Daffy's Stitchy Friends

Tuesday, June 30, 2009

June Bugs, among other things

Sorry I haven't posted much lately. Don't you hate blog posts that begin with that? I disappear for two weeks and have the snip to say, "Oh, sorry!" Things have been just crazy around here! When the hail hit (in my last post) we were in the big middle of refinancing the mortgage, planning some home improvements...mainly, vinyl siding...and ended up needing a new roof and gutter as well. Our house has been a revolving door of insurance adjusters and contractors and trips to the bank. Getting estimates and planning costs and we've had one big headache after another! Needless to say, my stitching mojo has been high and my time and energy level, nil. Really not fair! I think, I think everything is settling out but maybe I've got my hopes stretched a bit!

June Bugs! Some people call them May Beetles. They aren't only around in May or June, but all summer long. They are horrid flyer's with zero direction control which sometimes lands them in your hair, or more often, flat on their back, "zzzzzt zzzzzt'ing" around with their wings trying to get upright again. The silly bugs have very clingy feet and they are difficult to remove from clothes or skin. These guys were the bane of Jessie's childhood; visits to Shakespeare in the Park or drive-in movies were plagued. She hated being dive-bombed by these crazy, out-of-control bugs that are insanely attracted to outdoor lights.

As a toddler, my mother once caught me eating something...which I greedily swallowed before she could steal it. In my fist was half a June Bug. Hey, protein, right?

So without further ado, here is the monthly Crabby offering, June Bugs. Whew, just in time! There is a button spider that gets stitched into the "B" but I won't add that until everything is finished.

Cute, isn't it? This was fun and quick. I didn't even mind the random stitches this time. Now, with June finished, Crabby All Year is half way done! Yippee, I Love it!

I kept putting off finishing this block, messing around with an exchange I'm stitching for. I stitched my design onto that fancy gingham fabric. It turned out alright but that fabric's weave is so loose it is uncomfortable to stitch on. Now, I can't get it to finish neatly! It buckles or twists and refuses to look neat. Not happy. I don't think this fabric is going to end up a favorite of mine. It will get one more try and if it won't tame, I'll stitch something else!
*****
Thank you for visiting my blog today!
xox

46 comments:

Debbie said...

I love your Crabby All year long. I've never seen this design before. I like to visit other stitchers bloggs to see what they are working on.

I just went through a home remodel last year, just keep telling yourself, YOUR WORTH IT!
Good Luck!

Pauline said...

Hey Daffycat, Crabby looks great! Sorry to hear about your woes with hail and also your stitching on gingham. Have your tried ironing on some interfacing (not sure what you call it in US) to hold it firm while making it into something? It might help.

Anonymous said...

We have those june bugs too. They seem to head for the pool and then drown because they can't or won't fly out.

GoldenAngelsWorks said...

That is tooooo cute.

lenna said...

I have the Crabby All Year pattern and have started it. It fits my personality pretty well. I love yours the colors are just great. I must find the time to work on it and maybe I could get caught up and finish it before the year is up. Wouldn't that be neat?
Got to go.
Your stitching is very pretty.
God Bless ~
Lenna

Jan said...

June's Bug block is adorable and love the whole project together. It is cute and funny at the same time. One can't get better then that. I do so hope all of your fixes and new things aren't too hard on you financially and otherwise!

Missy Ann said...

Looking great! I loved this point on it, half way done and meeting the goal every month.

CJ in OK ;-) said...

Hope the house things end up great. Congrats on your June finish the Crabby Calendar is looking very cool. CJ ok;-)

valerie said...

Wow, your Crabby project looks great!! Half way done! Can't believe it's already July. Hope things slow down for you soon...

Srinity said...

Grabby is great! :) I don't like bugs... We have huge spiders on our backyard.

CindyMae said...

I love it, it looks great! Yep, I start plenty of posts that way but when I read someone else's I always think to myself, they don't have to apologize even though I do it myself!! LOL

Cindy Mae
My store opens July 1st
www.cindymaedesigns.com

Christine said...

Well done on finishing June's Crabby. Mine is "ahem" a little behind schedule (blush)

Sheila said...

Crabby All Year is looking great and I think the June bugs is my favourite one...loved the bit about you "greedily eating" the May bug :)

mainely stitching said...

June bugs were also the bane of my childhood summers - their erratic flying just terrified me. (I am also quite leery of butterflies for the same reason, if you can believe it.) Your story of eating one reminds me of our daughter, who regularly chomped down on garden snails until a couple of years ago. Yuck!

Anonymous said...

It's great you are keeping up the progress on this.
I hate the little midges this time of year!!

Annie said...

