Home makeover - A disturbance in the Force

Here we go again, a week with little stitching and feeling out of sorts. The home improvement project is not coming along and the DH is getting rather (ahem) annoyed. That's an understatement. Hence there has been a disturbance in the Force (in Star Wars terms) and we are both a bit out of kilter over this entire thing. There definitely is an underlying tension because the house is less than a quarter done. Mainly, it has to do with the windows. There is no word from the supplier to the contractor as to when they will arrive. And that's making the DH cranky which causes a big wave of disturbance. Additionally, the weather has been less than ideal (it's been cold and rainy) and certain lawn tools are refusing to cooperate. It just hasn't been a good week in our household. On a good note though, my garden is coming along nicely. I filled in some of the spaces with new perennials and I cleaned out one bed that is up against the house that was all weeds. Surprise! There were shrubs in there! I left it go thinking that I would get to it after the siding was put on the house. But since that hasn't happened and I could not stand that bed a minute longer, I took a hoe and a shovel and hacked away all the weeds. It took awhile to clean it out and the plants are much happier!

So, my stitching has suffered because I can not concentrate. I put in a few stitches in a Little House Needlework pattern called Americana but not enough to be able to share a picture just yet. I started this pattern last year thinking that I could have it stitched for the 4th of July I like the design alot but of course, I didn't finish it before the fourth of July. Actually, I hardly made any progress on it. So it got filed away and forgotten. While rummaging around for something else, I came across it and decided it would be a cute addition to some July 4th decorations. That is if I can get the oomph to work on it. Hopefully, I can have it done before July 4th this year! Cross your fingers!

So to compensate for my lack of stitching, I've spent a lot of time blog surfing, and I am inspired by a lot of the French gals blogs. I can't read French but I can pick out certain words. But the photos! Oh, my goodness, they are beyond beautiful! The creativity and finishing of the needlework is superb and is something that I would love to accomplish. Go check out some of them, I linked Vero's and Tempest Fugit on my sidebar. And then go off to their linked blogs to see what I mean. You will be amazed at their work!

On another note, Mike comes home tomorrow from Spokane. He had a blast at this ROTC opportunity. The test fighter flight was beyond awesome in his words. He loved it.
I will be glad that he is coming home, but he isn't cause he starts work on Monday...poor baby. I don't think that I will see much of him anyway as he has plans for his free time. Looks like Hotel Lintz will be open for business come Friday night.

Saturday is my birthday. I hope that I will get to spend some serious time with John Foster. I know that we are going to Texas Roadhouse for dinner. Yum! Anyway...I got to go for now. Happy Thursday everyone!

John Foster 1885 progress

I thought I would post a progress picture of John Foster, my current love. I've stitched just about as much as I had finished before we had our lover's quarrel a few months ago. I love this sampler and I find him very relaxing to stitch. The little motifs are just a treat to stitch. So, what do you think?



On another note, my son is spending a month with the AirForce ROTC shadowing commissioned officers. He's at Fairchild AFB in Spokane Washington. However, this week, they few to Houston to fly the trainer jets. He left this morning and will be there until Friday. To say he's pumped is an understatement. I am dying to hear how he fared during his time in the plane. As he said, GO JETS!!!

Dreaming, dreaming

Today is one of those days to daydream. I've been thinking of all the stitching things I want to make. I've been blog hopping again, and seeing everyone's beautiful work makes me want to go home and just stitch.

I worked a little on John Foster last night. I am 1/4 of the way done with the quaker motif in the center. This sampler is moving right along and I am happy that it's going well. We've patched things up - for now. You never know when things will go sour though. I have a tendency to get complacent so there may be frogging involved. I do love Von's comment about my linen. She always has a positive things to say. Yes, this sampler is a reproduction, so the linen will complement the design. You are too cool, Von!

I am on a house kick right now. I am planning on stitching Village of Hawk Run Hollow by Carriage House Samplings. I also have been toying with BOAF's Peace sampler. I like that samper a great deal and it would go well with Hillside School of Needlework and John Foster. I would like to make a grouping of house samplers.

Also, I have bought quite a lot of sash recently. Blame it on---well, there really is no excuses for my lack of willpower. I bought a new pattern by Little House Needleworks called Seasons of Growth, a stitching accessory from Cat's Whiskers Designs called Feed My Soul, and all the NPI silks for Village of Hawk Run Hollow, a Chessie and Me design, Bunny Sampler. Bad Joanie, bad!!!

Also, before I forget, here is a photo of my Welcome Sampler. It was a fun piece and I really don't know why it took me 8 years (yes, that's right, I started it 8 years ago!) to finish!

Weekend work

It was a very cold weekend in New York. Gloomy and grey. My DH was beside himself because he couldn't cut the grass or go bike riding. It was 40 degrees. Was I complaing? NO! It was a perfect day to curl up and stitch. On Saturday,I was good and did some organizing in my craft room. I am rapidly running out of space though and that scares me a bit. Between painting and stitching, I don't have much room for any other hobby. Once upon a time, I thought about quilting, but I lie down until the feeling goes away. I did promise myself that one day, I will make a quilted wallhanging. I love Thimbleberries designs and I have a few of Lynette Jenson's books.

Anyway, I digress. I didn't stitch Saturday night as my DH and I spent the evening curled up on the sofa watching movies. We watched John Grisham's, Runaway Jury. John Cusack stars in it and I just LOVE him.

Sunday, the weather wasn't much better. So after Church, I plopped down on my sofa determined to finish SB's Twined Hearts. All that's left was the beading and the withdrawn work. I got through the first 2 areas of hemstitching but I royally messed up the last section. Grrr-rrr. I will need to remove and reweave new linen threads as I made a mistake somewhere in the borders. Two hours later and a lot of frustration, I put it away for now.

The evening stitching commenced after supper. I worked on John Foster. I really hate the linen that I am stitching this sampler on, the weave is very inconsistent. The threads vary in thickness a great deal and if I wasn't as far along as I am, I would begin it again. But as of today, I am about a third done with it. It's a great sampler and I find it relaxing to work on it.

I will post pictures of my progress and happy dance later. Stay tuned!

My heart is skipping a beat

I was perusing the bb's this morning and came across a post for the new Carriagehouse Samplings pattern, Village of Hawkes Run Hollow. This is a beautiful pattern and yes, I will be purchasing it!



I already pre-ordered the NPI silks from Stitching Bits and Bobs this morning cause there is a 25% sale going on right now. I have been pretty good about buying new things, I promised myself that I would only buy those things that I know I will stitch, I can't be collecting patterns just for the fun of it.

I have village of HawkRun Hollow in my stash on my short list of Big Projects. I dragged it out to look at it and at one time I thought about using DMC on it. The AVAS was way beyond my wallet and honestly, the AVAS still is too rich for my blood even though I love stitching with it. NPI is probablly a better way to go for this chart. I did read that some of the silk colors didn't convert well so I am sure there will be some substitutions going on.

Danielle also posted this cute finish of Prairie Schooler's bee hive gardening glove on her blog .
I also have this pattern and her finish is so cute, it made me want to stitch it right away. I resisted this urge for the moment, there are other things that I want to finish first and need my attention before I start another thing. If I finish Twined Hearts from Shepherds Bush then I will allow myself to start another small piece as a treat. Cause then I will have 2 UFO's finished and well, I deserve it, right? LOL!!!

Let's see how the rest of the weekend goes. I won't be stitching much this afternoon because I am working on my craft room. I want it to be picked up and organized before the new window goes into that room. The room got a little discombobulated when the in-laws came last week. I shoved a bunch of stuff that belongs in there but didn't put it away. That's what I am doing right now. Stitching will be this evening.

Hope everyone is having a good Saturday, today it's so cold, it's like March. I bought plants for my flower bed, a bunch of perennials and a few annuals but I can not go out and play in my dirt. It's just TOO cold to dig in the cold earth!!!

Happy Dance!!

For all of those who've asked if I got a chance to stitch last weekend, the answer was a resounding YES!!!!

Oh happy dance!!! I finished Drawn Threads, Welcome Spot sampler. I got bogged down with the satin stitched roof. I made an error while stitching on it and got frustrated so it went in the UFO pile. But it's done now! I was inspired by Danielle who decided to pull out some of her WIPs and complete them. I have 3 pieces that fit in that category now...and when I looked at them, I shook my head and said, why didn't I finish them?

For a variety of reasons, obviously.

This is the list of *almost dones* and the reason why they aren't finished:

Real Roses - The Drawn Thread - I decided to personalize the sampler at the bottom with our family. On the sampler, there's a lady and a girl and a boy. I thought it would be cool to have a lady, a man and a boy to represent our family. I recharted the man but he looks like a clown with balloon pants. I don't want anyone to think that my DH is a clown, now do I? So into the UFO pile it went while I worked out what to do with the man. Additionally, there is a hugh error in color on the band with all the Queen stitches. I mis-read the pattern and stitched 2 full rows of those icky stitches in the wrong color. I decided not to rip them out cause I absolutely abhor them. It's not like the original so another reason not to finish this gorgeous sampler.
What's left? The spiderweb roses in the tree and the last band with the figures.

