseball game. This is us before our anniversary dinner and then the skyline of the city. May was also my birthday month and I had told Carl about wanting a cross stitch floor stand. So he told me to buy one for my birthday. Well I will be honest and say I actually got it in March (you know, to see if I liked it!!!) and wasn't supposed to really use it much until then. But I didn't put it away! He said at least he knows it's something I like! It's a Needlework System 4 and so far I just love it. It's very light weight too, so I can see me taking it with me if need be and it's not the travel stand either. What was the first thing I put in the stand?? Well of course my Mystic, Seasonal Collide. I got another page finished. So that's 10 down and 11 to go.
Early in May Carl had some minor out pt surgery and I took another one of my pre-kitted ornaments with me and got this finished up! I really love the kitted things. I just don't see myself doing it for myself!!
And since I am changing my bedroom colors I did finish one piece to match the picture I bought (which is above the bed) and I started on the 2nd one. They are both freebies from My Aunt's Attic. Still don't have the carpet in, Home Depot got the wrong size in and so it had to be reordered. Going on over a month now waiting!!!
I think that catches you up on my stitching lately.
Remember that tree we had to take down last year because it had that Emerald Ash boarer? Well we finally got a replacement! After we planted it, it rained for several days, so it's looking very healthy so far. We've decided we are taking our deck down in the backyard and replacing it with stamped concrete, so maybe next update I'll have some before and after pictures of that! Here's some of my roses last month, they are even more flower covered now!
And lastly....my Granddaughter turned 2 on June 6! Wow, does time fly. We got her a powered Jeep as one of her presents and she is just getting the hang of how to make it go. This one my daughter took at their house after a hard day of playing outside!
Hope you made it to the end and thanks for stopping in!!!

Cold weather = stitching time

2011-05-04T17:05:00.000-04:00

They keep trying to tell us there is global warming, but try and tell that to those that live in Michigan. I think it will be June before our trees have leaves! Here it is May 4th and the leaves are just barely budding out. The trees still look like winter! Temperatures rarely get into the 60's and that is just not right! Since there isn't much to do outside I'm taking advantage and stitching as much as possible. My 2 projects the past few weeks is Witches Wheel which is now 1/2 stitched (minus all the beads) and Seasonal Collide. I now have 9 pages complete, only 12 to go! LOL And silly me, I bought 4 more Mystics this week!

Our remodeling is coming closer to the end. We have carpet picked out (just need an appt to lay it) and the shower door was the wrong size, so we are waiting for the right size to come in. I bought a new picture for the bedroom and I am going to use some of the free patterns from the Tantes Zolder Blog and make some cross stitch pictures to match. Here is our new sink, we had 2 sinks before and decided we only needed one, so we liked the effect of this one. We took Amberlyn to our friends that own horses and where Carl hunts and she loved the horses and didn't have a scared bone in her body. She would have climbed through the fence, had I let her! Here is the horse taking a little nibble of her hair and she couldn't care less!
She'll be 2 a month from today!
I hope the next time I update I can talk about how warm it's been!! Hope everyone in the U.S. has a great Mother's Day. Thanks for stopping by!

23 days after the last post

2011-04-19T16:00:00.000-04:00

and things have changed in my family. I lost my Dad on April 7. He was a part of the "greatest generation" and he proudly served as a navigator in a B25 in WWII. He had a great life of 85 years and I will miss him dearly. The last few months I had the pleasure to spend a couple days each week with him and I will treasure that time I had. I got to say goodbye too, which some people never get to do and I am thankful for that.....as hard as it was to do. My husband didn't get that opportunity.

Now onto the stitching since that is what probably brought you here! I took my stitching with me to my parents and finished a couple pieces while there. My 2 year Mill Hill RR is done. I finished the bakery and then I added all the buttons (except one that broke). My plan is to mount it onto another piece of foam core that is wrapped in Christmas material. If I don't like it, I can always change my mind, but that's my idea for now.
Some of my XS friends decided to do an ornament kit exchange. You pick a pattern and then supply all the material to complete it. I took Lyne's kit with me one weekend and I finished it. It was perfect for traveling since I knew all I had to take was a needle and scissors!! This one came from the 2010 JCS Ornament Magazine.
I joined a Halloween SAL that was supposed to be the week my Dad passed, so I have been working on it the last few days. It's the Witches Wheel. I think I'm going to start adding the beads soon, so I can see how those will add to it.
A long time ago I finished a birthday gift for Carolyn's 55th birthday, but I couldn't share it until her birthday (which happened after the last blog post), so now that she's received it I can share that finish too! If you click on her link you can see how I personalized it. My picture doesn't show it!
We are still in the process of remodeling our bed and bathroom.....but painting is done, some fixtures have been changed out, but we still need new carpeting and the vanity and sink installed. Pictures will have to wait until it's done. And I'm going to have to break my streak of posting Amberlyn photos. We have seen her, but haven't been taking any photos lately. But she's just a cute as ever but is getting just a bit more of an attitude!! :-)
Thanks for stopping by!

