Crafting with the Stitch Witch

TUSAL Posting

2012-01-22T19:33:00.003-05:00

Well here we go. The first new moon and my first Totally Useless Stitch-A-Long post. This year I decided to use a speciality glass and decided on the Baby Cham glass I brought home from England from a trip there in the 70's.

I don't exactly remember what was in the Baby Cham but have the glass to prove I had one! I figure each month I will empty the contents into the larger glass mug that I usually use. I just thought mixing it up with a specialty glass! This is what the glass looked at the start of the week and then I got to working on more assembly of my etui.

The etui assembly is coming along and attaching the gussets are next but it has not been without frogging. Of course I jumped ahead and missed the batting on two lining sides. Thankfully it was not that hard to cut the lacing and start anew.

A wise woman once told me.....

2012-01-21T11:02:00.003-05:00

"....paint your closet when you paint the room because you'll never come back to it". It was not that I didn't believe her, it was that I was not the sort to fall into that trap.   Not me. I'll come back to it. Well, as I make the trip around my house this weekend to create a list of household projects that need to be done throughout the winter and coming spring, why is that almost all start with "Complete...." or "Finish...."    Guess it is just not in my needlework world where I have several WIP's going on.

Starting the new year is always a chance to wipe the slate clean and start fresh.   In the past when I have made THE LIST, it has been incredibly long and I have felt like I will never get through and thus don't!  You know the feeling, so much to do that you don't know where to start so you don't.   So my attack this year is to not make the ENTIRE HOUSE TO DO list but go room by room.   Once everything in one room is brought up to snuff, then I will move to the next to make a new list. It might be less daunting and rather then an unending list, I will be able to check off room by room.    It might work. Nothing to loose and obviously my other method didn't work.

One weekend/one job and then the feeling of accomplishment.   This weekend is the final touch-up of paint in the laundry room.   What? You thought I was finished.   Well, it was finished to some extent that there are those who would be happy.   Not me.   The woodwork and trim all was primed and given one coat of paint which I need to give the second coat to. The doors the same thing.     If you are going to do it, do it right and don't add it to that list of jobs to come back to! There is a nick here and there on the wall paint when the cabinets and countertop went in.  And then there is the extra pieces of flooring that need to be stored somewhere. Little things that no one else but probably moi is aware of.   So I am off to spackle the nail holes where the baseboard was pulled off to install the floor and sand and paint. Once Mr. W. cuts down two larger shelves for me to outfit the broom closet with shelves for storing bottled water and soda and such I can check this room off the To-Do list today.

And I bet my sister thought I never paid attention to her words of wisdom.

The plants may not be watered but

2012-01-16T14:40:00.005-05:00

I do have finishes to share! My first couple for the year and two off my WIP list. First and foremost, a stitching weekend with friends. We had a very nice time, good food, lovely room, a few drinkings and a happy hour all crammed in and amongst the 4 day stitching excursion.

In no particular order - I finished Tequila Sunrise, a canvas piece by Laura Perin. It was first canvas piece I did and was part of a EGA SAL at my guild. I am not really sure what I will do with it. It is not my colors or taste but it was the technique I went for.

My next finish is a little embroidery piece. This kit I picked up at the Homestead in Dresden OH when I went on a bus trip to Longaberger about 5 years ago. I tossed it aside because the piece was not squared on the muslin and I got all dejected. Then when I came across when sorting out all my WIP's, I figured, what the hey! I can make it into a polllow and all will be well. I even snagged a few fat quarters at a quilt shop that we stopped in on our way home and think I found a good one to use for finishing.

A Basket of Blooms

The Fat Quarters I didn't need but.......

I did get quite a bit completed on my Etui finishing. I am keeping track of my hours and so far I am at about 10 for the finishing. I also worked on the top (and my final section to complete) and have managed to stitched all but a little more that one side of the outer border.

I wish I had been able to complete more prep work before I left for the weekend but alas.....the more important step was taken.......the step of bravery to attempt the finish on my own!

So next, a complete diversion - a new craft - hexagons for a hexagon quilt. These puppies are additive. The concept is the same as paper piecing but because these templates are Mylar, they make the folding and stitching easier.

Sorry for the sideways pic

Here are the plastic templates you use and re-use

Covering and joining these took about an hour and I can do this while riding in the car.

Here's the back of the above. Once all sides are stitched to another, you pop out the template and cover and use again.

Lastly, I worked on my Queen Bee Accessories from the Catherine Theron class I took in the fall. The stitches are varied and fun. At least I say that now....I haven't started the bullion roses. Pat, one of my stitching pals, worked on them this week. Her work is beautiful but it was not without the rest of us hearing her talk to herself while she did them!

Oops! I guess we need to stand on our heads to read the words.

Buttonhole flower

The gals in my room all had a productive weekend. Stacy - the super stitcher - started and finished 3 or 4 smalls. Carol stitched away on a couple of projects as well as knitted up 2, maybe 3 scarves. And Pat was satisfied with accomplishing her goal of the outside portion of Catherine Theron's Queen Bee accessories so much so she started a new project! So now, back at home and reality. The suitcase is unpacked, two loads of laundry done and I am making a big pot of soup for Mr. W. as well as some homemade rice pudding for him and need to be watering my thirsty plants.

WIPocalypse January Status

2012-01-10T06:21:00.003-05:00

Where I was when I uncovered this piece.

I've had my share of Frogging!

Well here you go. I have been concentrating my efforts on mainly two of my WIP's in the WIPocalypse Challenge. I have posted before and after pictures showing my status since I sorted through the basket and lined up my WIP projects.

Progress as of Jan. 9th

First, The Petit Sampling Etui, a collaborative and limited edition design. I have only the top section to complete the stitching on and then on to the finishing itself. I worked last night for a couple of hours 'prepping' the parts. I plan to complete the stitching and start the assembly this weekend. Maybe, just maybe, by next month's WIP post, I can show a finished finish.

I am hoping this MESS will lead to an ease of finishing. (Well, one can hope!)

Status at start

Status - January 9th

The Sheltering Tree is the other piece I have been devoting my stitching time to. I just love the feel of the floss I am using for this one. Again, I am posting before and after pix. Now that I have concentrated my efforts, this has come along quickly. Once I get my Etui completed, I think it should take no time to finish this one up! Yeah! Thanks Measi for the prodding!

Good Morning Friend!

Stephanie Plum!

2012-01-07T17:39:00.005-05:00

If you have never read any of the Janet Evanovich Stephanie Plum numbers books you need to. Stephanie Plum is a kind of Lucy and Ethel meets the new millenium bounty hunter! She does everything backwards and blows up cars, by accident of course. The first in the number series, One for the Money, is soon to be released as a movie with Kathryn Heigl as Stephanie, Sherry Sheppard at Lula (the prosititute turned bounty hunter partner), Debbie Reynolds at Grandma Mazar who always wants to know if people are 'packing'. Then there are the love interests - Joe Morreli and Ranger the dark and mysterious former special ops guy.

Click here for the movie trailer.

I read these books and laugh right out loud......funny when I am reading them in the service department of Toyota! The books - now 18 in the series - are light hearted, entertaining, easy reads that just take you away. And they are set in New Jersey which is where I hail. My friends and I can't wait to see the movies. They should be a real hoot! I am only on #8....I'd better get reading.

The world did not tilt

2012-01-07T17:03:00.005-05:00

A new start and not of a cross stitch nature. My New Year's Resolution was vetted out in my exhausted little brain in early December. It is simple and not a big deal, but oh so far reaching. Simply put, I proclaimed that in 2012, I would be nicer to myself. What? Isn't that selfish you might ask? In my case it is the exact opposite. It finally sunk in.....if what you are doing isn't working, it is time to change it up. So I made this promise to myself to not over-extend myself. To not feel obligated that I have to say YES to everything! To not feel that if I don't jump and do it, it won't get done.

I have this inability to say no for fear that I will disappoint. This quirk to my personality only puts me behind the 8-ball writing reports, doing financials, filing grants, running fundraisers, and basically running around like a chicken with no sense and no head and getting angry at myself for not being able to do it all. Internal perfectionist. Sound like any of you? This is compounded by the Monday Morning Quarterbacks that walk in and tout all they do and criticize what has been done. It makes my blood boil and just makes me more frustrated. Look people, you are all retired! Can you say that sometimes I was an Angry Bird or a Sad Bird?, probably.

It is not always Board/Committee type work, it is sometimes pleasurable things. This past fall I was away 7 out of 8 weekends. I mean away overnight or longer type away. All things I wanted to do. Can you do the math and add up the things around the house not getting done? I do this time after time and put pressure on myself. It made my brain hurt and made me push myself harder to get it all done and made for one very tired me. Please someone let me hitch a free ride sometime!

Fast forward to my Board Meeting this week for my arts group. I am the youngster of this Board. These women are all 20 plus years my senior. When I call them my 'old lady friends' it is because they are! So, back to this week. All of them chattering to each other my dear sweet little old ladies were saying that "....after all we will each be 80 in a couple of years and it is time to pass the baton..." What do I hear from across the room........"how about Robin?" They didn't think I was listening since I was taking minutes and writing checks, and general having my head spin like Linda Blair, but I was! Out burst a load, "HELL NO!" from my mouth. There was actually silent for what seemed like forever and then one started to chuckle and then another and someone said it wasn't fair to dump everything on Robin since she is the only young person to show up........ It has always been like Mikey in the Life commercial.......give it to Robin, she'll do it!

So I said NO and I actually think I gained some respect. And guess what, they still like me. The birds have not fallen from the sky, the rivers are not flowing the wrong direction, the sun will continue to set each evening and rise again in the morning, and the world is still spinning on its axis. And even better, it will be easier and I will be less vocal saying NO the next time.

Maybe I will now be able to cross more than some WIP's off my to-do list.

Words of advice that I have given before but never listened to myself .......If you continue to do the same thing and expect a different result, that is insanity.......change something in your approach if you want a different outcome..... I am doing it!

May the bluebird of happiness fly into your life in 2012!

Ahhhh!

2012-01-06T07:01:00.004-05:00

Well I know where I will be spending my weekend....in the laundry room.

Before pix

basically from the same vantage points

I got home from work to find my laundry room 99% percent complete.....crazy but I could just stand in there for hours! Here's a before pix which doesn't even show how what a crappy room it was.

The electrian needs to come back to do the under cabinet lighting (he had a family emergency). Other than the two cabinets involve with wiring I hope to move my *stuff* back in there tonight. So great to get the boxes out of my dining room. I think I will need more interior shelving.....I mean what is up with that......I tall cabinet with only two shelves? I can't wait to move all the papertowels, canning supplies, etc., etc. in these babies! Better be quick about it and not use up all available time and leave no time for stitching.

New Find

2011-12-29T10:38:00.002-05:00

My girls and I hung out together in Philly for a couple of days. Staying over at Heather's - my eldest - is always the best. Much laughter, good food, good times. We did some shop hopping at fabric stores, etc. We scouted out a consignment shop and I found a goodie.

This all wooden table will be a new plant stand. I haven't decided if I will refinish it or shabby chic it with some Williamsburg blue paint. A little rearranging will need to be done once the holiday decor comes down but I am feeling it could be a new home to my orchids. Best thing is that is was only $24.00!!!

Is it the memory that goes first?

2011-12-29T10:25:00.004-05:00

It has been a fabulous week with family here.....and today the last of my childen went out the door for her drive home. Now I will worry for the next 6 and half hours while she is on the road. It is not like things can't happen at other times but driving at 65 (or 70 mph) does seem to accelerate your probability shall we say.

A surprise Christmas present - my son - we thought he wouldn't be home for the holidays because of work but he and his family made it!

So to the memory part, in my mind's eye, as I was assembling and listing my WIP's for 2012, I am remembering I have all but finished the stitching for my Petite Sampling Etui....so sure was I that I never took it out of the storage case I had it in.......maybe it was the fact that it was a BAP that I felt I was 198% complete........well, here is where the memory kind of fails.

The top section, which is the last section I need to complete, is not 98% complete although the overall project is probably is 98% complete. This was about a year's worth of stitching devoted to just one project and that is not me....I am Side Track Robin who gets easily pulled off task. Why is this a big deal?? I am going on a Camp Wannasew Retreat on the 13th of January and had planned on working on the finishing while there. This finishing is one of those tasks that will best not interrupted by phone calls, pop in visitors or the need to cook dinner and make beds. I thought the retreat would be a good time to concentrate on it.

Here are the four sides and then the bottom and the top. We did it as a SAL and had two months for each side. It was a guild project in 2010 and now I MUST assemble it before Ellen Chester comes to teach at our guild in April. I think if I concentrate on this stitching project and not let me Stitchers ADD interfere, I can finish this up with no problem before the 13th. The pressure is on.......oh wait, not putting pressure on myself is supposed to be one of my New Year's Resolutions....again the memory has failed.

Here's some of my brood taking naps. Even Troy, the puppy. Yes, the girls all got matching pj's. Santa spirited these under the tree magically on Christmas Eve.

The family being here was great and everyone helped with food prep and meals and dishes but I did feel like I was stationed at the kitchen sink forever. It was so nice to enjoy each others company and sleeping arrangements were a challenge since one bedroom is now a craftroom and another bedroom is now a walk-in closet. We had a dormatory set up with cots, double futon and Aero beds. But again the memory failed......at the amount of toilet paper a full house needs! Not that there was ever a doubt I would run out, but I did hear more than once, "we're out of TP upstairs"..... family, got to love them!

