I've had such a Crabby Year!

I can't believe I actually did it! I made a stitching goal and stuck with it. I am so proud of myself. ***serious happy dancing***

Presenting Crabby All Year in all it's freakin' expensive buttons (hem) buttoned splendor!

Design ~ Crabby All Year

Designer ~ Raise The Roof Designs

Fabric ~ Silkweaver 32 count Lugana, Days Gone By

Fiber ~ DMC

Embellishments ~ Just Another Button Company

A couple of closer shots in case you were interested.

This was a truly fun journey and I've had a blast sharing it with you. You were always there leaving kind comments and words of encouragement and I thank you so very much. Stitching Crabby has been so delightful that I am now addicted to monthly stitches. I only hope my next yearly project is as enjoyable. If you'd like to see the entire Crabby experience click here. Carol, the quick measurements I took revealed it was approximately 11 x 15.5 inches. Give or take a little because the buttons stick out along the stitched edges in some places.

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Thank you for visiting my blog today!

xox

Crabby December Bills

This big block of blue was such a stumbling block for me. It took me forever to gather enough mojo to get it finished. Once the blue was done the rest went zippety-split even the back-stitching and the personalization. I really wanted to do my "real" signature on the check but as it's a swirly scribble no one would know what it was! I settled for the scripted name instead. The idea for this comes from none other than our own Missy Ann who stitched Crabby last year. Missy, where are you? It's been weeks, girl!

Now that I've had this mini happy dance, I'm gearing up for the major all-nighter, party 'till you drop, hoop-la! I should have a final Crabby All Year "the big reveal" post for you before the end of the year. OMG ...that's in three days! I'd better get busy!

Thank you for visiting my blog today!

xox

I'm still here...

It has just been a quiet time for me. After the November marathon blogging of NaBloPoMo I didn't feel much like blogging. Then, I've been having a bit of trouble with my internet connection which goes out at the most inconvenient times. I've been able to keep up with your posts in my feed reader but haven't always been able to connect long enough to make many comments. Thus, my relative silence. This post has been trying to be made all this last week but the connection has been lost every time I set myself to do it!

There hasn't been much stitching either! You'd think having no internet would give me loads of stitching time but no...I just sat and pouted. I have a made a little start on Crabby December.

But this is all. This block has been difficult to get motivated on and I'm not sure why. Maybe it's that huge chunk of light blue to stitch, or the fact that this is the last block to go? I will get it finished come hell or high water...

Look what arrived last week! This lovely ornament from Lisa, along with a Christmas present! I'm so excited! Thank you so much for thinking of me this year, Lisa!

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I am waiting on pins & needles for the fabric to arrive from Silkweaver for next year's monthly project. Oh yes, and the January chart as well. I have all the other months for Snapper Year but the January one was backordered. I really hope it arrives before the big day! Keep your fingers crossed for me!

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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

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

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

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

Zombie Jamboree

Holy carp, did the music scare you half to death? Yes, much as I (personally) detest blog music, I couldn't resist sharing a few of my favorite Halloween songs with you. Just clicky the pause button and turn it off if it drives you nuts. I'll remove it when I get tired of it, lol.

It's Crabby October!

I listened to Halloween music all day while finishing up Zombies. Here it is in all it's glory. I added the buttons for the photograph since the little sun makes up part of the design. This one went by much too fast. My favorite block and it's already finished. ***cries***

By the way, the Traveling Pattern is on the move again! Sara at Sara's Simple Stitching has finished her up (beautifully!) and is ready to send her on! Will you be the next to join the Sisterhood? Good luck!

Thank you for visiting my blog today!
xox

Please meet Merry

OMG

OMG

OMG

When I arrived home after work I found I have an unexpected houseguest. Would you all please say hello to my new friend, Merry, who's come all the way to Oklahoma from England to stay with me! Merry wears the most beautiful red frock with a lovely tartan scarf. Isn't she the sweetest? Merry has already been quite busy since she arrived.

She has been helping with my blogging.

Merry snuggled with Sheba!

Then, Merry met Taco. Taco was so excited she kept rubbing on Merry. This nearly knocked Merry off the floss cabinet! It was also difficult to get a clear picture with all that happy rubbing. Calm down, Taco!

Merry also helped a bit with the October Crabby block.