One down, last one to do!

2011-03-27T10:42:00.001-04:00

(sorry pictures are a bit off, I do my updates in Multiply and copy to Blogger and it never translates well)

Well since my last post I got all the beads on the house and I have started the last house. I will have this done WAY before Christmas, but I might need all that time to figure out if I'm framing or something else.

I also finished another section on my Mystic. It's the same page but I stopped right at the black design break.
I decided to start on Witches Wheel and I finished a full page. I think there are 6 pages, total but not all are full pages.
We have begun some updating around the house and bought a new foyer and dining room light. Had to get rid of the glass and polished brass from when we built the house 16 years ago. Wonder why you can't find a single polished brass fixture anymore! LOL
After, and yes that is my Chatelaine Tuscany Town Mandala hanging on the wall.

We are also redoing our bedroom and bathroom, but those photos will have to come later when we actually get some good progress.
We've had Amberlyn quite a bit the last week or so. Had her spend the night one night, had her over one evening since my daughter had her wisdom teeth out and then on Saturday we took her for the full day to see my parents, my son and went shopping and out to eat. A FULL day for the 3 of us! We all know why we have kids when we are young! Here she is on the bike we bought her for Christmas and it's still too cold outside to ride!!!

It's been a good couple of weeks!

2011-03-06T08:32:00.000-05:00

I have lots of stitching to share since I last updated my blog. I have finished the 8th page of my Mystic! Seems like once I get a new page started I can't work on anything else until I get it done.

While working on Winter Woodland I knew I was going to run out of a variegated floss. So I contacted Nancy at Victorian Motto Sampler Shoppe and I sent her my measly little piece to match and low and behold she had the perfect match and she quickly sent my replacement, plus some! She always adds a free floss. I love her threads and I would highly recommend for you to check out her ebay store. She is now selling dyed buttons too! I haven't tried them, but you can bet I will to add the perfect look to some finishing. Anyway....I finished this piece (my 2nd finish of the year) and will probably frame it and give it to my daughter for her house.
I got all the stitching part done on one of my Mill Hill Houses on my RR. I took a picture of all the stitching done and of course the next photo won't be until all the beads are on it! After this is done only one more house to do.
I try to get a few strands in on my M-design snowflake piece every now and again. It's hard for me to see the holes in the dark fabric and I have to hold my piece up to the light, so it's slow going, but if I continue adding a piece here and there, it will get finished.
And lastly, Karen's World Tree has been neglected and since I had finished my page on my Mystic, I got it back out. It's hard to tell, but I finished all the confetti in the upper right side and filled in some more green and black. I will be sending this out this month when I get another kit ready to mail at the same time. You can go to the album if you want to see before and afters.

Here is Amberlyn and Grandpa sharing a moment while we were out to eat. Can't believe in 3 short months she's going to be 2 already!!!

Ice, ice baby....

2011-02-21T09:38:00.000-05:00

No, not like the Vanilla Ice song. This is the literal stuff. Yep, we got LOTS of rain yesterday. Doesn't really go well with 32 degrees. So today both mine and Carl's work are without electricity. We have it here at home. My son, sister and parents who live an hour from here are also without power. Mom and Dad's house was already down to 58 degrees before noon. More of my ice photos can be seen HERE
Now onto my stitching.....I probably got the darkest part of my Mystic done. Lots and Lots of black. The whole album of progress photos are HERE.
Then my travel piece that's been going back and forth from my parents is close to completion but I am going to run out of the red that the wording and barn needs to finish it. I have to mail my measly little piece back and see if she has a close match in her current inventory! Oh well. And I know no post is complete without Amberlyn, (well it's not complete to me!!!) Here she is being goofy. Her mom is 23 today! Happy Birthday to my baby!

My Mill Hill Round Robin is home!!!

2011-02-06T09:48:00.000-05:00

After being gone for 2 years.....it's finally returned home and it looks incredible. I know how much time each of these kits take. The stitching, back stitching and beading!!! I appreciate every person that worked on it for me!!! I have a whole album of progress photos and close ups of all the buildings HERE.
I have just 2 buildings to stitch and it WILL be finished for this Christmas. I love the idea so much I have just purchased 3 of the Halloween Buttons and Bead kits for a smaller version to have this fall. They have the slate blue background and not the brown. I used this weekend's Super Bowl sales to get them.

