Goodness, time flies

It's been a week or so since I posted. I hoped to be better about keeping you up to date on the minutiae of my life but well, life got in the way!

We've been busy. The Cadet had an other accident, this time with the DH's truck. So, two accidents in a month. We will be in insurance hell for quite awhile. Now we are dealing with repair shops, insurance adjustors, claims, the Cadet and the FILs. Fortunately, no one was injured (except for a certain Cadet's wounded pride). Unfortunately, the truck suffered a possible fatality. We are waiting to hear the fate of the dear vehicle. Will it go to the truck hospital for major reconstructive surgery or will we bid it a fond farewell as we send it to the junkyard? A few days will tell. The repair shop is evaluating the truck's injuries as we speak.
We've been truck shopping and if the truck is truly beyond repair then we've narrowed it down to a couple of vehicles.

I did breath a sigh of relief though, Jenna's parents were wonderful through this ordeal. The Cadet stayed with them for a week and they graciously offered advice and a kick in the pants when he needed it. Also, they fed, watered and sheltered him. I am grateful and very blessed by such caring folks. It had to be an inconvenience to them to have an extra someone living with them. If this is any indication of how they will treat him after he is married, the boy is all set!

On the stitching front, I've worked a little on Bea (I am getting a bit tired of her right now). I only have 7 motifs to finish. But they are big motifs. All along the bottom row and the rose one. I've been thinking about how I am going to frame her. I have to say though, the DH doesn't like her color. He isn't fond of burnt orange and he's wondering where I will hang her. He really doesn't think she fits in any of the rooms we currently spend most of our time in because of her color and I have to agree. So, I think Bea's going to live in the hallway to the bedrooms. There is a wall between the main bathroom and the doorway to our bedroom which is the perfect size for Bea. I threatened to hang her in his soon-to-be new office but I got that hairy eyeball. He said that Bea reminded him of a map of the world. I didn't even want to ask him where he came up with THAT analogy so I bit my tongue.

I also worked a little on some things that "Shall Not Be Shown". And I am planning The Wedding Sampler. I haven't actually worked myself up to starting the WS, mainly because it will be a BIG sampler and I am getting tired of big projects which require a ton of time.

Oh! We've got 13 stitchers signed up for the Blackbird Designs Exchange! Please, if you are interested in Round One, hurry and sign up! Round One signups close April 1st!

So that's about it from the corner of my world. Thanks for stopping by. I'll have some photos posted tomorrow, promise.

How's life in your space?

Love, love, love this!!!

I was out blog reading and I came across this post featuring this new design from Little House Needleworks:

I just love this piece! I am a sucker for house designs and I LOVE sunflowers! I can see this stitched over one, can't you?

This is going on my wish list definitely!

I've worked on Feed the Birds. The lady and the 2 birds perching in her hands are complete. It's moving along quite nicely and I am glad for a break from Bea and the hordes of Wips.

We have signs of Spring in upstate NY. Crocuses are popping up and the daffodils are finally shooting up in my flower beds. I am so looking forward to COLOR!

So that's all from here...hope you are having a lovely evening! Thanks for stopping by!

Hey! I'm here!

I am sorry that I haven't been a good blogger recently. For awhile, I was posting fairly regularly and then I had my mini-meltdown and went and had a small pity party.

Life is sure interesting in Chez 90%. Huh, you say? Well, there's a story about the 90%. On Thursday, my company cut all salaried employees pay by 10% for this quarter and possibly next quarter too. Manufacturing employees didn't take a pay cut, they are working a 4 day week. The company took away their match on my 401k that went to a 101k after the recession hit and now, it's just a k. No raises either. I am glad though, it could be worse. I could have a 100% pay cut. I AM Blessed and I am thankful!

But hey! Let's talk stitching now!

Disclamer: Sorry about the crappy photos. I didn't drag out the iron. Please disregard the wrinkles and the hoop marks.

Earlier this week I worked on Bea.

Only 7.5 large motifs to stitch and 2 very small ones to go till I get to dance. Can you hear the bagpipes tuning up? And the tubas and bassoons? They're getting ready! I think I may have a happy dance by the end of May at this rate. Stay tuned. My band is!

