Tossing and Turning and can't sleep

This is crazy!   I woke up at 3:30 this morning.   It is no wonder I konk out on the couch at 9:30 every night.   The wee hours of this morning were thoughts of work!  I have taken today and tomorrow off to spend time with my daughter before she heads back to New England.   She and I and her sister are going out for a girl's day.   This will include Starbuck's (or similar) coffees, fabric shopping in Chestnut Hill, a cross stitch store in Limerick (a new one for me), lunch, giggles, laughter, fun and memories of a day spent with my girls.   My daughter in law may join us.   She has been fighting a cold for the last few days and will make a decision when she gets up and going this morning. 

So back to the work thoughts.......I finally stopped fighting it and rolled out of bed at 4:08 a.m.   The half hour prior had my thoughts turned to how I seem to be one of the few who seem to continue to work even on days off......no wonder I couldn't get back to sleep.  I had every intention of logging onto work to pound out a couple sets of minutes, send out meeting appointments for the next few weeks, etc., etc.  So me and my chenille robe and cup of coffee promptly logged onto the internet and SURFED!   I caught up on all my blog reading; I registered my new camera at the Canon site; I checked out the end of the year sales at some of the cross stitch online stores; I reviewed and cleared my hotmail inbox and have basically frittered away the last hour and a half.     It is what I call bubble gum for the brain.   Totally useless yet rewarding.    I hope to get a quick hour in between now and 7 and then will get ready for our shopping and fun.  Since I am not a reveler or party going on New Year's eve, the minutes can wait til then.............or not!

PS  Side three of my Petite Sampling Etui is completed!   On to side 4.

12 Days of Christmas Winner

Stitchers Village was having a 12 Days of Christmas Contest.   You were to go to the site each day and email in the name of the featured shop/designer for a chance to win.   The very first day I enrolled.....I won.   Here is what I received from Arachnes Silk Web!  They also included all the teeny-tiny tatted pieces!  Replying to Karyn's comment....Yes!  You termed it perfectly.   It does make you feel like a llittle girl again and all excited inside and makes you want to squeal. 

To Karyn:   Karyn - What a difference a day makes! Here in South Jersey, this time last week we were digging out from 24 inches of snow; this time yesterday we were being pelted with inches of rain and today..............the snow is gone, the ground is rainsoaked and the sun is shining!  Yes, the weather on the east coast if interesting!!!

To EvalinaMaria:  Nothing compares to your -34 degress last week!!!! Triple BBBRRRR!!

Pix with new camera

This is Baby!  Baby is my cat but really has nothing to do with me.   This CAT follows my husband like a puppy!   It turns it paw to me.   Playing with my new Canon camera from across the room.

My kitchen Christmas tree. 

WOW What a difference a new camera makes!

Santa brought me a new camera and WOW!   What improvements in digital cameras in 5 years.   So much so I replaced some of the earlier Christmas decoration photos.  Still learning all the ins and outs and settings but have taken the time to take shots of my most recent stitching.

This is the second row of the mosiac muse of Jeannette Douglas' stitching album.   I had all the invert mosiac stitches in and had to frog them and re-stitch.    I am getting there and enjoying the progress.  Update:    I finshed both this row and the row above on the evening of the 26th.   It was easier to measure the end of the top row against the length of the second row.   So once finished the second row, I finished the four or five columns of the mosaic stitches in row one.   This project will be set aside while I return to work on my Petite Sampling Etui.......all four sides and the bottom at a minimum need to be completed by February 8th!!!!  Right now I am stitches away from side three completion.   Sides one, two and the bottom are complete.   Leaving me side four to complete.......stitching porgress will be posted because I think it helps me be able to see my own progress. 

Darned Frog!

Time is short and posts are short.......all of the work I did on the current row of my sampler - a double row of inverted mosiac stitches - had to be frogged!    They stitches were to be places 2 threads apart and I placed them three threads apart.   I thought for half of a second perhaps I could compensate but realized instantly I would have to RIP-IT!  Darn darn darn!!!   I will re-work the two rows tonight after I wrap presents.

