Thread in Hand

Pink Hat Two

2012-02-25T09:12:00.003-05:00

Well, I made another Pink Hat. I used different yarn and added a couple rows to the petals. I put them side by side to re-evaluate. I like the first hat better because it has more contrast. The darker pink yarn is a much better choice. I like the second hat's smaller stem and longer petals. The second hat is a bit stretchier. The hat was easier to make the second time around. In conclusion, I'd like to try one last time and use the original yarn but with the changes I made in the second hat.

We are getting lots of lake-effect snow. Pilates will have to survive without me today.

I worked on Vierlande Winders Keeper. I love the little crown motif. I can see the end of the tunnel now. It is hard to keep working on it because my pre-stitching for the June retreat came in the mail yesterday. I started one of the kits. It is worked on 35 count. That's the smallest count I've worked on. But it is going fine. Although I want to change it a bit. Do I dare? I wanted the little bird to be blue. So I made him blue. Now I don't like the personalization font. I want a different alphabet.

I washed Claire's birth announcement. I have lessened the fold marks and the blotchiness. I have to press it to see how much better it looks. None of the colors ran. They were rather muted colors anyway. I let it just dry on a towel. That heart button at the bottom doesn't look centered, I think I'll take it off and resew it a little to the left.

Snow

2012-02-24T09:44:00.003-05:00

We were predicted to have 6 to 10 inches of snow but luckily it turned out to be only about 5. It looks sort of Christmas-y. I chickened out of going to exercise today because of the snow.

Son#1 wanted to know how big the Pink Hat was and said to put it on one of my dolls. So I did. It is cute! But I still want to try it again. I have most of the body of the Pink Hat knitted in a different yarn. It will be interesting to compare the two when it is done and see which one I like best.

I finished the third corner of Vierlande Winders Keepers. There is a big medallion nearby and I am almost done with that too. I really like how it looks. One more corner to go and the main piece will be done. All the rest will be easier and smaller.

I tried ironing the birth announcement. I am not happy with how it looks. The overdyed fabric looks stripey and I couldn't get all the folds out. I have had this kit for a long time and the folds are hard to press out. I am thinking of (horrors!) washing it to get rid of the folds and maybe lessen the stripes in the fabric. I risk some of the threads fading. But I am going to try it anyway. I have washed things before that are not supposed to be washed with no problems. So I will keep my fingers crossed that this works out.

I have gotten back into Cutting For Stone and am over half way through.

I have been tempted. My BFF is very persuasive! I am thinking of going to a Stitching Retreat with the Needlework Guild of Minnesota that looks interesting. I filled out the registration. Let's see if I have the gumption to write the check! It is in August.

Son#2 suggested we might like to frame the birth announcement they sent out where he is holding a 4 day old Claire. I love the photo so I dug around in my stash to find a mat and frame. I love how this looks. Now I have to find a place to hang it that we can see it often. DH suggested the kitchen. We'll see.
A

Done Done

2012-02-22T18:29:00.005-05:00

I had some computer issues yesterday. A bad scan file in my pictures prevented me from uploading any photos. What is a good post without pictures? We spent over an hour today trying to resolve what the problem was. At first we thought it was my Camedia program. Then maybe using a Canon camera with Olympus software. It looks like a bad scan totally messed my pictures up. Hopefully, I can work around that problem.
I finished the pink hat. It is cute but it is time to evaluate. It looks a little small. I can't really find if it is too small until I send it and see how it fits on Claire. It is a little rough. The yarn catches on things like rough hands. I'm not so fond of the yarn. I'd use different yarn next time. I would not have the white go up quite so far on the stem. The stem might look cute longer and curled over (like in the photo in the book) and in a lighter color. The hat went together pretty well for this novice knitter. I think I could do it better next time. I bought some new yarn and am tempted to try again.
I finished Claire's birth announcement as well. I thought it should have hearts on it somewhere. I like how it turned out. It isn't too huge and will be a nice size when it is framed. I'll have to order a frame and mat.
I have a very good start on the Ort bag/box thingie. I know it will get more difficult since I need to stitch it four times. It could get tedious. I also got down to the corner on Vierlande Winders Keeper. I have one stitch in that should not be there. How to fix it without making a ton of work for myself? Or should I just leave it?
In the back of my mind are a few things I have been ignoring. The Shepherd's Bush afghan. Winter's Cottage. I heard that the pre-stitching kits for the Merry Cox workshops have been sent. Yeah!
A

The Pink Hat

2012-02-21T10:38:00.003-05:00

I got my books yesterday. I was very excited to start the flower hat. The first part was to use the long tail method to cast on stitches. Luckily this book has diagrams of how to do that. I had seen a youtube video when I was contemplating knitting socks but I had forgotten how. After a few tries, I got it. Then after the first round of knitting I realized that the needles I had wouldn't do. They were 29 inchers and the pattern calls for 16 inchers. So I ran right out and got the right size. So finally I was able to start. It was a nice break to knit instead of stitch. I got up to the point where I have to decrease and switch to three double pointed needles. I just spent a half an hour looking for some. Surely I had some somewhere. Yep. I found them. Is is possible? Could I finish this hat today? We'll see.
I got pizzas yesterday for Dylan and me. His school is just a revelation on kids at risk. As I was walking in, I saw one kid beating on another. They looked to be kindergarten age. Then as I was walking down the hall, another kindergartener was chanting "b i * c h" over and over. Did he know what he was spelling or just repeating what he had heard? Then Dylan asks me to guess how old he is on Facebook. Good Heavens. 23. Oh my. We had fun with Snap Circuits.
I want to do at least a little bit today on the birth announcement and Vierlande Winders Keeper. It's great to have the rest of the day to work with.
A

Busy Monday

2012-02-20T11:40:00.002-05:00

I have cleaned the bathrooms, made chili and curled my hair so far today. I am thinking of getting a Personal Pan Pizza for me and for Dylan. Yum.
I didn't get very much done yesterday. I worked on the Vierlande Winders Keeper. I finished the second page of charts and went on to the third. I started some small pieces that are backstitched around the edge and just have a small motif in the center and are octagon shaped. I saw on Days of a Sampler Lover blog that she has her Winders Keeper all stitched. Some people are really fast stitchers.
I'm looking forward to being able to start the little flower hat when my books come today. I know we don't get mail but UPS says it will deliver my package so I guess they don't have President's Day off. Son#2 says President's Day is mostly celebrated on the east and west coasts.
I love a new week full of possibilities.
A

Sunday

2012-02-19T11:46:00.004-05:00

I finished "Death Comes to Pemberley". I wasn't able to guess the twist which is a good thing. I may go back now and see if I can get into "Cutting for Stone". I'm feeling guilty about all the books I have piled up to read especially since I have more books coming on Monday. I tell myself I should take a little while every day to read. But sometimes reading puts me to sleep or I am intense on completely some stitching instead.

Ideas for Claire's birth sampler have been rattling around in my head. Yesterday I went through some other Shepherd's Bush kits that I have stuck in a drawer looking for some more rows to put on the sampler. I looked at some other charts too. Drawn Thread's Perennial Garden and Victoria Sampler's Birds of a Feather. I like the lacy bottom edging on Birds of a feather and want to put that at the bottom of Claire's birth announcement. I would have loved to put January's flower on too but the scale is too large, maybe I can alter it a bit.

I am almost done with the second page of charts for Vierlande Winders Keeper. Yeah! Today I want to finish that page and work my way down to the bottom left corner.

I slightly altered the graph of the vine of Linda's Ort box and stitched some of it. Vines and flowers always look sweet. I'm not really into this yet.

I'm looking forward to video chatting with Claire and son#2 tonight. She is 6 weeks old today.

Inching Along

2012-02-18T10:58:00.003-05:00

I finished the corner and another motif on Vierlande Winders Keeper. I discovered that on each side the border has a center that is one stitch longer so I had to reverse stitch a bit to fix it. I am about half done with the largest piece. Good progress.

I did a couple of small rows on Claire's birth announcement. I still deciding how much more to add. Maybe a large something at the bottom to give it weight and have it look done.

I tried to start Linda's Ort Bag by Victoria Sampler. The vine at the top is so badly designed and impossible to follow late at night. I am going to scan the design and fix it so that it is readable and so that each stitch goes over only two linen threads. With the flowers and the lazy daisy leaves charted on the vine, you can't see exactly where the vine is. But a little graphing will fix it. It doesn't need to be that hard.

I went to pilates this morning. I haven't been in forever. This is the first week this year that I have hit all my exercise classes. It feels good to get back to normal. I forgot that the rug rats are playing basketball on Saturday mornings at the Y. I think there will be a few more weeks of that craziness.

I should be getting three packages this coming week. I love mail. Books, kit, baskets and a chart. The best kind of mail.

I Must be Nuts

2012-02-17T11:50:00.004-05:00

I went to the LNS yesterday to look at the book with the sweet baby flower hat. Yep, it was the one I saw on Barnes & Noble and since I have a gift card, I ordered it. While I was there I was looking for the yarn the sample was stitched with. I got it. I must be crazy. To make that little hat I paid 38 dollars for the yarn. I ordered the 18 dollar book. Then I stopped by Michael's and got the size 7 circular needles needed to stitch it - six dollars. I am a very basic knitter. But the book has pictures and directions on how to do all of the stitches. It really looks pretty simple. It is totally nutty to spend that much money on a baby hat though.
I finished Better a small fish than an empty dish. Yeah! Done!
Then I put in the boats on Claire's birth announcement and I like them. I'm working on the vine now.
I only got a small motif done on Vierlande Winders Keeper. Today I want to finish the upper right corner.
I am thinking of starting Linda's Ort Bag by Victoria Sampler.
I am almost needing to take a day off from stitching. I never thought I would say that. Maybe I'll spend a day finishing stuff off or reading.
A

In the Corner

2012-02-16T10:01:00.003-05:00

I reached the corner of the Vierlande Winders Keeper. I am at the far edge of the second page of charts. It is nice to see that I have a fair amount stitched and it encourages me to go farther. I like that all the corners are different designs. I saw on a blog someone who is stitching on another Winders Keeper and it looks so different from mine as it has several colors instead of just one. It was fun to see how far they are along. I forget when the second part of this comes out. March, I think. It will be fun to get to the little pieces. They will go really fast.
I didn't work on Claire's birth announcement. Sometimes things have to rattle around in my brain for a while before I am ready to proceed especially if I am making it up as I go along. I think I want to do a little pink boat on either side of the 2012.
I saw the cutest little hat shaped like a flower in our LNS. It was knitted. I think I'll go back and look at it again as I would like to make it. Claire looks so sweet in a hat. The design comes out of a book and the book is probably more than I want to pay for just one design. But it is so cute....
Ordering online from a restaurant is still an iffy process. I have tried it from two different restaurants. Sometimes the order goes through and sometimes it doesn't. I ordered online last night. I don't think the order went through. I had to sit and wait and I got some stuff I didn't order as well as the wrong soup. But the food was good even though it was salty and way more fatty that we like. I got rack of lamb. I love lamb but rarely have it. They cooked it nicely too. I had half of it left over. Restaurants give you way more than you can eat.
The rain last night melted a lot of the snow. What a crazy warm winter we are having!
A

It's a Date

2012-02-15T11:32:00.003-05:00

My progress in stitching seems slow. I graphed out the birth date for Claire's birth announcement. I wanted to put that she was born on a Sunday but I wasn't sure how that would look. I got it all stitched and only had to restitch "Sunday" so that it was centered. Decisions, decisions. Now I have to decide what more rows to put in the sampler so that it will look done. I like the little boats but do they look too boyish and how can I pink them up? I know I want to do the flower and vines row.
I worked a little on Better a small fish. I could finish this up if I worked diligently today. But I'd rather alternate between designs so I don't get bored.
I want to get to the far corner of Vierlande Winders Keeper today.
One of our Christmas presents was a nice Brownie Mix. I know, kinda wierd. But it was the perfect dessert to bake for Valentine's Day. We have a gift card to a restaurant that we want to use tonight. Yeah! No cooking!
A

Happy Valentine's Day

2012-02-14T12:07:00.005-05:00

I forgot to show you the finished Shepherd's Bush pin cushion. I don't really like the scrunched up ribbon edge but it is done. It was a pain to sew on. But it does feel good to have something completely done.

I have been frogging the Vierlande Winders Keeper. Two of the motifs were one thread over from where they should be. Darn! It does make a difference as the pocket sets on top and needs to match the motifs. So all the mistakes are out and I am restitching them. ARGH.

I got some more done on Claire's birth announcement. I am leaving out a few rows that don't turn me on. Like the needle weaving. I love the row of fish so I think I'll do that next and then put the birth date on.

It feels like things are getting back to normal after a crazy January and our trip.

DH got me some lovely flowers for Valentine's Day.

I more or less decided on an Ipad 3 for my anniversary.

Back to Monday

2012-02-13T09:33:00.003-05:00

I love the beginning of a new week. I'm in the midst of bathroom cleaning but wanted to post while DH is at the store. I got Claire's name stitched on her birth announcement and it looks good (not off center!).

I got this applique design when I was at Eddie's Quilting Bee. They had it made up in the shop and it was so cute. They did it in bolder colors of wool and the the bird stood out way more and was darling. I don't do much applique but this looked so sweet all made up.
I stitched a couple of motifs on the Vierlande Winders Keeper. I worked on it while watching the Grammy Awards last night so I hope I don't go back and find errors today. I didn't read or work on Better a small fish. Maybe this afternoon.
I have a mango and kiwi to cut up with Dylan today. I don't know if he will try them. I am taking the smoothie making machine again. I'm making some heart cookies in honor of Valentine's Day for him (and me!). I got him a light up ball and yoyo at the Intel Museum. I can give those to him today.
Back to bathrooms...
A

Birth Announcement

2012-02-12T10:14:00.004-05:00

DH reminded me that I often stitch a birth announcement for a new baby and was I going to do that for Claire? Of course! I have been trying to decide what design to go with. I saw one framed by Rensel Studio that I thought was lovely but it was for a boy. Someone had taken Shepherd's Bush's kit of Sailor Collar and added the baby's name and date. I have that kit in a drawer somewhere. I took it out and thought with just a few "pink" changes and omitting the boy and boats I could make it a birth announcement for Claire. So I started it. I get so disgusted with Shepherd's Bush charts as they are nothing but a list of Step 1, Step 2 etc. I spent last night looking for just the right alphabet for her name. I have a favorite alphabet from a very old copy of Cross Stitch and Country Crafts. I made a couple copies of it and cut them up to see if it would fit and how it looked. I didn't want to graph the whole thing out so this was the easy way. I hope I have the count and centering correct. I usually mess it up somehow. It's a talent I have. I really like it so far.
I did a bit of finishing on the Shepherd's Bush pincushion. I just have the scrunched up ribbon edging to sew on with beads and it will be done.
I worked on Vierlande Winders Keeper some. I got the first angel motif done.
I decided not to try to drive over to the Kindred Spirits Sampler Guild meeting that is today. I'd love to go but the weather scares me. Five hours of driving is not my idea of fun anyway.
I didn't get to reading yesterday. I am going to read some today. Really.
A

2012-02-11T08:40:00.003-05:00

The top photo is one we take whenever all the boys are together. The "leaning" picture. I think it come from some Monty Python skit. Anyway, here are the boys in my life.
It is great to be back home and to my regular schedule - stitch and more stitching. I finished the whole first page of the Vierlande Winders Keeper chart. Yeah! Now onto the next page. I feel like I have made good progress. It is kind of nice not to have to change colors all the time.

