october 28, 2007

Acorns & Threads
Stitcher's Timeout



Great stash week!...This has been a wonderful stash week! Sunday was the annual open house at Acorns & Threads, my LNS. There was a gift with purchase, which was a really nice re-usable bag (like the kind you get at the grocery store, but with pockets on the sides). I hadn't been to the store in almost a year because I was trying to pay off my daughter's wedding and stitch from my stash, but I couldn't resist this trip. I was very good too...only bought a few things (although my wish list has grown by leaps and bounds!) I got a few Cross-Eyed Cricket designs...2 to use for my next round robin, and another fall design. Also two designs from Stone & Thread, one of the LHN thread packs ("Reading"), and a pretty mermaid design. Also the JBW little autumn design (the acorn) some Weeks thread and a small piece of gingham fabric.

This week also saw the return of Flat Lynda from the STO retreat, and she brought a wonderful goody bag home with her! Along with the retreat booklet chock full of fun recipes and stuff, was some thread and fabric, and several wonderful patterns...all packed into a huge tote bag...perfect for carting around projects.

I also received the new booklet by Stacy Nash Designs...A Simply Early Christmas. It is wonderful! I can't wait to stitch up some of these beautiful primitive designs.

And I got LHN's "Sea to Shining Sea" and an exclusive ornament design from Theron Traditions for the mayflower Sampler GuildGuild. Also some fabric and threads for the Beatrix Potter Quaker Sampler SAL starting in January. The fabric color is bay rum and the threads are Carrie's "Koala Claw" I'm 99% sure that this is what I'll be using!

So, it's been a good week! Sorry the photos aren't very good.

october 28, 2008

Last of the blocks!...I finished up the last three blocks for the Stitcher's Timeout monthly block exchange. October's theme was turkeys and this is a bit from a Shepherd's Bush design. The Santa for November is a Mosey 'N Me ornament from one of the JCS ornie issues. And the final block for the year was snowflakes. This is a SanMan Originals design. I was going to stitch the snowflakes but I tried to do them two different ways and neither looked right so I just added buttons instead!

october 25

The Sampler Girl
Primitive Betty

Primitive Stitching...I had never really been drawn to these before, and now I am addicted! This is greatly in part to joining Tanya's Stacy Nash Groupies. The more I looked at these designs I realized how much I love the simplicity...they just seem to transport me to another place. Last weekend, we had a Hallow's Eve party with the group which was great fun. There were even party favors! These are two that I stitched up so far. One is a design Primitive Betty's design, the other was deisgned by Tanya herself. I still have Stacy's design to stitch up.

october 25

Faith * Hope * Love
Quaker Christmas
Three Things


I can't believe it has been nearly a month since I blogged last! Where did the time go?
This has been a bit if a stressful month around here...as if this upcoming election wasn't already so important, the county where I work has a very important item on the ballot as well...they want to form a library district which would provide permanent operational funding for the libraries in the county. If it doesn't pass, several of the libraries will probably be shutting down over the next few years, mine among them. I know there is really nothing I can do...and I have tried not to think about it too much, but I can feel the effects of the stress on me and I will be so happy when this whole thing is finished. If anyone has any extra good vibes to send, please do...libraries are so important, and a good value to boot!

Anyway, I have been doing some stitching at least! I will have met all of my goals for the month for the first time in a long time!
These photos show my progress so far on the two pieces that I would really like to have finished by year's end...."Three Things Sampler" by Moira Blackburn and "Quaker Christmas" by ByGone Stitches. I also had a finish this month...."Faith*Hope*Love" by Midnight Stitching. It is stitched on jobelan (I think the color is wood violet) with Carrie's Threads in Bordeaux. I love Marianne's Quaker designs. I also did a some exchanges -- pinkeeps and ornies --but I can't show pictures of those yet.

october 1st, 2008

September goals...how did I do? Well, I did get some small things done...an exchange piece, monthly challenge piece, my fair & square squares and my monthly block and SAL ornie. I also stitched some on "Three Things"...finished 2 bands that were incomplete. I started "Mansfield Park" but I am short of some of the threads so I will put this aside until I can get those. Did not stitch on any of my other WIPs though. I think I was a bit too ambitious with my goals! October goals will be posted in the sidebar...The photo shows my progress so far on "Three Things Sampler".

23 september 2008

Exchanges sent & received...

I see that Karen has received the squares I sent her for Fair & Square round 9, so I can post a picture. I stitched a freebie from Papillon Creations - Tiny Little Quaker - using purple variegated floss because purple is her favorite color. She says she will make a biscornu with these which was kind of what I had in mind when I was stitching them!