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays one and all

2011-12-24T12:44:00.002-05:00

No matter what your belief or way of worship, I wish you all a joyous and happy, healthy and safe holiday season. May you be surrounded by loved ones, may there be much joy and happiness, may there be beverages with or without spirits and may your plates and bellies be full!

Thank you one and all for your visits and comments to my blog. I love reading each and every one. I am still amazed at this thing - the Internet - and how is has connected stitchers and crafters around the world at the click of a button. As much as I love the comments, I also love looking at each of your blogs, following your progress, your finishes and your families.

At my house we are ready for Santa to make the magic.......for now, a little baking and prepping veggies and dips......

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

....Laundry Room Status

2011-12-20T20:41:00.002-05:00

The room has been primed and painted and flooring in and trim and new doors are in.....washer and dryer are set and look like a space ship control panel when lighting up the dark.....what's missing...the cabinets and countertop.....anticipated delivery.....January 3rd.....it is what it is......nothing to fret over......in the meantime, I can wash and dry til my heart's content.

All that glitters.....

2011-12-20T19:53:00.010-05:00

I just love these snowflakes. The only addition to my Christmas decorations this year.

I picked these us for 75% off.....the only way I shop....coupons and sales!

I put up several trees - the lunacy of it!!! and mixed the trees up this year. Not intentionally, but read on and I explain. These should have gone on the smaller tree but oh well. It is the Squirrel Tree - a tribute to my husband's encounter with a squirrel.

All things woodsey and squirrel like

I have managed to complete my tree decorating and house decorations as they have come in spurts this year. I have been nursing a sore knee since Thanksgiving....not the end of the world but something to definitely make one weary after several weeks. I finally went to the doctor last week, got an rx for anti-inflammatories and had an X-ray. X-rays showed nothing other than an "arthritis flare". Gees, I didn't know I had arthritis in my knee/knees!!! So I have been alternating between nursing it and just being plain miserable by the time I get home from work. Couple that with not sleeping and I have been a pretty cranky old bird. They laughed at me because I took a bag of frozen peas to work and have been spending my lunch hour with my foot up and the frozen peas on my knee. Hey, it has helped with the swelling. Finally, after close to a month, I feel I am finally getting some relief. Golly, how one little old knee can make someone feel so miserable I'll never know. This getting old crap is for the birds!

Since I didn't do the traditional tree this year but I still wanted to be able to enjoy some of the ornaments, I did a little display on my coffee table in my family room. I think it looks kind of cute but it doesn't photograph too well.

Of course the early morning visits to the gym and all the holiday cookies at work and I believe I put back on the 9.5 lbs I lost with weight watchers! That constant battle with weight! Yuck!

Anyway, I had a girl's day out on Friday with my BFF Debbie (non-blogger and non-stitcher but recently expressing an interest in stitching....yeah, the power of stitching!!!) but I paid all weekend. I worked an hour, I iced the knee for an hour. In and out of the recliner all weekend, I worked on some of my WIP's. Well what's a girl to do when she is forced to be in the recliner with her feet up every other hour? Make use of that time to stitch of course!

I worked on the Sheltering Tree, The Basket of Blooms and Tequila Sunrise. I am pleased with the progress and so happy to see the end so closely in site for at least the Basket of Blooms with the other two now far behind. I choose these three to work on not because of the percentage of completion but because of the overall amount to be done. I figured a couple of quick finishes would be incentive to get the ball rolling and the needle flying. What a diverse three.....cross stitch with silks, embroidery with DMC and canvas work with metallics. These are all in need of completion before I dare break my promise to start anything new. Can't do it, won't do it, don't dare even think about it. As much as I wish to stitch up ornaments, this is not the year. Those cuties will have to sit and wait for me and my resolve. 25 on that list of WIPs and a promise to not start anything new until retreat in May and only then if I have crossed a few off the list. I'm a numbers person and play all kinds of equations in my head. I am thinking to stay on pace and reduce this number to a manageable mess, I need to cross two a month off my list. I can do that......right?.....if I can, then how did I get myself in this fine pickle?

Ok, enough of my random rant of foolishness......time to get the ice pack out and put my feet up....housework?... it's not going anywhere.

One Step Closer!

2011-12-15T19:19:00.000-05:00

My flooring FINALLY arrived as well as a text from the contractor. He is off to another job on Friday and Saturday and will be back on Monday to finish up. Already I feel like I have finished room and not a little used to be a shed with a washer and dryer in it. I came home to a surprise....the contractor had hooked up my washer and dryer for me to use! I guess after two weeks without one, he felt sorry for me. I told him he didn't have to hook them up but he did. He told me during this whole experience that we are good customers and appreciates our business and our referrals to others so I guess that is why he did it. That and because he is a great guy!

Here's a pix of my floor and the tile I bought for the back-splash as well as a pic of my new W/D! The tile and the flooring is bringing out the blue in the wall paint. After I primed it on Monday and painted on Tuesday, my husband said it looked like the color of dry-wall!

Flooring on the left, tile for back slashon the right!

I have a load in already and I will freely admit I stood and watched it wash clothes probably for at least 5 minutes!

Counting the days (and stitches)

2011-12-15T04:28:00.002-05:00

I am so fortunate to have a bunch of vacation left.   Today is my Friday and next week I have only three days to work.   I am ready for a break from the rat race.   The family will be here and that is ALWAYS fun.   My son and his family cannot make it home for the holidays but we are hoping to drive out for a visit between Christmas and the New Year.

My laundry room re-do is still in a stack of flux! Fortunately it gave me time to prime it one evening and paint it the next. I love painting a room. I mean not really love the painting as much as the outcome and the fresh and clean feel you get.    I am waiting for the floor to come in.   I am finding it amazing how many stores do not stock what they sell. It all comes from a 'warehouse' somewhere days away. I get it. I mean I understand the lack of outlay companies have to cover for warehousing at each and every location. What is more amazing is the lack of knowledge of the salespeople. Do they all take the same course to BS customers and promise the customer anything to make the sale? I would like to see knowledgeable sales people that give you the real skinny on delivery dates.   It is the domino effect.......I can't wash clothes because the washer and dryer aren't installed because the floor hasn't come in yet again yesterday - the third promised delivery date and it is holding up the contractor from coming to the next person's house.

Funny, the woman I spoke with yesterday....the shipping clerk at the flooring store and NOT a salesman.....gave me the honest answer......."No one should have promised you that floor to be delivered in less than 10 days. It comes via truck from Georgia only once a week and has to be ordered one week in advance."   Gee the salesman told me when I ordered it on a Saturday, "That supplier delivers every Friday."   Silly me, I didn't ask the right questions, yes, a delivery is made but will my order be on it......Sorry, it was implied it would be when he said it will be shipped to us on Friday. Had I know 5 days would turn to 14 I would have gotten a vinyl remnant! Well, maybe not.    I am sure when I see my flooring, it will be worth the wait.

....I am running out of clean socks......I may have to visit the local Suds Your Duds with my clothes like Mr. W. did last weekend with his.......sorry for the rant.......just have to get it off my chest ....kind of getting on my nerves with my dining room piled high with stuff. Tell me, how does work in one small room cause the ENTIRE house to be upside down?   Another mystery of the universe I guess.

WIP's of a couple of kind Clarification!!!

2011-12-13T18:47:00.002-05:00

LOL! No, I didn't start the Basket of Blooms in high school, I started doing embroidery in high school!

WIPs of a couple of kind

2011-12-12T18:26:00.005-05:00

I took all your advice and started to work on the project with the least amount to do which is not necessarily the WIP closest to completion if you know what I mean. I picked up an old friend and stitched away on this goodie. My old friend, Em Broiderery, is the stitching I started with way back in high school.

A Basket of Blooms, purchased at the Longaberger Homestead

This may have only been about 10% complete but it is working up very quickly. I plan to make this into a pillow once completed. I don't know how much stitching time I will be able to get in this week.....work by day, prime and paint by night.....no rest for the weary.

Now for the before pix of my teeny tiny laundry room.......not much to look at here and not much that we have done to it since we moved in umpteen years ago.

My old faithfuls that I hate to part with....but lacking space, I have made a concession for new stacking units. (Sorry folks - sometimes I can get the pix right where I want them and other times.....well they have a mind of their own.)

What's this? an unassuming closet outside the laundry room? Look what lurks inside...

This closet was closed off on the DR side and opened up into the laundry room side.

How did all this STUFF come out of that teeny tiny room and closet????

The room used to end just to the right of the breaker box. I now have 28 inches to the right of it.

Pix don't show how much larger it feels with the closet incorporated into the laundry room. More pix to be taken once I change into my painting clothes and get a move on....

OMG!

2011-12-03T15:29:00.009-05:00

In order to avoid this

The Christmas Decorating! I dug into my WIP basket(s) and am appalled that I have 25 TWENTY-FIVE!! Yes, 25 WIP's. Check out my tab above for the 2012 WIPocolypse for pix illustrating the horrible truth of my Stitching ADD!I I have to think of a way of attack! Should I start with the ones closest to completion or the opposite - the ones with the most to do? Should I worked on the oldest to the newest? Should I would in rotation or concentrate on one at a time? Oh the decisions.....Looks like there will be no new start anytime soon in my future! For now I have them ordered in a list on my sidebar listed by the amount completed.

I think I will hereby resolve no new starts until Retreat in May and then only if I have been able to cross off at least 5 from my list.

I should have stuck to my decorating!

Home Construction Update

2011-12-02T06:00:00.004-05:00

I have "before" and "during" pictures but need to take some "after" shots this weekend during the day. It's too dark when I get home from work to take a pix. This sunsetting early and driving to and from work in the dark is really dreary. Thankfully, just a couple more weeks of driving in the dark and we will slowly gain some minutes of daylight.

So this is what we did....and why. My front porch - or a favorite spot to sit and watch it snow, or drink a Saturday afternoon coffee, or rock and read, etc. - the porch is about 25 years old. The tongue and grove fir flooring has absorbed moisture to the point that it is making "hills" in some spots and the wood was rotting under the columns. (the columns that I don't think fit the house)

Whenever I was expecting company, I would strategically place a patio table across "El Porcho Hill".

This only hints at the rotting of the wood under the support columns....among other places.

In normal fashion, not to be satisfied with just repairing the decking, the project expanded, shall we say. I figured if we were replacing the decking, the support columns and railing would need to be removed so why not replace and upgrade? Made sense to me and we are happy with the results.

Now for the re-do, new rails and new composite decking. It is not too different in appearance. The entrance and step are wider. The railing more substantial and there are four instead of three columns.

Maintenance free and no more painting needed! I am looking forward to decorating it for the holidays!

Oldest WIP Status

2011-12-02T04:50:00.001-05:00

Well I missed the last day of the month posting and hope this is not an indication of things to come. Here is my meager progress on the oldest WIP. Not much to show but I will get there....one stitch at a time. The left section is now entirely stitched and backstitched. I am now working on the right side motifs from the bottom up. Visit Evalina at This and That and join in her challenge.

Framed and hung

2011-11-28T07:23:00.001-05:00

Super quick - a look at my attempt to crackle paint. It isn't the best and I may someday sand it down and re-do it.

A little diversion from stitching

2011-11-26T14:53:00.005-05:00

Just call me Side-track Robin today.   I have flitted from project to project leaving some - like cleaning the two bedrooms upstairs half completed.    Now for a totally useless diversion.   I am just in from raking leaves, etc. outside.   Here on the east coast of the USA it is an unseasonally warm day and we are taking advantage of it with by cleaning flower beds, hanging clothes on the line and getting all the leaves raked. In typical fashion, when I am ready for a rest (really a time-out), I surf through the blogs I follow.   Here's a neat thing that I have copied from the Stitch Bitch.

So just for fun, another book meme -

The book that’s been on your shelves the longest - Has to be Latin II from 8th grade Latin class.   Still with my neatly folder tissue paper typed list of the different tenses and diclensions.
A book that reminds you of something specific in your life (a person, a place, a time). - I have a book on Upper Penns Neck history (now called Pennsville Township).   This book was written by my elementary school principal.   She had such a passion to local history and lore.   I remember our 6th grade class trip with the entire 6th grade of the school fit on one bus and we rode all around the county with stops here and there and the principal pointing out different historical facts.   To this day, I still can ride by some of these points of interest and see her standing facing all our eager faces and tellings us the local trivia.
A book you acquired in some interesting way: A Girl Scout Handbook - I was at a yard sale two towns away and was flipping through books and opened the book and saw my mother's name as the leader. At the time I didn't even know she had ever been a Girl Scout leader but her name was unusual and I recognized the scout's name as a friend of my older sister's.   I bought the book and later confirmed with my sister that yes, indeed, my mother was her troop leader.

The book that’s been with you to the most places: hmmmm, I'd have to say my Kindle or more recently my Kindle Ap on my iPad.   I know that is, a stretch but it is all I got!
The most recent addition to your shelves: See above - I rarely buy paperbacks anymore.   I will buy a good craft book because there is no replacement to a good instruction book in your hands.   Most recently I purchased "Put em up" A book on canning!
Your current read: A Time In Between - hard to get into
Your last read: 1,000 White Women - awesome!   Hope it is a movie one day.
The book you’ll read next: Probably will be the next in the series for me of the Janet Evanovich/Stephanie Plum series - #9. With the holiday season approaching, reading time will be limited and light, entertaining reading will be in order. Who knows what Stephanie and Joe Morelli are up to!!