Twined Heart - Shepherd Bush - For the life of me, I don't know why this is left undone. The bands are less than 3 inches wide. I do know that I struggled with withdrawing and re-weaving the threads on the first section of withdrawn work. That put me off so it was retired to the UFO pile. All that's left is the beading and the 3 sections of withdrawn work.

Charmed Hearts - Shepherd Bush - The center hearts, the top floral vine border and 1/2 of the rice stitched white border are done. All that's left to stitch are 3 sides of the rice stitch border and the floral vine border and the beads...this will take longer than the other 3 I've listed but I think it could be finished in a weekend.

So what's next? Right now, John Foster 1885 Sampler is calling to me. I've frogged and restitched the bee-hive and the finished off the floral baskets at the top of the design. I subscribe to Ellen Chester's, With My Needle, newsletter and this sampler is being done as a SAL. I really am not that far away from being caught up with the group. I would have to complete the Quaker motif, the dove cotes and the personalization. They have stitched the entire border first and I am stitching it as I go. It would be really nice to finish this sampler off this year. I would like to try hand graining a frame for it...wouldn't that be cool?

Good things come out of a visit from the In-laws!

One thing for sure, preparing for an in-law visit can be a good thing. It really forced my DH and my DS to get organized and clear some of the clutter they have left in various spots throughout the house. The biggest accomplishment was my kitchen table. You can actually see that we HAVE a table! My DH uses it as a desk. He is studying for his Masters in Education and is currently reviewing Euclidean geometry. Additionally, he is involved in a number of Christian organizations, so all that stuff finds a place on the table too. I told him that he could have 1/2 of the table but it creeps and eventually, the kitchen table becomes his workplace. I have promised him that once the window is replaced in the 3rd bedroom, we will paint the room and replace the carpet. Then we will purchase a desk, a bookshelf or 2 and a comfy chair so that he can use it as a true study. I wanted it done for Father's Day but since the home improvement is terribly behind schedule, I think it will be an anniversary gift instead.

Now that the house is in better shape, I am hoping to maintain it. It is so much more relaxing not to have all that stuff hanging around. The trick will be changing the DH's behavior. He is such a pack-rat. Never throws away anything. I on the other hand, tend to be neat. Not obsessively so, but I do put things away after I use them and I do my best not to let my clutter get out of hand. I am a magazine junkie as well as a stitching junkie, but even so, my stitching has a home and I regularly go through my magazines and purge them. It has taken me years to get to this point, but I realize that mentally and emotionally, it helps me a great deal to have a clean, clutter-free environment. A less chaotic environment actually helps my mood.

So, the next step is to clear out the 3rd bedroom to begin it's transformation into a retreat for the hubby. I have started it but it seemed that everything that we didn't have a home for made it into that room. This weekend, I plan tackling it. I already have 3 piles going, keep, give away, and throw away. The keep pile is pretty small, the give away is by far the largest and the throw away is really just made up of junk that we've kept throughout the years. It'll take me most of Saturday to go through. The biggest task I have is finding a home for the Snowmen collection. I have a couple of containers that contain my snowbuddies. Storing them in the basement is a bad idea because the basement is a bit damp and most of the snowmen are stuffed. Not a good environment for the frosty fellows.

I am hoping to stitch this weekend too. I will be working on whatever calls the loudest. No matter what, just stitching will be wonderful as I haven't worked on anything for at least a month!

I did receive some new stash in the mail. I got the new Essy & Friends piece from Elegant Stitch. It's an adorable scissor case designed by Indigo Rose. I love these little pieces as they are quick stitches and I am supporting such a good cause, Breast Cancer Research.

I also received the fabric, NPI silk and chart for the Lois Minshall Sampler from Threads of Gold. It's a pretty sampler and the colors are very soft and delicate. I don't plan on starting it right away but it has made it to the short list. Threads of Gold has a number of samplers that I would love to have in my stash. One in particular, Caroline Braden 1801, has my attention.
Another sampler to add to the ever growing list of *wants*!

Whine, whine, whine, whimper

Thanks everyone for posting comments to my blog. I really appreciate them and it's nice to know that I have wonderful stitching friends around the world.

I feel bad that my recent posts have been so depressing. It's just that I am so frustrated. In fact, in preparation for the in-laws visit, I put my stitching basket in the closet. And my DH put my magnifier out of the way too...it just doesn't feel right.

I never realized how much stitching grounded me. I get really cranky when I don't get to do even a little bit of stitching and recently there has been NO stitching in my life. Creativity is a big part of my psyche and personality and I just don't feel like me if I don't do something creative at least daily. Seeing a wonderful design grow on fabric with a length of fiber makes my heart sing. I never would have thought that such simple items would bring me so much pleasure. But that's what stitching does for me. I read that doing this form of craftwork actually produces dopamine which combats depression. Isn't that cool? The repetition of making x's relaxes your mind and takes your mind off of your troubles. I can relate totally!

With all the stuff going on with our remodel and getting ready for the visit, with Mike home too, my routine has been shaken up a bit. But that's ok cause I'll find my rhythm again soon.

Thanks for your patience!!! And for putting up with my rants!

When will I stitch again...

Remember that song from the 80's that went...When will I see you again? Well, just insert stitch and there you have it for me! I haven't touched a needle in 2 weeks. It's been insane!

I went to a class in Jamestown NY for auditor training. I thought that I would have some time in the evening to stitch a little bit cause there's nothing to do in Jamestown. The sidewalks roll up at 7:00PM and to be perfectly honest, I am not that adventurous when I am in an unfamiliar place so I tend to stay close to the hotel. So I figured, hotel room = evening stitching. Wrong! I had HOMEWORK that took most of the evenings to complete and there was a TEST at the end of the class that I had to study for...so no stitching for me.

Because I have been away for a week, this three day weekend has been spent preparing for the in-laws to visit next week. Add my son to the mix, he descending on the house, dropping off a year's worth of stuff from college. Well, you get the picture, I've done nothing but laundry and getting the house ready for company. No stitching again.

So, I go blogging and I see everyone's creations and finishes and I am green with envy. I am living vicariously through everyone's needlework.

Ok, can I have some WHINE with my cheese?

Maybe I will get to stitch NEXT weekend. Ya think?

Pictures say a 1000 words

I wasn't going to post this progress picture but I felt that I should just because I wanted everyone to know that I DO keep my word. I am working on this for Nancy K. She has been so gracious about waiting for this very delinquent exchange piece. I want to publically thank her for her patience and friendship and kindness shown to me during the past year. So Nancy, here's a progress picture of your exchange.



I know that life certainly gets in the way of even the best laid plans and I've certainly had my share in the last 9 months. Nancy has been the most sympathetic stitching friend. Anyway, I have been posting and telling Nancy that the piece is coming. It's now about 1/2 of the way done. And here's the proof! I am still not saying how I will finish it. But it will be very, very nice.

There is a story behind this piece. Originally, I started to stitch Indigo Rose's, Catherine's Armchair Pinkeep. I changed all the colors and modified it to an Autumn theme. I changed the colors and the blueberry motifs to autumn leaves. Unfortunately, the spider web roses and my live-in frogs had another plan. Frustration ensued and I put the piece away. I started anew and changed all my plans to the current one. Then work and the remodeling got in the way, along with a healthy dose of guilt. So today, since my DH and I decided to be slugs and stay in, I picked it back up and made good progress.

Then there is the house makeover. Here are pictures of the door, the staircase in the new room and the spot where we are going to install a pellet stove. Just wanted to share...

The door:



Where the future pellet stove will live:



The staircase to the kitchen. Picture a french door replacing this ugly thing:



And the barn cat who desperately wants to live indoors:



And lastly, the rainbow over the pond. Isn't it gorgeous:

Temptation Eyes

Remember that song from WAY back? Well, I am and continue to be sorely tempted by all the new designs out there. And I came across this one from Exemplars From the Heart.


I promised myself that I would put myself on a stash diet, as I could open my own shop with all of the stuff I own. But that sampler is just a must have for me. Vicki Clayton has a conversion for it and I LOVE using her silks.

I am toast.

I have to confess that I made a visit to Stitchery Row last night. Mind you, I only went there for one skein of linen thread because I misplaced the skein for the Merry Cox piece. I ended up buying the fibers and the linen for the new sampler in the Summer edition of Sampler and Antique Needlework magazine. It's an absolutely beautiful 4-part sampler called "The Old Aviary Sampler". The fabric is 40" x 17" on 40 ct. ivory linen. But I bought the linen in 32ct because working on 40ct makes me a little bit edgey. The fibers are AVAS and Glorianna silks in the softest peaches and creams. I must be nuts.

And there's the Merry Cox purchase from the Bay of Evil. I paid way too much for it. The pattern is Merry's Accessories. It's a collection of smalls. Looks like a quick stitch. I told myself that I bought it for the finishing instructions..yeah, right!!!

