February Glows

Two down and ten to go. Plus that long, honkin' border! I really enjoyed this month's stitch. It seriously helped me unwind after work each day. Not that I have much time to stitch but even a few stitches relieves stress. I can't decide what I want to stitch for the rest of the week. Do I want to start another exchange project? Or maybe pull out a UFO? Decisions, decisions!

When I was kitting up this February stitch I found I was out of DMC 613. Is it kitted up elsewhere? Who knows! Easier just to go get a couple of skeins, right? So, on my day off work, I make a stop at Hobby Lobby and grab two skeins of 613. The cashier says, "That will be seventy-six cents." I was searching my purse for my money wallet. Nothing. Nada. It was in my work apron at home. I was so embarrassed to charge $.76 to my credit card. ***sigh***

Thank you for visiting my blog today!

xox

In the Funhouse

I am terribly, awfully, incapacitatingly nearsighted. Nearsighted ~ I can see up close but not far away. Without glasses or contacts I would be unable to function. I haven't had a new pair of glasses in five or six years but today I went to pick up my new pair! Aren't they nifty? Can you see they have no nose pieces? The bridge just rests on the nose. You'd think they'd slip around but they don't. Best of all, they are quiet. The old pairs' nose pieces clicked and rattled and jiggled. I like these so much! Unfortunately, I also have a new prescription and it's tricking my eyes into seeing a funhouse mirror image of everything! Things look wavy and distorted. Thank goodness the effect should go away very soon.

Another happy event today...I received this beauty from Susan of Afford Your Passions. Susan had a blog giveaway drawing and I won, I won, I won! Brown is one of my favorite colors and isn't this pincushion a lovely shade of brown? Thank you so much Susan ~ I love it!

Thank you for visiting my blog today!

xox

Stitching Time

After several glorious hours of uninterrupted stitching time I was able to finish my exchange project. Then, I made a good start into my February Snapper. This will go quickly now.

I had a few questions about how I manage all the scads of fabric for this project. 52 inches of fabric is quite a handful! First off, I stitch in hand. And I stitch on a desk top with the fabric resting on the desk. When it is a "regular" project I'll roll the top and fold the bottom. Since this one is "long" I'm rolling the left and folding the right. If I'd thought about it, I would have started stitching "sideways" so I could have my roll & fold the same as usual. But hindsight, you know? I wonder how easy it is going to be stitching December with that big fat roll on the left?

There is a brand-spanking-new blogger on the block! Please, go meet Patti of Any Day Spent Stitching is a Good Day. She is really nice! Patti, would you please add the date stamp to your posts...that way we know how behind we are when we visit. Plus, I'm up for seeing photos of your Reggie sometime!

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Thank you for visiting my blog today!

xox

I'm a lazy blogger

Will you be my Valentine anyway?

See more silly kitties at Lolcats and funny doggies at Loldogs.

It's that time again! Here is my TU SAL for the new moon. And it's on time, no less! I've been working on a couple of different projects lately so my threads are quite the variety on top!

All the way from Madrid, Spain, here is what Doris sent when I won her blogoversary giveaway. Look at the plethora of stitchy goodies! I'm just over the moon! Thank you Doris and happy blogoversary!

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Mini-rant:

I wish blogger would fix this glitch and give me

the damn line break between paragraphs.

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Now, why have I been a lazy blogger? Maybe a lack of stitchy pictures to share? I'm working on exchange stitching and I always pout when I can't share photos. I haven't been able to get a start on my February Snapper either, which is bugging me. To no end.

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In other news, I have received a seriously good promotion at work. I've started training last week. The new position has me getting up a hour and a half earlier (4am) than I am used to (5:30am) so that is a bit of an adjustment. It's really hard going to bed earlier! I am thinking I will really like my new job once I know what I am doing. Feeling rather awkward at the moment! Things will settle down around here soon and I'll be right back to my chatty, bloggy self in no time!

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Thank you for visiting my blog today!

xox

The Love Bug

My Valentine exchange has landed! Paula, of Needles, Hooks & Paperback Books has emailed to let me know it arrived. I sewed her a long pillow and a little scissor fob. This was one of the rare times I've mailed an exchange late. You see, I had the long pillow all ready to be mailed when I received my Valentine, the gorgeous scissor keep from Michelle. Suffering from a bit of performance anxiety, I was positive my exchange was inferior. So I decided to whip up a little fob to make up for it. Then, I had a rough week at the grocery store because another winter storm was predicted and all of Stillwater had to stock up on several weeks worth of groceries before it hit. I was so tired after work each day that the fob took me forever to finish. And then the storm arrived. So with all these excuses the exchange was a day late being mailed. Why yes, I am OCD. How can you tell?