What a difference a day makes

2011-11-26T08:41:00.000-05:00

How we went from this
........... to this in a quick turnaround.

I needed my dining room table to lay out my son's quilt. This will be the biggest thing I have ever tried to machine quilt. I don't know how well I will fare. Once it was all pinned together I rolled it from opposite sides towards the middle so I can start machine quilting.

It got as far as looking like a giant anaconda on the steps. I hope to steal a half hour each evening to run a few passes with the machine on the quilting.

I spent some stitching time finishing some finishes. These are two of from Bent Creeks Americana Collection trio. The leaflet had the info about the frames used so a quick email a couple of months back resulting in a quicker yet deliver of the frames.

I am also working on framing up JBW's French Country Alphabet. I took a Walmart frame, I am painitng it geen then then plan to add a top coat of white paint after using a crackle medium.

It has been fun to craft and sew and do non-stitching but still stitch related crafting. My to-be-finished basket is not quite as full as my WIP basket and it is now three projects smaller.

Tiny bits of progress on my oldest UFO project. First, I have the entire left side now completed. There is not too much left on the right side. However, all the back stitching can be time consuming.

Still in Love...

2011-11-20T07:43:00.003-05:00

In the spirit if the WIPocylapse challenge next year, I got to digging through my WIP basket. I came across this goodie. We all know that we sometimes start something or even buy something and never start it and then our tastes change.

Well, I am still in love with the overall project as well as all the individual motifs. With the holidays upon I know I will have limited stitching time but I did mount this on my stretcher bars in anticipation of putting in my rotation. It is kind of looming in front of me say "for shame.....you left me in a zip lock bag in the closet".

The pattern is from Dimensions, the cloth is 14 count aida and will take some getting used to once I start to work on it again. The copyright date on the cover page is 1993 and I can tell that when I went on a cruise for my 20th wedding anniversary in 1995, I worked on it on the plane to and from Florida. Crazy......I think this is the oldest one that I will include in my rotation and I doubt I know the time frame of the others like I do with this one.....but first things first. I need to update my photos on my 2011 Completed tab.

Finally I finished it

2011-11-19T16:53:00.003-05:00

Short and sweet post to share a couple of things....

My finish.......ABCD by La-D-Da and it isn't even a difficult or large stitching piece. This is a Traveling Pattern started by Peggy at Kentucky Sampler. My slow turn around has to do with time, or lack there of. I made a decision to get more physically fit and that meant a committment of going to the gym. Unfortunately, the only time that works for me is before work. This has greatly hindered my usually 5:30 to 6:30 a.m. stitching hour for I am now at the gym by 6 a.m. I know....I must be crazy. Even worse is dragging the hair dryer and work clothes, etc., etc. It helps if I pack my bag the night before and I did fix up a hair and makeup kit and bought a hair dryer to leave in the locker room. Those little tricks has made it easier to get me there. My evenings are so hectic with volunteer work, guild meetings, Board meetings, that I usually pull in the drive at an ungodly hour, plod into the house, collapse on the sofa like a brain dead ummpa loompa. I am sorry I caused Jennifer to be concerned with my slow turn around. So here is it ladies, it is a pretty stitch and a fun stitch.

I used 28 Cashel linen in Antique Ivory with Threadworx #1039 floss. I am not sure how I am going to finish it.

Reading the journal that accompanies the pattern and now writing in it is all part of the fun. So cool to see where it has been and then to follow it through the link on Confessions of a Serial Stitcher. Even cooler to see everyone else's floss and fabric selections. I hope to get this in the mail on Monday to the next lucky stitcher on the list. As soon as Jennifer provides the address I will be whisking it away to Nataly. I will be sure to drop you (Nataly) a note when I do.

I also received a lovely surprise in the mail.....I was selected as a recipeint of a Christmas RAK by Andrea at The Craft Room. It is really darling! I loved the little beaded trim and turned it over to find the sweetest little charm. This little ornie will have a place of honor on my tree.

A bit of progress

2011-11-06T12:36:00.001-05:00

I may not have been posting on my own site but have been managing quick 'drive-bys' on all your blogs. I love all the creativity I am seeing and catching up on everyone's progress. Hopefully soon I will be able to post more often as well as comment instead of just quick reads. So anyway.............

This morning I had a special breakfast with my BF Debbie and her grand-daughter Kayla. I've have know Kayla since she was born and I can't believe how quickly she has grown. She has been wanting to go out with her grandmom and me for quite sometime and it has just been a crazy time juggling calendars - mainly mine. We talked about school and Girl Scouts and little sisters and little brothers and boys and dances. I think the most important thing one can do with their life is to touch the life of a child. I am so very glad we finally got our big girl morning out together. It was a fun breakfast at iHop!

Riding home from breakfast, I pulled over and pulled out my camera. I thought the autumn leaf color had peaked but received a sensory surprise after rounding a bend. The camera and web don't do the array of colors justice. Just love Mother Nature and what she does.....

On the stitching front, I have managed to eek out a few stitches on La-D-Da's ABCD. This is the traveling pattern that I am part of and I certainly am not going to finish as quickly as some others did. I am enjoying it and it is a fast stitch, it is just taking that time to sit and stitch. Since I now go to the gym before work it eliminated my before work stitching hour but 6 lbs lighter and jeans a little more comforable, I guess the trade off is worth it.

This week was a friend from WW (Weight Watchers) birthday and I constructed her a diet friendly cake. Rice cake layers, with a layer of peanut butter cups for the non-dieters, WW candies, Extra gum in Apple Pie and Strawberry Shortcake flavor (really yummy), and sugar-free cookies. Most important, she liked it and we all stayed within our points.

Looking at it just now, I could really go for 1 serving/3 lemon cookies/4 pt. treat.

Goodwill Find

2011-10-30T13:31:00.001-04:00

I forgot to share this find I picked up a Goodwill a few weeks back when I dropped off mega boxes. I love the sunlight through stained glass. For now, it is hanging in my dining room.

This one is actually three tansom style windows I did and later had mounted in one frame. It hangs in the upstairs powder room. Now I have a reminder front and center to press and rehang the cafe curtains I washed a few weeks back and threw into the ironing basket. Depending on the time of day the sunlight will cast sparkling colors all the way down the stairs and into the living room.

Sorry to show the toilet but I just love the splashes of color that travel with the moving sun.

Here's another. This one my dad made so it is special. I helped him create the design and he did in the 1980's. Again in a bathroom. Not as much sparkle happening with this one.

And last, the first piece I made. Not in the bathroom but in the laundry room. Turquoise is my favorite color. I really hope to be able to get back to my stained glass work when things slow down from my volunteer work (???) or when I retire. I have a S.T.A.B.L.E. stash of glass to keep me going for awhile. Working with glass, you only get better with practice and I am way out of practice. Maybe during the long winter nights I can pick it up again. Right! like that's going to happen.

End of October

2011-10-30T10:41:00.003-04:00

I, for one, am glad October is ending. It has been a busy and sometimes stressful month as my calendar will attest to. Not much stitching going on.

I - true to form - have started yet another copy of projects before finishing already WIP's but alas, I resisted through August before I strayed from my resolve and if I rationalize class pieces as not counting than it is not too bad.

First up I have been selected to do La-D-D's ABCD in Peg of Kentucky Sampler's Traveling Pattern. It *could* be a fast stitch if I *could* dedicate some serious stitching time. The pattern comes with a journal that the previous stitches write about their choices of fabric and floss and stitching experience before they pass the pattern and journal to the next person.

Fun fun fun to read what previous stitchers have written but intimidating to me how quickly some have turned around the pattern....not so for me. It will be my focus this week between meetings and obligations.

Last weekend saw my BFF and I in New Hope PA for four days of R & R. Leisure lunch at the Full Moon Cafe in Lambertville NJ and awesome dinner at the Blue Tortilla the next night and a ghost tour of New Hope one night. Peddler's Village was fun and all decorated for Halloween.

Two very important aspects - evening and morning beverages. No hotel coffee pot for us! Deb brings her own Mr. Coffee on all trips and sets that puppy to start at 6 -6:30 for that first cup of brew.

So, this weekend, several of us ventured up the Northeast Extension to the Lehigh Valley EGA class with Catherine Theron. What a nice class and we have been looking forward to this for several months. How we crafters don't let a little old nor'easter keep us from our passion.

Overnight bags were packed *just in case* we needed to get a room at the Hampton Inn. Fortunately Catherine excelerated the class so we could get out of dodge early. I have to admit, near white out conditions and no plowing and trees across the road of the two-lane, no shoulder turnpike was a bit forboding. Oh and basically 50 miles between exits too. All was well for most of the ride since there were virtually no other vehicles except, Peggy Sue - my Pruis, on the road. Obviously we made it without incident and it only took us about 45 minutes longer than it did to get there. While the snow was beautiful, it was scary with all the trees down in Bethlehem PA and on the road to Allentown and then the NE Ext to Philadelphia.

This is the scissors minder from the class. It's finished but not finished as we all understand. Catherine was great and we hope we will be able to bring her to DVHSG next year to teach a companion piece.

So for now, swtiching out summer and winter clothes in my closest the rest of the day and attack to my mountain of volunteer paperwork in on my agenda.

And most important - I have been keeping up with the exercising and even took a yoga class this week. Weigh in at Weight Watchers saw a 5 lb loss the first week and a 0.04 lb gain the second week. Everyone tried to be encouraging the 0.04 was really nothing but I'd sure count it if it were a loss. Lost count of points and too much alcohol when I was away - I mean 1 or 2 drinks a night is not too much UNLESS you are dieting. Back on the plan this week and hope to report a minus after this week's weigh in on Wednesday.

A bit of this and that

2011-10-16T22:21:00.002-04:00

In no particular order, first the weather this weekend has been awesome. Yesterday was crisp and breezy and I love breezy days. The sheets that hung on the line smelled so good when I got into bed last night. Before heading to bed I sat by the outside fire pit with a glass of wine and read. Another great smell, the smell of a campfire on my clothes and in my hair. Love it! I finished The Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet and started The Grove. The Hotel was a quick read and a character study. The Grove on the other hand has me NOT wanting to turn the page for fear of what will happen to Dex if he keeps listening to the 'voices' in his head. Kind of like when I watch a gory movie and hold my hand up to hide the TV screen.

Yesteray also saw Mr. W. and I take no less than 15 boxes to Goodwill and I picked up a stained glass window. I will take a pix to post when the sun is shining through it and not during the dark of night like it is now. I cleaned and rearranged the attic when we got home. A good job done......all my son's stuff has been relocated to one section for him to give me a thumbs up or thumbs down on the next time he is home.

Today, I went to The Dump for the first time and bought an area rug for my newly exposed living room floor. I spent more than I thought I would but still got a rug for a lot less than I would have if I went to a regular store. I need to trim the padding a bit or adjust the carpet a bit...it wasn't easy moving this back and forth by myself so I left it a bit askew.

I ordered an extra set of stretcher bars for my scroll frame and they arrived Friday. I was happy to mount one of my iChallenge Crazy 15 projects on it. I mounted My Stitching Treasures by Jeannette Douglas and put a little work in on it this weekend. I think I want to order more!!! I am tasking myself to complete a motif on JD/MST and then move to a different WIP. This weekend I did the basket and the satin stitches of the border. I don't know about you guys but doing borders seem to take forever. So I thought if I did it as I went it wouldn't be that painful.

This afternoon, I decided to make some homemade salsa - yummo! Next time I will make sure I wear gloves. I cut the peppers in half and scraped the seeds out under running water but apparently I got some of that darling oil from the peppers on my thumb and under the thumbnail. Ye-ow! I have washed my hands a half dozen times; I have soaked my fingertips in milk, I have made a paste of baking soda and scrubbed my fingertips, I searched the internet for remedies......next I am trying clorox cleanup or similar or maybe rubbing alcohol followed by a benedryl cream application to cut the pepper oils. For sure if I make salsa again I will wear gloves! **UPDATE**WINDEX! Windex took the pain away. OMG! Just like My Big Fat Greek Wedding! I don't know why I thought to try it.

And why such a dainty amount....this week I joined Weight Watchers at work. This new Points Plus is a bit more compliclated but I know WW works if you stick to the program. I need to make it work for me.

Lawn Soldiers

2011-10-09T18:44:00.002-04:00

The view from the stairs. I plan to have the floors refinished and to get an area rug in the future.

I stitched very little this weekend and instead cleaned, and washed, and sorted, and stowed things. My daughter and my son-in-law - the absolute most wonderful S-in-L of all times, yes, him, came down early Saturday and he proceeded to pull up my LR wall-to-wall carpet. Heather and I left at 9 to go to my monthly guild meeting and we were home by 1 and he was DONE! Not just done, but all task strips and staples, everything in trash bags and carpet cut in 3 ft sections and rolled done. He is wonderful. All that and I fear I caused his cyatica (sp??) to act up. He was bearly moving this morning. I was glad to get a text at 2:40 this afternoon that they made it home by way of a 50 minute motorcycle ride. Poor Mikey, I hope he is feeling better tonight.