I also received this adorable block square from Emily in the STO yahoo group monthly exchange. The theme for the month was trees and I really love this delicate little block. The picture does not do it justice. I think I will make a floss tag with this one.

I finished stitching my exchange for the SanMan Hallo-Fall exchange, but can't show that one yet since it just went in the mail yesterday.

23rd september 2008

Meet Flat Lynda!

The Stitcher's Timeout yahoo group is having a stitching retreat next month. Unfortunately, many of us cannot attend in person, so the idea was floated aroundthat we could send our "flat selves" instead! Someone will take us around to all the events, and we will even get a goodie bag and chance to win a door prize. I must say that the "flat ladies" I've seen are all amazing and very creative. Mine is on her way to Kansas right now, and she's a little nervous as it's her first time flying. But Mar has promised to take very good care of her, so not to worry!

17 september 2008

I realized that I haven't posted in almost a week, so I wanted to check in with all my blogging friends. Coming back to work after a week off was not easy! I like my job, but I think I could get very comfortable being home more!
I did get some stitching done last week but nothing I can show. I finished the squares for round 9 of "fair & square" and mailed them off yesterday. I've also been working on an exchange piece for the HalloFall Exchange with the SanMan group. I thought I'd have it finished by today but since I didn't stitch at all the past two nights that hasn't happened.
I've been really tired when I get home, and I think I'm coming down with a cold or something...scratchy throat, runny nose, "bowling ball" head...I keep telling myself that it is too early to be getting a cold...it's not even officially fall yet!
I'm very envious of all of you who have the JCS ornie issue in your hands already. From all the comments I've been reading it sounds like a great issue and I can't wait to see it.
Well, break time is over so I guess I should get back to work! I hope to have some pics to show you soon.
Thanks for visiting!

10 september 2008

Today I spent the whole day with my grandson which was great fun. Here are pictures of a couple of his silly faces. I didn't get any stitching done today...too busy holding the baby and playing with him, but I did finish my scarecrow block for the monthly STO exchange last night.
I also started my round 9 fair & square squares but can't show those yet.

09 september 2008

TO CAMP OR NOT TO CAMP.....I realized that this template does not show post dates so I have to use the date as a title. Oh well...We are on vacation this week...yeah! My hubby has wanted to go camping for some time and we have been going back and forth as to whether or not I would go with him. We finally decided "no"...I am really not a camper, unless it it in a nice warm cabin. Anyway, he left this morning with the 2 dogs for a few days roughing it down in Culver. After looking at how packed the car was I don't think there would have been room for me anyway!
Turns out it will be a good thing though because I will have my grandson with me most of tomorrow and can't wait! And also, I hope to get some stitching done as well.
Yesterday, I worked a little bit on La D Da's "Zippity Do Da"...we are doing this piece as a SAL with one of my yahoo groups. I am using Carrie's Threads - Soapstone as the main thread color. I really like the variations in the color. I also stitched on "Three Things" this weekend. This is a really pleasurable piece to stitch. I love the colors she uses. The last time I stitched on this piece was in March!

Thanks and an update

Thanks so much to Rachel and Felicity for steering me in the direction of other blogger templates. After playing around some I think I have this almost the way I want it!
My hubby has changed his work schedule and isn't home in the evenings now...so I should have lots more stitching time, right? Well, not the last two nights. Life just keeps getting in the way. I did make a tiny start on La D Da's "Zippity Do Da", but not enough to post a picture yet. I was able to work on "Quaker Christmas" though, so here is an update on that one. Hopefully I'll get my act together and get some more stitching done in the evenings.

August stitching and September Goals

I did pretty well with my goals for August. The only piece I never took out was "Happy Home Sampler". I don't know why because I really like this piece. I did miss some stitching days because of being in the hospital with my daughter and the baby. And I wasn't feeling too well part of the month either...just a general lousy feeling, nothing specific. Anyway, I'm posting my goals for September here because my sidebar is getting kind of crowded (3 columns please blogger??????). I have lots planned, but I also have a week's vacation this month so I'm hoping to get some things accomplished!

• monthly finishing challenge
• JCS ornie SAL
• STO monthly block exchange
• F & S round 9 squares
• "Three Things" - stitch another 1/4
• "Quaker Christmas" - finish next 2 pages
• La D Da SAL - "Zippity Do Da"
• Sampler Girl SAL - "Mansfield Park"
• Put some stitches in "Joyful Summer"
• Put some stitches in "Celtic Autumn"
• Put some stitches in "Happy Home Sampler"
• San-Man HalloFall exchange
  

I just realized that I never posted a picture of this fabulous fall stash exchange I received a few weeks ago. We have been having seasonal stash bag exchanges with the Stitchers Timeout group, and this is the bag I received from Murf for the fall exchange. I love orange and pumpkins, so this was perfect for me. She also included a beautifully stitched pinkeep which I absolutely love. Thanks again Murf!