Finishing more than stitching

2011-02-04T11:43:00.001-05:00

Somehow during the New Year I think I lost my stitching Mojo....don't know exactly why. It might be because my Dad's health is failing and I am spending more time at their house, or if it's just a phase. But I did have a deadline to get a birthday present done (which I presented in the last entry). Now my problem was "finishing" it. Both my Mom and my MIL can sew. I asked both of them if they would make my butterflies into a pillow. Both were too scared to ruin my stitching......hmmmm, what's a girl to do? Well I guess you bite the bullet and try something new. So since we had a blizzard, I used my "snow day" to try my hand at a pillow. Here is a photo, but I have a whole album on Multiply where you can see what I did step by step. It's really easier than it appears and I am very pleased with the outcome.
Then I have had another piece of finished work (Stephanie's) that she gave me almost a year ago and wanted me to do "something" with it. I've been carrying it around with me trying to find a coordinating material and trims. Well I think I finally came up with a good combo. That color of linen was REALLY hard to match, not beige, kinda green, also grayish....or in other words a nightmare! There is also an album to show all the sides to this no sew cube.
Here is a photo of Amberlyn at our local ice festival a couple weeks ago. They had this big St. Bernard that she got to pet. He was as big (or bigger ) than she was! She is now 20 months old!

1st finish of 2011

2011-01-26T09:43:00.001-05:00

Yes, I made my 1st deadline of 2011. I made the butterfly kit for my SIL for her birthday on Feb 5!! I am going to get material this week and try and make a pillow out of it . If anyone wants the pattern and all the left over floss, let me know and you can have it. It did come with a printed Aida but would probably look just as nice on a hand dyed fabric.
The other 2 pieces I've worked on is Winter White Woodland.

and I haven't posted a picture of Karen's HAED World Tree since November, so here's my progress. Color is more true in the before picture.

Short and sweet this time. Need to pack up to head to my parents and help my Mom out. I hope to be back home by the weekend, we have an ice sculpting festival in town on Saturday and I'd like to take Amberlyn to it. Here's the latest of our Granddaughter at 19 mos.

Time to fess up on all my WIP

2011-01-06T13:40:00.001-05:00

With all the internet buzz over 15 new starts in January I thought I should go through my drawers and pull out all I had going. Of course there are several BAP. Chatelaine's Fairy Garden, Papillion's Castle's in the Air SAL and my Mystic Seasonal collide. But all these others I have grouped into my "smaller" WIP. Here is my update: Seasonal Collide, 2 more pages completed.

Then a kit I bought for my SIL who loves butterflies. Not a lover of kits but I found this one on sale. Her birthday is Feb....so I'm on a deadline if I want it to be done by then.

have a fetish with winter pieces so I've done some more on M design's Snow (the 32ct over one kills me so I only do one strand at a time) It is almost 1/4 of the way done now though!

I started a new one after Christmas and I'm using my own conversion of Carrie's threads. It's called Winter White Woodland by Blue Ribbon Designs. I am stitching it on blue instead of tan and it's a bit harder to see the white, but you can see it better in person than in this photo.

I started another Mystic last year I don't think I ever talked about. It's the Pumpkin piece and I had a piece of black 28 ct, so I decided to try that and then I wouldn't have to stitch the black. Don't know if that was a good idea, it's really hard to see AND it's hard to stitch 3371 on the black!!

And the last one is Witches Wheel. I just had to put a few rows of black on it to start and that's as far as I got. Can you even see the stitches??

So that's all I have on the go. Just a few more than the ONE at a time I used to be. I can blame that on the internet and several nameless people!!

Christmas was fun this year, and here is Amberlyn enjoying the paper just a bit more than any gift.

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

2010-12-12T10:21:00.002-05:00

As you can see....this is our first real snow of the year and it's the wet, stick to the trees kind! Very pretty, but glad it came on a Sunday and I can stay inside.

Lots of stitching photos to catch up on since the last post! First up I had Lauren pick out Amberlyn's ornament for the year and she picked one from the JCS 10th Anniv. ornament book. The hair took me over 2 nights to do! I don't like cutting oval forms and it has me looking to find what I can buy to cut perfect ovals. I'm really not interested in cutting my own mats for framing, but I do want to cut perfect shapes. I guess I need to see what my options are. Anyone have suggestions? Next up is a new start and finish! In one of my groups we started a "mystery" start. If you guess what it is, you get to start a mystery. I've had this pattern for at least a couple years and just never got around to doing it. So I started, and finished! I have the buttons on order. He should be holding 3 snowballs. Then I'll turn him into a flatfold.

I did a bit more on Natalie's RR, so here is when I got it and then what it looks like now.

And then the only other thing I worked on was my Mystic- Seasonal Collide. I'm still working on the first tree (which I think is the most boring one as colors go) I am almost done with this page.

Preparing for Christmas is going like it probably is for everyone else. You never feel like you're ready, but it comes no matter what and you get through it. All 3 of my trees are up and my house has been transformed to enjoy for the next few weeks.
I'll leave you with a picture of Amberlyn checking out the first tree I put up this year. I hope everyone has a happy holiday!

