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.