Oh those points!

Needlearts Survey

The National Needlearts Association is conducting a survey of needle artists and would like your advice and opinions, whether you are a beginner or an expert! The survey is only conducted every few years so our input is very important. Answers are anonymous and no one will use your survey responses to market to you.  I advise a little research ahead of time since they request websites you visit.

In return for your participation, you will receive valuable benefits:

• A chance to win one of five $100 needlearts gift certificates.
• Ensure stores and suppliers provide what you want.
• Explore your needlearts interests.
• Your valuable input will help the needlearts community to: Advocate for more programs to support the needlearts, such as Helping Hands Needlearts Mentoring, Stitch N Pitch, and Stitching for Literacy.
• Help independent retailers and family-owned suppliers succeed by giving much needed customer feedback.

As a thank-you for completing the survey, TNNA is offering the chance to win one of five $100 needlearts store gift certificates. To enter the sweepstakes simply fill out the survey HERE and then click on "Sweepstakes Entry" on the page you see after submitting the survey.

The 10-minute survey asks about your experiences with the needlearts you enjoy: cross-stitch, embroidery, knitting, crocheting, or needlepoint.

The survey is sponsored by The National NeedleArts Association, a business organization dedicated to supporting the needlearts community. Hart Business Research is conducting this survey for TNNA and compiling the results into a major national report, The State of Specialty Needlearts 2010.

Survey closes April 19, 2010.

The Girl on the Wall

I happened across this fabulous piece when I trying to look up site addresses for sites I visit for a survey.   The piece Jean Baggett of Australia did is fantastic.   Make sure you scroll through the posts to find the video clip for The Girl on the Wall.  Her work is really inspiring and I doubt I could fill 70+ circles with motifs on my life! 

Week 14 - My Small Changes

Now this is a disgusting one and a boring one!  I plan to floss more regularly!  Yuck, of al the things I could change!!??!!     lol  I don't mind flossing and am the dutiful patient that flosses in few weeks prior to and immediately after my dental appointment.  After that, it is few and far between.  I guess it is the poster on the wall that I had to look at while I was sitting in the chair waiting for the hygenist at my last appointment.   The ugliness and pain of gum disease.  Ugh! Why not prevent it?   I have also heard that flossing can ward off many illnesses by ridding the bacteria that could ultimately cause illness, etc.   I won't say I don't have the time:  top of the morning/top teeth - bottom of the day/bottom teeth.  What will it take.....an extra minute of my time..........

Progress and great things to look forward to!!

Had a bit of trouble trying to change my header photo to one of Iris' from last spring so what you see is a HINT of spring! 

So here's my  progress on my Nan Tyson Euler sampler.   Had to do the teensiest bit of frogging on the upper left border where I made the corner  to start the border across the top.   Mis-counted somewhere along the left side and would not have had enough room to stitch the four quilt-like sampler motifs.  I sure am glad I had not completed the entire top border!    Thank goodness for small miracles.    Whew!    After finishing the row of stepped herringbone I was still not any bigger of a fan.  I thought all that messing about for not much of a show.  

Speaking of messing about!  makes me think of Len Goodman of Dancing With the Stars.  (DWTS)   I confess to being a big fan.  What's up with sending home Shannon Dougherty?   First and foremost my disclaimer that I could not even dancing if electrodes were attached to me to jolt me for the proper steps on a floor with numbered footprints so I give them all credit.   Shannon seemed to be enjoying herself and was no where near as stiff at Kate Plus 8.  Oh well, it is why I am not a judge!

Now for my Sewing Room Treasures, I have been stitching on it but I seem to jump all about.  There I go messing about again.   A lot of movement and not much substance! I need to stick to one section to complete it and be able to see more visable progress worthy of a photo! 

I had thought I might finish my SB April but I was torn between my love of the yard and my love of stitching.   Here's a peek and fingers crossed I can finish today! 

Next, my diet plan is not working so I have joined Weight Watchers.   It is the only diet my family physician supports and I know it works.   I have been telling myself I could do it on my own but alas, I accept I can not.    I can't go wrong with this!  It is at work at lunch time and as part of the wellness plan, the Company pays 1/2 of our 15 week fee!  Weeeeee!  See what I mean?  It would be silly not to sign up.