I started another Prairie Schooler chart on the trip. I have wanted to stitch this one for a long time. DH eats fish most of the time so this fits our lifestyle. I'd like to frame this when I am done.

The sun is shining and it's a nice day. We had snow all day yesterday.

I am trying to decide between an IPad, Kindle Fire, and a Nook. Let me know what you think.

I am hoping to get in some reading today. I went back to Cutting for Stone to see if I could get back into it. Death Comes to Pemberley has gotten just a bit boring.

I started a new medication that I hope doesn't kill me, make my hair fall out or give me Leukemia. Let's hope it gives me energy, makes me thin, younger and beautiful instead.

The Trip Part 2

2012-02-10T11:56:00.003-05:00

I learned a lot about having a new baby this trip. I had forgotten how hard it is to have no sleep and be responsible for keeping this wiggling, crying, pooping baby happy. I don't remember my kids being so difficult but maybe they were. Claire is only 4 weeks old and is so tiny. Son#2 and DIL were tired and not wanting any company so we only came over when invited. I got to hold the baby everyday and even feed her a bottle. But she was not happy or calm most of the time. The equipment they have for babies is astounding: co-sleeper, Mamaroo thing that moves in various ways, they haven't even used the crib yet. They can't take her out until she has her shots at 8 weeks so they are stuck at home. We wished we could have helped in some way.
I went to Eddie's Quilting Bee. It is mostly a fabric and sewing machine store. I wanted to get some Udderly Smooth hand lotion and a pair of scissors there as I had mislaid my thread cutter and didn't want to chew threads off. One of the things I wanted to do while I was there was get an In and Out Burger and I did that twice. Then on our last day we went to the Intel Museum. DH and Son#1 are computer people so they understood all the stuff. I just looked at the pictures and bought souvenirs.
I saw a little scissor fob made by The Inspired Stitcher and that was one of the projects I took on this trip. We had a lot of down time and I finished it.
Son#1 got some great pictures and I have a wonderful picture of me holding Claire as my screen saver.
I am back to working on Vierlande Winder Keeper and enjoying it very much. I am loving the posts on Thistle Threads about the casket class I will be taking. I am so lucky.
A

And Little Nell was Tied to the Railroad Track....

2012-02-09T10:03:00.004-05:00

I'm back! Whew it is great to be home.

When I last posted, we were concerned because we were notified that our plane would be late and worried that we wouldn't make the next plane to San Jose. We got to the airport and found that the plane was delayed 40 minutes (even more!). All we could do is sit and wait. I made a very bad decision at the time to eat a bag of SunChips and drink some Pepsi. Boy, would I be sorry later. Well, the plane finally showed up and they quick took off. The flight to MN is scheduled for 1 1/2 hours but it really only takes 50 minutes. So we made up some of the time. Oh yeah, on the way to the airport (only 5 minutes from our house) I realized I forgot my cellphone. I never use it anyway except for long distance. We couldn't decide whether to go back and get it or not. Eventually we decided not to get it as son#1 will have his cellphone. When we get to MN, we think have about 10 minutes to make the plane. So we quickly start walking 10 gates away. Then we hear our names being paged for the flight. So we start running! We are almost there when we see son#1 with a cart. He has tried to call us four times. But luckily we make it just in time. There are actually a few people who get on after us. What stress and worry! But we made it! The flight to SJ is soooo long. Halfway through the flight my stomach is killing me. I hate foreign bathrooms but end up going several times on the plane. ARGH. We make it to SJ. I am in great pain as we pick up our rental car and drive to the hotel.

DH gets me some Tylenol and we fall into (a very comfortable) bed exhausted. But we made it. Tomorrow holds the promise of seeing Claire.

On the plane I stitched on Twisted Oaks Garden Ball and the Shepherd's Bush kit. The light wasn't all that good but it gave me something to do.

Here is me, looking like death warmed over, holding Claire for the first time. I didn't want to stop holding her. More tomorrow!
A

Last Post Before Leaving

2012-02-03T11:59:00.003-05:00

We leave later today. We are leaving even later than we thought. Our plane's take-off time has been delayed by half an hour. This worries us like crazy because we only had 45 minutes between planes. Now we only have 15 minutes. Will our luggage make it? What if we don't make it??? We may be spending the night in Minneapolis. It's always something. I am just going to be optimistic and think that yes, we will make it and we will deal with whatever happens.
I spent a bunch of time last night kitting up some stuff to take. I have a small Shepherd's Bush kit that will be fun. I saw my friend Margaret start this Twisted Threads garden ball. She solved my problem with it. I bought the kit two years ago with all the threads but I didn't really like the different pastels fabrics it was stitched on. Margaret did it on a different material. Perfect. That's what I'll do too. Then for insurance I took some Prairie Schooler ornaments. I am half way through Death Comes to Pemberley. I bet I can finish it on the trip. So I am all set. The hair is cut, colored and even curled. I am excited to give Claire the sweet pink cardigan that Margaret's mother made. And yes, the camera battery is charged and ready to take millions of pictures of that sweet baby.
With all the excitement, not too much stitching got done yesterday. I took a photo of my Vierlande fabric next to white to you could see it is much darker that it looks in the other photo.
Thanks for all you good wishes for our trip.
A

Packing

2012-02-02T10:02:00.003-05:00

I am so excited. I'll be in California tomorrow. Today is all about getting ready. I have to be sure I have some things to stitch on the plane.

Surprising things came in the mail yesterday. I got the pre-stitching for Spring Fling. It is a Victoria Sampler design. It looks like it is mostly ribbon embroidery. It won't take too long to do. I'm sure I'll have it done by the middle of April. I could have it done by next week if I wasn't going on a trip. I am looking forward to that get together with stitchy friends. It will be a fun party weekend.

I am getting so excited about the Cabinet of Curiosities. It looks like our first project involves a small box with hardware. I love it. That will be so cool. Of course that isn't until May. I love the blue colors of thread that were specially dyed for us.

The brew pub was interesting. It just opened last week and they are still working out some kinks. They just had bar food. I indulged in one of my guilty pleasures: a hot dog. They do make their own rootbeer but they were out of it last night.

I'm plugging away on the Vierlande Winder Keeper. I am enjoying it very much. The fabric was overdyed by the designer and has copper mottling. (note: this picture doesn't show the color at all, it is much darker than in the photo) I sometimes don't like overdyed linen but this is fine. Since I stitch in hand, I like my linen to have some body and/or stiffness to it.

With our warm temperatures, the snow has mostly melted away.

Wishing you a great day!

Anticipation

2012-02-01T11:27:00.004-05:00

How can it be February?? I'm not ready!

I have been back to exercise two days so far. I am doing well and keeping up. I stopped by Barnes & Noble (because I had a gift card) and bought the strongest glasses they have! 2.75. One of the most important things for me to stitch is to be able to see what I am stitching. The Vierlande project is over 2 on 32. It shouldn't be a problem, even on a darker fabric. I just wanted to see if it made a difference. It does help a bit. I could see better before I got sick so I wonder if that had anything to do with it. I saw an advertisement on TV for a pill you can take for vision. I'm tempted. But I am not going to try anything new before our trip.

We are meeting friends at a brew pub tonight. That will be fun. It would be great if the brew pub makes their own rootbeer. Then we are coming back here to see our finished kitchen and to have cherry pie. I actually can't eat the cherries very well so I may make cupcakes too. We'll see.

I worked a bit on Vierlande and made good progress. I wanted to get to the deer and I did. I kept getting interrupted. Then it takes time to settle down and get back to where you were. It is like every interruption costs a half an hour in work.

It is time! Time to take down Christmas pictures and rotate to spring pictures.

I'm going to take a pair of shorts to California. I'm going to have an IN-N-OUT Burger. Looking forward to getting to know Claire.

Good Hair Day

2012-01-31T10:56:00.002-05:00

I just got back from my haircut. There is only one person I have found that cuts my hair the way I want and let's hope she never retires. I usually say that I want a "shoulder length blunt cut bob". I learned that from InStyle Magazine's recommendations for very fine hair. She cut it like I asked. Great. Now I am ready to go to California.

Monday's are days I don't get much stitching done. I was delighted to start on Vierlande Winder Keeper. It is going great. My brain is slightly addled still. I don't know if it is aftereffects of the medication reaction or dehydration but I have to be very careful and go slowly to avoid errors. I made a few but I fixed them, no big deal. I am liking it!

The weather is crazy warm today. This is usually the coldest time of year. But there is no ice fishing this year. It feels like spring.

It is a great day!

Smoothie

2012-01-30T16:06:00.003-05:00

It has been a busy day. My bathrooms are clean. Finally. I had to take a quick nap in the middle of cleaning because I ran out of energy. While I was resting, I had the idea to take stuff to make a smoothie with Dylan. I took yogurt, ice cubes, oranges, a cut up apple, banana and a bit of sugar. I have this Ninja thing I got for Christmas a few years back that works really well. The yogurt I took had the M & M's on top. I thought Dylan would just like to eat the M & M's and we could use the yogurt. No. He wanted to put the M & M's in the smoothie. Interesting. It was fun experimenting. We decided the apples were too strong a flavor and next time we should leave them out. I consider my activity a success if he wants to do it next time too. And he d0es. He wants me to bring stuff to make a smoothie next time I come. He knows that I won't be there next week - because I will be in California.

My Amy Mitten kit finally came today! Yeah! It is just linen and two colors of thread. But now I can get started. I'm beginning to hate Winter's Cottage so it's a good thing to work on something else.

I have a hair appointment tomorrow. I'm getting ready for California. I only have Jamie cut my hair once or twice a year and it is usually before going someplace special. My hair is especially long at the moment (which DH likes) and I just want to trim an inch or two so I don't look like a witch.

I am going to try to go to exercise tomorrow. I don't know if I have the endurance as I have been away a whole week mostly lying in bed. We'll see how things go.

All this week I will be getting ready for our trip. Exciting!

Snow

2012-01-29T09:55:00.003-05:00

We're getting a bit more snow today - up to 4 inches. But the snow I'm thinking of is on Winter's Cottage. I tried using 2 ply of white for the snow below the house and I think it looks fine. I'm not that picky. I'm not a purist. Today I will move on to the the snow on the roof. Does it look much different from the padded (stitched twice!) snow on the cover? Not in my book.
I changed the inside of the needlebook to say "Needles". I used a chart from my Blue Ribbon Sewing Box. Unfortunately I screwed it up several times and ended up stitching it about 4 times. Then I just put an "A" under what will be the needlepage. Done.
I interfaced the cover and scissors pocket side and started lacing them together. I don't like how these stitches lace together. I would rather lace back stitches or "Sam and Bertha" style or even long arm cross stitches together. But so far, so good. It is pretty stiff even without the skirtex in it.
I am a bit stronger today but hope to be "weller" before leaving for California. I have to behave myself and be very careful with what I eat this week.
I loved stitching and watching the US Ice Skating Championships on TV yesterday. I can do that today too.
My Amy Mitten kit didn't come yesterday. I know that things that come from Canada take extra time - like up to two weeks.
OOOh that itch to start something new....
A

Better

2012-01-28T08:54:00.003-05:00

I am feeling better and stronger today. I'm still not totally out of the woods as my endurance is low but things are looking up.
I didn't want to start anything new as I am still waiting for my Amy Mitten kit to arrive. (Maybe today!!?!?!?) So I made myself work on Winter's Cottage. I decided to experiment and try the needlebook my way. So I did the four sided stitch around the outside. Then I used a stitch from a C.A. Wells project inside of that. I looked at it and thought, that's pretty, I like that. A small change can add so much. One side is supposed to say House of Needles. But the letters are just plain up and down straight lines(no imagination!)so I am going to change that. The other side has my initials. Again, I can find fancier initials or even a big swirly "A". Buoyed by how the needlebook inside turned out, I am going to try to adapt the outside house to a more cross-stitchy way of stitching - no padded stitches, what a waste of time. I also took a big chance and cut out the pieces I have finished. I am going to inteface them and then they are ready for assembly. I still have a little bit of that darn snow to do.
I wanted to explain why my photos are crappy. It is intentional. A designer friend heard that people were stitching her projects from my blog (how is that possible?)and asked me to alter my photos. So I did. I take smaller pictures and "mountain" instead of "flower" on my camera. Yesterday we had a problem with my picture files and I wasn't able to edit them before posting. So you kind of had to look at them sideways. Sorry.
It is a snowy day here. I haven't been out of the house since Monday. But in weather like this, that's okay.
A

TGIF

2012-01-27T09:58:00.003-05:00

Thank goodness it's Friday - or I'm thankful that I've made it till Friday. This week has been such a waste of time! Being sick sucks. I am feeling better as I would like to curse out my doctor for putting me on medicine that about killed me. I'm thinking about firing him. Anyway I'm better. Thank you for your well wishes, I appreciate it.
I finished B My Valentine. It would look nice framed. I order my frames from American Frame in Ohio. They have the cheapest prices and nice frames.
I didn't trust my addled brain to do any complex counting (no working on the BAP). So I worked on the snow on the inside of Winter's Cottage. I got the scissors pocket side done so that means I can attempt to sew it on. I know that there is an errant snowflake but I haven't decided whether to keep it or not. I still need to stitch the needlebook but I am going to make changes to the edge stitches. No nuns!!!! As you can tell, I'm feeling a little ornery today.
I'm hoping my mailman brings me my Amy Mitten kit. What fun! The thread name that is used mostly is called "Evil". Amy Mitten dyes her own threads and gives them scary names.
I found out that my niece is going to Nepal to hunt tigers. Wow. DH says, well at least she isn't hitch-hiking in Iran.
I can't upload my pictures. I'll have to wait for DH to fix this. Dang.
A

Inch By Inch

2012-01-26T12:15:00.002-05:00

I am feeling a bit better. I've lost 11 pounds since last week. That's how sick I am. That medicine is a weight loss miracle. But I feel really weak.
I'm on the last row of B My Valentine. I think I can finish it today.
The Amy Mitten Vierlande Keeper supplies has been mailed and I got the chart pdf this morning. I am looking forward to this. I would be more enthusiastic but I don't have the energy.
Thanks for stopping by. I think I'll take a nap.
A

Sick

2012-01-25T12:32:00.002-05:00

I'm very sick. I think I am having a bad reaction ("acute intolerance syndrome") to a medication I started last week. I've stopped the medication so I'm hoping to feel better soon. Mostly I have been laying down. So of course, not a lot stitching is getting done. I stitched a few boxes on B My Valentine. I have two rows left. I must be feeling a little bit better, as I didn't think I would post today at all. And I've eaten a whole snack size bag of Cheetos.
A

Tomorrow's Another Day

2012-01-24T10:04:00.004-05:00

I was not at all well yesterday. I'm a bit better today. I never take naps but I took one yesterday. I feel a little bit better today but I'm taking it easy. I'm just going to sit in my stitching chair and watch TV and stitch and read. What a hard day!

I only stitched one more row on B My Valentine. If I can get some momentum going today, I could finish it.