I finished two small pieces this week. One is my exchange piece for the PS Small Santa exchange, but I just mailed it to my partner this afternoon, so I can't share a picture yet. The other finished piece is this scissor fob done for the Monthly Challenge. I had stitched the piecew some time ago and decided to finish it as a fob. It is the mermaid bit of "Seaology" by the Trilogy. I love mermaids and always thought this one was cute. It is stitched on a light blue evenweave, even though it looks more white in this photo.

Well I never was very good at staying on a diet...not even a stash diet! These photos show some stash that I have gathered over the past month or so...geesh! I'm pathetic! Anyway...sorry the photos are not very clear, but top to bottom;

• The Need'l Love Company: Ship of Life
  
• Lizzie Kate: Good Things
  
• My Big Toe: Quaker Seasons
• Carrie's Threads
  
• Blackbird Designs: Blessings & Kind Wishes
• My Big Toe: Faith
• Midnight Stitching: Quaker Faith Hope Love
• Glendon Place: Five Simple Rules for Happiness
  
• Lizzie Kate: Housework Never Killed Anyone
  
• Lizzie Kate: All Things Bright & Beautiful
  
• The Sampler Girl: Return to the Sea with Jane Austen
  
• The Sampler Girl: Sweet Things
  
• The Sampler Girl: Hope Perches
  
• Little House Needleworks: Yesteryear
  
• Little House Needleworks: Little House Neighborhood
  
• Little House Needleworks: Garden Pleasures
  
• Little House Needleworks: Home of a Needleworker (too!)
  
• A wonderful selection of Carries Threads & 2 Crescent Colours
  
  

This is so cool! I was awarded this blog award by both Sherry and Connie this week. Thank you both so much! I would like to share this with all the fabulous bloggers out there. I so enjoy reading all your blogs. Here are the rules for this award, and links to some new-to-me blogs that I really like alot.

1. The winner can put the logo on their blog.
2. Link the person you received your award from.
3. Nominate at least 7 other blogs.
4. Put links to those blogs on yours.
5. Leave a message on the blogs of those you nominated.

Paula
Tracey
Staci
Carla
Rob
Amy
Laurie

I hope you'll visit these blogs! And thanks again to all who read my blog and leave comments. I really do appreciate it.

It's been a week since I've posted and sad to say...not much stitching has gotten done.
I've been spending lots of time just sitting and holding my grandson...I could just gaze at him for hours...and do!...but it's hard to stitch at the same time!
I've been working on a small Santa exchange with the Prairie Schooler yahoo group and should have it finished and ready to mail for tomorrow. I received my exchange from Debbie in yesterday's mail and I just love it. I can't wait to hang it on our tree this year.

I also updated my cyberstitcher's gallery....finally! I added a few WIP photos as well. I really wish blogger would offer some 3 column templates. I'd love to be able to add more stuff here. I'm sure there's a way but I am not that computer savvy!

It's been so hot these last few days...100 degrees....which is not normal for this area. Temps are supposed to cool off next week ...it will probably feel like winter after all this heat! I wanted to stitch last night but my stitching light was giving off even more heat so I just gave up! Hopefully I'll get some stitches in today.
I wanted to share this adorable block that I received from Monique in our STO monthly block exchange. The theme for July was Mermaids. I'm not sure how I'll finish this yet, but it's so cute.

It's funny...when I went to the hospital with my daughter last week I brought all kinds of stitching to do, thinking I would have lots of sitting around time. Well, I did have lots of time, but somehow only managed to put a few stitches in anything! I guess we were just concentrating on other things!
Anyway, I finished this little square yesterday. It's for the monthly block exchange with the STO group. The theme for August is trees, and I stitched this Quaker Tree freebie from the Workbasket. Also started a small Prairie School Santa for another exchange, but no pictures of that one yet.
Thanks so much to everyone who takes the time to read this blog, and for the wonderful comments. And thanks for the good wishes for Asher...he is truly a joy and a blessing.

It's hard to believe that exactly one week ago tonight I was on the way to the hospital with my daughter. She was to be induced, and, crazy optimists that we are, we were sure we'd have a baby by nightfall! Of course, things didn't work out that way...nothing was working...and on Tuesday night she had a C-section and delivered this beautiful baby boy....Asher Reid...5 lb. 7 oz. of pure delight! He is our first grandchild, so we are, of course, over the moon with joy and happiness. Mother and baby are doing wonderfully and we are very very grateful. Here are a couple of pictures. My daughter took so many when she was visiting, but I don't have copies of those yet. Don't worry...there will be many more in days and weeks and months and years to come!