Paula seemed to like what I sent so I seem to be forgiven.

Design ~ Love Bug

Designer ~ Erynne Chard

Fabric ~ 28 count Crossed Wings Linen in Rainforest

Finish ~ Long Pillow

Fiber ~ DMC

Thank you for visiting my blog today!

xox

January Snows

Oklahoma had another winter storm move in on Thursday. We had about a half-inch of ice, followed by lots of sleet and snow. In fact, it snowed all day yesterday! The ice was brief enough here that it didn't bring down our power lines. But it still seems just wrong to be thankful for sleet!

Sheba had fun in the falling snow yesterday. This would be a fantastic picture if it wasn't for the trashy toys left out in the neighbors yard. Put the stuff away when it isn't play-outside-weather!

The ice covered our Magnolia tree. When it started to melt a little we were able to slide leaf-shaped ice impressions off. I stood them up in the snow in the bird bath so you could see. Isn't Mother Nature the best artist ever?

Just in the nick of time I finished up my Snapper Year January Snows. It was a close call! I haven't put the snaps on for the snow fellow's buttons. Actually, does anyone else think Bent Creek's use of snaps is kinda strange? Is it just me? Am I missing something? I'm thinking I might find some teeny tiny buttons to use instead of the weird snaps. I know it's called a Snapper...but I just don't get it! Opinions, please!

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Thank you for visiting my blog today!

xox

Another Late Mail Day

See? Yesterday I forgot the mail until 8pm and look what appeared! I am positive if I'd ran to pick it up at 4, right after it arrived, there would have been nothing but the credit card statement. I was positively giddy as I went back to the house with two puffy envelopes!

These are the last two of the Ornament Swaps I was waiting for. First up is a beautiful sewing tree from Lisa. Isn't this awesome? It's stitched on light lavender fabric and it's so sparkly! The neat shape is really cool too. Thank you Lisa, I love it!

The next package contained the sweetest kitty-cat pinkeep from Conny. The front side, with the hand-made card:

Then the back side. I just love the cute little touches, like the jinglebell and the star shaped pins. And look! My initials! I am not sure you can tell but it is stitched on a very pale green linen. So pretty! Conny, it is wonderful, thank you!

This has been a really fun exchange. Now, I must stitch an ornament for each of these sweet ladies in return. It is a lot of fun picking out that perfect design for each person. Hummm, maybe I'll go look through my Christmas patterns again...

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Thank you for visiting my blog today!

xox

I'm never checking my mail again

...until late, late in the day! It seems every time I check my mail right after it arrives there is nothing but bills. If I wait or forget until late there is a surprise for me! Look what came yesterday. This is my Valentine exchange from Michelle of The Shabby Stitcher.

Michelle stitched me the most beautiful scissor keep, a design by ATALIE. This is finished so perfectly...I wish you could see. Delicate colors and stitches. I am spoiled.

The little red scissors fit into a little pocket on the back of the heart. Divine stitching. Thank you so much Michelle!

If you are interested in exchanging with us go to the Holiday Exchanges blog for more information.

Thank you for visiting my blog today!

xox

Sisterhood, among other things

Yesterday, my blog friend, Oklahoma Granny, posted a promising recipe called Pizza Casserole. I love easy dinners after working all day so I came home from work today with the stuff I needed to create it. Oh yum! It was good!

I changed a couple things...the recipe calls for three cups dry noodles but I went ahead and used the whole bag. I hate measuring! I also LOVE cheese so I doubled the cheese it called for!

Rick was packing the leftovers for work before we were even finished eating! Thanks for a lovely dinner, Granny!

The Sisterhood is ready to travel! Carol has finished her lovely lady and is ready to send her to the next lucky sister. Will it be you? Visit this post on Carol's blog to sign up and hurry she's ready to draw tomorrow! I was the 17th sister to stitch this design and it was such an honor, although...it was a little scary holding that pattern in my own hands for the first time and reading the little notes left by each sister. Emotionally overwhelming!

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Thank you for visiting my blog today!

xox

Totally Useless

OMG! What with one thing or another I completely forgot to post my Totally Useless SAL update that was due like a week ago! No, no! Not the wet noodle!!! When I saw Yoyo had updated the members list for 2010 I remembered. Gasp! So here is a quick snap. As you see, I'm continuing my old ORT jar and stuffing the new bits on top. It's a good thing this is a big jar, I'm planning on lots of ORTs this year!

The next New Moon is February 14 and I promise not to be late! If you would like to join us in this Totally Useless Endeavor go to Yoyo's blog and sign up!

Thank you for visiting my blog today!

xox