Cross Stitches & Kitty Kisses

First Finish of 2012!

2012-01-13T10:25:00.000-08:00

It's old Jolly Jack that I finished a couple of days ago.

Next on my WIPocalypse list is Autumn Circle by SanMan Originals, a design from last year's Merry Members of the SanMan board. I don't know if this is suitable for a biscornu, but I'm thinking if it is, this will be my first.

WIPocalypse - First Full Moon Report

2012-01-09T20:49:00.000-08:00

I'm so close to being finished with this that it hurt to put it down, but I have to get up early tomorrow. I need to get my beauty rest you know. I'll be so glad to get my fall stitching out of the way. It seems a bit funny to be looking at Halloween stuff this time of year, but here it is. Oh! And we're all still stitching away at the first full moon of 2012, prophesied to be the last year of the earth. I don't know about you, but I'm glad that so far, I'm still stitching!

My progress on Jolly Jack before WIPocalypse stitching began:

And just some berries on the around the leaves with the color in the needle on the Halloween needle minder, my signature, and the table scallops filled in with a light color, then onto another of my WIPs to finish.

Sooo... if I don't see you sooner, the next full moon of 2012 will be February 7 when I report again. Happy stitching by the light of the moon!

A New Year, A New Blog Post!

2012-01-01T19:47:00.000-08:00

I lost my connection with my photos because of one of my guilty kitties knocking off my external hard drive onto the floor and up under my desk lower shelf, and it's a long story, but I was unaware it was even missing for some time but couldn't figure out why I had lost all my pix. I had forgotten I had my own external hard drive and thought my pix were on my husband's HD because we're networked. I told you it was a long story, so I'll stop right here. I hope your holidays were happy, but there were many whose holidays were sad. It's a tough part of the year for many, and I feel for them.

Since October, a lot has gone on, and because I thought I had also lost the software to my camera (another long story), I didn't get progress pix and stash pix taken, so I'll have to start from here, though not a lot of stitching was done because of my Dad's stroke. He's been in and out of the hospital, in and out of the nursing home, and it has been a nightmare.

I was on several exchanges this holiday seasons, and one in town with my stitch group. Although I didn't get a photo of the ornament I stitched, I have taken a pic of the one I received in the ornament exchange:

In The Stitch Specialists Yahoo group, I sent to a girl from France, and in return Niina from Finland sent to me some delicious chocolates (gone), a beautiful set of Fiskars scissors, two pieces of hand-dyed fabric, a hand-dyed skein of floss dyed locally, a Lizzie Kate chart, and best of all, a hand knitted ball ornament! Thank you, Niina, for a lovely Christmas exchange!

I had one exchange on a Yahoo group who didn't follow through with her end of the exchange and was banned from the group and reported to Tricky Traders 2, and it turns out she already had two reports against her, BUT! The Christmas spirit was alive this season, as 3 members of the same group sent me things to make up for the bad deed of the banned member. One member, Faith, sent me a gift certificate to 123 Stitch (unredeemed as yet), Lisa sent me a primitive snowman ornament snowman decals, and snowman socks - cutest I've ever seen:

Another member, Pam, sent me a ton of DMC, a musical Charlie Brown Christmas card, snowmen findings, a nice, thick huck towel for cross stitching, and a full-sized snowman stocking. Thank you, Pam. With friends like the 3 of you, who needs deadbeats?

Then, the mods of The Stitching Specialists Yahoo group exchanged gifts with one another, and these great gifts were the result:

This I bought with a gift certificate from Abi, group owner/designer in England. I'm in love with Autumn Splendor by Kustom Krafts!

Goodies from Kay in England. Good English recipes, tea towels, napkins, and a long necklace of stones.

Goodies from Marguerite, a British transplant now in Arkansas. Waterlilies silk, Bohin needles, fabric, RPTB, and Kelmscott needle minder - wonderful!

Then, from a new friend in Australia, Mel, came this wonderfully delightful full 1/2 yard of very wide Weeks Dye Works 30ct hand-dyed linen in the color Parchment, which was on my wish list. Thank you, Mel, for your friendship and for your totally unexpected generous gift out of nowhere!

But in the stitching department, this project will be my first one worked on for Measi's WIPocalypse, which can be read about in my blog's page (above tab), 2012 WIPocalypse. My list, with links for information can be found on that page.

I actually did work on some fall things which never got finished, therefore the WIPocalypse, and I will be posting more later. For now, I've had a hard day and am very tired and ready for bed.

I'm very glad to be able to blog again and share what I'm doing. Hope to see what you are all up to this new year!

Amber at the Vet

2011-10-14T18:39:00.000-07:00

The last couple of days I've noticed that my six-year-old orange tiger, Amber, has changed her potty habits. I can always tell when she has a UTI because of her changes. Usually, it gets pretty far advanced by the time I notice. She'll find another place to pee, associating the litter pan with pain. This time, we were able to nip it in the bud, as she was only using the larger pan with the dome over it, and was just peeing on the extra part of the liner that sticks up out of the litter, and under it was a big pile of clumped litter, so I had a sneaking suspicion. It's a chronic condition for her. I took her to the vet for a urinalysis, and she only had a few drops, but our vet is an expert at extracting drops from her. She spun it down, and sure enough, at the bottom were a few bacteria, the very beginning of infection.

Amber is a very high-strung kitty (which is partly why she is so prone to UTIs), and a trip to the vet is a major upheaval in her life. She knew the moment her carrying thing came out of its hiding place in the unfinished part of the basement and immediately hid under a bed. After chasing her upstairs and down, and finally trapping her into one bedroom, after prying her from under the bed, she emerged a whipped cat, limp as a dishrag. She was as good as dead - breathing hard as though she were clinging to the vestiges of life. She came to life as I was cramming her into the carrier, and suddenly, she grew to twice her size in diameter, preventing me from getting her into the hole. I pushed and shoved, sweating like a pig after the chase, cursing all the while. I'm not sure how I finally managed to shove her in and close the door. In the car on the way, she protested loudly the entire way, and through gritted teeth, I assured her everything would be just fine and dandy.

When we got to the vet's office, she went limp again and was barely clinging to life, and I managed a couple of shots of her with my cell phone on the cat room countertop; also the picture on the wall. As you can see, she didn't have the strength to hold up her head.

We ended up with an antibiotic to clear up the infection, and a $75 bill to pay. I ditched the carrier for the trip home, and Amber rode on the console, constantly checking to see where we were. When we got close to home, she got more & more lively and leapt out of the truck when we entered the garage and went right to the door to her domain.

She has forgiven me and has been completely resurrected.

A Review

2011-10-12T16:06:00.000-07:00

A few weeks ago, I received a surprising email from a nice person named Yiota, living in the UK, who wanted me to review one of her cross stitch kits. She's interested in getting more traffic and interest in her website and wanted me to choose a kit, which she would send to me free of any charge to open, inspect, and review on my blog. She had happened upon my blog and had decided that this would be a good medium from which to get her website better known. I poured over her site, which I never knew existed before and was delighted with the variety. I had several picked out but eventually asked my husband to help me. I had picked several artists' work charted for cross stitch, but when I showed him the one he decided on for me, he said it looked more like something I would choose to stitch, so I let Yiota know I wanted the following:

This is how the kit appeared when I turned it over to the back:

And this is what I found when I totally opened the kit and spread the contents:

The first thing I noted as a plus was that the floss was wound on numbered cards. My only kit-buying experience has been with floss that needed sorting or pre-sorted floss in strands; never already wound and ready to start stitching. A definite advantage to the cards is that, should the stitcher be short on a floss color, the instructions have a key that names the DMC colors that can be replenished should frogging take place and floss becomes in short supply. That is a definite plus for me.

While there is a piece of white aida with needle inserted, and I prefer working on evenweave or linen, it's true in this particular design that the design is solid and would not show the "blocks" of the aida that I, myself, do not care for. When I brought this up to Yiota, she replied that her company is in the process of offering the option of evenweave over aida for those who prefer stitching on that. Although I didn't want to show the chart in detail, for fear of copyright infringement (dishonest people blowing up the photo and charting it themselves); however, I did find it to be clear and easy to read, in black and white, and similar to Heaven and Earth Designs' charts. I would probably enlarge both Yiota's charts and HAED charts for my own personal preference, as I'm not young any more and do experience vision problems because of an autoimmune problem. I also appreciate that there are no fractional or half stitches; this chart is all full cross stitches.

I hope I have covered all that applies to my lovely kit. I would say that it is far superior to kits I have bought in the past. The carded floss is the single most appealing feature and most conducive to immediate stitching when received. The overall quality of contents is excellent.

Time To Blog

2011-09-21T19:47:00.000-07:00

I don't know what has happened to my good intentions to blog regularly, but it has gone the way of my fall cleaning, washing windows, and even stitching every day! I have one finish that I took the time to photograph today, though I have other stitching to show that I have yet to take the camera to. I'm not sure what the problem is with me. I'd say spring fever, but I am enjoying the cooler temps and the beginning-to-turn leaves, and to top it off, this is the first day of fall. Yay!!! I do so love fall, but the problem is that it doesn't last that long, and then we're heading into the holidays, which is simply unbelievable. Part of my problem is that I'm so into The Stitch Specialists Yahoo group since I became a moderator, and I love my job there. It's time consuming, but it's work I love. The pay isn't so great but the comaraderie is tops. I have made some of the loveliest friends there one could ever have. The group is dedicated to specialty stitches and pulled thread work, or hardanger, and it stretches one's blah, blah comfort zone to reach out and embrace Abi Gurden's designs. Her instructions are to-die-for, and beginners who have never used anything but aida will be mastering specialty stitches on linen/evenweave before they know what hit 'em. What I have pictured here is Abi's Tree of Stitches, and though I joined late in April after the SAL was underway, I just finished mine and put the finishing beads on the last couple of days. I decided on a "busy" tree with different colored beads and a little bling with a couple colors of beads and a pastel falling of leaves in a completely different color of leaves than the rest of the tree. There are so many different versions and interpretations of each and every tree, it's fun and relaxing to see the photos section of the group. In the few months that I have been there, the group has grown from 100 members to nearly 400, and by the first anniversary, I predict we will be heading toward 500 members. Below is my own version of the wildly popular Tree of Stitches:

I have selected my fabric and a couple of fibers for the newest SAL, The Great Escape. I have also started a fall-themed design, of which I need to get a picture. I have done the August bird in OakHavenDesigns Bird SAL, but haven't yet taken a photo. I have the chart for both the owl and bird for September I have yet to start. I had great aspirations for plenty of fall stitching, but my Daddy had a stroke two weeks ago, and I've also been spending time with him, since after the hospital stay, he's now in the nursing home for physical rehab, and is not very happy about that. I visit often and stay long to help him with things that the staff is stretched to cover. My sister has also sold her house and is moving in with my Mom temporarily to help with my Dad when he comes home (wants no part of the nursing home if he improves enough to leave), and of course, I will be taking a big part of the help on myself. My Mom is 85 next month and will be hard-pressed to do it herself, having rheumatoid arthritis. Her hands are pitifully crippled, and she is all but disabled too.

If I can get myself a bit more organized with all that I have going on, I can have more to "show and tell." All you about my age remember those days in school when we had "show and tell?" I can't believe some of the things I took to school! I wonder if kids still do that. Sometimes I feel kids are missing some really good times, but I may be wrong. Even my grandkids are grown so I don't have a clue what goes on! I'll look forward to having great grands one of these days.

Now let's see if I can get my latest things together to put in a post!

Owl SAL Progress

2011-08-13T18:03:00.000-07:00

The monthly owls by Tonia Pappan of OakHaven Designs Yahoo group. I'm all caught up with this one!

Stash, Stitches, and other things...

2011-08-01T15:19:00.000-07:00

I've not been very good at regularly blogging, but here is a pathetic attempt to get caught up, and if I can get organized, I'll try to keep at it.

Since last time, I've done two birds on the OakHaven Designs Yahoo Group bird SAL.

And in The Stitch Specialists Yahoo group, I have caught up with the Tree of Stitches; however, I'm not too pleased with the Carrie's Autumn Leaves thread I chose for the last part. It's too much of a contrast with the muted colors of the rest of the tree. Don't you think? Now, there is the last part coming with the critters in and around the tree. It isn't too late to join in this SAL.

Also, I have joined a Chatlaine SAL in which I'll be stitching Convent's Herbal Garden. I've taken a photo of two cut of fabric that I can't decide upon. The mushroom lugana is 28ct, and the more ivory color is 32ct linen. I thought that the beads might be crowded on the 32ct, so I bought the lugana. Later I found that quite a few ladies had stitched the design on 32ct and had no problems with the beads being crowded, so all I have to do is decide. Can you help me? I have to stitch a small floral center over one thread. Here are the two fabric from which I'm trying to choose:

And for the dab of stash this past month, there are things to help me get my stitching stand in operation again, some beads for my Tree of Stitches, a Pako gadget for line magnification, some threads, platinum needles I wanted to try, and Little House Needleworks' first reproduction sampler.

Gabi's Blogoversary!!!

2011-07-20T18:24:00.000-07:00

Gabi is a well-known person in our stitching community from Australia. Her stitching and knitting is divine! She's celebrating a blogoversary, and her loving and generous giveaway is a $100 voucher to Anita's Little Stitches, $50 of which comes directly from Gabi! Skip on over to her blog and wish her congratulations on her blogoversary!

Stitches and Stash

2011-07-14T19:03:00.000-07:00

It's been over a month since I last was here. I do have a good excuse though. I've been very much into my new duties as a new moderator on The Stitch Specialists Yahoo group. That is the group in which Abi Gurden designs SALs of her brilliant designs. That's where the Tree of Stitches comes from, and you can see where we are, as I am now caught up:

You can even see the branch in the center of the tree where the little owl will sit, and there will be a little rabbit on the ground and yet another branch on the tree. It's not too late to join in the SAL, and we do have a lot of fun. There will be yet another SAL after this, and another, and another....

And I'm slowly getting caught up with the other two SALs I've gotten into: The bird SAL is my slowest because I had a rough start (a post below explains), and I just recently got my July owl chart, which I have not yet started, but the owls don't take long at all, and they're just so cute!

And though I swore to myself I wouldn't buy any more stash, I'm always in need of hand-dyed threads and fabrics to stitch what I have in my stash, then I saw a few charts I couldn't pass up:

I also must have Little House Needleworks' new reproduction sampler, Melicent Turner's Sampler and the threads and fabric to stitch it. I don't know when I'll get to that or any of what you see here, but that's totally beside the point!

One of my fellow mods on The Stitch Specialists has the same stitching stand as I do, and she does such lovely stitching that she insprired me to drag mine out of the abyss under the basement stairs and put it together. She directed me to a link of her setup, and I asked my son-in-law, a carpenter, to come over to see what I had and the adjustments I needed to have made to get mine up-to-speed so I can adapt it to accommodate my American Dream brand scroll rods and 30" rods I just received. I have a large clamp-on magnifier coming that he's going to attach to my stand and make a new control bar across the top; also make me a 20" set of rods. I dug around and located my needle trolley and the Perfect Stitch tool I bought from the same man who built my Grip-It Legend stitching stand, from whom I can no longer get things as they're out of business. I also have a recliner attachment to my stand which I can no longer remember how to attach, and my SIL promises me that he'll take the time to figure it out for me. I bought everything I thought I would ever need from him and so glad I did now that he's out of business. I even bought their Sit-On stand that can be carried and used anywhere. And I'm so glad I have my handy son-in-law around to fill in the gaps.

So you see... I'm still stitching, but also preoccupied and very busy learning the ropes. I'll really try to be more diligent about reporting in here, as much for myself as anyone. Yes, SusieQ, I will.

I'm Still Stitching...

2011-06-11T17:50:00.000-07:00

just not as much because I've been working outside. We have so many bushes and trees, it's difficult to get around to them all, plus plant flowers, and it has been so unGodly hot! Today was the first day in awhile that it was not terribly uncomfortable.

I'm still trying to get caught up to date on my SAL's, although I have no pictures of my progress since last time - not yet anyway, except for the Tree of Stitches:

This is through part 8, and number 11 was just released, so I've still got a bit of catching up to do I also joined an off-shoot of the Tree of Stitches SAL group, The Stitch Specialist Yahoo group, on which several girls were discussing Chatelaines, so Abi, the designer on the group, started TSSChatelaineSAL Yahoo Group. I joined because I have Mystery II, Convent's Herbal Garden, purchased from European Cross Stitch, probably 5-6 years ago and have never started it! This new group has quite a few seasoned Chatelaine stitchers in it, ready to help if I run into snags. I won't be starting it for some time yet. Several of the gitls are joining the Yahoo class for the new Chat, Herbularious. Personally, I don't care mush for it. I see others I like much better, and mine is my all-time fave.

An old friend of mine, Vikki Gable, is busy these days making fobs and stitch counters for an exhibit with Vikki Clayton, who makes the wonderful hand-dyed silks many know & love. Vikki Gable offered to make owl fobs for those participating in the Owl SAL of Oakhaven Designs Yahoo Group and had them pictured on her blog with the price list, along with the other things she was making. I ordered a tiger's eye owl fob, a shorter blue crystals cat fob, and 2 sets of stitch counters from her, which I received today. She knows how I love her stitch counters, so she tucked in a set of her clay heart stitch counters as a surprise for an old friend. You can see them all below:

I just realized how long is has been since I last posted. Where does the time go? I totally wore myself out in the yard today and have no yearning to stitch this evening. I feel a tad guilty not stitching. I pulled out a couple of stitching stands that were in hiding in the abyss under the basement stairs and put them together to try once again doing two-handed stitching. I still find it awkward, but I'm really wanting to give it a good try this time. We'll see...

