The Totally Useless Stitch A Long 2013

Here we go! Are you ready for some major ORT collecting for 2013? This is going to be a fantastic year for stitching. I just know it!

The 2013 TUSAL is launched! 

What is an ORT? ORT or ort ~ Capitalized, it stands for Old Ratty Threads. These are the cast-off thread ends a needleworker cuts away. These ends are often saved in clear jars as a decorative object. The word, "ort" does appear in the dictionary, meaning: a bit of something left over; usually concerning food. 

Why would you save these and why on earth post a picture on your blog? Not everyone saves them. Some stitchers just toss them in the trash or let them decorate the sofa and floor. Sometimes this inadvertent decorating draws ire from those living with us. Saving these clippings in one place creates a random tangle of lovely colored thread. Posting a photo of this pile is "progress" of a sort and thus, the Totally Useless Stitch A Long was born. 

If you would like to join the Stitch-A-Long:

1. Get a glass jar or other container and save your thread clippings. Some stitchers include fabric trimmings, thread bands or any other stitching cast-offs they gather. You may continue filling this jar throughout the year OR you may empty the jar and start over each month ~ no firm rules here!

2. On (or about) each New Moon take a picture of the ORTs in your jar and post it to your blog. This is a blog game so YES, you MUST have a blog to be included.

3. Yes, you can use your current ORT jar or jars. This is no contest...the stitcher with the most ORTs doesn't win!

4. You should post a picture each New Moon, even if there has been no "progress" to show. We are aiming for "once a month" here...no whippings for being late, early or absent!

5. When you have posted the picture of your ORTs visit my blog and comment on my ORT report for that month's TUSAL. If I have a Totally Useless Giveaway these comments give you an extra entry!

The New Moon dates for 2013 are:

January 11

February 10

March 11

April 10

May 10

June 8

July 8

August 6

September 5

October 5

November 3

December 3

If you would like to join in on the fun leave a comment on this post. In years past, I have made up a "guest list" by adding a blog link list for everyone that joined ~however~ this year I probably will not do that. It takes hours and hours and hours of visiting blogs, editing the post, checking links, editing the post, correcting mistakes, editing the post. I'd much rather be stitching or visiting your blog on a recreational basis. Therefore, consider your comment to be your entry. Make sure your profile is set to "open" so people can visit your blog or leave a link to your blog in your comment. I hope you aren't offended I am not doing a guest list. We are adopting a new puppy at the end of the week and I'm thinking to be rather busy for quite some time. If I manage my time better than expected perhaps I will reconsider.

A request: I notice there are a lot of bloggers completely in the dark about your Totally Useless posts. They see lots of people posting pictures of ORT jars but they have NO IDEA why. They might want to join in the fun too! Please put a LINK to this sign-up page when you make your TUSAL posts. A link in your sidebar is great but ONLY if your readers SEE it and realize what it is.  

If you would like to add the TUSAL link gadget to your sidebar (in Blogger): right click on it and save the photo to your computer, go to your blog's layout and choose "add a photo" and put the address to the 2013 TUSAL post in the link option. Upload the photo and save.

A shout-out on your blog to let other stitchers know about the 2013 Totally Useless Stitch-A-Long would be greatly appreciated! Plus, please change the links in your sidebar to this new post!

Thank you for visiting my blog today!

xox

December ORT Report

It's the last New Moon of 2012...do you know where your ORTs are? Mine are not plentiful but good enough for all that happened in the past month!  Can you tell these are Blackbird Designs ORTs?

I know I've been promising the new TUSAL sign-up for 2013. It's coming! I haven't forgotten! Those TUSALer's leaving a comment on this post receive an extra entry in the 2012 giveaway. That is coming up soon as well. 

Here is the project I've been sloooowly working on, the only ORTs in my jar. This is a nearly completed BBD Tweet Hearts Exemplar #2. It was a struggle to finish the first one (a heart shaped pillow) and I'm hoping this one goes easier.

