November is over...

...and, thank God, it only has 30 days! Today is the last day of National Blog Posting Month and I have made a post every day in November. Some days were tough and it was difficult to come up with something post-worthy. More thanks for Wordless Wednesdays, lol! It isn't hard to make a post every day but it IS hard to make a good post every day! I didn't want to just post crap, I wanted the posts to be relevant to my blog. And I did it! I bet you thought I'd never shut up? Honestly, thank you all for putting up with me the past 30 days. Your frequent comments and support really meant a lot to me. *hugs*

Yesterday, when I was gathering the stuff for photos, I found these two bundled sets of floss. What did I buy them for? Was there a project in mind? I am confused. I'm now thinking the one on the right might be for the When Barnabee met Bella Biscornu but I have no clue what the other group is for. I'll keep them separate for now and hope the project comes to mind!

For those of you that liked my Jinglebell Reindeer freebie...be sure to go see Aubree's version of my...sweet...little...deer. OMG I about wet myself laughing! Thanks Aubree, you are a HOOT! For those of you not familiar with my freebies click the kitty in the sidebar.

Thank you for visiting my blog today!

xox

Embroidery Floss

Everyone has their own idea about the best way to store their floss. Well, there are beginners out there still searching for their best way so I thought I'd share mine. I start with a full skein of DMC floss.

I start by labeling a floss bag and adding a 3x5 index card inside. The index card makes the floppy bag stand up, plus, I can see the thread color easier on top of the white card. I hole punch the card where it's punched in the bag.

The small "DMC" label gets removed and tossed into my band-jar. OCD, I can't help it. I save the long numbered band. I open the skein, doing this carefully so I don't get tangles.

Then I unwind the entire skein, putting the two ends together. Using one hand to hold the ends I carefully pull the threads through my fingers to fold it into halves. Then fold it in half again and in half one more time.

This should give you a folded length with eight equal strands. It's about 38 inches long, give or take.

Snip the loops on each end. Now you have eight cut thread lengths.

I remove one thread length to start working with and fold up the rest and slip it back into the numbered band. As I stitch, if I end up with short threads that can still be used, I tuck these bits in the bag on the back side of the index card.

My floss bags get filed away in my floss cabinet (seen HERE, scroll down.) When I kit up a project with lots of colors these index card file boxes (in the picture) are very handy. The index card in the bag make them stand up straight. This box here contains the colors for Crabby All Year.

When I have only a few colors to use the bags get threaded on rings. These are the threads for this quarter's Crabby blocks.

Now, you might want your lengths cut shorter than I have shown here. I use the loop method start so the 38 inch thread is perfect for me. I like to have all my threads cut right off as it eliminates running short if you just pull some out and go. I used to end up with 5 or 6 inch bits at the end of a skein before I started using this method.

I've added a poll in the sidebar for you to vote on the fabric for Snapper Year. I can't promise to use what is picked...but it's fun ~ go vote!

Thank you for visiting my blog today!

xox

Fabric on order

These strange "photos" messed with my layout! Doesn't that look stupid!

I couldn't decide what color fabric I wanted to use for next years' monthly project, Bent Creek's Snapper Year. I knew I wanted a Silkweaver fabric since I REALLY like the Silkweaver I'm using for Crabby All Year. So I ordered two cuts of 32 count Lugana in Golden Honey and Sand. What do you think?

Thank you for visiting my blog today!

xox

Crabby Relatives

Speaking of relatives, yesterday was fun. Too much food, lots of chat and gossip. I am thankful I have such a wonderful family.

Crabby November Relatives is complete. Other than the frog this one would have gone fast if I'd just sat my butt down and stitched. One of those months, I suppose. December is coming up fast. Why? I am not ready! Winter has held off and the weather has been just lovely. A cold front is expected Sunday and a chance of that dreaded "S" word, snow. I like snow ~ if I don't have to go out in it...guess who has to go back to work Monday, lol!

Thank you for visiting my blog today!

xox

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving!

I'm straightening up the house then heading to my parent's house for the day. Those of you celebrating today remember, gobble 'til you wobble!

Thank you for visiting my blog today!

xox

Wordless Wednesday

Essentials

There are some things I just can't do without when I'm stitching. I know that all you really need to cross stitch is fabric, thread, needle, scissors and pattern but I'm sure all of us have those few things we just can't settle to stitch without.

Here are a few of my essential stitching supplies.

1. Not pictured, but I can't do without my scanner/printer. It's so handy to make a copy of the pattern that I can mark all over and still keep my original in good condition. Not to mention I need to print out the thousands of freebie designs I've accumulated.