This only shows 7 sets of mosiac stitches.....work from the right to the left I had 14 sets done.    Oh well, like a carpenter, measure twice/cut once.    I need to count thrice and start once!

Snowy day stitching progress

Jeannette Douglas' My Stitching Album, Chapter 1, Mosiac Muse

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow

Bracing for the nor-easter!

OMG....they are talking 8 to 14" of snow.   I can't wait.   I will be sitting in my warm toasty kitchen baking cookies and wrapping presents.   There will be the occasional, no rather, the frequent trips outside to shovel.   I use the shovel once an hour to keep it under control method. 

I brought some work home to do as well.  Hopefully I will do the normal get up at the butt crack of dawn thing even on my day off.   If so, then a cup of tea and a good two hours will be like 3 days at work!  Sad but it is the only way I can keep up. 

This time tomorrow night I may be snowbound and there will be nothing to do but snuggle and stitch!!!!  I think the lack of any real stitching this week put me in such a grumpy mood.   I need to correct that right now.....after a quick visit to weather channel.com to check the blizzard's progress. 

This week's stitching progress

Little to show but I am moving forward. 

First, my progress on Jeannette Douglas Stitching Album.   This is Mosiac Muse chapter.   I love the way the mosiac stitches are looking across the top.   A single column looks like nothing but when you see several columns and let the floss do it's magic.....viola!  The photo does not do it justice!

Next, the progress on my side three of the Petite Sampling Etui.   Again the camera does not catch all the color changes in the border that seem to be taking me forever.

Finally decorating

It has nothing to do with the season but I always seem to have every minute of every day planned.   Add the holiday press and it all is exascerbated!  Love that word.    Just like a-pplic-a-ble.  At any rate, some decorations up and rest to finish.   My Byers dolls are arranged, stockings are hung, my kitchen christmas tree is done and all the other boxes for all the other decorations are out of the garage attic and in living room.   I used that touch it once method and brought in 3 or 4 boxes, making complete use of all their items and returning the empties to the garage.   Decorating has involved that grand sweep of picking up throughout that house and returning things to their rightful place.    The touch it once method went out the window about 3/4 of the way through but it did allow for great progress.  At least my mess is consolidated to the kitchen table top of odds and ends.  Hopefully I can get it all done early enough to head to my daughter's in Philly late this afternoon/early evening.   We are going Christmas shopping together tomorrow.  And in her mind she thinks I should come up tonight for stitching and cosmopolitans.  Pretty smart girl. 

For the ornament exchange with non-stitchers at work, I did come up with something.   I am making a humbug with the Steelers logo on it.   The recipient is a non-stitcher but a major Steelers fan.   I think it is something I can whip out rather quickly and should know tonight if I have a snowflakes chance in you know where of finishing it before I head out shopping tomorrow.   Here is my mock up.....not to worry the recipient is not a blogger nor a stitcher; she has other talents.   She won't see this.   I guess I did alright because Mr. Wonderful came in the back door and said....."that's a Steelers logo"!    As an Eagles fan, he was pretty indignant.  I will have to do a little Merry Christmas and the year on the back.      I want to start it right now but I will refrain since I have another Christmas tree to put up and decorate....not to mention all the presents (and stuff!) sitting at the bottom of the stairs waiting to be carried upstairs.    Stitching will have to wait to Philly tonight. 

Have a good sunday all!

I am leaning a lot about BATS

Apparently the little incident a couple weeks ago with a BAT in the house was not a fluke event.   It seems it was more than a bat navigating it's way in a door left open too long.    I got a text message while attending my Christmas Pary last night.   It was from my D-in-L that she was at my house and we had another bat in the house.  

It is now over 12 hours since I got the message and I have not seen him!!!  I kind of slept with my pj's pulled up around my ears.    I did learn a lot by doing an internet search and in part I am less afraid of the BAT but then in part more nerved out.   

