Jardin January Wrap-up

This month was full of fun stitching! My Theme-a-licious plans went like clockwork. I stitched one fourth of my BAP Challenge project! Actually, I stitched a little bit more than shown here but the lovely purple flowers I stitched in the next block to the right of the bird were stitched one space too far down. I was NOT happy when I discovered things weren't lining up. Damn frogs. However, I am pleased I was able to complete so much this month.

Yup, still linty...and I see a big fuzzy. It will get lint rollered someday. Trust me, "rollered" is a real word in my house. I don't care what spell check says.

Coming up tomorrow (how can it be February?) starts Fangirl February: "Send a Valentine to your favorite designer...or at least work on his or her designs for the month!" My favorite designer is Bent Creek or at least ONE of my favorites anyway. I'm thinking I shall stitch this:

Bent Creek's "Bad Hare Day"





It only needs kitting up...I love kitting up almost as much as putting in that first stitch. Before I can kit, I must start laundry and empty the dishwasher. Housework is not high up on the list of things I want to do this afternoon but it must be done!

You can see links to everyone's Jardin January posts here.

Thank you for visiting my blog today!

xox

Double Whammy

I want to welcome everyone to the first official Totally Useless post of 2012! Welcome too all the new members of the Stitch-A-Long. Big thanks to those posting their ORT report and linking back to my blog!

Note: TUSALers leaving a comment with the link to their ORT report on this post will receive "extra credit" in the end of the year giveaway!

Here is my ORT report for January's New Moon. What an awesomely full ORT jar. I stitched my fingers to the bone from the looks of these ORTs! I will dump my jar into my big jar before I stitch any today. Don't worry if you are adding next month's on top of this month's ORTs or if you are dumping the contents of the jar in the trash...you do what YOU want to. Me, I'm psychotic about saving ORTs ~ I'd probably carry one back into the house if I found it in the car!

If you'd like to join in on this Totally Useless endeavor click here to sign up!

Since this was my first International Hermit and Stitch Weekend I took full advantage and started stitching the second I got home from work on Friday afternoon. Between loads of laundry and a little house-cleaning here and there I got so much done. Look ~ a bird!



The Finery of Nature is really growing fast! I was tickled to see a bit of blended thread in the design. Nothing like a Teresa Wentzler let's-blend-every-thread insanity ~ just enough to give a bit of bling. The bird section is close to being finished...backstitching saved until the end. I stitch in hand and I'd rather wait so the threads don't go fuzzy.

Thank you for visiting my blog today!

xox

The Totally Useless Winner

It is about time I announce the winner of the 2011 Totally Useless SAL Giveaway, isn't it? More on that later...first I want to show you the total prize box. Sound like fun?

Here are all the charts:

The fabrics:

The fibers:

The finishing fabrics:

The handmade items and a couple of crafty things:

The kits:

The tools:

Isn't this a fabulous prize for the lucky winner? All of these items were sent to me by your fellow TUSALers to give to the winner of the giveaway. There are a couple of donations that are to be sent directly to the winner by individual parties. Those parties can contact the winner directly. Wait! Who is it, you ask? Oh, yeah...I nearly forgot!

Big congratulations to Catherine of Bramblewood Stitches! Thank you so much for being a part of this Totally Useless adventure.

I wanted to remind everyone that the 2012 Totally Useless Stitch-A-Long has begun. You can click the link here for information on how to sign up. I am NOT accepting donations for the giveaway this year but there will still be prizes.

Also a reminder that the first New Moon of 2012 is tomorrow so get those ORT jars shined up and ready for their debut!

Thank you for visiting my blog today!

xox

Guilty Pleasures

I am not a zombie girl. Not much for slasher films either. I've never seen any of the Saw movies but I admit I may have seen Halloween and A Nightmare on Elm Street in my younger, wilder days. But zombies ~ how hokey is that?