Caught Up in SALs

2011-05-17T14:34:00.000-07:00

I ran across several blogs that had SALs, but it's what I want to do at this time, and since it's an enjoyable hobby, and not a race, I've decided to just get caught up with the SALs I joined and forget about my WIPs for a while. See? No stress any more. I've decided to take the advice of many and just stitch what I want and enjoy it.

I love these little guys. Each owl is cuter than the one before, and I'm anxious to get caught up so I can await the next month's surprise. Tonia Pappan does a nice job on designing the owls.

After royally screwing up the placement of January's bird (last post), I have finished February's bird. I love stitching these pretty little fellows! The colors are scrumptious. Again, nice designing job by Tonia!

I'm loving this Tree of Stitches by Abi Gurden of The Specialty Stitches Yahoo group. She designed this and a Little Lace hardanger piece that we're SALing in the group. I have not yet begun the Little Lace hardanger piece but I'm proud of the Tree of Stitches progress, though I'm behind since it started at the first of the year, I believe. Each part is made up of a different specialty stitch. Abi's clear, concise instructions make it a pleasure to work on.

What Is Wrong with This Picture?

2011-05-06T20:36:00.000-07:00

I'm so frustrated! I got caught up in SALs I've seen on several blogs, and Karen of Sushine Stitches is a bad influence on me. Not really - she inspires me to join Yahoo groups and forums in which there are SALs going on that started at the beginning of the year. This means that I have a lot of catching up to do. In OakHaven Designs Yahoo group, there are two monthly SALs going, and I decided to do them both. Why? Because one is cute; one is pretty. I did the January owl without a problem (no pic yet). We're talking about simple here. Tonia Pappan of OakHaven Designs does wonderful, easy-to-see, easy-to-do and quick-to-stitch pdf charts. They're no-brainers. If I had a brain, the above would never have happened. I had bought 2 large pieces of 14ct aida in two different colors, mainly because it seemed that aida was being used by most of the members, and I liked this linen-look aida, although I nearly always buy linen or evenweave now. I do have nice colors of aida in my stash, even hand-dyed colors, that I will use from time to time just to get it used up. Anyway, I calculated the size I needed for the bird SAL and the owl SAL. The owls are bigger up and down; the birds are bigger side to side. I stitched the owl correctly. I stitched the bird you see on the right so that the others coudn't be stitched 3 across and 4 down, the way I had planned with the size of aida I had them cut for me. Sooo... I stitched the bird on the left the correct way, but it's one stitch off. The birds all are the same basic size and shape, just different colors and different surroundings. If I don't frog the 2nd bird, it won't match up with the other birds. I have yet to frog the first incorrect bird on the right, just so you could witness a no-brainer's work.

I'm a slow stitcher, so I've had to abandon my rotation to get a start on these SALs, and the thought of doing the same bird makes me sick. To think I've just joined The Stitch Specialists Yahoo group to do another SAL, the Tree of Stitches (featured on their homepage) and yet another SAL with the Merry Members of the SanMan Originals message board makes me even sicker. I've had different sweet souls tell me to weed out the ones that don't thrill me and just do the ones that do. Well, they all thrill me! So I've decided to put my rotation on hold and concentrate on these SALs to try to get caught up. It's supposed to be fun - that's what one of the sweet souls said to me, and she's right! My plan to get the SALs started are what thrills me right now and makes me happy, so that's what it shall be, and my other WIPs will wait. It's not a race, thank goodness!

The problem is that 2012 will bring another string of new SALs that will call to me, and I'm weak. I have no discipline, which is why I have a Chatelaine, Convent's Herbal Garden, along with the shocking sales receipt from European Cross Stitch from about 2004 or 2005 - untouched. I just bought the linen for it a couple of years ago - still untouched. My intentions are good, and I recently took it out to look at the pattern and instructions but that was before I got sidetracked by all these 2011 SALs that stole my heart. I have to get them going, then back to my other WIPs I had on the go, then I dearly want to do the Chatelaine, The Sampler Girl's Jane Austen's Mansfield Park Sampler, Ink Circle's BoInk that I never got to when the Tracy's Yahoo Group was going (it has since closed, but I printed the charts while there), and Garden Spot Sampler (circa late 18th century or early 19th century), and a host of Little House and Country Cottage Needlworks thread packs and kitted others, not only LHN and CCN, but tons of others. Why, oh why, can't I live a whole lot longer?

Stash Alert! And Scroll Down For a Giveaway...

2011-05-02T12:24:00.000-07:00

This seems like a lot of stash, but it has been collected since the Super Bowl Sale at my LNS. Some things were bought to finish projects already in my stash that hopefully soon to be projects "on the go." Of course there is some that is quite self-indulgent and not needed at all, but as I saw a design say, "Need has nothing to do with it." I tell you - it's an illness.

Several cuts of fabric bought at Super Bowl Sunday at my LNS.

A couple of Heaven and Earth Designs bought from their site on sale. The first is Storykeep (bookmark) Seasons Spring; the second is Autumn Magic, a full size graph. I must be nuts!

Hand-dyes for projects I am doing or want to do.

A Stitcher's Journey by Blackbird Designs. A "must have" for me.

A liitle basket kit from Stoney Creek, targeted for a Christmas gift this year. So sweet!

Hob Nobb for a cute little St. Patrick's Day piece that I didn't get a start on this year. It was marked down at my LNS.

The Prairie Schooler new spring designs with the freebie little card. I ordered these in a special offer from Mary Kathryn at ehandcrafts.com.

Since I acquired these, I bought the 3rd month of the Stoney Creek Pattern-of-the Month (an 8 month program that my LNS is ordering from). Actually, they advertise them as free, but there is a S&H charge of $3.95, which is what my LNS charges for the individual patterns. There is the raw/gold linen and beads, threads, and embellishments so far.

Some stash ordered from J.J.'s Collectibles Super Bowl Sale, all on my wish list.

Lizzie Kate LE Spring scissor fob, marked down at my LNS. A couple of patterns from J.J.'s Collectibles again. I'm working on one, Winter Lineup now.

I saw this on the Internet and had my LNS order it for me - a pricey pattern and one that I may never do, but I just love it!!! There is a lot of stitching to this one - several pages!

I think this is the last Charles Wysocki's artwork turned into counted cross stitch kits that I needed to complete my collection I may never do (may sell). This is Maggie the Messmaker, and I got it for 40% off.

The Sampler Girl had a 25% off sale on patterns so I purchased Jane Austen's Mansfield Park and Quaker Boo, the last of which was on my wish list also.

More stash from LNS Super Bowl Sale, all on wish list.

The 32ct hand-dyed evenweave for previously shown Mansfield Park.

32ct hand-dyed linen for the following BAP Garden Spot Sampler (a replica of an antique sampler).

I don't know how I came into possession of this pattern, though I remember having a broken leg at the time, and there were a few girls on the Internet who were doing a SAL with this. That was in 2005, and I just came across this with the following Vikki Clayton silks for it - the way she used to package her silks.

The silks packaged by Vikki nearly 6 years ago. The following Vicky Clayton silks were purchased by me recently to do Mansfield Park.

And if you've hung in there with me this long, there is a giveway on Deborah's blog, Cranberry Samplings. Hop on over there to see what that's about. She has done some wonderful stitching!

I Won A Blogoversary!

2011-04-25T19:40:00.000-07:00

What a lovely surprise to find my parcel in the mailbox today! I had commented on Bekca's blog, The Stitching Lion and had no intention of winning anything. I just loved her Nature's Beauty WIP by Little House Needleworks. I have that one in my own stash and love the design. She commented on my blog that I should pay her blog a visit; that I would be glad I did. I was astonished that I had won anything! The parcel got here in just a few days all the way from the UK! Bekca's stitching is beautiful, and I'm going to enjoy every bit of the contents. She even wrapped it all in cupcake paper. Just a really beautiful little package that thrilled me so much! Thank you, Bekca!

Isn't this the sweetest little ducky Bekca stitched on a bookmark? The back looks as good as the front!

Here is the wrapping paper, a very sweet card to me, a new pair of scissors, a skein of Duchess floss, some springy finishing fabric, and some lovely 32ct hand-dyed Belfast linen. Isn't it all just a lovely package for a very sweet teenager to put together?

Happy Easter!

2011-04-24T03:56:00.000-07:00

To all my stitching friends who celebrate the Christ Who Is Risen!

Blogoversary Alert

2011-04-18T09:21:00.000-07:00

Tangerinedream of Cross Stitch and Cupcakes is doing a huge anniversary giveaway! Check it out!

A Big Update, Long Overdue

2011-04-07T16:48:00.000-07:00

I'm really trying to keep it together after the loss of Bear, so I've kept busy stitching. Though I'm a very slow stitcher, I have managed to have a few things come together at approximately the same time. I'm finally doing a rotation that I worked out with the help of several girls who offered suggestions. I really think it was actually Shelleen who helped me the most. I work on two UFO's a month and two WIP's a month, then just on Sundays, I work on a Halloween/Autumn/Thanksgiving project, and on the 25th of each month, I start on a Christmas ornament. The latter two are done as SAL's with a Yahoo group I'm on, Stitching Sisters. I'm thinking because of being so slow that I should start one on the 20th of each month to insure a finished ornament before the end of each month and still allow for my other rotation stitching.

Also, as I finish things, they go into an increasingly larger pile to be either framed or sewn into their respective finished forms. I need to gather small print fabrics and other notions to take a week or two and put everything together. I haven't had many pieces framed lately because of the expense, but I need to begin having things framed, even if it's only one a month. If not, I'm afraid that all the things I've stitched will end up in hands that know nothing of the work involved and get tossed eventually.

These are shots of one of my UFO's: "Winter Sampler" by Little House Needleworks.

This is my ornament for the month of March, "Snowy Pines" by Little House Needleworks.

The results of my Sunday SAL, "Haunted House" stocking by Blackbird Designs. D'ya think I'll find Halloween fabric to make this into a stocking? Don't think so this time of year. I've started on the 2nd stocking from the same book:

This stocking is named "Whooo's Knocking At My Door."

Here are some things I've also been working on:

Another UFO, a kit, "Goldfinch Gathering." This is what I pulled out of hiding in the abyss under the basement stairs. This has now been put back out of sheer frustration. I did finish the bird, but any pitiful progress on starting the fence post has to be frogged (one stitch off).

I found that one of my problems is that I don't really like stitching on 18ct aida any longer, so who knows what will become of this piece. I really love the colors in it! And to top it off, there is not enough thread to finish it all. No great loss, though, as I bought is for about $4 quite a few years ago.

Another UFO I've had for a couple of years, "The Library" by Little House Needleworks. I am not pleased with the stitching that is shown in this photo, as I was half blind because of Sjogren's Syndrome, which is secondary to my lupus. Thank goodness you can't really see how bad the stitches are, but they are very distasteful to me. Though I use artificial tears, they weren't helping at the time that this part was stitched because my large tear ducts were opening back up after having had them cauterized so that they healed over (closed) to preserve moistness in the eyes. I had them re-cauterized in late December 2010, and my eyesight is much improved so that this part of the design is going to be frogged after I finish the rest of this piece. I really like this design, so I'm sticking with it if it takes me a couple of years!

And here is the same with a bit of progress stitching that is acceptable to me.

This will be the second time I've stitched this one. The first one went to my daughter after having it framed for her. Here is the first one:

And yet another WIP, just recently started:

This is the cutest lil' thing - Country Cottage Needleworks' "Bunny Hop."
My next post will be a "catch up" as well, with the S.A.B.L.E that I've hauled since my LNS's Super Bowl Sale till now.

Signing off with a photo of my oldest kitty, Pib (Pain In the Butt), whom we call Pibbie. She's a pitiful little 15-year-old tortoise-shell kitty that no one but a mother could love.

A Tribute to Bear

2011-03-19T19:32:00.000-07:00

Born March 26, 1999, passed over the Rainbow Bridge March 18, 2011. Because of his story, he was a very special kitty - a beloved kitty.
On Monday, March 14, he was fine early in the morning. By about 10:00, he was sick, not himself at all.I called my husband, who is out of town Monday through Wednesday and told him. He said to make him a vet's appointment for Thursday when he was home to help me. I watched him throughout the day, and he was very droopy. I made an appt. for him. The next day, he couldn't hold up his head. I knew something was terribly wrong. I called the vet's office and asked if I could bring him in on an emergency basis. Of course. I put him in his carrier, and he was too weak to object - just a pitiful little mewling. I was desperate. I got him there as quickly as I could, and they took him right in. After telling me this could cost some big money, I told the lady vet that as long as there was hope, I would pay whatever it took. I was in love with this gentle giant. After taking him away for blood tests, I was informed of what the vet expected. He was in ketoacidosis from diabetes. I had no idea... had only had him for a bit over a year and had nothing to compare his behavior to. I was told that kitties can be sick for a very long time before they let you know it, so that possibly he was diabetic when my sister-in-law had him. He was dehydrated and his blood glucose was 651, with normal being in the human range - 80-120. I nearly fainted on the spot. They admitted him right away and started treatment of IV fluids and insulin. His blood glucose dropped to 321 that evening. I thought he was on the way to recovery.

The next day I called and was told that he had vomited and couldn't be given his insulin. I went with my mom & dad to see him and was shocked to see how bad he looked. I was literally sick myself. My mother said, "I hope he makes it," and I realized how grave it was. I told them I didn't want him to suffer, but was told it would be a couple of days before he came out of his "funk." I called later, and they told me his sugar had gone back up but was down from very high back down to 321 which was better. My husband came home Wednesday night in disbelief at how sick he was. We went together Thursday to see him, and I said I didn't want him to suffer. Jackie (one of the office girls who we hire to take care of our cats when we're gone) told me that the doctor would discuss it with us if she thought there was no hope. We both sobbed when we visited him. He opened his eyes in recognition once but was otherwise lifeless. That evening we went out to eat. We had recently had our land line terminated but had a safety line for call 800 numbers, 911, and we could receive any calls, just not call out. We had also lost our caller ID and voice mail but had hooked up an answering machine for incoming calls. We weren't good at checking the machine though. At 8:00 the next morning, the phone rang. I knew it was the doctor, and I knew what had happened. She said she had left two messages for us the night before telling us that Bear's kidneys were not handling fluids. She found him in the morning, and he had passed in the night.

We're devastated and heart-broken. There is no replacing my "Baby Bear" as I called him. Nothing can replace this terrible void in my heart. I'm eaten up with guilt that I wasn't there to answer the call; that I wasn't there to end his misery; that I wasn't there to be with him as he died. I've posted to my Yahoo groups about Bear, and I've been overwhelmed with the outpouring of stories of their own animals, well wishes and heartfelt sympathy. I was embarrassed, with all the disaster in the world, the catastrophic illnesses, and the loss of human beings, to post this crisis when I put him in the hospital and asked for prayers. I was desperate though and needed help to get through it. I have always thought that stitchers were great people, and now I know for certain that there are no better people in the world to lean on for support - so selfless, caring, and giving.

One lady (who never posts) contacted her daughter who has a diabetic kitty. She wrote to me and got me in contact with a website and message board, all about feline diabetes. I had registered and was ready to take on the challenge of caring for Bear when he died. I had to write her and tell her how grateful I was for her support but that it was too late for my Baby Bear. She wrote to me telling me how sorry she was for me, then said: "Fly away, sweet Bear... fly high, and fly wide, and may you have a soft landing."

An Ornament Stitched

2011-03-01T16:44:00.000-08:00

Though I have a pile of things to either get framed or finish into various items, such as ornaments, including this one, I thought I'd show a shot of my ornament stitching for February. I'm trying to do an ornament a month. Though the fabric appears muddy in the photo, it's a beautiful green that the pattern calls for - Dove 30ct linen by Weeks Dye Works. It looks great with the Crescent Colour hand-dyed thread, Spinach, which is used for the tree in the ornament.

I have other WIP's I've been working on but haven't yet taken pix of them. I've acquired stash from my LNS' Super Bowl sale that I have yet to get on this blog, though I'm such a slow stitcher I'm not sure why I buy more. It's already been determined that my stash will outlive me by many, many years! I guess by buying more, I think it will extend my good stitching years, LOL!

My Sunday SAL

2011-02-21T16:04:00.000-08:00

I started a new SAL on Sundays only with my oldest Yahoo group: Stitching_Sisters. Here is my first progress pic. It's "Haunted House" from the book 'Tis Halloween' by Blackbird Designs. This SAL is for Halloween, Thanksgiving, or autumn designs.

I spent Sunday watching 3 Lifetime movies as I stitched and did other things, like joining a new Yahoo Group for fans of Diana Gabaldon, the PhD author of the Outlander series and other books. The group is called OutlanderGathering, and it's fascinating, but you definitely have to love the books that are so involved they take 2.5 years for her to write. I just recently acquired the last of her books.

Last week was a stitching bust, as I'd taken out a UFO to work on, and a couple of days I didn'r get to stitch at all, but any progress I made except finishing a goldfinch has to be frogged because of being one stitch off, and there's no way I can make up for it. So much for a week's time. I've discovered I can no longer count!

Stitching Group

2011-02-17T10:47:00.000-08:00

On the 2nd Tuesday of every month, a group of 12 stitchers meet at our LNS and eat dinner together at different local restaurants, then we go to the shop and stitch and share local newspaper stories, TV programs, movies, books, etc., with a little gossip thrown in for good measure, LOL! It has been a rough winter here, so the group these last couple of months has been smaller. At Christmas, we don't go to dinner away, but bring in finger foods made at home and a wrapped handmade ornament. The girls who own the shop put numbers on the packages, and we draw numbers that match the ornaments. It's a really nice time each and every month. Here are a couple of pix of the last stitching meeting in February. I should have taken more pix of the actual shop. It's a large, really nice shop, full of goodies for every stitcher!