And this home improvement project started something....of course.

No, Im not moving....but am trying to purge a bit here and there.

I created a cozy reading (or stitching) corner.

I gathered up all my Hoosier glassware to display on top of my Hoosier. Oh my!
I didn't know I had so many. I guess I'd better stop collecting them.

It is a good feeling but I am pooped! I sorted my dry sink, my Hoosier cabinet, and rearranged knick-knacks and furniture after washing all the walls. I mean since I was running amuck with the mess so why not. That cleaning and sorting spirit kept going today. I brought down the half dozen or so boxes of stuff I have been collecting for a 'yard sale'. Right, never going to happen. However, I can inventory it and get it off to Goodwill. I have the task of inventorying and packing it up on my list this week because I already recruited Mr. W. to help me with his truck next weekend so we can haul this stuff out of here once and for all. I mean seriously, when you open the cabinet and can't remember ever, ever, never using something, why keep it? chuck it! or off to Goodwill. Let someone else use it, enjoy it, or at least let it take up room in their cupboards!

The last of the deck furniture standing at the ready to march into the shed for the long cold winter.

So I moved to the outside this afternoon and packed up all the deck furniture. The last of the chairs stood at attention while I got the shed keys so they could be stowed away for summer. I am not as sad as I was about summer ending but rather I am now looking forward to sweatshirts and rustling leaves and hot cider and somewhere in there, some stitching time.

What a great idea!

2011-10-08T06:44:00.000-04:00

I know there are a lot of us who can qualify for this one.......get ready for the the Works-in-Progress Apocalypse (or… WIPocalypse for short). Check out http://measi.net/measiblog/2011/08/28/4814/ for details. There are over 100 signed up already.

I have no restraint or Two New Starts

2011-10-03T22:29:00.000-04:00

Every year I 'reward' myself with a new start at Retreat.....or rather twice a year I reward myself since I attend a spring and a fall retreat. This year was no different..........I really have no business starting a new project but than again, it is all about justifying it and you know we stitchers can justify the 'need' to buy something or the 'need' to start something. I have finished 10 of my 2011 iChallenge of 15 projects and resisted all year to start something new knowing I was scheduled for two classes. Now in addition to the two class pieces I have two new starts from my retreat. (Oops - signed up for a Catherine Theron Class in late October! so make that three class pieces this year.) I really am thinking that 2012 needs to be the year of shaving some of those WIP's off my list because the number of 9 WIP's only counts what is in my workbasket in my family room and not what is stowed away in my sewing room. Oh the things we squirrel away.

I believe I will start working in a one week rotation on my projects as well as packing one of them in my stitching bag for a traveling project. You know, the kind that you can take to friends easily. I bought a neat project bag at retreat. I love these mesh bags and now to have one with handles, how cool is that?

So to memorialize my WIP's, here are the final ~~four~~ five of my 2011 i-Challenge. LHN - Heart of America, The Sheltering Tree, Jeannette Douglas - My Sewing Box and Bent Creek - The Leaf and Lizzie Kate's - ABC's of Aging.

Heart of America - I am enjoying and have made the most progress on this one. It sits on my scroll bars and and is easy to access for a quick few stitches before work.

The Sheltering Tree, I need to concentrate on this one when I stitch but I love the silk threads I am using. I saw several of my fellow stitchers on Retreat doing this same project and love the difference colors some are using. Mine seems boring now.

My Sewing Box is a favorite that I haven't picked up enough which is ashame because Jeannette Douglas uses the best colors and softest flosses. Before I started this in January, it is a project that I wanted to undertake for years. I think I will be able to move fast once I put it on my scroll bars after I finish Heart of America and free up my scroll frame.

Lizzie Kate's the ABC's of Aging has been my carry along project. Taking it to guild meetings or friends for a quick few stitches. But, alas, I am bored with it.....

The Leaf - I am not liking. I think I used the wrong count fabric or too many threads. And I thought this would be a quickie but I am finding it tedious!

My class pieces: Gay Ann Rogers - A case for color. This is my first canvas piece. I had a stumble early on with this one with the center motif and I haven't picked it up since. For shame.....

Jette Finlay-Roy - Whitework. This is a new technique for me. It is worked with pre-cut linen thread. A friend from class is suggesting to do one thread per day and I think I will try her approach times two and vow to stitch two threads a day.

And now for my new starts: Shakespeare's Peddler - Keys and Drawn Thread - Random Thoughts.
There was a little restraint shown - I bought the Keys last fall at retreat. This will be a quick stitch and may become my carry along project.

Random Thoughts has been in my stash pile for at least three years. It is a piece I have wanted to do for a long time. I am happy I finally started it.

Oh look, a project for every mood! If 2012 is the year to complete WIP's, 2013 will be the year of finishing!

Ahhhhh, return from Retreat

2011-10-02T20:04:00.000-04:00

OMGoodness did I need a girls weekend and to make it better, a weekend of stitching to boot. It has been a long summer of overtime and civic duties and not much, if any, down time. So a quick recap - we left Thursday afternoon at 3 for the 2 1/2 drive to the beach.....dinner on the way......checked in....walked the boards......stitch, stitch, stitch and repeat for the next three days mixed with shopping, a cocktail party, a movie night, it was just great. It really made a tremendous difference leaving Thursday afternoon instead of Friday morning. I think it could be our new standard. Here's a sneak peak of the goodies I got at the quilt shop and the cross stitch shop......

Oh and I forgot, the fudge from the Wockenfuss candy store on the boardwalk. Pumkin Pie fudge! Who'd of thought? Yummy

I'm a lucky girl!

2011-09-25T21:33:00.003-04:00

I finally feel like I am turning the corner on the backlog of work and civic obligations and almost feel like I can catch a breath. This is in part because I turned in my resignation for 6 of the 7 officers/committees I cover in one organization. Problem is, it started small and evolved into a time sucking monster. I was the one that implemented the website, the email, the facebook accounts, so I became the one who managed them. Any one by themselves is not a big deal, but add to it Membership Chair, Grant Writer, managing mailings, Secretary and Treasurer and it is time to share the wealth. I tendered my resignation for January 1, 2012......I think that was decent notice and now the ball is in their court to step up and take on a task.......so I am lucky because I see light at the end of the tunnel and it is not the oncoming train! Don't they know they have been creeping into my creative time?

I guess maybe I have a 'cattitude"!

I perfect stitch for my daughter!

On another front I am lucky because I won not one but two charts this week! First from June at Butterfly Wings I got this cutie-patudie. I was her 75th follower. Check out her blog.....her followers are growing every day. Second, I won this one from Tracey at I Stitch Therefore I am.

I am heading off to retreat this week and have been looking forward to it all summer. Four days at the shore with a bunch of fellow stitchers and a cross stitch store connected to the hotel... what more could a gal ask for?? I took a tour through my stash pile to pick out something new to start..... I always reward myself with a new start on this weekend and I think I will choose Drawn Threads Random Thoughts. I have wanted to work on this one for quite some time......what's one more in the lost list of WIP's?

Yesterday I took a Danish Whitework class and I think I have a new love. Wow, I love the symentry, I love the look and I particularly love how easy it is. I definitely will be taking this on retreat with me to work on.

And to make me four times a lucky girl, I picked up a book I had started earlier in the summer. With all the OT I haven't read in forever! This book is special since I know the author. And that is really him dressed in his regalia on the cover of the book.

Truly a rambling rant of a post.......

Men have it easy!

2011-09-18T20:35:00.003-04:00

Mr. W. and I went to a wedding this weekend.   There were 5 flower girls and 5 bridesmaids and 5 groomsmen and ONLY 3 little boys. BIG BIG wedding party.    The little ones were so adorable and the bride looked radiant and happy.   But on to us....apparently Mr. W. forgot about the length of a catholic wedding.  I know the whole up and down thing and it is long, but the priest kept stopping and telling everyone to come up and take pictures. "We are now going to stop the ceremony for a few minutes ......Photo Op everyone".   Not once but several times. Not that a wedding has to be stuffy but there seemed there was little sanctity to the ceremony. There were a lot of people just exiting the church randomly and re-entering too during the ceremony. Just strange. It was a tiny, old church with creaky floors and creaky pews.   Noisy with all thoses ups and downs and shifting of the weight and ins and outs.

After the wedding there was a two hour lapse between the ceremony and the reception and we went back to our room because we were getting a taxi from the hotel to the reception. It was 8 miles and $21 later, a ride from hell......sitcom funny ride from hell..... but more of that later on...

But I need to go back to the Thursday, I tried on all my dresses Thursday night and the purple one, even though I tried it on in the strore - now looked like a maternity dress, so I decided on the turquoise and purple dress. One problem, the security tag was still on the jacket. Fortunately I took the day off on Friday to handle a drs.' appt., run errands and to pack.

I head to Boscovs to return the purple dress and get the tag off the jacket of the other dress. Now I need jewelry since what I was wearing with the purple dress will not go with the turquiose and purple dress. I liked what I got the first time in reds and purples, I get the same thing in turquoise and purples. (Note to self - should have taken the red jewelry back and saved a future trip to Boscov's.)

Since I am at the department store, I decide I should get myself real pantyhose. What an episode this was. I realize from the size chart I wear not an A, B or C but I wear FG! Must mean Fat and Grande for my size. So I can't decide what to get - off black, suntan.......I get one of each but here is the tricky part, I have to get two different brands because FG in black doesn't come in the one brand and the Suntan doesn't come in the other brand which means in those I wear a P2. It's all good. I get one of each and I am off........

Fast forward to the hotel and getting dressed, I choose the off black to wear and thank heavens Mr. W. was outside having a cigarette. I bought a body shaper/minimizer thing to help smooth everything and keep all my jiggling parts from being out there free and jiggling.   I thought I was going to have to jump off the bed and into the pantyhose and tummy (ass/hips) body smoother controller thing. I was tugging and pulling and grunting. I can only get the pantyhose up so high on my waist and I am afraid to pull too hard for fear of putting a nail right through the $$$ pantyhose. But it is all good and I eventually get all my emmenseness in. I've broken a sweat but I am ready to take out my hot rollers and do my hair. First thing I notice with this body minimizer thingie, I can't feel my dress against my body and I have no idea if it has ridden up, or if I tucked the hem of the dress in my underwear or what.

In the effort to streamline my packing, I made the decision I don't need a brush or hair dryer or a ton of hair products. I knew that once I take my hair out of my hot rollers, I will used my tried and true method to turn my head upside down and spray everything with hairspray, wait a few seconds flip my head and hair up and I only need to run my finger threw the big soft curls and I'm golden. Right? WRONGO! The little purse size hairspray in my travel bag was like the kind of stuff the kids use to spike their hair straight up. (Another note to self - get a different brand of travel size hairspray.) My hair was not moving, it was not the bouncy curls I was looking for. It is STIFF   Really stand up straight STIFF. Drat! Mr. W. has come and gone and is waiting in the parking lot to drive to the church. I pulled and tugged a bit and worked it out to a somewhat normal look. Later, sitting in the church I had the foreboding that it might spring back into the stiff spiked look!

After the ceremony, we are standing outside the church and I smooth my hands over my dress to make sure it is covering my minimized behind and I feel  a definite binding around my middle.......it is the top of the pantyhose. I decide when we go back to the room that I will try the other pantyhose. Good thing Mr. W. goes outside for another smoke and good thing we had over an hour to kill because I went through the whole jumping up and down thing to get into the pantyhose and body shaper thing-a-ma-jig!

So now for the taxi ride from hell.    Taxi pulls up and Mr. W. even opens and closes the door for me.   Taxi driver, Little Anthony, I learn, tells me Mr. W. needs to get in the same side I did because the other door doesn't work. So I notice the window is open and I slide over and tell W. he needs to go around to the other side.   OK, my driver is from America Samoa and his hair fills up the whole driver's side front of the car.   Really.   The headliner is falling down, the pleather seats are cracked (Please don't get a run in the pantyhose!!! I don't know if I can jump up and down again and go through all that again.) I am trying to put on my seat belt but can't find the receiver end of the seatbelt. I am digging in the seat and decide at some point to risk being a projectile if we crash because that is the safer choice between that and sticking my hand in between the bottom and the back of the seat. I am sitting there like a goofball with the seatbelt across me and holding it with my right hand.....like what is that going to accomplish? and all this is before we even move. Now Little Anthony, who is not little, starts to drive, and the car moves a bit and THEN the gears shift with a thud.   The gears continue to do the delayed shift and bang over the course of the ride.   Little Anthony tells us proudly he has 411,000 miles on his car. Never would have guessed.     So, now we chug out of the hotel complex, I figure I should put the window up and it doesn't work.   I am sitting half leaning/half sitting to keep the humid wind from blowing what remains of my hairdo into a freakshow look.  Mr. W. is looking at me like what is your problem all leaning over and kind of belted.   I felt like the Lucy half of Ethel and Lucy!

In to the reception and of course one man notices I changed pantyhose (and I am still asking myself why/how he noticed) and you know what that leads to.......what did you two do back at the room. OMG! I couldn't deny it because he wouldn't believe it and neither would any of the others standing there eating the butlered hors' doeuves (sp??) Mr. W. was oblivious to all of it and just smiled not even knowing why he smiled. I never laughed to myself so much....thinking if this guy only knew what went on at the hotel room all his fantasies about me would quickly be dashed. He surely would prefer celibacy from that point on.