So needless to say not much stitching going on last night.   I was totally imagining things our of the corner of my eye moving.  It was a long week and by the time I sat down and started watching my DVR of House, I dozed right off.    I did manage to accomplish a bit during the week though.   Mr. Wonderful had a standard minor surgerical procedure so I had 2 1/2 hours in the (your driver must stay onsite) waiting room.  I also managed to stitch a bit at my Guild meeting.   One of the ladies was sharing and demo-ing Tokens and Trifles which I had not signed up for.   I am learning restraint!  I am learning I don't need to add every stitching projects that tickles my fancy to my WIP pile.   I even worked a bit on side three of my etui.   So all in all, considering the season and the hecticness of schedules I feel good about my progress.

I am off to my other Guild meeting this morning for our ornament exchange and home to decorate.   I have never been this late in deocrating.  I have myself behind the 8-ball with so many things on the to-do list that I am in a self-imposed state of being overwhelmed.   I released myself from that 'weight of the world' mess by following my long known mantra  ----  touch it once/handle it.   It always works at work with projects big and small and especially those you don't want to do.  So today when I return home, I will touch it once, do whatever I have to start to finish and cross it off my list.....before I know it I will have the house picked up and some decorating done.   and then stitching, hopefully bat free, this evening.

Update - last BAT siting was Friday night.   It is now Sunday morning and we have not seen the damned thing again.   We have shaken window valances, opened closets and nil, nada, nothing...........except for a call to our pest control guy.   He will be here on Monday!

Thought for the day

"No one can make you feel inferior without your consent."


-Eleanor Roosevelt

Yet another great give-a-way

Check out Chiloe's blog She is giving away the most awesome christmas figurine.  It is by Pipka Santas: Always Believe Santa & Reindeer Figurine set!   Check out her site.

Does anyone have......

We are doing an ornament exchange at work....last minute kind of.   The deal is you put your name in the hat and you list 3 things about yourself.  Things like your favorite color, your hobby, your favorite sports team.  Everyone draws a name and gets that person an ornament to fit their likes and personality.   So I got a co-worker whose favorite thing is  football, the Steelers and the Penquins.   Does anyone have or know of a Steelers or Pittsburgh Penquins pattern adaptable to an ornament?

Give-a-way received!!

What better way to end my day then to come home and find a PRIZE waiting for me!!??!! 

Carol, from the LinenStitcher blog sent me the Barrick Samplers leaflet that I won on her blog.    It is moving high on my to do list.   I will be sure to post a pix when I stitch it.   I hope Carol hasn't forgotten all about it by the time I get to it.  lol.  

I already have one leaflet from Barrick Samplers, the Squirrel's Tree.   I guess it shows I like Kathy's designs.

Although I don't dare start either tonight I am hoping for an hour or so of stitching time tonight.   Last night I was so tired that after my dinner consisting of vanilla-chocolate-and strawberry ice cream in a tall glass with 7-up, I only managed to get my stitching out and in hand but alas was too tired to stitch!!!

Thank you Carol for making my day.

Change of pace

I really have run with my Jeannette Douglas Stitching Album......     I picked up the project and planned to just 'look' at it after my last installment arrived.    We know how that goes.   I finished the front cover, started and finished the back cover and I am now working on Chapter 1 - Mosaic Muse.   This project is a joy to work with.   It is so rewarding to be able to see a completion....unlike my etui that I am working on.  I had to put the etui aside until after Christmas.   Mentally I need a break from it.  I seemed to just have hit a wall on completing the project.   I think it is because there is so much stitching.   I keep stitching and stitching and still am not seeing a completion.    When I pick it up again I will have to put my stitching in super high speed to complete the fourth side. 

I found a Hancock Fabrics while away for the weekend and was able to buy the silk fabric I needed for the back of each page of the Stitching Album.   The Hancock  Frabics in my area all closed and I didn't even know they were still open elsewhere.  Anyway, I was also able to get the buckram interfacing suggested.   Still no  luck with finding skirtex.    I hesitate to order anything I find on the internet without first being able to see it.   Oh well, the skirtex is not for this project but just something I need to add to my finishing stash.   Back to the Stitching Album - Since the front and back cover are mainly in blues and greens, I got a pretty blue for finishing the backs.  For the other pages, I got the suggested beige.   Hope I not being too bold with the blue but I thought of a true hardcover book and those inside cover pages are often pretty colors!   Can't remember the names of those pages.....I think they have a special name other than inside front cover.    I don't know if I will actually finish the pages - grommets and all - because that is part that takes some nerve to do.   I always hesitate when it is time to cut apart my stitching to assemble it.   Talk about measuring twice and cutting once.   Try measuring thrice!  Not much progress to share on the Mosiac Muse page but I will get there...