Then there is one other thing that I am wanting:



Her name is Blue. She looks a lot like my Aussie, Fraggles. I've been watching this site for awhile and last night I emailed her owner to see if she was still available. She is. The only drawback is that she is in Virginia about 10 hours away according to map quest. I am in New York. My husband isn't too keen on driving to Virginia on a dog run. I don't know what the rules are to adopt her butI am hoping that we could work something out because this is a private adoption and her owner just posted through the rescue site. Maybe I could meet her 1/2 way or we could have her shipped. I've had horses transported across the country but never a dog. Her owner says that she is sweet, moderately active but chases cats which will be a little bit of a problem. But she is a house dog and likes other dogs too so maybe the pecking order in my house wouldn't be disrupted too much.

Her owner emailed me back and posted a bunch of photos of her. This dog is speaking to me. She has a companion Aussie too, his name is Cisco but I couldn't bring both of them back. Especially since we are hip deep in remodeling.

Say a prayer for me and this dog. I really really like her and I would love to adopt her.

What do you find most challenging about stitching?

Since I am not making significant stitching progress, I thought I would post a question that Cathy posted on the Legacy BB. So, dear reader, what DO you find most challenging regarding our passion for needle and thread?

For me, the biggest challenge is time. I am finding that I have less time to stitch and when I do I am SO tired that I don't really want to pick anything up. Now that the weather is getting better and the days are longer, I am outside more and playing in my yard. My stitching time usually decreasing this time of year and it picks back up again in the Fall.

Also, there are some techniques I find truly challenging, hardanger is one, as well as, some cutwork. I've tried hardanger and I really like it but I have to take a deep breath before I cut my fabric. Does anyone have scissor anxiety, like me?

Then there is the sheer cost of supplies and finishing. I've found myself thinking twice about beginning a project because the silks, fabric and linen were quite expensive and then there is framing costs. I never really cared about how much things actually cost until recently. Plus, I have found myself actually passing up patterns that I love cause I would have to be a cat (with 9 lives) to stitch everything found in my stash. Is this a sign of maturity?

Lastly is finishing. I am truly finishing phobic. I can sew reasonably, I can follow a pattern. But the thought of making an error cutting up a project or messing up the finishing after putting in hours, months and sometimes YEARS of stitching, makes my blood run cold. Also, since I am a visual person, I like a lot of pictures, clear pictures of how things are assembled. Some finishing instructions are very vague or are incomplete in some way.

So, gang, what about you?

Well, I wasn't going to post but....

It's been a less-than day. I would elaborate but I am afraid that I wil post something that I would regret. Suffice it to say that work proved to be a disappointment today and I haven't picked up a needle and stitched a significant amount in the last week.

However, Mother's Day was very nice. Got flowering shrubs for my back yard. Was made to feel special and loved. It was very nice.

I did get a Merry Cox pattern in the mail today...I won it on Ebay. I paid too much for it.

And I am lusting after the Brightneedle class posted on Elegant Stitch. It's adorable, I love the little girl.

Thanks for all your lovely notes

Thanks for all your notes and words of encouragement. I am really fine, just working through quite a busy time. I got to stitch over the weekend and it felt SO good! I am working on finishing the piece I have promised Nancy almost a lifetime ago, I am so excited about it cause it's coming out just perfect! It's a very functional piece and it has Quaker motifs...that's all I am going to say cause I don't want to give it away. I know she will like it cause she loves Quaker things. There aren't medallions on it but different little motifs from Quaker samplers and one motif from the Ackworth Pattern book. There, that's it, no more or I will end up posting a picture!!!

I did read the instructions to the Shaker Spool Holder too, I just want to be sure that I understand it fully before I put my first stitches in the fabric. I understand that the linen thread is somewhat fiddly. Hmm...well, I won't know until I use it...

I've been reading all your blogs, it's nice to *visit* with you. You have no idea how I enjoy reading everyone's entries. I sit with a cup of tea and wish that we were face-to-face instead of face-to-computer! Maybe someday we will all be able to meet. Now, wouldn't that be nice?

Well, it's late, I have a full day tomorrow, so it's off to bed...Good night all. Happy stitching!

Wow, the week is finally over!

What a week! Our audit was this week and it was a killer. These assessments are nerve-wracking enough without the addition of an assessor who had his own *opinions* and interpretations of the standard that we comply with. All went well until the very last day, the very last item to audit. We ended up with a minor nonconformance and a ton of opportunities for improvement. The number of OFI's indicates to me that there are stresses in our quality system that need to be addressed....oh well, that will be next weeks battle.

SO, 3 major things are accomplished in my life now. We got through a brutal assessment with one of our Customers, my Dad's house is in the hands of a very happy couple (yeah!) and our reassessment audit is done. Whew! Now maybe I can relax a little and get back to my regularly scheduled life!

Because of all these things on my plate, I haven't stitched much at all. Last night, I picked up Prairie Year long enough to finish May's border. And I picked up Sarah Tatum but only put in a couple of strands of silk. On my Quaker RR, I started to stitch another motif in the border and realized that that motif was already stitched. So I ripped it out. Not a good start for me since I haven't stitched much at all in April or now May.

Today in Binghamton, the weather is damp and grey. A great day to stitch but my house still looks like a cyclone hit it so I spent most of the morning going through the stack of stuff next to my bed and sorting paperwork. I need to go buy a file cabinet. I really don't want to go anywhere today so maybe I will just put everything in folders and buy the filing cabinet early next week. DH has given the go ahead to re-carpet the 3rd bedroom but I want to wait until the contractor boy's put in the new window before I try to paint and carpet. We want to make the bedroom an office/study for him. That way, all his books and papers will be off the floor and properly stored. And we can actually file away important things and be able to find them when we need them. Gee, what a concept! Duh~Organization 101!!!!

On the Shaker Spool Holder, I only got as far as stitching a center line in both directions and mounting it on scroll rods. I am not sure about how to handle the silks, it annoys me that I will have to cut away the colors I am not planning to stitch with. What a waste of silk. But hopefully, since most of the stitching is over one it won't seem like I am wasting as much. I hope to put my first couple of stitches in on Sunday. Tonight, I plan on working on something else, maybe John Foster, who has been whining at me...I am playing hard to get ever since we had our initial disagreement. Or something else that is quietly sobbing in my basket. Who knows, whatever grabs my attention will be the one that I work on.

I hope to be able to post some pictures of something soon!

Have a happy Saturday everyone!

Thanks to all of you

I wanted to take a minute to thank you for the lovely comments that you have left for me. I appreciate them all and I am very blessed to *know* all of you.

I am doing ok. Right now, there is a very happy couple moving into my Dad's house. I am very pleased about it. It's a great thing! Even though I know that it's no longer *my* house, I am glad someone will be making it *theirs*. It's exciting! I think the house will be happy. For the 9 years that my Dad occupied it alone (after Mom died), it was a very quiet place. And now there will be happy times in it and this couple is thrilled to own it.

My realtor told me that the buyers bought their *dream house*. Here is a picture of it...the buyers painted it baby blue, originally it was white:



I think that's funny, because the house is not a mansion, it's a craftsman style home. I remember those feelings. They were wonderful, full of the future and potential. This couple told the realtor that they feel that they can now really begin their life.

Today, I am covered in spring green paint, I am painting my bathroom. Talk about new beginnings. My DH doesn't like the color but too bad. It's a happy color and I really like it. Stitching will commence tomorrow between cramming my audit prep that begins Monday. I am going to begin *A Quaker Spool Holder*. Tonight, we are going to see The Sentinel. David and I have decided to reinstitute our weekly *date*. Aren't we just too funny!

SO...back to painting. Happy Saturday!!!

Quick update

Not much stitching going on here. I've just been too busy with work and finishing selling my Dad's house.

We have big audits running at work right now that require a ton of attention. I have worked 14 hour days all week so I am bushed when I get home. I look at my stitching but can not even bring myself to pick up the needle cause I KNOW I will just let the frogs in and that will just be frustrating. I did put 2 strands of silk into Sarah Tatum but even that little bit of stitching was almost too much to do.

I went to PA last weekend to sign all the paperwork for the house and finish cleaning it out. I cleaned most of the furniture out in October but left some things unfinished. The house sold last month and the closing is Friday. So, I went back to clean out the closets and make sure that everything is in order for the closing. I signed all the contracts up front because I will be unable to attend the actual closing meeting.

I have to say that I was taken back by my reaction to finally shutting up the house for the last time. It was the strangest feeling to leave the house keys on the kitchen counter, lock the door and close it behind me, knowing that I will never be able to go back in again. It was very hard to do and I kept putting it off but finally, I just had to leave. I shed quite a few tears the day before but my heart was so heavy when I heard the door close for the last time. I sat in my car for the longest time just looking at the house and trying to burn it into my memory. I know it's just a house and the memories live in my heart but it was still tough to do. Closing that door behind me signified that the final chapter on my parent's life is finished and closing the door on my childhood home. It's over. I always thought of that place as my *home* even though I have been married for almost 27 years and have lived in NY all that time. Now, Binghamton NY is my *home*. Strange feeling.