I have become addicted to a zombie show. Hopelessly. Addicted. I am suffering withdrawal since season 2 is on a bit of a break until February 12. Don't call me on the 12th. Don't email. I'll be busy. Until then, I'm re-watching season 1 on Netflix and the first half of season 2 on DVR...for like the millionth time. The Walking Dead is so totally freaking awesome. And I am NOT a zombie girl.

If you haven't watched The Walking Dead on AMC because you aren't a zombie fan, you might be missing out! This show isn't really about the zombies but the zombies are an integral part of the story. This is a story about people. These characters are incredible ~ with all the faults and complexities of real people and the zombie bits (pun intended, sorry!) are done completely realistically, as if this horror really happens. I'm hoping AMC keeps this show in their line-up.

With eye candy like that, why would I watch anything else?

Tell me your guilty pleasure. Even if you are into zombies.

Thank you for visiting my blog today!

xox

Jardin January

Our Theme-a-licious for January is to relax in the gardens after the stressful holidays just past. We are to stitch on any piece with flowers or gardens. My Finery of Nature sure fits the bill...although I'm not sure exactly how relaxing it is to stitch ~ I'm too terribly excited about stitching on it! The colors are so vivid on the black Jobelan that every time I have introduced a new color my heart soars.

I'm still learning how to photograph on the dark background and yes, it's linty. But isn't it luscious? It has been quite a challenge to become accustomed to stitching on black and I'm glad to say the frogs are disappearing with practice. I will definitely be stitching more on black after this!

You can see every one's progress in their Jardin January stitches by visiting this link here. You are also welcome to join us the entire year for some fun stitching and some awesome blog prompts!

Thank you for visiting my blog today!

xox

Ch ch ch Changes

Those of you visiting my blog today may notice the new header and background. This is a work-in-progress  so  forgive the dust and confusion of construction! It may be completely different when next you visit and there is quite a bit of tweaking that needs to be done.

I know, I know...I've had the same header photo for forever. I get stuck in a rut! BUT I happened to see Jessie's new header on her blog and I made her draw me one. My daughter has been playing with a new graphic program and creating pictures like this:

She calls this "speed painting" and has it done in under an hour. I'm guessing it's an exercise designed to increase skill? Wow! You must visit her blog and see the pretty Blue Jay too. Jessie also has her art posted on this site here. Really, this amazing person is my child?

Thank you, Jessie!

Thank you for visiting my blog today!

xox

WIPocalypse Now

First full moon of the year that means it's WIPocalypse time! I'm literally astonished at my progress so far. This is unheard of in my stitching chair. The border got a little repetitive so I stitched a couple of flowers before I unstuck my rear from the chair. This project must be really interesting to me for me to stitch so much so fast.

Still linty. Don't look too close.

I find I'm frogging a bit more than usual. The dark fabric makes it difficult to see holes and I keep missing or adding a hole. At least I'm in the habit of checking to see if things are lining up so I catch it before I get too far but now I'm nervous I'll miss one and not catch it before it's really far gone! Dratted frogs.

If you would like to join us for WIPocalypse and "stitch like it's the end of the world" ~ click here!

I know I am supposed to make a list for WIPocalypse. I can't do it. Don't get me wrong, I love lists in general. Shopping lists, things to do lists, things I want lists ~ all of them! But I can't make a list of to-stitch items without feeling completely overwhelmed and becoming very stressed out. Since this is my hobby the last thing I want to do is get stressed about it! I haven't had a "real" loss of mojo in ten or twelve years so I am NOT risking it. My WIPocalypse list will have to remain the vague thoughts in my head and the pile of charts in my basket. I guess I could show you the basket:

Now, how is that for a list? You see why I could get a little freaked out? I admit I have no self control when it comes to my hobby. Now that we all have that straight lets just say for WIPocalypse I'd like to complete The Finery of Nature, make some progress on each of my long-time WIPs as seen in the left sidebar and fill in the gaps with designs from my basket. I will make every effort to go through the basket and sort it into some kind of reasonable order at some point. I heard those snickers! Stop laughing!

