I Get By With A Little Help From My Friends

It's been kind of a crappy few weeks. What with two major snowstorms and dealing with several problems that have cropped up at work ~ I'm left feeling glad February is such a short month! Then, last weekend I come down with the flu. The real honest-to-goodness flu. Fever, chills, body aches and it put me flat for several days. I'm seldom ill enough to stay home from work. Indeed, when I checked, I found I've only taken three sick days in four years!

It was so nice to find a sweet package in the mailbox for me. Valerie of Fog City Dweller, had a blogoversary giveaway and I won! And boy did I get spoiled...

It was all I could do to stop and take photos...

I just wanted to RIP RIP RIP!

Oh what fun!

A close-up of the gorgeous fob.

Isn't it the yummiest?

Oh my, I keep picking it up and caressing it. I will treasure this fob, Valerie. Thank you so very much! I am so blessed with friends of such creativity & kindness.

Thank you for visiting my blog today!
xox

An RAK & The Next TP Stitcher

Recently, Lynn stitched the cutest kitty ever! When she was through with the design she sent the pattern to me...along with a few other charts she thought I might enjoy. Now, the charts are so perfect for me I think Lynn must know me well! Aren't RAKs the best? Thank you so much, Lynn! I can't wait to get started stitching!

Are you ready?...The next Traveling Pattern Stitcher is Karen of Karen's Handiwork. Congratulations, Karen! The chart will be on it's way tomorrow. Anyone interested in stitching the Traveling Pattern should bookmark Karen's blog so you will know when it comes up for the next stitcher! Thanks to everyone for entering and for your enthusiasm for this project!

Thank you for visiting my blog today!

xox

Two from Down Under

More Totally Useless Stitch A Long prizes to share! These have come all the way from Australia. I've had them for a while just haven't made time to post them. There are others as well...saving those for another day. I can be such a tease.

This first one is from Leonie of Fireflies and Cats in the Garden. She has sent three little kits. Is that koala bear cute, or what? Side note...when going to create the link in this post I discovered I did not have Noni's blog in my reader, or in my link list and I wasn't following her blog! I had to hunt down her blog from the TUSAL post =[ Sorry, honey! You have been added to everything now! Thanks for the donation, Noni!

The next donation comes from Shelley of All I Want is Everything. Again, three little kits! Three is a magic number. Postcards and a greeting card to create with these kits! Fun! Thank you Shelley, these are really neat!

The prize donation box is getting fuller. It's going to be a big package for the winner! If you would like to make a prize donation you can email me for my mailing address, there is a link in my sidebar. Other than stash items, I would love to see some stitched prizes added to the box. We only have one stitched item in the works for the giveaway. Wouldn't it be lovely to have some pin pillows, needlecases, scissor fobs and such?

*sigh* I swear, for every post I finish reading, two more appear in my reader. I can't keep up...you people stitch like fiends. If I haven't gotten to your blog lately ~ give it time. I will catch up somehow! My own stitching is secret. Although, I may set it aside soon for some "me" stitching so I have something I can share.

Thank you for visiting my blog today!

xox

A New Traveling Pattern

There once was a Traveling Pattern. It went all around the world traveling from stitcher to stitcher and I was blessed to be a part of it. You can read my experience here. Sadly, the last stitcher to have her (in March of last year?) has apparently flaked and has not sent the pattern on. I'm going to be kind and not mention who she is but I am really rather angry about the situation. Not to mention incredibly saddened by the loss.

There is now another copy of that design circulating in our blogging world. I thought I had bookmarked or written down who currently had it but I can't find it. I am sure someone will spot it and let me know! EDIT: I knew someone would come through for me! Thanks to Cath!!! ~ The New Sisterhood pattern is Currently with: Nan of Nan's Needlework Notions and is being sent to the next stitcher!