A picture of me and Dylan was requested so we got one yesterday. Dylan is such a nice kid. I found something he likes to eat!!! I got a Pizza Hut personal pan pizza for him. I was going to get two, one for me and one for him. But since I was feeling poorly I only got one. He liked it and he ate it. It's a miracle. Unfortunately, my goal was to find something that was more healthy than the school's crappy lunch. This really isn't as it is probably high in fat and salt. But it was so good. Dylan shared it with me. He's like that. I tried to show him how to do a Sudoku, but he was not that interested. We did a couple of boxes but he just wanted to play a game. Dylan is very good with numbers. He could tell with just a glance at the clock that we had 19 minutes left. That's better than other kids I have mentored. They have no clue. He can locate on a map of the world where we live. Also better than other kids I know. One of these days I'm going to see if he knows the continents. I got the latest book of the Wimpy Kid series, Cabin Fever, and I'm going to read some to him every week.

As the picture shows, I'm taller than a third grader.

Moody Monday

2012-01-23T10:42:00.003-05:00

It is rainy and overcast today and I don't feel that great. I'm not even done with the bathrooms yet. But the sun will come out tomorrow....bet your bottom dollar.
I worked on B My Valentine and got a few more rows done. Four rows to go. It is sweet. I have found several mistakes in the chart. The "N" and the "T" are charted in the same color but on the sample they are not the same color. Too late now!
We had a nice visit with Claire and son#2 on the webcam. It works great. DH even admitted that it is a more intimate and dynamic way to talk and he had his doubts since he doesn't like to have his photo taken or be on camera. Claire's cousin was there visiting. She is 17 months old. I read her a book and showed her the dog I made. It was so cute. She blows kisses. I recorded the Goodnight Moon book. We go in 11 days.
I am gradually getting the snow done on the inside corners of Winter's Cottage. I want to attach the door scissors pocket soon. A lot of my problem with this project is the fabric I am using. Yuk. When you stitch, you want it to look nice and neat. This is a rumpled mess. I noticed the difference after starting B My Valentine and enjoying it soooo much more.
I was looking at the half done tape measure cover and wondering to myself, what is the hang-up? Why aren't you finishing this? You were dying for this book to get here so you could make it and now it sits. Well, I replied to myself, it is that strawberry. I don't want to use the waste canvas. So that means working on 40 count, which I have never done. Try it, you might like it, I said to myself. At least just do a queen stitch and see what it looks like and if it is really a PITA.
I read some more in Death Comes to Pemberley. A lot of red herrings are thrown in.
Looking forward to seeing Dylan today.
A

Fun

2012-01-22T09:27:00.004-05:00

I had a great mail day yesterday. My Drawn Thread order arrived! As soon as it arrived I started B My Valentine. It is so pretty. I had admired Giovanna's Toccata 3 (I think) with all the cute squares. This is like that. Many 13 stitches a side squares. So easy to do just one. But it is addictive. Just one more square... I finished 10. Each one was a challenge and fun. It was so different than working on Winter's Cottage. I so enjoyed the great design. How many ways can hearts be used? Cynthia is a great needlework designer. I'm not quite half done. I think this would be a good design to frame and hang on the wall. Maybe in my bathroom.
I am up to page 50 in Death Comes to Pemberley. I didn't want to stop stitching, but finally I did.
I stitched a little before the mail came on Winter's Cottage. I tried out the corner stitches. Eyelets didn't work out. So I did round Rhodes stitches like are on the roof. I like how it looks. Unfortunately, some of the sparkly stitches were one thread off which threw a monkey wrench into everything. Not fun. So I have a little frogging to do.
I signed up for another class. I couldn't pass up the opportunity. I debated about it over a month and missed the deadline to sign up. But when I asked if it was too late, our registrar said I had one week to get my money in. It is through Kindred Spirits Sampler Guild. Amy Mitten is coming to teach a couple of classes in May. One is on 40 count, so that was out. But the other one I liked better and is on 32 count linen and it has a windmill on it. Mute But Not Silent. I must be crazy to take on another project.
I'm looking forward to a video chat with Claire tonight. She's twice as old as she was last week.
A

A Finish

2012-01-21T09:54:00.002-05:00

I finished up the Drawn Thread December Calendar cover. It turned out fine. I originally stitched the smoke coming out of the chimney in gray but it didn't show up very well so I went back and stitched over it in white. Now you can see it better. I put on the beads and that topped it off. I need to find a piece of fabric to line it with and then I can finish-finish it. So what to do now? Well, I know I should go back and finish that darn Winter's Cottage. I put in some of the sparkly corners last night. I have to go back and add the "snow". I am changing the stitches and have been thinking of how to do that. I think eyelets will do it. Of course I have to try out a couple to see how they look.
I put a few more stitches in the BAP. It sure takes a lot of time to do a few stitches. An hour's work looks like nothing.
I'm hoping my Drawn Thread order comes today. That would be great. Otherwise I might be tempted to start something else. I have Victoria Sampler's Ort container all ready to go. I may just have to put a stitch or two in it.
I was surprised to read that Elegant Stitch is going back to being an internet only shop. I admit I used to really look forward to their postings on a Friday. But then they got few and far between. They do have good service when you order something. Way faster than SBB.
Looks like a great Saturday.
A

Calendar Girl

2012-01-20T11:26:00.002-05:00

I worked on something completely different yesterday. I dug in my basket and found Drawn Thread's December Calendar cover. I had Drawn Thread on my mind since I ordered her new designs which are on their way to me I might add. So I dug through my leftover Drawn Thread threads and found most of the ones I needed. Designers tend to use the same colors over and over. I'm going to fill in the colors I don't have with my Hand-Dyed Fibers. I made good progress and can finish it today.
We are expecting between 3 and 7 inches of snow today. So we made a trip to stock up at the grocery store.
I started reading "Death Comes to Pemberley". P.D. James writes like she is Jane Austen and it is an easy enjoyable read so far. Hope to do some more reading today.
DH is bugging me so I'm off to stitch.
A

Brave

2012-01-19T10:34:00.004-05:00

Yes, I was brave this morning. Even though it was very snowy I went to aerobics class. While I was there, three inches of snow piled up on my car. I made it back home fine and am going to stay nice and cozy for the rest of the day.

I had a wonderful mail day yesterday. The darling cardigan that my friend Margaret's HDHBEM made for Claire arrived. But in the package were some things for me! A tangerine chocolate bar (one of my favorite things is orange flavored chocolate, how did she know!?!), a sheepy bookmark and an embroidered hankerchief. Thank you Margaret for all the nice gifts. You are too sweet to me!

I finished the Claire pillow. It seems like it took a long time but I only found our her name ten days ago. I used to finish needlework for a local shop and have made tons of pillows but I haven't made a pillow for several years. It was like riding a bicycle to make this pillow. It went together well and I am happy with how it turned out.
We got our webcam yesterday and hooked it up. We tried it out with son#1 and he helped us work out the kinks. Right now the webcam is sitting on top of a Kleenex box. DH is going to make a small shelf for it to sit on. I'm not sure I know how to initiate a video call. I'm want to try it out with my sister.

I spent way too much time yesterday choosing a hotel and making reservations for our trip to see Claire. We are going in two weeks. So today I am going to stitch like crazy.

I put interfacing on the back of the door/scissors pocket of Winter's Cottage to give it more stiffness and protect the back if you actually put scissors in it. Just have to stitch the corner decorations and I sew it on. I don't really understand the sewing on directions as the diagram doesn't really show how to do it. Do you go through loops on the door edge and then loops on the nun stitch rectangle? I going to have to work that out.

Compare and Contrast

2012-01-18T11:20:00.005-05:00

That was a dreaded question in English class: compare and contrast two pieces of literature. Luckily, I don't have to do that any more. Although I would be much better at it now than I was then.
I did the border of the inside of Winter's Cottage in two different ways. On one side I did the called for cross stitch over one (top square). On the other side(bottom square) I tried a variation of long armed cross. I like the long arm cross better. It can be seen more easily as going over two threads makes it larger and darker plus I like the woven braided look of it. I am thinking of doing a four-sided stitch on the edge of the "house of needles" as right now I don't feel like facing hours of nun stitch over nun stitch. In fact I got out another project to work on as this one was driving me crazy. But I'm almost done! I should finish!
I worked a bit on the BAP. I am close to finishing the first page. This is very slow going as well but I enjoy it more. It is kind of fun to fill in the "blanks".
My goal for today is to finish the Claire pillow since I have the backing fabric. I don't know if I have enough stuffing but I'll go get more if I need to.
I am wondering about blog etiquette. Is one supposed to reply to all comments left on one's blog? I wanted to let people who leave comments on my blog know that the comments are sent to my email and I receive and read all of them and appreciate all of them too. Thanks!
A

To Jane

2012-01-17T19:10:00.002-05:00

I can't seem to leave comments on my own blog which means I must post to answer questions. Jane, when you leave a comment you are listed as "no reply" so I can't email you. I read somewhere that if you don't give Blogger your email information you are listed as "no reply". Just to let you know, the Merry Cox retreat is called "Squirrel's Nest Getaway" and is the third week of June in Cincinnati. I can forward information to you if I have your email address. One of my goals this year is to stitch Palais Royale so I sent in my registration form. That class is also being offered at The Attic in November (I didn't want to wait!) Wouldn't it be great to meet there?
A

Sucker

2012-01-17T11:06:00.003-05:00

There are certain things I am just a sucker for. Like Drawn Thread designs. I ran across some new Drawn Threads designs and I just couldn't resist. I ordered them. B My Valentine is darling and I want to stitch it and I want all the right thread colors. I love the flower designs too. There are three similar designs but I wanted them all. Especially Butterfly Garden. Too sweet. The threads were kind of pricey too. I want to see what I have in my stash before I spend the money.
Celebration Of Needlework is starting to post teachers, classes and vendors. It is fun to check back every day to see if anything new has been posted.
I got some fabric to finish off the Claire pillow. It is just a pink with white dots but it will go with the front fabric and Claire's room which is brown and pink.
I got some more done on Winter's Cottage. It doesn't look like much since it is white nun stitch over white nun stitch on white linen. I am changing the border stitch a bit. I took out the squares of white and think I will do the round stitch that is on the roof of the cottage in the corners instead.
Dylan and I had a good time playing three different games yesterday. I want to show him how to do an easy Sudoku. I took couple of pictures of him to put on his valentines. He had chicken nuggets for lunch. Next week I'm going to take some personal pan pizzas from Pizza Hut. It's one of my guilty pleasures.
It is raining outside but that is good. It is warm enough to rain instead of snow or hail.
Now to stitch!
A

Google Chatting

2012-01-16T09:41:00.003-05:00

I had the most amazing conversation yesterday. Using Google Chat, we talked to son#2 and DIL as they were holding Claire. Talking face to face is like almost being there in the same room with them even though they are thousands of miles away. We quick ordered a webcam to put on our real computer (as opposed to the Chromebook) so we can talk there too. Are we tech savvy or what? Claire is filling out and growing so much in just a week.

I finished the door scissors pocket to Winter's Cottage and cut it out. I am working on finishing the inside of Winter's Cottage so I can attach the pocket to it. I officially hate doing nun stitch over nun stitch. ARGH. There just has to be a better way! I know it will be cute when it is done but it isn't much fun.

I sewed fabric on all sides of "Claire". It looks good but I am trying to decide how to finish the back. My sister suggested a plain fabric (pink?) and I may have to go with that as I don't have enough of the front fabric to do the back. I think I will put a contrasting cording around the edge.

I go see Dylan today. I have to break it to him that I will be gone for a Monday in February. We have finished 10 practice readers and are ready to start a new set today.

I have to get back to bathroom cleaning.

Sunday

2012-01-15T09:45:00.003-05:00

It is a chilly 7 degrees this morning. I can't believe Christmas was three weeks ago. Time flies. Today Claire is one week old.

The top photo is the one I used for the butterfly chart.

I didn't work on Winter's Cottage at all. I just goofed around with the BAP all day. I enjoyed myself. Stitching and seeing what emerges is fun - to a point. You probably can't even tell that I did any work on this. It is so interesting though to see what a blend of one ply of red floss and one ply of green floss looks like when stitched. You are probably saying, what the heck is this anyway?

For a break from the BAP I will try to get that scissors pocket done today.

I made a list of the stitching classes I want to go to this year. I've included ones that I will be or are thinking about taking. So far the list for the first half of the year is:

Amy Mitten's Vierlande online tutorial (January )

Singing to the Moon kit ordered through the Kindred Spirits Guild (February)

Spring Fling put on by Stitchville USA, a shop in the Minneapolis area (April)

Maybe Celebrations, I am waiting to see what classes and projects will be offered (end of April)

Cabinet of Curiosities, an online class by Thistle Threads (18 month class)(May)

A Merry Cox getaway, Palais Royale and Petite Treasures (June)

I am so lucky to get to do even half of these. What a year it is going to be!

Happy Dance

2012-01-14T10:09:00.004-05:00

Finally! The kitchen floor is done. We are putting stuff back in place. It looks great, we are really happy with how it turned out. It is more than fabulous to be done with this whole process.

It is still snowing - lightly. So far we have had 11 1/2 inches of snow. I'm just hoping driving isn't too dicey on Monday so I can get out to Dylan's school.

I worked on the scissors pocket for Winter's Cottage. It is the the door to the cottage. It is coming along nicely and I think I can finish it today.

I also worked on the BAP. I like seeing how this is coming along. Most of the threads are blended. That gives the design some depth.

For dinner last night, I tried the Upside Down Chicken from With Thy Needle and Thread blog. It turned out great. Very tender.

"Claire" is done and I have been thinking about how to finish it. I have a jelly roll of Kaffe Fausset fabrics and they don't look too bad with it. They aren't my style but I think DIL will like it. I think I'll make a small rectangular pillow.

It is a hot chocolate kind of day.

Snowday

2012-01-13T10:03:00.004-05:00

Today is the the first snowday of the year. Schools are closed and we have had 5 inches of snow with a few more to come. I'm skipping Step class as I worry about the ice under the snow since it rained, got cold and then snowed.
Joe showed up at about 2 p.m. yesterday. He came by to give the boards another coat of urethane. When he found out DH had already done that, he went home. He wasn't feeling well, he thought he was coming down with the flu. Who knows if he will show up today?
I'm on the "E" of Claire. Yeah! Almost done.
Today is the end of the Stitching Tour of the Sewing Room's Unfinished Drawer. Here are five bellpulls. Four are Shepherd's Bush and the Halloween one is a Drawn Thread design.

Oh my goodness, Joe's here. We could finish!

C is for Cookie

2012-01-12T10:50:00.003-05:00

I worked on "Claire" yesterday. With diligent work today, I can finish it. I'll have to see if I have some fabric that looks good with it.

Joe showed up around 11 which is typical. It's like he's on a two hour delay in the mornings. He says he will be here at nine but never gets here until 11. Things are getting back to normal though. Only the trim boards are left to install. We got them all stained and urethaned yesterday.
The Stitching Tour of the Sewing Room's Unfinished Drawer continues with bell pulls. I used to have a hook that I could hang up a bell pull and change it monthly. Now they are at the bottom of the drawer. I should put up another hook and continue that tradition. Also there is one last Shepherd's Bush kit.

I didn't include the picture of the butterfly yesterday in hopes that someone would want to stitch a mystery.

We got our airline tickets to go see Claire in about 3 weeks. It will be so fun to see her in person and hold her, and rock her and sing to her and take endless pictures.

Butterflies Are Free

2012-01-11T10:48:00.005-05:00

Here is my first design using my new software. I didn't really design anything. You put in a photo and it turns it into a chart. You can specify what size you want the chart to be. I haven't figured out how to change the chart yet. I wanted to make the antennae backstitch but I don't know how to do that. It would be fun to see how it turns out. I think if you click on the chart it gets bigger and you can right click and save it to your computer.

