mar 18 - is it Friday yet?

Just popping in for a quick post...the day is already starting out beautifully. I got to work and realized that I was wearing 2 different shoes! (This is the 2nd time!) Luckily I have an old pair of Birks under my desk. I guess this is what happens when one gets up at 3 am and puts her shoes on in a dark garage.
No stitching last night...I was so tired I just sat like a lump watching the World Baseball Classic...great finish for the US team though.
Thanks to everyone for your kind comments on "Alla Turca". I love the floss color too...it's one of Carrie's Threads - Banana Split (great name!)
Well...back to work for now.
Thanks for visiting!

mar 15 - progress

Back to work for me tomorrow, and I'll probably be bushed when I get home, so I wanted to post this picutre tonight while I still have some energy left!
This is Parts 1-3 of "Alla Turca"...a mystery SAL by Pelin Tezer with the Stitcher's Heaven group. The stitching looks a bit crooked but it really isn't! I'm just glad to be caught up.
Good night and thanks for visiting!

mar 15 - frogs - wanted and unwanted

I don't know if I ever mentioned that I collect frogs...we met a shaman a few years ago who said I have a strong connection to the little creatures and that was before she knew I collected them. Go figure...maybe I was a frog in a past life. Anyway, these are 3 that I just added to my collection. The two little ones were picked up in Arizona at the Desert Botanical Garden gift shop, and the third was just too cute to pass by!
The unwanted frog arrived last night as I was nearing the end of Part 2 of "Alla Turca" and realized I had miscounted on Part 1 and had to take out both the birds and the little bottom bit. I'm almost caught back up...we were watching "Treasure of Sierra Madre" last night as I stitched along. So hopefully I'll get this finished today. It's another rainy day here in Oregon and other than grocery shopping there's not much else I have to do.

Thanks to Daffycat for reminding me that the cute ladybug design in my previous post is one of Erynne's. Her blog is now linked in that post...if you haven't already, please go visit her. She has a great blog and some great designs...this ladybug one is a freebie there.

Also, please visit Kim at her blog...she is having a wonderful giveaway there.

Have a great day and thanks for visiting!

mar 14 - lovely surprises and ladybugs

There were two lovely surprises waiting for me in our mailbox when we got home from our trip. The first is this pretty red block that Sue stitched for the monthly block exchange with the STO group. I think it will make a lovely scissor fob.

I also received this wonderful mattress pincushion from Mylene. She had a drawing on her blog and I was the lucky winner.This is one of Erynne's adorable designs and I love ladybugs so it is just perfect. Mylene did a beautiful job with both the stitching and finishing. It is my first mattress pincushion and I just love it.

Here is my stitched "Ladybug Ladybug" from Little House Needleworks. I've had this design for a long time but was finally spurrd on to stitch it for the spring SAL with the Little House yahoo group. This was really fun to stitch. I used a bone colored jobelan and DMC threads.

I'm trying to finish up the first three parts of "Alla Turca" this weekend, so hopefully I'll have a
picture to post tomorrow. It's kind of soupy outside so a good day to sit by the fire and stitch, I think!

Thanks for visiting!

mar 13 - we have a winner!

Thanks to everyone who entered my drawing for "Ladybug Ladybug". I was able to stitch the design while we were away, so I have 2 patterns to give away instead of one! The winners are Laurie (in MA) and Jennifer (in PA). Please email me with your addresses and I will get these right out to you.
For some reason Blogger isn't letting me post pictures, so I'll try to post a pic of my finished piece later tonight.
Thanks for visiting!

mar 9 - on vacation

We'll be off in a little bit to the airport...on our way to the Phoenix area for a few days. We'll be going to a couple of spring training games (Mariners), do a little sightseeing, and a stop at Attic Needleworks in Mesa for me. I hear it's a wonderful shop.
Anyway, I hope everyone has a good week and I'll draw a winner for the giveaway when we return on Friday sometime...let's say, noon.
Bye!

mar 7 - Giveaway!

When going through my patterns for the spring SAL at the LHN/CCN board, I realized that I have 2 copies of "Ladybug Ladybug" by LHN. (gee- what a surprise - NOT!)
Anyway, if anyone would like a chance at winning this pattern, please leave a comment on this post and I will choose a winner when we come home from our trip next Friday (March 13).
Good Luck!

mar 6 - new to me

It was a year ago or close to it when this parcel arrived in my mailbox. Felicity
had decided to pass along a project that she no longer wanted to stitch on. She offered it on her blog and I received it. The design is by Glendon Place - Five Simple Rules for Happiness. Over time, I finally acquired the pattern and all the necessary threads. Felicity sent me the fabric as shown above - gridded (I have never done this before) and stitching started. So now I am in the mood to start something new and I have pulled this out of the stitching basket. Tonight is the SAL on Let's Stitch and I will be working on this piece. We'll see how far I get!

mar 6 - a tale of 2 robins

You may remember the trouble I had with this piece...it took me over a week to take out all the stitches I had mistakenly put in, but I have been stitching on this every night this week and it is done and in the mail to the next participant. There are six of us doing the Quaker Friendship Sampler. This is Clare's piece and it is stitched using Gloriana silk in "Autumn Arbor". The photo is too dark to tell, but the colors in this floss are beautiful. This was my first time using Gloriana and I really enjoyed using it.