Fun news: Molly has her first toy! A polka-dot squeaky pig. Whee! The plan (if nothing changes) is to bring Molly home the weekend after Christmas. The breeder tells me she has had her first shot, worming and weighs five pounds. They are also using the name "Molly" with her so she can begin to associate it with herself. We are really looking forward to the last few days of 2012!

Thank you for visiting my blog today!

xox

I Hate Coming Home

This house is too quiet. It's Empty with a capital E. Late last year, Taco, the cat went to live with Jessie when she moved to the city. I know Jessie and her husband, Matt enjoyed adding her to their family. Then in April after Sheba died, home seriously stopped being our happy place. Both Dash and I have experienced horrible feelings of dread associated with coming home to a lonely house. We cannot stand this emptiness any longer. Home should be a place full of hope and laughter and love, right? We have those things, yes...however there is a huge dog-shaped void sucking a lot of the happiness away before it can be fully enjoyed. Dogs just make some people's life complete, I suppose. 

To help complete ours, Dash and I are adding this tiny character to our cast:

Sweet little Molly.

Molly is a four-week-old Border Collie. Yes, another Border Collie ~ love them. We aren't sure of Molly's eye color or ear position yet, she is still too little to tell. Her momma has blue eyes and perked up ears and daddy has brown eyes with floppy ears...Molly could end up with either. She will be a rough coated collie, which I like very much. I imagine Molly will be a much smaller collie than we are used to as both parents were not nearly Sheba's size. Old Sheba was big for a collie!

No, we don't have her here yet. She has only started eating some solid food so it will be some time before we can bring her home. 

Dash and I had the pick of the litter. That is our Molly in the very center, with one brother on the right end ~he has the white collar~ all the other pups were girls. The puppies were such fun to play with! I could have stayed for hours. I hated to leave them, especially knowing they are a two hour drive away so we won't get to see her again before it's time to bring her home.

We cannot stand the waiting. This sucks! I feel like a kid who knows there are awesome presents under the tree but Christmas is still weeks away. Before the New Year comes, our house will be full of excitement and joy. For now, it's time to gather puppy training supplies and puppy safe toys and puppy-proof the house & yard. And get ourselves psyched up for training a new puppy. Very hard work!

But the effort will be totally worth it.  

Thank you for visiting my blog today!

xox

Star Reindeer

It has become a bit of a Christmas tradition to share a new reindeer design on my blog, hasn't it? Here is the 2012 offering, Star Reindeer. I hope you enjoy stitching her!

To receive a copy of the design email me at daffy-cat AT hotmail DOT com. Tell me the name of the design you are requesting. This one is "Star Reindeer." I appreciate comments left here for encouragement too!

Please respect my copyright and do not upload my designs to any website or share with other people. Yes, they are free but I still retain copyright.

My designs are published as PDF. You must have the free Adobe Reader installed on your computer to view/print my patterns ~ or a similar PDF viewer.

As always, you can click the cat in my sidebar to see my other free cross stitch designs. They are all still available for the asking.

Thank you for visiting my blog today!

xox

November TUSAL

Only a few ORTs in my jar...mostly burgundy shades from Small Token. I need to make more "me" time for stitching!

I will start the 2013 TUSAL within the next month for those of you wanting to continue next year. As usual, leave a comment on this post for an extra entry in the giveaway. I'm excited about the giveaway and I can't wait to show you what it will be!

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

Free Apples!

Apples are such pretty fruit. All the different shapes and colors are so enticing. Here is a little freebie for you to enjoy. Stitch on dark fabric:

Or on light fabric:

You could even stitch all the apples the same color if you prefer! The pattern is the same for both light and dark fabric, just a minor adjustment noted in the pattern.

To receive a copy of the design email me at daffy-cat AT hotmail DOT com. Tell me the name of the design you are requesting. This one is "Apples." I appreciate comments left here for encouragement too!

Please respect my copyright and do not upload my designs to any website or share with other people. Yes, they are free but I still retain copyright.

My designs are published as PDF. You must have the free Adobe Reader installed on your computer to view/print my patterns ~ or a similar PDF viewer.

