Pear Progress

Progress on the pears is slow but any progress is good, right?

If it's got letters, I'll probably want to stitch it. Combine letters and pears and I'll have to stitch it, probably more than once! Note this May 2014 TUSAL post, complete with letters and pear. I wonder why I never posted a finish of that project? This is supposed to be a stitching blog after all! That was right around the time I started quilting...hmmm...interesting.

Thank you for visiting my blog today!

xox

Catching Up. Slow Stitching. A Winner. Face it, this is a mishmash...

I got behind in my blog reading! It is truly amazing how fast the number of posts in Google Reader goes up when you aren't looking. It's being pared down but I find myself snapping from one blog to the next with no comments being left. I'm reading, enjoying your stitching and your life updates but forgive me if I haven't commented lately. Once I catch up, I will be my usual chatty self.

Stitching is still slow. How can you concentrate on stitching when your reader has a gazillion unread posts? But I'm close to a finish on Blackbird Designs Small Token. This is going to make the prettiest pin pillow. I'm looking forward to the finishing.

I can announce the next stitcher on the Traveling Pattern in my recent post...Jan of Stitching Cats is it! Congratulations Jan! I will be in contact for your mailing address.

In case you missed it, I have a new freebie posted yesterday. You can clicky the cat in my left sidebar to see all my freebie designs, they are all still available for the asking. By the way...who is ready for a new reindeer freebie? Anyone?

Thank you for visiting my blog today!

xox

Ornament Progress

A quick post today. I've made some progress toward ornamentifying this afternoon. Today I sewed on the teeniest buttons. I found these unexpectedly at Hobby Lobby last Saturday and was thrilled to discover they fit this project! This has been languishing in my finished bin wanting buttons. I stitched this last year but did it over one, not thinking it needed buttons and even the smallest I had were way too big. I could have used beads but I really, really wanted buttons. I'm so glad I waited!

After I sewed on the buttons and chose a backing fabric (green & tan gingham) I ironed lightweight interfacing on both pieces. Maybe tomorrow I will have time to sew it together.

For those that have asked, this is Plum Berry Sampler from Bent Creek. Yes, if you open that link you will see mine looks very little like the original. I modified the colors and gave the birdie a top-knot to make this into a Christmas design.

Thank you for visiting my blog today!

xox

Two Weeks

Yes, it's been two weeks since I've updated my blog. Shame on me! My apologies, life gets in the way. I figured I'd better give you all an update before I lose all my readers!

First up is Happy Flag Flag Day. Still working on it. Should have been finished by now. (Re-read the quip above about life getting in the way and insert here.) Correction to last post about this design: I'm an idiot! This is NOT a Bent Creek design ~ it is a Trilogy design. I know, same difference but it needed to be said!

Still fun to stitch even if those stripes are a booger and a half. The Fourth of July is coming up quick ~ will I finish? Stay tuned!

This cute teapot appeared at my door. Wow! An RAK from Lindsay of Caring Stitcher. Isn't it cute? It's teeny ~ maybe four inches tall. I adore it to pieces. Thank you, Lindsay!

Then, these adorable little scissors came from Kim of Sense and Stitchability as a donation to the Totally Useless giveaway. I'm very excited things are still trickling in! Thank you, Kim!

Other than stitching, what else have I been up to?

*Melting. Oklahoma has been hot. With very little rain. I was worried already about this coming summer. The entire United States was covered in blizzards all winter. Then we all had horrible rain/flooding/tornadoes in the spring. What else could one expect but dreadful summer temperatures and drought this season? I just want some decent weather, dammit!

*Playing Dog Chef. Sheba took quite a while to recover from her tummy upset. She was able to eat nothing except brown rice, yogurt and cottage cheese for a long time. She is fully recovered now and is happily eating dog kibble again. She lost a lot of weight but it looks good on her as she was a bit of a porker anyway!

*Shopping. Rick went out of town and I went crazy. Suddenly tired of wearing ratty old tshirts and faded jeans I took myself out and bought clothes. I came home and threw away nearly everything in my closet. I will admit to saving a couple of ratty things for dirty jobs like painting! This is actually a REALLY BIG THING for me. I hate clothes shopping with a passion.

