Stitchy Goodness and Humor

STITCHY GOODNESS
I've participated in a couple of stitchy exchanges over the summer and into fall.  First up is a Christmas ornament exchange.  Both my partner and I decided to stitch and send early.  Since Karen said her ornament didn't have to be Christmas themed, I did something a little different.  Here's what I stitched for Karen V in MA:

Design:  Quaker Snowflake

Designer: Sandy Longan

Fabric:  32ct Sky Blue Linen

Fibers: Six Strand Sweets, DMC

Linked To:  Stitching Lotus Smalls SAL

The front was stitched with SSS Plum Parfait.  The back is the same linen with Karen's name, my name, and the year stitched in DMC 793 as well as 3 tiny snowflake buttons.  I made the cording with DMC 157 and 793 along with a bit of SSS.

She messaged me how much she liked it and said she was going to find a place for it and leave it out year round. It always makes me happy when I know the recipient likes what I sent.

This is what I received from Karen.  Aren't they so so CUTE?!

I finished this cute needleslide.  It's stitched over-one on 32ct fabric.  Can you say adorbs?!

 Design:  Christmas Secret

Designer: Just Nan

Fabric:  32ct White Jobelan Linen

Fibers: GAST

The needles are placed in a piece of  felt on the backside and the whole thing is held in the tin by a very strong tiny magnet.

HUMOR
I'm going to leave you with a bit of stitchy humor and truth:

Until next time...

Marvelous Monday Update 2/10/14

WEATHER
It's pretty sad when the temperatures get into the 20's, people here say, "It's pretty warm out today!" LOL, amazing how perspective changes when there's weeks of subzero temperatures.

 

 The colder temps have created some gorgeous sunrises.

 

A new term was coined at work:  Tunnels of Terror.  This is a view from the front windshield of my car.  See how high the snowbanks are?  Normally, I can see cornfields, bean fields, and farms.  Now, nothing but snowbanks.  This one is actually pretty good because both lanes are fully cleared.  There have been times I've driven to work where half my lane was covered in snow and ice.

 



Over the weekend, my area received another 4" of the light fluffy stuff.  My snowblower barely throws the snow up and over the banks of snow on the side of my drive way.

 

STITCHY STUFF
My ort bag was quite full, so I pulled out all the orts resulting from 2013 stitching.  I was surprised at how many snippets there were:

(As you can see, Froggie insisted on sneaking into the photo!)

 

I have two new starts this week.  The first is You Are So Loved by Snowflower Diaries.  If you look at the original design, you'll notice I have changed the colors.

 

The second start is N is for Nurse by Sweetheart Tree.  It will be a pretty quick stitch once I finish the nurse.  You can see the over-one stitching on her hands and face if you click on the image.

 

More BFC arrived in last week's mail.  I received an adorable card from Sue and Peanut (who is her "baby" chihuahua).

The sweet "SM" (surrogate Mom) that she is,

she also sent a couple of gifts for me:



 

Thank you for being so thoughtful, Sue!

 

Japanese Garden saw some progress, too.  I finished all the lazy daisy stitches for the bamboo stalks at the 9 o'clock bridge.  (Never thought I'd get them finished!)  Here's what it looked like before:

 

And now: 

 

 

Random Acts of Kindness

Did you know Feb 10-16 is Random Act of Kindness Week?  I plan on doing a RAK at least once day for the entire week.  What about you?  Next week, I will post the kindnesses I did.

 

Until then,

 

 



Marvelous Monday Update 2/3/14

With recent weather conditions, I need more than a tortilla!  Everyone in the midwest is asking, "Will this ever end?!?"  According to the news, so far this is the 8th worst winter weather on record.  My area has received over 35" of snow since December 1st.  That's about 12" above average.  While it's a good workout and aids in my getting the 10,000 steps in per day, I'm also tired of the snow, ice, and cold.

BELATED BIRTHDAY
A few more cards (and floss) arrived in the mail last week.

 

 I've really enjoyed the variety of birthday wishes that came this year. 