Remember when I said I was stitching a pillow for Valentines Day? This is as far as I've stitched:

It should look like this sometime in this decade:

But I took some liberty with my version because the DH has been stitched in my heart for about 34 years now. This year we celebrate our 30th anniversary.
I have to say that the border on this little pillow gave me fits. And I'll have to do some re-arranging to get all the motifs in. So, I guess you could say that I used Beth's pattern as a springboard for something totally unique to me.

Lastly, I caved and started a new piece (rolling my eyes). I was going through my stash to decide what I want to sell and give away cause my tastes have changed and there are things that I know someone would love. I came across a bunch of Merrily Beam charts from the 90's. I love them! They remind me of Prairie Schooler and Mary Garry.

So, since we love to feed the birds and that special species of bird, I decided to start Feed The Birds:

It's a fairly fast stitch in DMC. I am stitching it on my 2nd favorite linen, Flax. This is 36 count.

So, that's all from Chez 90%. I hope you get a Stitchy Sunday. Today it's very sunny and it's supposed to be in the 50's so I may go out and clean out the flower beds. Yesterday, the DH and I steam cleaned the living room and bedroom carpets. Out with Winter! In with Spring!

Oh and one more thing!!! Please sign up for the Blackbird Exchange! We have 8 talented stitchers so far and it's going to be very fun! You do not have to commit for the entire year, just the exchanges you want to play. I am working out a couple of cool ideas for my piece.

So come on! JOIN THE FUN!!!

Once again, thank you all for following my blog and visiting. I am very blessed by my cyber friends! Have a wonderful week. I am going to count my blessings and my stitches. How about you?

Blackbird Designs Exchange Blog!

HI Everyone!

I've set out on a new adventure...Hosting an exchange blog. HOW EXCITING!!

Pop over to the Blackbird Designs Exchange Blog for all the details!

Sign ups are being taken now through April 1st. The exchange begins in May.

I hope you'll join us throughout the rest of the year. It's going to be fun!

It's a better day

Thank you all, sweet friends for your comments on my um-mm-mm, Mini-meltdown. I appreciate and love each of you for your kind words of encouragement when I was a tad overwhelmed. I told the DH that I would not watch 3 hours of CNN a night anymore. I like Wolf Blitzer but after that, the TV gets turned to another station or off. It's just too much for me to handle right now. TOO MUCH GLOOM AND DOOM.

I should tell you all, we've faced hard economic times before. The DH lost his job at IBM 3 times in the last 10 years. We survived. Plans got put on hold, we tightened our belts and rode it out. We will do the same again. And yes, we will survive. We always manage. And we've come out stronger.

But thank you, thank you for your friendship and sweetness. I can't tell you how much those comments meant to me.

OK, on to stitchy news.

If you go to Words and Blooms you will see what a sweet exchange I received from Melissa. She had my name in the Prairie Schooler exchange. She stitched me the sweetest pinkeep that took the scenic route to get here. It was worth the wait. Tea for 2! In my email to Melissa to thank her for such a precious gift, I said that I love tea and I've spent many happy hours sharing a cup with good friends. When I see this little lovely, it will remind me of her.

Melissa and I were quite surprised to read each other's blogs. We have very similar tastes and we sound a lot alike. Kindred spirits, perhaps? Anyway, we said we'd keep in touch and maybe even SAL together. How cool is that?! This is what I love about blogging. I've "met" so many great stitchers, quilters, and crafters in blog-ville. What a community! I am blessed to be a part of it.

Last night, I worked or I should say, frogged on Bea. I wanted to finish the little swan motif but this motif is really given me a run for my money. I have stitched the outside border at least 3 times and somewhere, I've counted wrong. It's frustrating! So I put it away and told myself another time. Today, I've started a little spring cleaning. It makes me happy to sweep away Winter. After I cleaned all morning (the house smells great) I stitched a grand total of 15 minutes because Olivia seemed to want to occupy me and she made it quite difficult to stitch. So we took a nap together. Tonight, the DH and I are going to my partner from work's open house so I don't know if I will pick up a needle. That's ok, it will be a stitchy Sunday!