Good times people, good times.

We were home mid-day Saturday and Mr. W. cut the grass and I did some yardwork and we both took naps. I think it was because he was up past his bedtime and I was exhausted from jumping off the bed into undergarments!     I can't imagine what Linda Carter went through to get into the Wonder Woman outfit she wore.

Today, I went to the Philly Expo to the quilt show with my sister. We had a nice time, laughing and giggling. It was her first time and she was overwhelmed. I got some gadgety type things.   Met Deb Tucker and Patricia Pepe - who both were awesome and who both gave fabulous demonstrations.   Now I am thinking I should have gotten Deb Tucker's wing-tool too. We left bright and early this morning, stopped for breakfast and then hit the show.   We made a day of it and now I need another nap.

Red-White-Blue

2011-09-11T13:49:00.001-04:00

What more appropriate day to post my progress on my quilt. This was my son's quilt from when he was 5 or 6 years old. When he bought a queensize bed *mumble mumble* years ago, he asked me to remake it large enough to accommodate his larger bed. Well as with all of us, one thing lead to another and this baby got shoved to the back of the closet. I had managed to dis-assemble it from its backing and to remove the binding before storing is away. Considering I didn't know what I was doing when I first assembled it, that I didn't know anything about rotary cutters, that I used a sheet to back it, used a Snoopy comforter as batting and tied in random locations ith DMC floss instead of quilting, it was a thing of beauty and a feeling of accomplishment when I finished in the 80's.........so fast forward to present day, with better skills, more knowledge and an awesome machine, I am finally taking on the task of making this larger.

The original quilt was the 4 x 4 squares - which I am seeing that I didn't exactly line up too smartly. I am in the process of adding borders to make it larger. I put the timer on and allowed myself only an hour and a half of sewing time this afternoon or heaven knows I'd be in my sewing room until the sunset tonight. I still need to add the darker blue on the top and bottom, I have another small border of the beige with blue stars and lastly, I am going to finishing with a binding of the darker blue. Please ignor the grass/weeds that need cutting.

Here in the northeast after all the rain, our grass needs cutting over night! On my list for the quilt show at Oaks/Philly Expo Center is to pick up the batting and a backing fabric! Let's hope I stick to my shopping list and don't go crazy/overboard with purchases. I am all for trying to help the economy but I am only one person!

God Bless America

2011-09-10T20:52:00.003-04:00

Did you know

2011-09-10T18:03:00.002-04:00

there is a National Sewing Machine Day and it is today!   Check out Lelia over at Stitches of Life. She got this information from the Holiday Insights webpage.

Sewing Machine Day celebrates a very important invention ----- the sewing machine. The first sewing machines were made in France in the 1830s. It wasn't until 1846, that they were patented in the U.S. What a great invention. Prior to it's creation, clothes items were sewn together by hand...stitch by stitch.

Take a mental inventory of your friends, do they have a sewing machine? Chance are, the answer is no. I hope you have a sewing machine and I hope you enjoy using it. If you don't sew, consider picking up sewing as a hobby.   It is just another facet of our creativity.  Now join in; there are classes to be taken and fabric to be bought and stach to be enhanced.

~~~~~~ I have two machines - a Janome and a Husquvarna.   Each daughter has at least one machine and one daughter I know has two...they each may have two... It is good to learn it is not a lost art.~~~~~~~

Rolling, rolling, rolling....

2011-09-07T06:51:00.001-04:00

Keep that scroll frame rolling.....
I am happy to report progress on my LHS - Heart of America. Using the scroll frame is great and makes me anxious to roll the bars and advance the fabric. I am thinking I need to pick out a nice sampler to work on with this set up. What fun that would be to be able to roll through the bands.

Our Labor Day weekend was low-key so I managed to sneak in stitching time on this as well as some work on a quilt for my son - more on that in the next post. For now a quick pix, a quick few stitches and it is off to work to wrap up the remaining data requests at work......whhhheeeeee!

Itching to be Stitching

2011-09-01T07:15:00.003-04:00

Been doing a bit of stitching. I guess my missing mojo was just taking a little break. Here is the progress on one of my 2011 Crazy Challenges - LHS Heart of America.

I am glad I decided to use my scroll frame and have been waiting to 'roll' it up a bit.

Also, doing work on Lizzle Kate's Aged to Perfection. This is my 'travel' piece. I carry it to work for a few lunchtime stitches. Sorry for the wrinkly parts.

I need to check on Susan to see if she has gotten ahead of me. We will have to compare progress at our next monthly meeting. These two projects represent #11 and #12 works in the crazy 15. The projects I have left are the LARGER ones and am having my doubts I will finish the original 15......I WILL finish 15 projects in 2011, just not the 15 from last January......and there you go, Stitching ADD strikes again. I need to getting needle and thread to fabric and cross off at least one before my Retreat in OCMD at the end of the month.......man am I looking forward to that! I don't care if it will be October 1st, it will be stitching, it will be the beach, it will be with girl friends! Let the count down begin....

Check it out

2011-08-28T10:34:00.004-04:00

This photo of Irene coming ashore in North Carolina was posted by Tiffany TheJuggernaut Kingsley · 240 of 342 on Facebook. Isn't Mother Nature just awesome! It was dark when Irene hit NJ so this will have to do.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

IRENE! ~ Update

2011-08-27T08:50:00.006-04:00

Some furniture has been moved under the pool deck

Deck has been emptied and remaining items tied down.

Bigger plants have been brought inside

Other furniture has been stowed.

Well I hope all my follow bloggers in South and North Carolina are weathering this storm and are dry and safe. Sally at Salty Yarns in Ocean City, Maryland is holding down the fort at the Lankford and not leaving. While everyone was at the over-crowded grocery store after work yesterday buying their TP,(really???) I bought ice from the uncrowded liquor store and made a bee-line home to pack up the deck and porch and stowing things as best we could. Seems an unsuspecting bottle of wine joined the bag of ice by the time I was checking out. For now, I am awaiting the storm's arrival. I am about a mile from the river and no mandatory evacuation for me - yet. Residents along the river were told to evacuate last night. I have my hand crank radios and flashlights and cooking up some boneless chicken just in case we loose power and have all my larger pots filled with water. I don't know if I am over reacting - being cautious - being realistic - being dramatic - or just being prepared. This is not something we ever have to deal with and much sympathy to those who do every season. I am trying to be prepared without over-reacting. Mr. W. thinks we should pack bags just in case we are told to evacuate.....but where to go....living in south Jersey EVERYTHING is low and already saturated from more than normal rainfall in August and I need to cross a bridge to get into DE or PA which I understand will close if the winds are over 40 mph. With every update from the weather report, the storm has shifted a bit this way or that. Everyone hold on is all I can say and for now, I am going to bake!

~~~~~Update ~~~~~
Calm this a.m. Right now, no rain but it is breezy. I should take a pix of my bird deterents spinning! I put those $1 pinwheels around my pool fence to keep the dirty birds off my deck and fencing and they seemed to have worked. They are spinning their little hearts out. I am not seeing any trees or branches down but I know we have to wait for the rest of the wrap around winds and more rain which are expected until mid-late afternoon. Action News said earlier they expect the Delaware to crest at Washington's Crossing at 21.7 feet at 8 a.m. on Monday. I don't know what that means for us since that is 50 miles upstream. As far as rain totals, we got much more 2 weekends ago. We usually get a 'lake' between me and the neighbor anytime there is significant rain and the backyard floods behind the pool - but so far nothing. I know I didn't sleep too well - getting up to check things and check the status of the storm on the internet so today could be a nap day. All and all, so far a non-event, knock on wood........... Seems like people behaved sensibly and did what authorities suggested.

Anxious to hear from our blogging friends in the Carolinas and Maryland (and anywhere in the storm's path) hoping we learn they and their families are well.

I've lost it...

2011-08-24T06:53:00.001-04:00

not my mind.....as feeble as it can beat times it is still there.......I've lost my stitching mojo. Too many hours at work? too many home improvement jobs hanging in the balance? too many fabrics waiting for me to rotary cut? too many checks to write and board reports to do? too few days of summer left? too many things on my mind? too much analyzing?........don't know, just not in the mood to stitch right now. What is up with that? Does this happen to you to?

Girl Time

2011-08-15T23:04:00.006-04:00

So what do you do when it is pouring rain and you can't do yard work and you need to unwind........you plan some girl time. My daughter did 12 days straight at work so the commonality was set. Heather and I get to scheming and I packed a bag, stuffed in my crafting and headed north for an overnight stay. My trip to her place usually takes 45 minutes but in the rain, it took an hour and 15 minutes. We spent Sunday afternoon and early evening visiting Josh and Sarah and the kids in their new house in Jenkintown. Oh so cute and so solid and filled with neat nooks and crannies and secret rooms. We wish them well with their new home. After some pizza and wine it was back to Heather's and crafting abounded for the rest of the evening.

To back up a little, I did have some excitement on the ride up.....got a text from my Boston daughter telling me she's feeling sick/nauseated alot and what does that mean? Of course - moi' who wants a grandchild took the jump I was steered to not even caring that she is not married or that she does not have a boyfriend currently - I got over those details thinking of the potential grandbaby!!!! We traded voicemails and finally made contact and she gave me more clues....."come on Mom, when do you get a sick headache and feel sick to your stomach?" she asked. Ding ding ding! The light goes on and the bells go off.......when do I get a sick headache and feel like I am going to throw up?......when I spend a lot of money.......so I guessed......bought a car! Yes, she did. Never looked or thought of a Chrysler and never wanted a black car but bought a Chrysler 200 in Blueberry - which sometimes looks blue and somethings looks black..... I can't believe I have to wait until Thanksgiving to see her in it......that is what stinks about your kids moving away. You just don't pop on over when it is a 6 and a half hour drive!

So today, the excitement and fun continued......more crafting this morning and then shopping. First was a trip to Borders.....I got some great books.

"Put 'em up" about canning, was recommended by my sister as a good how to for first timers.

This book has great instructions on cut work, beading, canvaswork and needlepoint and more.

And then we went junk shopping. I spent $6.72 and I got...........

I got these frames and you know us stitchers and always use frames.

This basket will be filled with fat quaters soon.

Who can't use a another couple of ironstone platters at 2 for $0.50?

$0.49 for this super top!

And this box I couldn't pass up. It so looks like our civil war ice cream social fundraiser we do annually.

I need to do some sprucing up and then it will be ready.

What a great couple of days and a great way to unwind after the hectic time at work. So much laughing, silliness and fun when my daughter(s) and I get together.

Rain rain rain

2011-08-15T22:02:00.002-04:00

A close up of my pond show it is overflowing!

We received over 10 inches of rain on Sunday........fortunately for my neck of the woods, it did not bring with it any serious damaging flooding as others have had to deal with and we sure did need the rain.

So desparate for rain, I don't care that the mulch is floating away......the grass is growing as I photograph!

Finishing Class

2011-08-15T21:50:00.005-04:00

My guild is the nicest group of people and it brings in so many great things for us to see and learn. This month's meeting the mom of one of our favorite members, *Stacy*, taught us finishing. Here's what I did! Thank you Carolyn for your tips and tricks.

I'd have to dig around my craft room to find the fabric and pattern name. I do know I did this on 40 ct. and it wasn't that bad as all. In fact after stitching this on the 40 ct., I see why so many prefer the 40 ct. I still need to figure out how to attach the ribbon to hang this cutie.

Canvas Work

2011-08-13T16:39:00.003-04:00

Here is my minimal progress on my Gay Ann Rogers piece. It is called - A Case for Color. So far, I am enjoying it even though I have not made much progress.

Whoever thought to sell little assorted packs of beads was a genius! Just perfect for the little pizazz!

And I am happy to show off my new project bag. This is a gift from my boss and his wife for my birthday last month. He took quite a bit of ribbing after he announced it was one of Vera Bradley's newest patterns. Hmmmm, he knew this why??? It is perfect to slip in my mesh project bag and carry my stitching things to guild meetings, retreats or to friends.

And in true Dave and Mary form, they didn't stop at the bag......I got the eyeglass case (perfect for the cheaters), pencils (great to have around needlework - no pens allowed), a journal (for meeting and project notes) and more. I am one lucky gal with all this loot.

And the kids strike again

2011-08-13T15:59:00.005-04:00

I guess they were wondering how long it would take me to notice what they did. They do these things all the time to drive me batty except they think I became batty all on my own. They actually believe that it was just a progression downhill and short trip from my earlier Dingbat status to Batty! Oh contrair', they were right there in the car with me as my co-pilots on my ride to becoming Batty.

Many a time my son-in-law will turn all my bears upside down in the trunk they sit in because he thinks it is not right that a grown woman would dress her bears for holidays and seasons, let along even have a bear collection. He could have a point. I wish I could find the pix of all the bears in the trunk turned upside down with their 'bear' bottoms sticking up!

So the pranks continue as with the baby-head. The baby-head is a small baby head cut out of a magazine that mysteriously moves about from one senior picture to another. If one child sees it they tell the others in feigned protest, "eeeewwww, who gave me the baby head!" and so it goes.

My son's Sr. pix w/o the baby head

and magically, someone has given him the baby head!

