A merry little Christmas ornament

Last weekend...or was it then? I forget now, because things have been freakin' crazy around the Bennett household this last week. So...maybe I had better say, "recently" I finished the second Christmas ornament in my Ornament Swap group and mailed it off. Lori was my recipient this go-round and she has posted that she has received all of the ornaments we stitched for her. She made a simply precious post about receiving them. I wish I could write like that!

I stitched a ginormous ornament for Lori. This sucker is approximately 4x7 inches! I don't usually like ornaments that are "too big." But this one insisted it was for Lori. And Lori didn't seem to mind such a big, honkin' ornament anyway. The snowflake fabric was used for the backing. I had to stitch this one because it was darling and it was a snowman and because Lori said she didn't really like sampler designs and this one is named Sampler Winter so...there you go! I had too.

Design ~ Sampler Winter

Designer ~ Marika Belfiori

Fabric ~ 32 count Belfast, tea-dyed

Fiber ~ DMC

About the last crazy week? Poor Sheba got really sick with an infection and had a 105 temperature with diarrhea to boot. She had a trip to the vet's office and had her arm shaved to draw blood and got lots of fluids put under her skin to help cool her off and for dehydration. She then got a paste for the diarrhea, antibiotics for the infection and a fever reducer. She thinks it's one big dog party because she gets to eat ground beef and brown rice for her icky tummy. But she is all back to her waggy, tennis ball crazy Border Collie self now.

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Me? After having a sick dog, I spent all weekend cleaning carpets and floors. Oh joy! Then, we cleaned out Jessie's old room. Rick was all gung-ho about painting it. "Between the two of us, we can have it painted in just a few hours!" he said. What he meant was, Sharon can paint it by herself in two days! Thank goodness I was able to take today off work! Sadly, I haven't had time for much stitching the past few days. Surely the coming week will be an easy one.

But I'm not going to hold my breath.

Thank you for visiting my blog today!

xox

May Blooms

I must admit, the obscene amount of frogging I did on this block put a serious hex on my stitching mojo. Frogging does that to you too, doesn't it? However, even though stitching this the second time around was not quite as much fun as the first, I have completed my Snapper block for May! And it is in the correct position. Always, a plus.

I substituted a couple of the suggested colors with ones I liked better. If you are interested in the list, feel free to email me. I still need to find buttons to replace those weird snaps but haven't seriously searched yet. There is at least six months before they are needed so no pressure, right?

This was a productive weekend! I finished this May block. I ornamentified a Christmas design for my Ornament Swap exchange and it's ready to mail. Kitted up for the Snapper June block and kitted up for my next Christmas ornament stitch. I wish I was always so on top of things!

Happy birthday to my dear sister-in-law, Chris! I needed to give her a shout-out because she is so sweet to read my blog faithfully. No one in my family reads this except her and my DD, Jessie. Not even Rick! Thank you, dear sister. I hope you have had a wonderful birthday today!

Thank you for visiting my blog today!

xox

Ceremony of the ORTs

I'm a little late with posting but I assure you, the ceremonial dumping of the ORTs went off on time!

Here is my little monthly jar next to my big ORT container. Reluctantly, I included the dreadful Ball of Shame.

The little jar is now clean and ready to be filled with the next month's offerings. I think I'll offer the Ball of Shame to the birds. I really can't stand looking at the little sucker anymore! If you'd like to save your ORTs and show us the results every new moon there is a link in my sidebar for the TU SAL (Totally Useless Stitch-A-Long) We'd love for you to join in!

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I had the nicest surprise in my mailbox last week from Karen. She made these darling little note cards & folder and sent them as a thank-you gift for the RAK I sent her. Aren't they precious? She is obviously very talented at papercrafting! Thank you so much, Karen!

Thank you for visiting my blog today!

xox

The Ball of Shame

The dreadful frogging of my May Snapper block has been completed. Sadly, it went from this:

(See? I told you I was only an hour from finishing.)

To this:

Isn't that a horrid Ball of Shame? Now, to start anew...but first, I must comment ~ or is that file a complaint? ~ on the way I stitch. I have discovered (in the course of epic frogging) that I end every thread as though I were mooring the Titanic. This habit makes for tricky unpicking, let me tell you! Holy crows, that was hard work!

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Happy Happy. Joy Joy.

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I happened to stop by a local antique store for a browse yesterday and finally found myself a scissor frog! Then, to top that, I even came across a pretty milk glass container that fit it perfectly! *squee* All this joy for only $8. Can't beat that with a stick.

***you don't see all the clutter on my desk***

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Thank you for visiting my blog today!

xox

It's All Over But The Crying

Thank you all for the wonderful hugs of consolation on my last post. I am still quite sick over making such a huge mistake. After much pouting thinking, I have decided to frog. I could space everything out differently to make it work but I'm afraid that would leave the door open to the possibility of even more frogs farther down the line. The border, which I haven't even started, requires the correct spacing. Seriously, this design is freakin' simple. It should not be so hard to avoid frogs!