Here's my wall of cards:

GIFT
Long time readers may remember the shelf remake I did last year.  (If not, you can see it HERE.)  Deb sent me a lovely teacup and matching saucer for my collection.  Her note said it was her favorite pattern when she was younger.  I think it's absolutely beautiful!  Thank you, Deb.

STITCHY STUFF
:::happy dance:::  I have my first finish of 2014.  I put the final touches on Thinking Positive.  The photos really don't do the opalescent fabric justice.

Designer:  Jardin Prive / Nathalie Cichon

32ct Opalescent Luguna - Heritage by Enchanting Lair

Fibers: DMC, Weeks Dye Works

 

Edited 2/9/14:  I've had quite a few requests asking which WDW threads I used for the lettering.  The purple varigated is 2296 Sweet Pea.  The magenta varigated 4115 Mothers Day.

 

I also did a bit more stitching on Japanese Garden:

Until next time,

 



I Was Grabbed!

I almost forgot that I was grabbed last week by Gail! She featured my cabinet makeover on Catch As Catch Can 91. How exciting is that?!




FAMILY NEWS
As you may have noticed my Marvelous Monday update is missing.  Last week was a bit crazy busy, and I'm still trying to play catch up.  Last Thursday night, my Mom was admitted to the hospital with bronchitis and pneumonia.  They let her go home on Sunday with an oxygen tank in tow.  The tank is almost as big as she is!  Home healthcare also delivered one of those oxygen making machines.  She has to be tethered to it until she has a follow up appointment with a lung specialist.  While in the hospital, they found scarring in her lungs and think she has some sort of lung disease.  There was also blood in her urine so she also has to see a kidney doctor.  Since Mom never gets sick, she didn't have a primary care doctor.  The hospital gave her one of those, too, which she has to go see.  The only time she's seen a doctor is when she had babies, appendicitis, and a tonsilectomy.  She just hasn't ever been sick in the past 45 years.  Mom always took care of Dad all these years (Yes, he is/was spoiled!) and I was worried that he wouldn't pick up the slack.  I actually woke up at 1am on Tuesday thinking about it!  After visiting my parents last night, Mom said Dad was helping her so I feel better about it.  Mom said she's feeling much better.  So now, we just have to wait to see what her three doctors have to say.

STITCHY STUFF
Jennifer of Feathers in Nest hosted a blog giveaway a few weeks ago. Guess who the winner was?!?

(If you guessed it was me, you were right!)

The middle part says:

I still find each day too short for

all the thoughts I want to think,

all the walks I want to take,

all the books I want to read,

all the friends I want to see.

Jennifer sent me the cutest little Storklette scissors (2 pairs!) and a chart called Each Day.  If you're not familiar with Jennifer's blog, click on over and check it out.  Her Mr. Darcy recently refinished an antique baker's cupboard that is just awesome.  Jennifer herself designs primitive style charts.  If you're into those, she puts her freebies on her blog.  She also has the cutest little white dog... Abby.

MORE STITCHY STUFF

Last Saturday, I had the honor of meeting three stitchy ladies I have known online for many, many years.  The four of us along with at least 10 others from a Facebook group met up in Arlington Heights for a day of laughter, stitching, and snacking.  It was so much fun meeting everyone!

Mary and Nancy

Faith

The four of us

Some of the other ladies

EVEN MORE STITCHY STUFF!

While at the Stitching GTG, I finished yet another scissor fob.  Right now, it's winging its way to Canada so until it arrives there, I can't show a pic.

I also worked on JG's one-over-one stitching (32ct fabric) while at the GTG.  I'm finding that I have to do that section in shifts otherwise I think I'll go blind.  Thank goodness for the MagEyes I talked about in my previous post!

(Proof that I worked on JG!)

Here's what it looked like last week:

What it looks like now:

Last Summer, Donna at By The Bay Needleart has designed a Summer freebie SAL that I participated in.  If Multiply and Webshots wouldn't have changed their policies I could link up to the photo finish.  Donna has designed an Autumn SAL that started last week.  I finally got around to pulling the fabric and floss for it and put a few stitches in last night.  I'll take a photo as soon as I'm finished with Part I.

