Oct 30, 2009
Oct 26, 2009
Marvelous Monday Update 10/26/09
STITCHY STUFF
I finished the last "quilt square" motif on TMQ! Let me present "Basket":
A full view of TMQ can be seen HERE.
I was really excited to get this finished so I could start on the center portion. TMQ is part of a series featured over several months in a magazine. I *thought* I had kept the magazines for TMQ in my stitchy messenger bag all these years (Yes, YEARS. Sad to say over a decade!).
Imagine my horror when I went to look at the chart for the center and it was NOT to be found the in messenger bag!
So at 9:30PM, I feverishly looked through my magazine stash to find the issue I needed. Not having any luck, I almost gave up in despair. Then I looked at the covers of the ones I had. Wait one minute! My address label was on them... I had a subscription... I've never gotten rid of any stitchy subscriptions! So the search was on once again. Wouldn't you know it was the LAST bin I looked through that I found it. Whew!
YUM YUMS
Perusing my refrigerator.. Hmmm... Partial package of broccoli, Partial package of carrots, Partial package of mushrooms, Leftover onion, Leftover rice. Not enough of any one thing. What to make for dinner? What to make?
Fried Rice!
Ya know, I think I can make fried rice with just about anything. LOL I used all of the above, plus a handful of frozen peas to make a scrumptious pan of fried rice. Best of all, I had enough left over that I was able to freeze two single-serving size containers for future meals.
GIVEAWAYS
A friend is celebrating her first blogversary with two giveaways. Not only is she a caring individual, she's also a great stitcher. Wander over to her blog to read about the antics of Rory and see Kathy's beautiful stitching.
Sarah over at CraftyMoo is also hosting a nice giveaway. One of her current projects is a beautiful beaded ornament. Check it out while you're there!
THRIFTING TRAVELS
That's a good name for my thrift store journeys, don't you think? I don't ever go to thrift stores or consignment shops with a particular item or "find" in mind because chances are that it won't be there when I want/need it. I go with an open mind and it's almost like a treasure hunt!
During my past few visits to JoAnn Fabrics, I have been eye-balling the wood spool racks that sell for $14.95 ($8.97 with the 40% off coupon, lol).
While thrifting, I found the *exact* same one for 99cents! How could I pass it up? For photo purposes, I sat it on my dining room table, but it's ultimate resting place will be mounted on the wall inside the closet of the spare bedroom/craft storage room.
This past week JoAnn Fabrics had their batting on sale (maybe it still is?). I almost bought some since I knew I was a bit low on the craft/quilt batting. I was a good girl, though. I didn't buy any.
Good thing I didn't... When I was thrifting, I found a brand new package for 89cents! Couldn't pass that up either. This batting will come in handy for ornaments and flatfolds!
This custom-framed and matted watercolor
painting of pansies now hangs above the closet
door in the spare room. Got it for the mere
price of 99cents!
This is a custom-framed cross stitch piece that was "dumped" at the thrift store. Sadly, it was being sold for only $1.99. I'm going to use the nice wood frame for something else, and store the stitched piece. This piece is signed and dated, too.
I finished the last "quilt square" motif on TMQ! Let me present "Basket":
I was really excited to get this finished so I could start on the center portion. TMQ is part of a series featured over several months in a magazine. I *thought* I had kept the magazines for TMQ in my stitchy messenger bag all these years (Yes, YEARS. Sad to say over a decade!).
Imagine my horror when I went to look at the chart for the center and it was NOT to be found the in messenger bag!
So at 9:30PM, I feverishly looked through my magazine stash to find the issue I needed. Not having any luck, I almost gave up in despair. Then I looked at the covers of the ones I had. Wait one minute! My address label was on them... I had a subscription... I've never gotten rid of any stitchy subscriptions! So the search was on once again. Wouldn't you know it was the LAST bin I looked through that I found it. Whew!YUM YUMS
Perusing my refrigerator.. Hmmm... Partial package of broccoli, Partial package of carrots, Partial package of mushrooms, Leftover onion, Leftover rice. Not enough of any one thing. What to make for dinner? What to make?
Fried Rice!
Ya know, I think I can make fried rice with just about anything. LOL I used all of the above, plus a handful of frozen peas to make a scrumptious pan of fried rice. Best of all, I had enough left over that I was able to freeze two single-serving size containers for future meals.
GIVEAWAYS
A friend is celebrating her first blogversary with two giveaways. Not only is she a caring individual, she's also a great stitcher. Wander over to her blog to read about the antics of Rory and see Kathy's beautiful stitching.
Sarah over at CraftyMoo is also hosting a nice giveaway. One of her current projects is a beautiful beaded ornament. Check it out while you're there!
THRIFTING TRAVELS
That's a good name for my thrift store journeys, don't you think? I don't ever go to thrift stores or consignment shops with a particular item or "find" in mind because chances are that it won't be there when I want/need it. I go with an open mind and it's almost like a treasure hunt!