We are also starting another robin with Ally's group. This time I have chosen Cross-Eyed Cricket's "Dickens' Mittens" for my piece. Everyone will stitch one individual mitten and I am planning on finishing them as either ornaments or small pillows. They will be stitched on "water lily" jobelan with the stitcher's choice of floss. I am also planning on doing a companion piece to go along with these. I just love all the CEC mittens!

feb 28 - Some stitching progress

February has slipped by and I really don't feel like I have been stitching all that much. It's been kind of a weird time around here though and I guess my mind was just on too many other things.
I did get a couple things done though...this is my start on Part One of "Alla Turca" a design by Pelin Tezer. This piece is a mystery SAL with the Stitcher's Heaven group. I am a bit behind but it is fun to stitch and hopefully I will catch up before part three comes. I am stitching it on 28ct evenweave in mushroom with Carrie's Threads in Banana Split. I love the colors in this thread.

This is my progress so far on the Beatrix Potter Quaker Sampler, again, not much so far, but it is really a pleasure to stitch and I am enjoying it. I am thinking about bringing this one with me when we go to Arizona in a couple of weeks...so maybe I will get some stitching done then. I want to take something that will be easy to work with and since this only uses one floss color, it fits the bill perfectly.

We will have our grandson again this weekend while his mom is working, so there will probably be little stitching done, but we'll have lots of fun anyway!
Hope everyone is having a great weekend! Thanks for visiting, and thanks for all your comments. I really do appreciate them.

feb 25

Today is the day we are supposed to post our pics for the Totally Useless SAL
...I didn't do much stitching this month so I don't have

alot to show at this point...but here it is, with my little guardian gnome watching .

These are the adorable squares I received from Nancy for the Winter round of Fair & Square. She stitched a part of Bent Creek's Snow Sampler for me...one of my fave designers, and I just love this little snowman. Thanks again Nancy!

Today is my baby's birthday...she is 27 years old, and a mom herself now. I can't hardly believe it. Where did the time go?

Robin was the only person who expressed an interest in the PIF, so Robin, I will be emailing you shortly for your address, etc.

Luckily I was able to find the Gloriana silk I need for the round robin I bungled. So tonight my job is to undo all those stitches. Guess I should get to it!

Thanks for visiting!

feb 23

Last chance...to sign up for my PIF...the post is a few down from here. So far only one person has said they are interested although a few others did post on that post...I wonder if they are interested too...if you are reading htis please let me know! Anyway, I'll draw 2 names tomorrow evening.

The rain is beating down on the roof...our roof here at work is flat and it always sounds like horses running across the roof when it rains! We have no windows so it is hard to tell what the weather is like without walking to the front door...unless you hear the horse's hooves on the roof!

I decided to start the "Alla Turca" SAL yesterday...I needed a fresh start. Didn't get much done before my little guy came over for the evening. Maybe I'll get some stitches in tonight.

Thanks for visiting,

feb 22

I feel so stupid!!! I spent most of yesterday stitching on a round robin piece, and was almost halfway done with my bit when I noticed late last night that I was 1/2 stitch off. Of course it was the first little motif I stitched which means I have to take out everything I stitched. I couldn't believe it...what a stupid error. If it was my own piece I would just make the adjustment and carry on but since it belongs to someone else and others will also be stitching in the same area I can't do that. I hope Acorns & Threads has some of the right color thread on Tuesday. I think I may just leave it until then. I can't bear to look at it.
So today I will stitch on something else! Not sure what yet. It's a bright sunny day...maybe I'll just start something new.
The photo above shows some stitchy mail I got yesterday. I received my Fair & Square round 11 squares from April yesterday. She stitched a Quaker snowman with a very pretty blue variegated thread. It looks more teal in the photo, but it is actually blue. I love Quaker designs so this was just perfect.
Asher will be here later today and tonight so that is something fun to look forward to. And then the Oscars later tonight.Should be a grand day.
Thanks for visiting.

feb 21

I finally picked up needle and thread last night...I don't think I have put in a stitch for the last 2 weeks...withdrawal doesn't even begin to describe it!
I have been really busy at work, and for some reason have had way too many meetings to attend. By the time I get home I am just too tired to do much of anything. But yesterday when I came home I took the doggies out for a walk and then promptly went home and took a nap! I never do this doing the week unless I am sick but it sure felt good and I slept almost until supper! So last night I was able to sit up and stitch a bit.
I worked on a round robin piece...we are stitching Quaker Friendship Sampler for this robin and it will be fun to see everyone's because we are all using different threads and fabrics. I am working on Claire's and she chose a beautiful Gloriana fiber in autumn colors. Unfortunately I didn't get as much done as I had hoped because I had to pick out 2 bits that I had miscounted but I fixed those and went on my way. I am hoping to do some more today and will post a picture tomorrow.
The other reason I didn't get much stitching done this past week is pictured above...my adorable grandson! My daughter was moving into a new apartment this week so we were lucky to have the little guy with us for most of the weekend and again Tuesday night and all day Wednesday. When he is here I pretty much just focus on him 24/7! I did read a bit while he napped, but that's about it! What a blessing he is!
Well...chores to do before I can get back to stitching...
thanks for visiting!

