Stitchful Thinking

Welcome Summer!

2010-06-23T15:32:00.005-05:00

It's officially summer in the Midwest. It's hot and humid! And summer seasonal exchanges have been sent and received. Yes, there's no denying that summer is upon us.

I'm participating in a great seasonal exchange this year with a small group of gifted stitchers. I'm stitching for Karen and I heard Monday that she received the summer package I put together for her.

I stitched The Sampler Girl's Molly Pitcher 1778 for her with the recommended DMC on 28 count linen and finished it as a little hanger.

I sent along some patriotic extras:

Karen said she loved it and I am so pleased! I consider this to be my best finishing to date and I was very glad with how it turned out. I'm so happy she likes it too!

Today I got my exchange from Melissa and it made my day! She stitched a sweet Lizzie Kate design and finished it as a darling pinkeep. The backing fabric is the most perfect lemonade fabric - and we have been drinking a lot of lemonade around here lately - with a little pocket and everything!

And what a spread of goodies she sent along! 2 beautiful skeins of Dragon Floss and 2 more of Soy Luster from The Pure Patette! And check out that Eye & Eye & Friends sampler pattern. I can't wait to get started on this one. She also included some darling strawberry notecards. Melissa always includes a sweet little handmade card from soupofsuccess.com. I checked out their website and I have to say that it sounds like a wonderful organization. What a special touch.

Thank you for a wonderful package Melissa!

I also have a finish to show off. I stitched up the pattern Melissa sent me in the spring exchange! Excuse the terrible lighting:

Birds Wee One from Heart in Hand

Stitched 1/1 with DMC on 25ct mushroom lugana
Stitched 6/18/10 - 6/19/10

I want to make this into a floss ring tag. I've never attempted that finishing before so I have no idea how it will turn out or when I will have the time to try it.

I hope everyone is having an amazing summer so far! I know I am (despite the sunburn)!

Happy stitching to you all!

Can I Get a Venti Iced Triple Shot Soy Mocha Latte Please?

2010-06-15T13:48:00.005-05:00

I feel like I have been going non-stop! And here I thought summer was going to be my chance to slow down. You can imagine my surprise when I discovered that it's not!

I need coffee/caffeine like a plant needs water. I swear I'll wither without it! Between getting ready for our trip to Arizona for my brother's wedding in 2 weeks, I've been juggling play dates, and dealing with what turned out to be a sinus infection for 2.5 weeks before I sought medical attention and got magic antibiotics. Somewhere in there my sister got a job interview for her dream job here in St. Louis and I was hemming her suit pants and trying to help her prepare. Oh and we can't forget the 6 hour drive to Iowa this past weekend for a 5k with my sister that got cancelled due to weather.

On top of all that, I had an exchange due in the mail to Karen today and I never made it to my LNS to pick up goodies for her package. So now that won't go out until tomorrow or Thursday. It's only Tuesday and my week is already running behind schedule!

But on a fun note, I never did mention the beautiful PIF I got from Mary Kathryn a few months ago.

Isn't it gorgeous?! Mary Kathryn is truly a gifted stitcher and finisher.

PIF/Giveaway:

Well now it's my turn! I get to pay-it-forward. But I'm going to run this a little differently. I knew signing up with Mary Kathryn that in addition to my getting something from her, I was obligating myself to offer four stitched pieces forward. I'm fulfilling that obligation by offering four of my wonderful readers the chance to get a stitched and finished piece from yours truly in the next year. Now here's where I'm changing it up a bit: I'm going to say that you don't have to obligate yourself to pay it forward by offering stitched and finished pieces to your readers. Just pay it forward in whatever way you find in your own life to do that. If that means offering pieces to other stitchers as I am doing and so many others have done, go for it. If that means giving someone in line at JoAnns your unused 40% coupon, well that's good too. Just pay it forward in your life as you can or as you desire to. Does that make sense? I know some people avoid signing up for PIFs because it may be a lot for some to obligate themselves to. I'm hoping this will make it easier for some of you to participate who might not otherwise.

So let me know if you want to sign up for my PIF by commenting on this post. If I get more than 4 people interested, I'll draw names. And thank you again Mary Kathryn for the gorgeous strawberry!

Now I have to go change LadyBug as something smells not quite right. Happy Tuesday! I hope everyone is getting more time to relax than I am lately :)

And We're Back...

2010-05-18T13:18:00.003-05:00

Phew! I feel like I have been running nonstop for the past 2 months or so!

April really piled on the mayhem. I had an exam every week in April, and I was tutoring my lab partner for all of those exams. I felt like I was always leaving the house to run off to the library when DH got home from work. Cuddle Bug also celebrated his 4th birthday with three parties of varying magnitude, and Easter came and went in there somewhere. But my class is over (I got an A) and I'm not taking any classes this summer. So I am finally feeling like I have a second to exhale. I feel like I haven't had a second to breathe since March!

Speaking of March, I haven't stitched anything since March either. But I do have an exchange coming up that needs my attention so I will be getting to that very soon.

I can show you the exchange I sent to Ann through Stitch It and Exchange It way back in all the craziness of April. I stitched the Egg-cetera bird from Cross Eyed Cricket (one of my favorite little spring-time stitches) and finished it as a pinkeep. I included Hershey's kisses, tea, a cut of fabric, a skein of CC and (because Ann is Catholic like myself) I threw in a book of Poetry by Pope John Paul II and a finger rosary.

The only other crafty thing I have to show for myself the past few months is this quilt I finished up yesterday. It is going to DH's sweet cousin who just had a baby girl a few weeks ago. I made it with Thimble Blossom's Double Dip pattern and some of the Nature's Chorus layer Cake Camille sent me a few months ago.

In other news, I've been working on improving my health and physical fitness. I ran consistently before my pregnancy with LadyBug. Now I'm back at it. I have decided that 2011 is the year I will run my first half marathon and maybe even do a marathon! I've been eating right, cutting out the crap, and running as often as I can. I'm feeling better, more energized, and stronger. At least I can say in all the crazy of the past few months I'm getting it together!

Thank you to anyone who has stuck with me during my absence. I missed so many amazing projects and giveaways from all of you while I was on a bloggy hiatus.

Happy Tuesday all!

We Will Return to Our Regularly Scheduled Programming Momentarily

2010-04-06T12:12:00.002-05:00

I have an exchange waiting to be mailed (late), a backlog of blog posts to read and respond to, 5 exams in the next 6 weeks (the first of which is tonight), new fitness goals I've been working on, a husband and 2 bugs to spend time with and care for, a house to maintain, and (God willing) a few hours of sleep every night to absorb so that I might get up tomorrow and keep on chugging along.

Oh and wonderful Michele of X Marks My Spot emailed me months ago, and would you believe that email has been sitting open on my desktop this whole time screaming at me respond to this! every single day since I received it?! Michele, I'm useless! I'm sorry! I have big plans for emailing you back tomorrow after I ace this exam tonight and get that tardy exchange in the mail!

As for stitching, sewing, or any other crafty endeavors...aside from that exchange piece I have basically nothing to show for myself. But I am currently getting 126% in my anatomy and physiology class. Does that count for anything?

I will be back...soon...just wait for all the mayhem to subside and I will be back with a vengeance! In the meantime, thanks for sticking with me, and I hope you're all getting better stitching time than I.

Exchange from Melissa!

2010-03-19T13:58:00.006-05:00

My day started in a hole...a big one...made of laundry. Add to that an almost-4-year-old who is constantly testing his limits with me and a miserable teething 13-month-old whose entire rhythm was thrown out of whack by daylight savings time (whose idea was that anyway??). Oh and we can't forget the muscles in my entire body that are aching and exhausted from 5 straight days of riding an exercise bike perpetually stuck on the highest resistance. Have you ever tried carrying a 20+ lb toddler up the stairs for diaper changes with legs that feel like lead? I don't recommend it.

Anyway...so my day started in a deep dark pit of exhaustion. Then the mail man arrived and everything turned around! Why you ask? Well feast your eyes on this....

I got this from Melissa for our Friends Stitching Through the Seasons spring exchange. Are you drooling on your computer?! I don't blame you...it's even more amazing in real life! The fabric she stitched the fob on is iridescent and absolutely stunning! And would you believe she included that gorgeous pair of gun-metal ginghers?! Would you also believe I only had one pair of embroidery scissors before this pair arrived today? These are a much needed addition to my stitching goods. Also, I highly recommend clicking on the pictures to get a closer look at her stitching on the fob. Her stitches are so perfectly even and straight.

And the goodies! Oh I don't even know where to begin! 2 springy notepads, a darling hand-stamped card, a sweet HiH chart, and no, your eyes are not deceiving you...Melissa included six skeins of Vikki Clayton silks!

Who can have a bad day when mail like that arrives?? Not me! DH was home for lunch when I got the mail and he was particularly amused by my excitement! LadyBug's reaction was my very favorite though. She gave this delivery a round of applause!! Gotta love a giggly, clapping 1 year old.

Thank you Melissa! I may not come down off this stitchers high for quite a while!!

Friends Stitching Through the Seasons Exchange Received

2010-03-19T10:12:00.007-05:00

I was invited to participate with the amazing ladies of the Friends Stitching Through the Seasons exchange and of course I couldn't say no! Exchanging is just too much fun! I will be stitching for Karen of Karen's Handiwork this year. Karen emailed me yesterday to let me know she got the spring exchange I stitched for her. I am so happy she likes it! Exchanging can be a little nerve-wracking hoping your partner likes what you put together for them.

Here's what I made for Karen.

Bird in Hand by Blackbird Designs
32 count coffee dyed Belfast linen
Tyler Boy Blue CC
Personalized with Karen's and my initials

I knew when I saw this new release from BBD that this would be the perfect thing to stitch for Karen. She loves BBD and a bird is so beautifully springy! LadyBug (who is miserable with teething) gnawed on this chart the whole time we were at my LNS so it was a good thing I intended to take it home with me. Cuddle Bug picked out the thread. It was a family affair!

I went with a little more primitive finishing for this in keeping with Karen's tastes. I pieced the backing fabric so it looked like whoever finished it was scrounging up scraps. And I added a little patch with a haphazard blanket stitch to cover a (make-believe) hole from wear. Then I stuffed it loose and lumpy for added effect. I was very happy with how this turned out. And Karen is pleased as well, so it's hard to beat that!

I sent along some other goodies too. A LK chart, some beautiful Hyacinth GAST, a little pad of paper, ribbon, and (since Karen does paper crafting too) I included some springy stickers. The Hershey kisses sheep was thrown in by Cuddle Bug. I can't tell who enjoys packing up exchange packages more: me or him? I love his enthusiasm!

I hope everyone had a great week. Happy weekend and happy stitchy wishes!

And the Winner is....

2010-03-16T20:35:00.004-05:00

I got around to drawing a name for my blogoversary giveaway today. I was too lazy to put everyone's names in a jar as I was out late studying Anatomy and Physiology. So I went to random.org and it was easy as (cherry) pie!

So the winner is officially comment #3 Melissa who practically lives in my backyard - just East of St Louis! That should make for quick delivery, and finding some St Louis Cardinals goodies to go in the package will be no problem at all!

Email me your address, Melissa, and you will get a super fun surprise package from me sometime in the next year. You won't know when so it will be a fun surprise :)

Thanks to everyone who wished me a happy blogoversary and for 2 years of fun!!

Exchange Stitching and our 6th Anniversary

2010-03-15T13:46:00.008-05:00

Wow I cannot believe how long its been since I've done a real update around here! It's a good thing I set the date for my blogoversary drawing as no earlier than March 4th! See...even I knew I would be late for my own drawing! I'm leaving it open for one more day if anyone is interested, so I will now officially draw for my blogoversary tomorrow March 16th! Comment on this post if you want to be included.

I just haven't done much stitching that I could show here. I've been busy stitching a few exchange pieces. The first was due in the mail today and I just got home from the post office. Here's a sneak peak:

I've also been keeping busy with my family. DH and I celebrated 6 amazing years of marriage yesterday! What a blessing to be married to such an incredible man! The years keep flying by! The best part is that I can sincerely say we are happier than we've ever been. And I don't take that lightly. Marriage is work, hard work sometimes, and we were married young on top of it. But I can't wait to see what the next 6 years will bring us. Praise God for the life he's helped us build together. We really couldn't do it without Him!

I hope you're all having a beautiful March! I will be back tomorrow to announce the winner of my giveaway.

Hugs and happy stitching!

I Heart Thimble Blossoms!

2010-03-01T12:55:00.004-06:00

Saturday proved to be an especially wonderful day. Not only was the weather considerably more tolerable than it has been all year, but I got an incredible package in the mail!

Sweet, sweet Camille of Thimble Blossoms sent me this amazing package! I feel genuinely unworthy of such a lovely gesture, but I'll have my arm twisted and accept it with all the thanks in the universe! I had sent Camille an email telling her that I had made my first quilt using her Wild Thing pattern (a pattern she had actually gifted my husband to put in my Christmas stocking along with another he had ordered from her etsy shop) and thanking her for making such a wonderful and easy to follow pattern that a beginner like me could use. I wanted her to know that I will always have a very special place in my heart for her company, Thimble Blossoms, as this was not only first quilt, but also LadyBug's first birthday present (In fact, she posted about my email on her beautiful blog here) Little did I know that Camille is made of sugar and she sent this incredibly generous package to me as a thanks for the email I sent her! I have been walking on air ever since receiving this!

DH thought it was especially hilarious since we purchased a new car on Friday night and Camille's gift got more enthusiasm from me than the sparkling new car! What can I say?!

In all sincerity, I would highly recommend Camille's patterns to anyone. I'm as novice a quilter as they come and I was amazed at how well my first quilt came together. It wouldn't have been possible had the instructions not been so easy to follow and understand!

I have been stitching too, but I can't show anything as I'm working on an exchange piece.

And thank you all for your sweet comments about my blogoversary! The giveaway is still open to anyone interested!

Rounding out February with a Giveaway!

2010-02-25T13:53:00.004-06:00

Today is my 2nd blogoversary! This calls for a giveaway! Comment on this post to be entered to win a fun package from me in the next year. I will leave this open until at least a week from today: March 4th.

And I have one more finish for February, making my total stitching finishes for February a mere 2. Oh well. It was a very busy month! And let us not forget the quilt finish! This piece really should have been finished last weekend, but we got distracted with other things. That's pretty much how February went. Next month I will have more to show - including an exchange piece :)

Santa with Tree Crescent from Santa Moon by Prairie Schooler
DMC on 28 count black cashel linen
Stitched 2/18/10 - 2/24/10

Happy stitchy wishes to everyone!

I've Been Stitching!

2010-02-18T09:55:00.006-06:00

In all the mayhem the past few weeks, I haven't had any time for my beloved cross stitch. But Tuesday afternoon I got started on a small project and last night I put the finishing stitches in it.

Wool Needlebook by LHN

DMC thread on 32 count coffee-dyed linen
Stitched 2/16/10 - 2/17/10

And I forgot to mention the sweet gift I got from a wonderful friend who is also a stitcher. My dear friend Renee - who is actually my twin sister's best friend - got me Lavender and Lace's "Angel of Light." While Renee and I were enjoying a girls day last November, I set eyes on this one as a model in our LNS Stitches Etc. I was instantly in love! This particular piece deviates from my usual, simpler projects as it has a lot of color changes. But I was so taken with her, I considered purchasing the pattern on the spot. My incredible self control won over and I left without her. Renee remembered and gave me the chart for my birthday. Don't you just love a thoughtful friend like that?

Finishing a Finish

2010-02-16T13:49:00.004-06:00

Thank you all for your nice comments on the quilt I made LadyBug! I appreciate them so much! That will definitely not be my last quilting adventure. And to those of you wanting to try it as well - go for it! It is a huge learning process, but very fun and I felt incredibly accomplished.

This morning while Cuddle Bug was at preschool and LadyBug napped, I finished a very old finish - I stitched this in 2008. Like many of you, I am hoping to make a big dent in my pile of "Fuppies" (as Monique calls them) this year. Mark this one off the list!

I hope everyone is having a delightful week!

My First Quilt: CHECK!

2010-02-15T12:59:00.009-06:00

I did it! I finished my very first quilt! I put the last stitches in the binding at about 1:30 Saturday morning and pulled it out of the dryer just in time to get it wrapped for LadyBug's birthday party Saturday afternoon!

Today I finally got a second to get some pictures of it to show you. I couldn't keep LadyBug off of it though. She insisted on dragging her toys on top of it and plopping her diapered butt right in the middle! Had I known she was going to want to be part of the photo op, I would have dressed her in something cuter :)

"Garden Blossoms"

Wild Thing pattern by ThimbleBlossoms
Sandi Henderson's Ginger Blossom fabric with snow Kona cotton
Finished February 12, 2010

It still needs a label, but I am calling it finished!

Hugs and happy stitchy wishes to you all! And thank you for all the sweet birthday wishes for myself and the LadyBug!

And Breathe.....