I did some blog hopping to take my mind off work and my home makeover (which is still crawling at a snails pace). I am so blown away at everyone's blog, they are so nice to read and the photos are great. I need to learn to do more with my blog to spark it up a bit. It's boring. I wish that I stitched faster and had more finished work to show all of you. The pictures everyone posts are cool and make me visit just to see what everyone is up to. So I apologize for the most boring stitching blog ever.

I am hoping that this weekend will bring some stitching time, although I have to paint my bathroom and clean up some of the clutter in my house. It's getting overwhelming and it's beginning to bother me a great deal. I am a neat person my nature and all this *stuff* hanging around makes me crazy after awhile. In addition to all the construction work, I have the contents of my Dad's house, and my son's things that are now making it home from school for the summer. I am drowning in THINGS! LOL!!!! (I think a garage sale is in order...)

Anyway...stitch on! I am living vicariously through your stitching. I drool over your finishes and dream of working on some of the pieces you are stitching that are in my stash. I am looking forward to beginning the Shaker spool holder this weekend, probably on Sunday. And I will be posting progress pictures.

Talk with you all again soon...happy stitching everyone!

Merry Cox Shaker Spool Holder

I am going to begin to stitch this piece with at group of bloggers led by Danielle. I got all my stitching supplies, along with a couple of other goodies, Cherished Stitches, Emblem of Innocence, 2 cute Little House Needlework patterns that will be adorable stitched over one (that's my NEWEST obsession) and a cute little pattern from Hobb Knob designs that features a filmo clay snowman.

I bought creme evenweave for the spoolholder cause the stitching is over one and I like over one to be even. The Gloriana silks are beautiful. I am anxious to start this. First though, I have something else to finish up in the next 2 weeks and then I willl be ready to get going on it. I read through the instructions, the assembly doesn't look too bad, just involved. I know that with the support of the ladies stitching together, whatever glitches I come up against, the group will help me work through them.

It's a beautiful spring day here, we played in the yard, planted strawberries and did some weeding. It's a great Saturday! I hope you are having a wonderful day too!

Stitching Musings

Have you ever just stepped back and looked at the big picture? Recently, I've been doing just that. Lately, I've been very unsettled and I am finding it hard to concentrate on one thing, stay the course with my weight loss efforts and in general, stay in control of the myriad of things that I have to do at work, home and personally.

I've found out there is much that I can not control. And being the control freak that I am, that's frustrating.

Take my stitching, for example. I feel like I am on a swing concerning my stitching. I want all my stash, I don't want it all. I need this chart and fiber, why did I spend the $$$ on THAT! I have 4 active Wips, I really should only work on one thing at a time. See what I mean? Stitching mood swings. I am never satisfied. This is quite maddening. And I am now on a quest for a root cause. Is it generated out of frustration that I can not stitch everything that I want? Is it because I think I can stitch everything and can't find a plan or the time to stitch it all? Is is because I never finish anything and when I do it's years since I began that project? Am I drawn to everyone's stitching and want to keep up? I stitch SLOW. I am limited to the amount of time I can spend stitching right now. Do I just acknowledge my limitations, stay away from everyone's blogs and photo albums and stitch in a vacuum? At any rate, all this adds up to frustration and now, I feel like I am where I am with everything else - things are so out of control so I just don't know where to begin. Please give me some *whine* with my cheese, please!

Otherwise, I am going to participate in an SAL with Danielle. We are going to stitch Merry Cox's *Shaker Spool Holder*. I am intrigued with it. It doesn't look like it's too difficult to stitch, I am a little concerned about the finishing. I need to go to the LNS for supplies (aww-shopping, what a hardship)!

I worked on Prairie Year last night. I dutifully stitched my 2 strands of red into February and remarkably, I only have one more heart to stitch and that motif is finished. Also, April's motif is just about done now. I have a bit of the rabbit's hind leg to stitch and I need to finish up the flowers and I will be done with April. Ahead of schedule. Hey, how'd THAT happen! I really love this piece. It's so teeny tiny over one. I bet that each motif is about 2 inches square. It was a nice piece to start my over one adventure.

So rant over.

Have a wonderful Easter and Passover. May the bunny leave much chocolate for you.

Beatrix Potter Quaker

Here is the Lady Beatrix, not much to show you yet except I wanted you to see the color of the fiber. It's very beautiful, burnt orange, not pumpkin or clay pot, but a deep, lush orange. It reminds me of sunsets.



She's gone back into her bag even though she is still begging for attention. I have to work on something else tonight.

I am hoping for a good week stitching, I haven't felt up to much in the last couple of weeks. Mr. & Mrs. Buyer of my Dad's house and I finally agreed on *consessions* to the contract. Hopefully, the closing will be in a month or so.

We are 3 weeks away from our big registration audit at work, it's a crazy time and there will be at least 2 Customer audits before *the BIG one*.

And the home makeover is crawling along.

Like A Bad Penny....

I'm back.

Been awhile since I blogged. Many things are going on which take up in-ordinate amounts of energy, effort and time. I hate it when life gets in the way of stitching!

I have a couple of updates, no finishes :-( yet, but you can at least see what I've been stitching. Mainly, I've been ripping and fixing.

Here's John Foster 1885. As you recall, John and I had a torrid love affair at the start of our relationship that rapidly cooled when he broke my heart cause I mis-counted his beehive. That really put a bee in MY bonnet! We are taking it slow. I removed his Quaker motif and hive and have begun to re-stitch the hive.



Next up is Prairie Year. I am almost done with the bunny for April but as you can see February's Heart motif is only half done. I can't motivate myself to stitch on that month. I told myself that whenever I work on this project, I will put 2 strands of red into February. As you recall, (ahem) I over stitched March's shamrock motif by 10 stitches so that had to be ripped and fixed. That motif is done and is the correct size. Yea.



Last is the Beatrix Potter Quaker sampler. I love Quakers and currently, I have 4 of them in my Wip pile, Sarah Tatum, Beatrix, the Quaker RR and a sampler from the Needleworker magazine. When Beatrix came home to live with me, I had to stitch a little with that lovely terra cotta silk that came with her. So, I stitched the outlines of a couple of motifs. Last night, hearing her insistant whimpering, I pulled her from her bag and finished her first motif. I love the color but I know it's not for everyone. And of course, blogger will not load this photo...G-r-r-r...so you'll have to wait until blogger finishes it's hissy.

A couple of pictures of my husband's sweetie girl...don't you think she looks comfy and is the Queen of Everything! She is really spoiled and just loves HER David. She's not big on sharing him, if I try to get near him when she is on his lap, she will take a swipe at me.





Lastly, a photo of me and the kid in his uniform. His detachment had a *Dining Out* that we were invited to, a very formal affair. That's where they teach the cadets how to act in a social setting and perform the AirForce ROTC ceremonies. It was back in October, but I finally uploaded the picture. I am not fond of any photos of me but I thought you'd like a face to go with the name.



Danielle posted on her blog that she felt like an *armchair stitcher*. I have to agree, I feel like that too many times. There is so much to stitch and so little time to stitch all of it. I've decided not to worry about it though and enjoy the process. I've obsessed over the size of my stash and wondered how everyone could stitch so much, so quickly. I've decided that this is my therapy, my fun and my pleasure, so if I want to stitch it, I WILL!

Now, isn't that the right frame of mind?

Playing hookey

Tomorrow, I am taking the day off from work. After the week I've had, I decided that before I have a stroke, I'd better back off of life for a day. Cause after this, there will be NO rest for the wicked at work. A revolving door of audits and more audits.

What am I going to do with my free day, you ask? But of course, YOU know the answer! STITCH!! STITCH!!! MORE STITCH!!! STITCH UNTIL MY EYES BLEED! And I can't wait. I don't know what I am going to work on yet. Maybe John Foster. Maybe something NEW.

Because of the week I've had, I did retail therapy at Stitchery Row. This cute little LNS is right down the block from work. So, during lunch yesterday, I went there to *liberate* some stash. I came away with a Lizzie*Kate piece called A Friend For All Seasons, I am such a sucker for *cute*, Blackbird Designs, Sunflower Charms, Little House Needleworks, Colonial Homes and the best thing of all, Hillside Samplings, Folk Art Needleroll. The handpainted box is gorgeous. Then I got home and I had a parcel from Elegant Stitch...hee-hee, the Drawn Thread patterns came to live with me, as well as, the new Essy & Friends monthly piece.
STASH HEAVEN!!!! Retail Therapy ROCKS. Thank goodness payday is tomorrow. LOL!!!

So, the day is to be sunny and warm and I will be able to take some photos and post them here and in my PictureTrail account.

I think we all should play hookey on a Friday once in awhile. It's good for the soul.

Sleepless in New York

Ok, I think this is becoming a habit. It's 1AM in NY and here I am, dear bloggers, surfing the 'net and conversing with you. It's another hot cocoa, sleepless night. How many more of these can I do without keeling over from exhaustion?

For all of those with inquiring minds that want to know, the audit went OK. Not spectacular and we didn't fail. Came out with 2 nonconformances for document management and one opportunity for capital expenditure..ha ha, right. It was a so-so event...at some points it was rather nerve wracking but at other times it was low key. I got through it. Woo. Thanks everyone for your words of encouragement and inquiries as to how it went. I REALLY APPRECIATE YOU!!!