2. My Crayola colored pencils for marking up said copied patterns.

3. The little magnetic Sheepie needle minder I got from Holly when I won a giveaway on her blog. I use this little beauty every day, I'd be lost without it.

4. The button tin I received from Lindsay for my birthday. I use this when I travel, it is perfect to hold my little scissors and needlecase and I can put my ORTs inside to keep them safe until I return home. I'm a little obsessive about my ORTs.

5. The scissors I received as an RAK from Jill and the fob from a giveaway by Ranae. These small scissors fit perfectly in the button tin and the smooth fob is unobtrusive.

6. Thread Heaven. I don't use this all the time but when I use overdyed thread or blending filament it is invaluable at keeping knots away.

7. My Dololly for frogging and ending too-short threads. I rarely need this but when I do I don't know how I ever got along without it.

8. My Ott-Lite, also not pictured. My eyes aren't as young anymore. I just have a little desk top model. I use it when I stitch, especially in the evening. I also use it when I take photos so I don't have to use the flash which washes out pictures of stitching.

What are your essentials? I'd love to see them. It is great to learn new tricks and tips from my stitching sisters.

Thank you for visiting my blog today!

xox

Solve a mystery

I had a different post in mind for you today but no worries, I'll do that one tomorrow. This one can't wait. I'm in a tizzy of curiosity. What the hell is it?

I went out to get the mail and saw these growing in my flower bed. The beds were sadly neglected this year as we did nothing with them due to all the remodeling work outside this summer. Amidst all the old mulch, dead roots, acorns, leaves and weeds is this big orange tube smeared with gunk at the pointy tip. It's about the size of my little finger.

The stench from these strange growths is amazing.

This one had what looks to be "dead" ones next to it.

If you break one off (with a stick, ewww) they are hollow inside. Hold your breath while you look!

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.

Anyone have a clue? My best guess is they are some sort of fungus. I hope someone knows for sure what they are!

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.

Thank you for visiting my blog today!

xox

Mojo

Does your mojo go out the window when you get frogs? Mine does. It's usually very temporary and comes right back after a short break. Sometimes, not very often, but sometimes I never pick up that project again. Has that ever happened to you? Of course, I wouldn't let that happen with Crabby All Year! I'm too close to finishing!

Here is where I'm at with Crabby November after the frogged coat episode. I didn't stitch again until yesterday but I made some progress.

I am dreading the coming work-week. As most of you know I work in a grocery store. It is a very scary place to work the couple of days before a major holiday, especially Thanksgiving and Christmas. We will be crazy busy and have to deal with cranky customers who put off every bit of their holiday shopping until the very last second. If you all could do me a favor? Please be kind to the people that serve you. I know you are tired and stressed but don't take it out on your cashier. Thanks!

Thank you for visiting my blog today!

xox

Eye Candy

First off, I have a winner for the 50,000 Visitors giveaway. Lacking inspiration, I simply ran the numbers through the random generator and it spit out # 73. Now, you get to go down to that post and count the comments to see who won!

Just kidding! Sheesh, it was a funny! Seriously, # 73 is Glenna of Eye of the needle. Congratulations, Glenna! Email me, please.

I promised Eye Candy, didn't I? Yum. I'm horrified though, as the series is on break for the holidays and Supernatural won't return until January 21, 2010. *gasp* To tide us over you can go look at more yummy photos here.

Thank you for visiting my blog today!

xox

Daffy Cat

People often ask where I got the name DaffyCat. Yes, there was an actual Daffy cat. I adopted her from the animal shelter in December of 1990. She was a white Turkish Angora with lovely blue eyes. She was named Daffy because when she was young she would go tearing through the house, leap up three or four feet and kick off the wall...Daffy Duck did much the same bouncing off walls in one cartoon episode. Daffy was the light of my heart. The best cat, the sweetest friend. We lost her in September 2006 and still miss her to this day.

This is Daffy on the dog crate, photo taken when Sheba was a puppy. The crate was a favorite resting spot until Sheba was housebroken.

This beautiful photo of Daffy was taken by my friend Joan only a couple of months before Daffy died.

This is the earliest digital photo I have of Daffy, hiding in an empty box with the Christmas wrapping supplies. She was quite a character sometimes.

A million years ago, when we first got a computer and signed up for the Internet, Rick helped me create an account and asked what I wanted for my screen name. Uh, um, uh....I looked down at the cat and typed in DaffyCat. And DaffyCat was born. I've used it ever since.