I thought it might be fun to start my own Traveling Pattern. I bought a couple of designs and when they arrived I chose this one. Yes, it's my Count Your Blessings that I started last week! It has few colors that are easily changed to suit the current stitcher and is a simple and quick stitch that shouldn't be burdensome. Easy to arrive, stitch and send to the next person. Sound like fun?

Daffycat's finish:

Design ~ Count Your Blessings

Designer ~ Shakespeare's Peddler

Fabric ~ 28 count mystery tea-dyed

Fiber ~ DMC

If you would like to be part of this new Traveling Pattern there are a few rules:

1. Comment on this post, saying you would like to be part of the Stitcherhood.

2. By leaving this comment, you agree (if you are chosen) to stitch the design and send it along to the next person in a timely manner. If this means dropping everything in your rotation to concentrate on this project...so be it. If you can't bring yourself to do this ~ don't sign up.

3. You must have an active blog to participate. If you have a blog but never post to it ~ you won't be chosen to be the next stitcher.

4. This is a giveaway-type Traveling Pattern. That means you must follow it from blogger to blogger to enter each time it is ready to send along. Commenting on this post doesn't make you a guaranteed part of the Stitcherhood.

The Traveling Pattern has been stitched by:

1. Sharon of It's Daffycat, Oklahoma, USA

2. Karen of Karen's Handiwork, South Carolina, USA

3. Patty of Hanging On By A Thread, Florida, USA

4. Terri of Chocolates for Breakfast, Stitching for Lunch, unknown location
5. Lynda of A Cozy Little Place for Stitching, Oregon, USA
6. Nataly of Nataly's Needle Creations, Massachusetts, USA
7. Erin of Fairy Tales & French Knots, New York, USA
8. Jo of Serendipititous Stitching, Suffolk, UK
9. Mouse of Tales Of A Stitching Mouse, South Yorkshire, UK
10. ??? Maybe you!

If you would like a chance to be the next stitcher please leave a comment! The next stitcher will be chosen on Sunday, February 13, 2011. I will try to keep up with the travels and fill in the next stitcher in the list as it goes along.

Thank you for visiting my blog today

xox

Totally Useless February

It's the New Moon. Calling all you Totally Useless Stitchers! Get out that camera, snap that ORT jar photo and post it now!

Here is mine. Lots of ORTs in my jar this month. I'm really surprised how much stitching I actually accomplished in the last Lunar cycle. Now, I am emptying the little jar into the big jar and starting all over again...

I've been getting quite a few irate comments/emails from people about the comments being closed on the TUSAL post. Some of these have been downright rude! The comments are closed on that post because there was a deadline to enter. I'm very sorry if any of you wanted to officially join but were too late. Any stitcher wanting to "join in" is welcome to post their ORT jar photos on the New Moon but the official SAL list is finished for this year.

I do believe I will have a little surprise to share with you sometime soon. Yes, that was deliberately vague and mysterious...I've always wanted to be a lady of mystery and intrigue. Sadly, the chance rarely presents itself.

Thank you for visiting my blog today!

xox

Somebody Shoot that Groundhog

I survived the Snowpocalypse. Stillwater got about 10 inches of snow in blizzard conditions. Rick was a sweetie and took me to work yesterday and today. People were getting stuck in the snow left & right! Jessie & Matt got her car stuck trying to get her to work and she ended up calling in. Today it's just bitter cold and sunny. Tomorrow morning it's supposed to be -5 degrees! I can't remember having temperatures that low before. Just for comparison...last Friday it was nearly 75. It's so not fair. Now, the dratted Groundhog has seen his shadow and that means another six weeks of winter.

I'm glad now I recently stitched a bit of spring! Way back in November, I had a blogoversary giveaway and Ma Teakettle of The Teakettle Corner was one of my winners. I promised a bit of stitching but couldn't promise it would be soon. January came and I finally got all my deadline obligations out of the way so I could concentrate on stitching my prizes. Tired of winter and ready for some spring colors I decided to stitch Karyn a design I'd had in my stash for ages. Once it was finished I sewed it into a pretty pink paisley pillow, suitable to decorate a chair or the guest room bed.