I had hoped to start the decorating the house  when I returned home this week.   Mr. W and I did get some of the outside done.  boo hiss, I am really behind on this.   Next year I am taking off the week of Thanksgiving to get this accomplished.   I get myself so overwhelmed with so much to do that I don't know where to start.   I have to remember that touch it once and handle it method that I use at work to clear my desk.    I kind of did that yesterday.....kind of.    I have so much stuff in the closets in the bedrooms that use as my 'staging' and 'wrapping' areas.   This all from my son.  Things he never took when he moved out.  So I bit the bullet and started packing up the stuff.   I have at least a dozen boxes that are being moved to the attic area of the garage.  And a couple of 'yard sale' boxes as well.   I just had this mental block thing that there was too much stuff unresolved in the house that how could I bring in all the holiday decorations from the garage and add to the mess.  So like i said, I bit the bullet and spent the day sorting and cleaning.   I may not have gotten too many decorations done but at least now when the holiday decorations are taken down, I will already have packed and removed my son's items. 

This should be a hectic week after being off  a day and a half last week.   My boss was in NYC most of the week doing a presentation so we will hit the ground running today.  I know I will be doing a lot of shopping during lunch hours this week picking up stocking stuffers, wrapping paper and such.  All the more reason to have a short and sweet stitching project to work on in the evenings when I finally put my feet up.

Another Great Give-a-way

Check out Karyn's great give-a-way   http://theteakettlecorner.blogspot.com/2009/12/i-am-finally-announcing.html.  She has some really nice things in it.   Deadline...New Year's Eve.

What a difference a day makes

I love my life!  I mean it.   I love my husband, my family, friends and my job.....but we all do need that unwinding.    What a vision site my BFF and I were leaving working.   We seriously looked like a chinese fire drill throwing our stuff in the car, jumping in, jumping out, doors opened, doors closed, hatch up, hatch down, taking our coats off for the driving and throwing them in the back all to beat feet to get out of Dodge and on our way.    We were not out of the parking lot and we were already squealing with laughter.    The 2 1/2 hour drive was over in no time as we chatted the ride away.  Save for the call(s) we received from work!  We found our hotel with no problem-o thanks to Peggy Sue my so named GPS.  A quick check in and a short drive and we were in the PA Expo center.   

We enjoyed our walking through the arena.   Nothing major wowed me but we did enjoy and did our best to stimulate the economy a few purchases at a time.   We did buy our return entry tickets for today as we exited.  

What a weight of stress is removed.   Although we didn't muster the energy to get in the pool or hottub and I didn't stitch a stitch.  We have both logged onto work already this morning, checked out emails, did a bit a maintenance all from the comfort of our pj's and hotel room.  Seriously, away from dishes, away from phones (kind of), away from family, away from work .....we both needed this so bad to recharge the batteries before the holiday time crunch is upon us.

Bad start, great finish

to my week that is.....
I seem to be a person that always is doing something.   Seriously.   I have an unending list of jobs, tasks, things.  I guess this is what if defined as a Type A personality.   It can make a person weary.  My balance is obtained by stitching, at a minimum, at lunchtime.  But I still question why don't others seem to have a list?  There is that OCD rearing it's ugly head again.