So no pics because we have NO sun. The lights have been on in the house all day. And my little camera will not even let me take a picture even if I try near the window. Stupid thing.

Oh, and I got an request from Craft-I-Leigh who asked "What type of fabric or fabrics do you prefer and why? Brands and counts?" Ok, here goes. I stitched on Aida when I first started to stitch but not for long. I graduated to evenweave and then to linen because I wanted to stitch samplers. I got a good book (I think it was a Ginny Thompson book on stitching on linen) to learn how to stitch on linen. Now, I only stitch on linen and if I am stitching "over one" then I will stitch on evenweave (28 count). I prefer a Zwiegart linen, I like tight weave and I like the fabric to feel substantial in my hand. I usually stitch on 32 count Belfast and railroad my stitches but recently I'm stitching on 36 count Edinburgh cause I want to stitch with one thread in my needle to avoid railroading. I am finding it hard to concentrate and I have OCD about how my stitches lay so right now it's 36 count for me. I like Lakeside linen in their neutral colors for samplers. I run hot and cold over vintage (over-dyed) linen. Right now, I am cold with it.

My advice to you is start with evenweave just to get a feel for counting. Remember to bring your needle up to the left of a vertical thread that lays on top of a horizontal thread. Once you find a rhythm you will not have a problem finding the next hole. I know if I've screwed up if my needle comes up next to a vertical thread with the horizontal thread on top.

Craft-I-Leigh, TAKE THE PLUNGE!!! Learn new techniques and use new fibers and fabric. You'll find your favorites really fast. That's what makes stitching so much fun! And isn't that what this passion is all about? FUN!

Ok, enough, I've got to run. Thanks for stopping by!

AND ONE MORE THING! Tomorrow, I am going to send out invitations for the Blackbird Designs exchange so please post on the post titled A Question For You if you are interested in joining. Come on! It will be fun! I promise!

Wigged Out

I am sorry to say that I am really wigged out. You see we are big news watchers. I think we watch 3 hours of CNN a night and I've got to tell you, I am to the point where I do not want to watch or read any more news. I know that it sounds like I want to bury my head in the sand or go to bed with the covers over my head. That's not true. I just think I am overloaded by bad news.

The worsing job situation is going to visit my house soon. The DH came home today and told me that he will in all probability lose his job by May. Retirement will be 3 months earlier than we planned. He is hoping they will give a severence package but he's not holding his breath. My company has circled the wagons and there is no money for extras. This quarter will be soft. I am hoping the execs are right and we rebound in the 3rd quarter. But you never know what will come. We are better off than many companies right now but who knows how long that will last?

We've also are pinching pennies. I've been very careful with our money (except for that retail therapy lapse a few weeks ago) and I am planning our meals, eating leftovers and trying everything to save, save, save. There is no room for frills, vacations, movies. I know that we are like many others, we live paycheck to paycheck. Our 401Ks are now 101Ks and I am working hard to get out of debt.

I just wish I didn't feel so out of control. We've played by the rules all our lives and yes, we've made financial mistakes. I can live with that fact. I just feel like we are at the mercy of some boogie man who I can't see, name or run from.

Damn economy.

A Question for You!

Hi all,

First of all, thanks so much for visiting me at Joanie's World. I really appreciate all your comments and I love looking at the Feedit thingie, just to see where you are are located. Thanks for all the nice comments on Bea too. Tonight, she got a rest cause I picked up This is the Day. I am working on the alphabet on the top of the sampler. It's taking forever. I stitch a few letters and then do the backround stitching. Tedious, but good stitching when one eye is on the TV.

Anyway...
I love BBD and I seem to be stitching more and more of their designs so I was thinking...

I am thinking of starting a Blackbird Designs exchange group similiar to what BeckySC does for the Prairie Schooler exchange. I'd run the exchange very similarly to the Prairie Schooler exchange, you would stitch a BBD or a portion of one of their patterns, your choice of pattern and finishing. The stitching time would be an 8 week cycle through the year or even quarterly. You wouldn't be obligated to stitch the whole year, just during the cycle that you want. And maybe for the last exchange of the year we could stitch something holiday...I don't know, the ideas are churning and bubbling in the old cranium. The piece would have to be finished before sending and you would be responsible to replace it if it doesn't reach it's owner. I'd set up a special blog and it would be by invitation only.