*Crying. I attended the funeral of my friends 27 day old grandson who died in a tragic accident. Funerals are never fun but this one was especially sad. This is now on the "definitely never want to do ever again" list.

*Planning. I want to go away. I really don't care where, just away. I need a vacation! Really, really bad.

Thank you for visiting my blog today!

xox

A Start, A Quirk and A Plug

With all the patriotic holidays clustered in these few weeks I was drawn to this design for my new start:

It's Bent Creek's Happy Flag Flag Day. I just love sampler designs with a small image and an alphabet. And Bent Creek has a lot of this type. Not much stitched yet ~ I was thwarted in my starting by a printer that was out of ink. I always copy my chart so I can scribble on it, make color changes and mark stitches. It's not even funny how I couldn't get goin' without that working copy! To my credit, I was finally able start stitching before getting that copy made but I feel ever so much better with a scrap chart I can trash!

Did this cure my startitis? Nope. Afraid not! I do have an exchange coming up for the Ornament Swap and I am sorting Christmas designs to see what is calling to be stitched for Lisa. Woot ~ another new start and I can't wait!

Off topic, I've discovered a new blogger at News from Nunnery Farm. It's not cross stitch or crafting but Leanne has enough funny animal stories to keep me enthralled. Such as ones about little Dave here, photo shamelessly stolen from her blog:

If you visit be sure to tell Leanne who sent you!

Thank you for visiting my blog today!

xox

One For Me and One For You

Here is the one for me:

This darling ornament is from Karen of Karen's Handiwork. Every month Karen stitches two identical Christmas ornaments. One is for her own tree and the other is an "exchange" gift for one of her followers. I adore Bent Creek designs and Karen's finishing is just lovely. Jealous, aren't you? Well, you might be chosen next ~ but only if you are one of her followers, right? You know what to do!

Here is the one for you:

Design ~ Woodland Joy

Designer ~ Something In Common

Fabric ~ 32 count Daffycat-dyed I Can't Remember Fabric

Fiber ~ DMC as charted

Well ~ actually for Angela of Hooked on Stitches! This was for our Ornament Swap group. It's Angela's turn to receive so keep an eye out to see what everyone stitched for her! I used my new favorite edging technique on this one, ribbon and beads and the red-checked fabric is the backing. I did use brown thread for the eyes because the white French Knots as charted kinda made them look like zombie owls! I know I saved Woodland Joy from Something In Common's website years ago. It was a freebie. The site is gone now ~ so sad.

Because I get a lot of, "Oh, your stitching is so perfect. I could never be as good as you!" comments and emails ~ I must show you this next photo:



ROFLMAO This is the border part of Angela's ornament. The left hand one is correct. The right side one is WRONG! Because ~ I can't follow directions. I gathered up all my supplies, printed off the chart and merrily started stitching. In fact, I actually took this to work with me when we had a heavy snowstorm and I knew it would be a long, boring day. Once I finished the border, something kept bugging me. It just didn't look right. What is wrong? Oh, the instructions say ONE thread and I used TWO. *sigh* PLUS I stitched the inner backstitched border green and it's supposed to be red. *sigh* I really, really can't follow directions! And even once again, I forgot to stitch "Daffycat" at the bottom. See? Not so perfect. You just can't see my pile of scrap starts, nor do I always show off those bits I toss angrily into the trash...

Thank you for visiting my blog today!

xox

Blogger Problems?

Everyone is having Blogger problems since the failed update several days ago. Please, be patient while they iron all the bugs out! I do notice a LOT of problems with commenting lately. If you have trouble commenting on a blog try to contact the blog owner and let them know. The fix is easy. I've even posted about it before!

Change your comment form to the pop-up window type.

Easy as pie, I promise!

Go to:

Dashboard

Settings

Comments

Comment Form Placement

Choose POP-UP WINDOW
Save

Once that is done people will have no trouble with the run-around-sign-in-error-anonymous-post bug! And they can leave thrilling comments on your latest gorgeous stitching!

You say you've already done this back when I told you before? Well, if you have played around with your layout since then it may have reverted back! Go check. You don't want to miss receiving those comments!