So far my week has been -- in to work early Monday/stayed late; Tuesday out of bed at 3 a.m. after tossing and turning for 45 minutes going through that mental list of things to do and wondering how and when they will get done; to work early/stayed late; grocery shopped on the way home; leftovers for dinner with son, d-in-l, grandson and their two dogs for dinner; made appetizers for a Wednesday dinner meeting; starting packing for my girls weekend; and, entertained an UNINVITED guess for dessert-----------a BAT!  A bat was in my house!  We are ducking and weaving and perhaps doing a little squealing.  I had a broom in hand like I could even do something with it what with diving for the floor.   The two dogs - a german shephard and a rottweiller - were not barking but they were bouncing all around.   Doing the "I'm a dog, I'm happy" dance.  The dance was mainly because me, the d-in-l, my grandson and son were dodging here and there.  The cat is poofed up two times it's size because of the dogs....what an evening.  I ran out the side door to get Mr. Wonderful from his man cave.  I got the net for the fish pond for him and Mr. Wonderful saved the day.    Now I am sure Mr. Bat was probably only 8 inches total wingspan but it seemed twice as big.   What a crazy experience.   They were telling me I would find bats hanging from my ceiling fan waiting for me to get into bed.  My grandson (age 8) is looking up vampire bats on the internet when the thing was finally out the door.    Somewhere in there I managed to pull out some of my clothes to pack....Mr. Wonderful goes to bed at 8:30 which makes him not so Mr. Wonderful when you need to do things.
Today, things didn't seem to be going any better.....off to work early......alot accomplished in the morning then I went out to lunch and it was downhill from there.   The afternoon was filled with a  million interuptions and a barage of emails and little accomplished. (Could it have something to do with not cross stitching at lunchtime? I vote yes!) ....rushed to my dinner meeting taking my appetizers that I feared I would either forget in the CEO's fridge or the CEO's admin would lock her office and leave my appetizers held imprisioned.  The burning question remains what is up with the need to put in your 40 hours when you taking off work in 3 1/2 days because you are leaving for the week at noon on Thursday?   hmmm, and I still get charged with taking the 12 hours even though in reality I put in a full week.   hmmmm.   ARGH!   Back on track for my day after work and of course tons of traffic in the rain and mad drivers who don't know what it is to not 'block the box' or don't know how to do the 'zipper' at the merge point; arrive at the dinner 10 minutes late; late comers arrived even after me causing not a disruption but you know how it is when someone comes into something already started - a disruption of sort; and a candle burning and the fragrance it was emitting seems to have wacked out my eyes.   You know that feeling when your contacts dry out and you can't focus?  Well I was blinky eye lady all the way home.  Got home, drops in the eyes but they are not helping.  Mr. W in bed already so I can't complete my packing; need to get the cooler and suitcase and laptop in the car but not in this downpour.......so imagine my delight when I logged on to my blog to find  I was the winner in linenstitcher2.wordpress.com's give-a-way.   It is a Carriage House Sampling  American Landscape.  Thanks Carol!!!!  I cannot remember the last time I won something.  This is too cool.    I am so exicted and feel a turning point in my week.

Tomorrow, half a day of work and off to a girl's weekend in Harrisburg PA for the PA Christmas Craft Show.  Me and my BFF need this so badly.   My eyes don't feel any better and I still cannot focus; my bags are not packed; dishes are not done; I still need to get gas and MAC money in the morning but I have won a prize today and my work week ends at 11:30 a.m. tomorrow.   I am having a small glass of wine and going to bed to dream of my excursion.  Life is good!    .....better leave a note for Mr. W  to wake my at 5  because since  I want to get up early I won't.....

Pretty blog and great give-a-way

Check out Rebecca's blog  Nice give-a-way and really pretty site.

Give-a-way

Jennifer at http://feathersinthenest.blogspot.com/ is offering a great give-a-way.   Check out the beautiful box and adorable scissors she is offering.

A Finish at last!

Ye-Ha!  Finally something to crow about.    This week I received pages 7 and 8 of the Jeannette Douglas Stitching Album in the mail and of course I had to check them out.   Silly distributor emailed to ask if I minded getting both at once or should she send one and then wait a month and send the other so I wouldn't be overwhelming with completion.   ha ha ha!  This time last week, I didn't even have the front cover finished let alone the previously mailed first 6 chapters.  As I filed my newly received goodies in the binder I just had to leaf through my Stitching Album and ohhh and ahhh about stitches to come. I started about this time last year on the front cover. Seems I get so involved in (godzilla sized) SAL's that there is little stitching time for anything else.