Stitching-wise, tonight I continued to work on Prairie Year. I am almost caught up with the SAL. For some reason, I do not like the February motif, so I am having difficulty working on it. I ripped and re-stitched March's border and finished off the little white flowers. March is done. And I began April early. I have 1/2 the border stitched and the rabbit's head and tail done.

Also, I was stash diving tonight. Have I told you how much I LOVE my stash? Honestly, there isn't many things that I have in my 800+ patterns that I wouldn't love to stitch. I just love pawing through the binders and thinking about where this piece would look the best or what fabric that piece would be suited for...gosh, I am easy...just give me fabric, fiber and pattern and I am a happy, happy camper! but then again, I know YOU feel the same way.

And I went blog hopping tonight. I saw Karen's lovely Open Heart dedicated to her Mom. It brought a tear to my eyes. I know how you feel, dear friend. Spring is coming to Maine and Patti's been crafting up a storm! You go, Girlfriend! Everyone else is stitching like crazy too and producing such beautiful needlework. You all are so inspiring. Your accomplishments encourage me!

I am planning on a mini-vacation at the end of the week. The husband is going out of town for a couple of days, so it will be just me and the critters. There is so much that needs to be done around here, I may paint my bathroom or get really ambitious and clean out my basement.

The home makeover has ground to a halt. There has been no activity for 3 weeks, we are waiting on windows, steps and a new kitchen counter. Everything is back ordered or late. The windows were never ordered, my little Hungarian contractor said that the lumber yard where he place the order thought that we just wanted an estimate. The countertop order was misplaced at the manufacturer and the steps are back ordered. I am getting antsy about all of this, I want something done!

Oh well, thanks for sharing my sleepless night. My hot chocolate is gone and I am going to try to go to sleep.

I hope that everyone is having a great time with all their projects and may the frogs stay away from your stitching!

Mr.Sandman bring me a dream...where are YOU?

It's 2:00AM in NY. I have to be up at 5:15 and I haven't slept a wink since I went to bed at 11:00PM. The mind will not shut up! I have a big audit tomorrow at work and all I am doing is thinking about it and what could go wrong. Why does this happen? I've obsessed about it all weekend. I can't change any of it and it's not like I haven't participated in one of these events. So, why am I fretting over it? Is it because my manager is somewhat less than happy with how it was put together? Is it because even though I am not *hosting* it, I am responsible for the planning and the outcome? Whatever. I am living for Monday around 6 PM cause then it will be OVER.

Stitching...hmmm...once again, I can not count. I worked on Prairie Year all weekend. I wanted to finish up February and March so I am caught up with the SAL. I made good progress on February, all the hearts are in place, and I have one and 1/2 of them completed. I thought that I would be able to finish March but I overcounted the border by 10 threads. So I picked it out which took a LONG time since this piece is stitched over 1. Tonight, all that's left is the little flowers...about 20 stitches. I couldn't finish it though as I thought I should go to bed. HA!
I should have mounted the piece on scroll rods too cause even though I am stitching it in a hoop, I am not liking how some of the stitches look. The tension isn't terrific. If I get ambitious, I'll mess with that later this week.

I did have S.E.X. this weekend too...I bought this from Wyndhamneedleworks. It's the Old Colonial Designs Needlework Garden. I bought the pattern AND the basket.



I orginally wanted to buy Emblems of Innocence by Cherished Stitches:


But, I came across the Olde Colonial Design piece and forgot about the Cherished Stitches piece..DUH!!! Oh well, another time.

Well, I drank all my hot cocoa and I feel a little drowsy so I will be off to bed. Maybe the Sandman will visit...I really hope so!

Pending house sale

A lot has happened since I wrote last. On the stitching front, I've worked on 2 Quaker samplers the last couple of nights. One is from The Needleworker magazine Oct. '99. The other is my Quaker RR.

John Foster and I are taking a break from each other, maybe absence will make our hearts grow fonder.

There is a pending sale on my Dad's house, it came out of the blue over the weekend. Actually, there were 2 offers from the open house that was held on March 12th. The agent didn't think that there was any interest, so I put it out of my mind. On Tuesday, there were 2 prospective offers, one very low and one that had potential. After I countered both offers, the buyers with the low offer could not meet my counter. The other potential buyer came back with another counter and I re-countered their proposal. It's like a chess match...anyway, they took my second counter proposal so we are moving to closure. There will be house inspections and since this buyer is persuing an FHA loan there are government requirements too. Radon, pests, safety. I am not too concerned with some of the FHA inspections, except the one for the electrical system. FHA requires that there be circuit breakers and this house is powered electrically by 100 AMP fuses. Putting in a circuit box will cost almost $1000. I am hoping that this won't break my deal.

I do have mixed feelings about the sale, I knew that this day would come eventually. The house has been in my family for 50 years. My brother and I grew up there. And it's hard to part company. There is such finality in it for me, it's the last thing that closes the final chapter in my family's history. On Saturday after the phone call from the agent telling me we had a deal and the buyer accepted my counter, I broke down. It's so final. The house was the last possession of my Dad's and now I am turning it over to a stranger and the circle begins again. I know this sounds weird, but now my Dad's death is really REAL. My parents have passed on and all that's left are a few pieces of furniture and pictures of 2 souls that spent time here for 72 and 86 years. And yes, Ihave the memories of 2 people that sacrificed and worked hard to provide for my brother and me, who loved us unconditionally and with such a ferocity.

Sorry to be melodramatic but unless you've experienced this very thing, you may not understand.

On a happier note, my kitchen counters are coming on Thursday. The contractor and I have come to an agreement about the stairs leading to the kitchen from the new room. Tile work will commence as soon as I give the go ahead for the pattern.

Oh and Mike, can't forget this...he was inducted into the Arnold Airforce Society on Sunday. It's an honors society. I am so proud of him...here's a picture...don't you just love that haircut? It's so attractive...

Hillside School of Needlework, a closer picture

Shameless plugging of my work...here's a closer picture of my finished beauty!



And one more...sorry for the flash, I should have moved a little to the side when I took these photos...Oh well, that's what happens when you are excited and in a hurry! But you understand, don't you? :-)

Pretty Pictures

Hi!

Bet you all thought I fell off the blog wagon...
Today I finally got some pictures of some of my work.
Here they are!

My framed Hillside School of Needlework by Hillside Samplings. I LOVE the frame...sorry about the flash...



Sarah Tatum, progress as of 3/17/06. Sarah is stitched on 36ct Lakeside Linen in Vintage Light Exemplar. Stitched with Vicki Clayton silks.



A Prairie Year. I am stitching this as part of a SAL. It's OVER ONE!!! I am behind but not by much...



And last but not least....My heartbreaker...John Foster 1885 Sampler.
I haven't picked out the hive or the quaker motif yet. I am stitching around them...
I love the colors of this sampler. Stitched on 32ct Belfast Linen in Flax with DMC.



So those are my pretties...what do you think?

He broke my heart

Right now, I am in love with John Foster. It's a reproduction by Historic Stitches. Danielle posted her progress and finished sampler on her blog and I immediately fell in love with it. I bought the pattern when it was released and put it into my *wanna stitch* pile but eventually it ended up in a binder behind closed doors, forgotten and lonely. Until I saw Danielle's work. Then John came out of the closet and into the light of day. It helped that he is stitched with DMC and I had 36 count flax linen in my stash. If not, he would have made it back into the stitching basket but because I had the requisite supplies, John seduced me, that naughty boy.

I started stitching him last weekend. The plan was to put in the upper portion of the sampler and then work my way down the center of the sampler to the house so that I could stitch it as I stitched the other motifs. I realized that if I only had the house to stitch, I would get bored with it and John would become an ex-love.

I got the upper border stitched and I worked my way down the right and left sides about a quarter of the way. But my true desire was to stitch the BEE HIVE. What could go wrong, dear reader? Let me tell you,I am math challenged. I count to ten badly. There also is something wonky about the linen I am using. I find it difficult to stitch on, it feels scratchy in my hands and the threads vary from very thick to barely there. So I have a hard time counting on it. But that is no excuse, I can't count to ten.

Once I had the upper border stitched and the center marked I counted down to the top of the bee hive. Instead of stitching my first stitch in 16 threads down (8 blocks cause I count by 2's) I put the first stitch 7 blocks (14 threads) down from the border. I was so careful about making sure that it was centered correctly. I counted and recounted before I put in the first stitch. I stitched that entire bee hive in one evening. I was in stitcher's paradise. After each evening's work, I would congratulate myself on not messing up this sampler cause it's not symetrical and it's easy for me to be lulled into stitching mirror images of the motifs.

Then I proceeded to stitch more of the border, and the floral baskets on either side of the hive. I stitched the grey-green leaves on the side of the floral motifs first, realizing that the flowers are not symetrical. And I stitched the upper half of the quaker medalion under the hive. The last thing I wanted to stitch was the little bees buzzing around the sides of the hive. I couldn't figure out why I the little bees would not fly where they were charted. And that's when I realized that the hive and the quaker medallion was stitched 2 threads higher than they should be. The hive is stitched in the wrong location. My heart sank. I think I need an abacus, a calculator, someone's 10 fingers to learn to count to 10.