We got our first video of Claire today. It is so fun to wake up and go check the computer to see if any new pictures have been posted. It is only 28 seconds long but I love it!

I'm still working on "Claire". Yesterday was kind of a crazy day. Joe showed up and buffed the floor and we were able to put back the stove and fridge and table. Things are slowly getting back to normal. He still has the trim boards to do around the door and the floor. I think it looks nice.

Now we can sell this place and move. Not really. The mud room needs major painting and new carpet or tile. DH has convinced me to get rid of our piano. So more projects but not for a while!!!

The Stitching Tour of the Sewing Room's Unfinished Drawer continues with three more Shepherd's Bush designs, a tiny heart and two samplers. What to do with them?

Well miracles do happen. DH is off to get a whooping cough shot.

I Declare!

2012-01-10T09:03:00.002-05:00

DH is off to the dentist so I get the computer first thing today. While I was mentoring Dylan, son#2 called to tell us the baby's name! She is to be Claire. They still haven't decided on a middle name yet. So I have started a small stitch of the name for a pillow. I may make a larger one for framing next. I'm trying out colors to see how they look together. So far, only the "a" is done. I was very surprized at the name, I never would have guessed it.
Joe finally showed up yesterday and the floor is entirely tiled and grouted. Wow. He said he would be back today to buff the floor and finish things off. Wouldn't it be great if he finished today and we could start getting back to normal? So I wouldn't have to look for the pan I want on the living room floor? So we could actually cook on the stove? So we could put the refrigerator back in the kitchen? A girl can dream.
You are probably wondering how I'm doing figuring out how to use PCStitch Pro. LOL Well, on Needleprint I saw some lovely butterflies as inspiration for stitching. So I took a photo of a butterfly that I had (Halona and I made Valentine cards last year with that photo) and I imported it into my program and made it into a butterfly chart. I haven't stitched it yet to see how it works up. I wonder if it is okay for me to put the chart on my blog? Maybe others would like to try it out? It wasn't my photo so that is my only hesitation. Maybe I will try and put it up tomorrow and see what happens.
The Stitching Tour of the Sewing Room's Unfinished Drawer continues with four Shepherd's Bush charts.
We are having a lovely warm day here. We are supposed to be hit by a snowstorm tomorrow night. So I'll enjoy it while I can.
A

Natalie Josie (Not her name)

2012-01-09T10:32:00.003-05:00

What is her name? I don't know yet! It is driving me crazy. But I do have a picture taken with son#2's phone. I don't think son#2 got any sleep Saturday night. I'm hoping to hear more information later today.
Joe is not here - yet. Please please please let's get this floor done.
I see Dylan today. It feels like forever since I've seen him. It will be good to catch up and find out how his Christmas was and the fate of the gingerbread house.
I spent last evening stitching on one of two BAP's. If I understand correctly, a BAP is a Big A** Project. I have two of them. The Carnation, Lily, Lily, Rose painting done in cross stitch and Vonna's Prairie Schooler Alphabet project. I was irritated at Winter's Cottage and it wasn't fun and I felt like working on Carnation, Lily, Lily, Rose. I am just on the first page and I think it has 30 pages of charts. I got the large print version. Because I'm old and my eyes need big symbols. I watched Downton Abbey as I stitched. I read the first few pages of a new book, Death Comes to Pemberly since I finished The Affair. So far it is just a recap of Pride and Predujice, setting the scene for what is to come. Death obviously.
When I find out the baby's name I plan to stitch a plaque of the name in colors to match her room (pink and brown and cream). That's why I am not starting a new project just yet.
The Stitching Tour of the Sewing Room's Unfinished Drawer continues with an Elizabeth's Design. I signed up for a monthly program of her designs and this is one of them. Then there is Black Cat, I think it is a Birds of a Feather design. I love Marjolein Bastien designs. This bird house is one from a kit. Then there is a square design. I much prefer to stitch things, not just shapes.
I'm off to get ready for Dylan.
A

Baby

2012-01-08T13:47:00.002-05:00

The baby is here! She was born at 8:26 Pacific Time after only 7 hours of labor and weighed in at 6 pounds 13 ounces, 18 1/2 inches long. She has dark hair and her father's nose which is fabulous. I don't know the name yet as her parents are trying to decide between several names. Can't wait to see her and find out her name!!
A

Anytime

2012-01-08T11:44:00.004-05:00

Oh my gosh, I just got the news that son#2 and DIL are at the hospital!!! The due date is tomorrow so she may be right on schedule. I am so excited I can hardly sit. I'll let you know as soon as it happens.

Joe didn't show up at all yesterday and he definitely won't be here today (Sunday) so no progress. We are getting used to the floor and find it very nice. I know it made a big difference with the backsplash when the grout was applied so I'm thinking the floor will look even better once the grout is in.

I worked on Winter's Cottage scissors pocket yesterday. I don't really like the stitching but in the end it looks good. I am bothered by the squares on the inside corners. I think they should be Rhodes stitches which are round and more resemble snowflakes. I may change them but that would mean taking out a corner I have already stitched. ARGH.

The Stitching Tour of the Sewing Room's Unfinished Drawer (still) continues with four little designs: a pumpkin, a duck, a bunny and a chicken. They ought to be cute for something.

I'm on pins and needles!

The Eyes Have It

2012-01-07T11:21:00.004-05:00

Not a single stitch was taken yesterday in this house. That is very unusual. I didn't want to have to do reverse stitching today. I read instead. I only have 130 pages left in The Affair. I plan to read and stitch today.
Theoretically, Joe is going to show up today to finish tiling the pantry and grout some of the floor. Yeah! That would be wonderful to see that we are almost done. Joe is doing some trim pieces too so he won't finish today. He'll have to come back next week to grout what he tiles today. Luckily, he hooked up the stove so we can cook. It was so warm yesterday that DH grilled his fish. What strange January weather!
I've been thinking of making a WIP list - more like a UFO list - and then try to finish off some projects. That darn afghan is so close to being finished and yet I have no motivation to get it done. I got Chatelaine's dragonfly box a year ago Christmas. I'm working on side number three. Well, actually, I was working on side number three when I put it down many months ago. Of course there are many more things to list but those are the main two that I would like to get out of the way. I'd much rather start new stuff though.
The Stitching Tour of the Sewing Room's Unfinished Drawer includes three things done on canvas, a needlepoint kit of a stain-glass tulip, a free design I got off the interest done in pearl cotton and a Stitch 'n Zip coin purse. I love those Stitch'n Zip kits. They are easy and fun. Then I stitched a doll's face from a Cross Stitch and Country Crafts Magazine many years ago. It hasn't gotten made up into a doll - yet.
It's a nice day outside. Have a great weekend!
A

Dopey

2012-01-06T14:34:00.004-05:00

I am back from my colonoscopy. I am probably a little bit dopey. Everything went fine but I am not going to do this again. I am not supposed to drive or do much today. I guess I don't dare stitch.
I wanted to tell you that Joe showed up yesterday at about 11:30 and tiled some more. He didn't get done. He still has the pantry floor and under the stove to do. He called and is coming over, hopefully to tile the rest of the floor. We are hoping to have use of the stove over the weekend. It is driving me crazy to have all this mess. I have to remind myself, this too shall pass.
I finished the back of the mermaid notebook. It is all stitched and waiting to be put together. I haven't found the little notebook it came with. Still looking. Oh, yeah, I have to find a bead that looks like a pearl to put in her hand.
I started in on the scissors pocket for Winter's Cottage. Nun stitch over nun stitch. Do I dare stitch on it? Maybe later.

The Stitching Tour of the Sewing Room's Unfinished Drawer has some designs that I stitched a long time ago. I like the three hearts design but don't know what to make it into. A Merry Heart maketh a cheerful contenance is a nice design. Then there is a small one that looks like a Sweetheart Tree.

Free Showtime this weekend. I'll have to see if there is anything I want to see.

The Fifties

2012-01-05T07:55:00.008-05:00

Jane B asked me why I started Winter's Cottage on the front. The answer is very simple. That's where the directions told me to start. The first thing it tells you to do is nun stitch around the edge of the front. I didn't actually think beyond that. I've done the nun stitch before so that's where I started. Yesterday I had to work on the nun stitch for the inside of Winter's Cottage. There is just no stitch so boring - except if you are doing the stitch in white floss over white fabric. Then to top it off you do another row of nun stitch on top of the first row. ARGH. I am doing a bit of redesigning in my head. If I were to stitch this again, I would use a different technique around the edge and I'd use an overdyed pearl cotton. I wouldn't pad any stitches, I'd use more than one ply of floss. The blackwork on the two posts either side of the door seems very fifties to me so I would use a different pattern.

For my friend Margaret, I want to tell her that Rootbeer is just a flavor of soda pop. Our Aunt Jean visited from Australia and was brave enough to try rootbeer. She didn't like it at all. Said it tasted like treacle (medicine). But for those of us who grew up in the fifties, it is a good flavor. Last night we went out to eat (as we can't walk in our kitchen right now) and I saw several rootbeers being served to children. Of course, I had a rootbeer float for dessert. It is a similar flavor to sassafras tea or is sometimes called sasparilla. Today I can't eat anything as I am having a colonoscopy tomorrow. Talk about fun.

I finished the front of the mermaid notebook. It looks very nice. The back will be easier and quicker. Maybe that is what I will concentrate on today as I am sick of the nun stitch.

Joe showed up at 12:30 yesterday and was able to tile about half the floor. It has to dry for 24 hours. Which means the other half has to get tiled and dry for 24 hours too. Joe hasn't arrived yet today. We might be going into next week with this. Anyway, here is a before and after photo.

The Stiching Tour of the Sewing Room's Unfinished Drawer continues with a couple of Elizabeth Designs, a bellpull Honeysuckle vine (I think this is a Drawn Thread), and Prairie Schooler birds. A couple of these designs are too big, not delicate enough. They were stitched at a time when I only stitched on 28 count linen. I've come a long way, baby.

Dress

2012-01-04T10:12:00.006-05:00

I'm so happy to announce that the smocked dress is done!!! It looks so much better all finished. I hope the baby (I have nicknamed her Natalie until I find out her real name) will have a chance to wear this dress and have her picture taken in it. I love my sewing machine. It makes putting in buttonholes a no-brainer and they look nice every time. I wish I had chosen a different material but, hey, it's pink. I am washing it now.

I worked on Winter's Cottage and the cover is done!! Yeah! The rest doesn't look too bad to do. I read through the directions and I can do it. Now to work on the inside.

I worked just a bit on the mermaid. I want to finish the front today. I took out some of the border as it was one thread too high. I am going to do my favorite stitch, the long arm cross, as the border.

Joe showed up after lunch and sanded the floor and patched the low places. Then he had to let it dry so he left. Today is supposed to be tiling. So far, no Joe. But I took a before picture and I hope later today I can take an after picture. DH asked me when I thought he might show up and I said 10 but it is passed that now.

The Stitching Tour of the Sewing Room's Unfinished drawer continues with Tricky Treats, Hearts Bloom, a snowman freebie and French Garden from Drawn Thread. French Garden shouldn't even be in the Unfinished Drawer since it is finished. I'll put it in the curio cabinet.

It would be great if Natalie were born today as DIL has a birthday on the 4th and Son#2 has a birthday on the 4th. Waiting to hear.

Of a Tuesday

2012-01-03T09:09:00.005-05:00

Well, Joe did finally stop by - for about three minutes - to say he would be back today to put in the tile. So maybe . . .

I finished off the little white flower. A few stitches are not quite at the right angle but it is a good try and since it is for the bottom of the tape measure cover, I think it is fine.

I worked on Winter's Cottage. My goals today are to finished off the back of the cottage and to totally finish the smocked dress. I have two or so rows to smock and then I can get busy hemming.

Today Stitching Tour of the Sewing Room's Unfinished Drawer includes a garden design. As I look at it I wonder what that "SGW" is. Is it the designer's initials? Oh, I know. It says "sow" with an"o" that is like a "6". Plant, sow, garden. There is a lovely white design with pearls. It would be a great on a round wooden box top but the design is so close to the edge that I don't know if I can mount it on a board. There are three little flower designs that would be cute for something.

On Mary Corbet's blog Needle 'n Thread, there is a giveaway for the 12 days of Christmas. I'm entering almost all of them. I've never won anything but maybe I'll get lucky in 2012.

I like when the days get back to normal. Stores are open. Mail is delivered. We ended up getting 9 inches of snow but around here that isn't that much. On average we get 72 inches a year. And that's why I would like to live in Santa Barbara, California where the weather is beautiful everyday except when you go to a wedding there and it is 105 degrees.

Experimenting

2012-01-02T10:22:00.004-05:00

So far, no Joe the contractor. ARGH. But the bathrooms are clean and I am ready for the week. School is still on winter vacation so no Dylan today.
I scrounged around and found some muslin so I could try the embroidery on the Home Sweet Home etui. I'm not great at embroidery. I took the class "Succulent Strawberry" from Barbara Jackson and learned a lot about doing embroidery correctly. So I put the 40 count lambswool backed by muslin in a hoop and tried stitching a flower that is for the back of the tape measure just to see how it went. I am fairly pleased. I need a darker tracing pencil. The one I have has pink lead. One that has blue lead would be much easier to see. I look at a blog called "The Unbroken Thread" and I have seen how she does her embroidery. I've seen her do the split stitch and padding stitches and then satin stitch over top. She does such a nice job. It seemed dumb to stitch with just one strand of silk floss but the results are fine and smooth. So I'm happy. That means I feel confident enough to start the front of the house. I don't have the called-for threads but I can make do. I need to make a run to the fabric store as I can't find any more muslin.
I put the sleeves in the smocked dress. I need to finish the smocking part as the rest of the dress is pretty easy and quick to finish. I still don't like it but I am determined to finish it anyway.
I put some more words on the Winter's Cottage. If I concentrated on it all day (not likely)I could come close to finishing the back.
I never did get those thank-yous written. Today is the day!!!
I keep pulling stuff out of the Unfinished Drawer. Today's lot includes a Just Nan design. I like Just Nan even though she changes colors with every stitch. I heard one person call it "confetti stitching" and that's about right. I think the butterfly one is a Sweetheart Tree, then there are chicks in an egg shape.
I've got my fingers crossed that Joe shows up and we can get this floor done already!
A

Snow Storm On the Way

2012-01-01T10:21:00.002-05:00

We are expecting up to 8 inches of lake effect snow today. I'll just stay warm and cozy inside.
I worked on the Mermaid a bit. You can now see her shape. She is just a small design that will be the cover for a tiny notebook. The front will say "Pearls of Wisdom". This is a slow stitch as I am stitching through interfacing on the back and can't use my sewing style.
I made some good progress on Winter's Cottage. The back is going way faster than the front did. I guess I feel like I know more of what I am doing as the back uses many of the same stitches as the front.
I got the Christmas tree taken down yesterday. My goal for today is to write all those thank you notes for Christmas presents.
The Stitching Tour of the Sewing Room's Unfinished Drawer continues with a cute cat design (it could be made into a pillow), a January design and Buzz (could be a cute glasses case).
Tomorrow is probably going to be a crazy day as Joe the contractor is supposed to show up and tile the kitchen floor. We won't be able to walk on it so that will be a challenge. I imagine we will have to go out to eat or get take-out.
I am excited about the Amy Mitten Vierlande design that comes out on the 25th. It is always fun to have something to look forward to. Also the baby is due in one week!!!
A

Happy New Year's Eve

2011-12-31T11:29:00.004-05:00

I am good, I went to pilates this morning. The Y was next to deserted. We have no fancy plans for tonight. Maybe we will stay up until midnight. The weather is very warm for December 31st - 42 degrees. We are going to try and grill hamburgers (turkeyburgers actually) tonight.
I finished Drawn Threads Sisters + Friends. It is very sweet. I think I will make it into a bookmark.
I am going to take down at least part of the Christmas tree today. I took 3 days to get it all put up so I may take my time taking it down as well.
Today is a day for reflection. I have learned a lot about stitching in the last few years. Going to Celebrations and taking many classes has expanded my horizons. I've been introduced to skirtex. I have gone to a C. A. Wells event. I have stitched on silk gauze and high count linen. I have discovered many kind and generous people that share my passion for stitching. When I complete a great fabulous project that I think is the end-all, there comes along another fabulous one that I must stitch.
Next year will be a momentous year for us as we will have our first granddaughter (if nothing happens today, that is). DH and I will celebrate our 40th anniversary (seems like a hundred, according to DH). So it's been a good year but next year looks to be a great year.
The Stitching Tour of the Sewing Room's Unfinished drawer includes an alphabet Wish, two little bags ("Snow" is a Shepherd's Bush design, Chives may be Victoria Sampler)and an "A".
Here's wishing you a Happy New Year.
A

And Now for Something New

2011-12-30T11:08:00.004-05:00

The Lucet Holder is finished! Finally! It was a real challenge to get it done. I'm very bad at making the lucet cording so I cheated and did twisted cord. But it looks nice so I guess everything worked out in the end.

