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.