During my past few visits to JoAnn Fabrics, I have been eye-balling the wood spool racks that sell for $14.95 ($8.97 with the 40% off coupon, lol).
While thrifting, I found the *exact* same one for 99cents! How could I pass it up? For photo purposes, I sat it on my dining room table, but it's ultimate resting place will be mounted on the wall inside the closet of the spare bedroom/craft storage room.
This past week JoAnn Fabrics had their batting on sale (maybe it still is?). I almost bought some since I knew I was a bit low on the craft/quilt batting. I was a good girl, though. I didn't buy any.
Good thing I didn't... When I was thrifting, I found a brand new package for 89cents! Couldn't pass that up either. This batting will come in handy for ornaments and flatfolds!
painting of pansies now hangs above the closet
door in the spare room. Got it for the mere
price of 99cents!
This is a custom-framed cross stitch piece that was "dumped" at the thrift store. Sadly, it was being sold for only $1.99. I'm going to use the nice wood frame for something else, and store the stitched piece. This piece is signed and dated, too.
Oct 23, 2009
Oct 19, 2009
PIF Winners Announced
On Oct 6th, I was given a chance to Pay It Forward. The thought behind a PIF is to make someone's day a bit better/brighter/happier. I have some good news! Instead of offering a PIF to three people, I decided to give to FIVE lucky ladies. :) I always use highly technical means of choosing names -- little slips of paper in a bowl! Without further adieu, the recipients of this PIF are:
Mel the Epic Stitcher
Robin the Stitch Witch
Debbie Jo in GA
Sharmila of Stiching My Way
Mary of Mary in the Morning
Ladies, please email me with your address so I can start getting these PIF-fy surprises out to you.
Also, remember... Now it's your turn to PIF. The rules are as follows:
1. Send no less than 5 stitching related items per person within the next 365 days.
2. Items can be DMC, other threads, stitching needles, straight pins, buttons, scissors, ribbons, etc. - a combination of items such as 3 threads, 1 pack of straight pins and 1 pack of stitching needles or just 5 threads.
3. The items must be new and not used. (Send things you'd be happy to receive.)
4. If you win, you must be willing to post this PIF on your blog and do the same for at least 2 people.
Public Service Announcement
Just thought I'd pass this along....Fever
• Fever is rare with a cold.
• Fever is usually present with the flu in up to 80% of all flu cases. A temperature of 100°F or higher for 3 to 4 days is associated with the flu.
Coughing
• A hacking, productive (mucus- producing) cough is often present with a cold.
• A non-productive (non-mucus producing) cough is usually present with the flu (sometimes referred to as dry cough).
Aches
• Slight body aches and pains can be part of a cold.
• Severe aches and pains are common with the flu.
Stuffy Nose
• Stuffy nose is commonly present with a cold and typically resolves spontaneously within a week.
• Stuffy nose is not commonly present with the flu.
Chills
• Chills are uncommon with a cold.
• 60% of people who have the flu experience chills.
Tiredness
• Tiredness is fairly mild with a cold.
• Tiredness is moderate to severe with the flu.
Sneezing
• Sneezing is commonly present with a cold.
• Sneezing is not common with the flu.
Sudden Symptoms
• Cold symptoms tend to develop over a few days.
• The flu has a rapid onset within 3-6 hours. The flu hits hard and includes sudden symptoms like high fever, aches and pains.
Headache
• A headache is fairly uncommon with a cold.
• A headache is very common with the flu, present in 80% of flu cases.
Sore Throat
• Sore throat is commonly present with a cold.
• Sore throat is not commonly present with the flu.
Chest Discomfort
• Chest discomfort is mild to moderate with a cold.
• Chest discomfort is often severe with the flu.
Marvelous Monday Update 10/19/09
STITCHY STUFF
Guess what? I finished two more quilt motifs on the afghan, and started a third! The first one is simply called "House". Fitting, don't you think?
Wedding Ring
and the start of "Basket"...
More progress on Flower & Bee:
NIGHT AT THE THEATRE
The local college's fine arts department presented the play, "Dearly Departed".
In the Baptist backwoods of the Bible Belt, the beleaguered Turpin family proves that living and dying in the South are seldom tidy and always hilarious. Despite their earnest efforts to pull themselves together for their father's funeral, the Turpin's other problems keep overshadowing the solemn occasion: Firstborn Ray-Bud drinks himself silly as the funeral bills mount; Junior, the younger son, is juggling financial ruin, a pack of no-neck monster kids, and a wife who suspects him of infidelity in the family car; their spinster sister, Delightful, copes with death as she does life, by devouring junk food; and all the neighbors add more than two cents. As the situation becomes fraught with mishap, Ray-Bud says to his long-suffering wife, "When I die, don't tell nobody. Just bury me in the backyard and tell everybody I left you." Amidst the chaos, the Turpins turn for comfort to their friends and neighbors, an eccentric community of misfits who just manage to pull together and help each other through their hours of need, and finally, the funeral.