I started some new things yesterday. All the floor issues made for a frustrating day to begin with. Then I stitched on a mermaid for an hour - with the wrong color floss!! ARGH. So I took that out and went back with the right color. What an idiot I am. Then I started the Drawn Thread's Sisters + Friends. I felt good to finally do some cross stitching. It was also fun to start something new.

It is a depressing rainy day today. I just want to hide in my sewing room and stitch and read and watch TV.

I read some of the directions (it's 100 pages!) for the Home Sweet Home etui. I think I need to use stretcher bars or a hoop and back it with muslin. I'm not sure what applique paper is. I wonder if it is freezer paper that has a waxy side or if it is Stitch Witchery that you iron on. I'll have to ask my friend Margaret.

The plan for the floor starts again next Monday when hopefully the tile will get laid and Tuesday, grouted.

Today's Stitching Tour of the Sewing Room's Unfinished Drawer includes Strawberries (from a kit), Sew a Fine Seam ( a little too big pin cushion) and a tulip design ( I think this was a freebie on the internet).

Here is a photo of my finished necklace. Cute.

Quick Post

2011-12-29T09:00:00.007-05:00

What a day already! The couple came to tear up the floor. After less than a minute, the guy says he can't do it. The vinyl is glued to particle board that is very glued to the floor. So the decision was made to put the porcelain tile on top of the vinyl. So nothing is going to be done until next Monday. We are saving the expense of tearing out the floor. Joe the contractor has had a look and feels fine with doing it that way. He picked up and brought by the tile I ordered. It was nice to put several tiles down and see how the colors of the counter top and backsplash go with the tile. It looks good.
I spent most of yesterday's free time finishing off the Lucet Holder. I put cording on the front then I put cording on the back. The back cording looked much nicer and had a tighter twist. So I took off the front cording and redid it. Now it looks better. I did so much hand sewing that I wore a hole in my middle finger! Ouch. Now the only thing left for the Lucet Holder is to make 44 inches of cording.
I want to finish up some little jobs today like sewing some more buttons into my Button Lover's Brag Book. Then I can clean up a bit of the mess on my sewing room floor. I'd love to start one of the accessories, like the tape measure cover, for Home Sweet Home. I want to see if the fabric is going to work and if I should back it with some muslin or not.
The Stitching Tour of the Sewing Room's Unfinished Drawer is nearing an end. Today we have two JBW Designs that are too big for ornaments. There is a daisy "A" and a sweet bunny.
My goal today is to make the cording for the Lucet Holder and be done with it. Anything else is gravy.
A

Great Mail

2011-12-28T12:23:00.004-05:00

I got the book I ordered from Australia in the mail yesterday. It is so fantastic. I just sat and drooled over it. I am gathering all the stuff I need to stitch it. It is an etui in the shape of a cottage. It is darling and has lots of accessories to stitch. I got some fabric (40 count lambswool) and some ribbon (sheer organdy for the windows) and I am ready to start. It is a huge project. It is mostly embroidered. But I'm wondering if I can use my new PCStitch program to turn part of it into cross stitch. We'll see.
I am one-third the way through the book I am reading, The Affair by Lee Child.
I worked on one of my Christmas presents yesterday. It is a necklace by Rovaris. I love the charms on it. I am putting in one more row of the background color so it will look neater when I attach my initial to the necklace.
I made the little bag that goes inside the Lucet holder. I am sewing on the cording on the edge of the front. So close to being done-done!
The Stitching Tour of the Sewing Room's Unfinished Drawer continues with free Drawn Thread design (birds on a plant), a stitch in time (Prairie Schooler? Cricket Collection?), a sampler with beads and silk ribbon roses and an old-fashioned pansy bouquet.
Dq, I sent your chart off this morning. Congratulations!
We're waiting to hear from Joe about starting the floor. Soon I hope!
A

It's Beginning to Look a lot like Christmas

2011-12-27T09:38:00.003-05:00

We woke up to snow today. Nary a flake on Christmas but now we have at least an inch. It really is pretty if you don't have to drive in it. I didn't go to exercise this morning as there was no substitute last I heard for our regular leader who is out of town.
I worked a teensy bit on Winter Cottage. Slow progress there. Then I went looking for all the pieces of the Lucet Holder. I read the finishing directions. I was putting off finishing it because I was afraid I would mess up the eyelets. But I soldiered on and they turned out fine. I'm hoping to finish it all up today.
Since I didn't find the sleeves for the smocked baby dress, I cut out new ones. That is another thing I'd like to finish today.
The Stitching Tour of the Sewing Room's Unfinished Drawer continues with a white heart, an alphabet cherry and two small designs.
The winner of the L'Atelier Perdu The Magic chart is dq! Please email me with your address dq and I'll send the chart on it's way. threadinhandamy@gmail.com
A

Countdown to 2012

2011-12-26T09:27:00.007-05:00

I had a great Christmas. I got all the stuff I ordered! I got a cross stitch design program (PCStitch Pro) that I need to play around with and see what I can do. I wish there were books that told how to do everything. Is there a PCStitch for Dummies? I got two charts: Drawn Thread's new design Sisters + Friends and Giving, a Brooke's Books Heirloom Bride's Tree Ornament 12 of 12. I haven't started them yet. I just worked on Winter Cottage yesterday. I was very happy to get the front done - mistakes and all! I started on the back. I am going to do Townhouse the right way, on congress cloth and on a frame and see if it goes better when you follow the directions.

I got some more Hand Dyed Fibers threads of the month. I just love getting those. I'm going to clear out a drawer in the thread cabinet just for them.

DH made a huge mess. Joe the contractor is coming this week to put in the tile on the kitchen floor. So DH cleared out a lot of the kitchen and mud room. There is junk everywhere. Where the heck is the garbage can!?!?!? I should take down the Christmas Tree just to have room for all the junk from the pantry. I'll be glad when we are finished with this craziness!

I got a darling necklace kit (just like Jenny's!) to stitch. It will be quick to put together. There is too much fun stuff to do when what I have to do is clean the bathrooms. I got a new nano and earbuds that are comfortable. I can clean to music or books or podcasts or radio. I love it.

The baby is due in two weeks. I'm getting anxious now. Son #2 and DIL got me a "Grandma's Brag Book" to fill with pictures.

The Stitching Tour of the Sewing Room's Unfinished Drawer includes a snowman from a kit and a heart. Both could be ornaments if finished.

I think this is my bloganniversary. I started this blog a year ago. I should have a contest. Whoever wants a chance to win L'Atelier Perdu's The Magic just leave a comment on this post.
A

The Sun

2011-12-24T12:10:00.004-05:00

The sun is shining. I've been to pilates.
I worked on the smocked dress and made good progress. Right now I am trying to find the sleeves. I'm sure I cut them out when I cut out the dress but, alas, I can't find them. I'll just cut out a couple more. I still don't like the dress but it is much closer to being finished. The smocking doesn't show up very well. It gets lost in the design on the fabric.
I finished up Mountain Flowers yesterday. I like how it went together and that no raw edges show. It is a clever design. I am really happy with it. It was a lot of work since is stitched with one ply floss over one and has specialty stitches. It turned out great and was worth the effort.
I took a look at Winter Cottage trying to remember where I was when I put it down. It is not my cup of tea. It is so much more a needlepoint piece than a cross stitch piece. I am not happy with the one ply coverage. It is more work than it should be. Does that make sense? But I really do want to stitch it and furthermore I have the Townhouse to stitch too.
The Stitching Tour of the Sewing Room's Unfinished Drawer continues with a sweet design from the internet of a bird and an alphabet. Then there is a large Shepherd's Bush kit, Fair Philomel. I don't like that lost r that should be on the end of sample. It is a shame not to do something with it though.

Today I want to work on Winter Cottage and see if I can get close to finishing the front.

Merry Christmas!

Christmas Eve's Eve

2011-12-23T10:47:00.004-05:00

Things are quiet here and not a flake of snow. DH just got back from grocery shopping. I started the finishing for Mountain Flowers. All the stitching is done and I have cut up the pieces and interfaced the front and back. Now for some hand sewing. Wouldn't it be great to finish this today? Isn't the lining fabric perfect?

I tried smocking on the baby dress. I haven't smocked in forever so I was trying to remember how many ply of floss to use.(I used 2 premium silk floss strands, I think I use three of regular floss.) There isn't a set pattern so I am making it up as I go along. The first two rows are meant to look like hearts. I'm still not thrilled with it but I will finish it. I taught a class in smocking at our local needlework store 25 years and at least 3 owners ago. I didn't know what I was doing! I was self taught.
The Stitching Tour of the Sewing Room's Unfinished Drawer includes Drawn Thread's Lily of the Valley sampler. I like it. There is a ladybug design that is cute but turned out way bigger than I expected. I wanted little and cute. This is sweet but huge. Then there are two little garden designs. They were fun to stitch. I think I like to stitch flowers.
I'll show you my progress on the smocked dress tomorrow.
A

Floored

2011-12-22T10:50:00.005-05:00

I heard from Joe the contractor. He can put in the tile on our kitchen floor next week. But first the floor needs to be totally torn up. What sounds like a simple project turns into a ton of work. DH is wondering where we can move the fridge. He thinks we should move the fridge to where my desk is and that means cleaning my desk it off. This project is mushrooming already. But it would be wonderful to have this kitchen redo all done this year. Next week is likely to be kinda crazy.
If I buckle down today I think I can finish the stitching on Mountain Flowers. I only have 4 or 5 diamond motifs to go. I spent last night reading the rest of Tea Time for the Traditionally Built. Since I am now done with it, I can start another book. I'll probably start The Affair by Lee Child.
The Stitching Tour of the Sewing Room's Unfinished Drawer continues with (surprize!) Shepherd's Bush's "Bloom" and a small sampler. There is an angel from a Just Cross Stitch Ornament issue (I think) and Victoria Sampler's "Crown". I think I am going to sort the Unfinished Drawer items into piles. One pile will be for ornaments that need to be finished. I don't know about the other piles yet.
Another thing I want to work on today is a smocked dress for the new baby that I started about 2 months ago. It wouldn't take that much to finish it. I sort of lost interest in it along the way. I'm not sure I really like the fabric. But maybe it will be sweet when it is finished.
A

Good Night Moon

2011-12-21T12:07:00.004-05:00

Sometimes my sister calls me and says she has nothing to talk about and we proceed to talk for an hour. Since starting this blog I have feared having nothing to show or talk about. It has been almost a year and I have posted everyday except when I was gone or it was Thanksgiving. The Stitching Tour has helped me to have something to show everyday. I worked just a bit on Mountain Flowers but it doesn't look like much although I am getting close to being done. I read a little bit yesterday. I am half way through Tea Time for the Traditionally Built. I am anxious to start two of the new books I have (The Affair by Lee Child and Death Comes to Pemberly by P.D. James). I still haven't finished Cutting for Stone. So hopefully, I will read some today. Things are quieting down and very few things are left to do for Christmas. I am very excited about a book I bought. I got "Goodnight Moon", the recordable one, so I can read it to the new baby. I have to practice reading it aloud and then record it. I'll take it to her next month after she is born along with the little dog I made.
It is sort-of fun for me to go on the Sewing Room Stitching Tour of the Unfinished Drawer as I have forgotten about a lot of things in the drawer. Here are two hearts, a Shepherd's Bush egg and a free design I got off the internet. Again, I don't know what to do with them.
It is foggy on the first day of Winter.
A

Picky

2011-12-20T11:12:00.005-05:00

I'm picky. I know what I like and what I don't like. Sometimes that trait is a curse. I got the mystery I ordered in the mail yesterday. I was a bit disappointed. I thought it was going to be a stocking design. It is not. It is a rectangle. I don't like the words. I don't like the person figure. I don't think I'll stitch it. Next time remind me not to order something sight unseen. I probably won't like it. I'm picky.
I got Arby's again yesterday for Dylan. But this time I asked for a bun with no seeds and I got ham and cheese along with a chocolate shake instead of Jamoca. But when I picked up Dylan at his classroom his teacher said to go to the office as his Jimmy Johns lunch was there. I remembered that in October Dylan told me he had won lunch from Jimmy Johns. His name was picked from the hat of kids who had perfect attendance during testing week. Yesterday was the day he got his free lunch of a ham and cheese sub. So I struck out again. He ate the Jimmy Johns sub and drank the chocolate shake. I think the universe is telling me to give up already. We decorated the gingerbread house. It was fun and we enjoyed it. Although at the end the roof was sliding down. Next year I should take some long pins or something to hold the roof in place. Anyway, he opened his gifts and liked them. He made me a Christmas card, It was very sweet. I finally remembered to take my camera so I could take some pictures. He has long hair.
I am making very good progress on Mountain Flowers. I can see the end! Only 10 more diamond shapes and I can put it together. There is also a needlebook that goes with it.
Today's tour of the Sewing Room's Unfinished Drawer includes some small designs. Two should be finished into Christmas ornaments. The one with cat and snail is supposed to be a needlebook that matches a box that is in the Curio Cabinet. One of these days I'll get to it.
We went out to eat last night. It was fun. But now I have to be good!
A

2011-12-19T10:14:00.003-05:00

I made good progress on Mountain Flowers. Today I want to finish the bottom half. That is only 3 1/2 more diamonds.
I made more caramel corn yesterday and some more fudge. For some reason I can't seem to get the fudge just right. I cooked it just a bit too long and it is a little crumbly but it tastes great. I am trying to resist it.
I signed up on My Fitness Pal to track my eating and I can already see that it is the snacks and candy that put me over. It is recommending a 1200 calorie diet - to help me meet my dietary goals. Not a lot of leeway there. I have to behave myself. I threw away a whole bin of gumdrops. I know, there is more stuff I need to throw away. One step at a time. I also put a lot less sugar in my coffee today.
Here is a picture of the Christmas tree and also one of my mini tree. I am the Queen of Excess. I like a tree with way too much stuff on it. After 40 years, I have way too many Christmas ornaments.
I dusted off my pleater and put the pleating in the baby dress so I can smock it.
I'll get back to the tour of the Unfinished Drawer tomorrow.
A