So what do you think? Would you be interested in joining?

If you think you would be interested, please post to this entry. I'll check back on Sunday and if there's sufficient interest then it will be a go!

Thanks gang!

Bea & Stash Haul!!!

Before we get to my Stash Attack, I wanted to share my latest Bea picture.

Tonight,I finished the 3rd motif on the right side and stitched the tree in the swan motif that's underneath and to the right of the Token of Love motive. I love how this is coming out and I hope that I'll have a finish in the next couple of months.

Now,for my Stash Haul! My Stash Haul came yesterday from Stitches N Things. I really went overboard buying (it was retail therapy at it's finest) and I love, love, love all my purchases!

First of all, for many, many moons, I've lusted over Abigail Colby's Work Basket.
This is A Cheerful Mind:

The sampler goes underneath the basket lid.

And these are the smalls that go into the basket: And lastly, this is the Workbasket: I have a Nantucket Basket that I bought for a song at the Christmas Tree Shoppe. The only problem is it's a 9" diameter basket, not the 8" one called for in the pattern. It's ok, the pattern calls for 40 count fabric and I don't think I'll be stitching on such a small count. I am thinking 36 count. I hope it won't be too big to fit on the lid... Assembling this piece will be a challenge.

I broke down and bought most of the Blackbird Design pieces too. I didn't buy the stockings but I may break down to get them too. Next pay.

Wild Rose Journal Cover: Small Token:

My Heart is True:

Bluebird Thread Keep:

And I did refrain from buying Carriagehouse Samplings, Spot the Horse, and Salina Schultz.

One other thing before I go...I will have pics soon a pincushion that I made for the Prairie Schooler Exchange. Just waiting for my partner to receive it.

And one other thing, do you dream of having *collections* of stitched pieces? I'd love to have a sampler wall of Alphabets, School Girl Samplers and Quakers. And I'd like a wall of samplers that feature houses. And a Noah's Ark wall, a redwork wall and a featured designer wall like the Drawn Thread or Goode Huswife.

So what about you? Do you dream of walls featuring your *collections*? Do you have one now that you could share?

We saw the Cadet and the Lovely Jenna this weekend too. I didn't broach the Sampler Question yet. I am chicken. I am afraid if the idea gets a cool reception, I'll be heartbroken.

We went to lunch at Carraba's Italian Grille, so yummy! It was a very fast visit, the DH and I wanted to trade trucks with the Cadet so we could get his repaired here because he wouldn't have any transportation unless we left him our truck to get to school and to work. I think we spent 3 hours with him and 6 in the truck going up and back. At least there was no snow to deal with.

Anyway, thanks for hanging in here with me and my stash haul pics. I hope you have a great week and had a wonderful, productive stitching weekend. I did, I have Numb A$$ to prove it!

Back Among the Living - Almost

HI! I am sorta back with you! After a weekend where I spent most of it on the sofa attached to a box of Kleenex, I seem to be on the mend. Not 100% but maybe 80%. This thing that I had/have is truly yucky. It's the worst cold/viral thing that I've had in a long time. I took my last sick day today so unless I want to go to the doctor, pay for the visit, and lose a days' pay, I'll be back to work tomorrow. At least I won't be sneezing and blowing my nose a gazillion times a minute. And maybe my co-workers would like that a lot. If I had my druthers, I would stay home another day, just so my fellow workers wouldn't grumble about the "Walking Sick" as we like to call those who come into work ill, spreading cheer and germs to anyone within a cubicle range. But I'll be at work tomorrow. Somewhat bright and somewhat early.

BUT my dear friends, ALL was not lost while I was snuffling and wheezing about the last few days. I stitched when I felt like I could. I even have pictures to prove it! See?

This is my progress on True Virtues. It's a slow stitch for me. I don't know why. But I am plugging a long Connie!


This is Bea on January 30th.

And this is MORE of Bea as of yesterday!