Speaking of gorgeous stitching...Dandy Dreams is coming along.

 



There would have been more stitching, possibly even a finish here, if it hadn't been for catching a rotten, crummy cold...on top of having a dog with an intestinal bug that left her squirting poo on my carpets. So I've been coughing and snotting while poking various pills down Sheba's throat and cleaning carpet. Actually, it is probably a good thing I can't smell...

Thank you for visiting my blog today!

xox

A Bit O' the Green

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

I was out of green food color so I couldn't dye my after-work beer green for the holiday. Poo. I was so disappointed! However, I was pleased the green fabric showed up better in this snap of my bunny. Fabric color is always so iffy when you take a photo, isn't it? I haven't had much stitching time this week. There was a project I've been doing at work and I've come home exhausted every evening. The good thing is, I had to come home early today and will have to again tomorrow or I will be in overtime.

Once I get this flower in, there is only the background to stitch. I'm looking forward to seeing him come alive when he gets his whiskers & eyes. I do believe he will become a scissor fob. There is a problem though...I want silk ribbon for the edging. I have no silk ribbon. I am also terribly allergic to silk so I don't want to buy any. So I have a request...Is there anyone that has a couple of feet of 4mm Mauve silk ribbon (the kind used for ribbon embroidery) they could send to me? You would be such a blessing! I'd like to try it out before I go buying stuff I can't use. I am hoping, hoping, hoping I can use my Gloves In A Bottle lotion and not have a reaction.

Thank you for visiting my blog today!

xox

A Bunny For Spring

I made a new start yesterday. Just a little one. From my birthday stash, I kitted up the Bent Creek Bunny, chose a nice spring green fabric I dyed last year and pulled the DMC colors. The first thing I do with any Bent Creek I'm stitching with DMC is check the colors to the model photograph. They never match!

See the light sand colored #613? That was the color listed for the brown of the bunny. No, not the pale tummy...the brown! I substituted this nice color #3862 in brown. One that actually matches. Now, I know this was "designed" for overdyed cotton ~ but still!

I only had a few minutes of stitching on this and I'm already enjoying it immensely! This little bunny will make a nice scissor fob or pin pillow. I've been stitching for suprise exchange and I do get a little frustrated not being able to share at least a little stitching!

Now, if you will excuse me...

I made toffee cream scones and tea.

Thank you for visiting my blog today!

xox

My Title is in Question

I might lose my title of The Queen of Slow Stitching if I keep this up. Look at my weekend progress on Count Your Blessings:

This design is such a pleasure to stitch, you wouldn't believe. The colors are fun, the fabric is lovely and the frogs...well, it must be too cold for frogs. I am in need of a bit of advice. The windows are stitched as charted. Do they look odd to you? Kind of blank? Do you think I should fill them in like the door window is filled? Hummm...

Here is a little peek at a Totally Useless prize that has come from Loredana in Croatia. Loredana blogs at Villa Loredana.

Isn't the mesh bag pretty? It's filled with lovely threads and a sweet sachet kit with Pansies to stitch. Thank you, Loredana!

And there are even more TUSAL giveaway prizes awaiting showing off! I will get to them as soon as I have time.

A major snowstorm is expected overnight. They are calling it snowmagedden. *blank stare* While I enjoy the excitement of getting a snowfall I can do without snowmagedden. Thankyouverymuch. Actually, Oklahoma has really had it easy this Winter with some very cold weather but only one ice/snow event. So I shouldn't complain. But I am a wimp and I hate driving in snow and ice and I can't miss work. *cries* Pity me, if only a little bit.

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Thank you for visiting my blog today!

xox

New Start

It has been a good stitching week! (Not such a good blog week ~ my reader is full and I'm way behind!) I finished the stitching on my second blogoversary giveaway prize, finished it and mailed it out today. I can't wait to show you. It turned out very nice! So, I've kitted up a new project...

Aren't the colors luscious? This is Count Your Blessings by Shakespeare's Peddler. A nice, simple design that looks fun to stitch. I've changed the red from a purpley one ~ 3685 to a darker red ~ 221. And I changed the tan ~ 612 to a gold ~ 729. These are the colors used for the house & door so I thought it right to pick colors to suit. I'm thinking of beginning construction this afternoon!