A Finish

2011-02-09T17:52:00.000-08:00

This one was fought for! I don't know what it was about this little design, but I started it before Christmas and it would have gone by the way of my other UFO's if I hadn't persevered and finished it. I simply couldn't count on this one and kept making the same silly mistakes over and over. It was like I could not count. It's Little House Needlework's "Winter Wonderland." The smaller design is just a smaller portion of the same. They're each sewn to Mary Kathryn's Impie, Hattie, and Bea products.

This last picture is on the inside of the pin notebook. I just love how this set looks finished togeher! Too bad it's not going to be in season much longer, or is it? I've had enough winter to last the rest of my life!

I'm currently working on another Little House Needleworks design, "Winter Sampler." It's a UFO of mine, put away a year ago, and not knowing why, I soon found out. All you see in the link has had to be frogged and done over. Yes, I was heavily drugged when I started this one, so I have had to forgive myself for stitching what I did with one stitch off. I also stitched it with the Belle Soie Crescent Colours overdyed silks with one strand, and I saw it in my LNS with two strands and liked it better, so I'm using two strands now.

I'm thinking of using a rotation and have been asking a small Yahoo Group for their suggestions on how to rotate five projects---2 UFO's, an ornament a month, and two new projects. I'm up for suggestions. Two suggested a project each day, a couple of others suggested I'd get more progress done on a project for a week, then onto the 2nd, etc. Any ideas of yours? Please? If you have your own rotaion that works for you, would you kindly email me with ideas?

Winter Storm of 2011

2011-02-02T15:32:00.000-08:00

There is a definite beauty to a severe winter storm, especially when there's been ice. Last night, before the snow, which is not nearly what was forecast for this East Central IL area, it was so beautiful, as I looked out into the darkness, it nearly took my breath away. The little light there was shone on the crusty snow from all the sleet and freezing rain, and the driveway was a glare of ice. Treacherous, yes, but I didn't have to go out because I had planned well in advance of the storm. It was worthy of beautiful photography, but I just don't have the knack, so I did my best with these shots:

This is looking out my back screened porch to the east. The screens were covered with ice. Only the youngest kitty, Annie, ventured onto the porch this morning. They're all indoor kitties, but she's unafraid of the elements. Normally, one can see the eighth green of the golf course from these windows.

In warmer weather, this is the eighth green, just east of our house. It's the raised part in the upper right of the picture.

Our house from the road in front across from the ninth fairway. Too bad I didn't capture the beautiful ice on the trees. There is a Japanese Maple near the front door that's just gorgeous with the ice.

A shot from the garage yesterday before the snow, just after the ice and sleet.

Standing outside of the vehicle, I got this crappy shot of the near end of fairway 9. There are houses along both sides and one of the many ponds up the left behind the houses. It's hard to see anything with my photography.

This is (in warmer weather) the number nine tee box with the backs of houses (our closest neighbors across the street) along the ninth fairway.

This is the top of a hill going along number 14. My best friend lives at the bottom of the hill. She's also a cross stitcher. Notice how the evergreens are drooping with the weight of the ice. but aren't they pretty?

This is the ninth green looking back down the fairway to the tee, a dog leg to the left. It was fun driving around the neighborhood to see the beauty of our winter storm. We built the house 21 years ago and have lived amidst the beauty of the changing seasons all that time, encountering many forms of wildlife (snakes and mice in the house - we have farmland behind our house) such as foxes, turtles, geese, beavers (a creek runs throughout the course), coyotes, tons of different birds, etc. I'll miss all that, but I'm ready to leave it all and live in a smaller house, all on one floor. Our basement is mostly finished, with an unfinished portion for storage, but there are 14 steps to our computers, my sewing room, a big family room, and a 3rd full bathroom. It's a lot to clean and is getting to the age that things need to be either done over or replaced. DH has a bad back and his golfing has seen better days and we both have osteoarthritis. I just recently had to have a knee replacement, and I'm so afraid of banging up my new knee. Besides all that, we're retired and on a fixed income, and property taxes are very high here. What we'd both like to do is to move into a certain neighborhood in town and buy a smaller, all brick (little maintenance) home on one level. We'd have to sell our golf cart and a whole lot of my stuff too, and I love it all. I can't bear to think of getting rid of any of my stuff! Maybe we'll hold out till we're ready for assisted living and sell the whole household of stuff. I can't even stand to think about it! I've bought a load of space bags to store all my Boyds Bears (and cats, and a multitude of other critters) because they're not in style any more, but I love 'em all so much, I can't stand to think of them stored in airtight plastic bags. So I keep them out, decorating my house. No one understands me, but they don't need to. I'm harmless..... and my house is a home.

My 12-Year Old, Bear

2011-01-29T17:40:00.000-08:00

I have a huge soft spot in my heart for Bear. He has been uprooted 4 times in his 12 years. He was owned by a family who had triplets, and they no longer wanted him, so my sister-in-law took him. He lived with her for most of his adult life, then she moved from her apartment to a duplex she purchased in August of 2009. She worried about having to uproot him once again, but he adapted just fine. Very sadly, she was unwell and died in December of 2009, only 4 months after buying her duplex. Bear just slept on her bed and friends went to feed him till DH and his only other sister went 3 hours to pick him up and bring him to our home. There was definitely an adjustment period, as he hadn't been with other cats since kittyhood. We already had 4 females. You can see by the pictures that he has it made here now and has captured our hearts. He's too heavy in the middle and is pigeon-toed, but he's a dear, a love, and has me totally wrapped around his little paw. He follows me around the house and is my constant companion. I'm crazy about him! The pictures tell the whole story.

2nd UFO Finish of 2011

2011-01-16T19:43:00.000-08:00

I'm so sorry for the blurry photo but I have -0- skills in photography, I'm just happy to have this one finished. I don't know how far back I put this one into hiding.

Just like magic, when I spread out this piece on the table with my camera, here came one of the cats: This one is Amber, who poses like those I see in TV commercials.

S.A.B.L.E. Which Means....

2011-01-15T17:52:00.000-08:00

Stash Acquisition Beyone Life Expectancy. At 63, even though I've heard that it's the new 43, I've got way more than I can ever use. I was given some money by DH before Christmas and told to buy whatever I wanted, so I bought more stash! I know, it's crazy! These pix lack photographic experience, but I'm terrible with a camera in hand, so I've had to repeat photos of the same things in the first picture to explain what they actually are because you can't tell with my photography.

The first on the left in the picture is Rosewood Manor's "Quakers and Quilts" shown without so much glare in a photo below. The 2nd phot is The Stitching Parlor's "Pumpkins For Sale" with its button pack sitting on the bottom. Next are two patterns I love that I've also pictured below. On the bottom left is Lizzie Kate's "Winter Fab Fob" kit, then Sheep At Night needle minde by Kelmscott. Last is a new pair of Sullivan scissors.

This is Rosewood Manor's "Quakers and Quilts" that I saw made up and it was love at first sight. I notice that Vikki Clayton has a conversion of her silks that would do this pattern very well!

These are the patterns I just discovered and dearly love, With Thy Needle and Thread. They have detailed instructions as to how to get the pieces to look exactly like the ones on the front of the chart pack. There is "St. Noel" and "Snow Day." Very nice!

This is Country Cottage Needleworks' "A Place We Call Home" that I have kitted, ready to go, but WHEN?

And this one I kitted also. It's Country Cottage Needleworks' "Snowflack Serenade" that I saw done up at my LNS and had to bring it home. It's a "must do." Aren't they all???

The good news is that I'm organizing and cleaning my sewing room and going through stash that I will never do. The bad news is that I have an order of more stash coming from a New Year's sale at J.J.'s Collectibles! It was shipped yesterday. I was striving for free shipping so I added a couple of things to get it up there. Spend more to save a little... doesn't make any sense at all, does it?

First Finish of 2011!

2011-01-08T14:00:00.000-08:00

This is my first UFO for the "up for a challenge" group. It's going to be framed and given to DH for Valentine's Day. Now I have my next UFO pulled out and ready to stitch on for a week. I'm a slow stitcher, but it would be nice to get at least half of my listed 15 UFO's done this year. Don't know about my BAP's though. I'm skeptical about those.

Here is my next project to work on: "The Promise" by Just Nan (terrible photo).

Started "Up For A Challenge" New Year's Day

2011-01-03T13:17:00.000-08:00

On New Year's Day, I began my "up for a challenge." I pulled out a UFO that I would like to finish and have framed for DH. He's a golf fanatic, and I've lived with golfers all my life. My youngest kitty got in on the act as soon as the piece came out of hiding. I can't put anything on the table for photographing without a cat getting all over it - not so good on the fabric, but hey! What can you do?

I'm trying a rotation of sorts on my UFOs that I have listed for the challenge. I have been stitching on Little House Needlework's "Winter Wonderland" left over from before Christmas that I won't let become pushed aside for the challenge, and I'm thinking of a 10 hour, or possibly a week, stitching on one of my UFOs for the 2011 challenge. I will post progress at the end of this spot of rotation, then pick up a 2nd UFO. I'll soon show a progress picture of "Winter Wonderland." This is going to go on an Impie, Hattie, and Bea's Winter Thread Pal. Then I'll stitch the same in the Winter Thread Pal Marking Pin Notebook.

I've stitched on Charmed Golfing (by Hinzeit) for two nights. Today will be the 3rd day, with a couple of hours spent on "Winter Wonderland."

Happy New Year!!!

2011-01-01T11:09:00.000-08:00

I hope all my dear stitching friends have a wonderful new year, full of health, happiness, and plenty of stitching time for all the projects you have in mind for this year.

Today I will be stitching on my agonizing choice of projects I listed for the "up for a challenge" blog. I haven't yet decided which one to stitch!

Up For A Challenge

2010-12-30T19:50:00.000-08:00

I joined a blog as a contributor for a 2011 challenge and instead of the other Crazy January Challenge 2011 in which you start one project for 15 days, the "up for a challenge" is one in which you take 15 WIP's or UFO's and stitch on them throughout the new year. I can't afford to start 15 new ones without trying to clean up all the UFO's I unearthed from the bowels of hell under the basement stairway next to my craft room. There are at least a dozen more I didn't even remember where I had hidden that I didn't dare list. I'll have to wait till another year to dig those out and work on them. I'm running out of good years to work on my stitching as it is, and I keep on buying like I had several lifetimes ahead to stitch, but I guess the collecting is as much fun as the stitching. Below is my list for 2011:

1. "Winter Sampler" by Little House Needleworks
2. "The Library" by Little House Needleworks
3. "Peaceful Garden" by Moira Blackburn (BAP - what was I thinking?)
4. "Family Treasure II" by Told In A Garden (Marilyn Leavitt-Imblum)
5. "Cottage Retreat" by Julia Lucas in The Cross Stitcher magazine
6. "Sanctuary" by The Drawn Thread
7. "Gathering Goldfinches" kit by Dimensions
8. "Dolphin Family" kit by Creative Accents
9. "Golfing" by Hinzeit
10. "The Promise" by Just Nan
11. "Scent of Old Roses" by Mirabilia
12. "Summer's End" by Pamela Kellogg
13. "What A Ride" by Ruby Slipper Needlework Designs
14. Beneath the Sunlit Sky by Blackbird Designs
15. "Flip-Its 2002" by Lizzie Kate (yes, I still have 2 to go 8 yrs. later)

I don't plan to finish all these, but I least want to finish a few and work on all of them through the new year. I will have trouble sticking to nothing but these, and I already know there are newer ones I'll want to do. What are your stitching goals for 2011?

Merry Christmas From My Kitties and Me!

2010-12-24T08:46:00.000-08:00

I Fixed My Blog!!!

2010-12-18T18:33:00.000-08:00

Yes, I did! It's clean as a whistle, and I've not stitched one stitch because of shopping, other obligations, and hours working on this blanketty blank blog. I now know what to do with multiple tries of getting new backgrounds. I tried till my old dry eyes were blurry, and I figured out how to spot errors that screw with Blogger. Now I feel I can do anything!

Thanks to all who tried to help me with their suggestions. I found that nothing can teach you like making your own mistakes and repairing them yourself. If anything ever trips you up on Blogger, let me know, and I'll try to help you out.

I'm Still Alive

2010-12-16T11:45:00.000-08:00

Unless you just like to read, you can skip to the pictures that are the only things I've finished since I last posted many months ago, for very good reason. I not only quit blogging, but I quit stitching as well. I just recently felt well enough to start stitching again. Even then, I coudn't quite get up the courage to start blogging after such a long absense. I still haven't fired up the camera, but DH scanned (on his desk) the few little things I've stitched after I lost touch.

It all started last spring after I lost my two sisters-in-law. I started feeling like my anti-depressant wasn't working, and both that and the Abilify were so very expensive (even with our insurance) that I ditched the Abilify and thought all was status quo, and I told the shrink that I wanted to switch the expensive Cymbalta to a generic anti-depressant. For the last several years I've been on the Fentanyl pain patch, not knowing that it was 80 times stronger than morphine and that getting off it was going to be hell. I was also having knee pain which was caused by an arthritic condition causing bone-on-bone. It was very painful, and I limped all the time. I needed a total knee replacement, but the surgeon wouldn't do the surgery with me wearing the patch. And when I went on the generic for Prozac, I had a drug interaction between that and the pain patch, from which I was gradually withdrawing. I was already having gastro-intestinal problems, but the drug interaction really kicked my butt. I began losing weight, not a bad thing, but I was really sick. I had to get off the Prozac and couldn't take anything for some time. Then I went into seratonin withdrawal with many of the same symptoms and many more. I just kept getting sicker and losing more weight.

In the meantime, I was at my deceased sister-in-law's house one night, getting ready for the movers to come clean out her furniture so we could get her duplex sold and dispose of what was necessary. I got up at 3AM to go to the bathroom when my bad knee gave out completely, and I crushed my foot and broke it. We were in a suburb of Chicago and had to go to a strange ER where I went through all the motions of getting x-rayed, getting crutches, and an orthopedic boot for a broken foot. I had to wait for that to heal before having the knee surgery while also getting off the patch.

That was July 9th that I broke my foot, then I spent the next few weeks with seratonin withdrawal and got off the pain patch entirely. It took me through the agony till the middle of August, when I got so depressed that I couldn't deal with it any longer. I surrendered myself to the psych ward of our hospital, where they put me on the generic for Effexor (anti-depressant) and Geodon for anxiety (I was already taking Xanax, but it wasn't enough). Thank heavens the shrink found no drug interactions with the combination that was introduced. The Durogesic pain patch was out of my system, based on the urine test they did, but I tested false positive for marijuana, LOL! I had to convince the doctor that I had tried it many years ago, and it made me have panic attacks, so I never did it again. I did all the group things that I felt were not for me and got out of the loony bin 4 days after entering. All my symptoms gradually abated, but I was still without seratonin untill about 3 weeks later, when I began feeling the effects of the new meds.

I limped around without the pain patch, which had been masking the pain a lot, till my surgery was scheduled for October 11. I then had the knee replacement which is the biggest major surgery I've had in my lifetime, which has included many surgeries. I worked very hard at getting used to my new knee, and I began walking with just a cane the 2nd day after surgery and gave up even a cane a week after surgery. I'm still fighting some pain and stiffness, but the surgeon tells me it's much like breaking in a new car, and he tells me I'm leaps and bounds ahead of most of his knee patients. He was very pleased that I was walking without any aids at one week.

The few things that I have finished since my last post are pitiful for a stitcher, I know, but it's a real milestone for what I've been through. I've messed with this blog so much changing layouts that I have a ton of HTML at the bottom, but it doesn't change the function of the blog. I noticed that there is still the function of seeing the older posts even with the crap at the bottom. Maybe someday I'll be able to repair this thing.

Just Promised Pix

2010-03-27T14:04:00.000-07:00

This handmade stitching sit-on frame holds LHN's "The Library," which is coming off and going back into a hoop. I'm just not happy with the resulting stitches, and it's extremely awkward for me.

This is the second time I started LHN's "Pear Tree" ornament. The first fatality is two posts ago on horrid fabric described in same post. This is on aida but has been fast and enjoyable. My whole outlook on my stitching has improved, and I have four different frame systems to get rid of, LOL! They're just not for me.

It Has Been A Long Time, But.....

2010-03-27T11:45:00.000-07:00

besides everything going on in my personal life, which is calming down, BTW, I received a nice surprise from DH. He had a new computer sent to me, and other than saving my favorites and my address book, I started with a clean slate, and I'm in a foreign country. I tried to download Webshots Desktop and Screen Saver, which I've had on every one of my old computers, and there is a conflict with Windows7 which maybe they'll get a fix for eventually. That has been a real disappointment; and I've had to learn to personalize it and make it feel not-so-weird and more like my dinosaur, which is now cleaned off and ready to work for someone else in the family for a few more years.

In spite of everything, just lately I've managed to do a bit of stitching, trying every stitching stand known to stitching circles and have decided in-hand and in-hoop or Q-Snap is the best way to go for me. I just took a snap of LHN's "The Library" in my handmade sit-on frame I got on eBay (actually very nice), and I just may take a scan (does anyone even use scanners any more?) of what I've done on LHN's "Pear Tree" ornament. My stitching is no nice on it cuz I used aida (an 8-yr.-old could use it), and I did it in-hand, hiding the evidence that I started it on some hand-dyed Silkweaver Solo that was, for some reason, not evenweave enough for smoothness and consistency. I need to learn how to get those lovely shots I see on other blogs of pieces lying flat to show different parts of a finished piece. Now that I have my confidence and mood back and am enjoying stitching, I have a lot of stitchy stuff to show, as my deceased SIL left some lovely pieces she had done nothing with, including two pieces that need to be finished stitching. One is an old Buckley Moss design, which is just lovely, and the other is an old Told In a Garden Amish design, which is precious. The others I've cleaned up from years of storage and am going to have framed. I'll try to get pix of those soon.