This is a ton of frogging and for all intent, I wasted 3 evenings stitching because even though the hive took me an evening, the medallion was stitched over 2 evenings.

Well, I decided to leave the hive alone for now because it really doesn't affect the placement of either floral baskets as I am using the border as a reference. Yes, the border is stitched correctly, I made sure of that. The Quaker motif has to be removed cause it does affect the placement of other motifs in the sampler. I'll probably pick it out as I stitch the other motifs around it.

My question is...

John, why did you break my heart so early in the game?

Still foggin' up the mirror!

Well, I am still here and I apologize for not keeping my blog up to date. I know that you have left comments about me not to worry about it but I feel like I am ignoring all of you...

Mike has been home for over a week now and it's been a wonderful time. The house is alive again and I am loving every minute we spend together with him and all his buddies. I have done my MoM-thing with them all, feed them, watered them and generally *mothered* them to death, much to their delight. Lasagna, cookies, breakfast out, cinnamon rolls, junk food and soda...it's been a party for these guys! It's pretty cool!

So my stitching is suffering a bit. But that's a good thing in a way cause next week when the house is quiet (DH is going to Raliegh NC for the week) I plan on spending a lot of time cozying up with my stitching.

I must tell Patti that I bought *Edges of Sadness* based on her review on her blog. It's quite interesting and I am enjoying the book a great deal. I grew up as a Catholic and remember the days of Vatican II and I relate to the *neighborhood priest*. I am not very far into the book yet but I plan to change that too in the coming week.

Construction is coming along nicely. The room is now wrapped in dry wall the subfloor is down and the construction guy is beginning to lay the cement board in preparation to lay the ceramic tile. I believe he should begin the tile work next week. We are hoping that the windows come in so they can remove the tyvek that they put over the window openings.

I have blog surfed too and I must tell all of you that your blogs are inspiring. I spend a lot of time just working through about 20 blogs and honestly, I want to stitch all the projects that you have started or finished. I love Karen's DT piece and Becky's blog always is an inspiration. Patti has given me the courage to go *over one* and I just LOVE stitching something and having it come out teeny-tiny. Danielle's Prairie Year has given me incentive to continue with mine, like her I marvel at the amount of red in the hearts for February (when will it end!). There have been a lot of blogs that have given me something to think about too, the weekly questions give me pause for thought.

So, once Mike goes back to school and life returns to what it's been for the last 6 months, I am hoping to be more faithful to blogging and sharing my work.

Quick Update

Just a quick update to let you know that I am alive and doing ok. We've been really busy this past week, Mike is home from school on Spring break so we've spent quite a lot of time with him and his friends. I love it when all his buddies come to the house and I can feed them all and make goodies that I normally wouldn't have in the house cause they are too much of a temptation!

I got to stitch some over the weekend. I will have some progress photos soon. I started John Foster 1885 sampler after I saw Danielle's finished work, I couldn't resist. I am stitching it in good ol' DMC on 36ct flax Belfast linen. And I worked on A Prairie Year. I am stitching both February and March.

Lottery II exchange

Here is my Lottery II exchange piece for an exchange on Stitchers Bloggers Exchange BB.

Some photos of the makeover

Well, the extreme home makeover has really gotten underway and there is significant changes to the house. The boys put on the roof and the new soffits and fascia, it's very nice. However, the big change is the new room.

Here are some of the pictures of the makeover...

The guys finished the framing on Tuesday:







And today when we got home from work, they had put the plywood sheeting on the framing. We have a room!

I don't think the husband is really happy about it though, he is now questioning everything. In the beginning, he had nothing to say, but now, he's concerned about lighting and switches and window size. I am not sure what to make of it.

On the stitching front, I haven't picked up a needle. Honestly, I haven't felt right for the last couple of weeks. The house remodel and the house sale (I am selling my Dad's home)is a weight right now. Work is beginning to get really stressful too.
We have a number of Customer audits coming up and our big registration audit happens in 8 weeks. Plus, a large project that I am team lead for is not going as planned. I think I need a *Calgon, take me away* moment!

Hopefully, this weekend, I will feel better and want to stitch again. I feel badly because I haven't had anything to show you in the last couple of weeks.

I did break down and I ordered the Fancy work's, Lavendar Rose Sewing Case and Hillside Samplings Alphabet Needlebook.

I've been lusting after the Hillside Needlework's piece for quite awhile now. And I just thing the Lavendar Sewing Case is very pretty.
A little retail therapy can cure a world of ills!

Beatrix Potter Quaker Sampler

Today, I received my Beatrix Potter Quaker sampler. Oh, my!!! IT'S GORGEOUS. Here is a picture (click on it for a larger image):



I bought the kit and I love the fiber. It's AVAS silk (actually Soie d'Alger) in the most gorgeous terra cotta color. It's going to be perfect for my kitchen. And the linen is the most fabulous. It's heavy and has so much body. The linen is 32ct Belfast in Antique Ivory. I am dying to start on it but I am going to wait for a little while. I have 2 BAP's going now and I don't want to start a third. I will go crazy!!!

Anyway, The Twining Thread is offering it, as a kit or just the chart. Criss Cross Row and The Scarlet Letter is offering it too, as well as, other shops. Not affiliated with these particular OLN's...just a very happy customer (much to the dismay of my wallet, credit card and husband!)

It's a must purchase for those who love Quakers. GO GET IT!!!

Just....Sigh...

Well, I haven't picked up a needle since Monday night when I decided to work on that mystery piece. I fixed the backstitching to make it square and I decided to cut out the spider web roses. Got one removed and then the second. BUT!!! I cut the wrong one out!!! Instead of removing the bottom 2 roses I cut out the bottom left and then the upper right! UGH!!!! This piece is jinxed. So now, I have 3 to re-stitch.

I put everything away.

I slept 2 evenings away. On Tuesday and Wednesday, I came home from work, made dinner and by 7 o'clock, I was fast asleep on the sofa. I think that I was getting over the migraine that I had most of the day on Monday. It's certainly been a weird week.

Tonight, I was supposed to go to a dinner meeting for the local section of the American Society of Quality. I went shopping instead. I bought 2 pair of jeans, 4 sweaters, a jacket and 2 pairs of earrings, 2 bracelets and a necklace. Everything was on sale. Mostly on clearance and then another 15-25% off. I got one pair of jeans for free and the other pair 1/2 price. $20 for 2 pairs of Liz Claiborne jeans. I am very happy with all my goodies.

Speaking of goodies and purchases, what do you all think of the new market releases? Any MUST HAVES? I have a list but I am not sure when I will be purchasing anything new. I loved Cherished Stitches needlecase and the Carriagehouse Samplings tombstone angels. There's more, but I can't remember right off. Today, I got conformation that my Beatrix Potter Quaker sampler was shipped on Valentine's day. That's cool.

I was so tempted to order a number of things but I exercised some restraint and just window shopped alot.

So what about you? What is on your wish list from market?

I was temporarily insane!

I value everyone's input into my *dream rotation*. I really was temporarily insane. It was from a bout of stash fondling, there are so many things that called to me. In the process of pawing through my stash, I got that feeling of guilt, all the $$$ spent and these patterns are languishing in binders waiting for needle and thread to come to life. Reading all your blogs doesn't help either! LOL!!! I see how many wonderful things that you all work on and I get caught up in the excitement of everyone's beautiful stitching.

But I will only keep the small amount of projects going at once. Looking back, I realize that a lot of projects really make me nervous. It's because I do suffer from *completion anxiety*. The thought of that many things in my stitching basket make me want to break out in hives! Also, since I am a *screamer*, stitching only on the things that are calling the loudest, I don't need to become a *guilty screamer*, stitching on those things that make me feel the guiltiest. Then stitching would just be a chore. And since work is slow, I have plenty to think about and wish that I was spending *work time* stitching. It's a death spiral that ended up in my bout of temporary insanity.

What I decided to do was to pull those patterns that are on my *dream rotation* and put them into a binder. None are kitted so I don't have that burden on my back, you know, I spent the $$$ on supplies so I SHOULD start on them. Having all of them together in one spot and will allow me to choose from them when I can start a new project. All of these projects really make me happy so I will enjoy stitching on them.

Also, I took a look at some of my *active* WIPs and I was pleasantly surprised to see that some of them are within hours or days of completion. I should have a couple of happy dances in a few months!

Karen, I will be working on Welcome Spot. That's my next WIP after Hillside School of Needleworke which should be done in the next week. I won't be able to work on Welcome Spot until March though, cause I have the Lottery II piece to finish. And some basting to do on my mystery project. With your encouragement, I will finish it soon!

Karen, Nicki,Isabelle, Becky and Myrna, thanks for reminding me that this is my hobby and I should do what's best for me. I value your opinions and I am glad that you have grounded me in reality again. I love all of you!