As always, you can click the cat in my sidebar to see my other free cross stitch designs. They are all still available for the asking.

Thank you for visiting my blog today!

xox

A Traveling Pattern

I finished Angela's Traveling Pattern a while ago. My blogging mojo has been nil so this is LATE being offered to the next stitcher!  I'm the 18th stitcher of this Lizzie*Kate design Life's A Stitch. Do you want to be #19? If so, leave a comment on this post saying you would like to and I will choose a new stitcher.

Crappy cell phone photo =D

The only requirements are, 1. You must be a regular blogger. 2. You must agree to stitch the design and pass it along.

This will be closed on Friday, November 9th and I will choose and announce the next stitcher on the weekend.

Thank you for visiting my blog today!

xox

A Late October TUSAL

I was so excited about the season 3 premier of The Walking Dead that I forgot it was the New Moon and time to show off my scanty ORT jar!

I stitched on the back patio for several hours on Sunday afternoon. Started a new project! This is Small Token by Blackbird designs. I'm not worried about the lack of stitching mojo since I know my being busy with other things, other interests is the cause. When life settles down I will stitch more.

TUSALers leaving a comment on this post receive an extra entry in the giveaway. It's getting close to the end of the year. I can't wait to start the giveaway! Those of you who'd like to continue in 2013 ~ say so! If there is enough interest I will post a TUSAL sign up closer to the end of the year.

Thank you for visiting my blog today!

xox

Boring Blogger

I received a text from my daughter, Jessie, yesterday: "Your blog. It needs updates!"

I know, I know! I've been such a boring blogger of late. Just too much going on right now. With one thing or another I haven't found any blogging mojo. Or stitching mojo either! I think there are 8 sad little ORTs in my jar right now!

No blogging. No stitching. BUT I've been keeping busy and that's not boring. For instance, the last weekend in September Dash and I hopped on the motorcycle for a mini-vacation. We went to Fayetteville, Arkansas to attend Bikes, Blues and BBQ which is a big motorcycle rally. This was the first rally I have ever attended and boy ~ it was fun! Dash and I had a great time, spending three entire days on the motorcycle. Wow ~ was my butt ever sore! I never saw so many bikes in my entire life...

Bikes were parked like this up and down both sides of the street for several blocks. Plus, bikes traveling non-stop, both directions. We saw some really awesome motorcycles.

Crowded like you wouldn't believe.

This was about half way, I think, looking up the hill. We had stopped at the food court for turkey legs. Yum! And beer. There were several bars. I think we went into each one. Rick teased me in one of the bars for giving my beer to him and asking for a glass of wine instead. Don't get me wrong ~ I love beer. Just not horrible, disgusting, bitter beer. I don't care how many awards the place got...it still brewed nasty beer!

Here is a little video snippet of the rally taken on my iPhone. You will have to turn the volume all the way up to get the full effect of how LOUD it really was. Just kidding ~ you might want to turn it down!

It was an awesome holiday. The weather was perfect: not too hot, indeed a little too cool at times with lots of clouds. It sprinkled on us a few times but no real rain. We do have rain gear, just in case. I got to wear my biker vest: 

I've been collecting patches that express my interests. You will note my road name patch? LOL I haven't found any "cross-stitch" patches...and it's impossible to internet search for them. If anyone knows of any iron-on type patches with a cross-stitching theme be sure to let me know!

The back looks a little lopsided until I get more patches. I was ever-so-pleased to find the "Marine Wife" rocker since Dash's vest has a "Marine" rocker. Isn't this fun? Too bad I actually look like a chubby housewife rather than a sexy-biker-bitch! ROFLOL

Now that summer has passed and autumn is finally here maybe life will slow down for me. Wait...the holidays are coming up, what am I thinking? I will be back soon with a stitching update for you. The traveling pattern I am in possession of needs finishing so I can send it on to the next stitcher. Hopefully by the end of the week! See you soon.

Thank you for visiting my blog today!

xox