>^..^<

Thank you for visiting my blog today!

xox

Knit & Crochet

I don't know how to knit and I can't crochet. I know how to crochet but it puts my hands to sleep so I can't do it. However lots of my blog friends do so I thought you'd get a kick of of this recent LOL Cats.

Another short post. It's been a long week.

Thank you for visiting my blog today!

xox

Nosey

What did I order? You girls are nosey. But that's alright, I like nosey! My 123 Stitch! order arrived today. Here is what I got:

Bent Creek's Snapper's Year. I've been following this, being stitched this year by Barbi and have really enjoyed her posts, watching it grow. The theme is similar to Crabby All Year and I'll probably make this 2010's monthly stitch. Thanks Barbi!

Then I got Bent Creek's The Branch Snappers. I watched Jill stitch this up and fell in looove.

I couldn't resist this Erica Michaels design, Hanukkah Bits when I saw it on Jennifer's blog. This is darling! It's supposed to be stitched on 40 count gauze, included with the pattern. OMG it is like, SO TINY! Um, I don't know if I can see that small.

My last little buy was a spool of Kreinik so I can see Chiloe finish her Pansy fairy.

There were two of the charts that were back-ordered but they should be sent along very soon. Where else can you order late on a Friday, get shipped on Monday and have it arrive on Wednesday? I love it.

I just noticed something. Everything here, I ordered because I saw one of you stitching it. You enablers, you!

.

Thank you for visiting my blog today!

xox

Completely Random Stuff

It is November 16th and that means NaBloPoMo is halfway over. I've been able to post every day so far. Hopefully my posts have been interesting and fun. The last thing I want to do is bore you!

I was feeling homemakerly today. When I got home from work, I readied this beef roast in the crock pot. I'll put it on in the morning and dinner is nearly done! Doesn't it look pretty? I also made a tub of Onion Butter for snacking. Onion Butter: 1 pkg cream cheese, 1 stick butter, 1/2 a medium onion-diced very fine, 1/2 to 1 tablespoon of mayo, a sprinkle of parsley or chives. Mix all together (easier if you let the butter & cream cheese soften) and chill. Yummy on crackers or celery. It also makes hubby's feel loved.

My blog reader is still full. I've gone through a few posts but I keep running out of time this week. My laundry is clean but unfolded. The dishes from tonight's dinner are done, it was just frozen fish sticks and Kraft mac & cheese, lazy. Where does the time go? It isn't fair.

Do you Stumble? Jessie told me about it and it's a lot of fun. Careful though, it's addictive! She's found some pretty cool sites, like this one, Animals On The Underground.

No stitching in two days...can you hear my withdrawal groans? However, 123 Stitch! has emailed to say my order was shipped. Woo Hoo! We haven't gone anywhere in AGES due to football season. Every weekend, poor Rick asks me what I have planned the weekend? I don't have the heart to scream, "STASH SHOPPING! To hell with football this weekend!" *sigh* When I sweetly say, "Oh, nothing." He gets that relieved look on his face and I feel like an understanding wife. So I went Internet shopping instead. *insert evil laugh here* :o) Chiloe, by the way...I got your thread while I was at it. I'll send it along as soon as it gets here!

Thank you for visiting my blog today!

xox

Frogged

Much better now. I frogged out the blue that was wrong and got a small start on the correct peach color. Not much progress, but it's done and I can go on. I rarely have frogs I can't live with!

Parsley, a frog is some part of stitching where you have to "rip-it, rip-it, rip-it." A play on the sound frogs make. What can I say? We stitchers are odd ducks.

Rick and I went to see 2012 after work today. Long movie! We had a good time, even though the show was a little hokey and completely unbelievable. Popcorn and a fun afternoon made up for it. We don't get out much this time of year! Stopped to pick up Arby's for supper. Haven't had time yet to check my reader, I will get caught up reading your blogs tomorrow.

I'm astonished at the reaction my 50,000 giveaway post has received. The Simon's Cat books only received 71 entries (in two weeks)...the snowman ornament already has 91 and over four days left to go! Thank you, I'm all warm fuzzy inside. :o)

Thank you for visiting my blog today!

xox

Dratted frogs

I'll be frogging this evening. Pesky creatures. This wasn't even my fault. It's bad enough getting frogs from miscounts but they are especially annoying when the key and chart are to blame.

I started the coat on Crabby November. Got all the outside stitched. Started the inside color and thought, "This is a really strange color combination." So I looked at the photograph which shows a peachy colored coat, not blue. %^%*$$#&#@! Excuse my language.