The construction has commenced

So, the Extreme Home Makeover has begun. The construction crew has been at it for a week. Of course, the weather has turned cold and snowy.

While the boys were demolishing the gutters, soffits and fascia, they discovered that we have water damage. Seems our roof is worse that what we expected. We sorta knew that but were hoping that we could hold off doing the roof for another year or two. Not the case. So, we are getting a new roof too. An unexpected event that cut deep into my cash reserve. But what are you going to do? One needs a roof and if it's not replaced then all this new work will be compromised.

On the stitching front, I have been noodling with my stitching plans. This is the entry in my Stitching Journal for 2/9:

I think I should make a dream rotation and then split it in two and work each rotation bi-monthly. It's a thought and I might get everything that I want stitched either started or I will at least I will satisfy my urge to start a lot of patterns. I should also make a list of WIPs here too.
These are my *identified* (ahem) WIPs:
The Castle
Welcome Spot
Twined Hearts
Bring It On
Real Roses
Wild Roses
Time & Seasons
Tree of Life
Heirloom Wedding
Charmed Hearts
Stitching Chair Necessaire
Plaid Heart
Tocatta I
Scared Silly
Gentle Harvest
I know there has to be more lurking about in various bags, boxes and baskets.

So, if I had my ultimate stitching rotation, this is what it would contain:

Ultimate Stitching Rotation:

Drawn Thread slot - Welcome Spot Sampler
Prairie Schooler slot - Prairie Year & Prairie Birds
Over one slot - Two Red Houses - Little House Needleworks
Chester County Collection slot - Elizabeth Pusey or Rebecca Townsend
Quaker Sampler Slot - Sarah Tatum, The Needlework Quaker Sampler, Quaker RR
Memorial Sampler slot - Armada, Nellie's Garden Revisited, Wild Roses
Stitching Accessory slot - Berries & Pins - Carriage House Samplings
Holiday Slot - Scared Silly - BOAF, Trix or Treats - Blackbird Designs, Snowmen designs,
Christmas slot - Heirloom Christmas - Victoria Sampler,
Whimsical design slot - Farmer Rabbit & Mrs Farmer Rabbit - Fanci That
House Sampler Slot - Tree of Life Sampler, Hillside School of Needlework - Hillside Samplings
Exchange Slot - Catherine's Armchair Pinkeep - Indigo Rose,
Lottery II -
Current WIP slot - Time & Seasons - Moira Blackburn
Reproduction Sampler Slot -
Ornament Slot -
Fun Piece slot - Miss Mary Mack - La-D-Da Designs, Bring It On - JABC
Decorative pieces - Lizzie Kate Cottage Boxers made into pillows
Alphabet Sampler - FAS
Redwork Sampler -
Freebie Slot - N is for Needles
Sample of my own design -
Marking Sampler Slot -
School Girls Sampler - Emma Jane Baker - Chester County Collections
Calendar Series - Bent Creek Snappers
Noah Ark Samplers -
Almost Done Slot -
Just Because Slot -
Biblical samplers -
Mike's Slot - Air Force, The Castle - Teresa Wentzler

What would it be like to have a 30 slot rotation? Not a rotation in the classic sense, since I am a self-avowed SCREAMER. But to start designs just because I want to, I like them and who cares when they get finished as long as they are for Moi?

DO I DARE HAVE A GUILT FREE MARCH? Will I go nuts after I started it and regret starting all these projects? Can I keep my sanity and not look at all these projects as a chore but as open ended projects? I really want to start all of these pieces, there are a number of patterns that I absolutely want to stitch in this lifetime. DO I DARE???

So,dear blog reader, what do you think? Should I go for it?
Comments welcome.

STEELERS ARE SUPER!!!!!

THEY WON, THEY WON!!!!! THE STEELERS WON SUPERBOWL XL!!!!

I am on cloud 9!!!!

Pictures!!

First of all there is a mystery post on my blog. I posted an entry *Do you ever get to a place* and no one can enter a comment on it nor can I edit or delete it because it doesn't show up in the listings of my posts. Weird.

Next, I finally took a couple of pictures and tried to upload them into a NEW post but blogger would not allow it.

I did a test entry and it worked.

So, I am trying again. Here goes.

There was light yesterday! So I took a few pictures of my progress on Miss Mary Mack and Sarah Tatum. ALso, I snapped a shot of Drawn Thread's Welcome Spot for Karen so she can see how far I am and spur me on to finish it. It's my way of preventing me from starting yet another project. I want to start Drawn Threads Season Spots into one big sampler. I've bought the linen and I have the DMC. And it's calling, calling to me to put it on scroll rods. Karen, you have to save me from the siren call of a new project! LOL!!!

Anyway, the pictures...

Miss Mary Mack...



Sarah Tatum....



Welcome Spot...



Today, I am going to work on my mystery project. It's really not a mystery to me but it is for Nancy. It's the long awaited Autumn Exchange. Nancy, if you read my blog, I apologize and I wish you had some Anti-Frog spray for this piece and my needle. Or teach me to count...LOL!!!!!!!!!

Then the Steelers are playing in the Superbowl. YES!!! I am not sure what I am going to stitch on during the game. Nothing that requires concentration, that's for sure!

Thank you

I want to thank everyone for their comments on my blog. They really cheered me up. I'm still not over my slump, I don't seem to find any pleasure in my stitching right now, it's just work. I am blaming the grey days and there's so much going on in my life.

The contractors are supposed to start the extreme home makeover next week. Wow. I can't believe that this is really happening. As much as I am looking forward to this remodel, I am NOT looking forward to the dust and dirt. It'll be a good excuse to do a *superclean*. And I know the house REALLY needs it.

Today, there was good news. My son was offered a full Air Force ROTC Leadership scholarship at RIT. I am so proud of him. I can't believe it! Mike is on cloud nine! He loves the ROTC program. Out of 40 freshmen, he was unaninimously chosen for this honor. Now, he has to maintain his GPA, stay in a technical program and he will graduate a commissioned officer. After that, he will serve in active duty for 4 years and then in the reserves for 4 years. He wants to travel the world so this is a great way to do it. I really am proud of him. He's worked very hard for this opportunity.

I think I need a good night sleep and I will be better tomorrow.
Thanks again, everyone!

Blah, blah, blah, blah, blah....

I want to apologize for those who read my very uninspiring blog. I've been in a stitching slump for the last week and there isn't much to show for any of my efforts. Mind you, I HAVE stitched this week but the results were less than exemplary and progress was slow and hampered by my lack of math skills. I CAN'T COUNT!!!

Plus, there is NO sun here to take any photographs, the last 2 weeks have been rather grey. I would have thought by NOW, I would be used to the lack of sun but it's damn depressing. The newpaper reported that we've only had 2 days this month of sun, and of course, the 2 days of sunny weather were during the week when we were at work. I don't get home until after 5 most evenings so it's getting dark and it's not conducive for photographing anything. Today, we are to have *partial* sun...I wonder which part is going to show itself...so maybe I will have an opportunity to snap a couple of shots of my meager accomplishments for the week and upload them.

Stay tuned.

Oh, I wanted to say to all of you that I am very inspired by everyone's blogs that I read. (And sometimes jealous too, cause I love all that you do.) I visit all that I list on my sidebar and more too! You've contributed to my recent increase in stash and I enjoy everyone's posts.

The Meme of Fours

Got this from Nancy's Blog

The Meme of Fours

Four Jobs I Have Had in My Life
1. Quality Systems Coordinator
2. Optical Inspector (microscope inspection of circuit lines on computer circuit boards)
3. Stable manager (Cared for 30 horses)
4. Owner of Homespun Hearts (a decorative painting business)

Four Movies I Could Watch Over and Over Again
1. American President
2. The Italian Job
3. Pirates of the Carribean
4. Grosse Pointe Blank

Four Places I Have Lived
I have lived in 2 places, Pittsburgh and Upstate NY

Four TV Shows I Love to Watch
1. Mash reruns
2. Joan of Arcadia
3. Desperate Housewives (until very recently)
4. Extreme Home Makeover

Four Places I Have Been on Vacation
1. Atlanta, Georgia
2. Columbus, Ohio
3. The Outer Banks, NC
4. My hometown

Four Websites I Visit Daily
1. Legacy Embroiderer's Guild
2. Rotational Stitchers
3. Stitching Bloggers
4. Friends Gather

Four of My Favorite Foods
1. Cottage cheese and noodles
2. Good milk chocolate
3. Fruit of any kind
4. A great steak

Four Albums I Can't Live Without
1. Anything by John Denver
2. The Pretender - Jackson Browne
3. Home - Fernando Ortega
4. X&Y - Coldplay

Four Places I'd Rather Be
1. Budapest, Hungary
2. Ireland
3. On the Outerbanks
4. Boulder, CO

Four Bloggers I Tag
I don't tag.