At any rate, I love the Gloriana Threads and Belle Soie and Needlepoint Silks Jeannette selects.   I simply could not resist picking up the front cover to finish it which I was able to do in no time at all.   ...... and of course that lead to the need to work on the back cover....... although I have no business jumping into a new start.  I kind of rationized that it was a large project with sections and I had already started so it is not really a new start.   I have been good at not starting anything new since I reviewed and posted my WIP's.  I was kind of appalled at myself because of all the WIP's I was responsible for not to mention the age of some of them.  Anyway the stitching is now done on the front cover and I have managed a good start on back cover.

I am also near completion on side three of my etui.........this side has been very hard for me.  I have a stitching block I think or my stitching mojo is gone!  I am hitting the wall because of all the stitching already done and yet to be done.   Hopefully I will wrap up side three by the end of the weekend.  The majority of what I have to complete is the border and because of the palest of pinks being used they do not even show up here.   After this SAL I am going to make a serious attempt to wrap up some of the WIP's and not join in another SAL until I can cross some projects off the list.  Maybe I can make some sort of deal within myself......a most coveted start cannot begin until at least one thing is crossed off my list!  Or the purchase of a long desire pattern and fabric cannot be had until......

Drum Corps starts this weekend and that means my stint at the registration table.   I hung up my uniform sewing and fitting duties a few years back.  Tonight there will be all those new and anxious little faces and excitement of the returning vets.   Seeing old friends, trading stories.  Everyone really raring to start another season.  Seems like finals in August are so far away but this is that first step towards a winning season.

Off to the treadmill now to work off some of the holiday calories.  Back to my pledge of working out regularly.  A brief episode of issues with my back and a week of my Kindle being out of commission....now no excuses.

3-2-1....and the winner is.....

This was my first blogoversary give-a-way.   Not my first blogoversary but first give-a-way.  My first year of blogging was pretty sparse.  In fact almost every time I logged on I had to get my password and info from my daughter who has set it up for me.     I have managed to progress a bit since then.   Even have gotten a kudo here or there from her for things I have posted or added.   Also have gotten the stern look over the glasses and the statement from her that I have become internet obsessed.  I am not saying she is wrong for there have been some weeks when there has been way too much surfing, blogging, emailing, ebaying, website maintenace, etc.....but enough of that.

So this journey of my blogoversary has been a great one.  I have enjoyed comments (and not yet responded to all yet), and loved looking at your sites and blogs.   You guys are so creative and some of you are far to prolific in what you are stitching and completing.   I can't compete!!!!  I have to work long hours to support this obsessive habit of stitching I have.    But I manage to come back to my stitching for that calming affect it has on a near daily basis.

I have enjoyed reading your blogs, seeing your techniques and learning so much.   I found it interesting that we crafters are all so very similar.    Yes, we have different likes and preferences on designers and fibers and finishes but we have that common thread (oh boo hiss - what a pun).   Where else could others relate to the statement that something is missing on a day I do not stitch?   At work, they look at me like I have 3 heads when I said I have to stitch each day or something is missing.  When I try to explain it is like the athlete who works out and needs that endorphin rush each day my explanation gets lost in the roaring laughter of how much exercise I am getting threading the needle and moving it in and out of the fabric.  I chuckle along with them and secretly know they are the ones that are missing out.........

I don't know about random number generators but I can do the good old folded slip of paper in a container.  I thought in keeping with the season, my gravy boat would be appropriate.  But 112 entries from 47 comments proved too much.  So without further ado, the lucky winner is......TRACY!  Congratulations.   I will review your comment for contact info and be in touch soon.   

Thank you all and happy holiday season!

Kindle - Update!!

My Kindle has died!  I am right in the middle of Greg Iles, The Quiet Game.  A quick look on the Amazon site says to return it in the original packing...................with a footnote to pack in something similar if original packing is no long available.   Can you imagine if we were required to keep the original packing for everything we purchases, we would all need a second home just to store all the original packing and boxes.    It looks like it is the battery from what I found on the trouble shooting page.   I need to revisit the Amazon site tomorrow and make sure I can get it fixed.