feb 19

Squares received!
I have heard from my two recent "fair & square" partners that they have received my squares, so I can post pictures now.
The first set is a heart design from the Workbasket. It is stitched on 32ct. jobelan with Crescent Colours "Caribbean Waters" floss.The second set is also a design from the Workbasket called "Quaker Holly". It is stitched on 32 ct. white linen with DMC threads and red beads. These are both freebies and can still be downloaded from the Workbasket site.

Thanks for visiting!

Feb 19

Pay It Forward...

I was lucky enough to be chosen by Jill for one of her PIFs and now it's my turn to offer the same.
If you would like to receive something stitched by me within the next 365 days, please leave a comment, on this post only, to say that you are interested.
I will draw 2 names on Mardi Gras (February 24) and then will post the recipient's names here on my blog.
In return, you must also offer to do the same on your own blog.

Thanks for visiting!

Feb 17

Connie tagged me with this fabulous blog award and now it's my chance to pass the award along to five other great bloggers. It's so hard to choose because I read so many wonderful blogs as often as I can but since I had to only choose five, here they are:


Sharon http://itsdaffycat.blogspot.com/


Pauline http://paulinesxshideaway.blogspot.com/


Jill http://purplepeacockjill.blogspot.com/


Lori Ray http://loriraycrossstitch.blogspot.com/


Andrea http://deepfriedcupcake.blogspot.com/





So, please pass the award on to five others if you like, and also tell us all five of your favorite things...five of my favorite things are:

spending time with my family - husband, daughters, and my adorable grandson

cross-stitching


reading cozy mystery series


the Oregon Coast


watching baseball

feb 9

I'm sitting here at work, at my desk, trying to keep my eyes open! We had a bit of a late night last night. Hubby and I went to see the Edgar Winter Band...amazing that he still sounds really good. it was a great show and we had lots of fun rockin' and rollin'.

Didn't get much stitching done this weekend. I started a freebie design with a peacock and heart that I saw on someone's blog. It was coming along very nicely until I realized I had added an extra row and had to take out a good portion of what I had stitched. I'm about 2/3 finished though and will post a picture when it is done. I also started my monthly block for March...the theme is birdhouses. I stitched on it at a meeting I went to on Saturday night. Hope to finish that one this week as well.

I see that Susan has received her Prairie Schooler exchange piece. I stitched a design from the "From My Heart" leaflet and finished it into a pinkeep.

feb 7

It was 45 years ago today that the Beatles first landed in New York...I remember it like it was yesterday...yes I was a true Beatlemaniac. Things were certainly different then...


On to stitchy things...I have received some exchanges over the past weeks.
I received my bookmark exchange from the bbinteractive group. MaryAnne stitched this lovely bookmark for me and also included a set of marking pins that she made herself. I still haven't heard if she received my bookmark yet. It was mailed nearly a month ago so I am sure she has. I don't think she reads my blog so I will post a picture of it. It is a Celtic design that I got from a library book.
The last photo is the beautiful ornament I received as part of the Year Long Prairie Schooler exchange. Malinda stitched this for me...the back is personalized with our names, but I don't have a photo of that. She also included an ort container that she made. This was really a coincidence because I recently read about these on someone's blog and was wondering how I could make one for myself. They fold up so they are portable and can go right in your stitching bag. I love it. Again, I don't know if my partner has received her exchange yet so I will wait to show a photo of that one.

feb 2

Well, I guess the groundhog saw his shadow so we'll be having 6 more weeks of winter. As long as we don't get any more snow I guess I can handle the cold. For some reason I have been unable to get warm this year. Even at work, my hands and my nose feel like ice cubes...and yes, we do have heat. Is this just one more thing that happens as we get older? I hope not!
Thanks to everyone for the get well wishes. I'm almost afraid to say it out loud, but I think I have turned a corner here and am feeling better. Let's hope so!
Did you all watch the Super Bowl? I didn't really care which team won this year, but I thought it was a good game overall. And it was definately worth watching for Bruice Springsteen at half-time. He is one of my faves and always puts on a great show. And now that football season is over...it's almost time for baseball. Yeah!
I managed to get some stitching done this weekend, but can't show any pictures yet. I finished 2 sets of squares for Fair & Square and also did the finishing on my exchange piece for the Year Long Prairie Schooler exchange. It wasn't hard once I decided how I wanted to finish it! I'll be mailing all of these out tomorrow, so hopefully I can show pictures soon.
Hope everyone is managing to stay warm!