Now to find an editing program to edit these pix I'm going to blog ASAP. A blog without pix is b o r i n g.

I'm Back And Ready To Do My Best

2010-02-14T20:27:00.000-08:00

I recently got this back from being framed. This design was the first one that drew me to Little House Needleworks. I made some changes and added some things on the bottom line, but the frame was my favorite frame with this piece. I love the way it looks together

I haven't stitched for some time now. I've been going through my SIL's stash and adding it into mine, but the big surprise is that she had quite a few pieces finished, or nearly finished that I'm soaking and getting ready to have framed. I also want to finish the unfinished ones, but first things first.

It snowed again today, so my blog is still in order by leaving the winter snowing scene. Not that I'm loving the snow... enough is enough! However, I love to eat fresh snow and haven't yet done so this year. I try to leave the yellow stuff alone, but I've really got to get my hands on some fresh stuff.

Tomorrow I'm jumping back into my stitching. I borrowed a lap stand from my LNS, and couldn't even get the thing put together. How disgusting! I'm returning it tomorrow and I don't know which of the girls will be there, but there will be some laughter, I'm sure. I'm looking for a stand that I can use these scroll rods with, and I don' t know if they're universal or not. They're called E-Z Stitch No Baste System. Maybe I should Google it and see if I can get something to accomodate the scroll rods. Otherwise, I've spent money for nothing because it's too awkward without something holding the rods, and it hurts my hand. I need to learn to stitch with both hands and can't do so without something holding the scroll rods.

I can't tell you how much it means to hear from all of you here and on my Yahoo Groups, reaching out with kind words of sympathy and encouragement, and honestly, it has been like a healing balm. I don't know that I could have gotten my husband and my brother through it all without all the prayers. I keep wanting to call my husband's sister to ask things about her cat that we took in and also about the XS she did, but she's no longer there. It's hard to believe. Then my brother's wife, who was only 58 and soooo full of life and humor (right up my alley), I still get weepy thinking of my brother without her and her two precious little baby grandchildren, one of whom is old enough to keep asking about her. It just breaks my heart that I'll never see her again.

Well, with over 1000 messages on my computer, I think I need to throw myself into catching up with that now, don't you? Oh great! I just had a friend call and say it was blizzard-like conditions in a city 45 miles from here. Just what we needed!

Frickin' Friday

2010-02-05T11:32:00.000-08:00

What drives a woman of a decent class to talk so crudely? Well, I'm up to here with sad, bad news. I found out today that I lost another SIL, only 58 yrs. old, my brother's wife. She was in good shape and didn't look her age at all. She got the flu and simply died. My brother, a doctor, could see that she was not doing well and called the paramedics. He knew on the way to the hospital that her heart was not performing well. When they got to the hospital, he told her he loved her, and she told him she wasnted to go back home and be with him. That was the last thime she said anything. I just lost another SIL on Dec. 27, and I only have one left. I haven't been so sad in a very long time. I'm devastated.

Another frickin' mess is on the stitching front, as you can see above. I've lost my pattern to "The Library" by Little House Needleworks, a large design that I was having trouble dealing with all the extra fabric on a Q-Snap, so I settled for my trusty old 8" hoop, got a dab done, then lost my pattern. I think I threw it out, so I have to replace it at my LNS' Super Bowl Sale. In the meantime, I spent $55.25 on a starter package of scroll rods and put an ornament on one to try it. The design is "Pear Tree" by LHN also. I sat down with it last night and got an even smaller dab done - a pear with a big bite out of it. I fought with the scroll rods until my stomach was in knots, and I hate them! I'm tempted to take this piece out and put it in a Q-Snap, cut off the Velcro stuff at top and bottom and get it done! It's going to be pretty if I can just get moving on it.

It's snowing today today too. I got the news of my dear SIL right after it started snowing and we were on our way up north to my other deceased SIL to work on her house, getting it ready to sell. My mother called me on my cell to tell me of the latest death, and I said, "I have a real bad feeling about this trip with it snowing and all. I want to go home to grief and try to get my brother on the phone." They live in Richmond VA.

It's still snowing, and I'm crying, and it's just a frickin' Friday. I can't reach my brother. He's too busy on the phone. I don't think I feel like straightening out my stitching at all. What a horrible winter this has been.

And the Winner Is....

2010-02-01T14:46:00.000-08:00

After drawing in a container with 25 contestants, my husband eneded up with the name of Lynda! Congratulations Lynda, and thank you for entering my giveaway!

Comment Here For Giveaway

2010-01-23T22:29:00.000-08:00

This is "Fa La La" by Little House Needleworks, the first in a monthly series for a year. Since it has the pattern on one side and the necessities (uses only DMC) on the other side, I never had it out of the bag, so it's like brand new. I included a little plastic bag of the beads it calls for, and there are plenty for more than one ornament if you drop any. I hope you win!

Just leave a comment, and I will have DH draw a name next Sunday. This little jewel can be yours.

First Finish of 2010!

2010-01-23T22:08:00.000-08:00

Finally... a first finish for the new year. Last year was a horrible, unproductive year for me, so maybe getting back into the swing of the Internet again after an absence and illness, I'll do better this year.

This was a fun little stitch - Fa La La by Little House Needleworks. It works into an ornament, which, of course with all the extra work we're doing in my late SIL's house and getting her affairs in order, I have not done. Before pressing this little ditty, it looked adorable. Now, the French knots look cattywampus, and the sweet little girls look as though they have goiters and other forms of illnesses, none of which are flattering. I fluffed them up after pressing, and they turned out normal again.

Be sure not to miss this giveaway in my next post. It's a good one, and if you've never tried LHN designs, stitching this will give you an idea of the fun they are.

Gingerbread Cottage Back From the Framer

2010-01-20T20:00:00.000-08:00

I need to learn to use my camera better. This design by Country Cottage Needleworks was finished before Christmas, and I recently got it back from being framed, which you can tell little about because of my crappy photography. I love this piece and you can take my word for it; the frame is really pretty with it.

WIP Progress

2010-01-15T19:36:00.000-08:00

Here is my 2nd progress pic on "Winter Sampler" by Little House Needleworks. It's going to have to be put away while I finish "Fa La La," "Pear Tree" ornaments for January and February, and I'm still waiting for "The Library" fibers and fabric, all for SAL's with the Little House Needleworks and Country Cottage Needleworks Yahoo Group

Books I Bought Before Christmas

2010-01-12T09:24:00.000-08:00

The two books on each end are older books I bought from half.com, though they are brand new, and the one in the middle was a book I just love. It came through the mail when I sent in a post card with a yes in the correct box. One of those deals that you get a free gift whether you decide to keep it or not. Yeah, I'm a sucker, LOL!

Fa La La Progress

2010-01-10T13:19:00.000-08:00

This is my latest WIP, "Fa La La" by Little House Needleworks. I'm a slow stitcher, and this is deceivingly short and simple at first glance. It seems I've put an awful lot of time in on this one, but it's sooo worth it, and I'm nearly done. I need to pick up my other WIP, then pick up another to keep me inspired. I'll post pix when I get to them.

I was up till the wee hours last night because I tried using another template (not this one) and ended up losing all my blinkies, blogroll, etc. I started over and still working on it, but I've knocked off because of bleary, tired eyes. A blog wasn't built in a day, but I was horrified. Can you imagine?

Ornament Made Before Christmas

2010-01-08T19:07:00.000-08:00

I belong to a local stither's group which meets on the 2nd Tuesday of each month. Since I'm catching up my stitching from over the last 6 months (which is nothing to brag about so have to remember every little piece), here is a little ditty I did for our special occasion before Christmas. We did it party style, with goodies from home to eat. There was no stitching done at that meeting. Next Tuesday is our next meeting. We meet at a local restaurant to eat (changes monthly), and we spend the evening shopping at the LNS that hosts it, stitching, and talk, talk, talking. It makes for a fun evening.

Bear In His New Home And My New WIP

2010-01-03T14:25:00.000-08:00

After finding my SIL's nearly finished piece of Bear, I got a couple of pix wandering from top to bottom of his new home.

I thought it would be perfect to write my SIL's name, dates of birth and death and add the info about this being her cat on the right side of the XS'ed picture.

Death In the Family

2010-01-02T19:01:00.000-08:00

Here I am; same place, six months later. I have several things finished, more stash, and it will take some time to get pix up to make it more interesting.

On December 27th, I lost my sister-in-law. She had just bought her first piece of real estate, a beautiful new duplex in Oswego, IL, close to the suberbs of Chicago. She only had four months in which to enjoy it before she died outside blowing snow in bitter cold.

We have 4 kitties, and couldn't get any of her friends to take her Bear, a large, beautiful gray tabby male with pretty white markings. We tried to find a good home for him but decided there was no place like our home. We inherited a new kitty to make me more of a crazy cat lady, but we're very happy with him, and he's adjusting well. Only one of our other kitties has kept her distance, but it's changing, slowly but surely. Her estate has a long time to be settled, but I am getting her cross stitch as well as Bear. I'll be getting that soon, but I just found a kit that she had almost finished: the spitting image of Bear. I need to finish the back stitching. Finding it made me cry. I know she is happy that we took her Bear to come live with us. No one could have loved him more. I'll get his pic up here along with the cross-stitched image.

It's good to be back on the Internet.

What Have I Been Doing This Month?

2009-07-12T20:35:00.001-07:00

Here is someone else's rendition of LizzieKate's July Flip-It, 2002. I gathered the "ingrediants" for a "QSW" on Stitching_Sisters (Quick Stitch Weekend), and though it took me longer than a weekend, that's when Richard and I have been doing our yard work. For me, as slow as I am, just getting this done is a miracle with everything else I had going on.

Hey, I like my version of July better than this one above. Woopee!

Even though I've been tremendously busy with other things, I've managed to get a dab of stitching done. I'm nearly done with my dad's "Faith," a scriptural thread pack by Little House Needleworks I'm going to make into my first flatfold. Wish me luck, LOL! I've done nothing with my mother's same kind of design, "Peace," since my last report, below.

During all my gardening this summer, I discovered tons of mushrooms one day when I was working on the outside perimeter of the yard. These were all in teh yard, some being bright white; some being almost yellow. I pulled one up and turned it over so I could the perfection of the compartments divided by the underlying membranes. I was awe-stricken by God's plan on the smallest of things. Just the fact that all the rain, then a sunny day, sent the mushrooms up in areas was awesome to me. Gardening has been a treat and therapy for me. I have to get more pix of what my husband and I have done around the mailboxes, post lantern, etc.

Here is a picture of my muddy grandson, Tristan, after a game at football camp. We had quite a few days of storms, but he never wavered and has never been afraid of getting dirty. I wish you could see him from the front, as he's a good-lookin' kid and is built like a brick you-know-what. Now this is a grandmother speading for her youngest grandchild, but he honestly is a handsome. Hate his mouth though. I'd like to slap it off. That had better change ;-) Some cute lil thing's gonna come along some day, and he may change his ways---and his mouth, cuz I don't know anyone who'll put up with it!

I'm slightly late in getting graduation pix up, but I've been so busy, I honestly forgot. These are very special pix of the loves in my life. The 3 graduates are my granddaughter, Moriah, in the middle, with her mother (my daughter Vanessa) in the black, at her side. The graduate on the left is my great niece, Kami, with her mother, Kelly, my neice, at her right side. The graduate on the right side of the pic is my great niece, Rachel, with her mother, my niece, Julie, beside her daughter. The graduate cousins were all born within 4 mos. of one another. They're fun, beautiful, and smart. What more could we all want?

Another event we went to in our neighborhood was a huge retirement for one of our closer neighbors' father's retirement, who was leaving city service of over 53 years. The buffet and tent was an incredible set-up, with the huge cakes in their lovely new home, where the A/C was going full blast and many were finding it the place to visit, LOL! His son, an old friend of ours from school, was escorting people arriving and parking alongside the golf course, to the tent, where many were eating and conveying their good wishes to his father and mother. Steve also caught people walking back to their cars and gave them a ride back. We and the other neighbors from the country club, took our own carts, but this was so cute that I had to step out and get a picture of Steve and his homemade sign.

Cross Stitch Birthday Party

2009-06-24T18:10:00.000-07:00

We recently celebrated my stitching friend, Sylvia's, birthday. She's the one in the rose-colored jacket in the front of the bottom picture. My other quilting friend, Peggy was in the back of the picture. There were about 8 at our table at the country club. We had a cake artist do her cake with a cross stitch theme. I think you can see it best at top. There you can see the embroidery ring and other things a bit better.

These girls and I have a fun time together, and I'm feeling much, much better, but it's going to take a long time to get to where I need to be. I'm nearly done with my yard work, and TA DA!!! I've started stitching again!!! I'm finishing up a scriptural thread pack (shown previously on a brown linen) to give my dad, who thinks his time is about up. I have to get it finished!!! Though I'm hoping he's wrong, anything can happen at the age of 87, and he just feels he's running out of steam...... says the only thing keeping him going is his pacemaker. I just don't know what I'll do.

It's Not Easy To Talk About...

2009-06-15T15:23:00.000-07:00

but I got back today after a trip an hour away to see a psychiatrist who was instrumental in my treatment for a week just lately. I was at the Carle Pavilion in Champaign, IL. They don't treat dangerously mentally ill where I was, but they do treat depressed, anxious, detoxifying persons, persons who have planned, or have tried, suicide. I fit in the first group of depressed and anxious patients, and I was desperate for help. No amount of stitching helps when you get as low as I was. There is a large number of mentally ill, none dangerous, people in my family. One managed to take his life and my brother nearly got the job done, but he's so very happy to be alive now that he has his first grandchild. That also helped me, but they grow up, and genetic, clinical depression returns.

There is no magic pill, though I'm taking the maximum dose of Cymbalta, and a new one for me is Abilify. They're really monitoring the Abilify with me because of its tendency to cause weight gain. I'm overweight anyway, after many years of prednisone for lupus, and am taking it again after 5 or 6 years of being away from it. I had gained 80 pounds during a 12-year period with prednisone, then gained 20 more when I quit smoking, which, if I wanted to breathe (lupus affected my lungs). I lost the 20 pounds slowly myself, but the bottom dropped out when I was diagnosed with polymyalgia rheumatica, thus putting me back on the dreaded prednisone again. I was not happy to hear that Abilify was yet another drug that had the same weight gain tendency.

My self-imposed tharapy was to plant flowers and trim our unbelievable amount of bushes. My mother brought me her little left-over flowers from her own house and sat them in spots on either side of the front of our garage. There was no artful way to plant them, so I just planted them hither and there, and the moment those pansies touched my soil, they went wild. I took a few pix of my two little spots of artless color, and though I'm not done with our bushes, I'm showing off my artful trimming of a mean bush. I still have some gorgeous perennials of ground cover and flowers to put around the bases of our mail boxes just off the street in front and our post lantern so there's no need to trim when mowing the lawn.
I truly wish I could stitch up a storm, but I get nowhere fast. I think it's going to take a bit of time to metabolize the meds and be able to concentrate on the counting and placement of stitches. I get a little confused at times. I started reading at the Pavilion, and I seem to absorb that a bit better for the moment. They kept us very busy with group sessions constantly, but during breaks, I read. The most important thing I learned was that there is no magic pill, and ultimately, my success and ability to cope is up to me. So, even now, when I feel the sadness wafting up, I have to reach deep down inside and pull up tools of coping I've learned to keep me from giving into the darkness. The light-hearted, cozy books I'm reading seem to be just the ticket.

I hope someone will enjoy the pictures. This is the first year I've done anything like this and been proud enough to call it therapy and look at it as an artform. I'm really enjolying it, and I lose myself in it. It used to be hot drudgery. God has answered my prayers. I want to live and enjoy life.

A Little Stitching

2009-06-02T18:51:00.000-07:00

As I am a slow stitcher (but enjoy it just as much), this is what I've been stitching on when I take breaks from the mundane clean-up, and today, I hauled all my stash into my sewing room where it still sits. I'm just glad to see how much is left before I put it to rest in a safe manner.

These are Scriptural Thread Packs from Little House Needleworks, the lighter one for my mom named "Heart" which will be spelled out on it; the darker one for my dad named "Faith," which will also have a lovely scripture. I'm finishing these both before working on anything else. I know they'll enjoy them, and at their ages, you never know when I'll be losing one of them. I grieve already and don't know what I'll do without them.

I'll see if I can get some graduation pix up soon and maybe even another progress pic of one of the above. I need so badly to stitch my cares away.

Totally Quiet On the Internet, But...

2009-06-01T08:51:00.000-07:00

Not around the house! This has been one heckuva winter and spring for me. I hope I never have to go through anything like this again. We were hit with a basement flood and as always, called a professional to do the job right so there was no possibility of mold. I had just talked to my son-in-law about building my much-needed shelves under the basement stairs which housed much of my stash... the overflow of what didn't fit into my shelves and cabinets in my adjoining sewing room. We have done everything to this basement the experts have advised during the years of many floods, but of course, when neighbors across the street go digging in their yard to get to their weekening part of this pitiful drainage system repaired, it was left dug up and piled up because of continual downpours; therefore creating a dam that pushed the water right back to our sump pump(s), and it overworked our system, got hot, and tripped the breaker. It was in the middle of the night, and it had been so long since we'd had any trouble at all, we didn't have our generator ready to go. Truthfully, with the volume of water there was, there's no way that generator could have kept up.