HUMOR
Lastly, I was behind a car in traffic and saw this bumper sticker.  I burst out laughing.

And to go along with it:

Until next time,

October Already?!?

Where the heck did September go? Seems like yesterday it was September 1st and I was wondering where the summer went. Fall is definitely in the air, and my only tree in the backyard has dumped a boat load of leaves everywhere!




STITCHY STUFF
Last week, I showed you the scissors and fob I sent off to Carien. This week, I get to show you what I received in the exchange.

My first humbug scissor fob!
Thank you, Carien. It's adorable.

Over the past few months, I've noticed that my wrist has been aching. I was going to get one of those crafters gloves from the LNS that closed, but they didn't have my size. On a whim, I went to the nearest drugstore to see what they had for wrist support. I found the Ace Rejuvenating Hand Support Glove.

Isn't it stylish? LOL It's made very similar to the craft glove except it has an elastic support that wraps around the wrist and attaches with velcro. I really like this feature. I've been using it for about 2 weeks now when I'm stitching and it seems to do the trick. No more aching pain in the wrist! The best part: The drugstore had them buy one, get one at 1/2 price.

Despite my anxiety over whether I will have enough of the (discontinued) HDF silks, I am forging forward on JG. I made quite a bit of progress last week:

I would like to send out a big THANK YOU to all those who have looked through their stash to see if they had the colors I need. I have leads on some of the colors, so I am hopeful. :) Stitchers are the BEST!!!

HUMOR FOR THE WEEK
This is a snip of a real ad. I saw this and bust out laughing.

Seriously?! We all need a footstool so we have proper potty technique. Bwahahaha!
(and it's only $34.95)
Until next time,

Sometimes You Just Gotta Laugh

Have you ever seen the Sandbox commerical on TV?  Every time I see it, I laugh at the tortured cat commentary. LOL


Just poop, already!!
GARDENING
Since the summer weather took a toll on my flowers and garden, I haven't been able to share many photos. I have to give them credit, my Double Knockout Roses and Hostas are hanging in there.

TREASURE HUNTING
I scoured four thrift stores in search of a frame for Fleurs et Papillons since it's almost finished. I couldn't find the right size, so the search is still on. With that said, I didn't leave empty handed.

I found 4 Hallmark Ornaments still in the box for 29cents each and 2 boxes of Christmas cards for 59cents each. For about a month now, I've been looking for a small side table to put next to my stitching chair. I found a small 2-drawer dresser that's no bigger than a TV tray for $7.99 (actually $7.98 because there was a penny in the drawer, lol). It needs some work, but that's OK. I'm the Queen of DIY, remember??

I also found a set of 11x17" Qsnaps with aida still on it for 59cents...

I don't use Qsnaps very often, but these will come in handy when I do.

I also found a framed southwest stitched piece on 32ct evenweave for $2. It's a beautiful piece and I was saddened to see it at the thrift store so I *had* to bring it home!

STITCHY STUFF
The only stitching I did last week was for a scissor fob exchange. It's going into the mail today, so I can't show photos until the recipient gets it. I can say that it turned out so cute, I'm thinking about making one for myself!

My not-so-local needlework shop is closing its doors at the end of this week. Right now, practically everything in the store is 70% off! I spent three hours looking through charts, chart packs, kits, fabric, and floss on Friday. I grabbed up what remained of the WDW and Kreinik silks. All the GAST was gone already *sniffle*. Somehow, a nice stack of 28 and 32ct linen found it's way into my bag, too!

Next week, I'll share some of the charts I picked up. At 70% off, I couldn't resist... When I was in the store, the BF texted me: "Just buy the whole store!" Too funny. I definitely used up my needlework budget for this year and next year!

Since I got some new stuff, I had the urge to purge some "old" stuff. I've added a bunch of items to my For Sale or Trade blog. I have another stack I've scanned and will be adding soon.

Lastly, I'll leave you with more humor... Ya just gotta love Maxine!

(As an allergy sufferer, I know how she feels!!)

Until next time,