A special get together!!!

2010-11-18T13:01:00.000-05:00

Before I get to the good stuff I have to say that I got back on a roll with my Mystic and worked on it pretty much exclusively the end of Oct and beginning of Nov. I don't know why these pieces are so hard to put down. There wasn't lots of confetti so I made some nice progress.
But the most exciting thing is that 5 of my stitching friends (from 5 different states!) took time out of their busy schedules to come to Michigan and spend some quality time together. We met at my house, did some hot tubbing, wine drinking and non-stop conversation. The next day we headed over to the West side of the state and stopped at Stitching Bits and Bobs. Spent almost 3 hours there and then to South Haven (on Lake Michigan) where we had rented 2 cottages. We shared our WIP, purchases at the store and finishes. We even had a couple finishes over the weekend. A cube and and a flatfold. I learned a new finish and got a lesson from Karen on how to make a beaded scissor fob. Isn't it pretty? There really wasn't very much stitching going on. I have found I do my best stitching alone!! LOL
I gave each person a mitten ornament (to symbolize the state of Michigan).
I persuaded Karen to bring her HAED World Tree so I could work on it. I actually finished the 2nd page for her. I guess I should ask when she wants it back!
I have finished 2 more ornaments that were stitched awhile ago and I had my stocking finished for Amberlyn. You can't see it, but the stocking has beautiful blue velvet on the back! Here is the link to my 2010 finishes album if you want to see other angles of the finishes.
And I haven't gotten any new photos of Amberlyn since Halloween, so here she is as a witch...and chewing on her glow stick.I hope everyone has a calm beginning to the holiday season and can enjoy all the little moments!!! Thanks for stopping by!!

On a roll!

2010-10-23T15:26:00.000-04:00

I did even more finishing this week. I finished a LHN piece into a flatfold for ME! I've done several and have never kept one. I still need to get some trim for around the edge, but once I find it, it will be quick to finish. Every photo should be clickable to enlarge.

And then I finished another ornament. I don't know why the left side looks lopsided, it really doesn't look like that in real life. Maybe it was the way it was laying on the counter. I have only 2 stitched ornaments and one little wine piece to "finish" into something and ALL my things are completed!!! No stitched pieces languishing in a drawer somewhere.
This week most of my time was spent on my Chatelaine Fairy Flower Garden. I am now 1/3 of the way done. The whole bottom is finished except for the crystals which go on last.

I also received the final RR of the year. Natalie's 2nd piece to go around, since the first one was done!!!! It's 2nd chances by Ink Circles. I have finished 6 motifs just this week! I love the shades of purple used in it. Plus it's using my favorite floss, Carries!!!

And since last time I posted I didn't have any photos of Amberlyn, I'll show you this one from this week. I took the picture myself while holding her. She got the boo boo at home a couple days earlier and NOT at Grandmas!!!!

A week of accomplishments, inside and out.

2010-10-16T14:54:00.001-04:00

I got some finishing done this week. This turned into

this.

This one finally got framed. I had to add the dime for size comparison and I won't be tackling another 40ct gauze project.
And one of the ornaments I recently stitched is an actual ornament now.

And outside.....remember this? And how pretty is was? Well the poor tree is an Ash tree and has the dreaded disease and must come down. So now that area looks like this. ==>

And we moved the ring to another tree. Carl hated mowing around it anyway.
After the tree is taken down and the other one moved into the same place, another ring will go up so I can have my impatience plants back! Not much stitching happened this week. But I did order the new Witches Wheel and will be purchasing the PTP Solar fabric for it next month when I head to SB&B's. If you haven't seen the pattern, here it is. I figure I need more Halloween stuff for Amberlyn to look at. That's my excuse anyway.

Back from Paradise

2010-10-09T11:04:00.000-04:00

Or as other people might know it, St. Maarten. The prettiest island I have ever been to and we had a great time in the sun, sand and just relaxing. I would recommend it as a vacation place to anyone who loves water and sun!

I took a few smalls to work on while there. I only truly finished one while I was gone, the other 2 had to wait, I lost the pattern for one and the other I didn't pull all the colors! And on my way home, St Maarten took my scissors! I have flown LOTS with them since 9/11......Oh well, I got them finished up this week.

Since we've been back the weather in MI has been awesome as well. Today is in the 80's and sunny and this week is supposed to continue in the 70's. Can't ask for better for October. We went to our friends house who boards horses and took Amberlyn with us.

