Quick Fixes

Will plays peek-a-boo with Auntie Heather

This is going to be a long one.....post that is.   Recovery from the holidays is well underway and almost complete.   OMGosh!  William had a fabulous first Christmas as did the rest of us.......Isn't it wonderful to have all the family home for the holidays and isn't it just a tiny bit wonderful when they leave and you can have your house back in order, no waiting your turn for the bathroom or shower, no countertops covered with mugs and glasses and cell phones and chargers, no sink full of unending dishes and life is back to quiet evenings of stitching.   I do love them coming and we have so much fun, lots of laughter and even though the silence is welcomed and I am no longer tripping over dogs and quaranting the cat,  I miss them already........

I kind of just melted into the sofa when the last of the house guests left on New Year's Eve.  I started bright and early New Year's morning with cleaning and pulling down the decorations.   As I did, I reflected on 2016.      Mr. Wonderful retired and that seems to be going OK.  We had a Grandchild! and he is wonderful.  I accomplished some of the things on my 2016 list; accomplished some that were not on the list; I did things I never expected and had things happen that I never planned.......   I read 15 books, I completed several projects,  I 'announced' my retirement by giving my boss a 3-year notice of my planned date of retirement.....overall it was a good year for me.

I hesitate making New Year's Resolutions or planning stitching goals.  I feel like it is setting yourself up for failure with unattainable goals.....something always gets in the way....a new project, a class, a diversion (squirrel!),  of my well meant intentions....but it is the thing to do....to start fresh with a clean slate,  plans in place, list goals.  It is like when you get a new planner at work or calendar and it is all fresh and clean and none of the pages are dog-eared and possibilities are endless.  And I do work best with a list.....there can be a sense of accomplishment when you cross things off....so time to just suck it up buttercup and make my list, resolutions or not!

I spent New Year's Day getting my house back in order.   I stripped beds, vacuumed, did laundry, wiped baseboards, found stray socks and moved furniture back in place.   I did stray a bit and spent some time looking through my basket of WIP's.  As I was restoring order,  I made  mental notes of nicks of paint here and there that need a quick fix.   (not from my houseguests....just normal wear and tear) And then there is that wallpaper project from last year.   Well I can rationalize it.....it was summer, it was hot, I needed to be outside in the yard, the pool was calling, I offered money to a friend to help and have a girls night with wine and wallpaper.....nothing, nil, nada accomplished other then my first attack which created the point of no return ..... so I vow for 2017 to work one night a week on removing the wallpaper until it is done!   Hopefully, that will see the job done.

Of course the obvious.....hmmm, the weight.   No need to get on the scale and see that ugly number.   It doesn't take a rocket scientist to know there is a problem when the sweats are the pants of choice.  I've always struggled with weight loss but I am planning a different approach.  Just as important as loosing weight is getting fit.  My plan is to work on getting fit, built my endurance, increase my speed and distance on the treadmill, become more active, do more yoga,  and if weight loss happens, all the better.  And the most important part to remember is that at 2 pounds a year of weight gain over the last twenty years will not disappear overnight.  No quick fixes here.

I also am vowing to do more Random Acts of Kindness.   They may be as simple as giving up a parking space, allowing someone with only a few items ahead of me in the grocery store, writing a quick note to a sick friend.   Simple things that will make a difference in that person's day.  

Stitching Plans for 2017

I have two large pieces I'd like to concentrate on in 2017.   Funny, the first is from my "list" for 2016 and it never saw the light of day since I put it there.   The second is a stitch-a-long I am hosting.  (see this post)  My guild is hosting a challenge to complete WIP's and this could be a good thing when it comes to my basket of shame.  Then there are ornaments to stitch.  Every year I just swoon at all the pretty ornaments everyone stitches......this could be the year I stitch a few.  You know you always need that quick fix of a quick finish.