Feeling Groovy

2011-12-18T10:30:00.006-05:00

I'm feeling good today as I finished all my goals for yesterday. Clean kitchen floor. Yes! Christmas tree decorated. Yes! Dog done. Yes! Several diamonds on Mountain Flowers done. Yes!
I finally feel all caught up with my life.
Update: When the UPS man backed into my driveway the other day, he delivered an envelope. Yes, just an envelope. We have one of those Ipod nanos that will be replaced because of a faulty battery. So Apple sent us an envelope to return it in. As this nano is very old, I am wondering if it will be replaced with a newer version. That would be nice. We'll see.
Wow, Christmas is so close. DH suggested making the next batch of caramel corn today. I need to gift wrap the small things I have for Dylan. It will be fun to decorate the gingerbread house tomorrow.
I am thinking I should finish up some WIP's in my sewing room. There is a half made dress for the future new baby. Also, the Wandering Vine afghan is so close to being finished, I need to just do it. I am wanting to start something new but I know that I have great things coming in the mail so the best action is to finish up some projects instead. I should work on Winter Cottage too.
Today's tour of the Sewing Room's Unfinished Drawer continues with a couple of snowmen. There is a strange stripe in one snowman. Maybe it was stitched with overdyed floss. I have the noses for these snowmen somewhere in a little tiny plastic bag. There is another one of those Country Cottage houses. Then a sweet Shepherd's Bush sampler. What to I do with all this stuff? I just don't know.
Goal for today: Have fun and read for half an hour.
A

Dog Days

2011-12-17T10:56:00.004-05:00

It is lightly snowing outside. Just makes the roads slippery. I was good and went to Pilates today. That class is one that I could easily skip. But when I'm done, I feel all stretched out. It helps strengthen my core. Whatever that is. My core is probably made of sugar.
I got an idea yesterday. I saw the first baby quilt top that I made lying around and I thought it would make a great little quilted dog. I wanted to make the future new baby a stuffed dog. So I cut out the top of the dog and sewed it together. I went looking in the closet for some material for the underside of the dog. That's when I saw some really cute material that would be darling for a dog. So I cut out the dog pattern and sewed it together. It is cute! I still need to put on his ears and tail. I meant to put a different material on the underside of the ears but too late. I forgot and did all of him in the cute material. I could make another set of ears. Haven't decided yet. He also need some eyes. I'm trying to decide if I can use buttons or if it is safer to embroider the eyes on. I should finish the quilted dog too. I need an Etsy shop to sell all the junk I make that I don't really like.
I was tired yesterday. I think it was all the shopping and the shots. My arm is sore on the T-dap side. So not much got accomplished. My goals for today are to finish decorating the Christmas tree and to wash the kitchen floor. Then finish at least two diamonds on Mountain Flowers. I want to finish the cute dog too.
Here are the next few things I pulled out of the Unfinished Drawer. Prairie Schooler's Rain, rain go away. I love that little design. A design that would look nice on a box. A Little House (Country Cottage?)Needleworks design, Beach Cottage. Lastly, a design that was supposed to be done on silk gauze but I was afraid of silk gauze at the time so I did it on linen.
So I hope to get some things done today. And then have some egg nog.
A

Late

2011-12-16T15:29:00.004-05:00

I'm late posting to my blog today. It's been a busy day. I went to three stores this morning after exercise class. Then when I got home it was time to go meet my new doctor. She is very nice. It worked out great because I got a copy of my medical records in the mail yesterday so I was able to give them to her. So I did everything I was supposed to. I got a flu shot and a T-dap shot. I had the lady parts taken care of. The biggest shock was that I am not 5'2". They measured me at 4'11"!! I'm a dwarf! The doctor told me to lose 10 pounds in 3 months. So that is my goal. I found my Rudolf shirt and wore it. Usually I forget until after Christmas.
The tree is only partly decorated. I'm pacing myself. I'm putting on all the stitched ornaments first. I'll post a picture when I am all done. I finished the third side of half diamonds on Mountain Flowers. I'm slowly getting there.
I had to move a pile of books and some stretcher bars to be able to open the Unfinished Drawer. Here a the first few things I pulled out. Morning Glory by Drawn Thread is very pretty but the lettering is in such a light color that it is hard to read. I think I would prefer a poem or saying instead of an alphabet. I just don't know what to do with the Little House Needleworks houses. I had the bluebells by Shepherd's Bush on the wall for a very long time. Then I decided to use the frame for something else. The pillow, well, what do I do with it?
UPS is backing into my driveway. Maybe he has something for me!?!?
A

Putting Up the Tree

2011-12-15T11:03:00.004-05:00

Today is Putting Up the Tree Day. DH is dragging it out of the crawlspace. Best investment we ever made - a fake tree. We've been to FedEx to mail the boys' boxes. We've been to the Post Office to check the postage on a letter to Oz. Maybe things will get back to some semblance of normal. I still have to make some more caramel corn and fudge for neighbors and for us. I have pumpkin pie and prune bread in the freezer that I can thaw out closer to Christmas. It was so warm this morning. It was 53 degrees as I drove to exercise. All the snow is melted.
I only got a very few stitches in Mountain Flowers. I want to do the half diamonds on the third side today.
The Stitching Tour of the Sewing Room is free-floating designs today. That means stuff that is stitched but is lying around waiting for finishing or a place to be. Tomorrow we will tackle the unfinished drawer.
If I am very good today, I will wash the kitchen floor.
A

No Seeds

2011-12-14T12:10:00.004-05:00

Margaret reminded me that I forgot to tell you how things went with Dylan. I got a roast beef sandwich and a jamocha shake to see if Dylan would eat it. He took one look at the bun and it was over. He didn't like the seeds on the bun. Well, I scraped them off. He said he doesn't eat beef but then I told him a hamburger is beef. He took a bite. He said he would prefer ham and cheese. He wasn't too sure about the shake. He could taste that it had a bit of a coffee taste in it. Then he wanted to go to the cafeteria because lunch was mini corn dogs and he likes mini corn dogs. So we got the school lunch. One corn dog was soggy so he didn't eat it. That means he had 4 mini corn dogs and that was all he ate. The fruit cocktail didn't taste right and he never eats the stale wheat bun. On an educational note, I brought an avocado and we cut it open and took out the seed and dug out the good stuff. I couldn't get him to taste it. Everything he doesn't like, he calls "nasty". We mixed up powdered sugar, cocoa, butter and milk to make some icing and spread it on graham crackers. He did eat one of those and took home the rest. I think my graham crackers were a little stale but with icing on them I guess they were edible. I'm not sure what to try next week. Do I get an Arby's ham and cheese? I haven't decided yet.
I worked just a bit on Mountain Flowers and got the half diamonds done on two sides. I made two batches of caramel corn, fudge (accidentaly added too much vanilla but it is okay), green candy melts (had to go to Michael's to find them) with broken up candy canes in it.
So we are packing up the boys' boxes and deciding if we have the right stuff and wrapping a few things. Then it is off to FedEx. I went to Toys R Us to get a couple of toys for the Toys For Tots drive. I didn't find what I was looking for and the place was a zoo. I'll try again at Target.
I'm looking in the closet for our Stitching Tour of the Sewing Room. Back in the corner of the closet are some things that I stitched a long time ago. I have a huge Silver Lining Rose. I like the Alphabet and it is dated 1989. When I was in San Francisco I went to a needlepoint store and bought a canvas to make a poppy purse. I stitched it but wasn't sure how to finish it. I called the store and asked how much it would cost to have it finished into a purse - $500!! Are you crazy? No way that was happening. So I tried finishing it myself using ultrasuede. It didn't look right. So on another trip to San Francisco, I went back to see the store sample and realized it was mounted on something very hard like acrylic. So I took my purse apart and I intend to mount it on some acrylic but so far I haven't gotten around to it.
Wish me luck mailing boxes.
A

Kiss the Cook

2011-12-13T10:13:00.007-05:00

Today I'm cooking all day. No stitching unless I can squeeze it in during cooking. Here is an easy recipe: Melt a whole bag of white chocolate chips in the microwave according to the directions on the bag. Mix in 1/2 c. peanuts, 1/2 c. broken pretzels, and 2/3 c. broken up oreos. Let set and break into pieces. Very yummy especially for those who like the salty-sweet combination.
I discovered that one of my diamonds on Mountain Flowers was up one thread too high. ARGH. So I took it out. I'm making slow progress on it. I would like to concentrate on it all day and get it done. Maybe tomorrow.
Today's Stitching tour of the Sewing Room is a collection of mostly unfinished stitches in a basket that is in a crate that is under the sewing table. I was suprized at how much stuff was in there. I really should do something with all these. There is some needlepoint. There are two Shepherd's Bush kits. There are two Prairie Schooler Santas. There are four various snowmen and a few Santas. Just wait until we get to the unfinished drawer.
My Home Sweet Home book is on its way from Australia. It will probably take two weeks to get here. Also, the L'Atelier Perdu mystery has been sent. I don't know how long stuff takes to get here from Europe. I love getting stuff in the mail.
A

Serendipity

2011-12-12T10:57:00.003-05:00

I finished the dishcloth that I started yesterday. It was fun and a nice change. I did finally find the parts to the Lucet holder. I need to read the directions and see what comes next - rather than guess and do the wrong thing!
I messed up Mountain Flowers. I accidentally was stitching from the Side A chart when I meant to be stitching from the Side B chart. They aren't the same. I'm not tearing anything out though since it is over one on this linen. Oh well. It will be fine.
Today's Stitching Tour photos come from my sewing table. This is a candid shot of exactly what is there, not neatened up or anything. I didn't realize that I have three more needlerolls as well as several pin cushions. The turkey is a small needlepoint I did several years ago and evidently don't know where to put it as it just sits there. The pink pansy is a handmade pincushion that I bought at a craft show decades ago. I can't throw it away. The lovely Shepherd's Bush needleroll on white linen is my favorite one of all. I've stitched is at least four times - probably more.
I talked to Joe the contractor since our kitchen floor tile came in and he hopes to put it in next week. Wouldn't it be nice to have it in before Christmas? Then the kitchen redo will be done. Yeah!
The bathrooms are clean. I'm getting Arby's today for Dylan. Any bets on whether he will eat it? I'm going to teach him how to make chocolate icing and put it on graham crackers. Then I have a few more cards to mail at the Post Office. Tomorrow - fudge and caramel corn.
A

Sunday

2011-12-11T10:05:00.004-05:00

I went looking for the other pieces of the lucet holder. I thought they were in a certain pile but they were not. But I came across other stuff. I found some knitting needles and some cotton yarn so I started a dishcloth. I am so easily distracted. I really enjoy making a dishcloth and wonder if Dylan might like to learn how to knit. But we are busy for the next two weeks. Learning how to make chocolate icing this week. We'll put it on graham crackers. (That was a treat in my lunchbox many decades ago!) Then next week I have a gingerbread house kit that we can decorate. I have a few Christmas gifts for him. Winter vacation means I won't see him again until January 9th.
I have a good start on side B of Mountain Flowers. I was thinking of making a goal for myself of doing like 3 diamond shapes a day until it is done. Why do I push myself? There is no rush. I guess I just like getting things accomplished.
Today's Stitching tour is of my needleroll basket. It sits on top of a tall cabinet in my sewing room. I had so many needlerolls they wouldn't fit into the basket so I started giving them away to friends. I ran out of friends to give them to. So these are the needlerolls I have left. I actually use my favorite one and it is on my seewing table. I'll show you that tomorrow.
I'm very bad. I signed up for two things. I shouldn't sign up for anything!!! But I couldn't resist. The first one is a mystery from A'telier Perdu. It is a Christmas stocking and I don't even know what it looks like. I looked closely at the colors of floss (gorgeous) and I saw her last mystery that was so sweet. So when I saw that another blogger signed up for it (David), I did it too. Then on Needleprint last night I saw where Amy Mitten has a tutorial for a Winder Keeper. There are three different styles to choose from. I must have been feeling weak. I signed up for that too. It is way too easy to sign up for things on line. But what fun! There are worse vices I suppose.
A

Playing Santa

2011-12-10T12:24:00.004-05:00

I decided to skip pilates today and crank out all the Christmas cards, write the Christmas letter and go to the Post Office and send them all off. I did it! But I am waiting on 2 addresses and I need one more gift card. Then I am done!! Wow that is a heavy load off my shoulders. I think caramel corn day will be next Tuesday. That is the day I make a couple of batches of caramel corn to send to the kids. My goal is to get their boxes sent off on Wednesday the 14th.
I got some great buttons from my sister. She has some buttons from her MIL and she sent me some interesting ones. I still need to find some calicos.
The Stitching tour of the Sewing Room is hitting another corner today. As I went to take a picture of the Shepherd's Bush stitching, I found several more things behind it. Some are very personal. My youngest sister who died in 1983 drew the caricatures. My son wrote me a note when he was about 5. It was so sweet that I framed it. Somebody (I forget who)framed my book and gave it to me. There have been people who have been very kind to me. Speaking of kind, my friend Margaret sent me a lovely calendar of embroidery. How nice! I will enjoy it all year. Thanks Margaret!
I have both the outside covers of my Lucet holder done and am ready to start construction. I'm hoping to get a little bit of stitching in today.
A

First Corner

2011-12-09T11:26:00.003-05:00

The tour continues with a corner of my sewing room. There is stitching stowed in several corners.
I worked a bit on Mountain Flowers and finished the side strip. Now I can concentrate on the back side or side B as the pattern calls it.
I dug through my buttons and sewed some into my Button Lover's Brag Book. My metals page is almost full.
I made some more twisted cording. Using 3 strands seems to work out best. I like it and it looks even. Once I get the cording on I can put it together. I was remembering that I have to put in some buttonhole stitch eyelets for the cord to go through. I'll have to look up those directions.
We woke up to a couple inches of snow this morning. Ugh. It wasn't too bad to drive in luckily.
My goal today is to get out a few more Christmas cards. I think the UPS man is going to visit me today!
A

The Sewing Room

2011-12-08T11:33:00.004-05:00

The stitching tour begins to slog through the sewing room. This is going to take a while. When you first enter (at your own risk) my sewing room there is a Shepherd's Bush kit. I think I left out the words (Oh little town of Bethlehem) because I didn't like the font. Then because I like my name I have a couple of name plaques. There are three prints. One is of a window and you look out the window and see water. This reminds me of Santa Barbara and my favorite place to be on Shoreline Drive. Then there is a Rembrandt print of a windmill that I got in Cincinnati. Lastly is a print of plants that I got at the Ann Arbor Art Fair a few years ago.
I am starting to send out Christmas cards. I got my first one yesterday from my Aunt.
I worked on Mountain Flowers yesterday. I am nearly finished with the side strip and have started on the back side.
I sewed on the twisted blue cord on the Lucet holder. I like it okay. Now I need to make the brown cording - which means finding the brown thread.
I am headed to the Post Office and the grocery store. Lots to do today.
A