And last but not least for today, I have signed up for a 6 week quilting class.   I have sewn forever and had all the sewing classes in high school.   I made quilts for the kids when they were young.  But I did it without any training.   I just did what I thought was right.   You know the valuable tricks and tips you learn in a class?  That's what I am hoping to take away.   It will be fun every Tuesday night to look forward to it!  My daughter and I attended the AQS in Lancaster PA last weekend and I guess it got the creative juices flowing!

Happy Easter all and a great week for everyone.   Thanks for stopping by.

It was best of times, it was the worst of times

First and foremost, Happy Easter to one and all.   I wish every one of you a safe and happy holiday....

Now for the worst of times......without details, suffice to say I received a rather out of the blue *figurative* slap in the face at work yesterday.   I wasn't going to post about it but there is something therapeutic about writing it all out... you kind of release it down your arms and out your fingertips.   Anyway, I was very shaken.  Shaken to the point that at 50+ years old I went and hid in the stall in the ladies room for fear I would cry.   It was that unfair.  Never mind what the issue was because the new me believes in an Eleanor Roosevelt quote ....no one can make you feel inferior without your consent.   I did discuss it with my boss and let my feelings on the unjustness known and with that I put it to rest.   I will not give this event any credence as it deserves none!  One of the most important things I have learned in my lifetime is that I cannot control the things people say and do, I can only control how I react to them.   No worries because before the day was over  I received an email from the publisher of our corporate annual report regarding delivery status.   It is the monster job that someone new each year gets because no one likes it.   The email was gushing with compliments of my work and how much they enjoyed working with me....(maybe I was print it and frame it and put it on my desk for the devious co-worker to have to look at all the time....but I digress.)  I think this is unprecedented! Even better was that the publisher copied each and every officer of the Company.   Woohoo!  feathers in my cap!

So as for the best of times, I left work on time (my new resolve, hmmmm, made it yesterday!)  I left on time on Monday and Tuesday to give my BF at ride since her car was in the shop.   I was amazed at how much of an evening I had on Monday and Tuesday getting home slightly after 5 versus 6 - 6:30 - 7!!!  I was amazed that there was a life outside of work!  I actually sat and read and finished another book without falling fast asleep in the upright position! [The history here - I have worked 10 and 11 hour days more days than not or 11 and 12 hour days if you add the commute with no relief in sight.   How depressing is it to leave for work in the dark and arrive home at night in the dark?  But enough negativety!  A tasks that belongs to another department has been reassigned to them! It was moved February 1st and I am catching up.  Seriously this task removed from my list of jobs accounted for 6 to 8 hours every week.  I just feel a sense of being lighter even if the scale does not reflect it.  lol  Yes, if there is a push time, I will stay a night or two or if a deal is settling and my boss needs me, I will stay....but it will be the exception and not the rule.]   

Since last night was Thursday and not Friday as I somehow seemed to think all day, I had my Secret Squirrel Stitchers night but all day since I was off a day I forgot until I looked at the calendar when I got home.    It is so wonderful to finally know and enjoy the company of fellow stitchers.  These ladies are so talented, so knowledgable and so giving.   I sit like a sponge and try to absorb all they know!   So as I rode to Pat's home, I thought about how lucky I was.    I had the windows down since it was absolutely gorgeous.  The colors of the sky were so breathtaking after the weeks of rain we have had and I could hear the frogs (peepers).  I love hearing them because even though the fat robin hopping in the yard is the first sign of spring, the frogs really mean summer is coming too.  

So I drove and I thought,  I have a great life.  My husband truly has become Mr. Wonderful in the last 5 to 7 years.   We had the ugly years, we had the lean years, so it is good.  I have no idea what he did with my real husband but he better not trade places with him.  My bills are paid.  My children are well, employed and making their way in the world.   I have a savings account growing - which for any of you with children at home, this will not happen until they move out!  I have a STABLE Stash! I have all kinds of spring and summer plans for events and travel and I am looking forward to each one. 