I received a mysterious package from Down Sunshine Lane yesterday. It contained Little House Needlework's Cardinal Winter...their first Ornament of the Month for 2011. I didn't order this so who sent it? Fess up! Is this an RAK? Or is it for the TUSAL giveaway? I do remember one of you having a giveaway for these but I cannot remember which of the 630 blogs in my reader you could be! I am blond and easily confused.

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Edit: Danielle from Peace, Love and Stitching sent the LHN ornament to me. I won her giveaway and I'm so far behind in my reader I never knew!

Thank you for visiting my blog today!

xox

Tiny Stitching

The first part of the weekend was so hot I just stayed indoors. On Saturday, I tea-dyed some fabrics and started a project that has been absolutely screaming at me. I was so into stitching this that I continued with it on Sunday, barely stopping to read blogs! I made sure I caught up with my reader, first! The weather was much improved by Sunday with some rain and very nice temperatures for August.

No, not déjà vu...I did stitch this recently for Conny in my Ornament Swap exchange. This time it's is for me. And it's over-one! I seldom stitch over-one but this fabric, 28 count Jobelan is excellent for it. It has given me no trouble at all!

Can you believe how much I stitched in one weekend? I may have to give up my Queen of Slow Stitching crown now, huh? This is Bent Creek's Plum Berry Sampler, modified for Christmas. Already, it's calling to me to pick it up again.

My other current stitch is another Ornament for the next swap and I'm still plugging away at Snapper Year ~ sheesh, I'll never catch up to the current month on that darn thing. I am stuck on that damn suitcase. Dratted project.

Have you seen Blogger's new spam comments feature? Go to your Dashboard and listed under your blog will be a Comments folder. Spam comments should go there automatically! Hint...if you go to the Published Comments tab and scroll to the bottom...you can see how many total comments your blog has received! That's really cool. I like improvements.

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

My Ma still blows

I feel really guilty for not stitching on my Snapper Year. I got a little distracted with strawberries. So, my March WIP is still stuck on that rude phrase and the new one is growing quickly. Well, not TOO quickly! I admit, frogs invaded for a short time because I thought I was so above checking the pattern, photographic memory ~ you know? NOT!

When this is finished (maybe a pin pillow?) I'm thinking of sending this to someone who reads this blog...

Thank you for visiting my blog today!

xox

Fun mail and a WIP

See what I found in my mailbox? Annemarie's kitty! Isn't she the sweetest? I am in love! I won the kitty in Annemarie's blog giveaway. The kitty is filled with birch shavings and smells lovely. Annemarie took the time to stitch a little tag for the kitty with our initials and the year. OMG. Be sure to go visit her blog. Be warned: I am not responsible for ruined keyboards on account of drooling.

Last post I promised I'd share my new WIP when I decided on one. Here it is. Creepy from Lizzie Kate's Boo Club. I must have taken 20 pictures but I can't get the fabric color to come out. The fabric is the orange I dyed on Saturday. Think of the brightest tangerine you've ever seen...that's the color. I'm stitching with sunglasses on...

Thank you for visiting my blog today!

xox

Amityville House

It got pretty scary around here last night. It was like a sign of The End Times or maybe the house was possessed or something. Where are Sam & Dean when you need them? Rick went out last evening to work on his motorcycle and listen to the ball game on the radio. Within a few minutes the entire garage was filled with flies. Thousands of flies. OMG They were everywhere. Rick hung up four sticky fly traps and in a few minutes they were covered and still...there were flies all over, crawling on the ceiling and walls, flying all around. Egads. Rick went out early this morning and bought a bug-bomb and some spray and we gassed the little suckers. Truly, it was creepy! I've never seen anything like it.

Happier subjects: I've been doing some exchange stitching and other little projects while waiting for October to get here so I can start the next Crabby block. Yes, girls, Zombies is my favorite block too and I've been waiting and waiting for it to come up!