So why am I not surprised when across the yard I notice something is different..... this is a sled that I hang on the side of my husband's garage until winter when it is time to throw a wreath around it, hang skates from it and prop it up by the front door. But something about it caught my eye from the deck.

What better place to put your bottle caps.   I think they actually must have contests between them guessing how long it will be before I notice these things.   This trick took about a week and brang a big smile to my face.   Kids, gotta love them!

I decided I'm not moving them! Maybe the bottle caps will become the outside version of "Frank" another childhood pleasure.   Frank was a tiny Frankenberry magnet from the cereal box that moved throughout the house for years.  Frank had to be 'hidden' in plain site. Whoever found Frank would secretly move him to a new spot and wait for the previous hider to realize he was gone and the hunt would begin.......there would be squeals whenever it was calmly announced at the dinner table that someone found Frank and had re-hidden him. Up they would want to jump to start looking while the latest hider of Frank would smile and have seconds!

The "kids" are 35, 32 and 31 now.    The lesson to be learned.......remain a child at heart......I wonder where Frank is right now.....

Running the numbers

2011-08-11T22:34:00.014-04:00

1in2

(513)w/abc-lmnop

[19/(247hrs @10/12/+inc's)]

{5lbs}

(w/6)

1flg

(1)

(2)

(1)

{0xxx's}

1in2 - One Rate Case Filing and two weeks to complete

(513)w/abc-lmnop - 513 multipart [a., b., c., …] questions

[19/(247hrs @10/12/+inc's)] - 19 straight days worked.....247 hours in 19 days in increments of 10, 12, or more hours a day

{5lbs} - 5 lbs heavier from ordering fast food

(w/6) - 6 inches the length of my grass -

1flg - one filing completed

(1) - one boss no longer running around with his hair on fire

(2) - two vacation days comp'd

(1) - one happy Robin

{0xxx's} - …..no stitching involved…..and that’s where I have been keeping myself……

Not much stitching going on here

2011-07-29T06:52:00.004-04:00

In fact, not much but work going on.   I am under a BIG BIG Big crunch at work and putting in 12 hour days.   Or at least what I count as 12 hour days - if I have an 12 mile commute and I am pulling back into my driveway at night 12 plus hours after I left in the morning - it's what I count as 12 hour day!   Top that with Mr. W on the road again and the pool, the yard, the pond, the cat and everything else falls to me.   Right now the floor of my walk-in closet looks like the floor in a teenager's bedroom.   Oh no! I am too young to be reverting back to my childhood.  ;p Not complaining though because I am thankful everyday that I get up, my feet hit the floor, I have a job to go to and a way to get there!   Good thing I love my job and my boss appreciates me.....even though it is making my brain hurt right now - not a headache but a swirl of facts and figures and trying to keep everything in an orderly electronic format on the network as I receive emails from co-workers with their response to the 500 plus data requests I distributed.    Oh and yeah, do my normal work too. LOL! I am woman, hear me roar!   The answers are due to the Public Service Commission on the 12th.   (Hmmm- lot's of 12's in my life right now....maybe I need to play the Power Ball and choose 12 as a number.) Crazy, but last night when I left work - and I was the only one on the floor at 7 p.m. - I could have kept going for a couple more hours.   I mean, when I am there, I am full guns blasting and just get home, I sit on the sofa and crash.   This always gives me a new appreciation of when Mr. W. worked 12-hour shifts. On his schedule days, he slept and went to work only.   We women don't seem to have that choice. There are so many other things to do.   Maybe I need a Wife! I cut the grass - or most of it - in the near dark the other night.  It felt good to do something physical and mindless. Good thing I got the front and sides done before twilight so the curb appeal is there! Just don't look in the back yard near the clothesline!

I did finish my Williamsburg Quaker Pinkeep a couple weeks ago but haven't had the energy to find the camera! Blogging and stitching are always what ground me and not much progress on any particular project..   I did take a class last weekend with my EGA guild. It is a Gay Ann Rogers canvas piece - a new thing for me.   Again - pix will follow!! It is enjoyable and I have been taking it to work to steal 15 minutes at lunch time after wolfing down my salad.   It gives me 15 minutes to rest my head and calm my thoughts to be able to stitch a few minutes. I really feel sorry for those who don't stitch or have a hobby to immerse themselves into and recharge themselves and still laugh to myself when the comments tend to go the way of needlework getting on an observers nerves.

Hope everyone stays cool with the next approaching heatwave. You will find me with a margarita in hand, on a raft, floating (maybe sleeping) in the pool much of the weekend.   One thing I learned from the last major push at work - do not log in remotely from home and work from home - it makes for 16 hour days and then there is really no down time and that is no good. That's when I really get out of sorts and resentful. Remembering all work and no play makes for a really crabby Robin!

Stay cool all and I will get some photos up this weekend.

Perspective

2011-07-26T06:55:00.006-04:00

It's all about perspective. Everyday I ride through a teeny tiny town on my commute home. Seriously, it is less that 1 mile long and literally only 2 streets deep on either side of US 130. Bordered by the river and a factory one side, a canal on another and the interstate on yet another, this is just a little pocket of place where nothing ever changes and that has never grown any bigger.

Here is the perspective thing.......no matter how late I am at work, no matter what traffic delays beseige me, 99 times out of 100, when I roll through this town, I see the same man walking. He is walking with a purpose. For months, I have been thinking, I guess he is on the way to the bar in the middle of town. Everyday, he is walking. Does he have nothing else to do? Yesterday I had a light bulb moment. What if he is thinking the same thing about me......does all she do is drive through town?

It all about your perspective..............and putting yourself in someone else's shoes to understand where they are coming from. He could be on his way home from work having been dropped at the intersection; he could be on his way to babysit his grandchildren, he could be on his was to play cards with his friend, he could be on his way home from the Post Office......so many possible things and I was stuck on he was walking to the bar. Open your mind and think of the possibilities!!!!

Kids! Don't we all wonder sometimes if we got it right?

2011-07-19T05:59:00.006-04:00

I mean seriously - babies came with no owners manual or instruction booklets. A mom at 18, I didn't know very much. I grew up with my children. Making my own babyfood and doing real diapers! That that doesn't kill you makes you stronger right?

My approach to motherhood has been - in no particular order:

Love them Keep them clean Feed them Enjoy them Teach them Learn from them Scold them Guide them Counsel them Cry for them Cry because of them Laugh with them Laugh at them Hurt for them Be proud for them Be proud because of them Support them Encourage them Discipline them Listen to them and I could go on and on and well you get the picture.

But somewhere along the line, you think.... Did I do it right? Face it, we all have self doubt at times - if we gave the best advise at the time, handled the situation right, steered them on the right way, could I have done more...... Well, when a child can bring you to tears - in a best way - you know that you did good! So a little bragging on my part but really just being a proud mom that I got a good kid! Check out my daughter's post from yesterday. I guess I will make sure I never miss a day of checking the blogs I follow. I am so proud of who she grew up to be.

Love you honey and can't wait to you come for the weekend.....there will be crafting, beverages, laughs and lots of love! And maybe some sorting through the photo boxes for the mud babies pix!

First half done and second half started

2011-07-03T09:30:00.002-04:00

I am continuing with my 2011 i-Challenge picking up on the Williamsburg pinkeep. Kind of an appropriate stitch for this holiday weekend. It may not be red, white and blue but it is a kit I picked up in Williamsburg and what could be more American than Williamsburg? I am resisting the urge to start something new.....I have a couple of new patterns that I really want to get my hands on but I am being firm. I have two upcoming classes that are my driving force in keeping the resolve to not start anything new. Afterall, two classes does mean two new projects. yes, I admit, diagnosis - Crafters ADD - I have it.

This is the first half of the pinkeep - stitched up fast

My progress this morning on side two

With everyone away and me home alone, I was been able to sneak in more minutes here and there of stitching time. I work in the yard a couple of hours - wash up and take a stitching break for a half hour and then back to the yard work. I convince myself that I am pacing myself so as to not become overwhelmed by the heat and humidity. Oh we crafters do have a way with justifying our time spent and money spent on stash. Feels like a perfect life to me.

Another finish from the 2011 i-Challenge

2011-06-30T23:41:00.002-04:00

I have to admit this had a little more substance then the other three I crossed off the list during June. My goal was to complete 3 projects from the 2011 Challenge in June and I might have taken it down to the wire, but I completed FOUR!

Little House Needleworks - Needle and Thread

When I bought the pattern, linen and floss, I didn't buy the pillow/bed to finish this with. The navy blue, while pretty, is not a color in my house. I wanted to finish this with a fabric that will match my decor. I may have a little problem trying to calculate the dimensions. I figure I will look around the internet and get some ideas or maybe even find a how to.

Need to pull more fat quarters from my stash

A weekend of extremes

2011-06-30T23:37:00.005-04:00

Last weekend was a weekend of extremes - extreme emotions that is....
First, since Mr. Wonderful is still galvanting about the country doing his volunteer work, all the house and yard work falls to me. So Friday, the emotions were tired but a good tired and feeling of pride after the yard was edged and mowed and beds were weeded.

Saturday morning, the emotion was excitement, team pride and feeling good by participating. I did a 5K for work for the Blood Bank. Enter the feeling of exhaustion. We had a team made up of all the us on the third floor - we were Team Vain - an adaptation from our original name - the Varicose Veins! Here is the shirt we made - our team placed first for theme and second for spirit. Feeling some team pride! We felt creative when we unveiled the shirts we sprayed with a faux evening gown look that we each decorated differently.

The team with the most points at the end of the summer blood drive gets an extra day of vacation. WaHoo! We were thrilled. We sang Carly Simon's You're so Vain and we "gavotted" in just like in the song. That illicited the emotion of silliness!

Mid-day found the emotions of excitement and concern and sadness and anticipation but I will come back to this....

Mid-afternoon, the emotions were concern, apprehension, feeling of helplessness. My son-in-law decided to travel from near Boat House Row in Philly to the beach by my house in a one man kayak. It is a thirty mile trip. We were tracking him with google maps from his phone but even with the solar charger his phone lost its charge. All the roaming I think. The emotion of tense entered as I baja'd in a PRIUS (it was like a comedy episode of Ethel and Lucy, trust me. Me in yoga capris and a Vera Bradley visor and my daughter a nervous wreck and my son telling me not to stray off the path because it was a straight drop into the lake!) through the twists and turns of the dirt trails that lead through an abandoned military base on the river. It was a 15 minute drive in. Desperation quickly turned to exhilaration when we saw Mickey round the bend in the shoreline a mere minute after our arrival on the beach. Concern came next when my daughter and I were afraid he would not call it quits and he would wish to continue the last three miles. At the rate he was going, 3 more miles would have been 3 hours and it was getting dark. He was ready, he came ashore, we deflated his kayak and got him some fresh water. He was drained we were relieved.

Their modes of transportation! Her bike and his kayak. I caught these crazy two being silly kayaking on the sidewalk. I am happy there are being safe applying the sunscreen.

Sunday came the emotion of excitement again - friends with children were coming over for a cookout. We were all satisfied after all the good food.

savored the smell of bacon and onions cooking up for my beans

mouth watering berries, yum

beans in the crock pot simmering

pasta salad

Little nervousness while Iris pet the fish. Don't fall in Iris!

The weather was also great and I love the feeling of nostalgia I get when watching the curtains being blown by the breeze. Don't know what I am nostalgic about the look and the sound of the breeze blowing through the curtains but I am. I reminds me of simpler times. It also gives one a feeling of peace and hominess.

And now back to the mid-day Saturday emotions of concern. After months of not knowing what to do; of falling further and further behind in his bills and mortgage due to being out of work 24 of the last 48 months, my son has made the gut-wrenching decision to short-sell his house. Part of the reason is because his wife, his source of love and pride, (mix his emotions with mine) has a huge grant/fellowship opportunity for a Masters/PhD program at Penn State, State College PA. It is too good to pass up and the decision was not made without a myriad of emotions on their part.

Nothing says it better than a u-haul filled to the max.

So after all the ups and downs and twists and turns of last week, I took to the solitude after everyone left on Sunday evening and had time to reflect and just mellow out under my newly illuminated pergola while I sipped on a nice cup of coffee. Pergola is not new, adding the lights is. Enter serenity after a full weekend.

Quilt Block

2011-06-25T05:52:00.001-04:00

From this

to this

and then this

and next

some seams sewn perfecte\ly

and some are a bit off

with very little waste

fun afternoon

I-Challenge Finishes

2011-06-25T05:48:00.001-04:00

I almost feel guilty taking credit for this first one. Yes, it is part of my 2011 challenge but it was super easy to work on the large count. Pine Mountain - October pillow. I just need to get a pillow form for it.

The next, Just Nan's Needle Tweet - Daisy. It's a cutie and since it is just a little bit of a thing, it too makes me feel like it pales in comparison to some of the BAPS others accomplish in the same amount ot time.

And here is what I am working on now. I have been in love with this LHN since I first saw it. I didn't buy the accompanying pillow when I bought the pattern so finishing will be interesting. I debated about ordering the pillow insert but think I will be happy finishing in a color to match my decor.

A Finish...