2010-02-10T15:56:00.007-06:00

I know, I know, I disappeared for about 2 weeks... These past 14 days (give or take) were jam packed! Somewhere between 2 exams in Anatomy and Physiology class, nursing a migraine for 2 straight days, working on LadyBug's birthday quilt, making wedding invitations for my brother's wedding this summer, planning LadyBug's birthday party, dealing with Cuddle Bug's pink eye, and basic childcare, I managed to turn 27!

Exhale...

Oh and I managed to miss the drawing for own giveaway... Someone please pass the Hershey's Pot of Gold! Sigh

I am happy to announce that I finally did get around to drawing a name for the Abecedaire ornament chart! Karen is the lucky winner!

I woke up this morning dedicated to being stress free. Today is LadyBug's first birthday and we are celebrating! I still can't believe it's been a year already! Happy birthday to my sweet girl!! We're having her party on Saturday afternoon, so there's still work to be done (including the finishing touches on her quilt).

I do have a few pictures to share. First up is the little messenger bag I made for Cuddle Bug's friend for her birthday. I used this tutorial again, but this time I made a few changes. Most importantly, I added an extra inch to the length of the lining fabric to compensate for the trim. We put a little workbook inside for the birthday girl too.

And this is the darling little kit I won from Marjorie! This is at the top of my "to start" list :) Thank you Marjorie!

I hope you are all enjoying a care-free week! Thank you all for your sweet, sweet comments! I cherish them :)

One more January Stitchy Finish

2010-01-28T13:11:00.007-06:00

I somehow managed a third finish for the month of January! I got this chart from sweet Becky a long while ago when she was de-stashing. I got started on it Monday afternoon and put the final stitches in it yesterday evening. This will be finished as the chart instructs so it can take its rightful place on my tree next Christmas. I haven't decided if I like the stark white yet, or if I will be coffee-dying it. Hmmmm....

Christmas Abecediaire Ornament from Historic Stitches
DMC floss on 32 count white Belfast linen
Stitched 1/25/10 - 1/27/10

The chart is up for grabs if anyone is interested. If more than one person wants it, I will draw a name on Monday night. Please leave your email address so I can contact you for an address if you win it.

I hope everyone's week is going well and that you're all getting plenty of time to put needle to fabric!

Crafts with Bug

2010-01-25T10:54:00.007-06:00

It flurried this morning. There was no accumulation, so we took matters into our own hands. Cuddle Bug and I put on our scarves and built snowmen in our pajamas right at the dining room table.

Construction paper, scissors, ribbon, crayons, a glue stick, and 2 sizes of hole punch. My socks stayed dry and my hands stayed warm. Not a bad way to built a snowman I would say.

Happy Monday all!

Finishing Details

2010-01-22T15:56:00.006-06:00

I've been busy the past week. I started my Anatomy and Physiology I class on Tuesday and I've been failing miserably at keeping the house in a respectable state. However, I did manage to get some (crafty) work done despite it all!

I finished my first quilt topper on Monday afternoon when DH was home for MLK day. He was a huge help keeping the bugs out of my way so I could get this worked on. I'm almost finished with the back and then I hope to baste and quilt it this weekend. We'll see how that goes.

Cuddle Bug went to Ironton, MO with his great aunt to spend the night at a little get-away cabin they have, so I had one less bug to manage today. That meant two naptimes all to myself as LadyBug still takes a morning and an afternoon nap (it's a sad day when they start taking only one nap a day). So i got to work finishing my pieces for Lady Scarlet's Secret Garden from Just Nan. This is a very special piece indeed! I have fantasies of LadyBug wishing to take up stitching and sewing one day and passing this sweet piece off to her :)

And for the record, those are my prized Piecemakers in the needle book. Vonna has changed the way I look at needles forever!

Wonderful Catherine (who doesn't appear to have a blog of her own but is a follower of mine) asked me about my adventures in school and how that works out with the bugs. I just started back to school in the fall of 2009 so this is only my second semester back. I'm trying to get some prerequisites completed right now to hopefully get into the nursing program at my local University to get my BSN. Last semester I took two courses online and one at night that met twice a week. This semester I'm only taking one course - Anatomy and Physiology I - that meets twice a week at night. I enjoy the chance to get out of the house and have some adult conversations for a change. And DH is a true gem! He takes fantastic care of our bugs while I'm away. He's the reason it's even possible for me to go back to school! I think he treasures his alone time with the kids as much as I enjoy getting away for a while. I do most of my school work while the bugs are napping or after they've gone to bed. So far it hasn't been as big of a juggling act as I had expected it to be. But since I just started A&P, there's no telling what this semester holds for me! This class is looking intense so far! :)

Thank you all for your sweet comments and all your support and friendship! I hope you all have a blessed and beautiful weekend! Happy stitchy wishes :)

Giveaways!

2010-01-18T08:49:00.006-06:00

Thank you all for you comments on my recent finishes. I have been feeling very productive lately. I'll see how that keeps up once I start my Anatomy and Physiology I class tomorrow evening.

There are a few good giveaways out there to let you know about in case you hadn't heard:

Jennifer over at Feathers In the Nest is having a Cabin Fever Giveaway for everyone who's waiting patiently for spring! It includes a perfectly springy chart, the charms and linen that go with it, and a darling frame. You can enter that here.

Natalia at Piece N Quilt is giving away two $25 gift certificates to her online quilt shop of the same name to celebrate her shop's 1st birthday! You can enter that here.

Linda at Craftaholics Anonymous is giving away some fun jewelry. You can enter that here.

Sweet Su at Contemplating My Needle and Thread is giving away a beautiful valentine ornament she stitched and finished. Who wouldn't want to have one of Su's beauties?! That giveaway is found here.

And generous and kind Becky from BeckyBee's Stitching Hive is having 2 giveaways! She's having a SuperBowl giveaway for Quaker Diamonds (the chart and the fibers) that you can find here. And she's having an un-Birthday giveaway - because that's just the kind of woman she is - to celebrate her birthday by giving away a $100 gift certificate to the online needlework shop of your choice! That giveaway can be found here.

I wish you all luck on any and all of these you're interested in!

Happy MLK Day to everyone here in the states!

Happy Dance 2010!

2010-01-16T09:44:00.007-06:00

My very first happy dance of 2010! I would have had Poinsettia House done a week ago but I got distracted working on the quilt. I ran out of thread for the quilt a few days ago, though, and was waiting for JoAnns to put their thread on sale today. So in the meantime, I got back to work on this one and put the final stitches in it Friday night. I love it! Every stitch was a joy! And I only had 2 - very minor - visits from the frog. This was a gift from sweet Vonna so all my thanks go out to her for making my first 2010 project so delightfully wonderful :)

Poinsettia House by Littlehouse Needleworks
28 count linen using recommended CC and DMC fibers
Stitched 12/31/09 - 1/15/09

After reading about Harmien's frustrations, I was especially conservative with the Clay Pot. And I am so glad I was! By the end of it, I had only two little threads remaining. So keep that in mind if you're planning to do this chart too.

To my shock, I have another finish to add to my 2010 list - Lady Scarlet's Secret Garden! I actually started this one over the summer when I was in Boston visiting my dad, but I only got as far as finishing the border. When I brought it home it just got set aside. I picked it up yesterday afternoon and got all the stitching finished by the time I went to bed last night. Today I picked up some beading needles while I was at JoAnns and got the beads added. This was my first time adding beads and I'm pleased with my results! This one is going straight to the top of the finishing pile!

Lady Scarlet's Secret Garden by Just Nan
28 count cream chashel using recommended DMC
Started 7/09; Finished 1/17/10

In other news, the weather was finally nice enough to try out the new running shoes DH gave me for Christmas (we exchanged running shoes this year). They are NICE! I hope to get a lot of good use out of them this year and finally get the last of the baby weight off.

I hope you are having a beautiful and productive long weekend too! Thank you again for all your sweet comments. I really do appreciate them so much! Happy stitchy wishes to you all!

Life is full of Choices

2010-01-14T13:51:00.006-06:00

I've got two napping bugs upstairs and a little quiet time on my hands.

What I should be doing:

cleaning the bathroom
folding the laundry that's been sitting in the corner of the bedroom for 5 days
vacuuming the rugs
sweeping the floors
unloading/loading the dishwasher

What I am doing:

homemade-fresh-out-of-the-oven banana bread, tea, and Littlehouse Needleworks

Ahhhhh. I love naptime.

Snow, Sewing, and a Finish

2010-01-10T16:09:00.006-06:00

Thursday we got the first "significant' snow of the season here in St. Louis. I have to say, as a transplant from the desert, I absolutely love that we experience 4 seasons here in the midwest! But I perfer to admire the snow from inside where I can sip some (spiked) hot chocolate and wear my down booties that keep my toes so toasty.

So speaking of the snow, I must say that DH is such an amazing husband and father. I don't talk enough about him on my blog. He's doting and patient. He deals with my mood swings and my lame attempts to pick a fight from time to time. He rubs my feet, makes my coffee exactly right, runs out to the craft store for me when I run out of the thread I need to finish a project, prays with me, tells my I'm not chubby, and sits in the corner of my LNS playing with the kids all the while telling me to take my time and get whatever I want. And that's just the husband part of him. As a father he blows me away! He's on the floor putting together Lego train tracks into crazy loopy shapes with bridges and switching tracks. He plays peek-a-boo and asks what the specials are when Cuddle Bug plays restaurant in the playroom.

So what does that have to do with snow you ask? Well Thursday, that was my husband taking a vacation day to take Cuddle Bug sledding for the very first time! Those are the moments that will add up in the lives of my children. They will look back and think "my dad could have gone to work that day, but he took a day off and took me sledding instead!" And he showed my sweet boy how to make snow angels and build a snow fort too. I love him for the husband he is to me and for the father is to our children :)

So now that I've gotten past the sappy part of the past few days, I have a few things to show off.

First up, I finished LHN's "Peace" thread pack into a pillow on Friday. I finished the stitching on this one last year and I had the finishing kit from Mary Kathryn's ONS. It just needed to be completed. So I went ahead and did that on Friday.

Additionally, I've been sewing up a storm working on my first quilt! Knock on wood, but so far so good. I got all 42 blocks finished and sewn into 7 rows of 6 blocks each. Soon enough, barring any unforeseen hiccups, the top of this one will be finished. I am loving how this is turning out and really enjoying the process! If it turns out as I hope, this will be my birthday gift to LadyBug when she turns 1 exactly one month from today!

I haven't gotten to put too many more stitches in Poinsettia House. My fingers have been too cold to hold the needle and I kept dropping it. I finally set it down. I hope to get some more stitches in it tonight after I've warmed my fingers up with a cup of coffee. I hope everyone has been having a wonderful weekend and staying warm! Happy stitchy wishes to you all!

Poinsettia House and Ginger Blossom

2010-01-06T14:04:00.004-06:00

I'm just popping in to give a little progress update on Poinsettia House. The trim has been painted, the windows installed, and some snow fell as well. I really love this piece more with every stitch I put in it!

And look what the UPS guy brought today for my quilting adventures! Some Ginger Blossom and Kona cuts from Fabric.com. And let me just say that they were very generous with these cuts!

Happy Wednesday and happy stitching to everyone!

Lots of Giveaways lately!

2010-01-06T11:41:00.004-06:00

Someday Crafts is giving away a pattern from Little Blue Boo. I need the halter/tie-back pattern to make darling "up-cycled" dresses for the LadyBug, so I'm hoping I win! But if you want to try to win a pattern to make these sweet designs for the bugs in your life, go enter here

And don't forget that Edgar is offering his JCS issue with "This is the Day" in it over at his blog! So go enter that for sure! You can find that giveaway here.

I'm plugging away at PH when I have time and waiting for my fabric.com order to come in the mail today. Brrrrr it's cold! We're expecting the first "significant' snowfall of the season tonight and I'm just thanking the Good Lord that I have these comfy down-booties to keep my feet warm!

I'll update on PH soon! Hope you're all getting in time to work on your beautiful projects as well - and staying warm too!

Chirp Chirp

2010-01-05T15:12:00.007-06:00

It's 22 degrees F outside and I've got spring on my mind. This morning when we left the house to take Cuddle Bug to preschool it was 3 degrees! WOW! I couldn't believe it! I'm a desert dweller...this whole single digit thing is just not right! I can't even bring myself to check the temperature in Phoenix today. This is my third winter in St Louis and by far the coldest I've ever experienced! I miss you warm, sunny Arizona! I'll see you in July and you better have the Wigwam pool ready for me!

Anyway, back to spring. I'm not very good about making it a priority to finish-finish pieces I've stitched. 2010 is going to be different! I have a little drawer of projects that need "finishing" and I intend to finish each and every one by the end of the year! So here's the first:

Egg...cetera from The Cross Eyed Cricket finished as a small pillow

Tell me this doesn't make you feel a little springy too! I'm very pleased with how this turned out - especially considering that there was a bug crawling around by my feet for most of its construction - not the kind you squish of course, the kind you snuggle and love :)

I hope everyone is having a beautiful beginning of the week! Thanks for visiting and thank you for your wonderful comments and support.

I'm off to put some more stitches in Poinsettia House. I'm enjoying each stitch more than I can say! And those Piecemakers...oh my goodness I am in love with every pass through the fabric! It sounds like most of you know their magic already. Where have I been?? Vonna has opened my eyes!!!

Happy stitchy wishes to you all! And happy Tuesday!

Edgar's Giving Away Something Grand!

2010-01-05T10:50:00.002-06:00

Edgar is giving away the JCS issue that contains the chart for "This is the Day!" I love this design but am declining to join the drawing as it would surely derail my other stitching goals for 2010 if I were to win. So if you want this, go on over and enter here! I'll be pulling for you :)

A Little House, Space Ships, and Red Corduroy!

2010-01-04T10:33:00.007-06:00

I am happy to report that I got some (fairly) adequate stitchy time in over the weekend! This is where LHN's Poinsettia House stands to date:

I made it out to JoAnns yesterday to pick up the 3865 DMC I had run out of. No one seemed to notice on my last post that the last row of snow on the rooftop was only half cross stitches! But I've replenished my supply so all is well.

I promised some pictures of my recent sewing adventures in my last entry. So here goes.

This is the library book bag I made for Cuddle Bug using this tutorial.

He picked the fabric out himself and I think he did well! I made the library card pocket on the front extra deep so his card would fit deeply in it and wouldn't fall out when he bends over. I call this one a success! He loves to take it to the library and fill it with new books. And Daddy got a hook to hang it in his bedroom so all his library books would be tucked away there instead of getting mingled in with his huge personal library!

Now despite the fact that I make an effort to not post pics of the bugs on my blog - because I'm a crazy neurotic mother - I can't bring myself to crop off LadyBug's face on this picture to show off the dress I made for her to wear to the family Christmas Eve gathering. So for your viewing pleasure....

It's red corduroy - soft and comfy. This was my first time sewing in a zipper and I would call it a good first go! Next time I know what I would do differently. And check out those butt ruffles! I added those myself since the pattern didn't have them. I absolutely love how this dress turned out! And I made it a little bit bigger so hopefully it will still fit for Valentine's Day :)

I hope everyone else had a great weekend! Happy stitchy wishes to you all!

Another Giveaway!

2010-01-03T10:39:00.002-06:00

I'm only posting this out of the goodness of my heart (it has nothing to do with that extra entry I get - hehe) because naturally I have my heart set on the Hearts and Chocolate necklace....but sweet Disney over at Ruffles & Stuff is offering a giveaway to pick anything you want from her amazing etsy shop! So go and enter here if you love her pieces as much as I do!

The crafty goodness in blogland is so much fun and there are so many amazing and generous giveaways out there! I'm keeping my fingers crossed and I'll keep them crossed for you as well! :)

HUGS!

A New Year, a Fresh Start

2010-01-01T15:53:00.004-06:00

Welcome 2010! 2009 went by way too fast. It was a big year for us in many ways: LadyBug joined us, Cuddle Bug went off to school for the first time, I went back to school, we lost our beloved grandfather, my sister got her master's degree, and my brother got married. What a year it was. I can only hope 2010 will be filled with as many blessings and a little less heartache :)

I got started on LHN's Poinsettia House yesterday (thanks to dear Vonna who gifted this to me in our Christmas exchange). WOW I am absolutely LOVING this! Everything about it makes me happy: the fabric, the colors, the design, and oh my goodness those needles! Please indulge me for a second while I go on about the needle I am stitching this with...

Vonna included a package of Piecemaker needles with this chart (along with the fabric and the Crescent Colours...spoiled me!) and she told me that they are her very favorite needle to stitch with. In fact, I can quote her as saying "Piecemakers slip through like a hot knife in butter." Well that got me excited! I already knew I would love them. I mean I consider Vonna to be a foremost expert on all things cross stitch so if she says they're good I believe her! But I couldn't have imagined I would love them as much as I do! You know when you're expecting your first baby...humor me here... You know you are going to love that child in a way you've never loved another human being before, but you don't really understand the depth of that love until they place that baby in your arms and you hold him/her for the first time! That's how I feel about these needles! Okay, that might be a bit of a stretch, but I only mean to say that I knew I would love them, I just didn't realize just how much I would LOVE them until I crossed my first stitch with them! My poor husband had to listen to me go on and on all night about how much I was loving this project and how the needle is just perfection. I feel like I can stitch a little faster with them even (I'm a very slow stitcher). By the end of the night, DH said "aren't you finished with that yet? I mean geez the needle is so good I thought you would have finished that whole chart by now!" He thinks he's cute...