Only 11 more motifs to stitch! But, there is a snag. I am running out of AVAS 4216. There is just enough silk to stitch the sampler without a lot of waste . And I am very wasteful when it comes to thread. I use long leads when I start to stitch and end with long tails so that I can weave them back into the stitches. So now I am short. I purchased some thread today along with a ton of other things, gosh I was very bad and I am blaming my badness on this cold thingie, so I'll be back in business soon. I have enough thread to stitch a few more motifs so I won't have to completely put Bea away. I bought new Blackbird Designs and Plum Street Samplers, Love Notes, and all the patterns from Primitive Traditions to stitch Ann Colby's, Quaker Nantucket Basket. I shouldn't have but I am telling myself that my brain was foggy because my head was filled to the brim with snot.

I know that you are wondering why I am stitching Bea like the house is on fire. Well, I have this quirk. When a project gets about 3/4 of the way finished I really get motivated to finish it off. I get obsessed to get'r done. At the expense of all other stitching. And another reason to finish off Bea is that come March, all the WIPs are going into hiding, as well as, all the patterns that I want to start. The Wedding Sampler will take all of my attention if I want to finish it before July in time for the Bridal Shower. If Bea is around then I will be tempted to stitch on her and not on the Wedding sampler.

And now that I've brought up the Wedding sampler, I have mixed feelings about stitching it. I really want to stitch something spectacular for the Cadet and the lovely Jenna but I am not sure that it will be appreciated. I know that the Cadet will like it and he'll know that I put a lot of effort into it because he knows that needlework is my absolute passion but will Jenna feel the same way? Should I care? It will break my heart if they shove it into a closet to hang *someday*. What if she doesn't *get* it and sorta passes it off with a nod to "that's nice"? Part of me wants to stitch it for me to hang next to my wedding sampler. But part of me wants them to have something that I made specifically for them and because I want to commemorate their special day. I think that I feel this way because she is so very shy around me and I have a hard time reading her reactions. She never tells me if she likes or dislikes anything so I am left guessing.

So, what do you all think?

Well, other than Bea (which is about 3 weeks of work) and TV which is a Sunday's worth of work, I've also stitched my piece for the Prairie Schooler Exchange. Can't show you yet but it's really cute!

And there you have it! I want to thank all of you who left me comments wishing me to get better. I really appreciated them cause it made me feel loved. THANKS!

And to all who drop by, thanks to you too! I am glad that you care enough to read my thoughts. I wish all of you a wonderful evening filled with stitching!

I Am a Walking Incubus of Disease

This week at Chez Snot, I have a terrible head cold:

I feel like this:

Terrible

And all I've done is this:

Lie Around and Whine

Not a lot of stitching going on here, folks.

I'll be back when I feel human again.

Thanks for stopping by. Don't forget to wash your hands when you leave.

Happy Valentine's Day!

Happy Valentine's Day to everyone who stops by Joanie's World! I know this is the day for Love but I think it's more of a day of Blessings. There is so much love and abundant blessings if we just open our eyes and hearts to the things around us!

Today, I wish you blessings!

And thank -you's for stopping by. I AM BLESSED AND LOVED BY EACH OF YOU THAT COME BY AND READ MY THOUGHTS.

I'll have stitchy pics and maybe some other pics later!
Now, I am off for my second cup of coffee!

Well, I did it again

Whatever I did to change my backround, I ended up exactly with the same thing that I did when i tried the last time. I am frustrated and I don't have the time to mess with it cause I have to get Olivia to the vet for her surgery appointment and I have to go to work.

Say a prayer for my little girl, she's going to be spayed today. She's a tiny thing and I hope she does ok.

On an unrelated note, please say a prayer for the Cadet. He wrecked his truck yesterday coming home from work. He fell asleep. Not a ton of damage and he wasn't injured. Thank God. All he has is wounded pride and he's just sick about the damage to the truck.

I haven't stitched a lot this week, I didn't work on Bea (can you believe it!) but I frogged the roof off the house on Where My Heart Blooms and I worked on I Will Stitch You in My Heart. For some reason that little pillow is taking a LOT of time to stitch up. I am on the home stretch now and I've made a few modifications. You'll just have to wait and see.

