new birthday club

Nancy, from Victoria Motto Sampler, is starting up a new birthday club for 2016!

I'm sure that many of you have already seen this, but in case you haven't, here is the link:
http://victorianmottosamplershoppe.blogspot.com/2015/11/victorian-motto-sampler-shoppe-birthday.html

It looks like so much fun! Thanks, Nancy!

stitching from stash

Month: October

Spent: 46.83

Earned: 4.00

Hmmm...a pretty dismal report spending-wise. It went for everything - fabric, threads, patterns. I did finish a small mitten design from Cross Eyed Cricket, and have been stitching on a couple of samplers and round robins. So hopefully I will have more earned for next month.

Till then...I hope the rest of you are keeping to your budgets better than I am!

another late TUSAL

So...once again, I am a week late with my monthly ort collection. Froggy is getting a little bit tired of me! I did finally figure out that I can transfer photos from my phone to my computer at work though...I know, I'm pathetic when it comes to technology of any kind.
But here is Froggy, with this month's offerings...

See you soon...thanks for visiting!

The Enchanting Rose Mug Exchange

This was my first time participating in this wonderful exchange that Stephanie hosts on her blog, The Enchanting Rose. We could choose to send either a teacup or mug to our partner, along with other goodies if we wanted.

Here is the wonderful mug exchange package that I received from Julie in Texas. (there was also a book, but I forgot to put it in the photo) And I must admit that one box of those tasty biscuits was empty by the time the photo was taken as well!

My husband and I have been using the mugs nearly every day, and I know that I will be using the linens for our holiday table this Thanksgiving. And the lovely lacy basket will be the perfect resting place for some of my small stitched pillows.

Thanks again to Julie and Stephanie for such a wonderful exchange experience!

lynda

Stitch from Stash - September

Well, this was not a good month for staying within my budget, that's for sure!

Month: September

Spent: $63.38

Earned: $14.00

Money was spent on some really pretty threads from Shamrock Threads (a new to me company), some fabric from Picture This Plus for Halloween stitching, and a few patterns that I just couldn't resist!

I finished a couple of exchange pieces and one Halloween design...but I'll show them in another post.

I hope everyone had a good month!

~~lynda~~

there's an app for that

I've noticed some chat on Facebook about the app X-Stitch, and just wanted to talk about it a little bit.

The app doesn't have an Android component  (yet!), but I've been using it on my iPad for several months now, and just wanted to say how much I love it! If you are like me, you are always looking for an easy way to keep track of the threads and charts that you have stashed. I've tried making excell sheets, and I also made some google sheets. These all work ok, but you have to put in everything yourself and I just don't have the time or patience for that.

This X-Stitch app makes things so much easier.  There is a simple shopping list page to keep track of all the things you absolutely have to have (because we can never have enough stash, right?) There is also a journal section. This includes a wishlist, as well as a place to keep track of all your projects...kitted, started and finished. There is a place for the name and designer, along with notes about your supplies and just things in general that you  might want to add.

The inventory section is worth its weight in gold. There are over 20 different makes of threads listed. All the colors are there. You just click on the brand, add what you have to the color name and you're good to go. The charts section has almost 100 designers listed. Again, you click on a designer, and then list the patterns you have. Easy peasy!

And something I really appreciate is the excellent customer service the developers of this app show. You can just send them an email, and they will add a designer if they are not already listed, or color names if they are missing from the thread lists. You can also make suggestions for future additions to the lists (like thread manufacturers that are not already included). They are very prompt with their replies too.

I can't remember the cost of the app...I want to say $2.99...but seriously, it is worth every penny and then some. If you are on the fence about trying this, I encourage you to do it. I don't think you will regret it for a minute!

Thanks for taking the time to visit...hope you enjoy your day!

September TUSAL

Hi again,

It's time for the monthly TUSAL (totally useless stitch-a-long) post. Froggy has lots of different threads in his bowl this month...some bright colors from my round robin, and some fall and Halloween colors too.

See you next month!

Happy September!

It's hard to believe that it's already September! This year is just flying by. I don't know if time seems to go faster because we've been so busy, or if it is just that I'm getting older...but whatever the reason, I wish things would slow down, just a bit!

Our summer was unseasonably hot, and we are still having warmer than normal temperatures. And there was no rain all summer! Very unusual for the Pacific Northwest! But this past weekend, Mother Nature hit us with a vengeance...rain and wind, and even lightning and thunder, which we don't often see. It didn't last long, but it will be interesting to see what fall and winter bring in terms of our weather.

I know that I have really been neglecting my blog lately. I think about posting a lot, but it's kind of like reading diet books and thinking that you'll lose weight just by reading them! So I am starting this post (it's September 2, in the morning) and we'll see how long it takes before I actually get something posted!

