October TUSAL Update

I am a couple days late for TUSAL. So here it is. And, oh crap, just realized I never posted for September, so mine is for two months.

I have been stashing quite a bit lately, with more to come this weekend. Will update the blog soon with all my news. Until then, chat soon.

The Dog Days of Summer

Hello my faithful readers. Once again it is time for an update. As you can see from my August TUSAL update from yesterday, I have not been stitching as much. That is because shortly after I updated everyone on my Christmas in July ornaments, I sliced off the finger tips of my right index and middle fingers, and couldn't stitch. I was slicing potatoes with one of those mandolin-style slicers. Thanks heavens for my DD. She was a trooper. She finished making supper and helped me out for the next week with housework and meals. I made a trip to the ER the next day because I couldn't get the bleeding to stop. But I am back to stitching with a vengence now.  They are all healed up, but the teensiest bit tender yet.

On to the updates now. First here is the ornament and card from my Christmas in July partner, Tricia.

I just love it! She did such a beautiful job, and her card is so pretty! Thank you so much, my friend! I have it out where I can see it everyday.

Here is my Silver Moon Tea from Mirabilia. She is almost half done now. Coming along much better since I restarted.

I really have to thank Barbara C. She sent me an on-line gift certificate earlier in July for the Birthday Thread Exchange for The Stitch Specialist Yahoo group. And then this lovely card and DMC threads came as well. Thank you so much again, Barb! With all you are going thru, this was so lovely and thaoughtful.

I just fell in love with this ornament from the 2007 JCS Ornament issue. This will be for my Dad for Christmas. We both have this bird visit our feeders, so I think he will like it!

Yes, I have started a new SAL. (You know I can't help myself! lol) It's called Confetti of Hardanger by Bee's Needleworks. Abi Gurden, owner of The Stitch Specialists Yahoo group designed it, and you can only stitch it by being a member of the group, and for a small fee. Part One is finished above, and will be starting Part 2 very soon. My fabric is 28-count Laguna in Queen Anne's Lace, with Caron Watercolors and Wildflowers in Moss and Autumn Leaves, and white DMC Perle cotton 8 and 12. I am pleased with how the colours look against the fabric.

I grabbed this magazine because I liked the Halloween and Christmas ornaments in it. I used to have a subscription to this mag, but wasn't thrilled with everything in it, so I only buy it if I like a bunch of projects.

This one I had on order at my LNS, and grabbed it a week ago. There are some wonderful Halloween charts in it, and my sister has asked for one or two. I think I can manage it, for Christmas. ;)

Now I am very excited about this next project! You know I love my gingerbread, and Hubby bought me this project! Isn't he a sweetie?! It's The Victoria Sampler Gingerbread Tree Etui Stitcherama cyberclass! It is a two-week class towards the end of September. I have all the threads organized, but need to prepare the fabric and start cross stitching. That will be today's job! I would like to have all the cross stitching done in time for the class, so I can concentrate on the specialty stitching and finishing. Wish me luck, and I'll keep you posted.

And last but not least are these cute charts sent to me by Joanne P. She was my partner for the Chocolate Exchange for The Stitching Hangout Yahoo group. I sent her some chocolate-related threads and fabric, which I hope she gets soon! She saw my Stoney Creek Witch finish, and asked me if I would like these charts. She won them as a door prize, said she wouldn't stitch them, and was looking to re-home them. I would like to work on them this fall. They would be a lovely addition to my on going Halloween decor. Thanks again, my stitchy friend. I will share progress pics when I start them. Just a note to all, I have been using my iPad to post to my blog. My laptop is not at all well, and I use it sparingly, only for very important missions. My Blogger app does not place pictures in the order I take them, so I write about them in the order they are placed. I have tried to manipulate them, but I end up frustrated, so it is my laziness and fear of deleting pictures that my blog is the way it is. Well, I have come to the end of another update. I am doing laundry, so in between loads I will be preparing my fabric for the Gingerbread Tree Etui. As well will be watching The Iron Lady from my DVR and The Hunger Games I downloaded to my iTunes account with DD later on. Hope everyone enjoys the last couple weeks of summer, winter for the southern hemisphere. It's lovely here in SW Ontario, where after the last month and a half it's been stifling, hot and muggy, I now have windows open and a cool breeze blowing gently. Chat soon, everyone!

August TUSAL Update

Hello my faithful readers. I only have time for quick update today. I am a day late for August's TUSAL and will be busy for the rest of the day. I promise to fill you in on all my stitching adventures tomorrow, when I have more time. Until then, chat soon!

Christmas In July...Done!

Well my faithful readers, my ornaments are done! All done but the drying. These little treasures will sit on my craft table until tomorrow, then one will wing its way to my partner, Tricia. The others are for me, or maybe not. Someone might get one for Chistmas. I am so happy they are done! Till next time, chat soon.
...Now back to my regularly scheduled stitching! Hopefully I managed to wash off all the glue. Teehee ;)

It's raining, it's pouring... Yay!!

Hello again, my faithful readers. It's time once again for an update.