The play had it comedic parts, but the sets and play weren't nearly as good as the last play I attended at the college theatre.
Guess what? I finished two more quilt motifs on the afghan, and started a third! The first one is simply called "House". Fitting, don't you think?
More progress on Flower & Bee:
NIGHT AT THE THEATRE
The local college's fine arts department presented the play, "Dearly Departed".
In the Baptist backwoods of the Bible Belt, the beleaguered Turpin family proves that living and dying in the South are seldom tidy and always hilarious. Despite their earnest efforts to pull themselves together for their father's funeral, the Turpin's other problems keep overshadowing the solemn occasion: Firstborn Ray-Bud drinks himself silly as the funeral bills mount; Junior, the younger son, is juggling financial ruin, a pack of no-neck monster kids, and a wife who suspects him of infidelity in the family car; their spinster sister, Delightful, copes with death as she does life, by devouring junk food; and all the neighbors add more than two cents. As the situation becomes fraught with mishap, Ray-Bud says to his long-suffering wife, "When I die, don't tell nobody. Just bury me in the backyard and tell everybody I left you." Amidst the chaos, the Turpins turn for comfort to their friends and neighbors, an eccentric community of misfits who just manage to pull together and help each other through their hours of need, and finally, the funeral.
The play had it comedic parts, but the sets and play weren't nearly as good as the last play I attended at the college theatre.
Playing Games...
For those who love games, you might want to check this new version of an old favorite!
(Don't forget to turn on your sound)
Oct 16, 2009
Oct 15, 2009
Something To Ponder
Why is it that if you cross the North Korean border illegally you get thrown into prison and get 12 years of hard labor;
And if you cross the Iranian border while out supposedly leisurely hiking in the hills, you get arrested and imprisoned;
But if you cross the U.S. border illegally, you get a drivers license, a Social Security card, free health care and free education!
Who's bright idea was this?
I'm just curious.
Oct 12, 2009
Marvelous Monday Update 10/12/09
WEATHEROn Saturday, the wind was pretty raw on the ole face. Not only that, it actually SNOWED! I was happy to see it didn't last long. Nor did it accumulate. We haven't even experienced fall yet. Where's FALL??! For this time of year, our area set a record low temp of 25F on Saturday night! Brrr... was it cold Sunday morning!
To answer Nancy's question from last week -- No, I hadn't turned on my furnace yet... Not until this past Sunday. Prior to that, I'd been lighting the fireplace to take the chill out of the air -and- used the electric blanket on the bed.
GARDENING
Due to the cold temps, the outdoor planters were hit with the frost. Some are wilting and dying. :( I was smart a few weeks ago and took some cuttings off the sun coleus. They've already rooted and I'll be planting them in pots. By spring I can plant them outside again.
I pulled everything out of the garden on Sunday. At 41F, the weather wasn't too bad... as long as you kept moving and worked up a sweat. LOL I raked the yard and put all the leaves in the garden area, along with old potting soil and garden additives I bought on clearance about a month ago. JT came over and tilled it all under for me.
We started to plant tulip and daffodil bulbs, but got chilled before we could finish. This coming weekend is supposed to be nice, so hopefully that job can be finished and then we have bulbs to plant at his place.
STITCHY STUFF
Last week was a a wonderful mail week!
Sheila in TN RAK'd me the November issue of Cross Stitch and Needlework. Thank you, Sheila! She's new to blogging and recently learned a new craft called Kimekomi. Check out her blog, if you have a chance.
Vicki in CO had her first ever blog giveaway. She had her DH pull a winning name from the contestants. Guess who was the lucky one? Moi!! I picked up Vicki's package from the post office the same day I got Sheila's. So it was a double-whammy!! {big grin} Here's what she sent me:
She even sent me the piece of paper with my name on it that her DH drew as the winner. I thought that was just precious! :)
I'm speeding right along on TMQ. Finished another quilt square motif. :) This one is called Star of Bethlehem.
And I've almost finished another one:
Two more after this and I'll have the outside border of TMQ done. Other WIP pics of it can been seen HERE. These are all being stitched on afghan fabric, two-over-two. I'm still trying to decide what to cover the back with. Any ideas?
In addition to TMQ, I was able to stitch on two other projects:
by Lorri Birmingham
by Annalee Waite Designs
GIVEAWAYS
Annette of Annette's Acre is celebrating her 6th blogversary. In recognition of six years of blogging bliss, she's sponsoring a fabulous giveaway that ends at midnight on Oct 18th. Check it out if you're interested!
In celebration of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Jennifer of Feathers in the Nest is hosting a giveaway. Visit her blog, and take a peek. :)