I am creating my own rotation method to stitch through the year.   I need to rotate through different projects because different stitching times call for different stitching pieces.   A lunchtime project is different than a weekend at my daughter's project and different still from an evening at home project.  

My focus pieces will be Rosewood Manor's Cornwall Cottage Sampler and Queenstown Sampler's Corsica River.   I just love the colors in the Rosewood Manor pattern.   At the time I brought this pattern, it was such a difference from their normal sampler themed designs.  So far I have two of the twelve pages of charts completed.   I will be happy to make it to four or even, hope of all hope, six pages!

I just really was taken by Corsica River piece when I saw it at a guild meeting this summer.   It has some stitch techniques I have not used before and I always enjoy the challenge of blackwood plotting my route in and back.   This is planned as a two year project so there is only pressure to keep up but not to finish.

 Some finishes I'd like to complete in 2017.

 My pen pal gifted me this and I did need to steal 30 minutes to get this started before Jan. 1.

 This Mill Hill kit looks creepy but Halloween is the time for all things creepy.  I've seen this completed and it is really very pretty.    Halloween is permission to be outlandish!

 Another gift from my Penpal from a couple of years back.   Time to get a stitching on this.

Pardon the sideways photo.   This is an Alma Lynn pattern from the 1990's showing a duplicate stitch Uncle Sam.   My Thursday night ladies and I are stitching this on 18 count and plan to make this a stand up 4th of July design.

 This is something I started a million years ago.   Hopefully my skills have improved and I am a faster stitcher now then when I started this.

 This is a kit from my visit to Longaberger in Dresden, Ohio in 2006.   Got about 30 stitches in place in the hotel room on that trip and then no more.

 Oh my!  This was on my list to finish in 2016.   I did double my progress but there is more to do.  I get hung up with the tons and tons and tons of smyrna crosses.   Yes, had I not diverted my path down the entire left side I could have replaced some of those smyrnas with another stitch....

 I am sure there are more projects...some new starts.....some WIP's....

 And then we have the many faces of William....Happy

What, you want me to model my sweater knitted by Auntie Amy again?

 Hmmm, what shall I get into next?

  Best present ever.

 Hey dad! Share that donut!

 Peek-a-boo gramma.

I know it's a John Deere but I am really not ready to start grass cutting.

And then there is travel to look forward to.    I have three stitching weekends in Ocean City Maryland to look forward to.   I have already signed up for a Betsy Morgan Class this spring and probably will sign up for a Lauren Sauer Class in the fall.  I am toying with the idea of starting a Thompson Family Reunion this year.  (more incentive to get the wallpaper down and the hall and stairway painted!) The Second Annual Mother and Daughter long weekend with my daughters will be in the Rhineback area of New York in late August.  I am trying to talk my travel buddy into a cruise in the fall.   I'd like to try the New England cruise in October but I am still twisting her arm.   I have some have some plans for continued pruning and revamping flower beds and gardens.   I am sure there will be some show and theater events to attend.   I already know I will buy tickets to Straight No Chaser when they are back in the area next fall. And last but not lease, I have an open invitation to my boss's place in Florida that I just might take her up on this winter.

And congrats to you if you managed to stay with me all this time.   It is going to be a great year!

From my house to yours

Welcome

Before the hub bub of children and dogs start I wanted to take time to wish all my blogging friends a safe and happy holiday season.  I look back and count my blessings this past year and there are many.

I have so many things for which I am grateful and very high on that list is my stitching community.  I am so thankful to be a member of three fabulous stitching groups.  Those groups are comprised of two guilds and one group of dear and awesome ladies that I call my friends who I meet with each week.  What did I do before I met them?  It was a lonely stitching existence before they appeared in my life.  You all know what I mean.  We all may have a vast list of friends but they more often then not don't get us like our stitching friends do.  These women are truly my tribe.  We have shared births and deaths and surgeries and weddings and graduations and vacations and laughter and girls weekends and shopping and support and knowledge and best of all love and friendship over the years.

