Fangirl February ~ Now That's a Wrap

It's the last day of the month...this is Leap Day to boot...so it's time for a Theme-a-licious check in. February's theme was: Send a Valentine to your favorite designer...or at least work on his or her designs for the month!

There is no way to hide the fact I LOVE Bent Creek with all my heart so I dug through my stash and came up with a few designs I've been wanting to start, closed my eyes and picked one. Bad Hare Day was the winner. This was so much fun to stitch that it went much faster than I expected. I  am incredibly pleased to show you a finish!

Design ~ Bad Hare Day

Designer ~ Bent Creek

Fabric ~ 28 count tea dyed Lugana

Fiber ~ DMC

How cool is that? I know you will forgive the fact that it is still very wrinkled and crumpled. This bun hasn't had his bath yet! Can you see I stitched my initials in red? I am so very attracted to alphabets...

Since Bad Hare Day was completed I decided to spend the rest of February stitching another favorite: Prairie Schooler... 

And my 8th ornament is finished! 8 Maid-a-milking was quick. Really, all of these blocks stitch up super fast. If I just closed my laptop planted my rear I could get them done in no time flat!

So...March Madness starts tomorrow. In March, our theme is: Stitch or knit on something different every day...it's madness...of the funnest possible kind. I dunno about something different every single day but we will see! If you'd like to join us on this theme-filled adventure visit Heather's blog It's Geek to Me for details.

Thank you for visiting my blog today!

xox

A Blogging Post

...or rather, a mishmash post that has too many topics to properly title!

The Traveling Pattern

Yes, I STOLE Julie's picture!

First up ~ my Traveling Pattern is on the move again! Julie just finished stitching and is offering it to the next stitcher. Hurry now to get in the draw as you only have until the February 29th! Click here for Julie's Blog.

ORT jar labels

Pat Winter has some awesome ORT jar labels you can print off. I thought they were great fun. You might like to use them to dress up your jars.

Please prove you are not a robot

You've seen those around ~ unless you never leave comments. You probably have them on YOUR blog and lots of you don't even know it! Do us ALL a favor and turn them off! Don't give excuses about not wanting spam...I haven't used Word Verification in YEARS and I am not swamped with spam. In fact, since Blogger went with the new spam folder system I haven't received a single piece of spam...I am usually fishing proper comments out of the folder! I do moderate my comments ~ just in case there is spam AND because I receive so many comments I might miss reading them.



Here is a very good post about this topic with great instructions on how to change your settings. You can see I have stolen Tex's picture (with permission lol) and used it in my sidebar with a link to her awesome post!

The Anonymous Troll:

Another thing you need to change is the settings for WHO you allow to comment on your blog. I have seen several posts recently from blogging friends about an anonymous troll. This troll finds something to complain about you or your blog. The way you are hosting a giveaway or an RAK or simply just something to gripe. From what I understand, these comments are unusually hurtful.

Change your comment settings to only allow "Registered Users". If you have it set for "Anyone" that means anyone can comment on your blog...even anonymous trolls.

I'm very sorry if you try to comment on MY blog and you cannot because you aren't registered. I don't allow just anyone to comment on my blog. You can see I don't suffer a lack of comments because of this.

I do get troll comments (from fake registered users I assume) on the rare occasion. They get no reaction but to tap that delete button. Same thing goes for hateful email. I don't need other people's garbage so I simply don't accept delivery.

My blog. My rules. You don't like the way I do things? Don't visit! Trolls will be always be ignored if they insist on visiting.

Thank you for visiting my blog today!

xox

A Fat Tuesday ORT Report

It's a New Moon! Here is my ORT report for February. I really liked the way the photograph turned out last month so I did the same again today. I could have added some Mardi gras beads but I didn't think of it until now! Lots of ORTs in the jar again:

It was International Hermit and Stitch Weekend this past weekend. A crazy busy one for me so I ended up with only a few hours left to hermit. I am calling it good ~ I was able to stitch a little bit at the very least! A peek at what I worked on:

Yup, that is my Prairie Schooler 12 Days of Christmas, 8 Maids. Nope, not even close to being done. I'm in no hurry with these as usually happens when I stitch for myself. If I'm stitching for someone else I can knock things out but if it's for me *sigh* I take my sweet time.

If you'd like to join the TUSAL to show Totally Useless pictures of your Old Ratty Threads, click here.

EDIT: Whoops, I forgot! Be sure to comment on this post and leave a link to your TUSAL post to get extra credit entries in my end of the year Totally Useless giveaways. Thanks for reminding me, Mary Ann!

If you'd like to shut yourself up with your stitching one weekend a month you can join the IHSW, click here.

Oh yeah...my laptop is fine now. Apparently, it did not like the fact the battery failed and so kept trying to contact the battery in hopeless devotion. Lesson learned? Know when it is over and move on! I took off the battery and we are back to normal...except I am now chained the desk until I get a new battery.

Thank you for visiting my blog today!

xox

Theme-a-licious Time

 

I can't believe it is already mid-February. The past couple of weeks have been filled with our Fangirl February stitching! My project is Bad Hare Day by Bent Creek. Wow ~ almost done! (Hey, Heather I figured out that banner. You noticed that...riiiight?)

I have no idea how this picture "really" looks...I'm using Dash's computer because mine is acting up. I had to snap a quickie photo and use it since my computer was in serious jeopardy of being smashed into bits & pieces.

If you'd like to join in on the Theme-a-licious stitch a long visit Heather's blog for details.

Entropy. Forget all that BS about thermodynamics...this is when you are busy getting one part of your life straightened out and the rest of it falls apart. Between work, home and my own body it will be a wonder if I survive. I no sooner get one area cleaned up and a mess appears in another. Thanks to those that have noticed and questioned my whereabouts these past few weeks. I'm just trying to keep this chaos in order, that's all. I stitch like mad every second I can. Stitching is such an awesome stress reliever.

Thank you for visiting my blog today!

xox



Full Moon Madness

Those of you visiting here because it's the Full Moon and you have just updated your blog with a TUSAL post...I hate to tell you but you're doin' it wrong. You are 'bout two weeks late, girl! The TUSAL goes on the NEW MOON. It's WIPocalypse time on the FULL MOON! Whoops!

I have been chugging right along, working on that overflowing basket of want-to-stitch projects. My Finery of Nature was my focus in January, it was posted about here. I won't bore you with a repeat photo since that was my very last post. In February my focus is also my Theme-a-licious project, Bent Creek's Bad Hare Day:

This is the progress after only six days. Can you tell how much I LOVE stitching Bent Creek designs? Holey Moses, this is a fast stitch! I'm sure once I get to the hare and those big blocks of one color I might not be quite as enthused. The border is full of fiddly gaps and skips, which I thought would be really bitchy but it fooled me ~ easy and frog-free as the come. Those funny gaps get filled in with another color of green so this isn't quite as far along as it appears.

This fun project is from that big basket I showed you once before. There are so many designs left in that basket that I really-really want to stitch...how fun to have blog games to join in on and get some of them stitched! Thank you, Measi!

Thank you for visiting my blog today!

xox

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