Once a month is all I can handle

2010-09-20T15:48:00.001-04:00

Apparently for blog posts. I see I'm pretty consistent at a monthly update.
What's up the last month??? Well I was pretty attached to my Mystic-Seasonal Collide. I finished page 5 and then had to lock it up! There are 2 more pages to the right, but I think I might start working the next row down when I pick it back up. I really need to get going on some other things!(photos are clickable for enlarging)

Then I received Paula's RR, An Open Heart, by The Drawn Thread, and have started the inner border (there are 2) and have completed 3 bands at the bottom. That beige on beige is harder than you think!

Lastly I finally picked up the Papillion's Castle In the Air SAL. I had ended it in March on the "woven leaves". Not my favorite. But I picked it up, reread the directions and mastered them. I finished Part 5 and have Part 6 almost half way done. All my WIP on all these projects have their own album on my Multiply site. The 2nd picture you can see the woven leaves better.

Nothing much else of excitement happening here. NFL football has started so my Sundays once again are full with company, watching games and stitching. Fall is in the air and leaves are starting to fall. I love the season, but know what comes after. If only we had 2 months of winter instead of 5 or 6.

Amberlyn is almost 16 months old now. Here she is celebrating my husbands birthday Aug 30 holding onto her favorite thing.....the dogs leash. She wants it as soon as she comes in the door. Why do I buy her toys??? Thanks for stopping by and happy stitching!

Hot, hot, hot

2010-08-15T12:41:00.000-04:00

But who's complaining??? We had such a cold summer last year, we can actually say we had a summer this year! Our 10 day outlook though??? 8 days in the 70's and 2 in the lower 80's, can you hear me say "ahhhhhhhh"??

Ok I know you don't read this for the weather so here's what I've been working on the past month.My Mystic Stitch got a workout the end of July, here is a link to the whole album. Or the current state.I was on a roll with the Chatelaine Fairy Flower Garden so it saw more time the last 30 days too. Link to the whole album. Or this is the overall. Closeups are in the album. I finally got one set of 3 dragonflies done! There are tons of bead on this one! Lastly was Lyne's RR. I need to mail it this week so this is my before and after. It's almost like working on a HAED or Mystic with all the color changes! 2 more rotations and this years' RR is done.

And then I have to leave you with Amberlyn and her current favorite thing to do, remove everything from the shelf, the cupboard, the drawer, the bag....whatever she can!!!
I hope everyone enjoys the final days of summer. Thanks for stopping by!

Nothing planned

2010-07-20T15:34:00.001-04:00

That is such a wonderful place to be!! I've really enjoyed the last couple of weeks with NO plans. It's been pretty hot here, the kind of weather that you don't mind staying in the house. I found out what the problem was with Fairy Garden. I am using a color chart (which I rarely do-but seems to be easier to follow with these patterns) and I have never marked off what I have stitched on a color chart. I don't know why it never occurred to me. I was having a hard time figuring out what I've done and what needed to be done. Especially those Hollyhocks!!! Since I have the chart saved on my computer, if I need to look something up that I marked up it's always there! DUH!!! So after a nice solid week of stitching on it ,it now looks like this.Photos are all clickable. It's nice to have the bottom border done, except the beads of course. My goal is to finish ALL the stitches and beading on this part and then start to roll it up and work my way up. The only other thing that I worked on was Lyne's RR, And A Forest Grew. I made it all the way across to the right side for her. Pretty sure I have several more weeks before I have to mail it on, so we'll see how much farther I get. This a a before and after shot.
I also did a "finish" for a friend. A frame just didn't seem right for this piece, so she gave it to me to come up with something. I thought the shape and size would be perfect for a flatfold. It took me awhile to find the right material to match the stitched piece. I think it came out pretty good! And of course I have to leave you with a picture of Amberlyn. They had this cute pool on sale for $10 and I couldn't resist. She enjoyed splashing around and gave us some entertainment! Until next time....happy stitching!

Let the summer begin.....

2010-07-05T16:39:00.001-04:00

Yes you heard right. We haven't been able to do a whole lot yet this summer, but that is about to change. We have been taking care of 3 houses (2 to get ready to people to move into) and it has consumed our time! But now that our daughter has moved out of one and into the other and we have new renters in our other house, we can just concentrate on OUR house!!! Seems like every evening and weekend we were tied down to one of them.
I haven't updated since May and June was really a blur. But first off my Dad is doing well and seems to have stumped the Drs. again. Thanks for all of your thoughts, prayers and concern.

As far as stitching goes....I got the 2nd page finished on my Mystic and then I put it away for awhile. I did finally get to just a little bit of green. I finished the 3rd square on Carolyn's RR before I mailed it on. It was a nice change of pace using one color thread while I was also working on my Mystic. But my big event was my finish of Amberlyn's stocking!! I already have someone to finish it for me. I can do most finishing techniques, but a stocking with the lining and all?? I'm going to pass the buck on that one and pay to have it done.

It was Amberlyn's 1st birthday in June and here she is with her birthday outfit and a couple more just because she's so darn cute! She's loving going in the pool so I hope that continues as she gets older.