Last night I also managed to get squares cut to start work on my first quilt! I took a beginning quilting class in October and now I've gotten the big idea that I should start my first quilt. I made a table topper in the class. I guess I'm feeling adventurous... Wish me luck!

I still need to show off the dress I made LadyBug for Christmas and the library book tote I made Cuddle Bug the other day while he was napping. But those will have to wait for another day. Something to look forward to right?

I hope everyone's 2010 has started off right! Happy stitching!

2009 in Review

2009-12-31T11:48:00.006-06:00

Well 2009 is coming to a close. I don't know about the rest of you, but for me the whole year went by really fast!

I'm joining in with the fun over at Su's and posting my 2009 Stitchy Review.

I completed 16 projects in 2009. Not terribly impressive on it's own, but throw in the fact that my biggest project this year was the LadyBug and I think I have a reasonable excuse for not being more productive.

My favorite finishes of all this year were my exchanges with dear sweet Ranae and Vonna. Thank you both for the wonderful exchanges. I enjoyed them more than I can say!

Giveaways!

2009-12-30T23:07:00.003-06:00

A few giveaways to let you all know about (of course, I'm hoping to win...)

Tea Rose Home is giving away a removable chalkboard here. Love this!!!

And Someday Crafts is giving away a diaper cake here. This would be the perfect gift for DH's super sweet cousin who is expecting baby #2 in April!

So go and enter if you're interested. But just be aware that I plan on winning both of these! :P

Christmas, a New Year, and a New Look

2009-12-30T22:21:00.003-06:00

We had a wonderful Christmas this year despite LadyBug's fever late Christmas Eve night and on into Christmas day (it figures, right?). As you can clearly see, my bugs were spoiled (again) this year. I guess it pays to be the only grandkids on both sides...

Besides the festivities, I have a finish to show you (and just in the nick of time, too)! I put the year on this one months ago. But it got set down and, for some reason that has yet to be determined, it didn't get picked back up. Please tell me I'm not the only one to forget a WIP! It narrowly escaped needing a do-over on the year until I realized it was sitting there unattended and picked it up to finish it! Phew. So here it is in all it's finished BBD glory. The fabric color is off completely. It's actually a winter white in person.

Something Sweet by Blackbird Designs
Thread: recommended CC, WDW, and GAST
Fabric: 28 Count winter white linen
Started: 6/6/09
Finished: 12/30/09

And in case you haven't noticed yet, I went ahead and made myself a fresh new blog layout to ring in the new year! I'm loving the clean white background.

Wishing you all a blessed 2010!

Dear Santa...

2009-12-17T23:10:00.009-06:00

Dear Santa,

As I am certain you are already aware, I have been a very good girl this year. Besides the fact that I bit the bullet and went back to school (and managed straight As my first semester despite the fact that I was taking the dreaded Statistics), I have been lovingly caring for my sweet miracles, keeping the house in only a minor state of disarray (hey, you have to admit it could be worse...), and learning new crafts!

As I am sure you are also already aware, my craft stash buying privileges were unceremoniously revoked by my husband (I think Mrs. Claus would agree that this is laughable...as if he has any real power) until I have depleted the supplies I already have. Since this can simply not be accomplished fast enough, I come to you Santa. You are my only hope of acquiring any new lusciously lovely fabric to satisfy my cravings! I was recently bit by that relentless quilting bug, and without new fabric to caress this holiday season I fear I might have a meltdown!

So I would like to present to you my Christmas wish list:

Blush FQ Bundle:

Simple Abundance Jelly Roll:

Moda Bake Shop Honey Bun Box:

Eden Layer Cake:

Any one of these would make me the happiest little crafter in the world! And the hubby couldn't object :)
All my love,
Kim

PS: all you crafters out there should create your very own Santa Wish List from the Fat Quarter Shop too!

Lovelies!

2009-12-17T21:36:00.008-06:00

*Disclaimer: poorly lit photos that don't do a bit of justice to their subjects. My apologies*

My life has been hectic lately to say the very least. But I do believe that by the end of Friday, I will be able to finally slow down. Last week I was up to my ears in finals preparations. My first semester back at school, and I'm proud to report I got 3 very high As! My highest course grade was 107.4% , my lowest was (as of right now...it may yet be curved a little) 98.5%! A pat on the back for me! To celebrate, we took the bugs to Chuck E. Cheese's. Cuddle Bug has been begging for months to go since he saw a sponsor "ad" on PBS Kids. It was a huge hit! He had a blast and LadyBug was entranced by the lights and sounds.

This week I've been working hard on Christmas details. Last night I was up until 1am making cookies for Cuddle Bug's preschool Christmas program. Welcome to motherhood, my dear :)

In all the mayhem, I didn't get to mention that I got the most amazing exchange package from sweet Vonna! Vonna kindly agreed to exchange a Christmas ornament with me despite the fact that her stitching and finishing are perfection and that hardly seems like a fair trade! All I can say is that the ornament she sent me is absolutely stunning. I gasped when I opened it! I don't call this beauty "it," I call her "she" as she is much too lovely and special to be an "it." She's a beautiful PS angel and she is front and center on my Christmas tree. Just today she was complimented by a friend who stopped by for a brief visit.

Vonna also included 2 precious stuffed dogs for the bugs! That made their day Vonna! And for me...oh heaven as if the incredible ornament wasn't enough, Vonna included the chart for LHN's Poinsettia House and the specialty fibers, fabric, and piecemaker needles to complete it! I have big plans for this chart next week when DH is home on vacation. And Vonna says the piecemakers are absolutely divine to stitch with so I am very much looking forward to giving them a try!

Thank you Vonna! I feel so unworthy to have something so special in my possession. I will cherish this beautiful angel always!

Here's a peak at what I sent Vonna (and some candy thrown in for her bugs):

I also got a wonderful little Christmas surprise from Staci! I am now the proud owner of Staci-dyed fabric! I literally jumped for joy upon opening this! Staci, you are too sweet for words! Thank you for thinking of me :)

I am always so overwhelmed by the friendship and generosity among stitchers. I know it is said often, but stitchers truly are some of the most generous and wonderful people in the world!

Round 3!

2009-12-02T21:47:00.003-06:00

It's Wednesday night, and that means it's time to announce the third winner of my reindeer ornie giveaway!

Last night's winner, LinenStitcher, chose gift #1. Monday night's winner, DaisyGirl claimed gift #2. So that means tonight's winner will get the reindeer behind door number 3!

And package #3 goes to...

Carol! Congrats Carol! I sent you an email :)

Thank you to everyone who wished me better with my cold. It's starting to clear up and I'm feeling much better today than yesterday. And I am happy to report that despite my being under the weather, I was very productive!

Yesterday, between bouts of nose blowing and mucousy coughing, I finished up a personal exchange. That's headed to the post office tomorrow. I was also reminded on Monday night that I had not (as previously thought) crossed everyone off my Christmas list! I somehow managed to forget my bugs' Godparents. No biggie. I quickly remembered seeing this last week and bookmarking it. $4 worth of mugs from Target (90 cents each, hard to beat that!), a little over an hour of my personal time, some polka dot fabric I have in abundance thanks to my sister, ric rac and cellophane bags I had on hand already, and some ingredients from the pantry yielded these:

Not too shabby. And that price tag! Yes, each of those cost me less than a dollar out of pocket. Not bad for a day's work :)

I hope your Wednesday was a good one!!

Another Day, Another Winner!

2009-12-01T20:45:00.007-06:00

Well, wonderful DaisyGirl selected gift #2 for her win in yesterday's drawing. That leaves 1 and 3 still up for grabs.

Today brings us another winner!

A reindeer ornie goes to....

LinenStitcher! So you get your pick of package #1 or package #3.

Tomorrow will be the final drawing. It's not too late to enter if you haven't already. Just head over to this post and comment for your chance to win! I won't be drawing the final name until late tomorrow night since I have a biology lab tomorrow evening.

I hope everyone's week is off to a great start! I have caught a miserable cold and have been living in my pajamas. The house is a mess, and Cuddle Bug has been watching movies to keep him occupied. I have been stitching my misery away, but I can't show it here since it's for a personal exchange. I love exchanges! They make me happy :)

Hugs to you all!

We Have a (first) Winner!

2009-11-30T19:06:00.006-06:00

I was running way behind today, and finally got around to drawing the first winner for the Rudolph Ornie Giveaway at a little after 6pm.

I wrote everyone's name on a slip of paper jumbled them up, threw them in a mason jar, shook them up really well and then let Cuddle Bug pick out a name.

And the winner is....

DaisyGirl! She gets to pick package 1,2 , or 3. Tomorrow Cuddle Bug will draw another name to choose from the remaining 2 ornaments.

It's not too late to sign up if you want to be included in tomorrow's drawing! Just head on over to this post and leave a comment (please include your email address if it isn't already on your blog profile).

I hope everyone's Thanksgiving was as wonderful and delicious as ours! My sister (Ms. Motivated) somehow managed to lose 4 pounds over Thanksgiving weekend. I ate her share of the dessert!

Hugs and happy stitchy wishes!

Giveaways Galore!

2009-11-22T17:52:00.004-06:00

You have to see the giveaway over at Linen Stitcher's blog. She is giving away the chart for American Landscape from Carriage House Samplings!

Also, check out the wonderful giveaway crafty Sachiko is offering here! There's a charm pack, a sweet little handbag for your favorite lady bug, and a darling doll quilt all up for grabs. That doll quilt would be perfect under the tree for Cuddle Bug's little baby doll "Hannah Girl." (I have no problem admitting that my boy loves his baby doll. He's going to be a great Daddy).

There's also a fantastic fabric giveaway here for all you sewing/fabric craft enthusiasts!

Everyone is feeling so generous! I love that about crafters!!

So join in, enter the giveaways, and if I don't win I hope one of you do!

And of course, don't forget I've got a giveaway of my own going on :)

Hugs and happy stitchy wishes!

Rudolph's Ornie Giveaway!

2009-11-21T09:54:00.005-06:00

Well it just so happens that we have come upon my very favorite time of year! It is my favorite season, my favorite holiday, my favorite birthday...I love Christmas!!!!

The cards are written, stamped, and addressed. The hot chocolate is spiked (for Mommy, that is). The gifts for family are purchased. Santa has made his list, checked it twice..And tonight I have it on good authority that he is going out with Mrs. Claus for a final shopping spree while the bugs stay at home with Mommy's dear friend, Renee.

So what better way to celebrate with all of you than to have a GIVEAWAY?!

So here's how this one is going to work:

I have stitched and finished 3 small reindeer ornaments. Among the three is the most famous of all reindeer, Rudolph himself with his big, bright, red nose!

Each ornament has been wrapped and designated a number. Cuddle Bug specified which number Rudolph should be. On Monday, November 30th, Cuddle Bug will draw a name from all the entries received at that point. That person will be notified and will pick a number. The following day, another person will be drawn and they will pick a number from the remaining two. And on the third day, the final person will be drawn and will receive the final ornament.

But there's a twist. Rudolph, being Santa's most prized reindeer, will arrive to his new home with a special Christmas gift. He picked up a Just Nan Christmas Needle Slide at his LNS a few weeks ago and is excited to personally escort it to it's new home.

All three ornaments will be mailed at the same time and the winners will not know if they got Rudolph or not until their ornie arrives at its destination.

All you have to do to be included in the drawing is comment on this post and LEAVE YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS if it is not on your blog profile. You are welcome to spread the news on your own blog, but it is not a requirement of entry. All readers, old and new, worldwide are welcome to enter. The drawing will start on November 30th. You may enter anytime up until the third and final name is drawn.

Hugs and happy stitchy wishes to everyone!

BIG HUGS! and a Giveaway

2009-11-02T08:57:00.005-06:00

I don't even know what to say. Thank you from the very bottom of my heart for all your love, prayers, support, and hugs! I have been counting you all among my abundance of blessings the past few days. I cannot even tell you in words just how much it meant to me. I tried to respond to each and every one of your comments to extend my thanks. I could not reply to all as some do not accept replies. So to those of you I could not respond to directly, thank you thank you thank you. I am overwhelmed with all your support!

Grandpa passed Friday evening. I could not be there as I had to be home with the kids. The hospital was asking healthy kids to stay away due to the H1N1. I don't think CuddleBug would have handled it well anyway. But I was home with them so that DH could be at the hospital with his grandfather and his family.

I can say that the time I did get to spend in the hospital with Grandpa was incredible! It really makes you think about your life and your priorities and what you want for yourself when you are living out your last moments. Grandpa's very best friend, Sister Suzanne (a wonderful nun and family friend), has been helping the dying through their last hours for 40+ years. She said very sincerely last night as everyone gathered to pray the Rosary that she had never seen so many people, so much love, and so much faith in one room in all those 40 years. This family is amazing, and everyone's love for one another and their love for Grandpa is an inspiration! He didn't live his life for wealth or material goods. He lived his life for Jesus Christ and for family. Nothing made him more joyful than to celebrate the mass daily, to welcome a new baby into the family, or to have any excuse to get as many family members together as possible! I hope I will have that much love around me when I'm dying. But you don't get that by living for stuff. Stuff doesn't hold vigil by your hospital bed for 48 hours. It doesn't weep when you are lifted up to God. Stuff doesn't care. And Grandpa didn't care about stuff. Though Grandpa was blessed with financial freedom, he gave as much away as he could to charity and to family. There is currently a senior housing project under construction in Dardenne Prairie, MO that is being build on land Grandpa donated to the archdiocese. That complex will be named St. William Apartments (St. William being Grandpa's namesake). Every Christmas Eve Grandpa had a wrapped gift for every single one of his children, their spouses, his grandchildren and their spouses, and his great-grandchild in addition to a cash gifts for all as well. Grandpa sent grandkids to college when their parents couldn't afford it, and he donated as much as he could every year to charity - sometimes exceeding one million dollars (though he never talked about it, he was unbelievably humble). When John and I were in a bind after we moved to St Louis and we had trouble with housing arrangements, Grandpa let us stay rent free in a house he usually rented out. Grandpa lived his life in service to God and in service to everyone around him. And that is why the people in his hospital room poured out into the hallway, and his grandchildren all over the world caught the first flights home as soon as word got out that he was going to Jesus.

The world is not going to be the same without him and his incredible generosity. But there are now well over 40 grandchildren that will carry on his spirit of laughter, life, love, faith, and generosity. That's a pretty big impact for one person to have. I hope I will have half that impact on the world.

I apologize if my entry is heavy. My heart is heavy. And these are the things that are on my mind.

I am going to leave you with info for a giveaway. Because I hate to think I'm leaving anyone else with a heavy heart. So...

There is a fun giveaway here for some lovely quilting goodies. I am getting into quilting (because I really have so much time for another craft *sarcasm*) and I am hoping to get my hands on one of these goodies!! Maybe you will too!

Huge hugs to everyone! I promise my next entries won't be so somber. Stay tuned, because I have a giveaway of my very own coming up!

Thank you for your prayers!!!!!!!
(((HUGS)))

For the sake of His Sorrowful Passion...

2009-10-30T15:36:00.006-05:00

...have mercy on us and on the whole world.

I don't usually talk about hugely personal stuff on here aside from a little bragging about my kids. And I don't talk about my faith for fear of turning people off. But I'm going to go ahead and just say a few things. 'Cause this is my blog and I'll cry if I want to.

Right now one of the most incredible men I've ever known is in a hospital room taking his last breaths surrounded by loved ones. My husband's grandfather is passing away. He's not expected to last more than a few hours at this point. He is 82 years old. Father of 9. The youngest of those 9 kids was 2 when he was widowed. He has 40 some-odd grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren (3 of whom are still baking in their mama's ovens). He is the single most generous person I've ever known. And he will be sorely missed. It is no exaggeration to say that Grandpa is the patriarch of my husband's extended family. I don't know what everyone will do without him.

This is the man who delivered me to Jesus Christ. Seeing him walk in the light, seeing him so faith-filled and grace-filled and consumed with the Holy Spirit is what made me say "I want what he's having!" He is fed by Christ. So while there is a river of tears swelling up all around our family right now, there is comfort in knowing that Grandpa is certain to inherit the Kingdom.

I know some of you are Catholic, and you may recognize the line in my heading from the Divine Mercy Chaplet. If anyone thinks about it or is so inclined, I would be ever so grateful to anyone who would want to pray a Divine Mercy Chaplet or just pray as your heart desires for my husband's grandfather William Erker, Sr. and his family. We are overwhelmed with grief.