I haven't been stitching anywhere near as much as I would have liked. Our building expansion project is finally under way (we had the groundbreaking on August 8) and it seems like there is always something to do or a meeting to attend. By the time I get home I am so tired that I usually fall asleep in hubby's recliner!

We do have a new round robin starting this month with the Friendly Stitchers group, so that has got me motivated a little! I decided on a design from Blue Ribbon Designs...A Sampling in the Square. I stitched all the borders, and lettering, so I actually feel like I have accomplished something! This group always chooses such lovely designs...I'm looking forward to the new round.

I thought you might like to see a few little goodies that I have bought over the past few months.

The candles are  from Where Sisters Gather. Jennifer is Beth Twist's (Heartstring Samplery) sister. I love these! They are battery operated and look so pretty when lit up, especially now that the evenings are getting darker. The little crocheted basket is from Nikyscreations and is just perfect to stash my scissors and needle threader when I am stitching.

This pretty little pincushion was purchased from Elegant Stitch, as part of their fundraising effort for breast cancer research.

Two threadkeeps: the one on the left is also from Elegant Stitch, and the one on the right came from Monique at The Primitive Jewel.

Two needleminders: the one on the left is also from Monique. The one on the right was purchased from pinoystitch (an etsy shop). She offers all kinds of needleminders with books, and since The Little Prince is my favorite, I couldn't resist this one!

So, I think I started this post on the 2nd of September. It is now September 11. My laptop was giving me loads of trouble...the dreaded Windows 10 critical error, and I couldn't upload any photos, or actually even do anything at all. It's working as of this morning (yay!), but in the meantime, I ordered a camera connection kit for my iPad and loaded the photos that way. Sorry that they are so large. I haven't quite figured out the editing part! (Apparently a couple of these are two large for my post. If you click on the photo you can see the whole picture! - I'll try to edit these when I get home!)

I am very glad that it is Friday. I mentioned that we have started our library expansion project and the last two days have been nothing but jackhammering...all day! It also just happens to be on the same level as my workspace, so it has been very loud! 

I did do a little bit of Halloween stitching this past week, but I will wait and show that stuff next time.

For now, I hope everyone has a great weekend! Thanks so much for taking the time to visit!

stitch from stash report

Month: August

Spent: 20.99

Earned: 0

Last year, when I participated in this, I think I only spent less than $5 the entire year. This year, well, things are going a little differently. This month, I spent money on the Just Cross Stitch Halloween book, and a few prim patterns that I got on Etsy. For some reason, I have an urge to stitch Halloween designs this year. I don't really even like Halloween! We'll see how that goes!

I haven't been stitching much this past month either. We have had really hot days  (and nights) and I have just been curling up with a book most nights. 

I did start working on a new piece for our next round robin round with Friendly Stitchers though. I started it this past weekend...I have decided on a design from Blue Ribbon Designs, so there are lots of borders for me to stitch to get this one ready. I love the design though, and I think it will be fun for everyone in the group to stitch on. I should be done with the borders this weekend, so I'll post a picture then.

We're actually supposed to get some real rain this weekend...we haven't had any all summer, and everything is so dry. The wildfires have been awful. We could even smell the smoke down here in the city and the air was very dense. I feel so bad for all the people who have lost their homes this summer.

So hopefully, there will be some solid stitching time in my future! And some relief for the firefighters too.

Looking forward to seeing how everyone did this month!

it's TUSAL time!

Time for Froggy to show off his bowl of orts. There are not too many in there, but at least I am on time for once!

See you next month!

stitch from stash report

Month: July

Amount Spent: 13.77

Amount Earned: 14.00

I started this second half by spending a little, but earning a little too! I bought two Halloween charts from Midnight Stitching that I am hoping to get stitched before the holiday.

My finish is a piece that I started several years ago. I misplaced it, and then found all the parts, thankfully! It is called Apple Tree Sampler by Hawkins House. The fabric is a little more yellow than it shows in the photo. I'm really glad that I was able to finish this one.

I'm excited to see how everyone else did this month!

late TUSAL report

Yup...late again. I guess i have 5 more months to get it right!

Anyway, here is my pet froggy, with his dish of orts...

\See you next time!

stitch from stash report

Month: June

Amount Spent: $11.00

Amount Earned: 0

Another crazy month. I haven't even had time to update my blog. The money I spent was on some threads for a pattern that I have, and of course, now can't find. Ugh! I have been stitching some, a bit on a friend's round robin, and my Apple Tree Sampler. Also finished a piece, but it was from a borrowed pattern, so I guess I can't really say it was from my stash.Anyway, hopefully next month I will have some finishes to show!

