Monday, February 25, 2008

Stash!


Well, here is my little pile of stash from Saturday. From Blackbird Designs I picked up Buttons and Pins and the Thank You, Sarah Tobias book. From JBW Designs, the French Country Petite Stocking. I also got a MOP heart shaped thread keep and a MOP 3" ruler, a little ceramic scissor cup and a fridge magnet that says 'I would rather be stitching than in the kitchen'. Too true! LOL

Of course I can't put all my scissors in this little cup, but isn't it cute?

My little MOP collection is just about to outgrow this box. You can just barely see the one little silver thread winder tucked in there. I really need to re-work my displays. (but then I might have to dust!)
Off to work. Have a great Monday!

Sunday, February 24, 2008

Weekend fun

So, what has everyone been up to this weekend. I'm a little behind in my blog reading but I will catch up - eventually!
Yesterday the hubber and I took Jason to Dallas for auditions. He was going to be there for at least 4 hours so we took a ride across the metroplex and I spent some time (and money) in Aidaworks. I'll show that picture either later today or tomorrow. The picture for today is this set of shutters.

I've had these for awhile. They are salvaged from a house that burned several years ago (and it just happens to be that Mr. Wonderful worked that fire). Anyway, I bought them with a specific project in mind and that project is actually in progress, finally! Might be next weekend before it finished and I get more pictures.

Thanks for the comments on my Red Thread project. I'm having fun with it - we will see if I get bored before it gets finished!

Cathy - The design is from Bent Creek and is a series of 12 charts all connected with a 'red thread'. There is also a border which is free from most any LNS - if they have the monthly charts, they should also have the border. The border does have a embellishment pack that goes with it. (I think the emb. pack was around $11.00)

Okay - I'm off to clean up those shutters!

Friday, February 22, 2008

Late to the party


I had planned on starting my Red Thread sampler in January and keeping up month to month but I didn't have all the threads so I didn't actually get started until sometime this month so I started with the Feb. Square. I finished that one and I'm working on the January one now. I hope to get it finished along with the border to where the Feb. square ends - before Feb. ends - but that might not happen since I have an exchange piece I need to work on and I don't like to be down to the wire when it comes to exchange pieces. The only bad thing about stitching on exchange pieces is that you can't show progress pictures!

Thursday, February 21, 2008

Superbowl stash

I am not a football fan . I don't even watch to see the commercials. The only good thing I can say about Superbowl Sunday is that many shops have sales!

My package from The Silver Needle came on Tuesday. They always package it up with pretty tissue paper. (link in sidebar - I've tried 4 times to put the link in here and it just ain't working!)

This is what was inside the box:
Little House Needleworks - Schoolgirl Lessons and Home of a Needleworker too (we won't talk about the fact that I have the first one kitted up but not stitched)
I also ordered another Mother of Pearl floss winder - I just love those things!
From Historic Stitches is the little Remember Me box and chart.

Here is a pic of the box and threadwinders out of the package - I just love 'em - they are pretty enough to leave out on display even before I get the lining stitched and put together. (I need more display space!)
There was also an ink pen and Jelly Belly jelly beans in the box. I always give those to the hubby as they are his favorites. (the jelly beans, not the pen. I keep that for myself! LOL) I'm always amazed that the tiny little jelly beans are individually wrapped!
If you look in the middle picture you will see a purple note paper with a quarter taped to it - that is my 'quarter back'.
Okay - off to do those things which must be done. Hope I can catch a break in the rain to do grocery shopping.

Wednesday, February 20, 2008

Cute, cute!


Isn't this little pin cushion cute? Sandra gave one to Sarah and myself at stitch night a couple of weeks ago. They were supposed to be in our Christmas bags, but she had either misplaced them or forgot about them. Either way, she came across them and thought it would be better to just give them to us rather than saving them for next Christmas (when they might be lost again!) I know the feeling - there has been more than one Christmas morning that I remembered something that should have been under the tree! We won't be having stitch night this week as Sandra has the flu. She was feeling some better yesterday but since Sarah and I would like to make it through the winter without getting the flu we will be skipping this week!
I had a small box of stash on my front porch when I got home from work. (from the Superbowl Sale) I could have ordered so much more, but I'm trying to be good. I'll try to get a stash pic up tomorrow.
Are they ever going to fix spell check on here?

Sunday, February 17, 2008

Heart Sewing Case

I picked up the kit to make this sewing case when we were in Houston at the quilt show. (I also picked up two other kits for boxes) I finally got fabric and thought I would try putting it together. Sure, it looks easy enough but I do better with pictures and the directions didn't have quite enough of those! Anyway - it's not perfect, but then it is just for me.

Front

Back

Inside

It is called Heart Sewing Case from Needleboxes, Etc. There is no website listed on the package and I haven't looked for one online (yet). I have the fabric to do the other two - just not sure when that will be. I will wait until I have finished the other two before I decide if I want to order more to make for gifts. I know where some of my mistakes are and I think I could do better if I did another (heart shaped - the others are different so I'll be starting all over!)
That's it. Time to load the dishwasher and hit my stitching chair!