I leave you with a picture from LadyBug's baptism this past summer. That's me with the sweet baby in the middle. And that's Grandpa down in front on the right. He never missed a graduation, a wedding, a first Holy Communion, a baptism, an anything. And all those other people in the picture...well that's the love that he and we are surrounded by! That is a tiny fraction of DH's extended family (and my sister among them) - the ones that could come to witness LadyBug's baptism.

I'm sorry to unload my sadness here. I just thought it never hurts to reach out and ask for prayers at a time like this. You are all so wonderful.

Edited to add: Grandpa passed at about 5:40 pm St. Louis time. He was surrounded by family singing hymns and praying together. Thank you all for your prayers and your comforting words. I cannot even express how wonderful they have been to hear.

Still On Cloud 9 over My First Exchange

2009-10-17T11:07:00.006-05:00

What a week! After being sick last week, this week I had 2 huge midterm exams. I was completely overloaded this week. Has anyone else been forced to take statistics? Wow! That is an intense class!

But now here it is Saturday morning...the exams are behind me. Cuddle Bug is curled up on the couch watching Miffy and Friends on PBS and LadyBug is upstairs taking her mid-morning nap. The floors - that shamefully have been neglected for 2 weeks - have been swept and vacuumed. No more stale Cheerios on the rug under the table for LadyBug to be stuffing into her mouth when I turn my back for a split second (did I mention she's "crawling" now...it's really more of a butt scoot but she's very good at it). Now I can exhale.

Ahhhhhhhh.

So now I can mention that I am still absolutely living on cloud 9 over my exchange from Ranae! That was one of the most fun things I have done in a long time! Milling over charts, picking out just the right thing to stitch and deciding how to finish it. Picking out fun things to keep the exchange piece company in the box during it's travels. It was an absolute blast! And then there's the excitement, the anticipation of finding a box on your doorstep! Oh my gosh...it is fantastic!!!

Of course I forgot to get a picture of my piece before I taped the box shut. Wouldn't you know? It wouldn't have been right if my first exchange went perfectly. So I had to make at least one amateur mistake, right?! So there you go, no picture. But fortunately Ranae took a wonderful picture and has kindly given me permission to post it to my blog.

This is part of Tanya's Quaker Boo freebie she posted last year. I have wanted to do this one since she posted it. I went back and forth over this and a Bent Creek design. I really wanted to do this chart, but I couldn't decide if it's poor exchange etiquette to use a freebie chart or not. It was my favorite since I thought it would make the most interesting finish, so I went for it anyway. Anyone want to set me straight on this? Anyway, I did the large octagon motif over 2. Then I stitched 4 slightly varied versions of the pumpkin motif over 1 and hung those from the bottom 4 corners of the octagon. I put mine and Ranae's initials on the back along with the year. My pillow ornament finishing wasn't perfect by any stretch of the imagination. But Ranae didn't seem to mind.

Ranae, thank you so much for offering to exchange with me! I had so much fun doing this with you! You are wonderful! My flatfold from you is gracing my living room window sill, and I seriously can't help but smile every time I see it!

Hugs for Ranae and all the amazing stitchers out there who continue to inspire and support me in my stitching adventures :)

My First Exchange!

2009-10-12T16:03:00.004-05:00

After a rough week - everyone in the house was sick except DH - I had a very exciting pick-me-up!

Ranae and I had arranged to do a personal Halloween exchange, and look at the amazing lovelies that came in the mail for me!!

I couldn't have dreamed of a more incredible exchange! I have been walking on cloud nine over receiving this! Thank you Ranae for such a sweet package!! This is my first flatfold and I'm going to use it as a reference to try one this finish myself. Isn't it darling? And look at that trim! So festive! The little stickers walked off in the hands of my 3-year-old, so he keeps calling the package "our Halloween package." What a goober! And check out that scissor fob! Isn't it fantastic?! This was so much fun!!!

Ranae's package from me is in the mail finally. It's off to it's new home. I have to admit, my exchange pales in comparison to the beautiful package she put together for me. I just hope she has as much fun getting her package from me as I did getting mine from her :)

H-A-Double L-O-Double U-Double E-N spells Halloween!

2009-09-22T22:44:00.001-05:00

I cannot believe it's been about 6 weeks since my last entry! I've been getting into a groove with school, and I've been working on exchange stitching. So I haven't had too much I could show for myself around here.

But, I did get a little something finished up yesterday that's worth a show! So here it is. Overcast days make for poor pictures, but I wanted to share anyway.

It's the La-D-Da ornament from the JCS halloween issue. I stitched it 1/1 on white belfast linen with DMC. I love the way it turned out! This was my first time doing a coffee dye and I really think it gives it something special! I took a cue from Alma at the BBD blog and wove a fiber from the linen into the piece to give it a little haphazard mended look - adding to the old, worn feel of it. Cuddle Bug ran off with this one and put it on the doorknob of his bedroom door. I'm not sure that's where it will stay.

School has been going well. I've been getting into a rhythm with that. I have 2 online classes and 1 in-person class. So far, my grades have been good. And I'm really enjoying my biology class. Last night was our first exam in Bio and I got the highest score in the class. For myself, that always feels good. But I hate when the other students ask what I got and I have to tell them I got the high score for the class. I feel so self conscious about it in the classroom setting. But when I get home I want to shout it from the rooftops :)

Cuddle Bug is in his 2nd week of preschool today. He only goes for 2.5 hours twice a week (Tues and Thurs). It's been a big adjustment. So far we haven't been there without tears. But he comes home busting at the seams to tell us all about his fun! I'm hoping it won't be too much longer before he can't wait to go back.

Thank you for coming and reading my little ol' blog and leaving such wonderful and supportive comments. The stitching community is so warm! I enjoy you all! Sending you all happy stitchy wishes!!

Welcome Fall!

2009-09-22T20:06:00.004-05:00

2 entries in one day! That's unheard of on my blog!

I just wanted to post this little freebie from Monique. I managed to whip this one up during naptime. Thank goodness for naptime...I think I would be useless without it!!

Sorry for the terrible picture. I know if I wait until morning to take a picture in natural light I won't find the time tomorrow.

Fall Freebie from My Mark Designs
1/1 on 32 count coffee-dyed linen scrap
DMC thread
Stitched and Finished 9/22/09

It's That Time of Year

2009-08-17T11:55:00.005-05:00

Thank you everyone for your incredibly kind and supportive comments on my last entry. I don't know what to say. Stitchers are easily some of the most amazing, sincere, caring, and generous people in the world! Thank you for making me feel so good!!

And thank you everyone who offered to do personal exchanges with me! I hope to make time to do one with each and every one of you in the near future. Ranae and Vonna are on my list in the coming months! I've been busy at work getting things together for those exchanges and I have to say that I am incredibly excited about it! Thank you ladies for offering to join in the fun with me!

In between organizing myself for my first exchanges, I have made a little bit of progress on "Something Sweet" from BBD. I am loving this project now as much as when I started it! I have already picked out a spot on my wall for it too! Now if only I had a lot more open time to work on this one!

These are the weeks that get a little crazy around here. I'm sure many of you commiserate with me that this time of year gets hectic. And I don't even have "school aged" children! DH works for a university, and it's move-in time and student-tech training time. That means he works some days on the weekend (like yesterday) and he works extra long week days. We miss him. I feel spoiled to have a husband that (usually) works regular work hours. These extra hours remind me not to take his (mostly) predictable schedule for granted!

On top of that, I am headed back to school myself this year. I mentioned before that I was going to start taking classes to begin working toward my BSN. Well I have 3 classes this semester starting a week from today (8/24). Biology, Statistics, and Economics. Wish me luck! This surprise came in the mail from my mom and my sister to get me ready for my new role as student! And when I finish school, it can carry stitchy projects! Lucky me!

And we decided to find a preschool program for Cuddle Bug. We are hoping to give him more social interaction with children his own age. We found him a preschool class that meets only two days a week (Tues and Thurs) for 2.5 hours (9-11:30 am). I'm hoping that will help him to open up a bit and not be so painfully shy around other kids. We will see! He starts that in September.

So we've been working hard around here. But it isn't without it's joys and celebrations! Ladybug turned 6 months old a week ago. We had a half birthday party for her and she had her first bite of "solid food." The adventure begins with that! Smeared sweet potatoes and sticky diapers. Fun! I cannot believe she's already 6 months old!

I hope everyone had a wonderful weekend full of crossed stitches and relaxation! Hoping you all have a great week and happy stitchy wishes!

A Beauty from Ranae

2009-08-06T13:06:00.007-05:00

I am such a flake! I completely forgot to mention and extend my thanks to sweet Ranae for sending this gorgeous issue of Sampler and Antique Needlework Quarterly to me! Ranae gave this away on her blog and I was the lucky winner. It has been forwarded on by several stitchers and I intend to pass it along once I've gotten my fill of it! Thank you Ranae!

I got some stitching in yesterday. As usual, it was not enough to make nearly the progress so many of you make on a given day, but I will take what I can get! I am hooked on this piece. It is a marvelous stitch! Brigitte, you should definitely start this one (IMHO)! You may even finish before I do! :)

Today I read this very honest and vulnerable entry on the blog of an incredibly talented stitcher. She says she feels insecure about her stitching sometimes. I am in awe of her skill. Her projects are bigger, bolder, and stitched with more mastery than I could dream of achieving! I relate though. I'm terribly insecure about my stitching and my finishing. I desperately want to participate in all of the gorgeous exchanges so many of you do, but I hate to think someone will get my pitiful stitching in exchange for a masterpiece they made! I follow the HOE blogs just to oogle everyone's creations and packages! Maybe I will get the guts to do it myself one of these days. In the meantime, it was special for me to read that even some of you gifted and experienced stitchers feel insecure about your work sometimes. Not because I enjoy hearing people feel this way, but because I know I'm not entirely alone in my feelings sometimes.

Thank you all for your support! I love reading your comments. They mean a lot to me! Happy stitchy wishes everyone! HUGS!

Another Lobster Roll Please!

2009-08-04T22:06:00.008-05:00

Well all I can say is finally...finally a little something worth showing!

Thank you all for your suggestions and comments on my last post about scroll bars vs. q-snaps. I set out finally having settled on some q-snaps. Well wouldn't you know that my Hobby Lobby would be all out?! Just my luck! So circumstance effected my decision making in the end. It was either wait a week for some q-snaps to come in or get some scroll rods and get stitching! I chose the latter, naturally.

I must say that I like the scroll rods so far. There was a bit of a learning curve with them - trying to figure out how best to go about getting my fabric on the rods and twisted taut. But I managed. And they've been doing what I paid them to do. So I'm pleased! I will be giving q-snaps a try next time I need something though. As some of you said, I guess I can only really decide what I like by trying both.

I made some progress on my BBD "Something Sweet." It's coming along swimmingly considering it sat idle for nearly 2 months and I get very little quality stitching time - what with the bugs demanding my constant attention and all. But I'm enjoying this more than I can describe! Who could have known that BBDs are such an absolute joy to stitch?! Here's a little progress pic for you to feast your eyes on!

And as I mentioned in my last post, my month-long absence was not only taken up with longing for needle and thread, but also with a little fun in the sun! DH and I dragged our incredibly awesome bugs on a long 2-day car ride from St. Louis to Boston because we're crazy like that! We spent 5 full days in Boston enjoying ourselves to bits, and then we drove 2 more days home! I would just like to say that even though our bugs are only 3 years and 5 months, they are amazing travelers! We had our moments (Cuddle Bug had to pee on the side of the road for the first time and that involved a huge meltdown "NOOOOO! Only dogs pee on the ground!" - yes, that's a quote) and I'm nursing the Ladybug so you haven't lived until you've been pumping in the passenger seat and crawling into the backseat with a bottle every few hours. For those of you wondering, running the car heater and setting the (fresh from the cooler) expressed milk on the dash does bring it up to body temperature, but be prepared to sweat utilizing this method in mid-July! Seriously though, it was easy considering the ages of our little ones! They spoil us.

We were there visiting my Dad and his wife who live just outside of Boston in a great little beachy town called Hull. And we took it easy...way easy. We didn't cram a bunch of sight-seeing or tourist stuff into our trip (since we've done all that during previous trips there). We mostly hung around my dad's water-front townhouse, ate lobster, and enjoyed the view and good company. We did take the bugs to the New England Aquarium and managed a trolley tour. Oh and we took my dad's kayaks out a few times and spent a few hours at the beach. It was more fun and more relaxation than other vacations I've been on! We came home from our trip not feeling like we needed a vacation to recover from our vacation! And that's how we know it was a success.

I leave you with a picture of the view from my nursing spot at my dad's. This is where I sat several times a day and nursed the Ladybug. Oh how I long to be back there now!

Thanks for visiting, and for all your wonderful comments, help, and suggestions! And happy stitchy wishes to each and every one of you!

Withdrawal is Setting In - Help!

2009-07-31T10:42:00.005-05:00

It's been well over a month since I posted last around these parts. The truth is there hasn't been much to update. I haven't made any substantial progress on anything in almost 2 months! It's starting to take a toll on me!

But everyone was so helpful about the hoop marks on my BBD piece. The hoop has hit the trash! I was lucky I asked you all about it before I got much further in the project as I was able to force them out with the iron by carefully getting the hoop marks wet and avoiding the threads all together! Phew! But this one hasn't been touched since. I haven't made it to the store for a suitable hoop alternative. But I'm going to try to make it to he store today!

So I ask you all....q-snaps or scroll bars? And why?

It hasn't been all stitching withdrawal lately though. I've had my share of fun in July! Expect pictures of that fun in my next update!

Thank you all for all your help and support! And thank you in advance for any help deciding between the q-snaps and scroll bars, Happy stitchy wishes to you all!

That Lonely BBD

2009-06-22T10:42:00.007-05:00

Thank you all for your sweet comments about my 3 problems on Friday. And an especially big thank you to everyone who encouraged me to get that Cheesecake Factory! I'm going to be letting DH know how you all feel ;)

I didn't find any time to pick up my current stitching project this weekend as I had hoped. I'm working on BBD's "Something Sweet." I started it over 2 weeks ago, but haven't touched it in over a week. So it's only got 1 week's worth of work put into it - which isn't many hours considering I have 2 small children. It will get some quality time this week I hope. Pay no attention to the stairs. I will be fixing that mistake! Oops.

Something Sweet by Blackbird Designs
Thread: recommended CC, WDW, and GAST
Fabric: 28 Count winter white linen
Started: 6/6/09

We had a good Father's Day. Cuddle Bug and I got up and made Daddy the usual Father's Day breakfast of cinnamon rolls. When they were ready we woke up Daddy and Ladybug and all had a wonderful breakfast. We gave Daddy the gift we had prepared for him. Then we loaded up into the car and drove to Ironton, Missouri to spend the day with some family. It was wonderful and low key. I finished up the day very sick. I think I had become terribly dehydrated in the heat. My head was pounding and I was dizzy and tired. I guzzled a bunch of water upon returning home, took a bunch of advil, and laid down to close my eyes for a bit. 2 hours later DH woke me up to nurse the Ladybug. I felt terrible to have napped so long on Father's Day, but I was really not feeling well at all. DH assured me he didn't mind.

This is what we gave Daddy for Father's Day (one of the rare moments you will get to see a picture of the bugs or see their names on my blog):

I have a question for all you wonderfully helpful seasoned stitchers out there in blogland. I am stitching my BBD project in a hoop. I find it makes my stitches more even and consistent than stitching in the hand. But it's leaving ring wrinkles in my fabric and I'm finding it impossible to iron them out. Since I'm using hand dyed fibers, I can't get it wet to force the wrinkles out. Any suggestions???

Well that's about it around these parts. I hope everyone else had an incredible weekend! Sending you all wonderful stitchy wishes!

It's Been Too Long!

2009-06-19T18:16:00.006-05:00

First of all, thank you everyone for your kind comments about the dress and support of my desire to head back to school! I appreciate each and every one of you!!!

It's been too long... Since what you ask?

Well it's been too long since I've posted an update to this here blog. That's one. And it's been too long since I've put needle to linen (almost a week now). That's two. And it's been too long since I've seen the inside of a Cheesecake Factory. That's three.

So I'm on a mission to fix these things in the near future.

Problem one - well I'm taking care of that one right now.

I don't have much to write about. I've spent a little more time behind the sewing machine since my last post. Cuddle Bug got a chef's hat. Now I can stop being reminded how Santa forgot to bring him the chef's hat he requested for Christmas. And this one is made of Disney Cars fabric! Beat that you little elves!!! And Ladybug just got a new summer dress. This time I managed to get the little diaper cover worked out as well :) I'm improving!

I've also been dabbling in the paper crafting world! I'm a huge admirer of the work Steph does over at Where'd All My Money Go?!. And she's peaked my interest in paper crafting! I'm all signed up for a "Scrapbooking Basics" class at a nearby scrapbooking store next week. I'm excited!