Thank goodness not all my stash was vulnerable; much was in plastic, but much wasn't, and I was heart broken. I washed and soaked in Oxyclean (fabrics were already ruined so I had nothing to lose), ironed charts; tried to keep kits (you can't imagine) together as I had to rinse the flood water out of fabric and floss. I had to do so many at one time, it was hard to keep everything straight, and it was like an assembly line for days. I cried a lot, and there were older charts I'd bought on eBay that shredded in my hands as I dropped them in the barrel. I know these are only things, and I've suffered real tragedy, that besides losing my daughter, I don't even want to get into here. However, this was like rubbing the salt into the old scars and opening them up again. My stash is precious to me and I was leaving notes for my daughter about what to do with which stash for her to get as close to the value as she could.

A word of warning: the Floss-A-Way baggies are not waterproof, nor are the bottoms of the mesh zipper bags. In fact, nothing but deeper (depending on the height of the water) Rubbermaid, Sterlite, or other inexpensive thick plastic containers keep out the water.

In the meantime, we got through a Junior-Senior Prom, graduation, parties while trying to put things back together so we could live. I'm a very proud grandma of a beautiful, hard-working girl with high honors (many scholarships). I have pictures coming. It's a miracle I was able to find the camera.... I should have taken a pic of the downstairs before progress began. I'm still trying to put my stash back together in an organized fashion and be sure that it is completely safe.

Now we're looking for the perfect house without a basement. I know it's out there. I look around at this house we built and I designed 20 years ago, and with all the stuff in it, it's overwhelming. It's a comfortable house, but it's too big for us, and as we face the fact that we're seniors, and my lupus makes it difficult to get up and down the stairs, we have to scale down and toss, sell, donate (I've already done a bunch, but it's not even a dent), and have you ever tried to get rid of collections??? I cry every time I think about it. I've worked so hard, I have one hip killing me and my bad knee is worse. Now the bushes are beckoning and have gotten out of hand with all the rain we've had. I started yesterday, but this house has waaaay too many bushes; another thing we're looking for is a much smaller yard and not many bushes. Trees are fine, but this is a nursery's dream in my yard. I may sell those too if they'll dig 'em up.

Needless to say, the stitching department here is not productive, only working like the dickens to save what I can (and I keep finding more that I at first thought was safe... in the zipper bags), and it's sickening to see see things all wrinkled and dried, but readable, go into a plastic bin because of something I really would like to do before I die, hopefully not by drowning.... and snakes (ah... yes, with the water came little green garter snakes... OMG).

I'll try to get caught up with my Yahoo Groups, pix I've taken during this horrifying experience of my lovely granddaughter, and once I completely get everything put away, I'll be able to get stitching again. I've never worked so hard in my life!

Prom and Stitchy Stuff

2009-05-03T21:04:00.001-07:00

This is a picture taken in front of my daughter's house just before prom. My granddaughter, Moriah, and her boyfriend, Dalton, are on your left. My DH says the other two boys look like they came right out of the movie Deliverance. Her two friends wanted to go to this last prom their senior year, so Dalton provided his cousin and uncle for the other two girls. I wish I'd taken a pic of the back of Moriah's dress. It was the prettiest part of the dress.

Though I finished "Home of A Needleworker"" over 6 weeks ago, I went through a time of no stitching, then got back on the stitching wagon when I got over my illness. I'm not entirely happy with the changes I made to the pattern on the last line, so I'm thinking of re-doing the kitties and re-spacing the two little hearts on either side of the kitties. I've had it in the Q-Snap frame all this time, in a place where I could see it so I could decide what to do before having it framed.

Since feeling better, I've been stitching a bit on the "Gingerbread Cottage" by Country Cottage. It's pretty slow going on this fabric, which is 35ct, not so easy to get the needle through, and difficult to hold in my left hand, which gets painful after a while. Just another stitch bitch of mine with lupus and/or polymyalgia rheumatica. It's really fun to work on though... just so cute and surprising as you go along. I just can't stitch too long at one time. I just really want to get it framed so I can enjoy it next season.

I also picked up one of my many Little House Needleworks thread packs began putzing around on one of the scriptural ones for my dad, who loves the things I stitch for him. I'm thinking of making this into my first flat fold to give to him instead of another framed piece on his wall. I think it's going to be so pretty when finished!

Answer To A Question

2009-05-01T17:53:00.000-07:00

I know... I've been absent for a long time, but I'm not giving up. It's been a struggle, but I've been here in spirit all along. I won't even try to share the boring details.

In one of my Yahoo Groups, Stitching Sisters, the question came up of a tutorial on how to make floss rings, and several of the girls directed us to several great sites that have directions on many of the wonderful things that intrigue and inspire us stitchers. One of the girls posted the same tutorial I used for the floss rings I've made: http://snippetsandstash.blogspot.com/2008/03/floss-ring-tag-tutorial.html Here are the two floss tags I've made. The first one was given as a gift to a friend.

Another girl suggested this site for a bit of all kinds of finishing: http://designersforum.org/finishingtutorials.htm . If you Google cross stitch finishing tutorials, you'll find no-sew and all manner of clever things to use to "finish" your finishes. It's my greatest desire to start making wonderful handbags with sweet cross-stitched inserts on the front with lovely small prints, sewn together quilt-like and lined with practical, easy-to-see bright prints with zippered compartment, pockets for cellphone, eyeglasses, lipstick, etc. I've seen them, and fell in love. I ran across a book bag on The Sampler Girl's blog today, which reminded me that I need to start researching, designing, and looking for fabrics for my purses.... no, I mean handbags. I've always called them purses, but it's a little more refined to say handbags, I believe. After all, you purse your lips, right? I used to think I looked cutesy with pursed lips; now, it deepens those lines all around my old mouth from drawing on cigs when smoking was cheap and cool. I have several of the designs shown on this site, on which I saw the backpack which reminded me of my handbag notion that will probably go nowhere ;). I have the Mrs. Lincoln Sampler and the pack of Vikki Clayton silks for it and several other small designs I don't see on her blog, but I just love her blog and all the darling little freebies. It's fun to see how they finished the freebies. Eye candy!

Feeling "Normal" (???)

2009-02-10T17:23:00.000-08:00

since my funny drugs are leaving my psyche (creeps me out thinking of it). Know what really, really creeps me out? But I LOL every time I see it, and I can't even find it on YouTube. It's the new H&R commercial with the one-eyed cyclops people talking normally, and the one guy pipes up, shaking his head, saying, "I can't believe my eye!" Gets me every time. One of 'em has a one-eyed pair of glasses on his nose. I mean this one gets me on the floor laughing!

I'm also feeling better knowing that I've made progress, albeit very slow, because of my eye(s). The two larger WIP's I've been working steadily on (LHN's "Home of a Needleworker" and CCN's "Gingerbread Cottage"), and I got a "finish high" from a small finish over the weekend for a QSW SAL, which was done with Stitching_Sisters. The Lizzie Kate's 2002 series are perfect for those weekend SAL's. Shelleen has us stitchin' up a storm with some unique ideas she has gleaned from other blogs. It's fun to go through stuff to see what will work for her different SAL's. The nice thing is that you don't have to start anything new, and I'm working on my UFO's. That means I have 6 more LK's in that series, and I have the cute little corkboard frame for them. February is hanging in mine now.

One thing I really wanted to point out to you is that I'm seriously thinking of using the finished "Home of A Needleworker" for a dish towel. I bet none of you have ever thought of something like that for a semi-large project, have ya now? Have you? Admit it..... never have; never would have. I zig-zagged the edges of that sucker before starting, and I've changed the year from 2006 to 2009. I've had it in a Q-Snap frame that didn't begin to fit one end; I've had it in hoops of several sizes; I've worked it "in hand;" and one thing I can guarantee is that fabric sizing is only a memory to this sagging, pathetic piece of limp dish towel. The zig-zagging on one side has taken on a piece of its own; great for hanging if I reinforce it on each end. Original shape and size is nowhere near what it was when I started. I just hope a good washing and pressing will bring some former life back into my dish towel.

A Bit Discouraged...

2009-02-05T14:46:00.000-08:00

by the way my eyes, as they're healing, are not working well together, not focusing, and I find myself sneaking DH's reading glasses for close-up stuff. Distance is much better than it was before... no complaints there, though my astigmatism is still there, which the eye doc told me in advance that he couldn't correct with the lenses he put in - in place of the cataracts. I find myself holding things out at arm's length to see. On top of that, I'm feeling not so well because I took it upon myself to dump a few pills I felt were unnecessary, and I'm feeling I'm going to dump the doc as well. Not my internist nor my rheumatologist for lupus/polymalgia rheumatica..... OK, it's a shrink I'm wantin' to dump, and I'm pretty much forced to see him for my anxiety/depression meds. I'm going to see if my internist will take over those meds. I'm so in hopes he will. He's so good, and I love him to pieces....definitely not a pill pusher like the shrink is, in my opinion. Anyway, I'm feeling pretty punk. I'm sure that in a few days, this feeling will be gone, and I'll be my usual wonderful self.... whatever, LOL!

Thought you might enjoy a few pix of the things I've bought from my LNS here in town. They've had two sales since after Christmas: the After Christmas Sale (no duh) and the Super Bowl Sunday Sale. I got more great Christmas bargains of which I don't have pix yet, but here a few pix to entertain. The completed and framed Waxing Moon piece was on their ridiculously cheap sale table, which I got for $10. Couldln't turn it down. The frame alone is worth that, and I loved it. It's beautifully done. Pictured with it are a few lone fibers I needed.

The UK magazine was bought when I was at Border's the day of my 2nd cataract removal, and the JCS was in my mailbox just the other day.

A Santa Claus I fell in love with, 3 Country Cottage charts I knocked off my wish list. Also threads I needed for the charts here, and fabric for two of the charts. I already had the fabric for the 3rd chart. My next post will show some things I've done lately, one in finished form, one not, and progress on my two current WIP's.

Meet My New Kitty Since August

2009-01-31T18:21:00.000-08:00

I now have a 4th kitty... this one a single orphan lost from the litter and found on a friend's of my son-in-law's porch.... crying for someone to rescue her. He was going to try to give her a chance at life, but he was at home so little, he was afraid she would die. I told him I would be her mother, and that's exactly what I did. She was less than 3 weeks old, and I did everything from feeding her kitty formula to stimulating her to poop and pee. She was flea-infested, was dehydrated, and had diarrhea. I took her to the vet as soon as I could get her in, while attending to her immediate needs first. I hardly left her side for about 6 weeks, and she flourished under my care. She's now very spoiled, but I'm very proud of her condition and how she loves us and her home. I have many pix of her as a small fluff, but here is a pic of her now. She has the audacity to take my stitching chair whenever possible, and when not there, she takes over my computer desk chair. Meet Annie, named for the story of Little Orphan Annie, and she has won our hearts. Where there are 3 loved kitties, there is always room in one's heart for a 4th.

Couldn't not share my bargains from Walmart's sewing dep't., fabrics for finishing smaller projects, pillows, etc. I just added these to my plastic tubs of fabrics, but then I found some great fabric cuts at my LNS for $1 each, all evenweaves and linens. These are packaged to the left of my Walmart fabrics. The blue/green fabric that's more centered is for a specific pattern that I have to remember, LOL! When I find the pattern, I'll show them together.

Tomorrow is my LNS' Super Bowl Sale, and my best friend and I are going together. I plan to do some damage, but whatever for, I'm not sure. Does it matter?

I'm Back After A Year

2009-01-31T00:08:00.000-08:00

I just had to take a time out with all the problems I was having, emotionally and physically. My stitching was suffering, and I could barely see because of fastly growing cataracts, rearing their ugly heads at an early age, mostly because of my prednisone usage. The posts you see prior to this one are a year old. That's when I gave it up.

I just had my 2nd cataract removed January 29th, so it's time, now that I'm seeing much better already, to get back into stitching and blogging. It had become a chore to do anything, and I couldn't even drive safely.

I'm going to be spending my spare time in the next few days getting pictures taken to make my posts here more interesting. It's really going to nice to be able to catch up with all my friends have been doing. I see that Blogger has many new optional new features that I will be playing with, and I'm sure there will be things from my older blogging days that I'll be deleting. It's like starting all over.

During this year, I never quit buying stash, which, at my age, is a crime. I'm a stash slut, but I no longer care. I'll be adding my accumulated stash to these posts. That, however, has come to a grinding halt with the economy as it is. Our income depends on the stock market, and we've had to cut back quite a bit. I'll just have to be satisfied with what I've collected, and no, I won't even be pimped out for stash. That took a lot of thought to be so strong, but at my age, it's not exactly hard to say no.

Have a stitchy weekend to those of you I love, while I do some stitching, some taking pix. and studying the new features here on Blogger.

Stitching Bloggers' Question of the Week - Catch Up

2008-01-20T12:48:00.000-08:00

What was your favorite finish of 2007?

Posted for January 8:
That would have to be The Trilogy's "Winter Lineup," which I had framed in a beautiful distressed green frame and gave to my daughter for Christmas. You can see it at my Multiply.

This was posted January 16:
What is your favorite past time while stitching? Do you just enjoysilence, listen to music/audiobooks or do you "watch" TV/movies? Do you have specific favorites you listen to/watch while stitching?

I've never been able to do anything but "watch" TV while stitching. Audio books are very distracting and irritating to me. Wish I could tolerate them though.

This 2nd SBQ was suggested by Outi (http://snowprincipessa.livejournal.com/)

The Love Shines Through

2008-01-17T19:37:00.000-08:00

your beautiful, feeling, and sincere comments about my situation with Moriah. I appreciate each and every one of you taking the time to say what you feel, and I cried while reading what you all had to say. I'm praying that God will show us all the way to the best situation. The good thing is that even if her parents decide they want her back home and she wants to go, I can see all of them every day if I want to, as they live in the same town. We're keeping communication open with our daughter and letting her know how things are going, and what she's doing. I don't want this to create a wedge. Time will tell, but right now, she has been ordered out and says she'll never be able to go back. The nice thing about grandparenting is that it gives a person a 2nd chance at parenting, to correct one's previous mistakes. My best friend is the product of a mother who threw her out and whose grandparents raised her. She found her mother on the Internet and called on Mother's Day to tell her about her 5 grandchildren and greatgrandchildren. Her mother told her that she wasn't interested and not to bother her ever again. That's beyond my comprehension, as it would be for all of you. This friend of mine is 70 years old, looks 50, and is a lovely person, inside and out. She is one of the most loving mothers I know. She could have been just the opposite, but she chose a different path and accepts that her mother was incapable of love. However, it broke her heart. As a product of the most loving mother and father I can imagine, I can't understand anything less. They still, at my ripe age of 60, try to take care of me. I think loving and taking care of their kids has been the most important thing in their lives, and it has contributed to their longevity. I don't know what I'll do without them.

Here are a few pix of stuff I had on my camera:

These are a few of my eBay bargains. I bought the two Mill Hill kits (love to do these!) from a gal who sells for at least 25% off on eBay. The two Brittercup designs and the sewn things at bottom (candy cane print wallhanging holder and bright green tuck pillow) are all from Barb, whom I met at a stitching retreat last October. She scouts out overstock and old charts at various LNS' and sews the most wonderful things for stitching that I'm her present best customer, LOL! She'll do things at your request, sew something on her site in your choice of color, etc. The best thing that she has going is the hoop and Q-Snap cover that keeps your fabric clean as you work. Her name is Barb, and I highly recommend her services.

These are a few of the latest Prairie Schooler designs, of which I've always been a big fan because of the classic simplicity that never goes out of style. For once, I think I paid full price for these, though I normally only buy at bargain prices. I'm cheap, but not when you add it all up, LOL!

I recently ordered a couple of times for conversions of Vikki Clayton's silks for some of my newer charts, which I'll get pix of later. In the process, the cheap side of me took advantage of her irresistible bargains. Her lovely miscellaneous items are dirt cheap, and her sometimes funky colors of silk she's discontinuing are marked down, so I grab them up. I got enough of the upper left portioned and labeled silks to do two La-D-Da Christmas ornies, which I'd never use for Christmas, but for something like a pinkeep or other misc. sewing item, and with a small purchase, this silk was a quarter for one ornament. The funky silk is upper right; bottom shell thread holder hearts are a quarter each. The various colored shell thread winders are 75¢ a piece, and the mini-pink thread winder was a quarter. I'm in love with gadgets.

Here are two more of the newer Prairie Schooler charts I adore, my newest Crochet World magazine, at the top of which is one of the things I ordered from the Online Needlework Show. It's in the box, and it's a kitty scissor fob on right in box and a wonderful new gadget called a thread picker, both of which I ordered in a bright blue by My Big Toe Designs. I love this companies designs and products! Last, on the right side of the mag is a little unusual beading kit (I'm a real beading fan) that I won in Shirley's customer drawing a couple of months ago. I'll be glad when she gets back from her trip. She sells 25% off her listed prices and features 3 designers each month at 40% off. Above all that, leaned against my sewing machine are two sizes of Barb's Q-Snap covers. I have nearly all the sizes she makes and use them every day. They're just wonderful, and they're very reasonably priced. If you order from her, she occasionally throws in simply wonderful freebies that are something new she has made and are experiments. Her sewing is beautiful!

Just When I Think I'm On A Roll......

2008-01-16T10:29:00.000-08:00

the bottom drops out. I had thought I would get back to being active in my Yahoo Groups and blogging regularly, but my granddaughter was ordered out of her home again, so I have my little darling and have had since New Year's Day. I do wish her parents wouldn't mess up the "damage control" I have to do when I get her. She came to me with this hateful chip on her shoulder. She came to me sullen and unhappy; now she's happy as a clam, and I'm enjoying every minute with her. It took me a while to get her to this point, and it's never easy and takes a chunk of my time, talking candidly and loving her back to her potential. Now that we've reached this point, I feel I have more time. I'm not sure she's going back this time. At least I don't want her to, but I know that this is not the way things should be, and I know she'll get to missing her home, her kitties, brothers and possibly her parents when they're not yelling and screaming. Holy cow! What a mess!