My positive and thankful thoughts continued as I worked in the yard today - OMG get the tylenol out now for surely I will need to pop a couple and take a soak tonight.  Mr. Wonderful has made it so much easier now that he helps.  Yard work to me is not work.   I seem to be able to throw al lmy cares away as I rake, and scratch and dig up dandelions.  It is zen like for me and makes me remember my father sitting in the yard tending to a garden.   I made a pact to not overdue and I cleaned up early and I sat on my deck basking in the warm (hot) sun and stitched for a good hour.  I am making greata progress!  Maybe I will even be finished before my guild meeting on Thursday night!!

I do so enjoy being outside, listening to the birds, listening to the water in the pond trickle down the tiny waterfall, seeing the beautiful blue of the sky, seeing all the variety of the color of green - who knew?

Everyone have a great holiday weekend, thanks for reading about my rant earlier on and have a great month of April to come.   Thanks for stopping by!

PS   I will post  pix of my progress on Sunday of my Nan Tyson Euler sampler and my WIP Sewing Room Treasures and maybe even a WIP SB finish I dreamt up while pulling weeds!

You are where you are for a reason

The ' L I T T L E ' Things~
As you might remember, the head of a company survived 9/11 because his son started kindergarten.
Another fellow was alive because it was his turn to bring donuts. One woman was late because her
Alarm clock didn't go off in time. One was late because of being stuck on the NJ Turnpike because of an auto accident. One of them missed his bus. One spilled food on her clothes and had to take time to change.
One's car wouldn't start.   One couldn't get a taxi.   The one that struck me was the man who put on a new pair of shoes that morning, took the various means to get to work but before he got there, he developed
a blister on his foot. He stopped at a drugstore to buy a Band-Aid.  That is why he is alive today..

Now when I am stuck in traffic, miss an elevator, turn back to answer a ringing telephone .....all the little things that annoy me. I think to myself, this is exactly where God wants me to be at this very moment.

Next time your morning seems to be going wrong, when you can't find your car keys, when you hit every traffic light, don't waste your day being uptight and angry......it may just be that God is at work watching over you.   You are where you are for a reason.

WIP Completion Project!

Just because I have to be confusing........I decided to extend my WIP project and give-a-way.   Truth be told, I am not a super woman and cannot expect to finish some of my WIP's in 4 weeks time!  So hey, what do you think would be a good time frame?    I was going to say June 17, the first day of summer; then I thought of Labor Day/start of the school year and I ended up with a date in the middle!   Let's get this going and add another wrinkle.   Let me repeat the rules, share the change to the deadline and add a step. 

This is my quest to tie up the loose ends. We have all done it....come within stitches of completing a project and gotten wooed away to another.  It is almost like being an unfaithful tart when I put it that way!   For whatever reason, we all have WIP's that we need that extra little encouragement to complete.   So here it is!  Join me in the WIP Completion Project!

To be part of the WIP  Completion Project:
1. Post here info about your finishes and I will have a give away on May 1st. July 18th revised date!!
2. Comment to this POST ONLY -  Not to worry/Hazel and Raven  I got you covered from your earlier responses! 
3. It is not necessary to post a link on your site to my site but you can.
4. It is not necessary to be a follower but you can.
5. Post a reply to this post about a project you've have in the pile for a least a year that finally finished it.
6. Your name will be added one time for each older project you finish between now and July 18th.
7. NEW - Post on your blog a before and after picture and let us all know about it.
8. Be sure to include your contact information.
9.  All that random generator number stuff to select a winner!!!

I will have to provide an update of what the give a way will be since the idea just popped into my head this second! There I go again, starting something anew when I have a pile to still do! Just think how good you will feel to get one of those items done/completed/finished!  Feel free to include any tidbit of info or story about your piece!
Now let's get stitching!