My wish for all of you is to be so very fortunate to have a fellow stitching buddy or buddies to share your passion with.  Merry Christmas and happy holidays to you and yours.

The tree is trimmed

Just waiting for the eggnog

Time to place the packages under the tree 

Stockings to be hung

Caroles to sing

A Charlie Brown tree to be sure

And a well wish to all our heroes and soldiers.

a tree for the kitchen....

all shiny and bright.....

and Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night.

Homestretch -- Updated

(Class info added below)  Doesn't it always feel good to 'round that corner and head for home?  I am talking about the corner of Miss Mary Mack.....she is getting there and I see a finish in my future.   The border is where most of the stitching remains but it is such an easy repeat it is zooming along.   I did change up the words from "Miss Mary Mack" to "old Mrs. Mack" because that is how I remember I sang the song to the kiddos.

I would love to complete the stitching AND finishing by the end of 2016 but I will settle for completing the stitching which I think is doable.    I have been cutting a length of floss, dividing the threads into sets of two strands, threading three needles and stitching until I need to 'reload'.   Too many other things going on to be lost in hours of stitching.   And some days I have not stitched at all.  Not even at lunchtime at work.  Lunch has been at my desk.   Work is busy busy busy and I have put in more than my fair share of ten and 12 hour days.   That's why I get the big bucks I guess....LOL.    It is such a busy time of the year at work and at home and  the sewing table is put to use as the wrapping table so......I think the finishing might not be possible.

So I can't have a visit from Mr. William without sharing a few photos.   His mommy went out to the store and I plopped Will in a xerox box with a pillow and toys and he was happy as can be.   My son thought it was a terrible thing to do.   "You put my son in a box?!"   Yes, and he loved it.   We pushed him about like it was his car and he sat there and played totally content.

See Rich.    Kids don't need toys.   A box or a pack of baby wipes entertain just a much.    OK, so maybe eating the wrapping paper off your 'car' is not a good idea.

To catch up, Thanksgiving was great.   Due to traveling because of work schedules, we didn't celebrate until the Saturday after Thanksgiving and it was good.  Of course, the appearance of Will, took center stage.    Will enjoyed his first Thanksgiving mashed potatoes.  After they left I checked the camera and I had taken 256 pictures!   A little overkill.

Since I didn't welcome the last of my house guests until Saturday morning and because I was off on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, I was able to get all the Christmas decorations up - inside at least.   Mr. Wonderful needs to get his backside in gear to do the outside......truth be told he will drag his feet, have an excuse and I will end of doing it after he tells me he doesn't know how I want it......really, after all these years, I still fall for it.

Busy busy days aheads......take time to stay calm and stitch on.

Update - I forgot to add information about a class with Betsy Morgan that my guild is sponsoring   It is open to Away Stitchers.   Please use this link and select the "Classes" tab on my other blog.....DVHSG.blogspot.com

Patterns

Why oh why can we be so intelligent to know something but so dim witted to continue to repeat the behavior and not to change it?   I have had one of those sleep-plagued run of days which finds me tossing and turning and wide awake in the wee hours after about 4 hours sleep which then finds me in the recliner stitching and catching up on shows On Demand until it is time to shower and dress for work..... but this morning before I ventured out from my warm, snuggly, cacoon of blankets and pillows at the lovely hour of 3:30 a.m.  I was trying to think what was going on, what worry? or what stress? or work issue? was bugging me and why was I struggling to no avail and sleep was still evading me and then it came to me.....I way lying there going through my to-do list and it was a light bulb moment.....this is my pre-holiday pattern.

Tossing and turning trying to set my schedule in my head of when to do what to make sure it is all done by the time the kiddos get here.   And why?   It always gets done and so what if they have to throw in with helping with a pie or peeling potatoes.