Thought I'd share the things I just finished for my great nephew. I crocheted a dream puff afghan that I've saved for the right baby. The bib is designed by me, and I took a few of the motifs from a Sue Cook book, "Wonderful Cross Stitch Collection." I put them all together and designeds the sand dune, sand castle, pond, etc., on the left side. Since the bib was woven with ducks in it, I stitched "Jacob's Just Ducky" and stitched the nautical scene. There is also a burp towel with a duck, and I put his initials on the blocks beside the duck. The funny thing was, the only thing I had to buy was the rubber ducky. I already had the afghan done; the bib and towel were in my stash.

Speaking of stash, I'm still loaded with new stuff I've got to get posted, but that gives me things to do another day. Forgive me for not getting around to visit your blogs. I'll get there eventually... promise. I've missed seeing what everyone is up to these days. Thanks to all who have been so kind as to visit my "iffy" blog when there was nothing to see, lol!

Stitchy Stash (older pix)

2008-01-06T19:07:00.000-08:00

These first two pix are a bit redundant, and I really wanted everyone to see the pink bunny scissors I sent to a stitching friend and bunny collector, also, the Country Cottage Needleworks' new design, "Garden Girl." I pictured them not once, but twice here. The first picture shows a whimsical design, "Curly-Q Ewe," by Little House Needleworks, with all the fibers for that to the left of the pattern.
In this pic is a couple of the LHN scriptural thread packs, "Faith and Peace." CCN's "Home Sweet Home," and the 2nd time around for the scissors and "Garden Girl."
My usual December magazines.
Carriage House Hill's "Meeting House" with Vikki Clayton silks to stitch it; up and right is The Sampler Girl's "Irish Blessing Needlebook;" the remaining 3 are Little House Needlework's coffee series thread packs with Crescent Colour's silks.

Stitching Bloggers' Question of the Week - Catch Up

2008-01-05T14:55:00.000-08:00

I totally gave up trying to keep up with my Internet habits during the holidays. I turned off my Yahoo Groups to "No Mail" so I could enjoy the holidays without the added stress. Sometimes the way I do everything just makes me stress out. I put my heart and soul into everything I do, and I guess, in a way, one could say I'm a perfectionist; therefore, I get less done. It's all self-imposed, thus, makes me angry with myself. Sometimes it's best not to do it, rather than be stressed about it, so I took a vacation from the Internet. It's terrible to have something that used to be so pleasant turn into a job; however, it's a new year, and I'm going to be easier on myself. That's my only resolution. There is absolutely no sense in making the normal resolutions, as knowing myself so well, I'll never keep them. This year I'm just going to be easier on myself. This post is nothing but 3 weeks of SBQs, but I've been taking pictures, and the posts to come are going to be fun for me.

This week's (December 19) SBQ was suggested by Kathryn http://threadsofdesire.blogspot.com/) and is:
Have you ever helped anyone else learn to stitch? Have you ever helped anyone learn a new stitch or technique?

Yes, I taught my sister, my daughter, and my granddaughter to stitch, but none of them have kept their interest, I'm sorry to say. Now, on the other hand, I've had the pleasure of helping my best friend learn new stitches and techniques, and she has flourished and loves stitching as much as anyone I know.

This week's (December 26) SBQ is:Did you receive any stitching-related gifts for the holidays?

My happy answer is yes! I got a gift certificate to my LNS, a new Daylight stitching floor lamp (my Dazor bit the dust after many years of faithful service), and my sewing machine did the same. Holy cow, I checked out having it repaired, and everywhere I checked, they wanted a fortune just to take it in, not to mention parts and labor, so I got a new Singer on eBay, which I haven't yet had time to play with. I have tons of new stash to be posted in days to come.

This week's (January 3) SBQ is: Are you starting something new to celebrate the New Year or participating in "Guilt Free January?" If so, what are you planning on starting?

No, nothing new, but I studied for hours (that's me---slow, but perfect) on what my best plan of attack would be in getting projects done more productively. As I was organizing my craft room, I wrote down things I really wanted to start, so after planning a rotation of WIPs of only 6, I have my list, in order of importance to me to start, that I can add to my rotation as I complete one. So far, it's working very well. We'll see how I'm doing in a month. This plan is another thing I did that is as close to a resolution as I made.

Stitching Bloggers' Question of the Week

2007-12-13T16:14:00.000-08:00

Do you do anything special to your threads before putting them throughyour fabric to make them more manageable?

I've tried Thread Heaven and don't know why, but it just doesn't do well for me. Personally, I've found the most effective way for me to get thread to lie flat and not tangle is to lightly wet the tips of my thumb and forefinger and run the threads through them, twisting them flat as I go, then run them through the dry portion of my fingertips the 2nd time. I've never had any trouble with even hand-dyed threads running colors this way, and I like the manageability it gives me on the fabric.

Back to the races! And a finish!

2007-12-10T00:19:00.000-08:00

Here is a new PS leaflet I love, and to the right, a piece of 32ct lambswool linen for the larger sampler. I'm really in love with that fabric. It has such a homespun look. The next pattern is one I've shown before---Remember Me by My Big Toe Designs, and the spring green meadow linen it calls for, that, in combination with the 3 skeins of WDW Soot, and the 1 skein of WDW of Currant (all at right of chart), looks for all the world like an antique, and I love it.

I'm still throwing out, putting away, inventorying, taking pix (think I need a new digital camera), and stitching away.

Above you see one of those nice expensive Zweigart magazines (this one is fallish), of which I'm not buying anymore, LHN Scripture thread pack Faith, Peace, and Country Cottage Needleworks' Home Sweet Home. They're all so beauriful stitched up. Barely discernable because of my crummy camera, on top of the magazine are 3 little plastic boxes of Doodles (by Hobb-Nob) charts with buttons to use on fabric scraps.

These are a couple more stash pix I overlooked before, but I just received more in the mail since then. Got some things from a girl named Barb, I met at retreat who buys old charts, makes these great pillow covers, wallhangings for you to insert your own needlework, and Q-Snap covers. Now I see she has frame covers she designed for pieces left on your stitching stand when not working on them. Besides her Q-Snap covers (on sale this month), I found 4 old charts I was thrilled to get. She has a shop on eBay. Pix of that purchase later. I got my birthday order from Needlecraft Corner, and a very exciting order from Mary Kathryn, who wraps orders up like a present. All these things to be shown later. I'm working with my camera, which I'm ready to throw out the window.

I finished a piece for my DD, which is being framed, probably ready tomorrow. This is Trilogy's "Winter Line Up." Vanessa is a snowman and penguin collector. This one killed 2 birds with 1

stone.

Stitching Bloggers' Question of the Week

2007-12-05T20:15:00.001-08:00

What tips would you give to a new stitcher to help her stitch faster and neater while still keeping it enjoyable?

First of all, I would tell a new stitcher to count, count, and count again to save time frogging in the long run. If stitching a faitly simple stitch border around, I would tell her to cross every 10th stitch to help her keep track without having to count every few stitches, then go back and stitch back the other way, making sure the count is still coreect as she goes. I would also tell her that stitching the border first is a great way to get a foundation on which to use as a guide for the placement of the stitching inside. Railroading makes a big difference in keeping stitches flat, untwisted, and very neat. Another tip to share with her is not to cut her threads over 18" long to prevent fraying and knotting. The backs shouldn't be dwealt upon, but backs kept neat will also affect the good looks on the front. Using the loop method to start when possible keeps down bulk; also anchoring vertically as well as horizontally sometimes works better in some areas. To keep it enjoyable, practice these tips till they get to be automatic, and the speed will come naturally after a time. Look at the tachniques as a art to be mastered, and it will be more enjoyable than turning out a piece with twisted threads, messes on back, and miscounted mistakes that drive you nuts.

I think I need to follow my own advice, LOL. I have a piece right now on which I'm trying to deal with a counting mistake so that only I will know. My redemption is that it's a gift for my DD, and I know for sure she'll never know the difference.

Just Too Tired....

2007-12-02T00:15:00.000-08:00

to take any more pix of stash or WIPs, or anything else, for that matter. I'm so disappointed in my pix of the framed pieces I got back, and I don't understand why the thumbnails don't lend themselves to larger pix instead of the opening or saving of the images, as they are now. I've tried to delete and start over, but it came out the same. I don't know what the hell I've done wrong, and I'm just burned out!

I've spent the whole day at the computer, entering piled-up stash, visiting blogs, leaving comments, and trying to catch up with emails. It's overwhelming, and I must take a complete day off tomorrow to just relax and work on my stitched gifts. No pix, no computer tomorrow. I have laundry to do to get Richard ready for his work week north of here, and I have a few little chores here at home, but my meals are simply planned, and it's going to be a "me stitch" day. Maybe from that, I will have some WIP pix to show at the first of next week, along with the remainder of my still-ample stash to show.

I can barely see the monitor, and I'm looking forward to going to bed and forgetting about my sewing room and organizing for at least 24 hours. Oh, soooooo tired..... off to bed.... in the wee hours. As you may, or may not, know, I'm a night owl.

Stitching Bloggers' Question of the Week

2007-11-30T21:49:00.000-08:00

This question would have been impossible to answer out of context, and it would also be impossible to understand the answers without including the context out of which the questions arise, so.....:

What would your stash tell others about you?
Most of us stitchers joke about having reached SABLE (stash acquired beyond life expectancy), but have you thought about what you’d like done with your stash after your death? Do you want it to reach other stitchers who will love it, too? Would your family know what to do with it or recognize its value?
How well organized is your stash –would someone be able to come in and put together a sale easily, or would it require lots of organizing work ahead of time? What would you like to see done with the funds collected from such a sale, i.e., should funds go to your family, to a charity or charities of your choice, to a charity or charities of your family’s choice, etc.?
Are there certain items in your stash which are rare and highly desired by stitchers that might make a much larger amount of money if sold on eBay? Have you done anything to designate which items these more valuable ones are to guide your family in how to handle them? Who would you tell your family should handle such a sale so that they don’t have to do it themselves? Have you done anything to make these thoughts known to others, either through discussions or through a codicil to your will?
Have you ever attended a similar sale of a passed stitcher’s stash? How did it make you feel? Did it encourage you to make any changes in your stitching lifestyle?

I was delighted with the question, as it was ironic that for at least the last week, I've been doing just what part of the discussion covers---the organization of my stash, in the event of my death or debilitating illness, in a way that would lend itself well to a special sale which would not only be profitable, but would not be a huge undertaking for a non-stitcher to come in with ease and confidence of one who is not savvy of the contents' value.

This has helped me immensely in preparing more as I go in doing things differently than I have been undertaking thus far. I now have plans to attach information to the stash that would bring more cash, in that its value is more because of the element of retirement in some cases, such as Prairie Schooler patterns that fetch a pretty penny on eBay, and in various cases of kitting of fibers, fabrics, and expensive embellishments in some designs, all tucked away in their own bags, none of which may, or may not be, valuable designer patterns, but the sheer expense put together in one container would make their value considerable. Online mysteries that will not be reprinted should also be taken into special consideration for more value and marked as such. Chatelaine mysteries purchased as kits would be of considerable value because of expensive components' however, her designs are reprinted when the online mystery ends. In another example, although Pamela Kellogg is not as revered as a designer as Chatelaine, but I own all her online mysteries, and they will never be reprinted, as far as I know, so that should be taken into consideration as well. Many don't know she designed those, as she has never had the attention in the stitching world as Chatelaine for her mysteries. Pam's were not marketed through Yahoo Groups as have been the Chatelaines, but went though her bulletin board at one time. I don't think they were as profitable as she had hoped, so it ended in about a year, but I own her lovely designs, one of which is a framed pride and joy for me. She's really quite a talent.

I've never had the pleasure of going to such a sale, though I have been to auction sales of women who were needleworkers of other needlearts, and I was fortunate to acquire some of their antique fibers, gadgets, buttons, scissors, and such, including those of one of my grandmothers. Holding and looking at these items is a feeling of reverance as you wonder what garment of piece of home decor was made with this or that; how old she was; if it was appreciated; if she enjoyed making it, etc.

I would want my own daughter and her daughter and/or sons to handle the sale of mine, for I know my two girls would smile as they went through my things and read my notes, and would think of me with love as they spoke of me to those who came to the sale and told them of the things they loved so much that I made for them that they yet hang onto for a link to our past, and the love with which it was made for them by me. And I would want my grandchildren to profit from the proceeds for education for themselves or their children, and I would want pictures to be taken of the sale. I would want my offspring to know of the sale and how the woman of their past was still full of love for them, reaching from the past to spread her love of pretty things was helping them to reach the goals of their lives with whatever she was able, or not able, to finish. Whichever, her supplies, gone unfinished, were readily able to fetch enough money to help them fulfill dreams, if in only a small way.

Yes, from looking at the fine things I've purchased through the years, those who see and handle my things are going to get a feel for the type of person I've been---simple, fun, loving, and all with a laugh and a touch of class. My daughter already knows that she is to have control over selling my beloved bear collection, Madame Alexander dolls, dolls from my childhood, Longaberger baskets, and my stash. I've told her how to go about getting an idea of how to educate herself on just how to get a start determining the value of each collection. I have books on many of my things, which, though wouldn't be updated, would give her a start on how to get updates. Slhe knows it's going to be a big job, but she is as loyal a daughter as I could be blessed with, and she'll cry as she goes through it all. It will be her last labor of love for me, and I will be smiling and kissing away her tears.

Just Showing Framing Sent Back To Me

2007-11-30T02:05:00.000-08:00

All from Shirley's Country Cottage in Adolphus, KY. I was quite limited on time, and there are lighting and reflection problems, but I wanted to get them posted so I can either put them in storage for next season or hang a few up. More will be sent shortly for more framing that has been put off for too long.

Organization continues. Whew!

Got A Lot Done Today, So Tomorrow, I Stitch!

2007-11-29T00:22:00.000-08:00

I got so much done before Sheila got here, I made her able to tear through here like a white tornado. With all the cleaning and organizing in my sewing room, I'm going to be very pleased to spend time in there when it's done, and it's going to be easy to locate what I need. My Stash Can program is filling up, but it's about as much fun inventorying as fondling (I guess I do both at the same sitting). Shelia is even venturing in there with the sweeper and dust rag now when I get done a bit more each time she's here. It's beginning to look like a work area rather than a pile-up of crap. I'm able to use my sewing machine and serger, but the sewing machine needs to be worked on, then I'll be set.

I received a big box of my framed items I left at Shirley's Retreat last October. She not only has the shop, but she does custom framing as well. One of the girls I went with (a very good friend) told me not to be surprised if they just take off and run with it, then if we don't like it, we just send it back for them to send scans or pix of changes we'd like. She does framing so much cheaper, I decided I had nothing to lose. I was very pleased with what they did, with the exception of one, which I think I can live with. It's a little crooked, but I don't know if I wanna mess with the sending it back, etc. I liked their ideas and materials they used. I'll get some pix of my framed pictures maybe tomorrow and see what you think. I probably wouldn't have done anything quite so fancy with the Bent Creek dancing bugs, but they really do look cute! Cheap too!

With all the work I did on the house today, I only got about an hour's stitching in on a piece for my DD, and I went to my LNS and got the frame ordered so it will be done for her for Christmas. The design just calls her name. I tried stitching on it, but my youngest kitty decided to make my lap her playground and kept catching the thread in her mouth underneath the fabric. I just had to put it away and did some more filing and snapping shots of stash in my sewing room instead. Every minute I spend makes the next time a bit easier. One of the pix is of a late summer grab bag contents from Shirley's Country Cottage, and the other was an order from Stitching Bits & Bobs about the same time. I don't spend much on my stash---always on sale, grab bags, trades, clearance bins, etc. An exampler are the little leaflets that were $1.88 each at SB&B. Caron is discontinuing their Watercolour line, so I bought a few skeins to add to what I presently have.

Working Hard On This!

2007-11-27T21:11:00.000-08:00

I had no idea how much stash had built up when I was not feeling so well, and I'm going through tons of things I'd forgotten even came in the door. It's too easy to just go online and order it sent to one's house! I think during this digging-out process and during the time when I was not well, I forgot to post a couple of finishes, so I'll have to go through those and see what I haven't posted. Here's one I know I haven't yet posted, which was for a very recent SAL with my Little House, Country Cottage Needleworks Yahoo Group:

And here we have what is truly just an evil indulgence on my part, a coveting, a silly thought of a collection that I think I may "someday" stitch. I have a plethora of lovely Mirabilias and Lavender & Lace, as well as Told ln A Garden (the latter being some of those of which I've actually stitched, as they slip into my decor without eyes bulging as though I'd taken leave of my senses, trying to sew a silk purse of a sow's ear). It's a weird magnetism I have to (especially) Mirabilias. There is a poutiness, mysticism, and in some cases, an Old World Renaissance look to each and every one---in such contrast to Nora Corbett's mother, Marilyn Leavitt-Imblum's realistic and detailed faces, m so much contrast to some of Nora's obvious interpretations of the human personna. I see some of her ladies' poses looking awkward, and some of her faces looking a bit off, as though I could improve a bit myself. I'm in total love with Marilyn's Amish Told In A Garden series because of my rich history of living near the IL Amish community nearly all my life and living among the "Plain People," who tip their hats to me in my car as I drive past their horse-drawn buggies going to the Rockome Gardens Counted Cross Stitch Show in the summer, or going to the Pumpkin Patch in Arthur IL in the fall.