I also received another award! I couldn't believe it! I received it from Tracey at I Stitch Therefore I Am  love that blog title! I feel so fortunate to be awarded given the company of all the great stitchers and bloggers out there.  Thank you  Tracey! This award is for bloggers who inspire others with positivity and creativity. The rules for accepting the award are:

1. Put the logo on your blog or within your post.  - Done
2. Pass the award to 8 bloggers.  - Done
3. Link the nominees within your post. - Done
4. Let them know they received this award by commenting on their blog. - Done
5. Share the love and link to the person from whom you received this award. - Done

With no further delay, here are my nominees. I tried to pick different bloggers from the last award. It has been fun to follow and find new blogs by following who my nominees passed their nomination on to...  
wonderful blogs!!

1. Feathers in the nest
2. I'd Rather Be Stitching
3. The Craft Room
4. Stitch by Stitch
5. Quietly Stitching

Week 13 - My Small Changes

The Queen of Unfinished Projects so aptly decribes my path.    Although not a revelation...me thinks it is time to do something about it.     I kind of got a real wake up call when I putting away my new purchases from last week and even though I know I have a STABLE Stash I was almost - I say almost - horrified at the sh$$load of STUFF!   This is even after weeding it out.   I kind of made a pledge to myself not to start anything new - key word start; no mention of not purchasing.    I have noted before that if there is such thing as a crafters ADD, I have it!  I start many a project with whole hearted zeal and somewhere along the line I become bored and start something new.   This is not limited to stitching.    Ha!  if only.   Let's see I had, just had to paint the bathroom last August.  I am happy to say I completed it, sewed the curtains and installed the crown molding.   But did I caulk the molding......well I started to.....and the bedroom I painted in February - walls and ceilings finished but look at the baseboard!  Seems I got to the corner where the paint cans and sawhorse were and I stopped. 

In spring, I have a heart to heart with myself and walk from room to room making a list of what needs to be fixed, patched, touched up, etc.  Well it is now time and my list is long.   To that end, I have two cross stitch finishes this week and a cross stitch resurrection!   I finished the stitching on the Dinah name tag from the Nan Tyson Euler class months ago, but I never 'finished'.  So this week I did.  I started to add the little picot edging but I was doing such an uneven job I knew it best to frog and move on, lest this project remain on the unfinished list.    Next I finished Bent Creek's Americana Blue.   I mixed it up a bit since the pattern called for dated it and the year in the chart was 2000.   This is the second in a series of three that I have completed so the framing will be waiting until all three are done.   Given my current mission, who knows when that will be....since I am not STARTING anything new until I FINISH a few more.     Granted, some of the items in my WIP pile are non-doers!  They are things someone else started that I don't have my heart in; they are class projects to complete; a wedding sampler for a couple who broke their engagement....I mean how can I finish that?

So in this quest to tie up the loose ends, I came across this beauty.   All I can tell you is that it is a Sunset design  and I know I was stitching on it 15 years ago!   I still like the design.   Although the fabric is stained I plan to stitch away and hope to tea stain it when complete.  It is in my current works basket along with my Between the Sheets Sampler.    This is where I am going to dedicate my time!

Another finishing project......I was in the monthly Shepherd's Bush several years ago.   Once I completed each month......I did nothing with them put them in my finishing basket.  And there they have sat with their respective fabrics.   My plan is to finish up in the next couple of weeks April, May and June in little fanfolds for my desk at work.  Seems I have stored away April so well I can't even find it!  Join me in completing projects! 
Be part of the WIP Project.
1. Post here info about your finishes and I will have a given away on May 1st.  
2. Not necessary to link to my site but you can.
3. Not necessary to be a follower but you can.
4. Post a reply to this post about a project you've have in the pile for a least a year that finally finished it.
5. Your name will be added one time for each older project you finish between now and May 1st.
6. Be sure to include your contact information.   
I will have to provide an update of what the give a way will be since the idea just popped into my head this second!   There I go again, starting something anew when I have a pile to still do!  Just think how good you will feel to get one of those items done/completed/finished!

And then there is the TUSAL!  How can I not even complete that challenge!!!!  At the rate I am adding to the mug, I may need to transfer for a different container.  Now to catch up on all the lovely posts and emails.   I have been lax this week on emails and postings so I have my work cut out for me.   

So for this week, I vow to finish two things on my list before I start anything new and hopefully I will be able to post a lot of finished over the next month and be able to start something new.   I always start something new on our retreat in May so that is my goal!