Thank you for visiting my blog today!

xox

Thrilled

Someone threw this jar in the trash at work and I happened to find it before it disappeared. Can you believe someone would throw away a perfectly good ORT jar? I rushed it right home and washed it and filled it with my ORTs. This is at least twice as big as my old jar plus it photographs with much less glare. My old jar was a gift from Jessie, my daughter. I hope she doesn't mind me replacing it! Sorry, kiddo!

I've had a couple of hours free to stitch on The Finery of Nature. Sadly, this does not photograph as well as the new jar. Ugh, black fabric is hard to shoot! I will figure out the best way to take this one's photo before I'm done stitching. For now, will you please excuse the lint and odd colors?

I'm enjoying the stitching but I keep being insanely distracted by fuzzies. You can't see these fuzzies when stitching on lighter colored fabrics unless it happens to be a black-dog-hair fuzzy. On this black background I see them ALL. I keep "picking" at them. Oh gee ~ they are all over the place! My advice ~ buy stock in companies that make lint rollers. They are sure to gain before I'm through with this project. 

We had great news! Sheba's last blood test was normal! The doctor has prescribed a heart medication and a vitamin supplement. The heart medicine is so her heart does not have to work as hard and this should give her a little more energy. The supplement is for joint health. Sheba is feeling much better these days. She isn't quite up to tennis ball fetching like a pup but now and again she has been getting out a stuffy-toy and shaking it to pieces. Her neck is dreadfully itchy. Not sure if this is the incision or the shaved fur but we have spent a lot of time rubbing a stubbly neck lately! Thanks again to everyone for all the well wishes for Sheba. Much appreciated!

Thank you for visiting my blog today!

xox

Joining In The Fun

I'm not usually a "joiner." You know...the girl that has two dozen club/church/friendship groups to go to every week? I am shy and quiet and usually tend to go my own way. But 2012 looks like there are loads of awesome things to do online!

First up comes the TUSAL. This one is easy since I've been hosting for the past year! TUSAL posts on the NEW moon each month.

Then there is Measi's WIPocalypse. This one should be fun since there is an overflowing bin of things that want stitching and an overloaded WIP bin of stuff that needs working on. WIPocalypse posts on the FULL moon each month.

Next we have Joysze's International Hermit and Stitch Weekend. There is nothing I like better than a do-not-disturb-stitching-session! IHSW "meets" the 3rd weekend of each month, posting on the Monday following.

There is also Heather's Theme-a-licious to follow! Every month is a fun theme to stitch too. It will be fun trying to come up with interesting posts each month. Theme-a-licious posts on the 15th and again on the last day each month.

Finally, we have Becky's BAP Challenge. This is a project to stitch between January 1st and December 31st of 2012. The project must be at least 10 x 12 and not a current WIP. There is a prize to be given away (a $100 GC) drawn from those that finish their project. This challenge is a post-any-time but does need to be updated when there is progress.

Holy crows! I'm gonna be so busy! I wonder if there is anything left out there for me to join?

So this brings me to that picture I'm teasing you with up there! That is Dimensions The Finery of Nature, a kit I have had in my stash for years. I will be starting this for the BAP Challenge which also takes up the Theme-a-licious of Jardin January. Starting this one will also count towards my WIPocalypse goal of reducing my unworked-but-wanting-to-stitch stash. I should be able to make good progress during the International Hermit and Stitch weekends, filling up that ORT jar for the TUSAL.

I hope I can remember all this stuff.

I'm in the process of kitting up this kit. Yeah, I said that right. It came as a kit but I just don't like it! First off, I didn't like the aida ~ toss ~ replaced with 28 count black Jobelan. Then I couldn't bring myself to use the yucky threads it came with. Today I matched them all up with DMC and I will buy those after work tomorrow. I'd be really mad if I ran out of a color after I had a major frog. DMC is just safer, even if it is only in my head. I am excited about my new start!

I do have quite a few other things in my stash that need stitching too. Updates will follow. If I don't get lost.

Thank you for visiting my blog today!

xox