Saturday, February 16, 2008

What a way. . .

to spend the day!

Autumn is all curled up in the chair - hoping I won't notice and make her get down. She can stay there - I'm ready to hit my stitching chair. Supper is in the crock pot, laundry is going, so I have a couple of hours of 'me' time!
Have a great day!

Friday, February 15, 2008

Happy Friday!

Mr. Wonderful and I had a nice day yesterday. Did some shopping and errand running then went to a movie and had popcorn for lunch. Who could ask for more? Hope you had a wonderful V. Day with your sweetheart.


I finished up the stitching on this little scissor box last weekend and got it all finished off - but if I put my scissors in it, it covers the stitching! For now I just have it open on the bookcase in my office.

It is 'My Scissors Kept Here' from Olde Colonial Designs. I 'think' I picked this one up on a 'girls road trip' last year. We always have so much fun when we take those road trips! Next up is the stitching get-a-way in Nac at the end of March.

I need to thank Vickie for giving me the 'you make my day' award. Vickie is one of the blog friends I have had the pleasure of actually meeting in person. She is sweet as pie! If I had all day to work on this post I might have time to get in all the blogs that make my day but there are so many! LOL I think I will just have to blush and accept the award.
Well, now in addition to spell check not working it seems I am not getting email notices when someone leaves a comment. I guess eventually it will get to where I can't post at all then I will have to change to another blog format because I have become completely hooked on this blogging thing!
Ah well - I'm off to decide what to fix for supper. Jason & Ashley are coming in tonight and I promised them I would cook!

Thursday, February 14, 2008

Happy Heart Day & Thanks

Thanks so much for the comments and emails on my Monday mega-whine. It was definitely the worst headache day I've had in a while. I'm happy to say that so far the rest of the week is going much better.
Here is a pic of some more hearts I made a couple of weeks ago. I have them in a bowl on the dining room table. Not bad for a rookie.

I found this pin cushion in the clearance bin at Hobby Lobby last week - couldn't resist, being so close to Valentine's Day and my current obsession with pin cushions.

Thought I would post a pic of my sweetheart. I know it is a terrible (quality) picture but it is all I have. (of this pic - not the only one I have of him!) This was taken several years ago when he was working as a flight-medic and sent to us in an email. The file got lost in a computer crash so all I have is what was printed out on a regular printer/paper but I've always loved the picture so I'm glad I at least have that.

He has the day off today so we get to spend it together. Guess that means I should go get myself ready for the day!
Have a great day!

Tuesday, February 12, 2008

A new day

It is a new day and I am starting it out with a positive attitude. :) Headache is better this morning (not gone, but I can deal with it as long as it doesn't get worse). Mr. Wonderful came home with this last night



So at least I have had coffee - hopefully that will help. I also took meds as soon as I got up this morning.
I felt some better (after having maxed out on meds) and tried to stitch around 8:30 last night. Note to self - even though the migraine is on the down side, the brain has not caught up yet. I made a mistake within the first few stitches and had to take out everything I had stitched. Maybe I will get that part re-stitched tonight. I hope all this rain we are getting at the moment will wash the old frog away.

Thanks for the good thoughts yesterday.
I hope we all have a great day!

Monday, February 11, 2008

It must be Monday

And it isn't a good thing. I am going to whine a bit so if you would rather not read about it, now would be a good time to hit the next blog.
I woke up to a headache (as in more than the normal everyday headache) also, there was no coffee this morning because the coffee maker we got this past fall decided to dump the water all over the counter instead of into the pot (twice!) Thought I would make some oatmeal - that ended up all over the microwave even though I didn't cook it nearly as long as it said to.
Wrote out a check to pay a bill that I needed to mail today. I put the payment coupon in the evelope and sealed it up - yep, without the check! Wouldn't you know it when you need to get back in an envelope it sticks like cement. (at least I noticed it before I mailed it)
Went to work with a diet dr. pepper hoping that would do the for caffine fix. It didn't.
I decided the first pill I took for the migraine wasn't doing the trick so I went to take another but I didn't have one with me. I finally came home at 1:30, took more meds and and a two hour nap. Still there - time to give in and do a nose squirt (I hate those) tried to go back to sleep but I couldn't so I thought I would check a few emails. My head still feels like it could implode at any moment, but at least my eyeballs don't feel like they are going to pop out so maybe it will get better.
Well, now that I have that out of my system - I need to say thanks to Jennifer at
Sweet Pea Stitches for the You Make My Day award. I'm supposed to pass it along to 10 more bloggers but as my brain isn't functioning at full capacity - okay, maybe it never does that but at least at it's normal capacity just know if you are reading this, you deserve an award!



Margo tagged me with the seven things about you tag. I really can't come up with seven more, I did this on September 28, 2007 and again - no brain power so I'll just have to use those again.

Since I'm brain deprived today I will just have to use a picture I already have on the computer so here are some Valentine towels I picked up a few weeks ago.



I'm through whining for today. I promise not to whine tomorrow - even if the head still wants to implode! If I can't post without whining, I just won't post!