2011-06-12T11:57:00.007-04:00

I can cross another i-Challenge off my list. Here is Bless Beyond Measure from Blue Ribbon Designs. I am loving it! This will fast become a staple to my stitching bag. I knew all along what fabric I was going to use to line the little pocket. Of course, in true Robin fashion, I could not find it and was growing more frustrated looking in the same places over and over again. Did I think it was going to just appear in one of my stacks? Anyway, I picked a second choice and proceeded with finishing and I am happy with the result. All the while I was finishing I knew no sooner would I be done that I would *find* the fabric I was looking for somewhere safe. Quick kudos to Belinda at Blue Ribbon Designs for her superb finishing directions. It made it a breeze to put it together.

This is the fabric I had in my mind I would use.

Fast forward to a visit with my sister. She was showing me her queen size strip quilt that I helped her get started ---sorry, no pixs----it is beautiful!----I'll work on her getting me a pix---- anyway, there it was....scraps of my fabric sewn into her quilt! Her quilt is mainly beiges, browns, olives, blacks and whites. One piece of black had a salmony kind of flower on it. I gave her the rest of my fat quarter to help make the flower pop.....and it did. Thanksfully, she had the quilt to show me or I would have spend a large portion of today looking in the same places 3, 4, 5 times knowing it was there! Haven't we all done that before?

It is hard to get a good pix of the lucite 3 x 3 marker.

For today, I had hoped to finish the power washing on my desk but it is threatening storms so I am off to my sewing room. Oh drat, I have to sew and craft! Darn it. I am sew far behind on my Block of the Month club. Laugh will you! How can one get behind one a silly little block of the month? It is easy, trust me. I went amuck with the April block and had to start over. May is a bad crafting month since I spend 9 days away from home on two different trips. So come June 1st, I had not completed my June block. Between last weekend and this, I managed to get April reworked - both the class block and my 'sister' block.

My sister block in Civil War fabrics

April's class block

May's class block

And am in the process of putting together my May blocks - both the class and mine. .....then on to June's block(s)!

Stuff.....

2011-06-07T21:23:00.002-04:00

I found my DMC 815.....I subscribe to the philosophy that when you can't find something - stop looking and then it comes to you. Well it worked and I have my #815. But here's the rub....seems I must have substituted another color in place of the 815 and I couldn't match it to anything in my floss box......so you got, I frogged. No worries, that'll teach me to not mark my patterns right away with any changes to the suggested fibers! I am now further than I was before the big hunt for 815.

My approach to the Delaware Memorial Bridge. The uprights are barely visible in the June haze.

So what do I pass on my way to work yesterday? The plane from the imfamous Miracle on the Hudson flight was parked at the base of the bridge I take for my daily commute. My pix is not too good since I was balancing the camera on the steering wheel and trying look straight ahead! Once at work, we followed the GPS tracker the moving company set up. Our office in right on I95 so we all gathered in the kitchen and watched the plane come down the road....it looked like a giant inch worm! and of course, we all cheered. Three stories up, behind glass, like who did we think was going to hear us??

This pix was posted online by the News Journal. This on the Delaware side of the bridge.

Now to the lack of stitching....I have been staining my deck a little each night. The color is not the color I thought it was going to be but it is growing on me. I am putting the stain on the decking with a brush but I think I will invest in a drop cloth (or two) and use the sprayer for the rail and all the spindles! I will be glad when this job can be crossed off my list. Yes, I should have started earlier but I travel alot in May which is good and bad. Good fun/bad for letting the yard and home improvement projects add up.

I am 98 months from retirement and COUNTING. Oh to sew and paint and quilt and enjoy my yard and do whatever one wants all day/everyday!

Friendship Puzzle Purse

2011-06-05T10:48:00.001-04:00

Well, I'm done and folded and a bit wonky looking. I have a friend at EGA that I hope will help me perfect the folding this week. Sorry for the wrinkles but it got a bit creased from all my futzing with it.

My kingdom for DMC 815!

2011-06-05T10:29:00.007-04:00

And why do pix flip when you don't want
them to and won't when you do!!

How can one person have so many skeins of floss and not have the one number they need? Gee, any one idenify with that? Trouble is, I know, I am positive, I bought it specifically for this project when I ran out when I was working on this in my i-Challenge rotation. The alphabet section is complete except for #815 - Garnet!

For this month, I am putting the goal out there to finished Blessed Beyond Measure and Pine Mountain's October. Both should be quick stitches and I am ready to cross off some more in my i-Challenge. I think I will throw in the Just Nan Needle Tweets. I hope I am not mistaken by the overall size and am not wrong in assuming "small" = "quick". I need to get some of these WIP's moved off the list since I have two upcoming classes I have signed on for. One - A Case for Color - Gay Ann Rogers and Two - a Danish Counted Thread Class with Jette Roy Finlay-Heath. Do you do that too? Sign up for classes and then think "Why did I do that?" knowing you have a dozen WIP's and some are from previous classes like my Wendy White piece from Celebrations.

I've only spent two days on each of these during my rotations.
At least that is all that is list from when I was logging
the days stitching each project.
Logging the days has gone the wayside!

Yesterday was a perfect day - the weather was gorgeous and I set my limits with the yard work. I love yard work and actually don't consider it work. It used to be I'd work in the yard til the sun set and come inside dead tired. My new m.o. is to work outside until about 3 or 4, come in shower, and then I have the whole evening to stitch or sew. My two favorite things, balanced. Oops, fit in reading. I managed to cozy up on my deck with a cup of coffee, listen to the birds sing and flip through blogs I follow on my iPad and catch up on everyones postings.

Some of the rewards for the yard work. Enjoying my flowers. I love to always have a bouquet on my table.

Mr. Wonderful left for drum corp Friday for the weekend. Why is it, we get so much more done and stick to our schedules better when hubby's are not underfoot? Some may not like the solitude of a husband that travels, but I really enjoy the alone time.....I do admit by the end of the weekend, I am having full conversations with Baby Kat.

The 2011 i-Challenge - a finish

2011-05-31T06:41:00.003-04:00

I finshed up the stitching on my Prairie Sampler Friendship Star Puzzle Purse. I had never done the Nun Stitch but quickly got into a rhythm - not without a couple of counting re-starts.

After completing the Nun Stitch all around, I pulled threads to make it viusally easier to see where to cut.

It always makes me nervous to 'cut' my piece but I did.

I hope to find the right fabric from my ever-increasing staff of fabric to use to back it and plan to work on the 'finishing' this week as I am anxious to learn to/master the folding. I plan to post the progress and mastering of the folding!

Finishing this one, allowed me to stay on schedule of one completion per month. Pretty meager compared to some but realistic to me. I plan on knocking out 3 i-Challenge project this month by completing 3 Challenge WIP's that are each more than halfway completed. WOW! That will make a huge dent in my challenge.

More goodies from Massachusetts

2011-05-31T06:26:00.003-04:00

Technically from New Hamphire but acquired on my recent trip to Massachuesetts. Does this happend to everyone? We sorted and gathered items to donate at the Savers Store - like a Goodwill store. We stopped, donated and then shopped and came away with more than we left? What is up with that??? This is some of what I got......

I have a collection of Hoosier Glass vases. I don't know why these fascinate me other a woman I met at a friend's house party who conducts past life coaching told me I probably lived in the 1930's (?? huh?) Anyway, I am drawn to things of that era. This is what I was able to snag up at Savers - for only $1.99 each! Yeah!

It's hard to read but is does say "Hoosier"

I added these to my existing collection of Hoosier Glassware. Maybe I like these vases because I tend to be 'thrifty' and can't justify the higher cost of the other Hoosier Glassware. At any rate, I may have reached my quota of Hoosier vases since I have run out of room atop my dry sink and pie safe.

I don't know what I plan to do with them....a couple in the back are collecting wine bottle corks and I do use them for flower arrangements.

Another not so good pix that doesn't show they both have the poinsettia pattern. It matters not, I use the mugs everyday.

I also snagged this cutie of a glass dish. I recognized the pattern as Princess House and it matches the mugs I treasure from my mother's estate. I think I might have paid $4.99 and if any of you remember Princess House prices from those home parties of yesterday, you know I got a deal.

Memorial Day

2011-05-28T10:18:00.002-04:00

Between the yard work and getting pools ready and parades and fireworks and picnics this weekend, take time to remember those who gave so much that we could have those parades, fireworks and picnics.

Found more stash.

2011-05-25T21:41:00.002-04:00

Love the wide rick-rack. Wish they had more colors.

What a treat! I found my tote bag from this weekend with more ssssssstttttttuuuuuffffffffffffffffff. How could I forget from trip to Serendipity Quilt Shop in Dagsboro. Look what I found tucked away in my tote.

Got these fat quarters to *maybe* finish my Eat Drink and Be Scary

Got stretcher bars for an upcoming class

Loved this fat quarters with no plans

Can't wait to use from Civil War fabrics on the quilt pattern

Stitching Progress

2011-05-24T21:34:00.002-04:00

Well here is it. These are some of my works in my rotation for the 2011 i-Challenge. I have been still working on all projects but concentrating on two or three at a stretch giving each a week or so at a time. Once I got started on my rotation, it has become easier to stick with a project for more than a day. It takes that long to reacquaint yourself with each project particulars. Heaven knows there has been frogging - oops forgot it was over one or oops forgot this one uses one strand. Sew it goes......

LHN - Liberty

Not in my rotation but started this weekend. It was a Laura Perin class at a recent EGA Meeting.

Praire Schooler Friendship Puzzle Purse - I think I will concentrate on this one because I am anxious to see it finish and folded.

LHS Needle and Thread

Lizze Kate's ABC's of Aging

Promise, no new starts while I continue my 2011 i-Challenge! Better get stitching because I got a whole slew I am itching to start.......all good things come to those who wait......

Stash Enhancement Oh My!

2011-05-24T06:54:00.006-04:00

Back from retreat and so sorry that it was over so quickly. It was another great weekend at the Lankford Hotel and Salty Yarns in OCMD. As always, co-workers don't get it. They can't get that sitting in big white rockers on the front porch of a boardwalk hotel is enjoyable. They want noise and loud music and action and hoopla. Well let me tell you, sitting with friends, chatting, laughing and stitching is FUN for our types. My life is so hectic with every minute planned that I look so forward to the no stress/no schedule/no fuss/no high heels and pantyhose weekend. Heck, I didn't even put makeup most of the weekend. The only drawback was it was cruiser weekend and the hot rods with their split manifolds were reving engines to the wee hours. And then there was the car parade on the boardwalk at 7:30 in the morning. It was over an hour of cars driving by. Some of them were real beauties.

So to the stash enhancment. Well I did it again. I vowed not to add to my pile of leaflets and projects that I will need two lifetimes to complete and came away with stash totaling into the 3 digits. Yikes!

This one fascinated me. Can't wait to do it. And it includes the wooden base.

Picked up these little pretties just because.

and this....

and these.....

and this....

OMG! and this.....

and thought this was cute for Easter....

I had only ONE think on my shopping list and didn't find it in the shop. That is until it was time to check out and as I waited inline, it hopped on in my bag.

This is the only thing on my shopping list! I can't wait to start this one too!!!

It is good to know that we have a "stash re-distribution" event at our next guild meeting. I need to re-evaluate my stash and see if I can pare it down at the meeting. Hopefully, I will not enhance it!

A finish and just in time

2011-05-20T06:43:00.002-04:00

No silly-heads! Not just in time for Halloween - Lo-Ween as we called it in our house. A finish just in time for Retreat! I made myself a promise that I would not 'buy' anything new unless I had one finish a month for 2011 completed. And yeah! as of 10 minutes ago I put the final little spider webby things on.

This is Waxing Moons "Eat Drink and Be Scary". I had it all kitted up and ready to purchase using 28 count and then I see it done over one on 40 count. I never worked on 40 count and have to say I was pleasantly surprised. This could be a new favorite count to work on. See those cheaters? 4.0 strength! No other way for my old eyes to manage this count. I have to *sheepishly* say, this was a fun stitch that I enjoyed stitching and will take my ribbing from my friend Pat on the inside joke.

This finish is just in time .....now I have to pack for my semi-annual retreat in Ocean City MD with my Delaware Stitching Group. A weekend of good friends, big white rockers on the ocean front porch, good food, lots of stitching and a cross stitch store next door. What could be better?

Oops! Just realized this put me at only 4 finishes and not at 5 for 2011. Boo Hiss. I am so depressed at this that I may need retail therapy at say, a cross stitch store......again, I can justify this transgression......since I have no LNS and the fact that I have a coupe real close to finished and May is not over yet!

Idea to execution!

2011-05-17T21:40:00.004-04:00

UPDATED WITH DONNA's REACTION and PHOTOS/SEE BELOW - I get these ideas in my head and can visualize the final product but somewhere between thinking up my brilliant gem of creativity and the final product I seem to go awry. My friend at work is retiring about 35 years service. Technicalities and being politically correct has caused management to determine that we no longer have individual retirement parties but quarterly hold joint retirement dinners for the retirees. I get it. If you do for one, you need to do for all; could get real costly. No matter, but I kind of was feeling bad that 35 years and nothing! So my wheels started turning and concocted up a plan. I created a GIANT retirement card - seriously 24 by 36! and send out an email to managers and supervisors to spread the word and get folks to sign and offer their well wishes. I ordered lunch for all the admins on the floor, with a little extra for the officers of course and got permission to use the Employee Recognition Account to pay for it. I ordered a giant sheet cake to share with all the Company tomorrow afternoon as we wish her well.

