What I Hate Most and Logic Out the Window

I hate spending time looking for things.   There is a place for everything and everything in its place.  Things are put, like things together, in a logically order and all is well in the world.    That said, I have spent the last week looking for my pre-stitch for PSS and the free pattern I stitched for PSS so I could send it off to Faye Riggsbee, The Carolina Stitcher, for her to create a project bag.    Dam....I remember seeing the pressed pieces sitting for weeks on the corner of the ironing board in my craft room.   When PSS was canceled for this year, I remember putting them in a place that made sense at the time.   A place that I remember saying in my head I can't go to Prim Stitchers without that so this is the perfect place to keep these three pieces safe until next April.    Even though that was just two weeks ago, I haven't been anywhere, I am at a loss.   ARGH!    So frustrating.  And you know I keep looking in the same place because it seems logically it would be there.  Well, when I least expect it, I guess they will turn up.

I do have a little bit of new stash to share.   I placed on order with Salty Yarns mostly for needed perle cotton for my grand daughter's christmas stocking but a couple of patterns managed to get included.   My semi annual retreat to Salty Yarns has been cancelled (fingers crossed on a reschedule) so I justified my purchases by telling myself I would have spent more had I been to Salty Yarns in person.

Before the wind and rain descended on us for a few days, I took my orchids outside to repot them.   Fingers crossed they survive.

I have barely any progress on Easter Parade......I am using floss and fabric from stash.   I am seeing such prettier versions being posted that I am not in love with my version anymore which translates having lost interest in the piece.    I'd better just remind myself that I am trying to reduce the UFO's in the basket, not add to them.   Time to buckle down and be done with it.















I am working last week's Blackwork SAL installment.     I did a kind of sizing up of how much banding this will take and it looks like I won't be able to get all the 52 weeks on the length of banding I am using.   I guess I will stitch until I run out of room.

For Ornaments ala Round, I can't believe the progress I have made.   The three of us are doing much better than one motif a week.    The girls are both ahead of me but that's AOK with me since I've been dividing my time between the yard and stitching and making masks for my neighbors.

 And yes, that is frogging you see.    Seems I extended that purple for 8 stitches instead of seven.   Could I have compensated.....probably.   I felt I would be happier to frog and get it right.

I am getting the flower beds done, ordered veggies plants for my vegetable garden and in good shape yard wise.   This leads me to my next dilemma.   I have been out of commission for the last three or four days with a bum shoulder.   Of course I used my medical degree to research on the internet.   Don't think it is a rotator cuff injury, I think it is bursitis from the repetitive motion.   Both suggest the same - rest the shoulder.  Between digging and moving top soil, pulling weeds, hand edging flower beds and the reach around of stitching on a 16-inch square set of q-snaps I was a hurting pup.  I couldn't get comfortable.   I couldn't even stitching for days.  I have taken more Advil in the last three days then I have taken in the last three years.   Advil and a bag of frozen cranberries have become my new best friends.  Since I found sleeping so elusive with this shoulder, I spent most of Easter napping and watching HGTV.  Nice diversion but I think I have turned the corner.  Pain is less than yesterday and hopefully tomorrow will be less than today.

And while unable to stitch, I did manage to get some computer work done, cards written and  worked on EGA membership renewals and just generally doing nothing but old movies.   I took a couple of laps around the yard and did take a drive around town on Sunday since the car had not been out of the driveway for a month.  Boy it looked like a ghost town.

Easter started with a 6:45 FaceTime of a happy little boy having his Easter Egg hunt in the back yard.   Don't you just love that excitement in how they unconditionally believe?  For dinner, I had bought a large ham in the beginning of March which I cut in half and froze half of it.   I mean with two people eating it we could have ham every which way but loose and still have some left.   The half that remained was perfect for Easter dinner, some Robin-made egg McMuffins for breakfast yesterday, hot ham and cheese sammies for lunch and may be some soup with what is left.

Hope all are well, staying safe.   Thanks for stopping by and keep on stitching.

Retail Therapy

Lots to share but I'm going to do it over a few posts.   I spent a week at my son's helping with babysitting when they were in a bind.....more on those antics later.     I set my ride home to pass through Strasburg PA planning a stop at Hodge Podge Cross stitch store.   It is not what I consider my LNS but it is closer than OCMD and I love any excuse to travel in the Lancaster County area.  It has been a couple of years since I have been to Hodge Podge and wow have they every increased their inventory!   They even had the new Sullivan Ball Point needles that I love.   So I did a bit of shopping and bought things I had no business buying.   When they have so many models stitched and displayed it is hard not to add them to a pile I was creating on the counter.  They were too cute and I used the "I am supporting a brick 'n mortar store" little voice in my head to rationalize.

The Mill Hill kits are complete which is a plus.   I like the newer Mill Hill that are not 100% beads.  I like those too but like this style better.

 I am always a sucker for a Lizzie Kate design.  The sample on display swayed this purchase for sure.