So the result of my insomnia, I have been watching Season 1 and most of Season 2 of Masterpiece Theater's Poldark,    (I never knew the receipt of the gift of woolen stockings could be so sexy!) and stitching a bit on Miss Mary Mack.  But the wee hours of the morning stitching are bittersweet.   Progress has been made but seems my border across the bottom is two threads off.   Amazing that counting to two and following a pattern can be so trying at times.   So some stitch therapy of stitch a re-stitch.

And last but not least, pattern update on Corsica River.   I neglected to post yesterday with pre-stitch-a-long info.  Bear with me folks, I'll get there.    I think I have finalized a schedule for completion and it is very lenient but alas I scanned it at work and didn't email it home to myself. Further evidence your acuity decreases with lack of sleep!  When calculating the schedule I kept in mind that other things come along and this stitch-a-long is meant for pleasure not pressure.   Here's a tip,  I know you can order hanks of floss which are larger and less expensive than skeins and something you may wish to consider.  I am also considering launching a Facebook Group for the stitch-a-long.....could be another delusion from the lack of sleep that I wish to take on yet another internet adventure.

Enjoy your Thanksgivings my fellow statesmen, wishing you much good food and fellowship with friends and family.

This week's finishes....

Double ta-da

First, Roxanna's quilt is done, washed, hung on the clothesline, dried and folded for wrapping.


I am so happy to be able to give this to her.   It will make her day.  I know she will be sharing Thanksgiving with her family and I want to give it to her son on Monday so she can open and have the reveal with her family after their holiday dinner.

One of my favorite blocks is the lilac.....

Next, a little late for Halloween, but my Boo To You witch from Pat Thode at HeartStrings is done.   Thank you for Diane sharing her completion with us at needlework night back in September.   It made me want to get this out, stitch it up and then complete it.   So I won't be too hard on myself that I missed Halloween 2016 because I didn't start her until the end of September, worked on this and other things, and look, by mid-November she is done-done-done!

For the Kitty Kat Purse, I used an old jewel chain....to attach this was actually the hardest part of the assembly.

Instead of cording, I used braid from Joanne's.    I am quite happy with this finish!  Too bad this was not on my 2016 Challenge list.   Now don't go getting ahead of yourselves and think I am sone sort of turbo stitcher.....just shows how many projects I have in the works!

Happy Thanksgiving to all.     Enjoy the good food and fun with family and friends and try for a bit of stitching time in all the muddle.  

Plans

I continue to work on binding for Roxanna's quilt and I am getting close. I am watching the Netflix show, The Crown, and stitching along as I watch.  I have managed to get 80 to 90% of the binding hand sewn.  I even moved my projected deadline up!   I think another couple evenings of stitching while watching The Crown and I will be able to throw this puppy into the wash and hang it on the clothesline next weekend.   Well, that's my plan barring any crazy other diversion that comes my way.....













I brought some wonderful new solids from Moda that go with the jelly roll I have in my stash.    I really want to try one of those quilt as you go quilts in a chevron pattern.   Since jelly rolls are already cut in 2 1/2 strips, that's half the battle.   This is going to be the carrot that I dangle in front of myself to work on AFTER I get the two completed quilt tops assembled.    Good winter time projects.....nice warm quilt across your lap in the evenings as you stitch up the binding.   Again, sounds like a great plan.


Next up....remember me being so happy to pull Blessed Be out of the finished basket and then I pinned and framed it...... it's seasonal and it looks good right.......well, thanks for an observant reader........seems I missed something else......

It is so obvious now that Mary told me.    She was concerned she was being  a "Debbie Downer".....not in  the least.   We stitchers like constructive input.  OK, so sometime in January I will unframe, unpin, add those 9 missing stitches and put it back together again.  It is true what my kids say.....I am a dingbat.    

Miss Mary Mack is coming along well.   I haven't put much time in her since my floss arrived but she is getting there.   I think I have finalized the fabric I plan to use as the back of the pillow and I am planning to coffee stain this piece after I have completed the stitching.  I know....it is out of order but I want to make it look old and worn and faded at the same time.   The WDW Molasses is not quite a black brown as WDW Mascara but I am not about to restart this gal and I am thinking - operative words "I am thinking", I can create a sepia tone effect.