Nothing Exciting

2011-12-07T11:16:00.006-05:00

I went Christmas shopping today at Walgreens. It seems so funny to shop there but all I get is gift cards to various places. The sun is out today so that is mood lifting. I have some projects I need to finish up. I have a few buttons that could be sewn into the Buttons book. I want to finish the lucet holder which means sewing on the twisted cording so I can put it together. Whenever I go looking at what is available on ebay in cross stitch I am forever coming across things and saying to myself, "Hey, I have that somewhere", or "I was going to stitch that" or "I bought one of those".
My stitching right now is not very exciting. I've done some more stitching on the side of Mountain Flowers. There are 23 blue shapes and I am on number ten. I've done some more white on white stitching on Winter Cottage.
The stitching tour of the computer room closet is complete today with a rose, a pochoir and a watercolor. The angel was my Christmas card some years ago done with a pochoir technique (stencils and watercolor). I think I could do it better if I tried it again. The watercolor is done from a photo of a window at the windmill in Holland (Michigan). I'm not entirely happy with the window box but in every painting I do I see flaws. The next room (shutter) on my stitching tour is my sewing room. Oh, boy.
A

Strike Two

2011-12-06T09:45:00.006-05:00

Well, my little experiment with Dylan and higher quality food has failed once again this week. I got tacos from Qdoba yesterday. I didn't know whether to get hard or soft shells, beef or chicken so I got one of each. Four tacos. I like the chicken quesadilla so I got one of those also. He took one look at the tacos and noticed some white stuff. He wanted to know what it was, mayonnaise? Nope, it was sour cream. Nope, he didn't want any sour cream on his taco. How about the chicken quesadilla? Well, he tried a small bite getting mostly the tortilla and said he didn't like it. Rats. So we went down to the cafeteria. Guess what was for lunch? Tacos (or meatballs on a whole wheat hot dog bun). He didn't like their tacos either. He had to pick off all the lettuce. He had a few bites and even ate some of his applesauce. He described the kind of hamburger he likes. Nothing on it, only meat and cheese. No pickles, no mustard, no ketchup. I refuse to buy him a hamburger, at this point anyway. Next week I may try a roast beef sandwich with nothing else on it. This is becoming a real challenge. I asked him if there were any vegetables that he liked. He named a few fruits. The only vegetable that I could find that he likes is a cucumber.
I was successful in that Dylan liked the fish painting. He didn't want any of them to take home and let me have them. But he had fun doing it.
I didn't get much stitching done yesterday. I started the side strap for Mountain Flowers. I put in just a few stitches in Winter Cottage.
The Stitching Tour continues with a few more Shepherd's Bush kits. Although the Friends one may be a Victoria Sampler design.
A

New Week

2011-12-05T11:28:00.004-05:00

Here is the finished front of Mountain Flowers. It will be such a sweet purse when it is done. I worked a lot on Winter Cottage yesterday. It is starting to shape up but I had to do some frogging. It probably would be easier to stitch if I had used the congress cloth it called for. I stitch in hand and prefer linen. Also I am mainly a cross stitcher not a needlepointer. I am using the Hand-Dyed Fibers packet for this project. The three blue silk flosses are very similar. The blue around the door is darker than the blue over the door. But can you tell?
The Stitching Tour is all Shepherd's Bush today. They were fun to stitch but then what do you do with them?? I love the snowman, he is very cute.
I'm taking a taco to Dylan today to see if he will eat it. He said he really likes tacos but I know he is not likely to try something new. I'd love to take an avocado and sliced it up and have him taste it. Maybe I'll get some guacamole and see if he will taste that. We are fish painting today. I have a rubber fish that you coat with paint and make a print by pressing paper on it. We'll see how that goes.
I have to get going on Christmas stuff. I want to have sent off everything by the 14th. Mostly we send gift cards. To the kids we send stocking stuffers and special traditional treats like fudge and caramel corn.
A

Catching Up

2011-12-04T11:33:00.004-05:00

I finally finished the front side of Mountain Flowers. I am now basting the back side. I have to do that before I can start the pattern.
I have several projects that I have laid aside and now I am getting back to them. I picked up Winter Cottage and put some time into it. It is a slow stitch. I was discouraged doing a long arm cross that didn't even show up as braided. But now I have a few colors in and it is beginning to take shape.
I started a new book, Tea Time for the Traditionally Built. It is one of a series and will be an easy read.
The stitching tour of the computer room will take a few days as there were more framed stitching in the closet than I realized. Many of them are Shepherd's Bush designs. I used to be an avid Shepherd's Bush fan. The top photo is Winter from Victoria Sampler. I've done all four seasons but I'm not sure where they all are.
I got great mail yesterday. Some of the things I ordered for myself for Christmas have arrived. I ordered an Inspirations Magazine that came yesterday. It has a Betsy Morgan project in it that I want to try. I got my Just Cross Stitch magazine. I feel a little guilty getting it as I rarely (next to never) make anything from it.
I'm itching to get stitching.
A

Saturday

2011-12-03T10:47:00.005-05:00

I am just back from Pilates. I'm all stretched out now ready to be lazy and sit in the stitching chair. I am almost done with the front of Mountain Flowers. Then I will have to decide whether to start the long strap or the back. I did start something new. Actually, I need to take a day and clean up and put away junk in my sewing room. Sew on a button here and put away a chart there.
The house tour of stitching continues with the computer room. This used to be son#2's bedroom. I have a gallery in the closet that I can switch out seasonally. It is time to switch to winter/Christmas stitching. There is a watercolor and a bird picture that stay out year round. The second photo shows what is piled in the closet. Tomorrow I'll show you each one. I'll even dust them off.
A

Done with a Vengeance

2011-12-02T11:07:00.004-05:00

I finished my book, V is for Vengeance, last night. I knew that once I got close to the end, I wouldn't be able to put it down. My sister asked what grade I would give it and I said B+. I enjoyed it and didn't guess the end.
I found all the pieces to put together the button cards that go in my Buttons book. I laced all six of them to interfacing yesterday. They really should have buttons on them before I attach them to the button frames in the book. That's because you have to punch a hole in them with an awl to attach buttons with shanks. I realized that I forgot the dots around the last page of button frames and so I am trying to put that in.
I made good progress on Mountain Flowers. If I stuck with it today, I could finish the front. But I'm getting tempted again to start something new. Uh-oh.
The house tour continues with our bedroom. I have a watercolor in there and three very old pillows.
The oranges I bought for a fund raiser come in today. Florida oranges are the best. I love having fresh orange juice in the morning. These should last at least a month.
A

Don't Tell

2011-12-01T09:52:00.005-05:00

My goal yesterday was to stitch to the other side of Mountain Flowers. I just barely did. Now it looks like I can finish the front in good time.
I sewed in the last page of Buttons! It is now a book. A Button Lover's Brag Book. Unfortunately, there aren't any buttons inside it. I have to ferret out some that I have and I have to collect(buy) some others. I went looking for the button cards yesterday and still didn't find all the pieces. If you saw my sewing room, you would understand.
I went looking for Inspirations Magazine yesterday. Barnes & Noble used to carry it but they don't seem to carry it any more. Since I couldn't find it, I ordered it online. It has a project in it by Betsy Morgan that has a violet on the front and I want to do it.
My BFF is in Williamsburg this weekend. I can't wait to hear all about it.
My main floor stitching tour is complete. Now on to upstairs. But how do we get upstairs? Up seven steps to the hall. On the stairs are two Shepherd's Bush kits. Note that I changed the font on the words of Sail Away. The original font was unreadable. In the hall is a Marjolien Bastien. I think I tend to frame projects that were a lot of work. I have two stitcheries framed with the Sudbury round plate frames. These are like 25 years old. I have some Bride dolls up there but don't tell anybody. They'll think I'm nuts.
A

Interruption

2011-11-30T12:28:00.004-05:00

It snowed 3.5 inches yesterday. The first photo is the view from my computer. It was beautiful. But unfortunately, it caused many branches to break and/or fall. We lost power just as I was finishing washing the dinner dishes and didn't come back on until I was in bed. So I missed a whole evening of stitching. I got out my trusty little clip on OTT light and read a hundred pages in V is for Vengeance. (I only have a l30 pages left to go!) I tried whipping some of my fashion Buttons page together but the light wasn't really good enough. We have lost power too many times this year. But it does make me realize how much I depend on electricity for all the things I like to do.
The house tour is now in the mud room. I thought I just had two stitched things in there but I have four. The two house ones I didn't know what to do with so I just stuck them in the mud room. The Shepherd's Bush bellpull I stitched ages ago. The one I like best is by my back door and says "Pleasant words are like a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and health to the body".
We are slowly getting Christmas things taken care of. I bought some Christmas Cards today. Tomorrow is December! How can that be?!? I feel like telling Time to WAIT for me.
A

Snow Warning

2011-11-29T10:36:00.005-05:00

We are getting lots of rain. It rained all night and it is supposed to rain all day. Tonight they are predicting snow. Between four and eight inches of the stuff. ARGH. Luckily it will be warm enough to melt most of it. I just dread the thought of having to drive in ice and snow.
I didn't get much stitching done on my busy Monday. I am half done stitching the border of the last page of Buttons. Then I can put together. Wow. I can't believe I am actually going to finish this project soon.
I kind of abandoned my house art/stitching tour. I will get back to it now. The kitchen has only two stitched pieces. My clock and a bellpull that I have shown before as it was one of my first cross stitch pieces. My FIL made the oak cabinet for the clock so that makes it special. It occurred to me that eventually we will get to my sewing room which is a little scary. There are so many pieces of art/stitching in there.
I have enjoyed reading my list of bookmarked blogs today. You find out stuff and see stuff that you want to try or buy or go to. On Mary Corbet's site, she reviewed a book that I must have. So I ordered it from Australia. I can tell that next year will be the year of the box. This book tells how to make a box and all the accessories that go with it. Cool. Just when you think you have seen everything, something new comes along.
A

Better Late than Never

2011-11-28T14:51:00.003-05:00

I am late in posting because I wanted to tell you how things went with Dylan. I was worried about time management. It is so silly. But I didn't sleep well. I was worried I would be late to see Dylan since I was going to Panera first. But all went well. Panera only took about 10 minutes and I was early getting to Dylan's school. I picked him up and asked him if he was brave. His first answer was "no"! So I explained that I brought him lunch and was he brave enough to try it? We went to the mentoring room and I showed him what I had. He could choose tomato soup or chicken noodle soup, turkey sandwich, chips and a mango smoothie. He only ate one of the things I brought. The mango smoothie. He was going to eat the chicken soup but he caught sight of the carrots floating on top and said no thanks. He looked at the sandwich, no thanks. He tried the chips and ate a couple then threw the rest away. So we went down to the cafeteria and he got his regular lunch. He only ate the chicken nuggets and threw the rest away. So, okay, I learned something about what he will eat or not eat. He says he likes tacos but not spicy. So maybe I'll try Qdoba next and get him a decent taco and see if he will eat it. When kids get used to crappy food it is hard to convince them to try healthier food.
It has been ages since I played Yahtzee or checkers or Uno. But Dylan and I played those games today.
I worked on Mountain Flowers and am half done with the front. When I saw Sherri's Mountain Flowers I had to feel it to make sure it was stitching and not fabric design.
I achieved my goals from yesterday. I got to page 200 in V is for Vengeance. I put page two into my Buttons book. I finished stitching the Fashions page and started on the card frame. I think I can finish the stitching on Buttons today. I still have the buttons cards to lace together but I am approaching being d-o-n-e!!!!
I did some very fun cyber buying last night. DH said to order the stuff I want for Christmas - so I did. The purse I was interested in is on sale. Yeah! Merry Christmas to me.
A

Rainy & Quiet

2011-11-27T10:22:00.004-05:00

Today is a rainy quiet day. I got quite a bit done on the Fashion Buttons page. The vase and flowers look very sweet. Then I just have the button card frames to do on the other side. I want to whip together page #2 and get it in the Buttons book. That is my goal for today. I worked on Mountain Flowers and it is coming along nicely. I have to be careful while watching football on TV and trying to stitch at the same time. I often make a mistake if it is an exciting game. Those empty spaces on Mountain Flowers are supposed to be filled in with name and year, I haven't figured out an alphabet for that yet. Those areas won't be seen as the top folds over.
A rainy quiet day is the perfect day for reading. I want to get to page 200 in V is for Vengeance. I had a hard time figuring out how to spell "vengeance", who knew it had an "a" in it.
What's in store this week? Well, I plan to take a nice lunch and see if Dylan likes it tomorrow. I have a rescheduled mammogram on Wednesday and I pick up oranges (fundraiser for the Junior Symphony) on Friday. Hope you have a great week too.
A

Prune Bread

2011-11-26T11:18:00.004-05:00

My BFF asked for the recipe for prune bread. It honestly didn't occur to me that anyone would want it. But I am delighted to comply!
Prune Bread (Grandma Wilkinson's recipe with changes by me in parentheses)
Cook 1 pound box prunes (I used a 20 oz box)as directed on box.
(Put prunes in a pan and cover with water. Boil for about 15 minutes).
When cool take out pits. (Are you kidding?!? Get the pitted prunes!)
Add 2 teaspoons baking soda to prunes and water and let stand.
Mix together: 1 1/2 c. sugar, 1/2 c. shortening (butter!) and one egg.
Cream together and add prunes. (I used a mixer so that the prunes wouldn't be in chunks)
Add 3 c. Flour. Bake at 375. (I baked it at 350. What can I say, I'm a rebel)
Test like cake. (In my Grandmother's day, that meant taking a strand from the broom and sticking it in the cake to see if it came out clean. eew)
Here is a picture of the tile I ordered. W Slate from Virginia Florim.
Also here is a picture of one of the rods I bought. It doesn't really keep your stitching taut, it just keeps it from getting all wrinkled up when you stitch in hand.
I made a mistake, the threads etc. accessory packet cost 46 not 60. There is a similar accessory pack for My Story that is 60. Yes, I bought that too. Good Grief.
A

It Doesn't Feel Like Saturday

2011-11-26T10:15:00.004-05:00

With a holiday this week, I have my days mixed up. It feels like Monday for some reason. I went to Pilates this morning but the teacher didn't. One of the other students tried to be the teacher but it just wasn't working for me and I left.
I worked on finishing My Storybook. I decided to use my machine and sew it together. I bought the accessory packs for My Storybook. They had all the charms, threads and wool pieces needed to finish it just like the picture on the cover. My problem with the accessory packs was the cost. It was 60 dollars for the threads, 3 charms, 6 beads and two small pieces of wool. Some of the threads weren't even used. There were mostly one 18 inch strand of most of the threads. The threads chosen were not even good choices. I changed the colors used on several of the motifs and the wording. There was a separate accessory pack for the bookmark (for an additional 20 dollars) with all the charms on the end.
I whipped stitched the cover of Buttons together. I had been putting it off for fear it wouldn't fit together or I would somehow mess it up. But it went together fine. Then I put in the first page. The book is coming together! I started whipping together the second page. I am almost to the vase of flowers on the third page. I bet I can finish this before the end of the year.
I put just a few stitches in Mountain Flowers. I would love to get a couple of hours of stitching in on this today.
I've got to start thinking about Christmas and the stuff that I need to do.
A

Back to Normal

2011-11-25T11:06:00.005-05:00

I was irritated with trying to publish my blog on Wednesday. Blogger didn't want to include some of what I wrote. So my title "Reprieve" didn't make sense since you didn't know what I got a reprieve from. I was supposed to have a mammogram on Wednesday but when I arrived, I found out that the machine was broken so I didn't have to get one.
So yesterday I didn't post. I took the day off. Most of the day was cooking, eating and washing dishes. I did get in a little bit of stitching. I finished My Storybook and now I am sewing it together. I would like it better if the colors were better. It is irritating since I paid so much for the accessory kits. But that's life. I found some fabric in my stash to finish My Storybook and I plan to get it done today. I worked a bit on the Fashion buttons page. My goal today is to get to the vase of flowers. I put in a few stitches on Mountain Flowers. It is shaping up nicely. I made some twisted cording to see how it would look on the Lucet holder. I used two strands of the Soie Perle. I think it could be a bit thicker so I'm going to try three strands and see how that looks. Yes, I've given up trying to make the lucet cording as I just can't get it nice and even enough for my taste.
I have ordered the tile for the kitchen floor. With any luck, we can have it done this year.
DH is asking what I want for Christmas. I happen to have a little list all ready for Santa.
A