A big thank you to Julie for sending Merry my way! I adore her. I've wanted (coveted) one of Julie's precious bunnies since I saw the first one she made! Thank you so much Julie!

>^..^<

Thank you for visiting my blog today!

xox

Crabby for Autumn

I'm exhausted.

Do you see the huge pile of Leaves I've had to deal with this month? It must be Autumn if there are this many leaves about! My favorite time of year. Crabby All Year's Leaves was fun and although that enormous leaf pile was a booger, it went really quickly once I settled myself to it.

Now for the requisite quarterly photo of Crabby All Year. This one means I am three quarters finished! WooHoo!

Truly enjoying this project. I don't think I've ever had as much fun with a project. I will be rather sad when this year is over and Crabby is finished. What could I ever stitch next year that could top this???

>^..^<

Thank you for visiting my blog today!

xox

Dreary Crabby Weekend

It is a dreary, rainy, cloudy, Crabby weekend. Incessant rain, coming up from Texas, doesn't look to be ending any time soon. Simply perfect weather to sit down with a cuppa tea (thanks Denis & Frances) and pick up my stitching.

First up is the Harvest Pumpkins floss tag. I finished it! I was thrilled to find a copper colored eyelet in my stash as it matches perfectly. This little gem is packed up ready to be mailed tomorrow as a little surprise for someone that reads my blog. I'm linking this post with the free cross stitch posts, to show the finish photo. Sorry for those expecting another free pattern!

I had another finish yesterday as well...my Lizzie Kate Exchange is complete and will be in the mail tomorrow. It turned out way too darling and I really, really wanted to keep it for myself. Damn, am I greedy! I can't wait to show you the picture when it arrives.

After all that finishing, I was ready for some serious stitching. Here is where I am on Crabby All Year September. As of last night, anyway. I hope to get chronic stitch-ass by bedtime tonight.

Thank you for visiting my blog today!

xox

Crabby Weeds

I had a great weekend. On Saturday, I finished up the August block of Crabby All Year...Weeds! I really love the tiny dandelion seeds ~ too cute! I'm thinking the brownish-green weeds might be crabgrass? What do you think?! This was a quick stitch, as most of the blocks are, and very enjoyable to work on. I think I'm ready for summer to be over. The hot weather should give way to autumn soon. I'm looking forward to stews and chili and a big pot of beans, ham and cornbread, oooo ~ chicken & dumplings...yum. Cooking heats up the house so much we just don't do much of it in the summer. We grill outside, eat cold sandwiches or get take-out. I want roasted turkey, baked ham and can you tell I'm tired of eating out?

Thank you for visiting my blog today!

xox

Still Crabby in August

I can't believe how well I've kept up on this project. I've been soooo good. There hasn't been a single month that I've started early or finished late...it's been right on schedule. I've even done other stitching in-between-times and I haven't gotten bored or lazy! A lot of this has to do with blogging about it, I think. You all are such great cheerleaders! Thanks!

Thank you for visiting my blog today!

xox

July Heat

Our hot, hot, hot weather has finally ended, I think. We had so many days over 100 degrees but near the end of the week it dropped back into the high nineties and today was in the high eighties. I can live with 85!

Presenting: Crabby All Year's July Heat! Apt block this month, isn't it? Missy Ann, you were right, this was the fastest block! I zoomed right through. For this picture I placed the buttons where they will be stitched on. This months' buttons are kind of the whole point of the block and I thought it would look better with them. These aren't really egg buttons. It's sand dollars and round yellow-orange ones...but they do look like eggs ~ clever!

With the extreme heat, we've had to keep the house shut up. No curtains opened, lights off and fans going. Even still, the air conditioning never stopped running. Today, Taco enjoyed bird watching with the drapes open next to my stitchy chair. She is trying to see the hummingbird on the other side of the feeder!

I've started the Traveling pattern today and should be able to show you a WIP photo tomorrow.

Oh, yeah, before I forget...they have put our new roof on. Now we are waiting for the siding contractors to start (maybe this coming week.) I have taken "before" photos and can't wait to see the improvements!

Thank you for visiting my blog today!

xox

Scottish Recipe Giveaway

There is often something cooking around our house. Jessie loves to cook and really enjoys trying out international recipes. We have had epic failures and some truly fantastic discoveries. Cock-a-leeky soup and scones have become favorites...and there is something she's been dying to make involving ox tails but the store never has them when she has time to cook!