Last up, be watching for my next post on the Corsica River Stitch-a-long.   I may have some good news as far a shopping of supplies as well as I have planned a suggested completion schedule.   Be on the lookout on the 22nd of the month for an update.

Thanks for stopping by and have a great week in stitches everyone!

Three More Bite the Dust

While I waited on floss to be mailed from Salty Yarns to continue Miss Mary Mack I decided to check a few things off the to-do list in my sewing basket......

First, my whole suitcase/bedside table went amok.   No reason other than memory did not serve me well and I had only one and not three suitcases in the attic.   Furthermore, even though the bedroom/sewing room is large, once I added the twin beds to a room with a queen sized futon, cutting table, the sewing table, a dresser full of fabric and a bookcase......and the room shrank considerably.   No room left for a suitcase/bedside table.  It's OK......comforters have been ordered and a couple of already sewn quilt tops are coming out of storage to be finished. (and a couple more scrappy ones in mind!!)

While I was cleaning and sorting and messing about in the sewing room, I came across my basket of completed projects.   I thought I'd frame this up for the coming Thanksgiving season.   Once all the Halloween stitching comes down, and before the Christmas stitching goes up, there is a void.   Well, again the best laid plans........seems I missed a few stitches.   An hour later, stitches in, pinning done and in the  frame.   Check one.

I moved next to my recent finish of Random Thoughts by Drawn Thread.   I am not exactly proud of the workmanship to attach the loops for the bell pull but since this is not going to the County Fair or any other competition it will do.   I had the joy (NOT) of working with Nymo thread to attach my loops.   I even used the trick Betsy Morgan taught us to stretch the nylon thread before stitching to eliminate the twisting and looping......not so lucky.   Must have been the brand I used.  Another finish completed in under an hour.   I may revisit this finish but for now....Check two.

That brings me to My Stitching Treasures.   Again stitched but not mounted.    Now it has been pressed, backed with batting, pinned and mounted in the Olde Colonial Designs box.  One evening and another completion.  Check three.

I did play with some fabrics for future finishing.   As you all know it is a short trip down that lane of diversion from entering a sewing room to be lead astray on a creative junket.  I have a 'thought' for finishing Miss Mary Mack as a pillow with silver buttons down a dress shirt-like placard on the back.   You'd think with all these buttons, there would be a selection of silver ones about the same size.   Also, the time spent searching  for where I bundled and stored all my black fabrics.......took more time than it should have.   Don't you just hate looking in the same place three times knowing something is not there but not believing is not there because it should be?

And last but not least, progress on the quilt I stitched up in September.   I worked on the binding and it is coming along great.   One evening and one side hand sewn.   I have a deadline of December 12th and know I will make it.   That is Roxanna's birthday and I want to wrap it up and surprise her with it.

Ahhhhh, feels good to get some things out of that work basket.

Stitch on everyone!

Election - Make Sure You Vote!

Well November is here and that means daylight savings time for many of us......we get an extra hour of sleep this weekend......but not really.   You just either say up later or get up earlier that first day.

November also finally brings the election that has been droning on forever.  The rhetoric, the mud slinging, the constant commercials....we are all so very tired of it.   The MONEY spent on the tv ads for this election alone could probably fund a third world country for eternity.   Many feel it is a no win situation.   Apprehensive and fearful of one or the other candidate in office.  You have to be careful what you say to anyone because there are strong opinions on all sides.     Best to just say.....hey, what about those Cubs!

I don't even want to be a fly on the wall in any other country in the world and have to hear what a bunch of buffoons they must think we silly Americans are.

I don't think she cares for my idea.

Personally, I think we should call the Queen, apologize for the Tea Party and the whole revolution thing and ask to come back!