As the title suggests it's raining here in SW Ontario, and boy am I glad. It has been so dry and hot for the last few weeks. The grass is brown, but the weeds are green! I hope this evens things out! lol

On to the stitching! I am using my iPad with Blogger to post, and it doesn't always let me put pictures in the order I would like to, so please bear with me.

Th first picture is from a chocolate exchange with one of my Yahoo groups from Deb Kluges. It's a lovely piece of 28 count linen in a luscious raspberry chocolate colour! The picture does not do it justice! Thank you so much again, Deb!

The second picture is some stitching I have done for another Yahoo group. It's a combination of an exchange and challenge. Heading to visit my parents tomorrow to raid Mom's fabric to finish them up. One gets sent to my partner, and the other two I keep. My exchange ornament will be on its way to you early next week, Tricia!

The third picture is my July TUSAL update, both for the last month and year to date.

The fourth is my progress on Mirabilia's Silver Moon Tea. I had to completely rip it out and start again as I couldn't find where I made the mistake. It's coming along much better now that I restarted it. And for all my Pink ladies from the Stitching Hangout, this is my July Pink update, because: a) I am tickled pink that I got rid of the frogs plaguing me, and b) there is some pink in this project, just a bit by the brown of her hair!! lol Hopefully more pink will show itself as I continue to stitch it. ;)

Last week DD and I trekked to the big city for some retail therapy. Of course no trip to the big city is complete without a stop at our LNS. I picked up some floss and fabric and goodies for a Birthday thread exchange for The Stitch Specialists Yahoo group. (pictures will be in a later post, after my partners recieve their packages) I have the items all bought for my last two partners, which will both go out next week.

But I couldn't resist a little something for me! Those scissors in the 5th picture were screaming at me, yelling "Buy Me!". Plus I have lovely freebies of cheetah-y needlework patterns that these scissors were made for! That is what I am sticking with.

My last picture is the Thread Exchange for The Stitch Specialists Yahoo group from Theoria from South Africa. As you can see, she spoiled me absolutely rotten! I am still fondling all the lovely threads and bits and bobs! lol. Thank you so much again, Theoria. I can't wait to play with everything!

As well, just today I got an email from 1-2-3 Stitch saying that I have a $10 gift certificate from Barbara Crawford to spend there, in the same birthday exchange. I have had a great stash week!

Well we have come to the end of my update. Hope the weather is treating everyone well, wherever you are. Chat soon!

Ding Dong, the Witch is Dead...I mean finished!

Hello, my faithful readers. It is time once again for me to update my blog. Things are finally slowing down for me, which should give me time for a little more stitching.

Here is my latest finish, just finished last night, as a matter of fact. Yes, Stoney Creek's Stardust and Moonbeams Witch is finally done!

She turned out rather well, if I do say so myself.

And I have been stashing, buying books and threads and floss and fabric.

I finally have all Teresa Wentzler's books.

These two stitch books I have wanted for a while, so they are a nice addition to my expanding library.

I have been wanting to learn needle painting, so these were a must have! Besides, those little birds are so darn cute! ;)

I bought this fabric for my Victorian Sampler Gingerbread Stitching House, as well as the Gingerbread Etui Stitcherama cyberclass I'm taking in September. Plus Thea has hinted that a new gingerbread building will be released this fall. Made sure I bought lots of fabric, so I wouldn't run out.

This fabric is for some Halloween ornaments I have kitted up. And I think it will go with quite a lot.

These are from a birthday thread exchange for one of my Yahoo groups. The top one is from Jeanne and bottom one from Meg. Thanks so much, ladies! I sure got spoiled!

Here is my stashing efforts for the last month. Lots of fabric and threads to play with! Have been a very good customer at my LNS, Thread'n'Eye. The chart with the charm was in the discout bin for $2! What a steal!

A couple blog posts ago, I showed you my flower beds, so now here are my containers. Love watching my herbs and tomato plants grow. And I am trying something new with my flowers and urns. Pink flowers to match my new pink chairs! You know I love my pink! Plus, the last picture is my pride and joy, a gardenia tree!! My mom picked it up for me while visiting my sister the beginning of the month. The blooms smell so beautiful.

Last week my DD graduated from Grade 8. The dinner and awards ceremony was lovely, emotional and very sweet. DD won both the music and art awards. Afterwards, us parents watched our children get into a limo for their own private celebration. They went to the lake and a variety store, and drove around reliving memories. A great time was had by all.

Will be working on getting my stitching projects in order, they are kind of un-organized right now. My craft room has been used as a dumping ground for scrapbooking and stitching things, and I need to do some tidying so I can get some exchanges ready to go out for a couple of my Yahoo groups. This means your ornament, Tricia! ;) And then I want to get caught up on ATW, and work on my two BAPS TW Designworks Spring Carousel Horse and Mirabilia's Cinderella.

Well, we have come to the end of another update. This is the first holiday weekend of the summer, Canada Day on Sunday. Hope everyone enjoysthe coming summer, winter for my friends in the southern hemisphere! Chat soon!