So I went to Raise the Roofs' website. Looked at their Oops page. Sure enough, it's listed. I'd read this before, I remember. However, even the mistake is listed incorrectly on their page! It sez : cents sign symbol is DMC 825 is DMC 3712. WTF?

I obviously needed clarification.

That's a circle symbol on the chart. There is no cents sign symbol.

Somehow, when I'd read this months ago, I thought they were speaking of the backstitching on the coins in the December chart. To top that, the color to use for the BS on the coins isn't listed so that reinforced that belief.

I hate frogs.

Thank you for visiting my blog today!

xox

Holly Reindeer

My last little Christmas design, Jinglebell Reindeer, was so popular I knew I had to create you a companion design. The border on this one will fit Jinglebell as well. If you haven't seen that design click the cat on the left sidebar to be taken to the page with all my freebie designs.

Meet Holly Reindeer! I had a lot of fun designing her (him?) and even more stitching her up! Easy peasy ~ lemon squeezy; only three colors, a tiny bit of backstitch and a few French knots. Want bling & sparkle? Use some tiny seed beads for the holly berries. This one comes together quickly. Just the thing for those last-minute Christmas stitching urges!

Holly Reindeer

 

If you would like to stitch Holly Reindeer email me for a copy at: daffy-cat AT hotmail DOT com. Please, put "freebie request" in the subject line and tell me the title(s) of the pattern(s) you are requesting.

You must have the free Adobe Reader program installed on your computer to view/print the pattern.

I hope you all like my new design! As always, I'd love to see your finish if you stitch it, feel free to email me!

Thank you for visiting my blog today!

xox

50,000 Visitors Giveaway

WOO HOO!!! Yesterday, I noticed I was "this close" to having 50,000 visitors! Today, I've already had 151 visitors past! Holy smokes, people, thank you!

To celebrate reaching this milestone, I'm giving away this little Christmas ornament stitched by me. Do you like? The rules are simple: leave me a comment on this post and I'll draw a winner on Saturday, November 21, 2009.

The entries for this giveaway are now closed.

The winner will be announced shortly.

Thank you for visiting my blog today!

xox

Here an ORT

There an ORT.

Everywhere an ORT ORT.

Here is a little peek at my ORT jars. I collect ratty thread ends and the small DMC bands. I trash fabric threads and the DMC band with the bar code. I don't see the point of keeping broken needles/buttons or chunks of fabric. I go for pretty. I love to peek into my ORT jar and see a bright layer of orange and black from Halloween stitching or a single color pile from a sampler. I think ORTs are beautiful! Let me see your ORTs, please!

It was better at work today, although it has been an altogether crappy week in general. I'll be sooo ready for Friday! Thank you all so much for your advice and good wishes. ***hugs*** I am way behind on my blogs. I haven't felt like reading them the past couple of days. If I'm in a bad mood I don't leave comments as often and that's half the fun of reading your posts. I'll catch up soon, I promise!

I'm terribly excited. I'll have a new freebie to share with you very soon, I hope. It is still being perfected but this gives you something to look forward to.

Thank you for visiting my blog today!

xox

Wordless Wednesday

Thank you for visiting my blog today!

xox

A very bad mood

I'm in such a foul mood after work today. I'm so cross I shouldn't be allowed on the Internet. I started to read my blogs and decided I should wait until I'm in better spirits. Since it's NaBloPoMo I'm obligated to write a post. You are only obligated to read it if you are my daughter. I think she reads all my posts, isn't that sweet? Thanx Jess!

One thing about today that was really exciting is my friend Angela is having a lovely end-of-the-year giveaway. Visit her blog Hooked On Stitches to enter. You could win this fantastic stitchy box!

Thank you for visiting my blog today!

xox

First Finish

After I stitched those little Christmas ornaments I think I messed around with a few different projects. These were always unfinished and I am pretty sure it was because of how the stitching looked. Even back then I was OCD and if I couldn't make it look how it was supposed to look I would be frustrated with it. There finally came a semi-maturing point and I completed a project.

I started this Garfield right after I married, so I was 17 years old when this was stitched. Ride 'Em Reindeer...worked on 14 count off-white aida with DMC. This was stitched for my brother and carefully mailed to him for Christmas that year. I think it held some bitter memories for him after he divorced and he asked if I'd take it back.

Oh, Lord, do you remember these plastic hoop frames?

Take a giggle at these pea-sized knots. Can you even call that a French knot??