Hoping to get some time on the motorcycle now that we have some time and definitely more stitching or having Amberlyn over. We haven't been able to do much of that either since we were working on houses.
Thanks for the comments and taking time to read my posts. I know how busy everyone is and it's nice to know you take the time.

A month of ups and downs

2010-05-18T16:11:00.000-04:00

Since my last post a few things have changed around here!

1st- my daughter found a schnauzer in the Wal-Mart parking lot, brought it home to me since she knew I wanted one. Well after 2 days I found the owners (not with any effort on their part). I was a little bummed when I found the owner....and Carl knew it. So before I got home from telling him he had emailed me another dog on Petfinder. This was from a different rescue and they approved my application! So now I am the proud owner of a 5 year old mini Schnauzer -Cheyenne. She is just about as perfect as a dog can be. She is so friendly with everyone and she gets along great with Amberlyn. She has been with us for 4 weeks now. This rescue was even willing to drive to Indianapolis to pick her up from the foster home and deliver her to me! Enough dog story...

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2nd- with the housing market being so good to find homes we decided that we would look for a house for our daughter to buy. The one she is in now is really just our rental and not really good for a family to live in. It's pretty small. We looked for just a couple weeks and we found one, made an offer and the bank accepted. It's over 2000 sq feet and just needs some work on one of the bathrooms and some paint before they can move in. I found some great deals on appliances on Craigslist, so now they have everything they need.

3rd- It was my 50th birthday on the 25th. I told Carl I didn't want any big surprise party, that's just not me. Well he thought he had to think of something that would be a surprise that I liked. So since February he has been planning my surprise. He was having Carolyn and Natalie come for the weekend to surprise me and then on Saturday he was having a catered dinner in our basement for 16 people. All family except for 4. Well unfortunately on the day before Carolyn and Natalie were to get here my Dad was admitted to the hospital. He had to tell me all he had planned so that we could make the decision of what to do. All the plans had to be cancelled and instead I had cake, and a birthday toast in the hospital with my Dad. After our little party in the hospital the rest of the family met us at a restaurant for dinner. We had 25 people there instead of 16. Of course it was disappointing for Carl to have so much planning done only to have to tell me about it, but he was a trooper and he knows how much I appreciated all he did to try and make it happen. I hope that one day Carolyn, Natalie and others will be able to visit here! My Dad is out of the hospital and we are taking one day at a time. And I am enjoying any extra time I have to share with him. I got some wonderful gifts from my stitching friends. Anita gave me a GC to Wasatch Needlecraft, Shawn gave me some fabric and thread, Natalie and Karen gave me some "special" floss, and Stephanie, Karen and Natalie stitched a wonderful piece for me that is perfect and then Carolyn made a wonderful box and put great goodies in it.....all the gifts can be seen HERE (9 new photos)They are all so special to me and I thank them from the bottom of my heart.

My work had a birthday party for me and dressed up in the 60's attire. They bought a huge cake for all our patients to share and put up decorations and signs. We had a good time and it was just what I needed.

So needless to say not much stitching has been going on around here. And if you are still reading this you are dedicated!!!! But since it has been more than a month.....there's probably more than what I think. I did finish the ornament. The details on this are what draw them to me, but boy they take time to finish!!!

I finished my part on Karen's RR and mailed it on. I got my groove going on a new Mystic stitch, Seasonal Collide.It's not too exciting to look at yet. I'm almost done with one page.

And I've got 2 blocks done so far on Carolyn's RR.No entry is complete without Amberlyn with her favorite Grandpa and my husband of 29 years now (yes our anniversary was the 23rd!)......she is ALL over everything now and practically running already. Her 1st birthday is June 6th.