Getting back to Marilyn's art as compared to her daughter, Nora's..... I think Nora is just as talented as her mother in some regards, although she doesn't defer to the unusual in form as Nora does. You won't find one of Marilyn's ladies in the style of Art Nouveau or mystic mermaids of enchanted, fabled sunken cities. It is those designs that draw me into a fascinating study of every detail and carrying me away to somewhere I believe existed in my childhood. So I get my Mirabilia fix every now & then, though I still have yet to finish the first one I ever started, quite some time ago.. I think it will be one of my 2008 goals. Now, on the other hand, I bought Lady Claire by MLI's Lavender & Lace, and it's possibly the most beautifully serene and realistic piece of art I've ever beheld. I got it at a bargain bin price of $3, and it's worth it just to hold and admire. I really want to stitch that one before I can no longer stitch. Here are the Miras I bought at bargain prices while I was recovering from outpatient procedures in the lsat few months. I'd forgotten I had them and all the lovely embellishments. I just dream of someday having them hang in a smaller, more traditionally decorated home.

It's feeling good to get all this organizing done, and I've been cleaning up around the house, putting away Thanksgiving decor, and pulling out the Christmas decor I'm going to use this year, getting ready for my cleaning girl tomorrow. It's so nice to light a seasonal candle when she lieaves and brathe in all the cleanliness after she leaves. I have such a tough time doing it all at one time, and though I do some work work while she's here, and we talk and laugh (great friend s for 20 years), she ends up telling me to sit down and cross stitch, seeing the pain on my face when I've had enough. She is a gem, and I enjoy so much having her here with me. We even exchange Christmas gifts. I have to get busy and find the perfect design to cross stitch for her. She loves my cross stitch, which is so gratifying!

Got Some Stitching Done And Quite A Few Other Things...

2007-11-26T23:48:00.000-08:00

plus some stash organizing. I came up with a few pix that I actually made the time to do, and one was so interesting, I had to share.

As I've been unearthing piles of grab bag stash and trades, etc., I found a very sweet Thanksgiving design by Ladybug Lane Designs. It has her trademark ladybug button attached, and mind you, I was sitting in my basement with the fireplace going (it's been cold, and dreary here most of this month), and here comes a little whisper from above, which could only be a little sign from the Almighty or from my dear, departed Tiffany, on whose 41st birthday was that very day, November 18. I can't even believe the name of the design, which is "Family Blessing." It startled and shook me to my core when, out of nowhere, this very real ladybug landed on the graph when I opened the leaflet to see the chart. I couldn't believe I got a snap of it before the little ladybug flew away, never to be seen again.

Then, I've recently bought some very nice stash and seasonal signs, already stitched by my hometown friend, Susie Q, on eBay, and the Pine Mountain pillow kits speak for themselves (such nice kits at a great prices), but I have a special idea to add to her seasonal signs to make a personal touch for myself.

One more thing I'll add for today is the fabric I ordered from my LNS here in town. I had already put my pix of stash I bought at the stitching retreat I went to in October, but there was one sampler in particular I loved, and though the colors were totally unlikely to go totether had I not seen it hanging in My Big Toe's trunk show at our retreat, but Iwas besotten with the model done on the wall and the antique look to it. I ordered the weird Spring Meadow Green linen from my LNS, and here, with the GAST threads called for---3 Soot and 1 Currant (weird combo, but lovely done up), is the pic of all together, and it still doesn't show the true beauty. I guess I'll just have to do it in 2008. I'm getting some ideas of what is going on my 2008 goal list. I still want to do tons of my older stash too. Ohhh, what to do, what to do????? There is also a piece of what has become my all-time favorite color of linen, Lambswool, for a Prairie Schooler sampler and one of the newer Prairie Schooler design leaflets, "Pumpkin Patch," which I picked up at my LNS at the same time my fabric came in. Can't get out of there without spending more than what I had intended.

Haven't Been Good About Blogging, But....

2007-11-25T23:16:00.000-08:00

I'm working on cataloguing stash I've acquired the last few months, and I'm going to try to get pix of it as I file it away after putting it into my Stash Can program. I'd like to get it all inventoried and stashed away before the 1st of the new year. A little better organizational skills would help me with getting more done this year. I've had too many health problems to do things right this year. Looking forward to a healthier 2008.

I have several things I'm getting stressed about doing, such as gifts and exchanges, and I also wanted to join a SAL of Country Cottage Needleworks' "Gingerbread Cottage" on my Little Works, Country Cottage Needleworks Yahoo group. However, I do have till January 15 to finish Gingerbread Cottage, so I guess I shouldn't stress so.

This is a bad picture of my project with the DMC and Crescent Colours. I've done a little stitching on it, but I'm still working on several other things at once. For some reason, taking pix seems to take a bit of effort I have trouble working in, but I'll try harder in the days to come.

Stitching Bloggers' Question of the Week, Nov. 8

2007-11-23T12:22:00.001-08:00

When you have to frog out stitches, do you reuse that thread or do youstart over with a new strand?

I depends. If the thread is still in good condition, I use it. If it starts balling up and/or shredding, it goes into the pile of threads I save for the birds to use in their nests.

More Retreat Pix With Purchased Stash

2007-11-03T23:06:00.000-07:00

These two gals sat on the floor both days and stitched away, almost non-stop. Can you tell they're mother and daughter? Holy cow! They look more like sisters than two generations! They were very sweet and quiet, unlike moi, who makes herself known. I'd have to ask someone their names, as I just didn't get to know them, being as busy stitching as they were. I'd have been better off if I'd done that myself.

This is part of the framing section of Shirley's shop, There are piles of stitched pieces several girls brought to have framed. Some of the girls have already talked to Shirley's son, Troy, who does the actual framing, to let him know their choices.

These are the things I purchased from Shirley's shop. That beautiful large piece of fabric, folded under everything is called "Jazz" by Picture This Plus. The red things I bought with exchange plans in mind. My recipient doesn't read my blog, so it's safe to say that since she loves anything red and "loves Christmas to pieces (her words)," there is a pair of red Dinky Dyes scissors, My Big Toe Designs red pin markers, My Big Toe red thread pickers (great for frogging), My Big Toe beautiful red and crystal scissor fob with ladybug charm (she's also a ladybug lover), and Kelmscott Candy Cane needle minder. I have her for a birthday/Christmas recipient, and her birthday is just a few days from Chirstmas. I have decided on two stitched and "finished" things I'm making for her (will post when ready). To the left are 2 My Big Toe Designs I fell in love with in her trunk show; "Remember Me" and "Cheaper Than Therapy." On the far right is Little House Needlework's newer "Cabin Sampler," all for which I picked up specialty threads I was missing. Propped up in back are both thread pickers and stitch markers from My Big Toe Designs that I chose for myself. I've already found I'm using these little gadgets a lot. I love stitching gadgets! Everything but the red stuff I bought for myself. The stash is nice, but the retreat memories are nicer.

Another Couple of Retreat Pix AND My Doorprize!

2007-11-02T22:05:00.000-07:00

I realize these aren't the clearest pix I've ever taken, but you can at least get the idea. This picture is at the hotel's breakfast room, and just a few of us were still lingering at the time, but there was always some coming and going. This was the beginning of our day before going to Shirley's. One of the girls, Dee, had a monochromatic (all red) antique reindeer sampler-type finish the night before this. After showing it off and doing her happy dance, she went back to her room, so she isn't present here either. She stitched into the night, long after our P.J. Stitch-In broke up.

The faceless one at left edge is Donna. She and I split a big piece of fabric from Picture This Plus, then everyone was wanting some of it. I was smug and gloating that we got it all while everyone drooled over it. Pix of that another time. Next after Donna is Peggy, then Faith, and Barb, whose hand-made items, like Q-Snap covers and tuck-a-ways, I must order! The Q-Snap covers are wonderful and very reasonable. On the right wall is part of My Big Toe Designs' trunk show. The girls all really took to these designs, and I bought my share as well (later picture). I already knew I liked her designs, but to some of the gals, these were new.

Holy cow, I won JBW's doorprize in the Online Needlework Show! I have several of Judy's designs, mostly her monochromatic French designs, so it was wonderful to get these that I didn't have. I was so excited when this package came in the mail. She's a very nice gal. I told her I never win anything, but come to think of it, I have won a few things in my life. This was a lovely surprise!

Trades And Retreat Pix

2007-11-01T19:50:00.000-07:00

I took quite a bit of very nice stash to be traded and left it all there for those who stayed longer the last day than Faith and I, and I chose very little in trade to take back home with me. All I took in trade was brand new, other than the Glory Bee "Don't Make Me Call My Flying Monkeys," and I've always loved that one! Others have loved it also; it's pretty well-used. I was very pleased to bring these things home with me. The idea is to take one's trove of once-loved stash and give it to a new owner who will love like you once did, right? I've been admiring the Mirabilia I got for years (my daughter would love this for her snowmen collection, all of which I've stitched). Not that I'll stitch it, but collecting is fun. ROFMAO! Pix to come of what I bought new from Shirley. Can't post it all in one day, though I'd try ;-)

These are just a few of the many candid pictures I snapped when no one could pose. The framed pieces on the one wall belong to a wonderful friend of mine, Di Fane, who had sent in her things to be framed. Here they are, ready for her to pack up and take back home with her. Her stitching is just lovely. You really can't appreciate anything from these pix. Wish you all could have been there!

Some of the most wonderful memories are the laughs, the breakfast each morning at our very nice Days Inn's continental breakfast, which really was lovely, and quite a nice surprise when compared to some of the crappy, skimpy free breakfasts I've had in other places. After partaking of the yummy variety of things, including yummy cheese Danish that I ate too many of, we lingered over coffee and juice, and chatted about our plans that day and gossiped about the day before. And especially memorable, were the P.J. Stitch-Ins in Pam and Dee's room. Leave it to me to go upstairs in my nightgown and knock on the wrong door and get some macho college boys I had to face at breakfast the next morning. I'm just seasoned enough that it was hilarious to me, but he was mortified to have a granny in her size 2x nightgown come to his door.

Stitching Bloggers' Question of the Week

2007-11-01T18:01:00.000-07:00

If you were a cross stitch designer, what would your design style be?

To be frank, I would totally dislike being a designer, as it's so much fun just stitching. I feel it would take the joy out of my hobby. I love designing buildings and houses, and I designed two houses we've lived in, one being home to us now, and the 10,000 square foot office building our business occupied before we retired. Designing cross stitch is a totally different story in my mind. I love to admire it by collecting and stitching it, but I don't want to ruin my fun by having to design it, which makes it a job; however, I've said a lot without answering the question. I would design primitive, country, or traditional still life.

This question submitted by Ternezia.

A Few Things From Shirley's Retreat

2007-10-28T19:46:00.000-07:00

I have more to share about our wonderful stitching retreat to Shirley's Country Cottage, but I thought I'd post a few pix of a prize I won in one of the games we played and the contents of a grab bag we all got. Some of the stuff was her gotta-get-rid-of, but when you're stashing, you'll take anything and be happy. We even had a trade table, and I got a few charts that I really like, and got rid of stuff of mine. I forgot to get a pic of that..... later, and I also have to take pix of my stashing treasures I bought from her place.

My real treasure was a kit that everyone ordered before coming when we committed to the trip. We got to choose our fabric type and whether we wanted the buttons. Of course, I wanted the evenweave (prefer it to aida or linen because it's softer), and I definitely wanted the buttons. My Big Toe had her trunk show there, and she had taken this appropriate and whimsical pattern of hers and put "Shirley's Retreat 2007" at the bottom when she got a count of the girls coming. I bought several designs of hers. She does everything from whimsical to antique and sampler styles. I was thoroughly impressed. I got quite a few of her little gadgets. I'm really a "gadget girl." That's when you know you have too much stash when you start going for scissors, needle minders, beaded scissor fobs, and gadgets you'll never use. Grab bag contents is the picture with the stash layout with a lovely 2008 calendar, a tube of pillow fabric with ivory aida center and plaid with green and brown. On the calendar is a Trail Creek Farms candy cane design, along with a couple tubes of Kreinik and a couple skeins of GAST threads. Next to that is a Cindy Valentine hardanger heart design. Lovely, and I do love doing hardanger. Then, there is this little hen hanger type kits.... you know... gotta-get-rid-of, but HEY! Above that are some cute little metal charms I can use on various things. In back right is the very nice clip-on magnifier I've been wanting but didn't want to pay $29.95 for. I won that in a game! It's very good quality and has the little white drawstring flannel cover (propped up on my sewing machine in back of it) for the wonderful manifying glass, which has a smaller circle inserted with more strength than the bigger glass. I was so happy with that win. The Boyds Bear propped up on my machine overlooking my stitchy stuff is just Gourdie Pumpkinspice. I really get into fall decorating, which includes my sewing room---my haven.

Then there is the front of our special retreat design, and I've shown the back with my fabric, over-dyed threads and flower buttons used on the middle pot of flowers in the design. It's a nice momento of our memories there. Shirley is a warm and very caring person. She was a joy to finally meet. I hope to go again. I have some candid shots of her shop in her house and the girls milling around. It was just wonderful meeting some of the gals I've only heard of and chatted with on Yahoo groups, and the milling around was so relaxing and just plain fun. There's nothing like meeting gals from out of the country and different areas of our USA.

I Haven't Been On the Computer Much....

2007-10-27T20:07:00.000-07:00

because of my eyes. Yes, again..... will it never end? Yes, it will. I have to have cataracts removed as soon as I say, "Please Doc, I can't see any longer!" He told me just to call before my 6 month follow-up if it comes to that, and they're growing fast now, so my sight has been terrible. The monitor is a challenge.

Yesterday, I went in for yet another outpatient surgery. I had my tear ducts permanently closed by having them cauterized. The shots were the most painful thing. He went into the soft tissue in the inner part below the lower lid and up toward the tear ducts. Not just the needle hurt, but the solution burned like fire. He told me it would, and he was right. I had expelled my 3rd set of silicone plugs, which had been a great help to me when they were inserted by preserving moisture in my painful, dry eyes. I lost the last set when I was on a stitching retreat the weekend of Oct. 12th. I nursed my eyes as well as I could with artificial tears and ointments, and when I came home, I used a humidifier and did my hot compress oil duct message every night as the doctor had taught me to do. I even did it in the hotel room on the retreat. It was a while before I could get in, but I mostly stayed home and protected my eyes; even wore a padded patch over the driest eye (left). The cauterization went fast and took no longer than 5 minutes... tops! I got a little stiff when the nurse said, "Now you'll hear a little sizzle and maybe see some smoke up. I felt a little warmth, but no pain, heard the sizzle, and saw the smoke rise on each eye.

Today, I'm feeling wonderful. I have no pain at all, and my eyes feel like they're completely normal, but it was difficult before the procedure to fight being on the computer. I'm so glad I elected to have it done. My eyes are nearly as moist as they were when I was young and healthy. I never used to think of it till I began having problems. You've all seen me at my worst, so here is a picture of me the day after the cauterization. No makeup for awhile, so here I am with a freshly scrubbed face and only a sheer lip gloss. It ain't pretty, but I'm feeling good. I've quit worrying about pretty and seek comfort more than anything. Click on my picture if you dare, LOL!

I'm not having problems seeing my stitching, and I've been doing that all along, sometimes with one eye. I have done quite a bit on my WIPs, which I'll shoot pix of later, but I had this one on my lap today and just gave it a click

You can even see my bead containers and Lizzie Kate Autumn Scissor Case with Kelmscott's Halloween needle minder all balanced on my jeaned leg. Hey!! One good thing about all my health problems---I've lost 28 pounds and just bought new jeans 2 sizes smaller. I have a My Big Toe design ordered from the Online Needlework Show that says, "Miracles Happen. Keep the Skinny Jeans." And I have, LOL! But I like the new boot-legged jeans, and all my skinny jeans are tapered legs. Whine, whine.....

Stitching Bloggers' Question of the Week

2007-10-25T16:52:00.001-07:00

I missed this one on October 10. What for you means to achieve mastery as a stitcher?

For me, mastery of stitching is the joy in stitching something. No worries, only the concentration in creating something I'm proud of. That, to me, is mastering my stitching.

This question submitted by Ternezia.

This question was posted on October 24. Do you railroad?
My answer is quite simple: Yes, I do---both ways. The stitches lie so much more neatly, and no twisting.

Stitching Bloggers' Question of the Week, Oct. 17

2007-10-18T21:58:00.000-07:00

What proportion of your stitching is for your own personal use versus gifts?

I'm pretty selfish about who I stitch for, and it's mainly limited to family only---the ones who love it, and of course, the occasional exchange, which I usually buy-as-I-go to suit the recipient. Therefore, the lion's share of stash I've purchased for myself personally, but I would say that approximately 10% of my stash is with loved ones in mind, and I do buy little clever gadgets along the way for exchanges that any stitcher would love to receive. No more than 10% would include all I've mentioned.

This question submitted by Jennifer.

Been Really Busy Lately

2007-10-07T23:11:00.000-07:00

I've had a lot of fun and spent a lot of time going through my fall ornaments, weeding out, throwing out, figuring out where I'm going to put them this year (sometimes I forget year to year), and doing some much-needed cleaning along the way. Since I've developed some scary health conditions, DH has told me to try to get my former cleaning girl back for just a couple days a month. Surprisingly, she called me and said she would work me in but that there would be times when she would have to change days of the week. Fine with me. I had her when I was working all the time, but when I had to quit work because of my health, I felt I couldn't justify paying her any longer. I also couldn't clean very well. My 81-year-old mom was willing to help, but my pride just wouldn't allow that, so Sheila coming back was a Godsend, and she was happy to come back with me. She's a very special girl, bless her heart. They don't come any better!