11/24/09   10:15 pm - Two phone calls to Amazon and I am back in business.   "Charles", the rep I spoke with today, taught me how to remove the back and reset the device.   yeah!  Kudos to Charles and his customer service skills.  Now I can get back to my treadmill/reading regime.  

Really enjoying the comments

I have taken the time this morning while I wait for the plumber to re-read your comments on my Blogoversary post.  Thankfully nothing serious as what I have read some of you are experiencing with flooding basements, etc.   Just need the periodic snaking of the drains.

I have followed up with some posts, some I still have to.   I am visiting each of your blogs - if you have one - and I am enjoying my journey.   Happy week and blogging to all and Happy Thanksgiving to all the US followers.   .....it is my favorite holiday.   No pressure, no expectations.....just all those wonderful smells, family, food and laughter.  To the left...Norman Rockell's adaptation if he were a redneck!  Sorry, no offense intended. I thought the beer and paper plates were something likely to show up on a table or two.

Plumber has arrived....hopefully he will be quick and I can get off to Kohl's for some earlybird shopping.

Crafters are just the nicest people

Pardon the pun

but crafters are cut from a different cloth to be sure.  We have all known that friend or member of the women's club that has a recipe that we compliment.  What happens when you ask for the recipe?   Does she offer up her prize winning secret for her apple pie readily?   There may be promises of a recipe.  And sometimes you get the recipe but your version doesn't quite measure up when you prepare it.   Maybe an ingredient or step missing?  We all have suspected that.  Well, crafters are not the same.   A crafter loves to share her treasures, her websites for favorite stores, her trinkets, her joy in her craft, her techniques, her help, her time, her methods, her favorite store, her wisdom and her stash (well maybe I got carried away; maybe not her stash! lol).  

This is not limited to stitchers.   Crafters in general take so much pleasure in what they do that they want others to have the same pleasure and jump at the chance to share.   It just comes natural to us.   We know the effort that has gone into a project and we appreciate with a keener, non-critical eye.   We look on in awe and wonder.  Why, because we are not competitive.  Not competitive with each other but rather take pleasure in others success and accomplishment with a given craft. 

I am on this roll because of a RAK from someone I don't even know.    Let's see if I can explain......back to the purchase and gifting of the Big Shot dye cutter I bought my daughter for her birthday.   Since she was home for a visit, I gave it to her early.   She opens and I find out she already had one so I got to keep it.  (Yeah!)  When she returned home, she went to her card stamping group and was telling the demonstrator about my birthday gift to her.   Her demonstrator was all over it.   She emailed me "how to's", ideas, and more just so I could get the most out of my purchase which I had not even made from her; she was eager to share her crafting knowledge with me!   She sent me the latest catalogs in the us mail and some cards she made as well.    I did nothing but leaf through the catalog earlier tonight.   I turned down pages of must haves, like to haves, and neat ideas. 

Look at the trees on the left page of the catalog!  Too cute.   Now look at Selene's card.   Who'd of thought to put blue and purple together for a Christmas card?  Too pretty.     I love the Stampin' up papers.  Their colors are so pretty.   Check out the little gift card envelope Selene also included.   I feel like I want to stamp all day on Saturday and make a ton of cards!  Selene has already offered a girl's night of stamping the next time DD#1 and I visit DD#2.    Check out Selene's blog.   She has great ideas and easy to follow instructions.   I may even have to use her as one of Santa's Elves to help me with my Christmas shopping. 

On the stitchy side - I picked up my framed Jeannette Douglas Pineapple Stitches.   Had to take the shot at that angle to not have a big old glare spot!   The outer mat is in the olivey family and the inner mat is purple!  The framer was surprised that I wanted to see the purple until we laid it next to the piece.   He said he hadn't even seen the purple stitches until we placed the mat.   I wanted something different.   I am not sure where I am hanging it.   I had plans to line the walls of my dining room with samplers but since my stitching has to be as slow as blue mud that will never happen. 

(look at all the page corners I have turned in the Stampin up catalog Selene sent me!)

Blogoversary! - I will be putting all the names in the hat on Turkey Day and letting you know who the winner is by the end of the day!   Good luck all....down to the wire on getting your name in the hat.