Time to catch up

2010-04-12T15:44:00.000-04:00

Do you really want to catch up with what I've been up to?? If not, no reason to read on. LOL
I finally returned to "normal" the day before leaving on vacation!!!! Thank goodness!! We flew to Florida and stayed in Cape Coral. Ever heard of it? Me neither. I wasn't in charge of getting the rental house, someone else was. We went with 6 other people, they all drove (they are nuts!!!!) Here is my first picture....yep, it's known for the highest foreclosure rate in the country and they have tours to prove it! We had a pretty busy week down there, a tour of the Edison/ Ford Winter homes, a Tiger Spring training game, a day at the beach, a day in Key West and then one day to relax a bit. On a weird Facebook story, while I was down there a husband of a high school friend of mine wanted to "friend" me. Long story short, we met for drinks the night before flying home!!!! If he hadn't contacted me on FB, it would of never happened. It had been over 20 years since I had seen him. I had 3 days home before heading to Chicago for work. Of course while in Chicago it was cold and rainy (thank goodness we spent the day indoors). We had great Chicago pizza and also went to a wonderful Tapas restaurant where we ordered 12 different things and ALL of them were great. Of course we had to get world famous Garrett's Chicago mix (caramel and cheese) popcorn.Well because of the past events...my stitching is really just about nil. I did start and finish a little zipper case while on the airplane and the boat ride to Key West. I gave it to my daughter. Before I left on vacation I did a little more on Fairies. And I've been working on Karen's RR. I also started another ornament from the kit that Shawn gave me (boy those are stitching intense) and I won't show you that until it's finished.
On another note, some of you know that I have been looking for a rescue Schnauzer to adopt. I have been on petfinder.com for several months now (starting back in Jan). I wasn't getting very good communication from any of the organizations I was contacting. Finally I did, and found a dog and they approved me.....only one thing, they couldn't hold her until I got back from vacation. Which I totally understood. Well when I got back, she was gone. I had several emails today from another organization and they told me I would never be approved for a rescue because even though we are an adult couple with no kids at home. We have a baby visit frequently and they can't guarantee they will get along. So since I don't want a puppy, I'm giving up on the idea for right now and have already threatened Carl I better not be getting a puppy for my birthday! Speaking of which, I purchase my own gift...LOL After being at a hotel with a light up swivel magnifying makeup mirror I decided to get on Amazon and check them out. I ordered one so now I will be able to see when I am applying my mascara. What else could a soon to be 50 yr old want???
Last but not least, Amberlyn is walking!!! 10 mos is too young!!! She is just so darn cute I can't help but smile when I see her. Those are supposed to be capri pants. They just look like short pants right now! We also let her in the hot tub for the first time and she splashed up a storm!

Happy ending!

2010-03-17T12:12:00.001-04:00

I won't go into details but after 3 weeks and 2 different sickness's, I think I am over the hump and the happy ending is what was in the mail today! I got a surprise from Chris thanking me for sending her some qsnap huggie business. It really was very innocent and a thank-you wasn't necessary, but greatly appreciated!! And much needed after 48 hours on the couch and bathroom!My stitching update includes: Fairy Garden, can't get in a groove and seem to be putting stitches in here and there.Castles in the Air:Karen's RR:I also had a start and finish this weekend, but I don't want to share it until it's actually finished. Hopefully that won't be too far off.
The weather this month has been awesome. 2 weeks of sun and some days in the 60's! All the snow is gone and snow crocus's are up and daffodils are peeking now too.
An update of Amberlyn at almost 9 months. She's crawling everywhere and when her mom says NO, she crawls even faster towards the NO object! LOL

And the winner of the wolves is......

2010-03-01T19:34:00.000-05:00

Linda K, please send me your snail mail address and it will go out this week! Congrats!

Didn't think I had much to say or show, but WOW!!! (every photo is clickable)

2010-02-23T10:33:00.002-05:00

When trying to think of what I needed to write about more and more things were coming to mind, so this will be picture heavy!!
First, I saw Vonna's blog and her pictures of her stitching chest. I went searching ebay and found one, sent the link to Carl as a suggestion for my birthday this year (not for months) and low and behold he bought it and didn't save it for Feb 14, Mother's day, Anniv or birthday and gave it to me the day it arrived!!! I don't have a place next to my stitching area like Vonna has, but it has a home in my craft room and I love it. Thanks Sweetie!!!! And I have a full drawer still not used!

Second, I was in a Valentine Exchange and Carolyn sent me the neatest tin!!! She put so much thought into the whole Valentine theme putting it together for me, don't you just love it??? More photos of the whole exchange can be seen here
Third, I sent out my Valentine exchange to Anita. It's my 2nd finish for the year. It wasn't Valentine themed, but it was in her favorite colors!

Fourth, I had my son's old girlfriend over with her new baby and gave her my 3rd finish of the year. Her husband is in Iraq now and we had a good time with Lauren, her and the 2 babies!
5th -I worked a bit more on Snowflakes:
6th-Jodie's RR:
7th-
My focus piece has been Fairy Garden. Since the corrected pattern was released I was itching to get back to it. I spent most of the time on the first holly hock, which is tons of confetti!! I got to the outer left border and found out there were mistakes in the original that I stitched. Apparently this was discussed in the group, but I don't remember it. I had to rip it out and redo. I think that is the only part so I'm good to go now. I just had to start my first fairy too! My progress photos and overall can be followed in this album

And lastly when I visited Stephanie last month she wanted to throw away (yes I said THROW away) a kit she had started. I told her to give it to me and I'm sure I would have some takers who would be willing to give it a good home and hopefully finish it. Leave me a comment that you want it and if there are several requests I'll draw a name on Sunday.

To end my post, a photo of Amberlyn in a slightly too small of an outfit, but it's all I had to dress her in. Yes, it's supposed to be long pants, and I didn't have it snapped up the back either! Poor thing, and yes, I have requested some clothes that fit from her Mom and we can dress her appropriately now.