I have new stash and WIPs of which to get pix, but I've been slowed down quite a bit after surgery and a damaging fall. Oh, I have managed to get a fun little finish that goes with an older partner to it. I'll show my older finished Bent Creek "Dance of the Bumblebee" along with my latest finish of his partner, Bent Creek's "Jig of the Ladybug." They're so cute! They're actually on the same fabric---just different times and different scanners.

Stitching Bloggers' Question of the Week for Oct. 3

2007-10-07T22:04:00.000-07:00

What are your favorite online stitching supply sources?

I have several, and there are others I'd like to use but just haven't yet. I like: Country Cottage
Stitching Bits & Bobs
Down Sunshine Lane
eHandcrafts

This question submitted by Jennifer.

Wish I Had More Ummph! (AKA Mojo)

2007-09-17T10:26:00.000-07:00

I hate reporting nothing but gloom & doom, but I've had another procedure done on my eyes, and it's taking its toll. I'm not doing well emotionally because there is very little I can do. I'm just going to have to take some pix of things that I was working on before this last setback and call it good. Oh, and I can always take pix of things I keep on buying, LOL! What for? Don't even know! Duh is me......

What really hurts is that my 81-year-old mother is coming this afternoon to clean my 3 bathrooms, and the big one is a bitch to clean, with the jet tub and big shower. Don't know what we were thinking when we built this monster of a house 18 years ago with no children running around. I could have used all this room when the kids were home. That's the way it goes, but oh well, the resale value will be good.... if anyone can buy it, LOL! Here is a pic of me right after my black eye healed when I was feeling great (wishing I felt half that good now), and my doctor told me to exercise, so I included a pic of my new exercise program. Enjoy ;-)

Stitching Bloggers' Question of the Week for Sept. 6

2007-09-12T20:49:00.000-07:00

Would you ever stitch one of your BAPs a second time? (This does not include starting over because of mistakes, bad fabric, etc., rather stitching something from the first stitch for a second time.)

OMG, NO!!!!! I don't even like doing small pieces more than once. Now, that I think of it, I might do one 20 yrs. after the first time. It would be like reading a long, family legacy more than once. You sometimes find you enjoyed it more the second time you read it.

This question was submitted by Jennifer.

What Is Wrong With These Pictures?

2007-09-06T00:35:00.000-07:00

Nothing... if you don't mind a cat in your cabinets.
Are we having oatmeal or cold cereal for breakfast this morning?
Think I'll just hang out here and watch you for a while.

A Little Progress On A WIP

2007-09-03T22:16:00.000-07:00

I was able to stitch without my shoulder hurting, and I did get a bit of progress done on a Mill Hill kit, "Scaredy Cats." It's just so cute! I'm starting to get in a fall mood to stitch. The days are getting shorter; the weather not so hot; the nights cooler, and in a month, our leaves will be turning. What a beautiful season! I've lived in warmer climates, but I missed the changing seasons we have here in my homeland of IL. I love living near family who also found the beauty here too hard to leave behind. I'm so very fortunate! I count my blessings every day.

These are before and after progress pix:

Stash For One Project

2007-08-26T16:47:00.000-07:00

Hey, I just happened to remember that just before my fall, I went to my LNS and bought the stash for one project. I only did it because my best friend/neighbor/fellow stitcher whose husband is my husband's employer/golf buddy/best friend was going on about how she finished this one and how "flippin' cute" it was. I can't even get away from enablers off the 'Net. They surround me. Here it is, all laid out, but not my next project. I have to finish up some things and then decide which new one to start. Oh yes... there is that cute LHN design on a needle magnet holding my chart to my fabric, made for me by Susie. The chart is "Psalm 145 by Little House Needleworks. Love those LHNs!!!

SBQ Catch-Up

2007-08-25T14:12:00.000-07:00

Do you consider yourself a "floss miser?" This question was posted on July 3.

Yes, absolutely! I stitch till I barely have enough thread to anchor, but more from not wanting to take the time to reload the needle than from being miserly.

What do you love to do that many people hate? What do you hate to do, but do anyway? This question was posted on July 12 by The Wagon.

This was a tough one for me, so I had to see what Renee wrote to give me an idea. I also love to do French knots and see how uniform I can get them. I would never use beads to replace them. As far as doing something I hate, I have a real rebellious streak, and I refuse to cave to anything I hate. Such as: remember the duplicate stitch that everyone was doing on sweaters to put designs on them? I rejected the idea, proclaiming it was a passing thing and wouldn't last. Sure 'nuff! Now we have the needle punch, and I refuse to get into yet another craft! My LNS used to have a sign on their window announcing classes on it. I notice it's no longer there.

Which project (finished or in progress) are you most proud of? Explain why. This question was posted on July 19 by Ish.

Mine is Paula Vaughan's "A Little Girl's Fancy." I had signed it up for the Rockome Counted Cross Stitch Show many years ago. I had received a 2nd place ribbon the year before, and when I started this piece, I had high hopes. As I went along, I began to have thread coverage and twisting problems, and it slowed me down so that I wanted to give up and cancel my piece for the show. I kept plugging along and finished it, though I hated every stitch. I knew when I finished that it was not winning quality, but with relief, I left it with my framer. She did a gorgeous job of picking the right mats and frame for it. I won nothing, but looking at that beauty over the bed in my guest room is pure pleasure. No one but me is aware of the things I sweated over.

Have you ever thought of getting a rider on your household insurance to properly cover your stash (some of us have quite an extensive stash that an average household policy wouldn't fully cover) in the case of some sort of damage to your house that would destroy/ruin charts, fabrics, floss, etc? This question was posted July 28 by Dani.

Good heavens, NO! I would love to have something come along and destroy all evidence of what I've spent and start all over.

How did you get started stitching? Was there a person that inspired you? This question was posted Aug. 15 by Jennifer.

I was at a baby shower way back when, and the mother-to-be opened a package of things with aida cloth sewn on and designs stitched over each little square. I was intrigued and asked about it. I already did tons of other types of needlework, so this "counting" stuff was something I had to try, and that was the beginning of the end. I was hooked.

A Small Finish

2007-08-24T19:12:00.000-07:00

This is one of Diane's Little House Needleworks' "Piece of Cake" designs, Pines and Acorns. I love stitching her designs. I think I'll make this into a needlebook (maybe), but thinking about it, it would be cute grouped with her Woodland designs too. Oh, what to do... what to do?

I'm so happy to say I love my new doctor! He's tiny and cute, from East India, but 2nd generation, very Americanized, no accent. I could stick him in my back pocket and take home. I'm a big, 5'10" corn-fed girl from IL, and I towered over him. I also liked that he laughed at me a lot---we had a great time getting to know each other. He l-o-v-e-s medicine and is highly intelligent. He's going to get me straightened out and is very thorough. I have some screwed up chemistry because of my lupus and other causes, but he's going to help me. I'm very hopeful and happy about having him in charge of my care. He told me this hot, humid month has been very hard on people with health problems. I'm only one of many who's just passed out by being dehydrated (even though I've been inside in the A/C and drink enough water) from sweating. I was also low in serum sodium and hemoglobin, but that's going to change, and I had more tests done today.

After my appt., I went to Walmart to do some grocery shopping I hadn't been able to do before today, and I was inside with a cartload of stuff, waiting out a thunderstorm and reflecting on my conversation with Dr. Adoni, when all of a sudden, it hit me---I'd used my favorite term of "holy cow" several times with him. Ya think that's why he was laughing so much? In the Middle East, aren't cows sacred? Thus, the term "holy cow?" HOLY COW!!!

You Won't Believe This...

2007-08-23T22:55:00.000-07:00

and neither do I, but I'm recovering from an accident that put me in the hospital, and I'm still licking my wounds. I go to my new doctor tomorrow to check in with him after his associate checked me over in the hospital. You might know I would be between doctors when this happened. My internist moved to another affiliation in a different city, and I hadn't yet had an appointment with the internist where my records had been sent.

I passed out in my kitchen as I was pouring water into my coffee maker. I usually have enough warning to get to a sitting position so I can put my head down between my legs, but I felt it coming, but I don't remember another thing. I had the dishwasher door open beside me, and I apparently fell into it, knocking it clear out of the wall at the top. DH wasn't home, and when I came to, I managed to climb into my bed and couldn't find the phone to call 911. I just lay there, semi-conscious, slid back off the bed, crawled back to the kitchen, and managed to yank the wall phone cord so the phone came down. I got my dad and told him I was calling 911. He said he was on his way over. I passed out again on the floor before I could dial 911. My dad and DH arrived here at almost the same time. My dad told me later he had thrown on clothes without underwear and still had his house slippers on; he'd been ready to step into his shower when I called. Somehow they got me back into bed, and Richard told my dad he'd keep a close eye on me, so they hugged. and my dad went back home to finish his morning routine. Richard went down to our finished basement and heard me shuffling around in the kitchen again. I remember nothing, but he found me trying to take my daily meds, and again, I passed out. He caught me under the arms as I went down and lay me flat on the floor.

I heard him calling 911 for an ambulance, then everything was a blur till I awoke in a hospital room. There was talk about my blood pressure dropping dangerously low and dehydration. To tell you the truth, I don't think anyone really knew what was wrong. They pumped me full of fluids and decided not to give me my blood pressure med, then everything began returning to normal. They put an alarm on me to keep me honest because I had to have help going to the bathroom, and I was so full of fluid, I was going every hour---day and night. Got very little sleep. I've always had a rebellion problem, and twice, my alarm went off. The first time, I wanted to see if they were bluffing, and the 2nd time, I only sat up on the side of the bed while I waited for someone to take me to the potty.

The fact that I was finding huge injuries---bruises and abrasions all over me---was upsetting to me and quite painful, and I was beginning to feel as though I'd been in a car accident, but the shocker was when they haded me a mirror to see my face. My eyes were nearly normal, but no longer.

My shoulder, though not broken, is damaged badly, but I still don't know the verdict on that yet, and I'm not able to use it much. I'll find out more tomorrow at my doctor appointment.

My 94-year-old fmother-in-law fell and broke her hip the day after I got out of the hospital, and she looks better than I do. They pinned her together, and I think she's going to outlive me.

Have much catching up to do, but believe it or not, I managed to get some XS'ing done. Will post stuff later. I have to get around to seeing all the blogs whose authors have kindly visited mine. I can finally see out of my injured eye again.

Love you all, and keep those needles moving!

Pre and Post Surgery Stash

2007-08-13T12:37:00.000-07:00

Here are two bits of newer stash I thought I'd share with you: the first dab was bought when I thought I might like to have a little to fondle in case I went blind. The second dab was bought after surgery in celebration of not going blind; in fact, of increasing my range of sight.

Post Surgical Pix

2007-08-12T22:31:00.000-07:00

I don't normally allow pix to be taken without my makeup, but I've already shown sickening pix of me after surgery. These still show a bit of discoloration and swelling, but it's at least on a freshly scrubbed face without antibiotic ointment oozing out of my eyes---a bit more palatable then my former pictures. And it's not the easiest thing in the world to take photos of oneself, but DH thinks if I put my life story on the Internet, one of you axe murderers are going to show up on our doorstep---sooooo, I do my own thing without asking for help. Doing it yourself creates some unflattering angles, but at least you can see the healing that has taken place. It's so nice to have newfound sight. I'm so pleased.

A Couple of Pick-Me-Ups

2007-07-31T16:05:00.001-07:00

This pretty box with the adorable Boyds Bearwear pin and card came from Dianne before my surgery.

This wonderful needle magnet was made by my friend and designer, SusieQ. She does wonders on linen "over one." I wore both these gifties on my top before going into surgery. I wasn't allowed to wear makeup or jewelry, so my jewelry was on my clothing that day.

Halloween A Bit Early

2007-07-29T18:56:00.001-07:00

Anyone in her right mind wouldn't share these pix, but my claim to fame has never included sanity. This was the night following my eye sugery for droopy eyelids (ptosis), which was cutting off nearly 50% of my vision. This was not cosmetic surgery by any means, but corrective surgery. I would never consent to any cosmetic surgery after this experience. I was awake during the whole procedure because I had to follow the surgeon's instructions to determine how much cutting and how much movement to the muscles to do, and despite local anesthetic, it was a horrifying experience. They gave me Vercet to relax me, but I metabolize it differently, or faster, than other people, and when they put a buckled strap over my legs and put my arms in restraining sheets in pockets at either side of the table, I became a raving maniac. Especially when they grabbed the muscle over each lid. I made the surgeon scratch my cheek when it itched; I demanded more "juice" (Vercet); I tried to break free; I told him I had to sneeze; and I did manage to maneuver the oxygen out of my nose and bite and blow the dressing off my lower face. Now that, my friends, is what is called the "fight or flight" response. The best they did for me was flood numbing drops into my eyes. Worthless..... When he finally told me he didn't need to give me instructions any more, I said, "Where's my anesthesiologist? Give me the juice!" Didn't do a damn bit of good, though, cause the doc was suturing me, and I felt every needle stab, downward and upward, saw and felt the drawing up with thread (catgut, or whatever it is they use). Didn't sleep till I got home hours later. Just goes to show your pets love you no matter how you look, bless their little hearts!

I followed instructions to the letter, which kept me so busy, I had time for little else, but using the ice 15 min. every hour kept my eyes from swelling shut, which sometimes happens to people. The pix you see here don't look good, but even after the swelling started, I could see better than before. Hard to believe. I haven't had one iota of pain since the actual surgery, though I know it looks quite painful. The recovery has been a piece of cake---really! Cleaning my sutures hasn't even hurt. I guess after the barbaric surgery, pain is relative.

The following pix were the 2nd day. After that, vast improvements have occurred. I was expecting the surgery to be easy and the recovery to be horrific. It has been just the opposite!

For more horror, just give the pix a click. OMG!!!

I promise nice things to come tomorrow. Sweet dreams, LOL!!!

Two Finishes

2007-07-02T08:48:00.000-07:00

The Prairie Schooler 2005 Santa is for a Santa SAL with the Prairie Schooler Fans group.

The Berries piece is one of LHN's fruit thread packs with Crescent Colours. It was done as a cottage SAL with the Little House Needleworks group.

On Medical Leave

2007-06-30T21:54:00.000-07:00

I'm turning off all my Yahoo lists mail tomorrow evening, as I have a very busy July ahead. I've got my brother and his family coming July 12th and staying about a week. Then on July 20, I'm scheduled for pre-op for eye surgery, scheduled for July 27th. I just had a little nothing-of-a-procedure done, and I am enjoying some relief from long-suffered dry eye due to Sjogren's Syndrome, secondary to lupus. This wonderful young man, to whom I'm convinced God directed me plugged my tear ducts with permanent silicone plugs, and though it isn't perfection, it's cut down on my need for the 25-30 apps of expensive artificial tears a day and ointment at night. It has cut everything by more than half, and I'm much more comfortable. I tried Restasis several times, but it burned so badly, I was worse than before.

As an indirect result of my eye problems over the last 20 years, my eyelids have gradually drooped (ptosis) to the point where it's cutting off nearly 50% of my vision. I recently went through some nerve wracking testing to prove to the insurance company that this is corrective, not cosmetic surgery. I'm getting very anxious about this, as I must be awake for the surgeon to direct me on eye movements as he cuts away a good chunk of skin on each eye and adjusting muscles. I'm hoping it's in order to sedate because I'm very sensitive and prone to panic attacks during such procedures. They're going to have to bring on the valium unless they wanna see a wild and crazy blind woman with her big butt (hope I don't have to wear one of those gowns---they're humiliating, and I need a plus size) exposed, running out of the OR. Not a pretty sight!

At any rate, Monday, I'm throwing myself into cleaning this pit top to bottom before my brother comes. His wife is a Martha Stewart wannabe, and since I've been so sick, (also just diagnosed with diabetes, or did I already post that?), depressed, and lethargic, only the necessities have been done around here. Neither DH nor I are allergic, or the dust and cat hair would have killed us both. However, I may kill myself cleaning it. I've already written a plan of attack for each day. I think I'd rather just go ahead and die on day 1.

There will be 2-3 days after surgery that the swelling could be so bad that I won't be able to see much, and I'll be sporting shiners for at least a couple of weeks. I just hope that after a couple of days, I can stitch and/or read. TV doesn't sound like much of an option. I can no longer use my stitching stand (for over a year now because my lids have dropped that much), so I can at least look down to stitch in my lap. I'm hoping that I'll be back in fine form by the middle of August, and with just the two of us, my house will still look decent if I have to stay in while recuperating. I'll burn my candles with the tables waxed and shiny. Even if I can't see 'em, I'll smell 'em. My mom & dad plan to help me while DH is gone away with his job (just 3 days a week), and I have many other family members in town, plus my two best friends in my neighborhood who are always there for me.

I actually have been stitching, so tomorrow, I'll post my WIPs here. If I get any time at all next month, or if I'm able in early August, I'll try to post any progress, but the fine tuning of my blog is going to have to wait. I still haven't found my error in HTML in the blog I was working from. I miss it. I don't like the new Blogger widget restrictions. I'm a whisper away from ditching Blogger and switching to Wordpress.

Thanks for hanging in there with me, my dear friends!

Temporary Blog Now Open

2007-06-23T22:56:00.000-07:00

I just switched my template to this standard Blogger one so I could back into the blogging. I need to get around to visiting my friends who blog and comment, but I'm still tearing away at my other one. I guess this will do for now ;-)

I thought I was so smart making up my blog as I went along, using HTML, and all I did was create a nightmare. I don't give up easily. I won't be satisfied till I'm satisfied.