Sorry about all the household woes. Life can be like that sometimes, very unfair. But your June block looks terrific and very appropriate to your surroundings. And I know what you mean about fiddly fabrics.. one more source of frustration!

Karan said...

Hope everything settles down soon - nothing like insurance companies for giving you a big headache! Crabby is looking great - love that latest block. Mind you, that kinda protein I can do without! LOL :0)

Angela said...

I just LOVE your Crabby all Year :) The June one is especially true! I have seen this design finished with all the buttons as my LNS and I have to say it's fabulous! I love the fabric color you chose too.

staci said...

Good luck with the home repairs. Your CAY is looking terrific :) Hope your energy level and your stitching mojo work out a deal!

Tammy said...

This looks AWESOME! I cannot believe you have done half of this already because that means half the year is gone! Goodness!

Lisa said...

Crabby All Year is really coming along and looking really good. I love watching your progress on it!
Don't worry about your absence from your blog. Life has a way of interrupting blogging...stitching and other things we would like to do. There are somethings that just need to get taken care of - but just not as much fun!
Take care and have a great day!

LoneStar said...

LOL Sharon! I, too, am guilty of eating a June bug as a toddler!

But now I loathe the bumbly ugly things. We get them in April/May down here.

Your "Crabby" is coming along nicely.

Lisa (Texan)

Kathy A. said...

Great progress on Crabby All Year. It makes me smile every time I see it.

Olga said...

Good luck on your home remodeling, it takes time and nerve but it is well worth doing it.
Your June Bugs look much better than in real life!

Laural said...

Great job!

I HATE June Bugs too!

Carmen said...

i love the carrby all, is a lovely stitching.
i change the url of my blog, my newu url is:
http://blog-stitchingdoris.blogspot.com/

sorry for the trouble.

Lisa said...

I think sometimes around here it's just too hot to think much less write! (That's my story and I'm sticking with it). I've been lazy at posting too - and yes, I found Crabby, got some more floss and I'll post you a progress pic. ;)

Julie said...

Crabby looks wonderful

Cindy F. said...

Too cute!! such a fun piece!

Unknown said...

Hopeing that life turn's a little less busy for you, soon"ish"...and that more relaxing kind of time settles in. Life sure does have a way of throwing us some curveballs, doesn't it?

CAY is looking mighty awesome! I just love everything about this design. Of course, your stitching is just devine, too. :-)

Lillie said...

Crabby is coming along beautifully.

Angela said...

Crabby looks great, but the bugs sound horrible.

Sue said...

Crabby is looking wonderful. I had a romantasied fantasy of what June bugs looked like...little jewel drops flitting about in the summer heat....then I clicked on the link..EEWWWWW!!! LAWN BEETLES!!!! We get them here, but they are a bit on the lazy side and don't fly about as much as the ones you get.

Pumpkin said...

WOOHOO!!!! HD for you :o) Looks great Sharon.

Ewwwwww! I can't believe you ate one :oP That certainly tops anything gross I ever ate. LOL!

Sandra said...

Sharon I understand how you feel, sometimes it seems household repairs never ends... Just as I finished painting, there's a leak damaging a wall, they don't know if it can be fixed from the outside! So, take it easy as you can.

Meanwhile, your SAL stitching looks wonderful. I think Bugs is my favorite square so far. Can't hardly wait to see it finished.

Ranae said...

It is looking too cute. I thought you were going to say a whole handful those bugs, Thank goodness it was only one or half a one, lol.

Marita said...

Looks great.

Melanie said...

Hope your household problems iron themselves out! What a pain!

Crabby looks great - and June is oh, so true!

Cyn said...

Hi Sharon,

We all understand that life can get busy! Especially at this time of year. :-)

Love the progress on a Crabby Year!

Cynthia
Windy Meadow

Siobhán said...

Very cute finish!! I enjoy stitching bugs--just don't like the actual things! ;) LOL I hear you on the being busy thing, I am woefully behind in blogging, too. Gulp.

Carolyn NC said...

I'm with you on the June bugs - hate 'em! Especially as they tear rose bushes apart! Everyone gets busy and can't always post and read. Just keep on keeping on and post when you can. We all love to read your blog. :)

PurestGreen said...

Thanks for visiting me on Scotland for the Senses! Your work is lovely and often adorable. I will think of you on Tuesday night when I'm in Stratford watching Julius Caesar.
:)

Sharon said...

Crabby looks awesome! I hope you get more stitching time soon!

Stitching@HLR said...

I didn't know that one but I sure love Crabby!!!!
Thanks a lot for your nice comments!!!

Nancy said...

Crabby looks wonderful! I was just thinking about the Bugs block the other day when they just wouldn't go away. I really love this!

Brigitte said...

My favourite so far is Rabbits. He's so cute with this attitude, lol.