Long Time No TUSAL

...and we're back! It's been nearly a year since I've posted a Totally Useless Stitch A Long update. My last TUSAL photo was of an empty jar and I've saved every ORT since then:

I stitched more than I thought I did this last year. However, I cannot remember what all I stitched! Bad stitching blogger!

My ORT jar is shown here with my current stitch, "Pear Tree" by Little House Needleworks. I've stitched this a time or two before and it's a very "zen" project. This stitch was chosen when I was going to spend all day at the hospital for Dash to have a procedure and I needed an easy travel stitch. 

The leaf bowl is full of sewing ORTs as I've finished quite a few projects, even a quilt! Maybe a quick pic of that sometime soon, if you'd like to see.

=^..^=

Now it is YOUR turn...we want to see your ORTs! Leave a comment on this post with a link to your January TUSAL post so we can come to visit! If I hold a Totally Useless giveaway your comment will earn you an extra entry.

Wondering what a TUSAL is and why all these people are posting pictures of rubbish? Click here to learn more and join the fun!

Thank you for visiting my blog today!

xox

Treats

I have been treating myself whenever I can. Little indulgences that make life sweeter. Yesterday I treated myself to a mani-pedi:

Life is definitely sweeter with bubblegum pink toenails, right?

I treat myself every now and again with a thrift store shopping trip with my dad, who can ferret out the best shops to go to. On one of these trips, I found these Wilson pattern boxes. They are perfect to store sewing supplies in!

Don't you love those retro colors? They certainly brighten up my studio.

I treated myself to this Hyacinth and to a couple of Amaryllis (flowers not shown) that now have taken over the kitchen window. The Hyacinth smells up the entire kitchen with a yummy scent.

These may not be the treat they appeared because my nose gets stuffy every time I'm home! I guess the allergies are worth having flowers in wintertime.

What do you treat yourself to?

Thank you for visiting my blog today!

xox

Stuff and Thangs

The Walking Dead fans will recognize the reference in the title of this post, others will read it as my Okie accent bleeding through!

Lots of stuff has happened while I was off gathering myself. I finished Merry Sunshine:

Design ~ Merry Sunshine

Designer ~ La D Da

Fabric ~ 32 count Daffycat-Dyed Lugana

Fiber ~ Gentle Arts

I adore this finish. Merry was such a pleasure to stitch. I really enjoy stitching letters and words and La D Da really made some fun ones to stitch!

I got another tattoo:

The verse reads:

Take a Breath

Gently Blow

Spread Your Dreams

Let Them Grow

A little tribute to my Mom (who loved growing things) inspired by Silver Creek Samplers design "Dandy Dreams." Have I shocked you? Have I even ever mentioned I like tattoos???

I also taught myself to cuff too-short jeans into capri pants, as shown in the picture.

I think maybe I freaked everyone out enough for one day!

Thank you for visiting my blog today!

xox

I Can't Stop Loving You

My deepest apologies for neglecting my blog for so long. My mother's death threw me off my center for a long time. The new job was a godsend helping me deal with my grief and I am approaching my one-year anniversary of working there.  

Shortly after my mother"s death, I happened to hear a Ray Charles song, "I Can't Stop Loving You" and it became my anthem and solace in these sad days. One of the verses always spoke to me and I could picture them, a tiny tribute, stitched in pink.

They say that time heals a broken heart

But time has stood still since we've been apart.

I left it on my mother's pillow near the anniversary. 

My dad told me later it was her favorite song.

I never knew.

Thank you for visiting my blog today!

xox