Over at Scotland for the Senses is a great giveaway for a Scottish Recipe book! Go do a little blethering on the blog and maybe you will win it. Hurry, it's over with next Monday! Best of all are the really awesome photos of Scotland...

Here is my pitiful progress on Crabby All Year's July...

Thank you for visiting my blog today!

xox

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!

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Thank you for visiting my blog today!

xox

Crabby Rabbits

It's been a while since you've gotten a glimpse of Crabby, hasn't it? May's stitching went pretty fast, especially considering I didn't get started on it until the 16th. This was a very quick and easy block and really fun to stitch. Hum, I'm not exactly pleased with the three-strand Lazy Daisies and I might pull them out and try two threads. What do you think?

Here is Crabby All Year to date. Cute! I wish I could put the buttons on already. I might have to get them out and see what they will look like...if I do I'll get a photo for you.

Now, this is supposed to be a stitch-a-long project but I'm not sure who's still with me. Updates please, girls!

It took me an hour to get a photo of mom & dad House finch, who have five eggs now. I sat in the chair on the patio waiting for them to come to the feeder. Although I could hear them on the roof above me chattering (perhaps discussing whether or not I was safe to eat in front of) they wouldn't land in front of the camera. I finally got tired of sitting there and went to look at my gardens. When I turned around I was able to snap this picture of the pair on the phone lines. That is dad on the right. Best I could do...sorry, Jo. Am I still forgiven?

Thank you for visiting my blog today!

xox

Finally finished

Yes, my Crabby Taxes is done! Except for the long stitches that go across the 1040 form; I'll wait until all the squares are stitched before adding these. That block of light blue was taxing, let me tell you! See? No penalty accrued, Ranae!!!

Cathey wondered what my new WIP is so I borrowed a photo from Olga's blog. Olga of Olenka's Stitches designed the most beautiful biscornu with wisteria, butterflies and bumblebees. I fell in lo-ove! A quick email, an even quicker reply, an easy PayPal payment and this beauty was mine. I've been looking for a biscornu to stitch and this one is perfect! Olga has more gorgeous pictures on her blog, so go visit. Not my fault, if you cannot resist, fair warning!

We are off to Tulsa today to watch our Talons play so I'll have Rick drop me by the Silver Needle to get the supplies. Hopefully, I'll be able to get a start on this tomorrow! I say, to hell with the housework, anyway!

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Thank you for visiting my blog today!

xox

For "slaters," read "woodlice."

Curious title? I'm feeling mischievous, I think! That's a line from the first book Outlander in my favorite series by Diana Gabaldon. I spent the last few days devouring the Twilight series by Stephenie Myer. I read too fast...I should have made them last...I should have savored; but I gobbled them up and now I can't "get into" any of the books I've tried to read. So, I'll re-read an old favorite (for the umpteenth time) and that should 'fix' things. If you haven't yet discovered the wonders of Diana Gabaldon, you are missing out! Jamie and Claire have the best love story since Romeo and Juliet.

MAIL!!!

Holly had a giveaway to celebrate her first blogoversary and I won. I won, I won! I hit the mother load, folks! Holly outdid herself with the goodies.

What is in the pretty, sparkly lavender paper? What could it be?

Wow! Jelly Belly jellybeans, a Mill Hill button, a Doodles ~ Daisy Bouquet, bunny thread-drops, marking pins from My Big Toe Designs, a darling reindeer charm, "S" initial seals, a lovely note pad, a skein of WDW Confetti (a huge favorite of mine) and to top things off a gorgeous little lamb needle minder. All the goodies were tucked inside a mini zippered bag.

This was an awesome giveaway, Holly! Thank you so much!

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There was a question...How did I get my Easter eggs so bright? Well, we used the standard Paas egg coloring kit. We had 12 eggs and 12 colors. We also have no small children impatient to see the dyed eggs so we put them in the dye and let them sit a long time. A long time. Holy smokes they got colored!

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Crabby Taxes is still not finished. I wonder if reading four huge books in less than two weeks has anything to do with it? I only have a small bit left and over a week to do it in, so no worries. However...I just purchased a gorgeous design. I plan to gather the supplies for it this weekend so be watching for a new WIP!

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Thank you for visiting my blog today!

xox