Well, gotta run. Sorry about the boring backround on the blog and that lovely photobucket image that's running up and down behind the scenes.

Grr-rr-rrr!

It's FIXED!!! YEAH!!!

Edited: I don't know what I did but I fixed whatever went wrong with my backround. Thanks for your suggestion, Barb!


While messing with my template in an attempt to change the backround on my blog, I deleted a gadget that I shouldn't have...now even though I've tried to replace my backround with a new image, all I get is the WHITE SCREEN OF DEATH and a photobucket image that's riding around in the backround.

Can someone help me fix this blasted thing? ALL I WANTED TO DO WAS PUT A VALENTINE"S BACKROUND ON MY BLOG!!!

Now it's messed up and I don't have the skills to fix it.

Please, please help me!

Are you sick of Bea?

Are you tired of my progress pictures?? Too Bad!! HA HA!!

Bea after this week's stitching.

I finished that passion flower motif, the carnation motif on the right side and I made a dent in the cornucopia. I am really pleased as to how she is stitching up but I am still undecided if I like the thread color. I know, I know, I am boring you with this back and forth, love the thread, hate the thread nonsense. I DO know that I will be stitching Bea's companion sampler with NPI in a brick color - 125, 126 or 127 on the same color linen. And to be perfectly honest, when I purchased Bea and had the option of purchasing the hank of 4612 AVAS, I should have taken myself down to the LNS to check it out. But as usual, I couldn't wait to start her AND I knew I couldn't wait the 6 weeks to get a hank of another color. So I should quite my belly-achin' right?

I started Hands to Work sampler found in the latest issue of JCS. It's called This is the Day.

I am stitching it on the recommended linen with the recommended thread. It's on 36ct because I refuse to railroad my stitches right now. It's working up fast when I can push Bea out of the way and pick it up.

Below is the amazing Siobhan's finished sampler (I pilfered it from her blog, Notes From Blue Hen Hollow)...I hope you don't mind Siobhan but I wanted everyone to see what it looks like finished...

Gosh, I love this sampler and it fits right in with my samplers with houses obsession. Most every sampler besides the Quakers that I am so devoted to has houses in them. Ever since I stitched my beloved John Foster (oh John Foster, how I LOVE you!) I've been searching for more samplers with houses prominently featured.

And kids, LOOK at what Paulette from Plum Street Samplers is offering!

I am going to be first in line to purchase these little gems! And take a run to her blog, Plum Street Samplers, to check out the sampler she's featuring on her blog banner! I can't wait to be able to plunk down some hard earned cash for these lovelies! And while you are at Paulette's blog, take a minute to read it. What a great blog.

Well, my break on the computer is now officially over. It's back to the drudgery of cleaning bathrooms and doing laundry. But I am looking forward to numbing my behind later stitching, stitching, stitching! I hope you'll do the same!

Have a great weekend and leave a comment to say HI! Thanks for dropping by Joanie's World!

Can Anyone Tell Me The Species Of This Bird??

On the little chickadee feeder attached to the kitchen window. The feeder is small, the "bird" is BIG! We were amazed at the audacity of this "bird" cause David actually tapped on the window to get him off but no way, he wasn't moving an inch. Even the cats jumping at him from the window sill didn't faze him.

I wonder what species he is? My partner at work told me he was a member of the species"Fat Bastard Get Off My Feeder!"

What do you think he is?

Oh, have more progress pics of Bea, I finished that passion flower motif, another on the right side and made a nice dent in the cornocopia. :-)!!

More later, I am off to the dermatologists then to work!

Let's Try This Again...

Last night during a wicked bout of insomnia...I figured out that it's caffeine that keeps Mr. Sandman at bay, I started this post. While I was out looking for a suitable Steeler logo to put on my blog, I got caught in one of those endless loops to download a spy-ware program. Nothing I did would close out the window for the download so I just closed down the computer. But in the process, I lost my post. So this is TAKE 2.

I want to thank Siohban (Notes From Blue Hen Hollow) for bestowing this Fab-U-LOUS bloggie award on me.