Thanks for all the birthday wishes for Timothy, and for the nice comments on the cake. It really did look better in the picture than it did in person!

Spell check still isn't working here so, it is what it is.


Saturday, February 9, 2008

The birthday boy

Today the middle kidlet is 24 years old. This morning I baked his favorite cake - I promise they usually look better than this! This has to be the worst looking cake I've ever made. Can't believe I'm actually posting a picture.

This is the 'good side'. I really should have taken a picture before I covered the pitiful thing with frosting. Tasted good, but I'm sure glad I wasn't making it to take somewhere!
Now - the birthday boy is more camera shy than his mother (if that is possible) so when I went looking for pictures of him to post, all I could find were either group photos or one of those where he was making some kind of 'you aren't really going to take my picture, are you', face - or there are those where all you get is a blob on the move because he was trying to dodge the camera, were about all I could find. I thought I would get a picture of him at dinner tonight (the chicken spaghetti looked better than the cake!)

I'm guessing he must have had a pretty good day. He usually works at least part of the day on Saturday but today he slept till noon. He never did put on a shirt and I don't think he combed his hair all day. So, here he is, in his t-shirt and mussed up hair. What life, huh?

Even though he didn't go 'to' work today, he brought 'work' home. He is building a computer for the youth building. (he is the 'tech' guy at our church, if it doesn't work - no matter what it is - call Timothy!) He was back in his room and busy again right after dinner. He never has been much of a sit and do nothing kind of person. He is either asleep, or on the move. On or off - he only has two speeds. LOL
I think I told the story about his entrance into the world back on one of those 'things about me' posts. This is the child that was born in the car on the way to the hospital. He was in a hurry to get here I guess! It was 16 days before his due date and no I didn't wait too long to leave - he was just fast! He was walking at 9 months, running by 10 months and he was/is a curious little guy. Yep - it has been an interesting 24 years. I've enjoyed every minute of it.

I have a couple of tags I need to respond to - I will get to that sometime in the next couple of days - right now I'm headed to my stitching chair!

Wednesday, February 6, 2008

Heart on a string


I needed some Valentine decor so I stitched up these little hearts the other day - I am still trying to make peace with the beast. I was just trying out different heart shapes - they seemed to either turn out be bigger than I thought, or smaller than I thought. I still haven't got the right size, but I did get a good shape on some others I have in a bowl, but they need a little 'something' before I can call them finished. I'll work on that a bit tomorrow.
Need to decide what I want to take for stitch night tomorrow - I'm thinking my next ornament would be good if I could decide what ornament I want to stitch next! The list of cute ornaments is just way to long.

Monday, February 4, 2008

Ornament Exchange


Here is the ornament I received in the ornament exchange this month. It is a Mosey & Me from one of the Just Cross Stitch ornament issues. Isn't he cute? I had this one on my list of 'someday' charts to stitch. So if I mark one off, how many do I get to add to the list?

Sunday, February 3, 2008

Interesting

Yesterday we went to Nac to see baby boy in a play. For starters it was in the downstage theatre - which translates to a small, window-less, low ceiling room that is painted totally black. I'm not crazy about this room (aka - the dungeon). Anywho - the word that comes to mind about the play is - interesting. Hubby and I were both shaking our heads because we didn't understand a bit of it! We felt a little better when Jason said there wasn't anything to understand! That being said, here is a picture of baby boy and his bride after the show. He had another show last night so he had to keep the make-up on until then. We offered to take them out to eat, but he declined - can't imagine why! LOL) and Ashley was working on her next production and couldn't leave. (we did go pick up something to take back to them)

He starts rehearsals for the next play today. College theatre is sooo different from high school theatre - you just never know what to expect!
For some reason my spell check isn't working - I have tried to spell check the last couple of posts but it doesn't seem to work. Any ideas?
Oh - and Michelle asked about the cording on the stocking ornament. The bottom part is unraveled - I tied it in a knot so that it wouldn't go any further. You can use a bit of fray-check on the ends and that will sometimes help, or I have been known to take a matching thread and just sew around the end where I want it to stop (you have to pull it pretty tight for it to work).
Stitchy pic tomorrow!

Friday, February 1, 2008

A little stocking


Yes, I know it is way too early (or late!) for Christmas, but I joined an exchange where we do one ornament every other month. This little stocking has landed at his (or hers) new home so now I can show the picture. I think it turned out quite cute - if I might say so myself! I will probably stitch this one again for myself.
The design came out of an older hardcover book - 365 Quick Christmas Designs. The copyright is Kooler Design Studio, but the book came from American School of Needlework/The Needlecraft Shop and is dated 2000. I didn't use the colors stated in the chart and I added the tiny jingle bells instead of stitching the ones graphed.
Thanks so much for all the compliments on my Bee True pillow. I really am a rookie but I want to get better and I know I have to just suck it up spend time with the beast if I want to best the beast! I always get antsy when I am doing something with my stitching though - I would hate to ruin it after I got it stitched! This time I think I did okay. Anyway - I just wanted to say thanks for leaving comments - keeps me from feeling like I am talking to myself. (and I do enough of that without doing it here!)
Have a great weekend!