Now the crazy creative ideas start to come. I get this idea to make a beauty queen sash and add 'badges' that commemorate her career. Simple right? I searched clip art and printed out all these little images that reflected a job task - Cake Serving, Phone Manners, Mastering Planners, Foreign Travel, Veterinary Sciences - as an Administrative Assistant the tasks are many and diverse and we all joke there are a lot that fall under the ...."and any other duties as assigned"...part of the job description.

And I through in a few fun ones, like "Nascar Driver" to reflect her love of speed and "Queen of the Machine" for her love of casinos. Now came the time to attach them to the sash I made. I tried hand sewing and they got all wonky. Not to mention I had the flashback of sewing all the patches on kids jackets and uniforms til my fingers bleed. I tried using glue dots and they were not attached securly. I even tried stapling which worked but the back was too rough and there were too many sharp edges.

I ended up machine sewing them on. It may not be the neatest but it is the more secure. Although it didn't turn out as professional as I imagined it, I hope it will be something to make Donna's last day fun and memorable.

So I hope Donna is surprised in the morning, with the giant card, flowers and balloons and her sash of achievements not to mention lunch and dessert.

UPDATED!!

So here is how the day started, save my running around like my hair was on fire......Donna arrived to flowers and balloons. She was then presented with her sash which she donned immediately. She looked at all her badges and roared with laughter...except for the badge "Veterinary Sciences". She couldn't figure it out. Donna, really? Your boss is a horse-woman! You have ordered hay, called the vet for colic, arranged fundraisers for the wolf rescue compound your boss has on her property and even had the unenvyable task of getting the guys to take the frontend loader down from work to your boss's farm when she put her bull down and they needed the frontend loader to dig a hole. Really Donna - Veterinary Sciences badge was EARNED. So continue - we got her to the lunchroom on a ruse and she was surprised the whole floor was there to cheer her - about 25 of us. Midafternoon we had a giant sheet cake and I sent a network email out to the whole company to come eat cake and wish her well. And while she was chatting away, we tied a dozen soda cans to her car and painted her windows with "good luck" and "happy retirement". We all helped her load her car and she discovered our mayhem. Just as the street crew was getting out for the day she found the cans and we convinced her she needed to cruise the parking lot. It didn't take much convincing and off she went with lights flashing and horn honking and cans dragging. We laughed so hard our sides hurt. She daintily parked and back inside we all went as if nothing happened. We have it on good authority that dispatch has the surveillance video from the parking lot camera along with that video of Donna walking down the Executive Hall with her dress tucked in her pantyhose. We have teased Donna about all the "Marlboro" freebies she comes in with and her girlfried threatens she will arrange her funeral with Marlboro apparel and Donna said she has to include her sash and badges too.

I must say, I have to give myself a pat on the back. Donna had a great last day at the office and I wish her well in her retirement. We already have a dinner date on the calendar. Hopefully I will get some photos off the network at the office and can post them....silly me with my getting everything together, I forgot my camera this morning.

I justified it!

2011-05-13T17:40:00.005-04:00

I can't believe I did it but I did. I have incredible justification powers. I figured since I drive a hybrid it was my gas money I had saved. I figured since I brown bag my lunch it was my lunch money I have saved. Since I don't smoke anymore, it is the cigarette money I have saved. And I will sell my Janome................but really it is becaues I am WORTH IT!!!!!! I did it............here is my new baby.

Look at her! The Sapphire 835

When I brought it home I also had purchased a 30 inch separating zipper to replace yet another zipper for Mr. Wonderful (what does he do to them????) And I said, "Look honey I got you a zipper and it came with a new machine." He was marginally amused. Of course, to his credit he wanted to know what was so different about it then the machine I have. And to his credit when I told him it was expensive and then the price, he scoffed..."That's not expensive". Men! How is it that men and women have such a different opinion on costs?? I explained how much nicer the button holer was, how it comes with a DVD, how it has interchangable (model to model) feet, how it has a much bigger throat and will allow for quilting so much easier and that is a far as I got. You know guys...he had to go there. He can't wait to tell his friends I had to go out and buy a Deep Throat machine. Sorry ladies for being rude but right now I am so happy with my purchase I care not! I have debated on a new machine for some time and on this one for a week. I don't even know when I will be able to take it out and play with it. I am still catching up from being away last week, have a friend coming over for a quilting lesson tomorrow and my sister coming for quilting instructions on Sunday, have meetings out the wazoo, am hosting stitching group next week and leave for retreat next Friday morning........it is OK though....because I will be able to savor the anticipation of playing with my new baby.

Oh and yes, I made the personal vow to myself that this is the last machine you will ever buy!

Off to Massachusetts

2011-05-10T22:18:00.004-04:00

I spent a long weekend with my daughter's in Massachusetts. One lives in Philadelphia and the other in Lowell so Philly girl and I try to trek up a couple of times a year. Oh so much fun and so much laughter and over so quickly. We crammed so much fun and activity into 4 days and tired out our little New England transplant. Thursday we arrived in record time and is was fun chatting and catching up. Friday, we went to the New England Textile Museum. I've got to hand it to the Massachusetts Arts and Cultural Commission......they have the most awesome museums. The Textile Museum is a must see. We grabbed a quick dinner and then off ot Derry New Hampshire to Amy's weekly knitting group. More laughter til the tears rolled.

On Saturday, Heather and I convinced Amy it was time to move up to a better sewing machine. Three hours later we walk out with the Husqvarna Sapphire 835. Oh I want one. My current machine is a Janome and I have never warmed up to this machine. I kept thinking it was a learning curve moving from a Singer to the Janome but 5 years later....I am just not feeling it with the Janome. But I am sidetracked here....more on my machine dilemma in an upcoming post. We rounded out the day with a trip to an Indian Restaurant. WOW! Mine was supposed to be mild. Hot hot HOT. But good. Sunday we went to Old Sturbridge Village - what a nice way to spend the day. Here's my girls......had to take a few since they were not acting serious.

These lovelies were in with the quilting section.

Another Massachusetts treasure and what did I find......in the building with the fire arms display but an excellent collection of needlework items. In addition, the artisans on site working in the blacksmith shop, the soap making barn, the tinsmith's were all so knowledgeable and professional. It was a very enjoyable day.

Such ashame I couldn't get better shots through the glass cases.

This one was awesome. Enlarged detail below.

Stitched family record rather than written in the family bible

One of the things that stood out that I liked about the 'village' was it

was not all manicured. Rather is looked authentic.

A finish at last

2011-05-10T21:15:00.001-04:00

I have been stealing a few minutes here and there to get a stitch or a dozen in on the 2011 i-Challenge. So little to show for over four months of stitching!!! I have already reported two of the 15 finished and need to take some photos of my progress on the other couple I have been concentrating on. You know how some projects travel easier or stitch easier and some require more concentration? Well with stitching with others, I have had to put some of the more tedious projects aside. It is just like reading....sometimes you want to be entertained and be taken away and not have to think all that hard about it....other times we are up for the challenge.

Now I've got this brilliant idea that I need to take monofilament and quilt the top to make each piece of candy pop. But I tend to get these great brainstorms that don't seem to pan out in real life as they do in my mind. For now, I just want to gobble up the one with the raspberry swirl on the top.

Oh where have I been????

2011-05-10T20:59:00.002-04:00

When the weather warms, I am drawn outside. I arrived home from a 5K to find this in my driveway. It's a good thing. Much better than picking 80 bags four or five at a time during lunch hour. I have managed to move about half of it so far.

Remember that ugly side garden, well here is it again, coming along. I want to plant a pink Dogwood in this area back toward the white Dogwood. I'd really like to eliminate the sidewalk to no-where. It used to go to a side entrance to the insurance office of the former owner. Well many mortgage payments later and a few renuvations later, the door is walled over on the inside and is a wall in my walkin closet.

Here's another use for my rain boots. They keep blowing over in the wind so I think I need to weight them down with some stones. Behind them is the mess left from a bird trying to build a next on my front porch.

These are incredible. These are the wildflower seeds left over from the shower favors for my d-in-l's shower last summer. Since this photo, they have grown another FOOT! I see they are camoflaging my bird bath.

So not much stitching going on for a few weeks but still good things happening. Next to stitching, I love betting my hands into the soil.

Quilting 101

2011-04-18T06:04:00.001-04:00

Here's a quick link to the string/strip quilting I posted about. Such an easy quilt for beginners and such a great way to use of scraps. http://www.quiltville.com/stringquiltingprimer.shtml Yesterday I gave my sister her first quilting lesson - much of which centered on the cutting. She has sewn for 40 years and is a very crafty sort. Although cutting is not critical for this quilt, I told her it was best to learn the right way.....don't need to start with bad habits. I figured she should just learn to do it right. Well, she enjoyed it so much she was making her shopping list up for a stop at Walmart or Joanne's on the way home to get her very own rotary cutter, magnetic pin holder, more fat quarters, etc. Before she left, we had on square completed and she had the foundation and strips for another two squares ready to stitch. These little puppies are addicting to stitch.

Strip Quilting

2011-04-10T08:29:00.003-04:00

M first 6 blocks

I love how putting 4 squares together gives the visual of a larger square.

New fat quarters I bought with my list of what additional
ones I need to get this week

I have been busy machine stitching up a storm. In addition to my Block of the Month, I started a strip quilt. Easy-Peasy and fast-fast-fast. Here's the deal - you start with a 12 inch square of a base fabric. I choose bleached muslim. Next mark diagonally from corner to corner and marking off again a quarter inch off that center line. Then you start stitching your strips. Add a strip, press, add the next and so on. These can be pre-cuts, any size, scraps and you just go. For me, I am using 1930's retro fabrics, 2 inch pre-cut strips. Well, like anything, I needed more strips.....oh no! an excuse to shop. For my purposes, I am using 6 of each color collection and didn't think about that when I shopped this week on one lunch hour, so woo is me, I must shop again! A friend at work has made the same quilt top using scraps from previous projects and her's has a total different look.

Here's the nifty tool I picked up. You place it at opposite corners and draw a line down each side and viola! your 1/4 inch seam lines are marked.

Such a cool way to use up scraps. I have starting making strips with any left-over bits of fabric I have.

Here is what I have accummulated already. It will be fun to put these together and to remember the original project they were selected for.

OK, another fundraiser I have to help run today! Geez! Need to spread the wealth of work to some other committee members. Don't you find it is always the same people that are the worker bees? I need to sit on my hands and not feel quilty for not volunteering for EVERYTHING. How's a girl supposed to get in stitching time otherwise???

Thanks for visitings. I love your comments even if I don't always reply. Have a great week all.

Stitching Slump

2011-04-10T07:48:00.002-04:00

Not much stitching completed lately. Kind of been in a stitching slump but hope I am coming out of it. I have been doing a lot of financial reports for the Board I sit on as well as updates to their website. I am still working my way through the 2011 Challenge. I have picked up one of the projects depending on where I am stitching - you know some projects travel better than others.......

A box of chocolates with no calories!!! I am enjoying this one in my rotation and confess to it being the one that had me change my project a day approach to the 2011 Challenge. I am liking spending a week or so on each one now. I would love to finish this as a mock box of chocolates to enjoy every day. We shall see....often I have the idea in my mind but can't get it to materialize as I envision.

Liberty by Little House

Lizze Kate's ABC's of Aging - I am also enjoying this one. Stitching letters/alphabets seems to go fast. I am already thinking I will finish as a big fluffy throw pillow.

Notice a theme here? I am getting ready to stitch - "Eat Chocolate"!

Ta-da

2011-04-10T00:53:00.002-04:00

A big job finished -

I was able to put to bed my company's annual report in mid-March and we were rewarded this week with cases of the report delivered to my office. 8,000 copies!! You know that glossy book you get with all the financial info about the company that is delivered to anyone owning shares of stock in the company; yes that real snoozer of a document. Last year, we went from the glossy style book to a cd. It was well received and under budget. And'green' to boot. I am happy to report, we came in under budget AGAIN this year! Not to steer anyone down the path of wrong assumptions, I am the one who creates the schedules, gets appointments on calendars, makes sure deadlines are met, grabs the facts from here, there and everywhere and makes edits between the Officers and the PR group that does the report. I don't actually WRITE it, just coordinate it's creation and completion. Still not a small task.

2011-04-10T00:44:00.001-04:00

I came home from work on Monday....after a quick debate with myself about heading to the gym....it was so nice outside, I decided to work in the yard. This proved better to me than any other workout. It was truly nuturing to me to work in the yard. It was beyond wonderful to get my hands back into the soil.

A quick 45 minutes later and garden bed No. 1 was neat and tidy.

I continued around the yard thoroughly enjoying the warm weather we were having and kind of convincing myself that somehow I was getting the equivalent workout I would have had at the Y.....After a long winter it was nice to be outside. I picked up branches and twigs blown from nearby trees during recent wind storms and surveyed the yard for spring time garden projects. For the most part, I am happy with my yard.....but then I see the left side of the front year.......

This is where I want to dig up and recreate a flower bed to make it match the rest of the year. I want to continue the lines across the front to a more visual pleasing. Still the creative side at work, just in nature and not in stitches!

The first daffodils are coming up.

Doesn't it just renew all hope when spring bursts forth with new life. I love when the earth warms and the flowers return. It is life springing back after the cold and wind and snow. This little pansy managed to winter well and survive but bloom in the grass.