Next up, Liberty & Justice for all from one of my favorite designers, Beth Seal of Summer House Stitche Workes.   I'm thinking ahead for my Red, White and Blue Patriotic Christmas tree.

 I have an exchange at Prim Stitchers Society next spring in Asheville, NC.   Each of these is in the running for my exchange piece.  Again both were stitched and on display.

Before I got as far as Lancaster, I hit a consignment store in Belleville, PA.  I saw this contraption and checked it out.   I thought, this is way cool and the price was unbelievably low.    I photo'd it and shared it with my daughters.    Almost immediately they messaged back - Buy It!     I was already out in the car heading out......so repark, go inside and bought it.    I think I confused the Amish ladies by coming back in but confusion seems to be my middle name some days.....either I am confused or I am causing it.

Did I need this, no.    What am I going to do with it?   I don't know.  But I was just taken by it.    I am such a nostalgic sap......I thought of the loving husband who designed this for his stitchy wife.   It certainly is one of a kind which is probably why I gravitated to it.     I haven't had time to explore all the pockets.

I did find this "Jiffy Stitcher" in one pocket and I am sure there are more treasurers hidden in these pockets.   Daughter Heather 'collects' sewing machines.   Hey, no judging here.  Tom Hanks collects typewriters.   I think I will have to pass this to her for her collection.

And what could make this better you ask.  I got home to find my Jack's Stash from Sassy Jack's delivery.  

Back to reality and back to work tomorrow.   For today, I will log into work to get a handle on the week ahead and I need to unpack all the crafting supplies I took to entertain a three year old and then some stitching is in my future for this rainy afternoon.   Still can't clean but reno's are getting closer to being done.   Yeah!

Thanks for stopping by and I need to add, thank you for all the wonderful comments.   I am not that consistent with replying back but I do read and reread and appreciate each one.

........ keep on stitching.......

Mojo is on it's way back.....I can feel it

This is my stitching tote that I use to carry all my tools and necessities to stitching night or to a guild meeting.  I like the way it stands up, it is compact, doesn't take up a ton of table space and it fits nicely inside my larger tote.

At the quilt show I bought some fat quarters that I plan to use to make some accessories.   Now I am not a girlie girl with nails done at all times and who never puts her hands in the dirt but I am a matchie-matchie type girl so I need to change out the needlebook and accessories I have inside the tote.

I want to use some new fat quarters to make a needle book and a strawberry pin cushion and an ort container.  Hopefully I can zip these up lickity split and get that mojo back in the right place.

It all started with our most recent class at EGA.   Caryl put a floss tag challenge out there.    I decided to do my first name initial and hang it on my bag since several of us have the same stitching tote.  

I first got these fabs but they weren't quite doing it for me

.....then as I was heading out of the show, I remember one last aisle that I meant to make sure I visited on the way out.    That's were I found these beauties and I can feel my creative ideas  swirling about in my head.

 My initial I stitched for the floss tag, I think now, it will be incorporated into my needlebook.

Here's some of my other purchases.   Oh I do have a S.T.A.B.L.E stash for sure. Stash Totaling Above and  Beyond Life Expectancy ;-)   I even managed a couple of Christmas present purchases which I can't show here but I know are perfect for the recipients.  I  picked up these gems.   I have a Halloween stitch that needs finishing and I think these will do the trick.  Those are little spiders on the purple piece on the bottom.

And this.....love this table runner and am quite ready to confess it won't be ready for THIS Thanksgiving.

 Debated but decided to get the kit with all the sumptuous wool selections.

The best part of the show was I was only about 15 vendors in of the over 200 vendors but who do I find?   My daughter.   We each had driven an hour from different directions and neither knew the other was going.   How cool is that?   I am so luck to have daughters who love crafting just me!  Of course, we laughed and shopped and shared a table and refreshments together.   I am so glad I decided to go and now I know the reason for the wrong turn I made along the way that added 15 minutes to my arrival time.....it put me in that booth at just the same time Heather was there.  Things happen for a reason.

Now I am off to change out summer and fall flowers, stow the furniture on the deck, box and bag up more Goodwill stuff, and just in general get some household stuff done so I can stitch and craft the evening away....I feel it.....the mojo is back!

Oh the joy....

Just back from 4 days in Ocean City MD and a cross stitch retreat.....ahhhhhh.   Better than a Calgon Take Me Away bath it is to be with friends and stitching.

We stopped at Serendipity Quilt Shop in Dagsboro on the way down.   I picked up several different sizes and colors of ric-rac.   Do I have a project in mind for the ric-rac?   No, but I needed it.   It's an exercise in stash building.











I only got my camera out once and wasn't able to really capture the true beauty of the moonrise.

This is what I pulled from my stash to start at this season's retreat.   It is really working up fast.

 
The little needle minder that looks like the end of a spool of thread was a little gift to myself because I like the nostalgic look.

Bought some peanut butter kisses (saltwater taffy with peanut butter inside) as "I'm sorry" candy for two co-workers who I bit their faces off.   (Really was their fault because I told them I didn't feel good and I was miserable and they should leave.....but they didn't and I barked at them.)

