Butterflies Are Free

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.

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I Declare!

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.
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Natalie Josie (Not her name)

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.
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Baby

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!!
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Anytime

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!

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The Eyes Have It

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!
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Dopey

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.

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