In a bit of a slump

In a slump, a little one, but a slump none the less. I think I am a bit frustrated, the froggies visited all weekend and everything I touched has to be ripped out and done over. The final straw was the 3 hours I spent stitching a spiderweb rose and the decorative backstitching around it (sorry, can't share a picture...it's a secret) and when I put the anchoring stitch to secure the backstiching I pulled out the ending thread to the spiderweb rose. It was too short to weave back in so it was back to the drawing board to begin again. One spiderweb rose...3 hours...to get the wraps to lay right and the tension just so and to have it pop off the fabric right before I was calling it quits for the evening. Not a great stitching evening.

I put Miss Mary away for now and Sarah Tatum too. I have to stitch my Lottery II exchange piece and continue to restitch my boo-boo project. I like the *boo-boo* project so it's not a chore. I have to figure out what I want to stitch for the Lottery II piece. Something spring-y or friendship related.
Planning is half the fun!

GO STEELERS!!!!!

YES! TO SUPERBOWL 40!!!
WOHOO!!!!

Can you tell I am a FAN!!! Oh, right now, my blood runs black and gold.

My only sadness is that I can not share this football triumph with my Dad. He always called me when he knew the Steelers were being televised nationally. I can still hear him say, Joanie...Are you going to watch the game? I'll call you after it's over...yeah Dad, I heard you asking today too. I hope you had the best seat in Heaven watching your beloved Black and Gold roll the Broncos.

GO STEELERS!!!!!!!

Oh, on the stitching front, I am working to fix a section of a long overdue piece for Nancy...I made a HUGH boo-boo and it required re-stitching and re-assembly.

And as a diversion, I worked on Sarah Tatum for a little bit when the *delinquent* piece developed a bad case of the frogs and I got a tad frustrated with it. Sarah looks good, I got 3 of the upper left motifs finally finished and the letter *A* too.

The fetching Miss Mary didn't see a needle this weekend as she is the *fun* piece and I would love to stitch on her no matter what. But I MUST, MUST, MUST correct my hugh blunder and get Nancy's piece finished before we both turn 100! I had to bury Miss Mary under a ton of Wips as she whines incessantly.

How did YOU fare this weekend with your passion for needle and thread?

I am in love, love, love...

I love over one stitching....I am now looking for designs that would be nice stitched over one. It's all because of Miss Mary Mack...she's adorably small.

I stitched on her last night. She's about 1/3 done now, her head and hair are complete, and her bodice is stitched. I outlined her to make sure that she will fit the pin and I stitched her left foot (she can do the hokey-pokey!) Her hair and head are complete crosses, her dress is in 1/2 cross stitch.

I am thinking that my next over one design will be Little House Needlework's, Two Red Houses. I won't start it for a while yet, I have too much on my stitching plate to add another Wip....but I can dream and plan...

Some musings...

First of all , thanks to all who visited and commented on my Extreme Home Makeover. It's an exciting time for me and I am looking forward to sprucing up the place. It's been a dream of ours to finish the house the way we want and my Dad came through in a big way. So, Dad, thanks!

Here is a photo of what I will be looking at from my *Florida Room*:



Isn't it a gorgeous view?


I've been thinking about stitching today, you know, just daydreaming and I got to wondering why I love to do needlework and why does it give me such satisfaction.

I pondered it for awhile and I think that I love it because it is relaxing and I love seeing a design develop. Plus, it's a creative process and I feel very productive. And I can spend time with my family when I am stitching. Before I took up needlework, I painted and drew. I would hole myself up in my *studio* (the 4th bedroom - LOL!!) and not come out for hours. I literally get lost in art and to come out is rather jolting. But my family never saw me and would complain that I was never around. So needlework provides me with most of what I crave, the color and creative process. I don't mind working from a designer's work, I've been known to change things and make a piece my own. I've dabbled in designing and maybe I will continue down that path but for now, I am content to spend time with a needle

SO this question is for all of you:
What makes you love to do needlework (or any hobby for that matter) and why does it give you such satisfaction?

I would be interested in your answer.

Get ready for the Extreme Home Makeover

Well, this ain't about stitching, it's about remodeling. This is the year that we decided to completely re-do the outside of the house. Our house is in dire need of a makeover. NO, Ty and company are NOT coming to do the remodeling. John from Advantage Home Improvement is doing the work. We finalized everything this week, the financing came through (oh it's a BIG number)and we are going to get started in a couple of weeks.

Here's a picture of the before:



As you can see the siding is cedar. It's in need of a good staining but we decided that for the price of staining and having to redo it every 5 years, it would pay to just vinyl side the joint. The big front windows are going to be replaced with three arched topped windows in the same size. The garage door is literally rotting away. I am ashamed of how the house looks now but by March it's going to be gorgeous!

On the agenda for the makeover:

Replacing all the windows, doors and garage door. The windows are going to be trimmed in white and will be paned double hung.

Siding - we chose dutch lap siding in a walnut color for the majority of the house and as an accent Cedar shake for the 2nd floor

Gutters, soffit & fascia - white trim

Fieldstone the wall the front door is on as an accent

And the best part, we are going to close in our covered patio in the back of the house and make it into a 4 season room. Windows all around to take advantage of the beautiful view we have, tile floor and pellet stove to heat the room.

I am pretty excited and nervous too, the estimated completion date is 6 weeks. Stay tuned for further developments.

Don't ya ever wish....

That you could stitch (and finish) all the pieces that you see on other's blogs? I've been blog-surfing for about an hour now and there are so many nice *happy dances* and *works in progress* that it makes me want to start them. Now I feel like chucking my plans and starting over.

Do you ever feel like doing that?

Alphabet about me

Lifted from Patti's blog...


A is for Age: 48 (YIKES!!! Last time I checked, I was 25!)
B is for Booze: Gin & tonics!
C is for Career: Quality Systems Coordinator - I LOVE my job!!! Really, really!!!
D is for Dad’s Name: Joseph
E is for Essential Item to Bring to a Party: A nice bottle of wine
F is for Favourite Songs at the Moment: 100 years - Five for Fighting
G is for Goof-off Thing to Do: Web-surfing (usually stitching-related)
H is for Hometown: Monaca, PA but Binghamton, NY really is home after 28 years!
I is for Instrument You Play: None but would love to learn piano
J is for Jam or Jelly you Like: Strawberry
K is for Kids: One - Mike!
L is for Living Arrangement: 2 story house in the country, my dream house!
M is for Mom’s Name: Nellie
N is for Names of Good Friends: Penny and Beth and many stitching friends from around the world
O is for Overnight Hospital Stays: Kidney Stones (ouch!!!) Maternity too!
P is for Phobias: Clowns and praying mantis and stuck elevators
Q is for Quotes you Like: No matter where you go...there you are!!
R is for Relationship That Lasted Longest: Hubby - 30 years strong!
S is for Siblings: one - my brother, Joe
T is for Texas: Austin...old friends live there
U is for Unique Trait: Loyalty and Compassion
V is for Vegetables You Love: Everything!!!
W is for Worst Traits: Lack of confidence/self-esteem
X is for X-rays You’ve Had: ankle and teeth!
Y is for Yummy Food You Make: Brownies and cookies and lasagna
Z is for Zodiac Sign: Cancer

It's Only 13 days into the new year...

And I've broken my New Year's resolution not to buy any more stash except for fabrics and fibers to kit. Blew that resolution out of the water with a couple of purchases from Stitching Bits and Bobs, Elegant Stitch and Ebay. My husband, who pulls the mail from the box each day marvels at the number of envelopes I get during the week, he commented that I get something *stitching related* just about daily.

From Stitching Bits and Bobs, I ordered all the BC Snappers after seeing how cute Karen's perpetual calendar came out. Then I got the new Drawn Thread patterns from Elegant Stitch. I love the redwork needlecase
and the oriental flavored piece,
Three Friends,is nice too.

And did you see the new Quaker needle accessory pattern, Accessoires Quaker AMAP, from Amon Ami Pierre? Oh, ordered that piece too. And on Ebay, I won a Quaker design called Elizabeth Sharpless from the Chester County PA Historical Society. (I wish I knew how to link all these websites so you could see what I am talking about).

Ordered fabric from Silkweaver, bought thread from my LNS too.

I have no willpower...(hanging head in shame...) and when will I stitch all of this???? Only heaven knows. LOL!!!!

ARGH!!! I HATE FINISHING!!!!

Ok, a rant. I HATE Finishing. I hate my sewing machine and I hate that I spend HOURS working on something only to MESS IT UP when I am trying to turn it into something. This is why I like samplers. They get framed. Can't mess up a cube. I hate needlebooks, pincushions, fobs. Anything that requires 2 pieces of fabric sewn together and finished with cording, ribbon or any other decorative do-dad.

I love my stitching, I hate my finishing. It always looks so amateurish. I envy those who finish things so beautifully and they make it look so effortless.

Rant over.

Thank you!

Thank you dear friends for such nice comments about my stitching. They make me glow! I never thought that sharing my stitching would make me so happy. I appreciate all your comments very much.

The Drawn Thread is my all time favorite designer. I think I have most of Cynthia's patterns with the exception of those that are so OOP and difficult to find and there are only one or 2 that didn't really appeal to me. I still may add them to my stash just because I would like a complete collection.

This weekend is *supposed* to be sunny, so I will take more photos to share with you all.

Thanks again for visiting my blog.