I made it out to a great LNS in historic St Charles, MO with a friend. I got some specialty fibers I needed to start my current project. They carry Belle Soie and for a moment I considered picking up a skein to quell my curiosity. But I exercised self control and just got what was on my list. I'm a bad stasher... Too much self control for my own good! Someday very soon I want to give silks a try!

That was two weeks ago tomorrow we made that trip, and that afternoon I started my current project - my first BBD. And I love it! It's been a joy so far when I have the time. That brings us to problem number two. I haven't touched this project in almost a week! I have to admit I've hardly made a dent in it and I haven't had a moment to get a good photograph of it when the sun is up. When the sun is up, my bugs are up. And that leaves very little time for taking pics of my projects. Oh well. I promise a picture this weekend! So bare with me! I may become a BBD junkie! This one is going to get some much-needed attention tomorrow...I hope...

And that leaves problem three. Something tells me this one is going to remain a problem for a while longer. I will just have to settle for some Sarah Lee cheesecake from the freezer section of my local grocer. And I admit, as humble as that sounds I may almost perfer it that way. That I can eat in my pajamas as I work on that afformentioned WIP. You can't say that about the Cheesecake Factory ;)

Okay, since I have no picture of my own adventures, I leave you with this little beauty I have been drooling over today:

Feast your eye on that!

And for anyone interested in a crafty giveaway I came across this one in my scrapbook blog hopping and you've got to check it out (not stitching related, but good fun for the craft enthusiast!):
Paper Craft Pleasures is giving away a Bind-It-All binder machine and accessories! This is generally a paper crafting tool, but stitchers could use it to bind your very own journals complete with stitched cover! You know you want one ;)

That's it for me today. Wishing you all a wonderful weekend!

Sewing, Finishing, Living

2009-05-22T13:20:00.005-05:00

A few years ago (when we were still living in Tucson, AZ) my mom awarded me ownership of a little piece of equipment I will always associate fondly with sweet mom-made summer dresses - her old Kenmore sewing machine. All these years it's been untouched (short of the 8 moves we made in less than 2 years, that is). I hadn't a clue how to use it.

Well since my mom was in town for my sister's graduation - Congrats Steph! - I made it a point to get out the sewing machine for a little how-to! And this is the fruit of that lesson:

A little dress for my Lady Bug! It is terribly flawed, and please let's not even bring up the little diaper cover that was supposed to go with it! But I'm actually very proud of it! So I pat myself on the back! This is only the beginning of my sewing adventures!!! I am hooked!

Speaking of Lady Bug...guess who is now rolling from her back to her belly! They grow up way too fast!

On the stitching front, last week I made time to finish my "Paper Whites" by LHN into a little pinkeep. This is even complete with a hem-stitched pocket on the back! And I did a bow using Vonna's method. I'm more than pleased with the way it turned out! It's easily my best finish to date :)

Paper Whites by Littlehouse Needleworks

Stitched 1 over 1
Thread: Recommended DMC
Fabric: 28 Count natural linen
Stitched: 5/1/09 - 5/8/09
Finished as pinkeep: 5/21/09

Other than that, things are going well around here. I started thinking seriously in the past week or so about going back to school. I went to the University of Arizona straight out of high school, and after about 4 years there, I was miserable and still had no direction and no degree to show for myself. I just couldn't find anything that felt right. So after a lot of contemplation, I left school to start a family. We've been very blessed that DH can support us and I can stay at home with the bugs. But I still want to have my degree. Now at 26, I know what I want to study and what I want to do outside of being a mom and wife. I want to be a nurse. And that brings us around to today.

My sister's passion - besides boy bands of the 1990s - is student affairs in a university setting. She just graduated with a masters degree in College Student Personnel. So my talking about going back to school gets her blood flowing! Today she went with me to the University of Missouri - St Louis to poke around campus. I just wanted to see the university and planned to make some calls next week to speak with an adviser there. But, leave it to my sister to have me seated in an adviser's office in the College of Nursing before I even knew what had happened! I left there with a lot of answered questions and a plan. That leaves me both excited and terrified! But nothing happens if we don't just commit, grin and bear it for a while, and follow through. So, that's that...I'm going back to school! And, with 2 small children and commitments to my family and husband, I give myself 3 years. I expect to have my BSN in 3 years. You heard it here first :)

Tweet Tweet

2009-05-13T10:50:00.007-05:00

It sounds like many of you had very nice Mother's Days. Mine was no exception!

DH and Cuddle Bug got up and made me a wonderful breakfast! We had french toast made from french loaf (not a stick in sight) that was divine! And it was accompanied by country potatoes, canadian bacon, and fruit salad! It was so yummy! We spent our afternoon at The Magic House where moms got in free. Then we joined DH's (surviving) brothers and mother at Baileys' Chocolate Bar for drinks, cheese, food, and dessert. Yummmm! If you're ever in St Louis, do be sure to give Baileys' Chocolate Bar a visit. It's a slice of heaven in my opinion. And I'm not just saying that because my BIL is the owner ;)

I also laid claim to my Mother's Day gift - Lady Scarlet's Secret Garden from Just Nan! Can you believe my LNS has had this all this time and no one took it home???? It was displayed on a low shelf, fairly out of sight and all wrapped tight in its packaging. I caught sight of her in a passing glance. I think it was fate :) DH saw my excitement and purchased her on the spot! He's so wonderful!

I've been running around for days trying to stay ahead of the game with house work. My family comes into town tomorrow and I have a list a mile long of things that need accomplished before they land. I am so excited as tomorrow I will be meeting my brother's fiance for the first time! Then Friday we head to a tiny little town in Illinois where my sister is graduating with her masters degree. This will also be the first time everyone in my family - except my sister - will meet the Lady Bug. So much to celebrate! Now if only my family could get together without the drama...

Somehow I did manage some stitching in all the housework though! I saw this little feathered friend on a few other blogs and had to have her for myself! I started this Tuesday afternoon when I found a free second and put the final stitch in her last night before bed. I can't help but notice that my bird is lighter than everyone else's (including the model). I checked the numbers a million times to be sure, and it seems my DMC 613 is lighter than everyone else's 613. I bought the skein brand new yesterday and checked the numbers and labeling repeatedly. I'm not sure what happened. But I like her just fine so she shall stay as she is. I'm thinking it's a genetic mutation or a recessive gene exhibited from one generation to the next.

Eggs...etera #109 from The Cross Eyed Cricket

Thread: recommended DMC
Fabric: 28 Count Mystery Linen (unlabeled scrap from LNS)
Stitched: 5/11/09 - 5/12/09

Still no finished finishing to show. I couldn't commit to finishing when the little birdie was calling to me :)

Off for more chores and a cup of coffee!

Thanks for your comments, help, and support! Sending you all wonderful stitchy wishes!

Little Happy Dance

2009-05-08T19:18:00.005-05:00

Even a small scale project deserves a little jig!

I finished LHN's "Paper Whites" this afternoon while Cuddle Bug napped upstairs in bed and Ladybug napped in my lap. Even with dishes crowding the sink, toys littering the living room, and kleenex strewn about (these allergies are going to be the end of me), I still consider myself to have been incredibly productive during that rare moment when both kiddies were asleep at the same time this afternoon! I finished another small project! Now excuse me while I pat myself on the back!

Paper Whites by Littlehouse Needleworks

Stitched 1 over 1
Thread: recommended DMC
Fabric: 28 Count natural linen
Stitched: 5/1/09 - 5/8/09

So, what's next? Well I have plans to finish this finish as well as another unfinished finish I have in my to-be-finished pile. You know you're a stitcher when that sentence makes sense to you :) So I may do that this weekend. And I am going to get started on my little Cross Eyed Cricket Eggs...Cetera bird. I want him finished and on the mantle before spring ends!

A very happy Mother's Day to all you amazing mothers, moms, and mommies out there! I would give my right arm to be spending it with my mom this year (instead I will be with my MIL...). But I will get to see my mom next Thursday when she comes in for my sister's graduation. So I have that to look forward to! My mom has only seen pictures of Lady Bug and she hasn't seen Cuddle Bug in person in 2 years! So it will be a fun time for everyone. My how he's changed!

This will be Cuddle Bug's first Mother's Day in charge - to some degree at least. Last year DH got a sitter for the little guy and he took to me an amazing (and expensive) Mother's Day brunch. Ooooh what a treat! This year CB has decided he wants to make me breakfast. And after asking what exactly it was he wanted to prepare, he has boldly decided that Mommy will be having french toast sticks for breakfast! I try to explain to him that I eat my french toast with a fork, but we shall see if I end up with sticks with the crusts cut off. Who knows!

Cheryl asked me about the Cars cake I was poised to make for Cuddle Bug's birthday. Well...that didn't happen. And as the mother of an infant, I'm sure she can understand why :) Thank goodness the grocery store could manage a birthday cake on such short notice!

Hugs and wonderful stitchy wishes to you all! I appreciate all your sweet comments and support more than I can say!

Cross Stitch Heaven!

2009-05-04T20:09:00.006-05:00

DH declared yesterday that for the last few days I have been "in cross stitch heaven!" And he's right!

Friday I got started on a new project - something small and (ideally) quick. I started LHN's "Paper Whites." This is another chart I got from generous Jacque! I'm hoping it will be finished by the end of this week, but with an infant there's just no way to be sure.

Paper Whites by Littlehouse Needleworks

Stitched 1 over 1
Thread: recommended DMC
Fabric: 28 Count natural linen
Started: 5/1/09

Saturday I went to my LNS to pick up some charts I ordered. I picked up a few other things as well. But I cant show all of it because some of what I purchased is actually going to be part of an upcoming bloggging project I have planned. So pictured is what I can share. I fell in love with the little Eggs...Cetera bird after seeing him on several other blogs. I got two small cuts of fabric as well. The JBW chart and Crescent Colors floss are actually not for me. I picked them up for my sister who is giving them as a little gift to a good friend of her's who stitches.

I also made a pretty great find in my LNS and it was purchased as my Mother's Day present. I almost fell over dead when I saw it sitting on a little shelf down low! I can't say what it is yet, as I have to wait for Mother's Day to claim it as my own. But DH was quick to get it when he saw how excited I was to have laid eyes on it!

And then yesterday I got a chart in the mail from wonderful Tracy at Ink Circles. She sent me an Ink Circles chart of my choosing as a door prize from her "booth" at the Needlework Show! My entry was all about how I never win anything and my twin sister wins everything! It's been my lot in life! Let's just say that when I finally won my first raffle after watching my sister win raffle after raffle growing up, I won a washcloth folded into the shape of a bunny! My sister, however, won (in the same raffle) a calculator with matching pen, clickable pencil, and pencil case! As a 5th grader, I was especially disappointed. But I got the last laugh, because I got me a fantastic Ink Circles chart for sharing my story! Tracy is so sweet to offer such a prize to me! I scooped up "Croakworth 2008" as my winnings :) And I still have that washcloth bunny! So there!

Finally I wanted to share with everyone two awesome giveaways out there that you can enter! First off, Steph over at Where'd All My Money Go?! is offering an amazing prize to celebrate her 10,000th blog hit! You can enter her giveaway here. Congrats to Steph for her amazing milestone! And Edgar is having a blogoversary giveaway to celebrate his 2nd blogoversary. So if you haven't already, you can enter his giveaway here. And congrats to Edgar on his blogoversary!

Thank you all for your sweet comments on my fob! Happy stitching to you all!

Fabulous Fob

2009-04-29T16:21:00.005-05:00

Thank you all for your sweet comments on Peach Tree Cottage! And for your wishes on Cuddle Bug's 3rd birthday and all the birthdays we had in April! I think the mayhem is finally over!

I did manage to get a project finished in all the hustle and bustle these past few weeks. I put the final stitches in this one and did the finishing last night. DH was such a sweetie and took care of the kiddies while I worked on this to get it finished!

I got this chart from sweet Jacque - who no longer has a blog of her own. But she's wonderful and this was in a big pile of charts she sent me last year.

A Sampler Scissors' Fob by Forget-Me-Nots in Stitches
Stitched 1 over 1

Thread: DMC of my choosing
Fabric: 32 Count Twilight Blue linen
Stitched: 4/19/09 - 4/28/09
Finished as scissor fob: 4/28/09

This chart is off to Mary Kathryn now. I came across it on her wishlist during an Google search of this designer. I hope she will enjoy it as much as I did. And thank you again Jacque for giving it to me!

Big hugs and lots of wonderful stitchy wishes to you all! I so appreciate your support and kind words!!

Tanya's Tease!

2009-04-24T08:58:00.002-05:00

Has everyone seen the sneak peak for Tanya's new design?? I am infatuated! I am not allowed to buy any new charts until I make a dent in the charts I already own (slow going with an infant). But...I may be willing to make an exception for a SAL of this one. Perhaps there would be other takers??

I'm working on a little design right now. I will post more on that later. When I start these small designs I don't bother posting my new start because I expect to have it finished so fast. But that just doesn't happen these days :) The Bugs are totally worth the distraction though! They are amazing!!

Lady Bug has fluffed up a lot the past few weeks! She used to have a lot of definition in her legs, but now she's got little roley poley legs! I love it! And Cuddle Bug turns 3 on Monday! That means I'm making a Car's cake this weekend! Too much to do this month! Between DH's (paternal) grandmother's 100th birthday, Easter, DH's (maternal) grandfather's 82nd birthday, and Cuddle Bug's birthday, April weekends are kicking our butts! Is it May yet? :)

Peach Tree Cottage Finished!

2009-04-17T15:02:00.007-05:00

It's finished...finally!!! I put the final stitch in Peach Tree Cottage from LHN this afternoon! Dare I mention I started this project on May 31, 2008? But this one turned into a UFO and then Lady Bug came out into the world and made finishing this a marathon! But it's finally finished!

Peach Tree Cottage by Littlehouse Needleworks
Thread: Recommended Crescent Colors and DMC
Fabric: 28 ct Country French in Cashmere
Started:5/31/08
Finished: 4/17/09

This one became a UFO during my pregnancy when I was just much too tired and much too distracted to work on anything bigger than a few square inches. Then I avoided it because the leaves were driving me crazy - they just seemed to go on forever! But I picked this up after I finished "Peace" and was determined to finish it! It wasn't without a few visits from the frog. And I actually put the final stitches in it (the first time) at 1am Wednesday night/Thursday morning.

And that's when I was finally convinced once and for all that there is an error in the chart. The window panes in the chart are a green-gray color and the shutters and trim around the door are a light mocha brown. But as I was stitching these parts, they seemed backwards to me. It seemed like the windows should have been the light brown and the shutters the green-gray. I decided to leave it and see how it looked at the end. But come Wednesday night/Thursday morning when I put in the final stitch, it still didn't seem right. So I inspected the picture of the sample again, and again I was thinking these were backward! I am fairly certain the picture on the chart has these colors flipped from how they are charted. I have toyed with the idea of emailing Diane about it. I googled it but couldn't find anything about anyone saying they had noticed the same thing. Maybe I'm completely wrong. Either way, I frogged the shutters and the window panes yesterday and spent last night and this morning (at any available opportunity) putting them back in with the colors reversed. And in my humble opinion, it looks right this way!

And I also got an email from Kendra that she received the little giveaway I made in honor of our sweet Lady Bug's birth! She said she loved it, so I am pleased! I was nervous to share my mediocre stitching with another stitcher, especially one as talented as Kendra! Thank you for being so kind Kendra! Here is the altoids tin I finished for her and the little extras I sent along - red and white print fabric , a ladybug button from JABCo, and "Ladybug" fibers from both WDW and CC.

And thank you everyone for your continued support and comments! I appreciate them all so much!!

Slow and Steady...

2009-03-23T12:07:00.007-05:00

I had not forgotten just how demanding a new baby is. I had no delusions that my "me time" would even come close to comparing to what it had been as Cuddle Bug was getting older and a little more self-reliant. And I have not been surprised by just how little I accomplish most days outside of meeting the basic needs of my two bugs.

Stitching has been no exception. I get 5 minutes here, 15 minutes there, maybe an hour if I'm lucky. I think I spend more time getting things out and putting them away than I actually do putting needle to fabric. But that's okay. I know it won't always be like this and I keep reminding myself to enjoy it while it lasts. Both of my kiddies are so amazing!

I have been able to keep up with everyone else's blogs, though. The laptop is my companion during the many long nursing sessions day and night. And I can comment with one free hand. There are so many amazing projects going on out there in Stitching BlogLand and I am impressed with how fast so many of you are! I'm a slow stitcher when I have all the time in the world on my hands, so throw in a 1-month-old and I move at a pace of a few stitches a day ;)

It should come as no surprise to me or anyone else then that this little bitty project - LHN's Peace Thread Pack - took me an epic 8 days to complete!

Peace Thread Pack by Littlehouse Needleworks
Thread: Crescent Colors
Fabric: 32 ct Country French Latte
Stitched:3/12/09 - 3/20/09

I also went to my LNS Wednesday to look for a little something. I came home with LHN's "The Old West" chart. I'm going to start this soon and give it to my mom for her birthday in October (that's how slow I am...). My mom lives in Tucson - that's where Cuddle Bug was born, too - so this piece is perfect for her right down to the "Tucson" sign!

