Stash Binging!

I guess since I've had my hands so full with my granddaughter living here, and I haven't been able to stitch, I've been making it up by treating myself to more stash than I can possibly stitch. My camera is so dsappointing to me that I'm going to be shopping for a better one (everything turns out blurry), so I'll have to list everything. This was a great mail day from my friend, Shirley at Country Cottage. For the month of April, she has Imaginating, M Designs, and Waxing Moon on sale at 40% off. I've already placed my order for April, LOL!

Starting left:

Stoney Creek magazine - April, Water's Edge "Fiesta," The Sweetheart Tree's Knob Knocker kit, "Let It Snow," Little House Needleworks' Thread Pack, "Strawberries," Little House Needleworks' Special Edition "Thread Gathering, all of which are covering some great freebies she always includes. Top right, propped against my sewing machine is JBW Designs,' "French Country - Cat," then, 2 packs of Kelmscott's new heart-shaped thread rings. Just below those are Kelmscott's new butterfly thread winder, and her new Lady Liberty needle minder. I love Paula Kelmscott's stuff! Use it all the time, but I have to admit... the needle minders can only be used one at a time, so they have become a collectible for me. I buy my favorite ones, and I think they're delightful.

Holy Cow! I've Been So Busy!

Some of you already know this, but I've taken on my 16-year-old granddaughter as a resident. Her life is a mess, and she's not getting along at home. Bless her heart.... she called me after spending a weekend with a friend and asked me if she could come live with us. We're both just nuts about her. She's been here close to 3 weeks, and things are going well. She's working very hard to get her good grades back up by going to tutorials before school starts; she's working her butt off in soccer (and it keeps me running to her games, although we did get her car back, thank goodness); and she's also working part-time, but she's very tired, and so am I. I haven't had the time, nor the inclination, to stitch, but I'm planning to make time starting tonight. She's working at her part time job at Arby's after her soccer practice from 7:00 to 11:30, then she works tomorrow also. She's now on spring break, so they'll be scheduling her for more hours next, which is good---keeps her busy while school is out.


Our house plan works out nicely for her because it's a split plan, with the master suite on one side of the house, and two bedrooms and bath between at the other side. She has her own space, and she loves it, though she's not very tidy. I just close the door. Her dad screams and hollers about the kids' bedrooms at home, and she doesn't get that here. I don't sweat the small stuff. That's not what's important to me, though I do tidy up her bathroom after she goes to school. I like my bathrooms to be clean, and she's on such a tight schedule, I don't argue---I just do it. She's loving the peace here and says her bed here is awesome; says she sleeps like a baby. Part of it, I think, is the absence of yelling and criticizing. I'm not being critical because I remember those teen years with my own kids only too well, and it wasn't easy. Being a grandparent has given me a whole new perspective on what is truly important. I am soooo enjoying nurturing again. Once a mother, always a mother, and I also treat my cats like my babies. Speaking of which, I got some cute pix of them in my sewing toom the other day. I just have to share:

Pib (Pain In the Butt) wants to know if she can come into the sewing room to play, looking up at Caiti on mom's chair. "Can I join you?"


But Caiti swats at her and is not willing to share., very satisfied with her claim on my chair. Amber was elsewhere, wanting nothing to do with their silliness. These kids!

Stitching Bloggers' Question of the Week

Do you have a system for organizing freebie charts in your stash? If so, what is it? Do you print out copies of all of the freebies that you find on the web (that you think you might actually stitch) or do you maintain electronic copies of them until you are ready to stitch them?

I print mine, put plastic protectors on them, and keep them by subject in labeled looseleaf notebooks so I'll know where to look for a specific pattern.

Today's SBQ was suggested by Cindy.

My Package from Mary Kathryn

I received the things in these pix a couple of weeks ago in one nicely-wrapped package from Mary Kathryn, one of my online friends who has a nice online shop. She and I are on two Yahoo lists together, one being Prairie Schooler Fans, and I had to have their newest samplers, which are always so nice. These are shown at bottom.

The top picture is of her February sale, along with buttons I bought for the Shepherd's Bush "Snow" and she included a little package of whites in DMC, for winter, and the newest freebie card by Prairie Schooler. Such a simple thing, yet so nice to receive as a little gift.