I am touched and well, quite pleased. Thanks Siohban.!

If you haven't checked out Notes From Blue Hen Hollow, you must leave my site now and go visit Siohban. You will be rocked by HER world! So, GO! SHOO!! Come back here later!!!

Oh, and I have to list 5 of my addictions...geez...there's so many but I'll give it a whirl:

1. Stitching & Stash...it's like bread and water to me. Can't have enough stash. And it's a day without sunshine if I don't stitch!
2. Horses...love, love, love them!
3. Chocolate...a new obsession. It's healing powers are a salve to my soul.
4. The silly internet and all your fabulous blogs! I spend WAY too much time reading your adventures and stopping by on the forums.
5. French Vanilla coffee...I start my day with a 20 oz tankard of Green Mountain French Vanilla. Ah, the nectar of the gods.

I'm supposed to tag 5 others...so here goes. If you've been tagged already that's ok.

1. Liv N Laf
2. Maude and Mozart
3. Sampler Lover's Blog
4. Wandering This World
5. Stitching In Lobster Land

I hope you will play. But if you don't that's ok too.

Next is my progress picture of Bea that I promised oh, about a week ago. I LOVE this sampler and I am already planning on stitching her companion. I believe I am about 1/2 way done with Bea. I can't put her down.

I have to say though, I am THE WORLD'S SLOWEST STITCHER. That token of love motif? It took me 3 hours to stitch the inside of that blasted motif. I shook my head and was amazed at my progress after 3 whole hours. Geez. Anyway, the motif I absolutely dislike stitching is the passion flower motif that's at the upper right of the Token of Love one. I am stitching it a bit at a time cause it's all I can do not to cry at the sheer size of it and the amount of time it's taking to see any progress on it. Remember, I am a S-L-O-W stitcher even though I am stitching with only one thread in my needle and I don't have to obsessively railroad my stitches. Yes, I have OCD about railroading. It's why I am boycotting any fabric with a stitch count higher than 36. And that means I've only been stitching on 36 count recently. But I have to use a magnifier. I. AM. OLD.

I made it to my Weight Watcher meeting and unfortunately, the scale was not tipped in my favor. I gained a pound. Oh, you might say, big deal, it's only a pound. But you see, this pound leaves and comes back. And it's brought 9 of it's closest friends who've taken up residence on my caboose and kanga-pouch stomach. They've stayed. The one pound comes and goes. I am going to evict them all and the other 25 too that have decided that they are safe. The mantra at the meeting this week was...THIS IS MY YEAR!! And it will be!

I got on the treadmill yesterday and I have a date with it today. I am setting a weekly goal of one pound. And I am journaling...and I hate it but it's accountability. No sneaking a taste of cheese danish or a handful of crackers without writing it down. It's an eye opener when what you've mindlessly put into your mouth is documented on paper. I've done very well on the program when I've journaled so I think that's the key to my success.

Lastly, I want to say...GO STEELERS!!!! It's going to be Sixburgh tomorrow night!



Thanks for coming by and visiting Joanie's World. Leave a comment to say hi!

Damn Economy!

Well, I was out perusing blogs a little while ago and I read that Country Home and Mary Englebriet's, Home Companion will no longer be published. Country Home will be kaput after the March issue and ME is looking for a new publisher and the last issue from the old publisher is the December/January 2009 issue. Also, I read that Country Living is teetering on the brink of extinction too.

The economy is to blame.

DAMN economy!

Don't the publishers of these magazines realize there is nothing, nothing better than getting a fresh issue of these magazines and curling up on the sofa with a soft kitty, a blankie and a cup of tea and escaping for a while? To look at inspiring artwork, view artist's studios, see idea filled interiors, see AMERICA through the pages of these magazines? To have creativity at your fingertips, a springboard to new ideas, to try new creative outlets, to see what's up and coming.

I've purchased all of these magazines for as long as I can remember. Country Living since the 80's, Country Home probably just as long. And ME's Home Companion, I haven't missed an issue in 10 years.

I'd pay more for this little pleasure if they kept the magazines alive. It's one of my indulgences. Like stash.

What's a girl to do?

It's just SAD.