June TUSAL Update

Seeing as my family will be busy with DD's grad ceremony tomorrow, I thought I should post my TUSAL tonight for June, so it's not late! I promise I will blog much more about all my stashing, stitching (or lack there of!) and the Graduation! I may even have a finish to show very soon! Chat soon, I promise! ;)

Scrappy Weekend Update, TUSAL, Stitching Disaster, and A CoupleSockMonkeys!

Hello my faithful readers! I hope everyone's weekend is going well!  Here in Canada is the first official long weekend of summer, Victoria Day weekend, or May Two Four!  It has been absolutely gorgeous here, sunny, warm, and not a hint of rain!  I have alot to share with you, so please grab your refreshment of choice, cause this is a long one!!

First off, I had a scrapbooking weekend planned the last weekend in April with Hubby's Aunt Bev.  We went to Friday night crop at a local church in her area to scrap and eat!  (It was pot luck!  I brought danishes)  I met some fabulous ladies and managed to make some cards.  On the Saturday, we went to a crop for ovarian cancer.  I managed to get two double page layouts and five cards made!  I even won some Creative Memories papers!  We scrapped some more at her house Saturday evening, and Sunday morning.  Around noon, I left to pick up DD, who spent the weekend with my parents.

Layout I made for Korbin, now just need to add pics!

Layout of our 2007 Florida trip to Disney World.

This is one of the cards I made.  It was for my Dad's Birthday, which was May 2.  It had birds on it in honour of my Dad!

This one is for my BIL, whose birthday was on May 13, but since I won't be seeing him until June 19, I am saving it and his present until then.  Besides, he doesn't read my blog.

I have a couple more cards, but I can't show you until the events have passed, because I don't want to ruin the surprise!

These two charmers down below are what my DD and Mom made while I was away!  They had a crafty weekend too!  They finished these two, and had two more almost finished.

The one on the left is one DD made for a friend of hers.  He loved him!  But he is as yet, un-named!  The one on the right is DD's.  We (alright, me!!) have named her Gertrude, Gertie for short.  DD was taking way too long naming her.  And if her friend doesn't hurry up and name his, I will!!

The other two are going to little ones, one for my nephew, Korbin and the last one to my sister's niece, Lexy.

I just have to share, I won a giveaway from Scrapbook and Cards Today magazine blog!  I was so excited! I won a surprise goodie bag full of things to scrap with!  Plus some extras!  I check out this blog faithfully everyday.  And I won a prize over a year ago, but had never received the prize.  So I called the magazine and got the owner/editor, who felt very bad that I never received my prize, so she threw in some extras and had it shipped priority to my house!!

I can't wait to play with all this fun stuff!!

This is the view from my vehicle three of four afternoons a week!  I sit by the lake, watch DD row, and stitch!

That is her rowing in the distance.

This is my start on Around the World in 80 Stitches by Papillion Creations.  Not very far with it, I'm afraid.

The frogs have come to visit!  I seem to be making counting mistakes everytime I sit down to stitch this one!  I get one specialty stitch done, then I have to rip it out and start it again!

The next part came out today, but I am having trouble getting it to download! I have an email into Yvonne, so hopefully she can help me sort it out!

If you don't mind, please take a look at  Mirabilia's Silver Moon Tea below.

Can you find the mistake?  Me either.  Sigh.  But there is one there somewhere!  I just can't find it!  At this time all is being ripped out.  Going to start in the top left corner and work at it that way.  Hopefully I will be able to trick the frogs into going away!  If any one wants my frogs, willing to get rid of them real cheap!  lol

Here is my monthly TUSAL update!

Here is DD's stitching update for the last two months.  Since Florida, actually.

Dragon of Water, Dragon Dreams

Dragon of Earth and Dragon of Fire, both Dragon Dreams as well.

Since it has been so nice this past week, I've been motivated to tidy up my flower beds.

Front bed, with two oriole feeders

Back flower bed.  Trying to discourage Copper from using this as a litter box!  I also cleaned out my big pots and urns yesterday, so now all I need to get is dirt, fertilizer and plants!  More pics to come when I get my pots planted!

This was the view out my upstairs hall window one morning a couple weeks back!  Yes, it is my nemesis!

This thing just makes such a mess!!  Don't let the cuteness fool you!!

It must be spring!!

This was taken with my iPhone the other day at the lake where DD rows.  The goslings were so cute and fluffy!  But these birds are the bane of DD's rowing coach!!  They leave little presents all over the dock!  lol

Speaking of baby birds leaving the nest.  I know I usually like to end my blog with a bird picture, but this is my baby bird!

She's not quite ready to leave the nest, but she is a step closer.  Here is a photo I took of her at school a week ago for her Grade 8 Grad photo shoot.  There was a professional photographer there to take individual and group photos of the class.  I brought my camera along too!  I'm not ashamed to admit I got a little teary-eyed looking at her looking so grown up.  All the grads looked wonderful in their dresses and suits!

Well, if you made it this far, thanks for coming along!  Hope you all enjoy the rest of the weekend!  Chat soon