Reprieve

2011-11-23T11:02:00.005-05:00

I made the prune bread yesterday and it turned out well. There wasn't a dip of uncooked batter in the middle. I froze some for Christmas. I'm going to make the pecan pie today that is our dessert for Thanksgiving dinner. I decided not to make all the stuff I would make if the boys were here. So no rolls or stuffed mushrooms or candied apple rings. I love the rolls but can only eat one or two - not 12. I have a 16 pound turkey. That will last us a while.
I stitch a little on three projects yesterday. I started the last page of Buttons. It went well but I really have to be careful not to assume that the design is exactly symmetrical because it isn't. I am not quite half done with the Fashion buttons page. If I worked on it all day, I could probably finish it. I added just a bit more to Mountain Flowers. I so enjoy working on this design. This is just the first half, or front of the purse so there is lots more to do. Then I put in the word "friends" on My Storybook. I started a key motif but changed the color floss. Some designers like Thea Dueck of Victoria Sampler are gifted at picking out a palette of floss colors. I have used her leftover floss to do other projects since they go together so well. Then there are designers that there is no rhyme or reason for choosing the floss they chose. Even Buttons has two blue colors that are so close together you can hardly tell them apart. Why? I'm still not happy with the floss colors in the little house on My Storybook. I admit that I love some overdyed floss colors but they don't look good when I put them in a design. Combining colors isn't easy. Shepherd's Bush lovely soft colors always seem too pale for me but usually work fine in their kits.
Well, I'm off to eat lunch and then to stitch.
A

Let Them Eat Prunes

2011-11-22T10:18:00.004-05:00

My favorite holiday food comes from my Grandma Wilkinson. She always made prune bread. I think I'll make some today. I haven't really perfected the recipe and some part of it is usually undercooked. Prunes used to come in a one pound package and have instructions for cooking them in a quart of water and then you had to pit them. I like that now you buy them already pitted. You have to be careful not to get the flavored ones. But I have to guess at how much water to boil them in. I'll freeze some for Christmas. I went to the big grocery store yesterday and it was a zoo. I was so tired when I came home. And there were still a few things I didn't get.
I showed Dylan how to work the Cricut machine. He cut out a few things but then he was done. He wanted to play a game. So we did. He was so sweet. He brought me a gift. It was a necklace (like the ones you wear during Marti Gras) that he bought at a garage sale. His lunch was awful - again. He had the choice of a hot dog or chicken nuggets. He chose the chicken nuggets. He didn't eat the beans, fruit cocktail or wheat roll. Who thinks up this marvelous menu of barfy food? Maybe I could take him something better from Panera. Tomato soup and a turkey sandwich. Hey, I'd like that.
I was so tired that not much stitching got done yesterday. I only got 5 diamond shapes on Mountain Flowers done. That's all. But as Sister Anthonita always used to say, "Tomorrow is another day". Indeed that is true.
A

Holiday Week

2011-11-21T10:58:00.004-05:00

The bathrooms are clean but I still have lots to do today. I am taking my Cricut machine for Dylan to play with today. I think he will like it. Halona always had a blast with it. Then I have to go to the grocery store and buy tons of stuff for Thanksgiving.
I stuck to it yesterday and finished off the metals/glass page to Buttons. Yeah! Only one page to go. It is the Fashion buttons page and frames for button cards. I think it will go pretty fast. I also worked on Mountain Flowers for a while. I wanted to see what the third diamond motif looked like. It is such an interesting pattern. I have neglected My Storybook and hope to get a bit done on it today.
I was putting the behind the sofa art gallery away when I realized I have a few more frames behind the bookcase. Drawn Thread's Open Heart, a watercolor and a pastel. I once took a pastel workshop even though I don't do pastels. I am easily talked into things evidently. But it was fun and I'm glad I did it. Our assignment was to do a "white" picture. So all the items in the picture relate to white.
I have to use a curling iron on my hair so I don't look like a witch. I think I need a haircut. The challenge is to convince DH that I need a haircut.
A

Distracted

2011-11-20T09:59:00.003-05:00

I was going to finish up the glass Buttons page but I got distracted. I got a kit I bought in the mail. It was just too tempting. I had to look at it, feel the threads, serge the edges of the linen and try just a stitch or two... It has three diamond motifs repeated all over this little purse and I stitched two of them just to see how it went. This project is going to take a long time but I love the effect. It will be a keepsake when it is finished (I say that about a lot of the things I stitch!) I enjoyed this so much. It has some specialty stitches that keep me on my toes. The name of it is Mountain Flowers.
I actually worked on Buttons until the mail got here. I don't have too much left to do. I need to finish the basket and a branch of leaves as well as the borders. If I have any self control today, I'll get it done.
I got a lovely present this week. It is a beautiful tassel from Margaret. Thank you Margaret. I really admire her skill in doing the hardanger edging. I'm terrible at hardanger. What a lot of work! It is a kind and generous gift.
The house tour continues with two large framed cross stitch projects in the dining room. My curio of stitching is in the dining room too but I've already given you a tour of that. There is the Chatelaine Holland Springtime Mandala. It was such a major project. It took me a year to finish it. It has many beads on it. It can be hung on any side. I am proud of myself for sticking with it and getting it done. The other stitching is a kit that I started a long time ago, put aside and then picked up again. It is supposed to be done with one thread but I did it with two plies as it was too faint with one. I ran out of thread and had to figure out what color floss to replace it with. I'm happy with how it turned out too.
A

Tis the Season

2011-11-19T11:39:00.006-05:00

The tour continues of the living room with the other things behind the sofa. This is a miscellaneous group of art. First up is a photo of flowers that I got at the Ann Arbor Art fair and a print of Australian flowers from Aunt Jean. In the next photo is a Hollie Hobbie cross stitch that is donkeys years old (as my MIL would say). The small framed one I gave to my MIL before she passed away. On the right in the next photo is my very first completed watercolor and a favorite subject to paint, pansies. It was good to look at the stuff behind the sofa as I had forgotten about some of the (dusty)things back there. Lastly, there is the bird and strawberry. It is a Just Nan limited addition.

The Fruit Market is now selling Christmas trees. ARGH. It isn't even Thanksgiving yet. My attitude toward Christmas has changed the last few years. It is likely to change (for the better!) again in the next few years with the birth of a granddaughter.
I worked on Buttons and am more than half way done with the Glass buttons page. I am changing some of the stitches on the basket and using some Hand-Dyed premium floss. I bet I can finish it today. Then I will have only one page to go! I worked on several little motifs on My Storybook. I have everything above the name plate done. Now I need to finish the lower half of the front. I backstitched the cottage all around so it would show up more. I still don't like the colors. It would be much cuter in different colors. It would be a darling scissor fob just by itself.
I read about 60 pages in V is for Vengeance. I get working on something and I don't want to stop - be it reading or stitching.
A

F is for Friday

2011-11-18T12:33:00.005-05:00

This is the behind the sofa art gallery. I am getting ready to change the pillows on the sofa to Christmas ones. I stitched the Santa design from a Treasures Magazine and I usually leave it up several months as it was such a challenge to stitch. Here is a photo of all the Christmas things.
I got packages yesterday. Fun! The new TV is now set up on the kitchen counter. It looks so nice and we have doubled the usable counter space by moving the hulking dinosaur of our old TV out. I have a stack of new books to read. I started one, V is for Vengeance by Sue Grafton. I've read the whole alphabet series. This is the newest book that just came out on Tuesday.
I went to a craft show this morning. The Weaver's Guild had a lot of stuff for sale. I didn't buy anything but I admired some very soft scarves. I am at an age where I don't need anything. Name anything and I probably have at least two. In another room was the Handmade paper guild and the potters sale. I bought a recipe book and a fish plate. I ran into a couple of friends there.
I worked on the Glass Buttons page. It is going well. It is stitched mostly over one. I have changed a few colors, using my Hand-Dyed Fibers. I finally worked my way down to the little house on My Storybook. I love the little house but the colors it is worked in don't make sense to me. I am using the recommended flosses. I hope I don't regret it.
A

Metal Buttons Done

2011-11-17T09:51:00.004-05:00

The living room tour continues with a photo of one of my shelves on the bookcase. DH has the top shelf and has history and technical books on it. He changes out the books on it but I never see him do it. I have the two lower shelves. One has art and collectible books on it and one has junk I have collected over the years. I have 3 little cross stitched dolls from Cross Stitch and Country Crafts Magazine. There is a nice wood box from Sudbury House with a Christmas cross stitch design on the top. The design was a contest winner from CSCC magazine. I've stitched this design at least three times.
My sister tells me that yesterday's watercolor is not my best one, as she has my best one. She is sweet. There are two other photos of framed stitching on the walls but I am ready to switch them out as it is almost Christmas season. The cats in a basket is a very old piece I did maybe twenty years ago. Tomorrow I'll show you the art gallery that is behind the sofa.
Happy dance time! I finished the Metals page on Buttons. Yeah!! I had to take out so much of this page that I'm glad to just put it behind me. The next page will be a lot more fun as it is a basket and leaves.
We ordered the new thin TV for the kitchen counter. What was the deciding factor? Free shipping. It should be here later today. Also my books should arrive today. It's like Christmas around here.
A

One Trick Pony

2011-11-16T11:17:00.003-05:00

The tour of the living room continues! I am not a one trick pony. I do watercolor, needlepoint and many other crafty things. Over the sofa is my best watercolor. It was in the Area Show. I haven't painted in a couple of years but every once in a while I get the urge to just put paint on paper. My painting area is kind of a mess which deters me from painting. I need a maid. One who will follow me around and clean up my messes. There is one last needlepoint pillow in the chair with one of my dolls, Annabelle. My niece once whispered to her mother "She has dolls!" Yes, I have a few.
I stopped by a medical office and got the forms to sign up for a new doctor. I thought it would be difficult. I figured I would be told "Sorry, the doctor isn't taking any new patients". But I just have some forms to fill out and a first appointment.
I worked on the Metals page of Buttons. I am regretting choosing the more difficult stitching scheme as I've had to frog, frog, frog. But I can see some progress so I'm keeping at it. I love the little box that has a rabbit and a dog in it.
I worked a bit on My Storybook. I am stitching a basket with yarn balls in it - for the the second time.
I can hardly believe that Thanksgiving is next week. I made a pumpkin pie. I'm the only one around here that likes pumpkin pie. So I froze several pieces. It has been warmer than usual so it doesn't really seem like Thanksgiving time yet.
I should get my order from Barnes & Noble soon. Then I'll have a real dilemma - whether to read or stitch.
A

Plant the Seed

2011-11-15T11:38:00.003-05:00

We are looking for a new TV for the kitchen counter. Yes, I know, a TV in the kitchen is a very bad idea. But it has been a bad idea in our house for nearly 40 years. I suggested last year that we get a thin TV so that more counter space is freed up to work on. The first response from DH is always "No absolutely not". Seed planted. Give it time to grow. Then yesterday DH is looking on the internet for a thin TV. We have found that you can not get a name brand TV that is less than 19". I stopped and looked at what Target has after exercise class this morning. Nothing smaller than 19". Their 19" TVs look so little. DH has come around to my point of view. We can manage a 19" TV on our counter. Maybe we can go get one later today.
I have no doctor. My old doctor retired and didn't even tell me. How rude is that? I try to see him as little as possible. So I'm looking around for some young whippersnapper kid to be my doctor. I need to get a T-DAP shot before the baby gets here. The real trick is to get DH to get a shot. Actually it won't be a trick, it will be a miracle.
Dylan was fun. We played with Snap Circuits and another game. His lunch was appalling. Fish sticks or chicken nuggets with all breading and no meat. Of course he choose the chicken nuggets. He didn't eat the applesauce or wheat roll or carrots smothered in ranch dressing.
I didn't get a lot of stitching done yesterday. I got the name plate stitched on My Storybook on the fourth try. But that's about all I did.
I'm starting my house tour of stitching with my sofa. This sofa is the first piece of furniture DH and I bought. But nobody spends any time in the living room so we aren't really motivated to replace it. I don't do much needlepoint but several of the pillows on the sofa are needlepoint. I hate the pink one but I don't know what else to do with it. I tried to sell it on ebay but it didn't sell. I guess Goodwill is the next stop for it. I change out the pillows seasonally so I have my Shepherd's Bush "Thanksgiving" pillow out. The other pillows next to "Thanksgiving" are some of my favorites. I love anything blue and white. Also, the Marjolein Bastien one is very pretty.
A

Not Lucky

2011-11-14T11:39:00.004-05:00

While I was cleaning my bathrooms, I noticed that my Lucky Bamboo doesn't look so lucky any more. It is a least 10 years old and he used to have two friends with him in the vase. I should get him a new friend. I don't have any stitching in my main bathroom I have this neat collage picture that says " I was rich if not in money in sunny hours and summer days and spent them lavishly. Thoreau" I thinking of switching it out as it isn't summer anymore and "sunny" is a rare occurence here.

There are times when I just should not stitch. I keep making the same mistake over and over. Yesterday was one of those days. I stitched part of the nameplate on the front of My Storybook with one strand of floss. It was too light. So I took it out. Then I stitched that same part with two strands of overdyed. When I looked at it, I realized I had used the wrong overdyed. So I took it out. Then I stitched with two strands of the right overdyed. That is when I saw that it was stitched in the wrong place - about 4 stitches too high. So I am taking it out. Again. ARGH.
I started the next page in Buttons. It is the "Metals" page. There are eight frames for buttons to be placed. You can stitch them in tent stitch or a slanted stitch. I am choosing the slanted stitch. There is a cute little box with a couple animals in it. That will be fun to stitch.
I put in some black on the Winter Cottage. Still doesn't look like anything yet.
The bathrooms are clean and my car has gas. I'm going to see Dylan today. I'm going to tell him about my "toy" (my Cricut machine)and then I'll take it next week. He has no idea of all the nifty stuff I have that we can do. I bought a gingerbread house kit for us to do in December.
A

Slow

2011-11-13T12:57:00.004-05:00

Okay, I'm slow to post today. It's all because I ran into an old friend at Panera. She is just the nicest person and has not aged a day in the last 20 years. We played soccer together in another life (when our kids were small).
The tour of my curio is complete but I thought of other stitching that I could show you from around my house and behind my sofa and in my closet. There is much more.
I worked on My Storybook yesterday and got most of the back done. I have a little of the border left to do. I started the name plate on the front but the floss isn't showing up very well so I will have to change it or use two strands.
I cut the mat board for Buttons and sewed some buttons on the front cover. Gorgeous! It is starting to look like a book. I don't have the buttons for the inside cover or the calicos page but I've decided I can go ahead and sew those together anyway and add the buttons as I find them - or buy them off of ebay.
I put in some nun stitches on Winter Cottage. The outside cover is all nunned. Now I am outlining the shapes on the front cover. It still doesn't look like anything yet.
My back feels fine today, thank goodness.
A