DAMN ECONOMY!!!

Oh, there will be stitching pictures soon. I've got a progress picture of Bea.

What a waste of a day

You know when you are at work and you dream of a day where there is NOTHING going on and you can spend the entire day stitching? Well, today was one of those days for me. We got up this morning and it was snowing. The driveway is completely drifted over. Our driveway is 150 feet long. Plus, the barn water pump is frozen and my darling DH (who has taken care of the horses by himself since we are in this death grip of cold) has to carry 15 gallons of water from the house to the barn. So being that the weather was pretty ugly, we decided not to make the 35 minute drive to church...yes, we followed our former pastor to his new church, and just hunker down in our igloo of a house. So guess what? I had a day of stitching that I only dream about.

EXCEPT....THE FROGS dropped by.

I wanted to work on the piece I told you about, I Will Stitch You in my Heart. I stitched about 1/2 the border last night. Today I thought I'd work on the words. I am using DMC, it's old, on bobbins. Well, it had a mind of it's own...kinking, snarling, tangling, knotting... I made absolutely no progress. Then I realized I made a mistake counting and all the words that I stitched must be ripped out. I wanted to cry. So, about 4 o'clock after stitching for at least 3.5 hours, I QUIT.
I made an apple pie. I am starting dinner right after I finish this post.

I am going to work on something else tonight while watching the Steelers BEAT the Ravens.
GO STEELERS!!!

Hopefully, the frogs will hop outside and FREEZE.



P.S. I hope your day has gone better.

Beatrix Potter

It got sunny here in frozen Upstate NY so I took a picture of my Beatrix Potter sampler. I am almost done with the upper right motif and I made significant progress on the Passion Flower motif.

Bea has been my focus piece for the last few weeks.

I started a new piece tonight. It's from Heartstring Primitives called I Will Stitch You In My Heart.

Go to Beth's blog and check it out! I love it. I am stitching it on 32ct Flax linen with DMC. I plan on antiquing it and making it into a pillow that I'm going to hang on the headboard of the bed or if it's too big for that then I'll make it into a pillow. I don't have a lot stitched (only a bit of the left border) because the David and I watched a movie on TV. We need some couple time so even though I usually stitch while we watch TV, I didn't tonight.

Wow, I can't believe I've posted twice today!

Thanks for coming by to see what's doing in Joanie's World!!

It's been a week already!!!

Wow, where did the week go?

It's been a week since I posted pictures of the lovely Jenna and her dress-to-be and guess what? She went back to the bridal shoppe on Tuesday and tried on a few more and found one that she absolutely loved. So my favorite turned out to be her second favorite.

And she bought this gown:

She looks like a princess, don't you think?

On the stitching front, not much is happening. I futzed around with Beatrix Potter and that's about it. I should take a picture and post it cause there is significant progress from the last time I posted but not much progress this week. I just couldn't get warm and all effort went to trying not to freeze in my corner of the couch. One evening, I complained to my DH and he told me to turn up the heat...DUH!!! Well, I checked out the thermostat and it was 58 degrees in the house! Geez, we could have built a snowman in the family room...it was SO cold even with a fire in the fireplace insert.

I really looked forward to stitching on Friday night but I was so tired when I got home. I put in a few stitches on Bea but it wasn't any fun so I went to bed. I slept 10 hours!

Today, I had to do some housekeeping cause I didn't do much this week. While I was at it, I decided to re-organize my stitching stuff. What fun I had fondling stash. I also realized that I am a stash glutton. I have more stash than I will EVER be able to stitch. But I can't part with any of it. I put together my stitching basket and put some other things away in my Wip box.

My stitching basket has the following things in it:

• Beatrix Potter
• Heirloom Wedding and Heirloom Christmas (I'm swapping out some of the bands for the wedding sampler)
• True Virtue
• A bag full of Blackbird Designs (Blessings & Kind Wishes, Where My Heart Blooms)
• Remember Me - Cricket Collection
• And a bag full of Christmas ornaments to stitch for the Cadet and Lovely Jenna.

I think this will keep me busy for a long time.

Well, I best be cleaning the bathrooms now so I will write more later. Stay warm!