I hope you all are having beautiful spring weather!! We went to the park this weekend and Cuddle Bug went down the big slide all by himself! He's growing up too fast!

Happy Spring to everyone!

We Have A Winner!

2009-03-19T10:52:00.004-05:00

I have to admit I had significantly more entries for my little giveaway than I expected! Thank you everyone for making me feel so good about my mediocre stitching :)

My Lady Bug Giveaway drawing was scheduled for yesterday. But, as seems to be the case lately, it either could not or did not happen before Cuddle Bug - who was to do the drawing - had to head off to bed. So we did it first thing this morning after breakfast!

I tried my hardest to explain to Cuddle Bug that he was going to do a "special kind of drawing." No matter what I said, a "drawing" to Cuddle Bug involves markers and crayons. So rather than draw a name, he drew on the names before I cut them up and threw them in a basket.

Cuddle Bug may have done the "drawing," but I actually drew the name of the winner :)

And the winner is Kendra!

I will get that in the mail to you soon Kendra!!!

Thank you everyone who entered! You really did make me feel good that anyone would be interested in having something stitched by little ol' me!

Thank you for your continued support and friendships!

Headaches, LNS, and Santa Moon

2009-03-12T13:14:00.001-05:00

This post has been in "draft" phase since last week. Motherhood, migraines, and life in general interfered with my actually finishing and posting it...

So better late than never right?

I went to my LNS on Saturday the 28th of February to pick up a few small odds and ends for the giveaway to celebrate our recent addition - Lady Bug. DH sat quietly and patiently in the framing corner with Cuddle Bug playing with toys while I mozied around the store for well over an hour - touching everything I could :) When all was said and done, I didn't leave with anything new for me, but I did enjoy oogling all the pretties. I just can't make sense of spending the money when I already have unfinished projects (even though DH said I could have whatever I wanted). I have too much self control for my own stashing good!

I did get the stitching on a little something finished that Saturday night. I finished the crescent Santa face from PS's Santa Moon chart. I actually hate to admit I started this little guy last year - probably in July or August. It was going to be a quick little one day project. But I got sidetracked that day halfway through, it got put away, and then it didn't come back out until this weekend! Someone smack me! When I saw him half-finished I decided nothing was getting done until my quick little 6 month project got his final stitch. So here it is. I must never let something this small and simple go by the wayside again. I will say that stitching on black linen is no easy feat!

Crescent Santa Face from Santa Moon by Prairie Schooler

Thread: DMC
Fabric: Black Cashel Linen
Stitched: Summer 2008 - 2/28/09

And I posted my little giveaway yesterday for anyone interested in winning something small from a novice stitcher :)

Hugs to all the wonderful stitchers out there! Your kindness and support mean the world to me!

Giveaway!

2009-03-11T11:31:00.005-05:00

I had hoped to make this post yesterday, but the demands of mothering an infant and a toddler proved too much and I never got the chance. So today is the day!

Yesterday Lady Bug turned 1 month old! To celebrate her 1-month birthday and all the joy she has brought to our lives, I am having my very first giveaway!

Now let's be fair, I'm still a novice stitcher and my finishing leaves much to be desired. However, I am going to be brave and give away a piece I stitched. I've never shared my stitching with a fellow stitcher before! Be kind :)

I stitched this small ladybug themed piece. The finishing will be a surprise for the (lucky?) recipient.

The giveaway is open to anyone interested. Just leave your email address with your comment to be added to the drawing! Cuddle Bug will draw the winner in one week on March 18th!

And thank you all for your kind comments on AmeriKat! I appreciate all your support and kind words!

Productivity

2009-02-27T09:09:00.007-06:00

Yesterday I was considerably more productive than I could have expected considering I have a toddler and a 2 week old! I was pretty impressed with myself - especially since Cuddle Bug was testing my patience for most of the afternoon. He's at the I'm going to ignore my parents when they're talking to me stage. I was repeating myself all day yesterday:

"Do not walk around the living room with open markers."

"Don't use your markers on the living room rug."

"We don't draw on the furniture!"

"I love that you adore her so much, but please don't kiss your baby sister when she's nursing. It distracts her."

"We don't put our Lego trains on the stairs. Someone could get hurt."

"You don't get to tell Mommy no."

I hate days like that. I feel like a witch of a mother telling him "no" and "stop" and "don't" all day. But what alternative is there? Markers on the furniture and someone falling down the stairs... We can't have that! There's got to be a better way to get through to him, though. Any mommies with toddler experience who care to weigh in?

All the behavior correction aside, I actually had some time to finish AmeriKat into an ornie for my sister! Cuddle Bug amused himself with his art supplies and Lady Bug napped in the Moby Wrap while I sat at the table and finished this little pinkeep ornament (sans the pins).

Another overcast day means another bad picture. The fabric is the backing fabric. Believe me, it's a lot more blue IRL.

AmeriKat by Calico Crossroads

Stitched one over one
Thread: Crescent Colours and DMC
Fabric: 26 count white evenweave
Stitched: 2/22/09 - 2/23/09
Finished: 2/26/09

I hope everyone has an amazing weekend! I'm hoping to get my first giveaway ready this weekend. At this point that depends on whether or not we get the heat in the car working so we can go out tomorrow. This morning DH reported to me that the car's heater wasn't working on his way into work. We can't take the kiddies out in the freezing cold with no heat in the car :/

Thanks for all your wonderful comments and support. I so appreciate them :)

A Thank You and A Finish!

2009-02-26T10:36:00.005-06:00

Thank you all to the ends of the earth for you kind messages and congratulations on our new bundle! You are all so sweet and wonderful! We are truly blessed!!!

I've got a few minutes while Cuddle Bug watches Word World on PBS and Lady Bug sleeps in her swing next to me. And that means I can update around here!

We are continuing our adjustment. DH returned to work on Tuesday so I'm getting used to being a stay-at-home-mom of 2. Lady Bug had her first well-baby visit with the pediatrician on Tuesday. It was my first outing with the two kiddos all by myself. Things were going fine until we entered the exam room. I had been telling Cuddle Bug for the past week that we were taking his sister to the doctor, but he didn't have to worry because he wasn't going to get checked out. He was just there to help his baby sister. It didn't matter. As soon as he walked into the exam room he had his usual meltdown. I was trying to answer questions for the nurse, fill out new patient paperwork, undress Lady Bug, and calm my poor terrified son who at one point opened the door and went screaming down the hall! By the end of it all, I was frazzled to say the least. But we survived, and I figure I'm stronger because of it.

I stitched up a little design on Sunday that my sister had asked me to make for her last April. I never got around to it even though it's a small piece. I did the main design Sunday. Then when I was up nursing Lady Bug early Monday morning I decided it needed more blue, so I added the blue border. I like the way it turned out, although if I could do it again I would have stitched the cat with 2 strands instead of 1 for better fill. I changed "July" to "USA" and I'm very pleased with it. This will be finished as a little ornament. I'd like to get around to the finishing in the next few days, but things are busy around here lately so I can't be certain when it will actually get accomplished.

You'll have to excuse the poor lighting in the photo. It's terribly overcast today.

AmeriKat by Calico Crossroads
Stitched one over one
Thread: Crescent Colours and DMC
Fabric: 26 count Evenweave
Stitched 2/22/09 - 2/23/09

In other news, I'm planning my very first giveaway to celebrate our many blessings and my return to blogging! More to come on that this weekend! I'm excited :)

Update! My Amazing Life!

2009-02-19T18:14:00.008-06:00

It has been much much much too long since I have made an entry on my blog! I have so missed the stitching blog community and I can only hope my absence won't have removed me from this wonderful circle.

I have been away so long because my life has been so abundant with blessings the past several months. We purchased a home and have spent a lot of time and energy getting it just right for our family. We have been building new friendships. And most of all we have been readying ourselves for the arrival of a new baby.

Our sweet baby girl decided to make her appearance early on the morning of February 10th - several days past her due date but right on time none-the-less. We are absolutely overjoyed to have welcomed her into our lives! Cuddle Bug is fascinated with his new baby sister, DH is smitten, and I am a much more confident mom this time around!

We are still getting settled in with our little Lady Bug. We are adapting, forming new routines, and finding a new "normal."

I'm a protective mommy and don't really like posting head-on pics or names of the kiddos in a public forum such as this. But I will make an exception for this one post and introduce our most recent blessing :)

Sweet Baby Sarah
February 10, 2009 - 5:40 am
7lbs 10 oz - 19 and 3/4 in

An Update!

2008-07-23T10:19:00.006-05:00

I cannot believe I've been gone for over a month! How did that happen?! I swear I laid down for a nap one day and just woke up this afternoon :)

I have been struggling with "pregnancy fatigue" for weeks and weeks. I feel like I'm dragging through each and every day. I'm mostly just taking lots of naps and vegetating. I wish I could say I had lots of stitching to show for myself, but the truth is I don't. I've been completely unproductive in every way - including hobbies. But I am the queen of the afternoon snooze and that has to count for something! And the good news is we have a beautiful little apple seed to show for it! This is our first peak at Cuddle Bug's new sibling - whom we lovingly refer to as "baby." We got it on June 30th at our first prenatal appointment. We confirmed the gestational age (9 weeks gestation in the ultrasound) and we are definitely due on February 2nd - my (and my sister's) 26th birthday!

In stitching news, about a month ago I got a wonderful gift from the sweet, sweet BeckySC - the gorgeous Joyful Summer chart from Country Cottage Needleworks! This will be my next big project and I'm thinking it will be a perfect gift for my sister, if she wants it of course, for her new apartment. Thank you times a million to Becky for such a lovely chart - you are so generous!

And finally - look what I got from Sally! She has awarded me the Brilliante Weblog Award! Thank you so much Sally! I'm so flattered!! And now I have to choose 7 other blogs I would like to give the award to - yikes! I will make that a top priority!!

I also want to say thank you to everyone who commented on my blog and who emailed to check in on me. Who would have ever guessed I would have actually been missed?! You are all so sweet and wonderful! You made me feel so special :)

Goodies!

2008-06-18T14:54:00.003-05:00

Thank you so much to all of you for your happy wishes on my pregnancy! You are all so sweet! We are very excited :) Dawn asked how far along I am. Based on the first day of my last monthly period I am 7 weeks along and due on Feb 2nd - which is actually my birthday! We will have our first visit with the OB on the 30th of June.

Here is a picture of Cuddle Bug the other night reading to his new baby doll (his practice baby brother/sister) whom he named "Baby Billy." He's so cute!

I got some wonderful goodies in the mail the other day! I got this incredible collection of charts (and 2 kits) from Jacque over at "My Needle's Delight!" Thank you Jacque! You are so kind!! I love each and every design! Some of these charts are designs/designers that I haven't heard of before which is really exciting for me as a beginner :) I don't deserve such a wonderful gift but I will treasure it and will enjoy every stitch I make on these designs - they are from such a lovely blogger!

I also got an order from Handcrafts Online. I ordered some linen, a finishing kit for LHN's "Peace" thread pack and some CC threads I needed.

I really need to get to some serious stitching now with all the fun new goodies I have!

I hope everyone is having a wonderful and productive week! I am hoping my next post will show some kind of stitching progress!! I need to get my tin done for the Monthly Finishing Challenge. I haven't even started that.

Thanks for reading and for all your kind comments and well wishes!

I was RAK'ed!!

2008-06-16T16:41:00.004-05:00

Thank you all for your kind comments wishing me well! I have determined the cause of my exhaustion and nausea, but more on that later.

The most exciting thing happened to me on Friday! I would have posted sooner but with Father's Day weekend we just didn't have any time to slow down and blog in a way that would do justice to the incredible joy and excitement this particular happening brought me! The mail-woman brought me a package! Don't you just love mail that doesn't have "account number" in the upper right corner and a return envelope so we can mail the sender our hard-earned money - I know I do! This particular package had "My Mark" as the return address which really got my mind going because I didn't remember ordering anything! I tore into it immediately and found this gorgeous thread holder inside and a letter from Monique explaining that this beautiful gift was from sweet, wonderful Michele of Just Another Stitching Blog... !! Oh Michele, I don't know what would prompt you to do something so undeserved, but I treasure it more than I can tell you! You have made me feel so special!! You are so thoughtful and generous and I am moved by such a beautiful gesture! Hugs to you!

Isn't it beautiful?! DH was thoroughly impressed when I showed it to him :)

And while we're on the topic of happy, wonderful, very exciting things like my new thread holder...

I have an explanation for my constant drowsiness and the nausea that's been plaguing me on and off just about every day for the past few weeks. I'm pregnant! How crazy is that?!

Thank you again for all my kind visitors and for all your sweet well wishes. And thank you again, Michele for your incredible Random Act of Kindness that still has me walking on air :)

Finally - An Accomplishment!

2008-06-12T16:17:00.003-05:00

I have to apologize for my absence the past week. I've not been feeling well and I haven't had much stitching to show. I have done a tiny bit more stitching on "Peach Tree Cottage" but it is coming along very very slowly as a result of my exhaustion and other ailments.

Yesterday I finally felt like I needed to just finish something so I could have at least a tiny taste of success. So I stitched the PS "Peep" freebie. It is tiny and precious. I'm planning a miniature pinkeep or ornament for this one. I changed the colors around a bit as I wanted the background to be blue instead of the green it calls for. My stitches are kind of sloppy and uneven, but I really wasn't that invested in making it a show-stopper and was just glad I got it finished. I think of every piece as another learning experience :)

"Peep" by Prairie Schooler
Fabric: 32 count Natural Light Linen scrap
Thread: DMC
Stitched 6/11/08

Thanks for visiting and for all your wonderful wishes on my last post about being so tired. I know I don't "know" any of you, but I feel like I have some stitching friends out there in the world wide web!

Peach Tree Cottage

2008-06-04T15:10:00.005-05:00

I would love to say that I've been stitching non-stop on LHN's Peach Tree Cottage since Saturday. But that just isn't the case. Instead, I've been yearning to crawl into Peach Tree Cottage and rest my eyes. I imagine it's decorated shabby-chic inside, with country touches in every corner and perfectly worn furniture that has a story to tell. I would tuck myself under a heavy quilt in one of the upstairs bedrooms and take a nice, long nap. That's how I've been feeling lately - like I want to shut out the world and sleep. Exhaustion is really no fun, and tackling it when you are the sole care-giver of a two year old until 5:30 every evening is especially no fun. I really need to shake this!

This is all the progress that I've made on Peach Tree Cottage since I started it (barely) Saturday night. Most of this was actually stitched yesterday when I was feeling a little less tired and a little more productive. I am loving this piece. The colors are fantastic and I really love the design. I wish I could force myself to spend more time on it. Maybe I'll get over this lethargy and really get busy with this project! Here's hoping!

You are all making such amazing progress with your projects! Thank you all so much for taking the time to read my amateur stitching blog and post comments and suggestions. I appreciate it more than I can say. You all inspire me so much!

It's June Already!

2008-06-01T14:27:00.005-05:00

Today is officially June, and that means it's time to evaluate last month's goals and start thinking about this month.

May Goals:

Finish Stitching CCN's "A Place We Call Home" - Accomplished 5/6/08
Stitch and Finish Biscornu for MFC - Accomplished 5/15/08
Stitch Blocks 2-4 of PS 12 Days of Christmas - Accomplished 5/30/08
Start LHN's "Peach Tree Cottage" - Accomplished 5/31/08

I even managed to sneak in an extra project and get "Love and Faithfulness" from LHN/CC stitched up as well!

I got started on Peach Tree Cottage last night at 9 and stitched for about 15 minutes - long enough to constitute a start, but short enough to not have anything picture-worthy to show for it. I had a terrible headache last night and just couldn't stitch for long. But I give myself credit for pulling it all out to start so I could accomplish my final May goal.

Now for June Goals.

I'm hoping to get more accomplished this month and be a more focused stitcher than last month. So I'm giving myself more ambitious goals for June than I did for May.

My June Stitching Goals:

Finish Stitching LHN's "Peach Tree Cottage"
Stitch and Finish tin for MFC
Stitch LHN/CC's "Peace"
Stitch PS's "Peep"
Stitch Calico Crossroads "AmeriKat"
Stitch 2 PS "Santa Moon" designs
Stitch Blocks 5-6 of PS "12 Days"

Well I hate to leave you without a picture, so I leave you with this picture of Cuddle Bug cooking in his playhouse with a bucket on his head:

Thanks for reading! I so enjoy all of your lovely comments!!

12 Days - 4 Calling Birds

2008-05-30T17:28:00.004-05:00

I finished the 4th block of the 12 Days of Christmas from Prairie Schooler this afternoon. That puts me in line to finish my May goals just in the knick of time!