I am finished pouting. Finished fuming. I was so upset, I didn't even read blogs for three days! However, I've caught myself up yesterday and today...although I was so backlogged with posts, I did not leave many comments. Sorry!

Saturday, I went out for a little retail therapy with Jessie (my DD) and my sister. We visited lots of thrift and antique shops. I found buttons! A pair of tiny scissors (not of good quality, but homeless) and an old coffee can in fantastic shape. I thought the can would make a great button container. Still searching for flower frogs. Fruitlessly. No joy.

In the garden, the Clematis has exploded! Just beautiful! It makes the heart sing. If you look close you can see how many buds there are waiting to bloom.

When next I visit, perhaps I'll be done with the frogging and in a better mood. Once all the crying is over, May should not take more than a few days, right?

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Thank you for visiting my blog today

xox

To Frog or Not to Frog, That is the Question

I am an hour from finishing the May Snapper block when I notice a blankety blank blank blankie blank FROG! OMFG I stitched the ENTIRE freakin' block one stitch too close to April. I was so freaked out I set it aside and came to you for solace. I need hugs.

Now, what's to do? Do I frog this entire block? The one I'm so happy with because I was going to be finished with it three weeks early? Or, should I leave it and figure out a way to make it work? Any ideas how to fix this? Help! I've added a poll to the sidebar. Please vote. And send hugs. I really need hugs.

Thank you for visiting my blog today!

xox

May Stitching Blogger's Question

Lee from Lake Stitcher has brought the Stitching Blogger's Question back to life! She will be posting a new question for us to answer every month. I was terribly excited when I heard the news as this was one of the first things I "joined in on" as a new blogger.

Lee's first offering asks:

Suppose we say that there are two types of stitchers.

There are those who enjoy the “process” of stitching. They stitch for stitching’s sake and if something gets finished, so much the better, but it’s not necessarily the end goal. Primarily, it’s the application of needle and thread to cloth that makes them happiest.

Then there are those who are “project” stitchers. They move steadily through their projects, certainly enjoying their stitching time, but finding their greatest joy in the completed stitching.

If you had to pick one to describe yourself, which type of stitcher would you be? I imagine that we could all say that we fall somewhere in between, but really think hard about this and try to pick just one. And once you’ve decided whether you’re a Process or Project stitcher, tell us if your recognize that approach in other parts of your life.


I would say I am a "process stitcher." I stitch because I must. I stitch a certain project because it called the loudest to be stitched. If something calls louder the first project gets put aside and I'll start the new one, no problem. If I never get back to it, whatever! Unless it is a gift or an exchange item I usually have no great plans for a finished piece. My huge pile of finished but unfinished pieces can attest to this!

I do not find this is true in other areas of my life. The house gets thoroughly cleaned from top to bottom only so I can admire the "finished product." The garden gets an entire week of attention just to see the results.

Big thanks to Lee! Way to go, girl!

I had a wonderful weekend! Not only did I complete the April block as I planned but I was able to make good progress on the May block as well. Sunday, the weather was so fine I brought my stitching outside and spent a couple of hours enjoying it while I worked! And, guess where I am now? On the back patio with my laptop enjoying another glorious Spring day! I rarely "unplug" the laptop and move it from my stitching area so this is quite unusual!

Doesn't that looks fab? This block is fun stitching to do and I hope to complete it a lot faster than as I dawdled on April. And here is Ms. Ladybug with my almost worn out piecemaker. I think I'll send this little needle minder to a friend. She is too cute not to share!

Thank you for visiting my blog today!

xox

A request from my readers

Are you from...

Arizona

Arkansas

Connecticut

Delaware

Indiana

Massachusetts

Mississippi

Nebraska

Nevada

New Mexico

North Dakota

South Carolina

South Dakota

Vermont

West Virginia

Wyoming???

If so, Parsley needs your help. She is collecting postcards for a school project and she only needs these last few states represented!

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Thank you for visiting my blog today!

xox

April Glooms

Only one day late! Bent Creek's Snapper Year April Glooms is complete! I buckled down and stitched today. I even made a start on the May block as if to make up for being tardy with April. I am stitching with DMC instead of the recommended overdyes. I've changed the colors a bit in this one as the color called for in the letters (3787) was only one shade different than the raindrops. I think I used...crap, I don't remember! And tidy & efficient me has already filed them all away. Anyway, I am going to change colors as I feel the need. I don't think I mentioned this in the January block when I changed Mr. Snowman's carrot nose from a horrid dark brown to a more suitable carrot-y color.

Thank you all for the kind comments about my garden! I am so pleased to have it finished. It was good to get some sun and dirt under my nails. My overall mood has much improved with that needed sunlight and exercise. Yay for Spring time!

Thank you for visiting my blog today!

xox