Lynda

Stitch from Stash

 

Month: May

Spent: 0

Earned: 0

 



This has been a crazy month...I've been stitching, but mostly things that are not really old enough to be considered "stash" so they don't count towards earned stitches. But I also didn't have  time to buy anything new either, so I guess I broke even! We'll see what happens this month!

Happy stitching!

it was TUSAL time

And of course, I'm late again. Froggy kept looking at me with those froggy eyes, wondering when I was going to take his picture again. Next time I'll pay more attention!

'Til next time....

if you wait long enough...

and keep looking, eventually lost things become found things!

Some of you may remember that I am prone to losing either my stitching (and having the pattern), or my patterns (and having the stitching). I try to be organized, I really do...I'm a librarian after all! But these things still seem to happen to me more often that I like to admit to.

Anyway, I found one of those stitched pieces that I had been looking for. I was looking for a piece of fabric for another project, and pulled out this piece and there it was...folded with the stitching to the inside so I kept passing it over! I was  (am) so happy because this is a piece that I really want to finish.

It is called Apple Tree Sampler designed by Hawkins House. I started it as a SAL with my friend Babs in January of 2011. The last time I stitched on it was April of that same year. It doesn't seem like that long ago...and I have no idea why I put it aside because I really love it.

So I decided to stitch on it on Tuesdays, since that has always been UFO day ever since I started joining online stitching groups many years ago. I didn't get much done last week, just a couple of small motifs and a start on the tree. But I don't care, as long as I do a little bit each week, it will eventually get finished!

 

Neither of these shows the fabric very well...it's more of a yellow color, and the threads are much more vibrant than they appear in the photos.

 

So...don't give up if you think you have lost something...it will turn up...eventually!

 

Thanks for stopping by to visit!

 

 

 



stitch from stash - april

Month: April

Spent: $26.97

Earned: $16.00

Well, I did spend a little more than I planned on this month. I wanted to get a remembrance design for our Boonie, and then I ordered a pattern by mistake (I think I'll just have a giveaway for that one!). The rest was for some threads that I needed. I tried substituting some that I had, but they just didn't work.

I did get some stitching done...both from my stash and from stash that is not old enough to qualify yet. The pieces I finished that count for this month:

A Lizzie Kate freebie that I have had forever, Friendship Grows. This is for our STO block exchange.

 



This next is another freebie from 2010 by Plum Street Samplers. It is called Be True.

 

 



The last is not a finished piece, but I did finish page one. It is Autumn Quaker Seasons from ByGone Stitches.

 

So that is it for this month. How did everyone else do?

TUSAL - a little bit late

I don't know why I can't seem to get these monthly updates posted on time this year!
Here's my little froggy with his little owl of orts for the month. Lot of pretty colors this time, but they are kind of hard to see...sorry!

 

Until next time....thanks for visiting!

this and that

Well, it has been a busy couple of weeks!

Thank you so much to everyone who posted such lovely comments on my last post. We still miss Boonie so much...I still expect to trip over him when I come downstairs in the morning (he always slept right in my path and I never turned on the lights!) and I miss seeing him waiting for me after work. And eating our first pizza without him was awful...pizza crust was his favorite treat...I don't think I have had any crust in the past twelve years! We got a beautiful card from our vet yesterday which was very sweet...there were a few more tears too, but he will always be in our hearts. Our other puppy (well, he's not really a puppy...he's also 12) was lucky enough to have my daughter's two doggies to play with while we were on vacation, so we came home to a happy boy.

Jeff and I were lucky enough to go to Hawaii for a much needed vacation last week. We stayed on the beach in Waikiki and just relaxed and acted like beach bums for the whole week...it was heavenly! We even got to renew our vows at a ceremony on the beach...it was really lovely.

And now it's back to work...this week has sped by. My director is at a conference so I have been "in charge"...always fun. And it is National Library Week so we all got to wear  library themed t-shirts all week...easy peasy dressing!

If I am correct, this is Hermitting weekend, and I am planning to do just that. I received an out of print Blackbird Designs pattern ...Blessings Be Thine....and I would love to get to it this weekend. I have everything all ready to go...just need to get the time to stitch! So hopefully, I will have some progress to show next week.

Oh...here are a few snaps from our trip...

 

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend, and thanks again for your good thoughts.

Thanks for taking the time to visit!



gifted gorgeousness for april

 

Another month has flown by...I'm really happy with my progress on this one...Quaker Autumn from ByGone Stitches. This was gifted to me, and I love it. I'm almost finished with page one of the chart.

 

Thanks to Jo for hosting this fun SAL!