Block 4 of Prairie Schooler's 12 Days of Christmas
Thread: DMC
Fabric: 32 count Natural Light Linen
Stitched 5/29/08 - 5/30/08

I noticed that the bird on the cover model looks like he has a green wing, but it is charted with a blue wing. I went back and forth but finally decided to just do him as he was charted. I'm still not sure that was the right decision. But he is a sweet little calling bird and I really enjoyed stitching him up!

Thanks for all your support!

"Love and Faithfulness" Finish

2008-05-28T14:12:00.007-05:00

Well my goal was to get this one finished up last night. That didn't quite happen. I stitched for several hours last night until I just needed to rest my eyes and put it away for the night. I always under-estimate the amount of time it's going to take me to finish a project! Anyone else have this same problem? Maybe I'm just slower than I realize. But I did get it finished today just before Cuddle Bug went down for his afternoon nap. Sweet accomplishment!

"Love and Faithfulness" Thread Pack from Little House Needleworks
Stitched one thread over one
Fabric: 30 ct linen from WDW, Color: Linen
Thread: Crescent Colours included in Thread Pack
Stitched: 5/23/08 - 5/28/08

I'm pleased with the results. I was really nervous to see this one evolve when I first got started. The stitches weren't nearly as square as they are stitching over 2. But Kathy gave me a quick tip on stitching over 1 - to keep my stitches on the back going straight up and down or sided to side (not diagonal) whenever I could help it. That really really helped! Thank you Kathy!!

I feel like it's decent enough to gift away as part of a wedding shower gift for DH's cousin, but now I'm wondering if I really want to part with it. I guess we'll see. This one will be set aside for "finishing" at another date once I've determined if I am going to be keeping it or giving it away.

Thanks for reading and for all the help and suggestions you all offer!

Focus, Kim, Focus!

2008-05-27T10:35:00.008-05:00

The month of May has not been a great stitching month for me. Every day I get further and further away from completing my May goals. I gave up stitching time on a few nights to edit term papers for my sister. Then my sister came into town for a week and kept me fairly distracted. And then when stitching time presented itself I just couldn't stay focused for long. Oh well.

Thank you all for your kind words on my LHN start 1/1. It's moving along. It's got little errors and parts that aren't quite square enough for my taste, but the imperfections are growing on me as it evolves - giving it a real old fashioned home-made feel. Perhaps that's just how I'm choosing to look at it. I frogged the third heart. I just couldn't look at it anymore. It had to go. It hasn't been replaced as of yet. This project is not moving along as fast as it should. It is a victim of my inability to focus. But if I can get the motivation to finish this today, I may be able to get all of May goals met just in time! Maybe...

Our holiday weekend was nice. It rained all weekend and spoiled plans. But Saturday morning I woke up and had the whole house to myself. DH took Cuddle Bug on a day trip with family. I took a bath, read my book, got in tiny amounts of stitching, went to breakfast and the craft store with my sister, and just enjoyed a leisurely day. Sunday was supposed to be a trip to the zoo with CB, but that was rained out. And yesterday was supposed to be a trip to DH's grandfather's farm with DH's extended family. But that got rained out too. It was a nice relaxing weekend though. I have no complaints other than that I didn't make enough time to stitch.

We did splurge on a new game for our Nintendo Wii - Wii Fit. It's great fun! My abs hurt today :)

Thanks for reading and for all your support! I love the stitching community! You are some of the sweetest people I "know!"

What Was I Thinking?

2008-05-23T22:24:00.004-05:00

I started a new project today - one not included among my May goals. I just needed to get away from the on-going PS blocks and finish a chart from my stash. I picked the "Love and Faithfulness" thread pack since I've had it for a while and figured it wouldn't take a long time to complete. Maybe I can even get it finished and still meet all of my May goals.

But I decided to stitch this 1/1 on 30 ct linen. Do you ever have a brilliant stitching idea and then get started and think "What on earth was I thinking?!" That's how I'm feeling right about now. I'm not convinced my hearts really look like hearts. Any thoughts? It's just that linen isn't consistent so I'm thinking that stitching this over 1 makes my shapes look inconsistent. What do you all think? I'm going to carry on with it. If I like it enough, I will make it into an ornament for DH's cousin who is getting married in October. If it's not perfect enough in my eyes to be gifted, I will make it an ornament for our Christmas tree. Either way, I'm carrying on with it.

The colors in this picture are totally off. Artificial lighting just does nothing for stitching photographs. And the wrinkles make my square look like it's been hit with a few shopping carts in the parking lot of my local grocery store. I promise, it's square in real life :)

Thanks for any comments or advice you have!

The 2nd Day of Christmas

2008-05-23T11:41:00.008-05:00

I got the 2nd block of PS's 12 Days of Christmas finished up yesterday. I started it Tuesday but didn't get very far at all by the end of Wednesday. The overwhelming majority was done yesterday - which is pretty good progress in a single day for me. I stitch very slowly. And I railroad my stitches religiously so that really slows me down as well. Having this one done officially makes me 25% of the way done with these squares :)

Block 2 of Prairie Schooler's 12 Days of Christmas

Thread: DMC
Fabric: 32 count Natural Light Linen
Stitched 5/20/08 - 5/22/08

Excuse the greyed-out appearance of the fabric. It is stunningly shady outside and slightly over-cast. I love days that are colored like today - a little gray to contrast against the brilliant green grass and bright pink rose buds. But they don't make for great stitching photos :)

Thanks for reading and commenting! You are all wonderful!

Wouldn't You Know

2008-05-20T16:31:00.005-05:00

Just a few days ago I was talking about my growing "stash" with DH. I said "Honey, I really can't buy any more charts until my 'Completed' charts out-number my 'Not Completed' charts." It seemed perfectly reasonable at the time.

And then this happens! I innocently "Google Reader" on over to Tanya's blog and see the new Country Cottage Needleworks design "Joyful Summer" staring back at me! Ugh! I must have this! It's gorgeous! Why did I say that silly silly thing the other day?! What on earth would compel me to say something so blatantly ridiculous and completely uncalled for!

I'd claim temporary insanity, but I'm not the type to set a goal and then lose without a fight. And that means this is going to have sit patiently on my wish-list until I get through many many charts ahead of it.

I really should have started block 2 of PS 12 Days of Christmas last night but I went running instead and then curled up in bed with my book. Today was worthless for starting any stitching since the headache I went to bed with last night turned into a migraine by morning. With meds, food, DH's tender care during his lunch hour, and caffeine I've nursed myself into something resembling an upright human. Maybe I will get a start tonight. The longer these blocks go unfinished the further I get from finishing my May goals and the longer I wait for the new CCN.

Tin Finish Pictures and a PS Finish

2008-05-19T21:15:00.007-05:00

It feels like ages ago that I made a little tin and scissor fob for my sister. I gave it to her April 4th but never got pictures of the finished product. She was supposed to email me some and never did get around to it. Well she's in town and she brought the tin with her so I could take pictures myself.

I gave this to her as a sewing kit. She doesn't stitch but she does live on campus where she is attending graduate school. I thought a little mending kit would be a practical thing for her to have around. I changed the wording from "Thankful for Ewe" to "Ewe Are Beautiful."

"Thankful" Freebie from Little House Needleworks

Fob: Lamb Stitched 2/2 - Heart Stitched 1/1
Tin: Stitched 1/1
Thread: DMC
Fabric: 28 ct DMC Linen
Stitched 3/29/08 - 4/2/08
Finished as Tin & Scissor Fob (Sewing Kit) 4/3/08
This was my first and so far only tin finish but I really loved doing it and was incredibly pleased with the result!

I finished block 3 of the PS 12 Days of Christmas last night. I still need to do blocks 2 and 4 before I can cross that off my May goals. This took me 4 days between starting it and finishing it. It never should have taken me that long. But my sister came into town Friday and I just didn't make time to get this finished until last night.

Block 3 of Prairie Schooler's 12 Days of Christmas
Thread: DMC
Fabric: 32 count Natural Light Linen
Stitched 5/15/08 - 5/18/08

Hopefully I will get the other 2 blocks I have set as a May goal finished up in shorter time so I can get at least a mildly respectable start on Peach Tree Cottage before June rolls around.

Thanks for visiting! I love reading your kind comments!

MFC May Biscornu Finish

2008-05-16T13:05:00.005-05:00

I made it to the craft store yesterday on the hunt for some suitable buttons to finish off my biscornu for the Monthly Finishing Challenge this month. I found the perfect buttons and got them stitched on last night before bed. There are few things more satisfying than finishing up a stitching project :)

Froggie Biscornu by Casey Buonaugurio

Freebie chart found here.
Fabric: 25 count Cream Lugana
Thread: Recommended DMC
Stitched 5/7/08 - 5/14/08
Finished as a biscornu 5/15/08

I love how this turned out! This is the only acceptable way frogs and stitching should ever mingle as far as I'm concerned!

I got a start on one of the PS 12 Days of Christmas blocks yesterday. I was going to do the 2nd but quickly realized I didn't inspect the chart closely enough and shouldn't have stitched a solid border. So it quickly turned into the 3rd block. With any luck I'll get these blocks churned out quickly so I can meet my May goals. But no guarantees since my sister comes into town tonight.

Thanks for reading and for you sweet comments!

Biscornu in Progress

2008-05-15T13:02:00.006-05:00

Thank you all for your wonderful comments on my Mother's Day post. I should have put a picture of the fun flowers DH presented me with on Mother's Day but I didn't. So here they are:

They are especially great because DH was so creative and crafty! He seriously isn't a crafty guy so it floored me that he came up with and executed it all on his own!

In stitching news, I finished the stitched part of my biscornu last night. It's so cute and all your sweet comments about the adorable froggies were appreciated in my last entry :)

Froggie Biscornu by Casey Buonaugurio
Freebie chart found here.
Fabric: 25 count Cream Lugana
Thread: Recommended DMC
Stitched 5/7/08 - 5/14/08

I actually got it constructed today except for the buttons. I need to make a run to the store to find appropriate buttons. Maybe I will get that done tonight. It is so cute put together! I can't wait to post pictures as soon as it's completed!

I need to make a start on PS 12 Days of Christmas blocks for this month. Hopefully I can get them all stitched lightning fast so I can meet all my goals.

And a Happy Mother's Day

2008-05-13T13:17:00.005-05:00

I hope all you mommies out there had a super Mother's Day!

Mother's Day went by way too fast around here! Sunday morning I woke up to coffee in bed with some fun foam flowers DH had made with pictures of Cuddle Bug in the middle - especially sweet since DH is not known for his craftiness! CB came trampling into the room with a Mother's Day balloon. He was yelling "Happy Mommy Day!" It was precious. One of my favorite things was that CB had let it slip to me that there was a "balloon hiding" on Saturday afternoon when Daddy wasn't around to make sure CB was keeping secrets :) I called my sister to tell her the little guy was dropping details about Mother's Day surprises!

Anyway, DH presented me with a beautifully wrapped gift - charts from my wish-list! Then we headed off to a super fancy brunch downtown. I ate more than I wish to admit to - the desert buffet was sprawling! When I got home there were more presents! CB gave me his gift - a purse I had my eye on over at artsy-crafty babe's etsy shop. It's darling and perfect for summer! DH gave me another chart, this time a thread pack from LHN. It was all just too much :)

We went to the craft store, went to the family rosary, and then ran over to visit with DH's mom. It was a really great day!

I'd like to say that I finished my biscornu for the Monthly Finishing Challenge but the truth is I haven't been stitching too much the past few days. I got the top finished up today so that's something!

I had hoped to have the whole thing put together by yesterday. I got a big distracted with finishing a book and feeling a bit down Friday and Saturday. But I think that's all behind me and I'm hoping to get this one finished up in the next few days. I'm not so sure all my goals will get finished for May though, it being the 13th already. But that's life :)

May MFC Start

2008-05-08T21:34:00.003-05:00

Last night I made a quick start on my biscornu for the Monthly Finishing Challenge. I mentioned before that I had decided to do Casey Buonaugurio's Frog Biscornu Freebie found here. I continued working on it today and I'm loving this little project!

Thank you all for your lovely comments on my recent CCN finish. I'm very proud of it! And everyone agreed that BeckySC is a total sweetheart and spoiled me rotten! I love this stitchy community!

A Finish and Goodies from Becky!

2008-05-06T20:57:00.007-05:00

Yesterday was my goal for finishing "A Place We Call Home" from Country Cottage Needleworks. Well yesterday came and went and there was no finishing - but there was a box from BeckySC on the front porch! It was the gorgeous wooden box she made from the "Good Deeds" Littlehouse Needleworks/Crescent Colours Thread Pack! It is so beautiful!! Becky's finishing is perfection! I am so taken by her generosity to send such a stunning piece to a stitching/blogging newbie like me! Thank you Becky!

Today I got another package from Becky! 2 fun mail days right in row and both of them with return address labels from BeckySC! Lucky me! This time it was 10 whole charts! She sent the 4 seasonal arches charts from Bent Creek that I she set aside for me as well as 6 "grab bag" charts! Becky really spoiled me! And every single chart is beautiful and so perfectly me you would never guess she picked the 6 randomly :) Thank you again Becky!! I know this post is riddled with exclamation marks, but I'm really just that excited :)

And finally, I did finish "A Place We Call Home" from CCN! I put the finishing stitch in it just as David Archuleta was performing his final song on American Idol tonight. Happy dance! I loved stitching this piece and I truly expect that I will do it again some day - as a gift for someone perhaps. It was such a lovely stitch and I had only 3 minor run-ins with that dreaded frog during the entire time I worked on it. It was my first CCN finish and I loved it as much as I expected I would.

"A Place We Call Home" by Country Cottage Needleworks

Stitched on 28 ct Cashmere Country French Linen
DMC, Weeks Dye Works, and Crescent Colours fibers
Stitched 4/25/08 - 5/6/08
Thanks for reading and for all your support!!

More Progress - A Place We Call Home

2008-05-04T20:26:00.004-05:00

It's been a very busy weekend and I didn't stitch at all on Friday. But I have still managed some progress on A Place We Call Home from CCN. I'm hoping to put the last stitch in this one by the time I go to bed tomorrow night. I cannot get a good picture of it to save my life, though. We live in an old house and the windows are long and narrow. With the gorgeous vegetation coming to life outside and shading the house there's just not a lot of natural light streaming in. Oh well. What can you do? I just have to live with these washed out looking pictures of my wrinkly project :)

Thank you all for your support!!

A Fun Mail Day!

2008-05-02T14:10:00.005-05:00

I've been forbidden from checking the mail because DH is expecting Mother's Day related mail. So today when there was a little box sitting next to the front door, I had to wait for DH to inspect it before I could tear into it :)

One of my favorite craft blogs is Scissors. Paper. Glue. Jen is super creative, very crafty, and takes the most beautiful pictures! I read her blog for fun and inspiration. So you can imagine my surprise and joy when she offered to send some of the yummy looking Japanese candy she mentioned in this blog entry! Well today it arrived and she really out-did herself! It came packaged so perfectly - beautiful, sweet, and creative just like her blog! She put the candy in a darling little mug with a rooster on the handle, wrapped it in clear cellophane, and tied it off with a cut of bakers twine (which she sells in her etsy shop by the way)! Jen's presentation skills are unsurpassed! And lucky me to be on the receiving end of her generosity and creativity :)

Happy May Day!

2008-05-01T14:58:00.005-05:00

Wow 2 posts in one day! Seeing as how it's May 1st - I figure I better get my May stitching goals together :)

I completed all my April goals and I hope to do the same for May!

1. Finish CCN's "A Place We Call Home"
2. Start and Finish biscornu for MFC
3. Start and Finish Blocks 2-4 of PS 12 Days of Christmas
4. Start LHN's "Peach Tree Cottage"

I have decided what I want to do for my biscornu for May's Monthly Finishing Challenge. I'm going to do the frog biscornu freebie from Casey Buonaugurio. DH's aunt collects frogs and I have been wanting to do this for her. I'm not sure if I will be doing the flower motif on the back or if I will do something else just yet. But in the meantime I've decided on my fabric and pulled the threads I will need for the frog motif on the front. This will get started as soon as "A Place We Call Home" is finished up.

25 count cream Laguna

Spoiled Stitcher

2008-05-01T13:48:00.004-05:00

I am one spoiled stitcher and it's because of how incredibly sweet other stitchers are! I mentioned before that Terry was super sweet and emailed me because she wanted to gift me the LHN "Night & Day" chart from my wish-list. Well it came in the mail today and it arrived with a friend - the LHN's "The Princess and the P" chart! She said she was going through her stash and found "a little something extra" to include. That is so kind! Thank you so very much Terry!! Don't be surprised when your kind gesture is returned one of these days :)

I've been plugging away at CCN's "A Place We Call Home." I love working on this. The colors are so sweet and delicate. I'm a slower stitcher so it's coming along slowly but I hope I will have it done by the middle of next week at the latest. The colors in this picture look so washed out because it's over-cast. My goal for today is to have the row of flowers in the middle done and "Together we've made a" added to the text. I'm going to do the white of the house last so I don't have to risk it getting soiled. I wash my hands before handling my work, but I still worry about white.