Here is a little Halloween WIP I've been stitching. Silly kitty! This is an Amy Bruecken Designs, Just a Quickie ~ Treat. I'm stitching it in DMC on a 28 count Crossed Wing linen called Rainforest. I am NOT fond of this fabric. Although the color is delicious the weave is so flimsy & loose it drives me nuts.

Don't miss Tammy's first blogoversary giveaway at

I Want to do One More Stitch!

Thank you for visiting my blog today!

xox

Buzzzz!

After finishing up Crabby Weeds I decided to continue with my Wisteria Biscornu from Olga's blog. I had finished the front side waaay back in May and started the second side when we were in Texas in June. Then came obligation stitching that filled up the rest of June & July and now I can finally get back to this. I really like the bees on this side. I still need to backstitch the edge seam on the first side...I find that incredibly tedious so it gets done last!

Fruitasses?

Tell me, who got Fruitasses??? Fess up, now! Sandra had me rolling in tears of laughter with her recent post...OMG what a great laugh!

Thank you for visiting my blog today!

xox

Woot, woot!

Today, I received my Lizzie* Kate exchange from Michele of Just Another Stitching blog. I am really thrilled. Isn't this the best floss tag ever? I freakin' LOVE ladybugs and the colors in this tag are just gorgeous. Then, to top it off are the sweetest floss cards made from scrapbook papers. OMG! Thank you so much, Michele, I'm so pleased!

WIP

Here is a little update on the Traveling pattern. I'm not finding the time I thought I'd have the past couple of weeks and my mood is definitely off. Give me my stitchy time ~ or else!

Just another shot of the WIP. I swear, I centered this; Gremlins came, when I wasn't looking, and moved all my stitching two inches to the left.

They had to have.


I don't make mistakes.

Thank you for visiting my blog today!

xox

Biscornu Update

Just a quickie update on Wisteria Biscornu by Okenka's Stitches. I've completed the cross stitch and most of the backstitch. Aren't the colors in this deliciously yummy? I cannot wait to get this side finished so I can start on the back...it has bees! Yay! Although, I'm halfway through the month of May and I haven't even started May's Crabby block. Oh dear. I better get it finished before I fall behind. There really hasn't been enough stitching going on around here to satisfy me. I've been too tired after work this week. I have a four day weekend coming up and I'm preparing to get myself a serious case of stitch-ass. Doesn't that sound like a great mini-holiday???

Thank you all for the offers of the Lilies for my garden. There should be some on the way to me soon. I'm terribly excited! Maybe you'd enjoy pictures after I plant?

Thank you for visiting my blog today!

xox

I'm abandoning my stitching...

A peaceful scene?

I was minding my own business; well, actually, I was reading your blog posts, which is really minding your business. But I digress...I was reading blogs when I saw something moving overhead. Glancing up, I saw a small spider charging across the top frame of the chalkboard hanging over my stitching desk. And I mean charging; this little guy was moving fast! He reaches the edge of the frame and goes scurrying around on the Hello Kitty purse hanging there. I'm sure I was sitting with my jaw dropped, watching, as he reaches and reaches trying to grab another foothold somewhere. He falls onto the button box, right under the "R" in the photo. Puzzled, I'm trying to think what to do. I don't want him on my desk but he is one speedy spider. I pick up the button box carefully, carefully, and I shriek as he takes a flying leap...where? You can see the clutter in that corner. The other corner is worse by far. I'm such a clutter-bug! Where did the little creep go? I grabbed the can of air-duster and tornadoed the desk. Vanished. Crap.

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Now, I have the creeps. I don't mind spiders in general but I like knowing where they are and I don't like them on me. Little tickles, imaginary spiders, keep me skittish. Where did it go???

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Here is my progress on the front side of Olenka's Stitches Wisteria Biscornu. I'm stitching this on 32 count Summer Sunshine Belfast (dyed by me.) Yes, this is what I was dyeing for last week! The colors aren't true in the photo but there are spiders creeping around this place and I'm not waiting for them to jump on me!

Be sure to visit Edgar's blog and wish him a happy blogoversary! To celebrate two years of blogging he is hosting a giveaway! Happy blogoversary, Edgar!

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Thank you for visiting my blog today!

xox