Another month, another update

2010-02-09T11:14:00.000-05:00

Another month gone by......how can I recap? I traveled another 500 miles to meet another friend, Stephanie in Ky, had a great weekend and Natalie was there for a school conference so I was able to see her again! We organized Stephanie's long neglected floss. It took the 3 of us 6 hours to do, but it was worth it and it was the best thing we could do for a working Dr. with limited time off!!! I gave Stephanie one of the scissors keeps that I had also made for everyone at Jubilee. This one was personalized with the colors both she and Lori loved and I used the Lavender floss Lori gave me for Christmas in the design.
In other stitching progress, I decided to get out my long neglected HAED and finish a page. I took this with me to KY to get their opinions. I think it is stitching much darker than the photo of it and wasnt' real happy. They told me to stitch the page under where I am now instead of going across and have assured me it will look fine in the end. Here is the album link so you can see the photo of the design. So let the debating begin......
On the 23rd of each month, we are doing a remembrance stitching in honor of our friend who passed. For now I will be doing a design that she was also working on. In Jan that piece was Castles in the Air.
I put a little more time in my current RR of Jodie's.
And since none of my stitching was thrilling me much I decided to start something new. I was helped out in that department by receiving a package in the mail from my friend Gabi. She sent me a LNH pattern "snowflakes" that I had admired on her blog. So in the midst of the worst snow of the season I am working on that!!!
One day last week I received a large box in the mail and to my surprise it was filled with finishing supplies!! Lyne sent them to me hoping that they would be used instead of taking up space at her house. I think I can put them to good use!
One more thing I would like to mention is my frustration with Chatelaine designs. I have been unhappy in the Fairy Garden group about having to wait for a corrected chart that I had paid for back in June. She kept promising the correction and I kept waiting. Well finally last night I decided to send a post. Low and behold the new file just happened to be uploaded!!! My disappointment now was that not ONE person wrote that they agreed with me! Once she has your money you apparently aren't as important as pumping out new patterns every couple of weeks (which are also probably filled with mistakes). Off my soap box now.
And since no post is complete with an Amberlyn update, here she is! Now mobile in this world too! Watch out! And yes that's a bruise on her head, from being mobile! Thought I'd show her mom too!

Back in the Groove

2010-01-10T10:11:00.000-05:00

Where do I start? Right after my last post, I found out a stitching friend (Lori- aka-stitchingqueen)had passed. I had just met her in October (in person) after knowing her for several years online. What a tragedy. Way too young and took way too early from this earth. My thoughts remain with her family who has had yet another tragedy only 17 days later. It put me in a non-stitching mood for awhile (several pieces I am currently stitching Lori was also stitching.But finally after prods from several other stitchers I picked up my stitching . To help another person out with their project and hopefully get her over her *hump* I worked on Shawn's Rocky Mountain Christmas. Album can be found HERE.
I am not sure how much more I will do on this. I am passing it off the end of this month when I get to meet Stephanie!!!

Then I got out Fairy Garden and put another Dragonfly in and got out to the outer border, yeah!!! I am waiting for Martina to upload the new *mistake free* chart before I go any further. Close up of the dragonflies can be seen HERE.
I got just a little bit more done on the Castles SAL.
We are starting our 2010 RR now, I have decided instead of sending one piece around for the year, I am sending on a new start to each person. I am one that hates to start a piece, so this is my solution. There may be some variations throughout the year. I may get overwhelmed with all these WIP, but we'll see how it goes. This is my first project I sent out: Yep, another Mystic!!! I just love the colors in this one. I can't wait to get it back!

Christmas and New Years went well. Carl was sick during the New Years, so I had Amberlyn asleep in my arms and him asleep on the couch. Very exciting, huh? I didn't mind. Who would have thought I would have a darling granddaughter to hold??? Here she is in her Christmas present from Grandpa, the die hard Lions fan.

I'm getting excited again, the end of this month I get to meet yet another online friend (Stephanie) for the first time and spend the weekend with her and Natalie who I have already met. Let's just hope the weather holds out as I am driving!

I think that gets you caught up.....football season is winding down, but we will still have the long winter to get through....I hope to be making much progress!

I must be ready for Christmas because

2009-12-20T11:24:00.000-05:00

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!!

2009-12-11T16:07:00.001-05:00

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

2009-11-14T09:37:00.000-05:00

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??

2009-10-26T19:36:00.000-04:00

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?

2009-10-26T08:22:00.002-04:00

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.......

2009-10-19T12:30:00.000-04:00

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 album They 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!

2009-10-11T11:00:00.004-04:00

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

2009-10-04T08:45:00.000-04:00

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.

2009-09-29T14:07:00.000-04:00

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/