Thank you for reading and for all your comments!! I appreciate them more than I can say :)

2nd Birthday and Stitching Bits

2008-04-29T13:15:00.009-05:00

Cuddle Bug's birthday was wonderful. We had a rib cook-off and birthday cake. DH competed against his Uncle Bill and his cousin Matt (Uncle Bill's oldest son). They all had their own Weber grill, their own secret recipe, and their own racks of ribs. It was a lot of fun - and delicious! DH won although it was really close!

Cuddle Bug got a little ATV from my mom and my sister. He loved it! He rode it all over the backyard and down by the playground. Eventually it had to be put away for nap time and then it started to rain so he didn't get to ride it again on his birthday but there was lots for him to day anyway.

During CB's nap I got the chance to put "Have Faith" in a frame I picked up at Target Friday night. I laced it on myself and got it mostly centered. I'm very satisfied with how it turned out.

I didn't get much stitching done with the birthday boy demanding so much attention and praise, but I did get a little more of CCN's "A Place We Call Home" done.

In other news, Terry sent me the most wonderful email and offered to send me a chart off my wish-list - LHN's Night & Day! I was on cloud 9 with all the nice things she said about my little stitching projects and then to offer such a sweet gesture! Thank you so much Terry!

And thank you all for your kind comments and for the wonderful birthday wishes for my little birthday boy!

Happy Birthday Cuddle Bug!

2008-04-27T10:49:00.005-05:00

Cuddle Bug playing at his Great-Grandpa's farm last weekend

Today you are 2 years old! I don't know where the time went, but everyone warned Mommy "they grow up so fast." They were right. I blinked and here we are - your 2nd birthday! You are such a big boy. You say "I do it myself!" and you are always eager to give new tasks a try. You love coffee in the morning (just a splash in your milk and always decaf!) and you say "perpendicular" to Uncle Dave - you're so sophisticated! I can hardly believe you're the same little man I used to nurse and who used to spit up all over Daddy's good work clothes - "don't touch him until you change your clothes!" Mommy used to tell Daddy when he got home. Where did the last 2 years go? I find myself in disbelief that it's already been 2 years and feeling like you've been in my life forever all at the same time.

Big hugs to you Cuddle Bug! Happy Birthday!!

The Dreaded LNS

2008-04-26T20:55:00.005-05:00

I did it! Today I went to my LNS for the very first time! I was very nervous - would I become intimidated and overwhelmed? At least I had a practice-run when I went to a needlework shop in Illinois where my sister lives - somewhere I didn't have to worry as much about what kind of an impression I made since I wasn't going to be a regular. This was even better, though! The shop space was much bigger so I could actually peruse the inventory without being stared at by the employee(s) and without digging through piles of stuff. It was a very nice shop! And since I have spent the last few months perusing the world of ONS and getting help from all of you wonderful stitchers, I mostly knew what I was looking at at any given time and didn't feel overwhelmed or entirely ignorant :)

DH tricked me to get me there. He said he needed me to go so I could show him things I might want so he knew what to get me for Mother's Day. Only when I got there and I was pointing out all the goodies they have that are on my wish-list did he tell me he had already ordered stuff online from my wish-list. He said he knew I was nervous to go for the first time so he decided to manipulate me into going. Isn't he sweet? :)

I did walk away with a few scraps of linen and evenweave that were all $1 a piece and I knew I could use for smalls of various types. And I also walked away with a new chart - the last thing I needed since I've got several projects waiting in the wings already and BeckySC has been much too kind and is sending me charts for free that she is finished with. But I couldn't help myself. I'm sure I've bit off more than I can chew with this one but I just couldn't stop myself. Anyone who knows me knows Christmas is my very favorite time of year. I've become obsessed with the idea of making stockings for my children that they will (in my idealist mind) treasure every year for all the hard work their dear mother put into making those beloved Christmas keepsake stockings of their's. I am infatuated with the whimsy and sweetness of the Shepherd's Bush stockings and I think Harry's Stocking is perfect for my little Cuddle Bug. So today when I saw the chart at my LNS - I had to have it. This may very well be much too adventurous a project for me but I guess you can't know without trying. I don't have the fabric for it or anything, so I won't be starting it right away. But ideally I would love for it to be finished by Christmas. We shall see.

Another Start - My First CCN

2008-04-25T22:33:00.005-05:00

I put a few stitches in CCN's "A Place We Call Home" this evening. I didn't get much done, but it was enough to officially count as a "start" and knock off my last stitching goal for April. I love this design! It's so sweet and lovely. I'm hoping it will be as much fun to stitch as it is beautiful.

My April Stitching Goals Progress Report:

Finish "Thankful" freebie as a tin - Yes. I got it finished 4/3/08 and gifted it to my sister (no pics yet)
Start and Finish Needle Roll for MFC - Yes. My very first needle roll! Completed 4/15/08
Start and Finish "Have Faith" from Elizabeth's Designs - Yes. Completed 4/21/08
Start and Finish Block 1 of PS 12 Days of Christmas - Yes. Completed 4/23/08. That's not bad since I added the goal near the end of the month!
Start CCN's "A Place We Call Home" Yes. I started it 4/25/08

Since all my goals have been met, I'll be stitching on "A Place We Call Home" for the rest of the month and make finishing it my first May goal. I also can't wait to see what the MFC will be for May.

Thanks for all your support and encouragement!

...And A Partridge in a Pear Tree Finish

2008-04-23T19:48:00.005-05:00

I met my goal to get this little guy finished by today! It was a really quick and enjoyable stitch! I thoroughly enjoyed every moment with this bird and his respective tree - every stitch was a pleasure. I can't wait to start the next one. Many of you commented on my previous post about this project about how wonderful PS designs are to stitch and you are all so right!

Prairie Schooler's 12 Days of Christmas - 1st block
DMC on 32 count natural light linen
Stitched 4/21/08 - 4/23/08
Sorry about the lighting. It's dark outside. I may try to take a better picture tomorrow. We'll see.

I really want to back these blocks with fabric for my ornaments so I'm going to wait until I find the right fabric to finish any of them off. And does anyone suggest putting the year somewhere really small on them? I was thinking maybe a little "2008" backstitched in the lower right corner under the border. Any thoughts?

Thank you all so very much for all your support! You make stitching even more fun!

The Genorosity of Stitchers

2008-04-22T13:28:00.004-05:00

When I was contemplating starting this blog - something Michele of X Marks My Spot suggested I give a go at - I was really nervous. I felt so out of place. I have only been stitching since December and everyone else is so experienced and incredibly talented! I have found other hobbies in which the experienced hobbyists have something of an "elitist" attitude that isn't friendly or welcoming to new-comers. Michele assured me that I wouldn't find that kind of mentality among stitchers. She said stitchers are some of the friendliest people around. So I took the plunge and started a blog. Soon enough I felt comfortable commenting on other stitchers' blogs as well. And Michele - you were so right! Stitchers are friendly and warm. They love to share their knowledge and their talents with experienced stitchers and newbies alike. And today was just another example of how wonderful and sweet the stitching community is.

The amazing BeckySC is giving away several beautifully finished items on her blog to whomever wants to give them a home. I didn't feel worthy to claim anything for myself - but I'm a serial commenter these days and I wanted her to know what a beautiful gesture I felt that was. One of the things she is giving away is a box finished with the LHN "Be Rich in Good Deeds" design. I felt like that summed up exactly what she was doing and I mentioned it innocently. She emailed me and said she wanted me to have it!! I am so moved!!! I know it sounds silly but I seriously teared up. That is such a generous and sweet thing to do. I am so humbled by Becky's talent and to own something that she made and wants me to have is something really special! Thank you to the ends of the Earth Becky!!

The stitching community is a wonderful thing to be a part of!

PS - Becky is also giving away several charts to anyone interested in them.

PS Start

2008-04-22T11:32:00.004-05:00

I got started on the first design from Prairie Schooler's 12 Days of Christmas chart - the Patridge in a Pear Tree - last night. This is the first PS design I've done and I just adore it! I will definitely be doing more PS in the future. So far this is stitching up nice and quick. I just hope I don't run into any bumps in the road with it and maybe I will get it finished by tomorrow!

Thank you all for your comments about "Have Faith." You are all so wonderful!

Have Faith Finish

2008-04-21T15:26:00.004-05:00

Becky, you had more faith in me than I was worthy of! I didn't finish "Have Faith" yesterday like I had set out to. But I got really close and I got it finished this afternoon while Cuddle Bug has been napping. So that's another project done! I really like how this one turned out. I think I will finish it off in a little frame. The satin stitches weren't difficult at all and the rice stitches were also a breeze after I finished a few. I'm so proud of myself for expanding my stitching horizons with this piece!

Have Faith by Elizabeth's Designs
DMC thread on 32 count Natural Light linen
Stitched 4/18/08 - 4/21/08

We had a wonderful weekend. Cuddle Bug turns 2 next Sunday, so this weekend he got an early birthday present.

It is from Mommy and Daddy, and Daddy's aunt and uncle (CB's great aunt and uncle). Daddy and Uncle Bill built it in the backyard on Saturday and CB got the surprise of his life when he got up from his nap! He absolutely loves it! He has been playing in it as often as he can. Nothing quite compares to seeing your little guy beam from ear to ear!!

I'm going to be revising my April goals today. I'd like to challenge myself to get the first design from the PS 12 Days of Christmas chart finished as well. Since my final goal as it stands right now is merely to start CCN's "A Place We Call Home" I feel like I may be able to make the new goal happen. I'm hoping to get some kind of a start on that tonight. We shall see.

Thank you all for reading and for all your wonderful comments! I really do feel like I have cheerleaders out there in cyberspace!

New Start

2008-04-19T12:22:00.006-05:00

I started a new project last night just before bed. I'm doing "Have Faith" by Elizabeth's Designs. I think it's such a sweet little design. I'm hoping this will work up pretty quickly. I'd love to get it done by the end of the day tomorrow! We shall see how that works out. This is my first time doing a Satin Stitch. I finished one of the sheep and I was proud of the way it turned out for my first attempt at this kind of stitch. This chart also calls for a Rice Stitch so I'm testing the waters in a few different "new-to-me" stitches with this one.

Have Faith by Elizabeth's Designs
DMC thread on 32 ct Natural Light Linen

These are my new Gingher embroidery scissors too. I got them last Sunday with a 50% off coupon to Michaels. Aren't the lovely? They're so sharp! I had to replace my embroidery scissors because I gave my other ones to my sister with the tin and matching fob I made her - which she still hasn't emailed me any pictures of so we will be patient for that.

Thank you for reading and for all your nice comments!

Plate-Tectonics

2008-04-18T13:59:00.004-05:00

Let's just set the record straight. I'm from Arizona. I lived in Arizona from the time I was only a few months old until 11 months ago. It's all I had ever really known. We have "natural disasters" in AZ, sure. But mostly just forest fires and flash flooding. So if you live around a city and you haven't built you house in a low lying area near a river bed, you're pretty much safe and sound as far as Mother Nature is concerned. Imagine my shock when DH discloses to me after we move to St. Louis that there are several fault lines around this part of the country and there are earthquakes! Tornadoes, earthquakes, floods... That is just not right!

Last night at 4:35 AM we woke up to a rumbling noise and our bed shaking - no - the whole house shaking! I was petrified! I prayed silently until it was over. DH says "I think we just had an earthquake!" Okay - not funny! Cuddle Bug woke up. We were all awake. The news chimed in with a report of a magnitude 5.6 earthquake with the epicenter about 150 miles from us. Now they're saying it was a 5.2. Either way, any movement of the ground is too much in my book! Then we felt another one this morning at about 10:15 - this time a 4.6 according to reports. I'm ready to pack up and head back to AZ where the land is dry, yes, but it doesn't move and that's good for me!

I'm hoping to get a start on a new project today. I should have pictures of that as soon as I can get the time to put needle to fabric. It's been a very busy week around here!

And thank you all for your wonderful comments on my needle roll! So many of you said things like "I knew you could do it!" and that you liked the design I put together! It made me feel so good! The tutorial was wonderful and it was much easier to do than I expected once I got started on it. You are all so kind!!

I Did It!!

2008-04-15T16:34:00.006-05:00

My very first needle roll finish!

Little House Needle~~works~~ Roll
DMC and Crescent Colors on 30 ct WDW linen (color: Linen)
Stitched 4/10/08 - 4/14/08
Finished as Needle Roll 4/15/08

I did the finishing while watching "Tales from Avonlea" on DVD. Aunt Hetty was doing some hand embroidery in one of the episodes. I felt like we were both accomplishing a little something at the same time :)

Thank you for all your kind comments and support!

Let the Hem-Stitching Commence!

2008-04-15T10:14:00.006-05:00

Thank you all for your comments on my last entry! Everyone felt I had acted appropriately. That is such a relief! And thank you everyone for your terrible-twos support! I'm trying to laugh about it and trying to see the world through his eyes - a little guy in a great big world whose learning that he has some control over his world. So I'm hanging in there! And there were some who reminded me that some day he will be a teenager, yikes! And one day he will be all grown up and moved away. I need to enjoy these toddler days while I still have him to crawl into my arms and say "Mommy, boo boo, kiss it." :)

In stitching news, I finished the stitching on my needle roll last night:

That was a wonderful feeling - but with it comes a great deal of anxiety. Now I have to venture into the world of hem-stitching. I'm nervous! Michele and I are in this together, though! Good luck Michele! And good luck anyone else who has any nerves about this particular finishing :) Thank you to everyone who mentioned the Focus on Finishing Needle Roll Tutorial. I am going to be following those instructions this afternoon. I'm keeping my fingers crossed this turns out!

I also got the needle roll chart I won from Michelle in the mail yesterday! It is so beautiful! Thank you so much Michelle!!

Additionally, I got an email from Rachel over at Fitness for Mommies that I won this giveaway - a tshirt! It's going to be perfect for running! DH said I need to buy a lottery ticket. I'm tickled pink because I seriously never win anything!

Thank you all for visiting and for your comments. Have a great Tuesday!

Needle Roll Update

2008-04-13T21:27:00.007-05:00

Well I'm still chugging away on the stitching of my needle roll for the Monthly Finishing Challenge. I'm a slow stitcher and I don't make nearly enough time for stitching in a day - but I do have a toddler who is now weeks away from officially being 2 and he is taking the "terrible twos" description to heart. My sweet angel whom everyone has always described as such a happy child has become disagreeable to say the least. Everything is his these days (during the family rosary tonight, he was telling the other little children - his cousins - that they were sitting on his floor), and when asked to do something he gives you this look of defiance and proceeds to do exactly the opposite. We are dealing with tantrums over everything and tantrums over nothing. He is expressing his independence, his control, his utter disregard for all things related to authority. It makes for a very worn out mommy. But I hear it's a relatively short phase. I'm trying to think of it as a rite of passage in parenthood and keep my sense of humor about it all. He really is such a precious little gem :)

But I digress. So my stitching is slow and my stitching time is limited these days. But I have made some progress. So here's how it's going:

Sally asked about the design and Vonna guessed it was LHN or CCN (good eye Vonna!). Well I have to lay it out there. I don't have a chart for any needle rolls right now and while I did find a few online that I considered, I ultimately wasn't satisfied with any of them. So during a shower (I often do my thinking in the shower - anyone else find shower time to be good contemplative time?) I was giving my needle roll some thought. I know that there are several designers who have designs specifically for needle roll finishing. And I was wishing LHN or CCN did because I so love their designs. Realizing that most needle roll designs use bands, I decided to see if I could put something together on my own based on bits and pieces of different LHN charts I have. So that's what I did. I printed a piece of graph paper and I took little parts of LHN designs - charts that I own - and arranged them in bands for a needle roll. I'm not really sure if this is appropriate to be honest. Do I have any right to go taking parts of several designs to make a new design?? DH said to go for it. And I figure I do own the charts, and it's not like I'm going to be posting the chart I made out of them or anything. And I always intended to mention that it is comprised entirely of LHN designs. But what do you all think? Was this a bad idea? Is it bad stitching form? I'm new to this, so if it is I'm really sorry. Live and learn.

Thank you all for reading this far and thank you for your comments. I am sorry in advance if my needle roll hodge-podge is offensive to anyone.

Needle Roll - the Adventure Begins

2008-04-10T23:54:00.005-05:00

Today I started stitching up my needle roll for the Monthly Finishing Challenge. I want to get it done ASAP so I have plenty of time left if I mess it up. I'm not entirely sure how this is going to work out. Only time will tell.

Here's a sneak peak:

Sorry about the picture quality. It was overcast today so I couldn't get good lighting. The colors are really off.

I'm still waiting for pictures from my sister of my tin finish. Hopefully I'll get some good pictures I can post soon.

In other news, I won a chart over at Michelle's blog. I never win anything so this made my day! And I got my PS "12 Days of Christmas" chart in the mail from Mary Kathryn on Tuesday afternoon. It's such a great design! I can't wait to kit it up and get started on making it into ornaments!