Design ~ ABC à la Ferme
Designer ~ L' R de rien
Fabric ~ 28 count mystery tea-dyed by Daffycat
Fiber ~ DMC as charted
Finish ~ Large pillow

The photo above probably has the most correct colors. I'm really pleased with my sewing here. It's becoming easier every time I do it. Still nerve wracking though...

Yes, I am aware the "W" is missing. It's a French design so there isn't one! I did stitch the "K" and the "S" in a pretty purple, just to make it special. Karyn has let me know how much she likes my little present and I hope she knows how much I enjoyed making it for her!

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

Chill Out!

It's January...so that means the start of this years Ornament Swap. We are a small group of friends swapping Christmas ornaments every two months. Long-time readers may remember my swap posts from last year...

January means it's Lori's turn. Lori's blog is Stitchin' Times Five. Everyone in our group stitches an ornament and sends it to Lori this month. I can't begin to explain how much fun it is to receive your ornaments. (My turn is in March. I can't wait!) There were PROBLEMS this go-round. First, I sealed up the box all nice and tight. Then...realized I hadn't taken a photo of my exchange. Sigh. I open the box back up. Arrrgh! Next, I'm taking the photograph when I see I have completely forgotten to Stitch "Daffycat" at the bottom like I've been doing for this exchange. *smacks forehead with palm* Arrrgh ~ again! Sorry, Lori...I was NOT going to risk frogging my careful sewing (I'm still not sewing-machine-confident) for the sake of having my name on it!

Design ~ Chill Out

Designer ~ Lizzie*Kate

Fabric ~ 32 count Daffycat Dyed Belfast Linen

Fiber ~ DMC as charted

Finish ~ Pillow Ornament

There were more TUSAL prizes that have arrived in the last week. I'm only going to tease you for now by letting you know there are more! But...I'm not going to show you pictures yet as I'm behind on my blogs, stitching and housework. Chill out! I'll get to it soon. Besides, I will need something new to blog about. I still can't show you my current stitching!

Thank you for visiting my blog today!

xox

Some Like It Hot

I have no stitching to share. It's all been exchange stitching or very long-over-due blogoversary giveaway stitching. It drives me crazy not to be able to share stitching photos. It also makes me crazy to be behind on my blog reading...and I'm waaaay behind! I do believe the Crazy 15 Day Challenge posts are going to be the end of me. I'm getting caught up ~ I think!

Since I can't show stitching pictures I thought you might like a recipe instead. I like it hot, do you? I love foods with some bite. Mexican food is my favorite ~ bring on the jalapenos! My favorite place to eat serves fried jalapenos that are out. Of. This. World. Granted, my rosacea does NOT like spicy foods but I am unable to resist. My sister brought these treats to our holiday dinners last year and I was hooked...

Take saltine crackers. Yes, plain ol' everyday saltines...the kind you crumble in your chili or nibble when your tummy is urky...

Introduce those boring crackers to this small cast of characters...

And you come up with the most decadent, sinful, just call-me-a-glutton snack ever...

Now, my idea of "food with a bite" might be ~ to me, "Oh wow, that's really hot! Gimme another!" While yours might be ~ running in circles, head shooting flames, shrieking, "Put me out! Put me out!" I'd advise you to consider your spice tolerance and adjust the red pepper accordingly.

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I will not be held responsible for any weight gained as a result of reading this post. If you make these...please, do let me know ~ I'll be over in ten minutes.

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3 sleeves Whole Wheat Saltine Crackers

1 cup Smart Balance Oil

1 envelope Ranch Dressing mix (not the dip mix)

3 tablespoons Crushed Red Chili Peppers

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Mix oil, dressing mix and peppers in a large 2-gallon zipper bag.

Add 3 sleeves of crackers and mix around until coated.

Remove crackers to a cookie sheet and put in warm oven until set.

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Enjoy!
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Thank you for visiting my blog today!

xox