I'm pleased to see my backside has improved by now. No knots but still lots of carrying. It was this design I learned half-stitches, not fun on aida, I can remember being soooo confused trying to figure out the direction of each half-stitch! We've come a long way, baby!

Thank you for visiting my blog today!

xox

Taco

Back in October we had a brief cold snap and it got pretty chilly around here. I knew Taco wasn't happy in her usual spot on top of my floss cabinet. The window next to my stitching desk gets really cold in the winter. I need some heavy drapes to block that! When it got cold she started stealing my chair every time I got up. When she was in her bed on the floss cabinet she curled into a tight little tuft.

Since I need a catless chair to stitch in I was taken to desperate measures. We moved the cat bed! I cleared off the top of the chest of drawers that holds stash and added a big warm cat bed. I think she will be cosier here in the winter.

I think she likes it.

She looks happy anyway.

Taco thinks photo shoots are boring though. And that is only a trick of the camera, she doesn't really have three canine teeth.

My biggest problem now is Taco can see my face from her bed and thinks she has to talk to me. Constantly. Meow. Meow. Meow. Meow. Meow.

>^..^<

Thank you for visiting my blog today!

xox

Merry helps choose

A big thank you to everyone that entered my Blogoversary Giveaway for the two Simon's Cat books. It's been a great celebration! I've made such great friends through this blog; it's just incredible when I stop and think about it. When I started this blog I never thought I'd ever have so many readers. My current visitor count is 198 per day. Holy cow. Thank you so much.

I spent this morning writing everyone down. Cutting the names into slips and piling them into The Mighty Bowl of Destiny. Well, it's actually just a cup but this is my blog, I'll call it what I want!

I loved this cup but alas, it was too small. Too many entries for this size. Off to search out a bigger Mighty Bowl of Destiny...

This one was just right! Merry said she would help me choose, since the last time I tried to have the pets help they turned me down flat, lazy critters.

Merry closed her eyes and reached in...

The first name she drew out was Doris!

Then Merry reached again and pulled out Nita!

Thank you Merry, you did a great job!

Nita and Doris, I'll be emailing you both shortly for your mailing addresses. Congratulations!

Thank you for visiting my blog today!

xox

Last Chance!

Just a quick reminder! My Blogoversary Giveaway ends some time tomorrow. If you were wanting to enter please put your comment on that post now!

Short post. I'm tired.

Thank you for visiting my blog today!

xox

First Stitches

Lee, (Lake Stitcher) headed off to camp, (lucky girl) was instructed to bring some "first projects" for showing. I thought this was a fun idea. It's interesting to see how tastes and styles change though the years. Lee mentions we (stitchers in general?) were very into "country" back then. And oh, God, it's true. Every stitch design out there was "country". Fat bows. Cows. Hearts. Flowers. Pink & blue. I've still got all those oldie charts and don't they look dated?

As I'm doing NaBloPoMo I thought this would make for an interesting post. For those reading this, find yours! Show & Tell!

Here is the very first thing I ever stitched. I dug this out of the drawer today and gave it a wash and ironing. This is so old! It has a little staining and there are circles drawn in pencil around the designs. I think I must have meant to put these into little plastic frames after they were stitched.

Stitched with one thread on 18 count aida. Supplies were from my sister's stash. She used these designs to teach me to stitch. I must have been around 13ish? I'll have to ask her if she remembers this. I remember...sitting in the kitchen of her trailer house working on these. Those were golden days for me.

Best of all is the back side. Knots, carry-overs and thread tangles.

ROFLMAO

Obviously, I wasn't paying any attention when Carol showed me how to start a thread and end off. These knots really crack me up. Somewhere around here is my first "finished project." A cursory look didn't turn it up but I will have a good search and find it to show you some time soon.

Thank you for visiting my blog today!

xox

Crabby November Start

Oooo, what an exciting photo today! Not! How exciting can a red-brown border and a bit of white window pane be? But it's a start. I began Crabby November on Sunday, the first of the month. I'm trying not to hurry through this month. I'll need something to post about, don't you know?

There has been plenty more stitching getting done besides Crabby All Year though. I finished last month's Zombies in record time. Now that was exciting. Then, I filled the "free" time with lots and lots of exchange stitching. I've joined a private invitation ornament exchange that starts next year. Plus, a Holiday Exchange organized by our dear friend, Becky. That one is open for new exchangers...go look. Exchanges are so much fun. Except that one can't show WIP photos of awesome stitching :o(

Thank you for visiting my blog today!

xox