Not sure why I am on a Halloween kick, but I am.

 More Halloween and a patriotic stitch.

And another group project.   We all enjoyed the Santa we stitched together last year and we found another one to work on as a SAL.   I am not sure when we will start it but four of us are on board to do it.

I was also able to get in the first four rows and part of the fifth my guild white work SAL.   Sorry, it is too hard to see but trust me, it's there.   I will try to get a better shot and replace this one.  Excuse the little ends of my away knows.  Haven't woven the ends in yet.

Halfway home I got an uneasy feeling.   Mr. Wonderful was so anxious for me to go this weekend which is totally unlike him.   Not that he has a problem with me going on my excursions; it is more like - whatever.   But this time, he was very encouraging and actually insistent when I was considering cancelling because I had been so sick.......so I got to thinking, Why did he want me out of the house?   What was he buying?  Was he getting us a new kitten since Miss Babykakes went missing?  As  the girls quickly unloaded their bags and switched cars, I came in to find a set of shiney new keys on the table.   Ut-oh!  Mind was racing.   A John Deere Gator, another Kawasaki Mule, a Kubota????   No, it was just new keys to the new locks on the drum corp trailers.   Whew!  Dodged a bullet there!  Hmmm, Mr. W. may have turned over a new leaf.

Now that's a fine How Do You Do!

Ok, Ok! I have been missing in action.   Been away 2 out of 4 weekends, day trip on another and was down for the count with a cold and fever for 3 days on the other weekend.  So here comes a pix heavy and text light catch up on my comings and goings...in no particular order.

Bought my first pair of flip-flops in 40 years!   OMGosh, why have I been depriving myself of this comfort for all these years? 

Finished the 15-sided blackwork biscournu.   My reward--I get to teach the finishing class at our November guild meeting.  

 Went to two different quilt shows and stocked up on fabbies!   I love Aunt Grace fabric. 

 Got some patterns too.

 Knitted this fun scarf in my favorite color.

 Bought this fun yarn for another scarf.

 Couldn't resist this last minute jump in my basket at my retreat this weekend.  

 Bought fabric and floss for the Grace Mason Sampler for Thursday night stitchers SAL.

Another project that 'jumped' into my basket.   Several of us are going to do this as a SAL also.  

Loved this! Got everything but the rick-rack.   This will be a quick one to stitch up and finish.  New favorite floss color - Toasted Marshmallow

Got charts, floss and fiber - more quick finishes

My progress on Drawn Threads Random Thoughts

Struggled with the white on white but made it through with minor compensation.

Fretted with the bees due to the compensation of the previous motif but now happy with the little guys. 

One of the three larger pieces in my rotation and I am NOT enjoying working on it.   I can seem to find the right way to work on it.   I usually stitch in hand but this linen is better taunt.   It has been in and out of a hoop, on and off the stretcher bars.  Next up, Q-Snaps.

Sorry for the glare.  My EGA Chapter is working on name tags from the September 2011 Issue.

Not a difficult project - except if you spell your own name wrong when you chart it!  

Been knitting washclothes.  I have 8 balls of Sugar 'n Cream - enough for 16 washclothes.

Got some much needed walnut shells.

Bought Christmas fabrics for a project I have in mind.

Stocked up on random felts for the sewing basket my sister and I each want to make.

Aren't they too cute!  From the Shriner's Parade in Virginia Beach at the beginning of September.

The space ship I want to buy for my back yard.   Yes, I'd like to outfit it with a firepit and cushions and run lights around the inside.   Of course, it is no wonder Mr. W. rarely speaks to me considering I come home with ideas like this one.  But it would be super cool.   A stitching hiding place......

Took a ride on a tall ship.  My sister organized a great day.

My friend Diane (in the yellow cap) hoisting the sale.   I manned the camera.

Our dinner view Friday night at the marina in Ocean City, Maryland

If it's OCMD, chances are it is Cruiser Weekend.   

Familiar signs from retreat weekend

Deb and Sandy stitching away on the front porch of the Lankford.  We saw a pod of dolphins this morning but I was not a quick enough shudder clicker to catch them.

Been hitting the treadmill good some weeks and not so good others.   Managed to put on last year's jeans with no problemo.  Yeah me!  Also managed to complete my grant for the non-profit I am on the board for and did it two weeks ahead of time too.  Worked on more IRS 'junk' for my board.  Planning my trip to North Carolina at the end of the month.    Daydreaming about a retreat in New England next year.  Appears I have been trying to be a one-woman economic stimulator with all my purchasing and traveling. Also managed to go to work in between all this galavanting.  All the giddy-up and going has it down side:  I haven't read but 50 pages in my current book.  I haven't put up a stitch of fall or Halloween decorations.   

I hope those who have been wondering (and you know who you are!) are all caught up with my antics.    As one put it when they saw me Friday in OCMD.....they were glad to see me to know that I was alive and well since I hadn't posted in so long.   Alive, and well, and keeping busy and enjoying life.