SBQ for March 15

If you had $500 to spend on stitching-related items, what would you buy?

I would spend it on Gingher designer scissors (the older ones that are limited editions) and the newer ones I don't yet have. I would also spend it on hand-dyed fabrics and fibers, silk threads, and gadgets. Love those gadgets, especially Kelmscott needle minders, scissors, thread winders, etc. Her stuff is beautiful and highly collectible.

This question was submitted by Danielle. Great question!

2nd Trip To LNS in A Week

Well, I put a question out everywhere about a design with a colonial girl with a saying about stitching, and I was enabled by a friend who knew which one it was, and she works at my LNS. Then Ramona from my LNS called me and said, "We have that one in stock." So I drove right over and while I was there I picked up Little House Needlework's newest design, "Nature's Beauty." Well, then I wanted some hand-dyed fabric for the Waxing Moon design, and it called for WDW that I wasn't sure I had. So a chart turned into two, with four skeins of hand-eyed floss and fabric. This has got to stop! But it sure is fun! Tomorrow, I'll have to show you my grand package that came from Mary Kathryn in my best day of mail for a long time. Now.... to stitch it all.

Stitching Bloggers' Question of the Week

This is late, but I'm having to go to the site to get the question. I checked there like Kim suggested, but I see no reason why I wouldn't be receiving the questions automatically.

Do you find yourself stitching faster when you are getting to the end of a design? This question comes from Danielle

No, actually it starts me thinking of which to stitch on next---something new, or being good by stitching on one of my many UFOs. Let's not talk about those!

Great Mail Day!

I was so glad to get the mail today. I got a couple of things from eBay---some Philosophy bath and body products. Mmmmm.....smell wonderful. And I received a pair of Taxco Mexico artisan crafted earrings and a hammered silver ring. I'm in love with Taxco jewelry---yet another vice of mine. But I got so excited with my QVC box. There are 15 units here that slide out so easily and are easy to rearrange and build any way I want to. I just got them put together on the counter in my sewing room and need to start dragging out things to organize in these great storage units. I also bought some apace bags for storing clothing, bedding, etc. in a vacuum, space-saving way. I thought my spring cleaning would be helped by condensing my closets.

I also got my order from Mary Kathryn, but I'm too tired to do that tonight. I'll save it for tomorrow. Today was a big day for me with my ending eBay auctions, emailing, and packing up things to take to the P.O. That's how I pay for my vices.

Again, With Or Without

Here we go again. None of the kitties like to miss the goings on in the sewing room. Every time I head in there with a package and the camera, here they come. They're so predictable! They're so spoiled. They rule. They demand massages every day, and usually more than one. The oldest one is the most needy, and she only tolerates two people---DH and me. Otherwise, she hides till they go away. This one is my middle one, Caiti, and she has the biggest baby face with the biggest eyes I've ever seen. She's the noisiest one. She voices every emotion.
My youngest is Amber. She's the orange tabby. She's a pistol. Lean, mean and kisses the ground I walk on. She thinks I'm her mommy. I am.

With Or Without - Your Choice

Went to my LNS Thursday, and this is what I came home with. I was on a quest for a chart I think I saw on the Internet, but I got this instead, except for the scissors, which I already had and just thought they looked so cute on the fabric. Love those Kelmscott things! I just collect her stuff---because.

Maybe someone can help me with my quest. Ramona from my LNS and I got on their computer in the room behind the counter, and we looked till we were laughing for no reason at all. This was a colonial-looking girl in a long pink dress, and below her was a saying about stitching. There may, or may not, be a border, and I don't remember the designer but it was a pretty new design. Not from Nashville, but not long before. Any ideas?

And do you like my purchase from Stitcher's Express with, or without?

Oh my---I forgot to add the thread at the bottom. I thought that looked good at the bottom of my display, and they didn't charge me any extra for that! That's not part of the with or without either---it's in both pix.

Silkweaver Solos

I got my Solos order from Silkweaver the day after my order from Sassy's. I can't say I'm as thrilled with Silkweaver since they moved and got rid of their stock fabrics. Some of their Solos look like someone puked. That top one might be good for a Halloween design. Oh well, I do like the bottom two. I'm hoping Sassy's gets into the linens. Her style is so subtle... very nice.